Ukraine war: Russia must withdraw to pre-invasion position for a deal - Zelensky

Fifty civilians were able to leave the Mariupol steelworks on Friday

Any peace deal with Russia would depend on Russian forces pulling back to their pre-invasion positions, Ukraine's president says.

Speaking to a London think tank, Volodymyr Zelensky said that was the minimum that his country could accept.

He said he was the leader of "Ukraine, not a mini-Ukraine". But he did not mention Crimea, annexed by Russia in 2014.

Russia is currently battling to take full control of the city of Mariupol.

There are still Ukrainian forces along with some civilians in the south-eastern city's vast Azovstal steelworks, which has been subjected to a furious Russian onslaught.

Finally taking Mariupol would be Russia's biggest achievement in two months of war and would give Russia's President Vladimir Putin something to celebrate on 9 May, which is Victory Day in Russia - the day the country marks the Soviet victory over the Nazis in World War Two.

However speaking from Kyiv to the Chatham House think tank in London, Mr Zelensky said there could be no question of Russia holding on to territory it has conquered since it invaded Ukraine.

"To stop the war between Russia and Ukraine the step should be regaining the situation as of 23 February," he said in response to a question from the BBC, referring to the day before the war began.

"I was elected by the people of Ukraine as president of Ukraine, not as president of a mini Ukraine of some kind. This is a very important point," he added.

The reference to the situation as of 23 February suggests Ukraine may not insist on retaking Crimea before making peace with Russia. The peninsula was annexed by Russia eight years ago.

Mr Zelensky called for the resumption of diplomatic dialogue between Russia and Ukraine: "Despite the fact that they destroyed all our bridges, I think not all the bridges are yet destroyed, figuratively speaking," he said.

Russia, for its part, has described that process as being in a "state of stagnation".

Mariupol evacuations continue

On Friday a further 50 civilians including 11 children were evacuated from the Azovstal steelworks in Mariupol, Russia and Ukraine said, in an operation coordinated by the UN and Red Cross. More are believed to still be trapped in the Soviet-era tunnels and bunkers beneath the sprawling factory.

Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said the operation had been slowed by fighting and what she called "provocations". She said evacuations would resume on Saturday.

Russia had earlier announced a daytime ceasefire at the plant for three days, starting Thursday.

• Why 9 May Victory Day is so important for Russia

Footage release by Ukraine's Azov regiment shows the Mariupol steelworks being shelled

Meanwhile Mr Zelensky said he was inviting German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to visit Ukraine on 9 May. The German leader's presence in Ukraine on the day Russia commemorates the Soviet sacrifice in World War Two would be highly symbolic.

"He can make this very powerful, wise political step, to come here on 9 May, to Kyiv," Mr Zelensky said. "I am not explaining the significance, I think you're cultured enough to understand why."

The Ukrainian leader has previously been critical of Germany's stance during the war.

In a BBC interview in April he accused Germany of blocking efforts to embargo sales of Russian energy and said European countries that continued to buy Russian oil were "earning their money in other people's blood".

The same month a planned visit to Kyiv by German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier was cancelled at the last minute because of Germany's economic ties to Russia.

• War forces Germany to burn bridges with Russia

Biden boosts military aid

Also on Friday US President Joe Biden announced $150m (£120m) in new military aid to help Ukraine defend itself.

A senior US official told reporters the aid included artillery rounds, counter-artillery radars used for detecting the source of enemy fire, electronic jamming equipment and spare parts.

But Mr Biden warned that current funding was close to running out and urged Congress to authorise more.

The US says it is also providing intelligence to Ukraine, and US media reports have quoted officials as saying US intelligence helped Ukraine sink Russia's flagship missile cruiser the Moskva.

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