The head of the Ukrainian negotiating delegation for talks with Russia, David Arakhamia, expressed confidence that a humanitarian corridor will be opened in the city of Kharkiv so that civilians can leave.

“God willing, there will be a corridor in Kharkiv,” the negotiator wrote on Facebook in response to a comment from a woman who told him he should listen and agree to a ceasefire with Russia.

This comment took place after Arakhamia himself announced this Saturday on his Facebook profile that the third round of negotiations between Ukraine and Russia would take place next Monday, March 7.

Representatives from Ukraine and Russia met for the last time in western Belarus on Thursday, March 3, and agreed on a ceasefire to allow humanitarian corridors for residents of Mariupol and Volnovakha.

However, after Russia announced the ceasefire for this Saturday morning, the evacuation stalled in the afternoon, after authorities in the city of Mariupol denounced a violation of the terms of the ceasefire.

The deputy mayor of the town, Sergei Orlov, assured that the Russian forces have continued to bombard the city and use artillery. “It’s crazy. There is no ceasefire in Mariupol and there is no ceasefire along the designated route”, he has made known in statements collected by the BBC.

“Our civilians are ready to escape, but they cannot escape under the shelling,” Orlov lamented.