UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres is due to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow later today but expectations from the meeting are said to be low after several failed diplomatic efforts so far.

The talks between Putin and Guterres are expected to focus on the besieged city of Mariupol where, despite declaring a victory, Russian forces have failed to take the Azovstal steelworks.

Ukraine forces said earlier that Russia continued to blockade its units at the plant.

Meanwhile, Ukraine has asked Guterres to guarantee a humanitarian corridor to evacuate civilians sheltering inside Azovstal.