Ukraine’s president has attacked Nato leaders in a fiery speech over their refusal to implement a no-fly zone around the country.
Speaking from Kyiv, Volodymyr Zelensky said the West’s reluctance to intervene has given Russia “a green light” to continue bombarding towns and villages.
Nato has argued that a no-fly zone will result in confrontation with Moscow.
But Mr Zelensky said he disagrees that direct action could “provoke Russia’s direct aggression against Nato”.
In angry comments, he said the argument reflects the “self-hypnosis of those who are weak, under-confident inside” and that Western reservations indicated that “not everyone considers the struggle for freedom to be Europe’s number one goal”.
“All the people who will die starting from this day will also die because of you. Because of your weakness, because of your disunity,” a furious Mr Zelensky added.
On Friday, Nato’s secretary-general, Jens Stoltenberg, warned that the introduction of a no-fly zone could lead to a “full-fledged war in Europe involving many more countries and causing much more human suffering”.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also ruled out the introduction of a no-fly zone, but told the BBC he is convinced Ukraine can win its war with Russia.
“I can’t tell you how long this will go on,” America’s top diplomat said. “I can’t tell you how long it will take. But the idea that Russia can subjugate to its will 45 million people who are ardently fighting for their future and their freedom, that does not involve Russia having its thumb on Ukraine, that tells you a lot.”
As Russia’s invasion of Ukraine enters tenth day Moscow’s forces continue to heavily shell many cities.
In the south-eastern port city of Mariupol, the city’s mayor has said that residents are under a “blockade” after days of “ruthless” attacks from Russian forces which has seen power and water shut off to the city’s 450,00 strong population.
