President Zelenskyy Offers Russian Soldiers 'Chance To Survive' In Direct Appeal

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has pleaded with Russian soldiers to surrender in a life-or-death ultimatum.

Russian President Vladimir Putin's 'special military operation' has entered its 20th day. Just this morning, March 15, Ukrainian armed forces estimated that 13,500 Russian soldiers have been killed so far in the conflict, in addition to shooting down 95 helicopters and 81 aircraft.

This estimate stands in stark comparison to Moscow's claims, which put the death toll below 500 earlier this month. The UN has estimated that between 5,000 and 6,000 Russian soldiers have been killed.

Watch Zelenskyy's latest address below:

Ukraine's military also said Russia's forces 'did not have significant success in all areas of advance' yesterday, Sky News reports.

'The main efforts continue to be focused on maintaining the occupied borders. The enemy continues to launch missile and bomb attacks on critical infrastructure,' it added.

However, this also comes after Russia said 'substantial progress' had been made following talks over the weekend, although any details regarding Monday's negotiations have yet to be revealed. Talks are due to resume later today.

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In his most recent nightly address, Zelenskyy expressed his wishes for a 'fair peace... our delegation also worked on this in negotiations with the Russian party. Pretty good, as I was told. But let's see. They will continue tomorrow.'

In a warning to Russian troops attacking Ukraine, he said: 'Your life will also be taken. But why should you die? What for? I know that you want to survive.

'We hear your conversations in the intercepts, we hear what you really think about this senseless war, about this disgrace and about your state. Your conversations with each other. Your calls home to your family. We hear it all. We draw conclusions. We know who you are.

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'Therefore, I offer you a choice. On behalf of the Ukrainian people, I give you a chance. Chance to survive. If you surrender to our forces, we will treat you the way people are supposed to be treated. As people, decently. In a way you were not treated in your army. And in a way your army does not treat ours. Choose!'

Also coming after a Russian journalist protested the war live on-air – her whereabouts remain unknown after she interrupted the broadcast – Zelenskyy said he was 'grateful to those Russians who do not stop trying to convey the truth – to those who fight disinformation and tell the truth'.

If you would like to donate to the Red Cross Emergency Appeal, which will help provide food, medicines and basic medical supplies, shelter and water to those in Ukraine, click here for more information 

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