Russia-Ukraine crisis: Zelensky said, "We're all here defending our independence".
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky released a self-shot video from central Kyiv on Friday vowing alongside key aides to stay and defend the capital against the Russian invasion.
"We're all here. Our military is here. Citizens in society are here. We're all here defending our independence, our country, and it will stay this way," Zelensky said standing outside the presidency building.
????Президент України Володимир Зеленський:
— Defence of Ukraine (@DefenceU) February 25, 2022
"Всі ми тут - захищаємо нашу Незалежність, нашу державу! Так буде й надалі. Слава нашим захисникам і захисницям! Слава Україні!????????" pic.twitter.com/hojX94ONDI
Wearing olive green military-style clothing and standing with his prime minister, chief of staff and other senior aides, Zelensky appeared to be responding to pressure from Russia's President Vladimir Putin.
Russian troops clashed briefly with Ukrainian forces for the first time within Kyiv itself on Friday.
Larger forces are bearing down on the capital and the city was braced for a possible night of air strikes.
Meanwhile, in a televised address from Moscow, Putin branded Zelensky's government "terrorists" and "a gang of drug addicts and neo-Nazis", urging the Ukrainian military to mutiny.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
