Putin claims victory in Mariupol, US to send more guns and money

Ukraine offers to negotiate with Russia 'without any conditions' in city with 120,000 civilians blocked from leaving

Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed victory in the biggest battle of the war in Ukraine on Thursday, declaring the port of Mariupol “liberated” after nearly two months of siege although hundreds of defenders were still holed up inside a steel works.
 
Ukraine on Wednesday proposed to hold a “special round’ of negotiations with Russia in the besieged city of Mariupol. “Yes. Without any conditions. We’re ready to hold a ‘special round of negotiations’ right in Mariupol,” top Ukraine negotiator and presidential aide Mykhailo Podolyak said on Twitter. But the nation derided Putin’s attempt to avoid a final clash with