Ukraine's Zelensky urges global protests against Russia's war

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday urged citizens around the world to take to the streets to stop Russia's invasion of his country.

"Come with Ukrainian symbols to support Ukraine, to support freedom, to support life," Zelensky said in a video address in English. "Come to your squares, to your streets, make yourselves visible and heard."

In a passionate speech on the eve of a one-month anniversary of Russia's invasion, Zelensky urged people around the globe "to stand against the war starting from March 24... and after then" and speak up against Russia's bloody war.

"Show your standing, come from your offices, your homes, your schools and your universities, come in the name of peace," Zelensky said.

"The world must stop the war."

Hundreds of civilians have been killed, hundreds more injured and over three million Ukrainians have fled their country since Russia invaded its neighbour on February 24 with the goal of thwarting its pro-Western course.

A bloodied but defiant Ukraine appealed Wednesday ahead of a major NATO summit for more Western weapons to fight what the United States formally labelled Russian "war crimes."

Almost a month into Russia's invasion, ordered by President Vladimir Putin as a way to force Ukraine from its pro-Western path, battles raged across the east European country, with the besieged port of Mariupol facing fresh horrors.

As US President Joe Biden arrived in Brussels for NATO, G7 and European Union summits, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said almost 100,000 people in the southern city remained trapped.

Under relentless bombardments, they were without water, food and power, he said.

The mayor of Kyiv, former world heavyweight boxing champion Vitali Klitschko, said Ukrainian forces were pushing Russian troops back in several areas around the capital.

"We are ready to fight for each building, each street, every part of our city," Klitschko told reporters. "We would rather die than kneel in front of the Russians or surrender to the invaders."

A senior NATO official told reporters that as many as 15,000 Russian soldiers may have already been killed.

But Andriy Yermak, a top advisor to Zelensky, said Ukraine needed more help.

Despite showing "superhuman courage," Ukraine "cannot win a war without offensive weapons, without medium-range missiles that can be a means of deterrence," Yermak said.