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'Together we defeated Hitler...':Ukraine urges foreigners willing to defend country to join newly formed international legion

As fighting continues, Russian troops have now entered Ukraine's second largest city, and claims to have besieged two other big cities. Against this backdrop, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy today announced the formation of the the 'International Legion of Territorial Defense of Ukraine' which will allow foreigners to join the country in its fight against Russia.

Anwesha Mitra

Updated Feb 27, 2022, 14:45 IST

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy delivers his speech addressing the nation in Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, Feb. 25, 2022.

Photo : AP

Kyiv: As Russian troops continue their invasion of Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced the formation of the 'International Legion of Territorial Defense of Ukraine'. According to his office, the new unit will comprise of foreigners looking to join the 'resistance against Russian occupiers'.

“Anyone who wants to join the defense of security in Europe and the world can come and stand side by side with Ukrainians," he asserted in a statement. Following the announcement, officials as well as the Twitter handle of Ukraine have invited people from around the world to sign up.

"Foreigners willing to defend Ukraine and world order as part of the International Legion of Territorial Defense of Ukraine, I invite you to contact foreign diplomatic missions of Ukraine in your respective countries. Together we defeated Hitler, and we will defeat Putin, too," tweeted Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba.

The remarks come even as fighting rages on in various parts of the country and Russia claims to have besieged two big cities.

President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday said that Moscow was bombarding residential areas in Ukraine as its invading forces sought to push deeper into the pro-Western country. "Today, there is not a single thing in the country that the occupiers do not consider an acceptable target. They fight against everyone. They fight against all living things -- against kindergartens, against residential buildings and even against ambulances," he added.

Both Russia and Ukraine today indicated their willingness to engage in talks, with the Kremlin saying that a Russian delegation had arrived in the Belarusian city of Homel for the same. Zelenskyy however rejected the offer to hold talks in Belarus, suggesting Warsaw, Bratislava, Istanbul, Budapest or Baku as alternative venues. He said other locations are also possible but made clear that Ukraine doesn't accept Russia's selection of Belarus.

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