Day 53 of the Invasion of Ukraine: Kyiv expects Russian naval landing in Mariupol, Poland sends Tanks, EU with New Sanctions

Here are the highlights from recent events related to the war in Ukraine:

Kyiv: Russia is preparing a naval landing in Mariupol

The Russian army is preparing a naval landing in Mariupol. The information is from the Ukrainian General Staff. At the same time, the movement of units of the Russian armed forces to the territory of Ukraine from the regions of Kursk, Bryansk and Voronezh, as well as air strikes on Mariupol continues.

Russia has said Russian forces have captured the city of Mariupol and only a small number of Ukrainian fighters remain at the Azovstal plant in the besieged southern part of the port city as Moscow launches air strikes against the capital Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities.

Russia's Defense Ministry has said that if Ukrainian forces in Mariupol lay down their arms after 6 a.m. local time today, their lives will be spared.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the situation in the city of Mariupol remained extremely difficult:

"There are only two ways to influence this - either our partners will give Ukraine all the necessary heavy weapons and planes, without exaggeration - immediately so that we can reduce the pressure of the invaders and unblock the city, or it will be the way to go. I want them to understand me correctly - not a single day since the blockade of Mariupol has stopped looking for a solution, military or diplomatic, to save the people, but finding one is hard".

Ursula von der Leyen called on everyone in the EU to give weapons to Ukraine

The next sixth package of European Union sanctions against Russia will be aimed at the banking and oil sectors. This was stated by the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen...