Prisoners to be released to defend Ukraine as peace talks fail: 'Morally difficult'

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced citizens with "real combat experience" will be released from prisons to join the fight against Russia as peace talks between the two countries fail.

He announced the "morally difficult" decision during an address on Monday (local time) as the country continues to "struggle against the invaders".

"Ukrainians with real combat experience will be released from custody and will be able to compensate for their guilt in the hottest spots," the president said in a video posted to Telegram.

"All sanctions against some individuals who participated in the Anti-Terrorist Operation will be lifted. The key thing now is defence."

He said Russian troops are fighting "against all living beings" and urged Ukrainians to help protect their country.

"When I went to the presidency, I said that each of us is the president. Because we are all responsible for our country," Mr Zelensky said.

"For our beautiful Ukraine. And now it has happened that each of us is a warrior. And I am sure that each of us will win."

Mr Zelensky also urged Russian troops to abandon their weapons and flee.

"Don’t trust your commanders, don’t trust your propagandists. Just save your lives," he warned.

The president has called on any foreign volunteers who want to join the fight against Russia to sign up for an "international brigade" at Ukrainian embassies around the world.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Monday urged Ukrainians in Australia not to fly over to fight in the conflict.

"At this time, the legality of such actions are uncertain under Australian law," he said.

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Ukraine seeks to join EU, Russia talks end

President Zelensky has signed a letter formally requesting immediate membership of the European Union for embattled Ukraine.

The president posted photos of himself signing the EU application, a largely symbolic move for now that could take years to become reality and is unlikely to sit well with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has long accused US and its European allies of trying to pull Ukraine into its orbit.

Russian and Ukrainian officials held talks on day five of the war under the shadow of Putin's nuclear threats and with Russia's invasion of Ukraine running into unexpectedly fierce resistance.

A top Zelenskiy adviser, Mykhailo Podolyak, said the talks, held near the Ukraine-Belarus border, were focused on a possible ceasefire — which was not agreed to — and that a second round could take place "in the near future".

Peace talks run for five hours

A top Putin aide and head of the Russian delegation, Vladimir Medinsky, said that the discussions lasted nearly five hours and that the envoys "found certain points on which common positions could be foreseen".

He said they agreed to continue the talks in the coming days.

As the discussions wrapped up, several blasts could be heard in Kyiv although no details were immediately known.

Meanwhile, social media videos from Ukraine's second-largest city Kharkiv showed residential areas being shelled, with apartment buildings shaken by repeated powerful blasts.

Authorities in Kharkiv said at least seven people had been killed and dozens injured.

They warned that casualties could be far higher.

with AP

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