Ukraine's president says 'war should end'

KYIV, Ukraine

Ukraine's president called Wednesday for an end to the war with Russia, saying the two countries should hold talks for the sake of the people.

“The war must end. We need to sit down at the negotiation table -- not for obsolete murderous ambitions, but in the interests of the people," Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a video message.

Welcoming US President Joe Biden’s decision to ban oil imports from Russia, he said "it is the strongest signal to the whole world. It's very simple: Every penny paid to Russia turns into bullets and projectiles that fly to other sovereign states."

Zelenskyy said Russia has fired on and blocked humanitarian corridors for evacuating civilians and noted that the first humanitarian corridor to be opened was only 1% of what needs to be done.

He also thanked the Russians who supported Ukraine and took to the streets against the war.

Russia's war on Ukraine, which began on Feb. 24, has drawn international condemnation, led to financial sanctions on Moscow and spurred an exodus of global firms from Russia.

At least 474 civilians have been killed and 861 injured in Ukraine since the beginning of the war, according to the UN, which noted that conditions on the ground make it difficult to verify the true number.

Some 2 million people have also fled to neighboring countries, said the UN Refugee Agency.

*Writing by Beyza Binnur Donmez