Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has said Ukraine will defeat Russia's aggression as he called on citizens to take up arms and help push back Moscow's invasion.
In an address to the nation Saturday afternoon, he said Ukraine was holding key territory and had repelled a Russian assault on the capital Kyiv.
"Kyiv and the key areas are controlled by our army. The occupiers wanted to install a puppet regime here. They have failed."
The capital city came under another night of heavy shelling, including at least one strike on a residential apartment building. Military analysts say Russia may not have made as much progress with its rapid advance into Ukraine as it had been counting on, and fear a potentially devastating battle for control of the city awaits.
Residents spent another night in underground bomb shelters as Russian missiles came down on the city, and there are multiple reports of civilians making make-shift Molotov cocktails and taking up arms to help defend the city.
Zelensky, speaking in an address posted online, urged Ukrainians living abroad to return home and join the fight.
"Every friend of Ukraine that wants to join Ukraine in defending our country, please come over. We will give you weapons," he said. "Everyone who is defending Ukraine is a hero."
Zelensky also reiterated Ukraine's pro-Western path, saying "Ukrainian people deserve to become members of the EU."
The Ukrainian president also called on EU members to get behind a move to kick Russia off the SWIFT financial communications network.
"There is already almost full support from the EU countries to disconnect Russia from SWIFT. I hope that Germany and Hungary will have the courage to support this decision," Zelensky said in a video address posted online."
He also called on Russians to pressure the Kremlin to stop the war in Ukraine immediately. Switching to his native Russian, Zelensky thanked the prominent Russians who have expressed their opposition to the invasion, and said the Kremlin's war would result in thousands of Russian casualties.
Addressing Russian Youtuber Yury Dud, Novaya Gazeta editor and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Dmitry Muratov, and singer Valery Meladze, who had criticized the Kremlin, Zelensky said: “your conscience has been heard, and heard loudly.”
"We know that lots of Russians are shocked at the actions of their government. This is the right response. Stop those who are lying to us and lying to you."
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