Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, has called on Russia to stop shelling on Ukrainian cities as Russia continued its onslaught following the first round of peace negotiations between the two countries.
More than 100 civilians have already died in Russia’s war in Ukraine, while more than 300 bystanders were injured, the office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, said.
At least seven children were also counted among the dead.
The Ukrainian government said the civilians’ death toll so far stood at more than 150.
Russia has rejected the idea that its advancing troops posed a threat to civilians as the invasion of Ukraine near the end of its fifth day on Monday.
UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, earlier said there were credible accounts of residential buildings, critical civilian infrastructure, and other non-military targets sustaining heavy damage, calling civilian deaths “totally unacceptable.”
“A state that commits war crimes against civilians cannot be a member of the UN Security Council,” Zelensky said in a video message.
Zelensky said this in a plea for Moscow to be excluded from the UN council where it is a permanent veto-holding member.
“This is Ukraine here. This is Europe. This is the year 2022.
“The evil armed with missiles, bombs, and artillery must be stopped immediately. Economically destroyed. To show that humanity can defend itself,” he said.
He urged the international community to consider completely blocking airspace for Russian missiles, planes and helicopters.
The U.S. government, however, rejected calls to establish a no-fly zone over Ukraine, saying it would be a step towards a direct conflict between the U.S. and Russia.
Zelensky also said Ukraine had not yet achieved the desired result at peace talks between a Ukrainian and a Russian delegation on Monday.
“Russia has presented its positions, counter-arguments have been made by us to end the war,” Zelensky explained.