Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky remained defiant in his daily address on Thursday (March 31), speaking outdoors on what appeared to be the streets of Kyiv. As the fifth week of the war comes to an end Mr Zelensky vowed to fight for "every metre of our land, for every person". The president acknowledged Russia's withdrawal of troops from Kyiv and Chernihiv, but warned that at the same time there appeared to be a build-up of troops in the Donbas region.
"There is an ongoing negotiation process," he said. "But these are still words. So far no specifics. There are also other words about the alleged withdrawal of Russian troops from Kyiv and Chernihiv. About the alleged reduction of activity of occupiers in these directions. We know that this is not a withdrawal, but the consequences of exile. Consequences of the work of our defenders. But we also see that at the same time there is an accumulation of Russian troops for new strikes in Donbas. And we are preparing for this.
"We do not believe anyone - we do not trust any beautiful verbal constructions. There is a real situation on the battlefield. And now - this is the most important thing. We will not give up anything."
