Russia-Ukraine Tensions: Putin Asks Ukraine Army To Overthrow Leadership In Kyiv

In a televised address to the Ukrainian military, he encouraged them to "take power in your own hands," news agency AFP reported.

Russian President Vladimir Putin. (AFP Image)

New Delhi: Russian President Vladimir Putin called on the Ukrainian army on Friday to replace the country's government, whom he branded as "terrorists" and "a band of drug addicts and neo-Nazis" in a televised address.

In a televised address to the Ukrainian military, he encouraged them to "take power in your own hands," news agency AFP reported.

#BREAKING Russian President Putin calls on Ukraine army to overthrow leadership in Kyiv in televised address pic.twitter.com/V9EMLsDpj8

— AFP News Agency (@AFP) February 25, 2022

While referring to the leadership in Kyiv led by President Volodymyr Zelensky, President Putin said, "It seems like it will be easier for us to agree with you than this gang of drug addicts and neo-Nazis."

Earlier today, Vladimir Putin has agreed to send a delegation to Belarus’ capital Minsk to hold talks with Ukrainian authorities as Russian forces escalate towards Kyiv on the second day of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. 

This comes after Ukraine on Friday said that it wanted peace and is ready to talk with Russia including on neutral status regarding NATO, following Moscow’s offer to open a communication channel with Ukraine on a condition that the Ukrainian Army “lays down weapons.”

"If talks are possible, they should be held. If in Moscow they say they want to hold talks, including on neutral status, we are not afraid of this," Ukrainian presidential advisor Mykhailo Podolyak told Reuters on Friday, reported Reuters. 

Meanwhile, the Russian military claims to have taken control of a vital airfield just outside the Ukrainian capital, effectively cutting Kyiv off from the west.

According to many accounts, Russia pushed its invasion of Ukraine to the outskirts of Kyiv today, after unleashing airstrikes on cities and military sites and deploying troops and tanks in from three directions.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy asked for international assistance to stave off an onslaught that may bring down his democratically elected administration.

Zelenskyy even petitioned world leaders for harsher sanctions than those imposed by Western partners, as well as defence support.

(With Agencies Inputs)