On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared victory in Ukraine’s largest fight, calling the port of Mariupol “liberated” after over two months of siege, despite the fact that hundreds of defenders were still holed up within a steel works.

Ukraine mocked Putin’s desire to avoid a decisive battle with its forces in the city, claiming that it was an admission that he lacked the troops to fight them.

President Joe Biden of the United States approved an additional $800 million in military aid for Ukraine, including heavy artillery, citing a “critical window” in the conflict as it moves into a new phase.

By invading Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin made a “catastrophic mistake,” according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. “That is just out of the question,” he told Russian news source Mediazona, when asked about going to Moscow for direct negotiations on ending the war.

Mariupol, previously home to 400,000 people, has witnessed not just the most severe battle of the war, which began on February 24 when Russian forces arrived, but also the worst humanitarian disaster.

Under Russian siege and shelling, tens of thousands of residents were cut off for nearly two months.

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