Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky doubled down on his pledge to remain in Kyiv in a video message on Monday as he told the world: "I'm not hiding."
What he's saying: "Now I will say one thing: I stay here. I stay in Kyiv. On Bankova Street. I’m not hiding. And I'm not afraid of anyone. As much as it takes to win this Patriotic War of ours," Zelensky said from his office.
"You know, we used to say: Monday is a hard day. There is a war in the country. So every day is Monday. And now we are used to the fact that every day and every night are like that."
Though Russians launched a targeted offensive, Ukraine has not buckled and continues to fight back despite lack of weaponry, he said. Victory will "definitely be achieved."
Ukrainians in the country's southern region have particularly held down the fort and created a "nightmare" for Russian forces, Zelensky added. "They forgot that we are not afraid of paddy wagons and batons. We are not afraid of tanks and machine guns. When the main thing is on our side, truth. As it is now."
Negotiations have so far remained unsuccessful, but the president said that "we will insist on negotiations until we find a way to tell our people: This is how we will come to peace. Exactly to peace."