Russian forces have been laying siege to the eastern Ukrainian city of Mariupol for weeks. They have been battling to take control of the key port. Commanders now say the troops have accomplished their objective.

Fighting in the city has been focused on a large steel-making complex, where Ukrainian troops are making a stand and where many civilians are sheltering. Russian Defence Ministry spokesperson Igor Konashenkov says the facility has been "blockaded." President Vladimir Putin had ordered his forces to contain the plant rather than storm it.

Konashenkov said the situation in Mariupol has returned to normal. He added that residents are now able to walk the streets freely, without having to take cover from shelling by those he called "Ukrainian Nazis."

Konashenkov also said the Russian air force is striking military targets in other areas. However, in Ukraine's second largest city of Kharkiv, shells hit a residential building and the main marketplace. Ukrainian officials said one person was killed and six others injured.

Analysts believe that May 9 may be a critical day in the invasion, because it is the date Russians celebrate their victory over Germany in World War Two. They say Putin wants to put more areas in eastern and southern Ukraine under control by then. A Russian official in Mariupol has already announced a military parade will take place in the city on the date.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is trying to jump-start peace talks. He will travel to Moscow for a meeting with Putin on Tuesday. He is also trying to set up a visit with Ukrainian leaders.

Putin had previously spoken with the president of the European Council, Charles Michel. He accused Ukrainian leaders of being inconsistent and dealing in bad faith. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov echoed those comments. On Friday, he said that negotiations have "ground to a halt."