Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky in a video briefing on Saturday called for an end to lies and lies about the conflict in Ukraine, as he said his country's military was still in control of the capital city of Kiev and a Russian was withdrawing the advance.
Zelensky on Friday dismissed rumors that he had fled the country by posting a video on the streets of Kiev, but Russian State Duma chairman Vyacheslav Volodin claimed on Saturday that the president had left the city for Lviv.
However, Volodin's claim cannot be verified and there has been a significant amount of misinformation regarding the conflict in recent days, as Ukrainians have put up fierce resistance to the invasion.
At the end of his speech on Saturday, Zelensky said: "Please stop the people who are lying, or trying to lie to you, or lying to us. We need to stop this war. We as human beings can live in peace together globally."
The president continued: "We are successfully deterring enemy attacks. We know that we are protecting our land and the future of our children. Our military is in control of Kiev and key areas."
"The occupiers wanted to set up their puppets in our capital. They did not succeed. On our streets, a fair fight was going on," said Zelensky.
He said, "The enemy was using all their weapons, artillery, paratroops, all their weapons. They are attacking residential areas, they are trying to destroy the energy infrastructure and everyone has to take this occupation." We must help stop it."
Zelensky also made a direct appeal to the Russian people.
"Hundreds of soldiers captured here in Ukraine don't know why they were sent here to kill or kill people." he said. "People have to tell the government why the war has to be stopped, more people of your country will survive."
Russian news agency Interfax reported on Saturday that Volodin claimed Zelensky had left Kiev for the more western city of Lviv.
"Zelensky hastily left Kiev," Volodin wrote on the messaging app Telegram. "He was not in the Ukrainian capital yesterday. Together with his crew, he fled to the city of Lviv, where he and his assistants were equipped with a place to live."
Volodin claimed that the videos Zelensky posted on social media were pre-recorded.
However, Zelensky has said he is in the capital and posted a video on Twitter on Saturday morning, saying: "I am here. We are not laying down any weapons. We will defend our country, because our weapons are our truth." "
The president remained active on Twitter throughout the day on Saturday, highlighting his interactions with world leaders.
When accessed by Newsweek on Saturday, the US Defense Department pointed to its recent statements on the situation in Ukraine and did not comment on Volodin's claim.
“The fight is here; I need ammunition, not a ride.” - @ZelenskyyUa on the US evacuation offer.
— Ukraine's Emb. to UK (@UkrEmbLondon) February 26, 2022
Ukrainians are proud of their President💙💛
The Ukrainian embassy in the UK tweeted on Saturday that Zelensky had rejected a US evacuation offer.