Kuleba: Ukraine to negotiate, but will not surrender

Ukraine's Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba, has said his country is willing to enter into negotiations with Russia, but will not surrender to Vladimir Putin's regime and accept no ultimatum.

Speaking at a virtual event, Kuleba told reporters he must remain open to diplomatic discussions with Moscow, but warned that Russia is pressing ahead on demands that are unacceptable to Ukraine.

Kuleba added that Kiev forces would need more military supplies and repeated prayers to Western countries to supply the country with new fighter aircraft, saying more civilian lives could be saved if the country's air defence is strengthened, allowing it to attack large Russian armoured columns.

He also stated that Moscow has used tactics similar to the devastating measures it issued during the Syrian civil war, and called on Western countries to help Ukraine with its investigations and possible future prosecutions of alleged crimes, the BBC writes.

Kuleba also said the southeastern town of Marioupolis remains in the hands of Ukraine, despite some reports of Russian progress.