WASHINGTON

Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed "in principle" to the UN-facilitated withdraw of civilians from a steel plant in occupied Mariupol, the international body said on Tuesday.

The announcement comes after UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres met in Moscow with Putin to discuss the Kremlin's ongoing war against Ukraine.

During the meeting, Guterres "reiterated the United Nations’ position on Ukraine, and they discussed the proposals for humanitarian assistance and evacuation of civilians from conflict zones, namely in relation to the situation in Mariupol," Stephane Dujarric, the UN chief's spokesman, said in a statement.

"The President agreed, in principle, to the involvement of the United Nations and the International Committee for the Red Cross in the evacuation of civilians from the Azovstal plant in Mariupol," he added.

Thousands of civilians are thought to be holed up at the plant's underground tunnels, which also house the last remaining Ukrainian forces in the strategic port city. Mariupol has been largely destroyed by Russian forces, who are seeking to form a land bridge between areas in Russia's control in eastern Ukraine, and the Crimean Peninsula.

Russia has occupied Crimea since 2014 when it also began its support for separatist rebels in Ukraine.

At least 2,665 civilians have been killed and 3,053 others injured in Ukraine since Russia launched its war on Feb. 26, according to UN estimates. The true toll is feared to be much higher.