Zelensky says if Ukraine falls, Baltic states 'next'

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky called on the West on Thursday to increase military aid to Ukraine, saying Russia would advance on the rest of Europe otherwise.

“If you do not have the power to close the skies, then give me planes!” Zelensky told a press conference. “If we are no more then, God forbid, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia will be next,” he said, adding: “Believe me.”

He called for direct talks with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, saying it was “the only way to stop this war”.

“We are not attacking Russia and we do not plan to attack it. What do you want from us? Leave our land,” he said, addressing Putin.

“Sit down with me. Just not 30 metres away like with (French President Emmanuel Macron),” the Ukrainian leader said, referring to Putin receiving world leaders at a now famous enormously long table.

Zelensky — who just weeks ago sought to calm Ukrainians over US allegations that Russia was planning to invade his country — said: “Nobody thought that in the modern world a man can behave like a beast.”

Putin launched an invasion of Ukraine last week. Russia says it is not targeting civilian areas despite widespread evidence otherwise.

Ukraine on Wednesday said Russian planes hit a school, killing nine people, in the northern city of Chernihiv. Kyiv says more than 350 civilians have been killed since Putin launched the invasion.

Putin says military advance in Ukraine going 'to plan'

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Moscow's advance in Ukraine is going “according to plan” and ordered large compensations for Russian soldiers killed in the invasion.

“I want to say that the special military operation is going strictly according to schedule, according to plan,” he said, opening a meeting with his security council.

“We are at war with neo-Nazis,” the Russian leader said, adding: “I will never give up on my conviction that Russians and Ukrainians are one people.”

He said Russia's army is fighting “courageously, like real heroes”.

He also ordered compensation to be paid to the families of Russian soldiers killed in Ukraine.

“Our duty is to support the families of those who fought for the people of Russia,” Putin said.

A day earlier Russia for the first time put a number to its losses in Ukraine, saying 498 of its troops were killed since Putin ordered the invasion last week. Ukraine says that number is far higher.

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