A lull is expected in the fighting in Ukraine today, after French President Emmanuel Macron spoke with Vladimir Putin yesterday.

This should give the civilians caught between the warring parties in Mariupol, Kharkov, Kiev and cities north-east of Kiev a chance to flee before the Russian army continues its advance.

Russian forces said that they will cease fire at 10h today and will open green corridors. Russians are blaming the Ukrainian forces of preventing civilians from fleeing.