Volodymyr Zelensky

In his address to the country on Sunday, Zelensky said delaying arms deliveries was "an invitation to Russia to strike again and again", reports the BBC. "Partners need to move faster if they are really partners, not observers," he said and called for air defence systems and fresh sanctions against Russia. The President's plea came after Russia fired a barrage of missile strikes on Kiev, the central city of Cherkasy where one person died

In his nightly video address on Sunday, the President said: "I want to address today particularly the citizens of Belarus, to people, both in uniform and civilians. You are being drawn into the war. And even more actively than in February and spring. "The Kremlin has already decided everything for you. Your lives are worthless to them. But you are not slaves and not cannon fodder, you should not die.

In his nightly video address to the nation, the President said on Sunday: "Tomorrow a historic week begins. One of the most important since 1991. A week when we will hear the answer from the European Union on the candidate status for Ukraine. "And in such a week, we should expect greater hostile activity from Russia. Purposefully, demonstratively. And not only against Ukraine, but also against Europe.

At the meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi and Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, Zelensky briefed the European leaders about the situation on the frontline and the needs of the Ukrainian armed forces in the conflict with Russia, Xinhua news agency reported. Ukraine expects fresh supplies of heavy weapons, modern jet artillery and missile defense systems from its partners, Zelensky said.

"It seems that they will throw poorly trained conscripts into the battle, as well as those who had been recruited via covert mobilisation efforts. Russian generals consider their people simply as cannon fodder, which they need to ensure they outnumber us in military personnel, in military equipment.

Volodymyr Zelensky made the remark at a joint press conference in Kiev with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Saturday, Ukrayinska Pravda reported. "The war continues, so a seventh package of sanctions is needed," the President said. He believes sanctions should be imposed on all Russian officials and judges who are working on repression.

The decree signed on Thursday came in approval of a decision taken by the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine, reports Ukrayinska Pravda. The sanctions list comprise a total of 35 Russian figures, and some of the important ones include Secretary of Russia's Security Council Nikolai Patrushev, Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

"The situation is very difficult. We're losing 60-100 soldiers per day as killed in action and something around 500 people as wounded in action. So we are holding our defensive perimeters. The most difficult situation is in the east of Ukraine and southern Donetsk and Luhansk," Zelensky was quoted as saying.

At the talks in Kiev on Thursday, Zelensky thanked the Finnish government for providing financial, defense and humanitarian aid for Ukraine and imposing sanctions on Russia, reports Xinhua news agency. He also stressed the importance of visits of foreign high-ranking officials to the Ukrainian capital.

"We continue fighting," Zelensky said. "We have no choice but to continue fighting for our freedom." Zelensky's remarks came shortly before the premiere of 'Final Cut', which 'Variety' describes as "a wacky zombie comedy that seems far removed from the brutality on display in Ukraine after Russia's illegal invasion".