International

Zelensky, Cabinet post video from Kyiv

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky posted a video of him and other government officials in the capital city of Kyiv as Russian soldiers close in on the area.

The video comes as Zelensky previously said he has intelligence that he is a prime target for Russia during the war. It also shows that the president has not left the city despite Russia’s claims that he fled.

Zelensky has given multiple speeches since the attacks began overnight Wednesday calling for peace but also saying Ukraine will defend itself.

Russia has been falsely painting Zelensky and the Ukrainian government as neo-Nazis and saying Moscow’s attack is to save the people of Ukraine.

“You are told we are Nazis,” Zelensky, who is Jewish, said the night the fighting began. “But can a people support Nazis that gave more than 8 million lives for the victory over Nazism? How can I be a Nazi? Tell my grandpa, who went through the whole war in the infantry of the Soviet Army and died as a colonel in independent Ukraine.”

Zelensky said he will not cede any territory to Russia but has changed his stance on the NATO membership the country has sought.

Ukraine and Russia are sending delegations to Belarus for discussions after Zelensky said Ukraine would accept a nonaligned status with NATO following hundreds dying in the first two days of fighting.