00:00Humanitarian aid is expected to reach the Russian-occupied Ukrainian town of Oleshky today
00:05as a rare localized ceasefire between Moscow and Kiev enters its fourth day.
00:11The truce, which began on Tuesday, has allowed military units to clear landmines ahead of the humanitarian operation.
00:18But concerns remain over the fate of civilians trapped in the devastated town
00:23and whether those evacuated will be allowed to reach Ukrainian-controlled territory.
00:28For more on this, our correspondent Sascha Vakulina is joining me now in the studio.
00:33Good morning, Sascha.
00:34So, what do we know about this humanitarian operation expected to begin today?
00:40And what about the evacuation of civilians?
00:43It is the first operation like that in years, Stefan.
00:46Now, first, let's look at Oleshky.
00:48Oleshky is a small town in southern Ukraine.
00:51It's across the river from Kherson city.
00:54So, when Kherson was liberated by Ukrainian forces, Oleshky remained occupied.
00:58And all the territory around it is heavily mined.
01:01And this location is something that makes it very, very complicated.
01:05People in Oleshky, there are about 2,000 residents who stay there.
01:10They don't have access to food.
01:11They don't have access to medical help, no health services.
01:15There is nothing there.
01:16Oleshky was also severely flooded when the Russians blew the Kohovka Dam in Kherson region.
01:20Now, they have just a few hours to decide whether they want to leave, given that they might have to
01:26go through harsh interrogations and filtration camps to reach first Russia-occupied territory before they can go back to Ukraine
01:34-controlled territory.
01:35They have to make the decision before 2 o'clock in the afternoon local time.
01:39If not, if they stay starting from 2.30, they will receive humanitarian aid.
01:45But then it is not clear how it will be controlled, how it will be observed.
01:48And also, after today, when will be the next the humanitarian aid delivery, if there will be any.
01:54Now, I discussed this operation with Ukraine's former Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk, who is very skeptical about what's happening in
02:02Oleshky today.
02:03They actually took all these civilians as hostages.
02:09And now they are trading these hostages.
02:12They launched a stage operation that those who hold them in captivity are going to provide them some kind of
02:22survival.
02:23So, they brought to this special operation the First Lady of the United States, which is Melania Trump.
02:30And the good news is that at least they've announced a partial ceasefire.
02:34But the bad news is that once again that they are using these human beings as a shield, as a
02:41hostages, as those who would be depicted by the Russian propaganda that have been saved by the egregious Russian military.
02:53And in this way, they try actually to buy some kind of positive attitude from the White House.
02:59Do you trust the fact that the Russian army will allow Ukrainians who are trapped in Oleshky to not only
03:06to evacuate, but finally also to evacuate to the territory under Ukrainian control and not to be forcefully deported into
03:15Russia?
03:16There is no way to trust Russians, period.
03:19And they will conduct it as a special propaganda operation.
03:23It depends on the White House.
03:25Whether the White House would be really ready to provide a humanitarian support for the Ukrainians.
03:32And to give the Ukrainians chance to decide whether they want to go back to Ukraine.
03:38There is no information so far about any sort of official U.S. mission slash U.S. observers on the
03:46ground in Oleshky.
03:49Well, there is.
03:50Newsmax, Fox News will participate in covering this operation.
03:56So let me deliver a very clear message to the journalists of Newsmax and Fox News.
04:02We kindly ask you folks to be journalists and to tell the truth, but not to parrot the Russian propaganda.
04:08This operation, the planned operation in Oleshky, overstretched, but still, could that be the first step towards any possible ceasefire
04:19that is now back on the diplomatic table?
04:21My answer would be very short.
04:23No.
04:24Russia will not agree to the ceasefire?
04:26No way.
04:27And that's an issue.
04:29Look what Russians are telling.
04:32They've told that they are ready to resume so-called technical talks.
04:36What the hell is technical talks?
04:38Putin is ready to end the war on his terms.
04:44He is ready to get the peace deal, which is similar to capitulation.
04:51Everything he is doing right now is a real way how to buy the time, how to pretend that they
05:04want to cut the peace deal, how to bypass sanctions, circumvent sanctions,
05:10how to drive the verge between Americans and Europeans, and actually how to outweigh us.
05:17This is the plan of Putin.
05:18Where are Europe?
05:19Is it at the table or on the menu?
05:22We need to have Europe at the table.
05:26And it's up to Americans, let me once again reiterate, Americans, to have their closest ally, which is the European
05:36Union, sitting at the table.
05:38Who shall represent the European Union?
05:41Should it be Antonio Kostas?
05:42Should it be Kaya Callas?
05:43Who shall be that voice?
05:45You remember this notorious phrase of former Secretary of State, whom should I call in Europe?
05:52Well, it's up to the European Union to decide.
05:55It could be the president of Finland.
05:59It could be the president of the European Commission.
06:02We're going to hit the wall because Russians object this.
06:05Who cares?
06:07But Russians object to anybody.
06:08Correct.
06:09Correct.
