Zelensky urges Russian troops to surrender ‘and we’ll treat you the way people are supposed to be treated – decently’

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told Russian troops in an online video on Tuesday that they can surrender and will be treated “decently” if they choose to do so.

“On behalf of the Ukrainian people, I give you a chance,” Zelensky said in a video translated into English by his office, ahead of a scheduled speech to Canada’s parliament. “Chance to survive. If you surrender to our forces, we will treat you the way people are supposed to be treated. As people, decently.”

Meanwhile, the city council in a besieged Ukrainian port city said 2,000 civilian vehicles had left Mariupol in a so-called humanitarian corridor. The council said another 2,000 cars were waiting to leave along the evacuation route, which runs west for more than 260km (160 miles) to the Ukraine-held city of Zaporizhzhia.

Mariupol had a population of 430,000 before the war. The strategically located city has been under fire for more than two weeks. Local officials estimate the lethal siege has killed more than 2,300 people and said it had left residents desperate for food, water, heat and medicine.

It was not immediately clear if the number of departed cars mentioned on Tuesday included 160 vehicles that left on Monday. The city council said nearly 300 people had arrived in Zaporizhzhia as of Tuesday morning.

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As millions flee Ukraine these people are trying to get back into the war-torn country

As millions flee Ukraine these people are trying to get back into the war-torn country

Russia and Ukraine continued negotiations on Tuesday, while EU home affairs commissioner Ylva Johanssonan said about 12 million people had been affected by the war, including 2 million internally displaced people and 2.8 million who have fled to the European Union.