137 dead after first day of fighting in Ukraine: President Zelensky

Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelensky late on Thursday, citing preliminary figures, said that at at least 137 Ukrainian soldiers had been killed since the Russian invasion began early in the day. The Servant of the People party member added that 316 soldiers have been wounded. 

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In a video message posted on his Facebook acount, Zelensky pointed out that no country is ready to take them into an alliance. Ukraine is not a part of the NATO and US President Joe Biden on Thursday said that American troops will defend only the alliance’s territory and not get involved in Ukraine. 

“Who is ready to guarantee Ukraine’s accession to NATO? Honestly, everyone is afraid. I asked all the partners of the state if they are with us. They are with us, but they are not ready to take us into an alliance with them,” Zelensky said.

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He added that Ukraine is ‘left alone to defend our state’. 

“No matter how many conversations I had with foreign leaders, I heard a few things. The first is that we are supported. I am grateful to each state that helps us concretely, not just in words. But there is a second — we are left alone to defend our state. Who is ready to fight with us? Honestly — I do not see,” the President said.

“Today I asked the 27 leaders of Europe whether Ukraine will be in NATO, I asked directly. Everyone is afraid, does not answer. And we are not afraid, we are not afraid of anything,” he added.

Also read: After Russia invades Ukraine, police arrest hundreds of anti-war protestors

Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Thursday, unleashing airstrikes on cities and military bases and sending in troops and tanks from three sides in an attack that could rewrite the global post-Cold War security order. Ukraine’s government pleaded for help as civilians piled into trains and cars to flee.

With inputs from the Associated Press