Ukrainian President Zelensky said on the 23rd that if the people trapped in Mariupol are eliminated or Russia holds a so-called referendum in the "occupied area", Ukraine will withdraw from the negotiations with Russia. Ukraine's state news agency quoted Zelensky's speech at a news conference that day as saying that if Ukrainians trapped in Mariupol were eliminated or Russia instigated a referendum in the "occupied area", Ukraine would refuse to further negotiate with Russia. He also said that at present, it is impossible for Ukraine to lift the blockade on Mariupol by military means. Zelensky also said that Ukraine must take any opportunity to negotiate with Russia until the end of the war. Russian Defense Minister Shoigu said on the 21st that Russian forces have controlled other areas of Mariupol city except the Asian speed steel plant. On the same day, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the Russian army to cancel the plan to attack the Asian speed steel plant in Mariupol, and asked the Russian army to continue to block the Asian speed steel plant. (Xinhua News Agency)