Kyiv: Volodymyr Zelensky continues to lead from the front as Ukraine goes all out to defy Russian forces.
Hours before high-level delegations from Ukraine and Russia began talks at Belarus border on Monday to try and end hostilities between the two countries, the Ukraine President advised Russian soldiers to leave his country.
“Save your lives and leave,” Zelensky said in a veiled warning in a televised message on Monday.
He also urged the European Union to grant immediate membership to Ukraine under a new special procedure.
The President’s office said Ukraine’s main demand in the talks with Russia is immediate ceasefire and withdrawal of Russian troops.
Zelensky also said that Ukraine will release prisoners with military experience if they were willing to join the fight against Russia.
Ukraine’s military officials said the ferocity of Russia’s military actions had slowed down and the advance on capital Kyiv was delayed due to logistical problems and dogged resistance.
NATO secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg assured Ukraine by stating that allies were bolstering support to the war-hit eastern European country with air defence missiles, anti-tank weapons, humanitarian and financial aid.