Ukraine's Zelensky rules out surrender, presses Putin for talks

Zelensky
Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday said his country would be "destroyed" before it surrenders its cities to invading Russian forces, as he doubled down on a call for direct talks with Vladimir Putin as the key to ending the war.

As Russia defended overnight strikes that reduced a Kyiv shopping mall to rubble, killing eight, US President Joe Biden held a call with European leaders to address the increasingly "brutal tactics" employed by Moscow -- undeterred by unprecedented Western sanctions.

Read more: UN hopeful of progress at Syria constitution talks

But despite a soaring civilian toll, the Ukrainian president made clear his countrymen would not "hand over" the capital, the eastern city of Kharkiv, or the heavily bombarded and besieged Mariupol.

"Ukraine cannot fulfil Russian ultimatums," he said. "We should be destroyed first."

Nearly a month after Russia launched its full-scale invasion on February 24, Moscow has meanwhile ramped up its air and sea operations, flying 300 sorties in the past 24 hours, in a "desperate" bid to turn the tide against the Ukrainian resistance, a senior US defence official said.

In Kyiv, a new 35-hour curfew was ordered from 8:00 pm (1800 GMT) Monday, after Russian strikes -- likely a missile -- laid waste to the "Retroville" shopping complex where AFP reporters saw six bodies covered by black sheets on the ground.



from latest-news - SUCH TV https://ift.tt/NHLZu40

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Study in UK with Studyinuk.pk

Tesla pulls games on moving car screens after US safety probe

Sania Mirza to quit tennis this year

Petrol may go up by Rs25, HSD by Rs40

Study in the UK Without IELTS: Your Pathway with Study Icon Murree Consultancy

New on Sports Illustrated: SEC Moving Closer To Conference Only Schedule

New on Sports Illustrated: Looking Back at Nick Saban's Impact on LSU

FIA files case against Jahangir Tareen in sugar scam, money laundering

Apple unveil one or more new iPhones which use ultrafast 5G wireless technology

PM Imran Khan launches spring tree plantation drive