President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Moscow of targeting civilians and urged for further international sanctions as Ukrainian soldiers fought Russian troops in the streets of Kyiv on Friday.
After Russian President Vladimir Putin rejected Western warnings to launch a full-scale invasion on Thursday, which immediately claimed dozens of lives and displaced at least 100,000 people, pre-dawn bombings in Kyiv ushered in the second day of carnage.
After a number of crucial strategic triumphs in their air and ground assault, the US and its allies replied with a bombardment of sanctions, but Russian forces looked to press home their advantage.
Zelensky recalled Nazi Germany’s invasion of Poland in 1941 and complimented his countrymen for “showing heroism.”
As Russian forces approached the city, Zelensky urged Europeans with “war expertise” to take up guns and defend Ukraine, claiming that the West was taking too long to assist his country.
Sergei Lavrov, Russia’s foreign minister, claimed Moscow wants to “liberate Ukraine from despotism” and denied any strikes on civilian targets.
He stated that if Ukraine’s armed forces “laid down their arms,” Moscow would be willing to discuss, and that “no one intends to seize Ukraine.”
