“Save your lives and leave”, appeals Ukrainian Prez Zelenskyy to Russian troops

The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, on Monday, said that he had appealed to the European Union for immediate accession under a new special procedure. He further asked the Russian soldiers to “save your lives and leave” during the speech, as quoted in several reports.

Ukrainian President’s appeal came during an ongoing meeting between a Ukrainian delegation and Russian representatives at the Belarusian border for negotiations.

As per the Ukrainian President’s office, “The prime objective of negotiations with Russia is immediate ceasefire and withdrawal of Russian forces.

The comedian-turned-politician further said that Ukraine would release prisoners with military experience if they were willing to join the war against Russia.

Earlier, the Ukrainian military, in a statement has, said that the pace of the Russian offensive against Ukraine had slowed, adding the Kremlin’s advance on capital city Kyiv was delayed by logistical issues and dogged resistance from the Ukrainian forces.

As per the general staff of the armed forces, “Russian occupiers have reduced the speed of the offensive but are still trying to develop success in some areas.”

Meanwhile, the Secretary-General of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg, said allies were ramping up support to Ukraine with air defence missiles, anti-tank weapons, as well as humanitarian and financial aid.

However, the United Nations Human Rights office has confirmed at least 376 civilian casualties in Ukraine, including 94 deaths, as per several reports. The actual figure is, however, likely to be far higher.

Damage to civilian infrastructure has left hundreds of thousands of people without electricity or water. Hundreds of homes had been damaged or destroyed, while bridges and roads hit by shelling had left some communities cut off.

Moreover, the two central bodies of the United Nations- the 193 nation General Assembly and the more powerful 15-member Security Council are holding separate meetings on Monday on the Russian invasion of Ukraine.