However, the Russian ministry did not disclose how long the ceasefire will last as Ukraine plans to hold the third round of talks with Russian officials to try to end the fighting.

MOSCOW — Russian forces will observe a ceasefire in Ukraine starting from Saturday to facilitate the evacuation of civilians via humanitarian corridors amid the ongoing war, the Ministry of Defence in Moscow said.

The ceasefire will commence from 10 a.m. (about 1.30 p.m. IST), reports Xinhua news agency

“Today, March 5, from 10 am Moscow time, the Russian side declares a regime of silence and opens humanitarian corridors for the exit of civilians from Mariupol and Volnovakha,” Sputnik news agency reported citing the Russian defence ministry.

As was agreed by the Ukrainian side, the humanitarian corridors will allow the exit of civilians from Mariupol and Volnovakha in south Ukraine, the Ministry said, without disclosing how long the ceasefire will last.

During their second round of peace talks on Thursday, Russian and Ukrainian negotiators agreed on the establishment of humanitarian corridors for the exit of civilians and on a temporary cessation of hostilities along the evacuation routes.

Meanwhile, Ukraine plans to hold the third round of talks with Russian officials to try to end the fighting triggered by Moscow’s invasion this weekend, said one of Kyiv’s negotiators, according to media reports. — IANS

— Inputs added