'Ukraine sees future as part of European family'

By Merve Aydogan

ANKARA (AA) - As the Russia-Ukraine war enters its 35th day, the mayor of the Ukrainian capital on Wednesday dismissed reports of Russian forces pulling back from Kyiv, underlining that the fighting is to secure Ukraine's future spot with the 'European family.'

In a virtual address to the EU's Working Group on Ukraine, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said sirens wailed all night and that "huge explosions" were heard from the east and north of the capital the previous day as "battles are ongoing" in the region.

The war is about Ukraine's desire to be independent and a part of the "European family" and democratic world, Klitschko said.

"Russian soldiers are fighting for money and they are paid very well. But we (Ukraine) fight and defend our families, children, our future. We are also fighting for every one of you because we have the same principles of the European Union," he said.

Klitschko underlined that his country does not "understand the position of some politicians in Europe," which he described as "half pregnant."

"From one side, they are against the war. From another side, they still communicate with Russia," he said, stressing that while EU sanctions against Russia are effective, all business ties should be cut with Russia as Russian money is stained with "the blood of Ukrainian people."

"Right now, the world is white and black. And you either support the freedom and principles and values and peace in Ukraine or you support the aggressiveness of the Russian Federation," said Klitschko.

Ukrainian forces are not just defending their country and cities, the Kyiv mayor said they are also defending "European principles."

The mayor of Lviv in western Ukraine, Andriy Sadovyi, said that since the start of the war, at least 145 children had been killed.

Russia's war on Ukraine, which began on Feb. 24, has drawn international outrage, with the EU, US, and UK, among others, implementing tough financial sanctions on Moscow.

At least 1,179 civilians have been killed and 1,860 have been injured in Ukraine, with the true figure likely to be much higher, according to the UN.

More than 4 million Ukrainians have also fled to other countries, with millions more internally displaced, according to the UN refugee agency.