Topple govt of 'terrorists, drug-addicts' in Kyiv: Putin's war pitch to Ukraine army

Vladimir Putin, in a televised address, referred to the Ukrainian leadership as "terrorists" and "a gang of drug addicts and neo-Nazis".

Vladimir Putin has called on the Ukrainian army to overthrow the country's democratically elected leadership in Kyiv. The Russian President referred to the Ukrainian leadership as "terrorists" and "a gang of drug addicts and neo-Nazis".

Accusing Ukraine of using its citizens as human shields against Russian troops, Putin said, "Once again, I appeal to the military personnel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine - do not allow neo-Nazis and Banderites (an assortment of right-wing organisations in Ukraine) to use your children, your wives and the elderly as human shields. Take power into your own hands." Incidentally, Ukraine's President and Prime Minister are both Jewish.

"It seems that it will be easier to come to an agreement with you than with this gang of junkies and neo-Nazis, who settled in Kyiv and took the entire Ukrainian people hostage."

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The Russian president slammed the Ukrainian leadership for deploying Multiple Rocket Launchers (MRLs) on the streets of Kyiv, referring to them as "terrorists", Russian state media Sputnik reported.

Russian troops bore down on Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, with a dawn invasion on Thursday. Tanks and troops continue to advance steadily with gunfire being reported from areas dangerously close to government establishments. According to experts, Kyiv is only hours away from falling to Russian forces.

As air strikes ravaged the former Soviet Union member, Vladimir Putin, during a telephone conversation with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, said he is willing to negotiate with Ukraine. China is a close ally of Russia.