Zelenskyy: Military asking for hundreds of thousands more people to be mobilised

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks during his end-of-the-year news conference in Kyiv, Ukraine, Dec. 19, 2023. [AP Photo]

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his nation's military has requested an additional 450,000 to 500,000 Ukrainians to replenish his country's army as it fights Russia.

During an end-of-year news conference in Kyiv on Tuesday, Zelenskyy said no final decision has been made on the request and that top military government officials would be discussing the matter.

"I said that I would need more arguments to support this move. Because first of all, it's a question of people. Secondly, it's a question of fairness. It's a question of defense capability. And it's a question of finances," he said.

In Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin praised his country's forces for repelling a Ukrainian counteroffensive that started in June.

"Our troops are holding the initiative," he said at a meeting Tuesday with military leaders. "We are effectively doing what we think is needed, doing what we want."

The Ukrainian counteroffensive has largely stalled against entrenched Russian forces, with only limited territorial gains in the eastern part of the country.

Meanwhile, U.N. human rights chief Volker Turk highlighted Tuesday what he called an "extensive failure" by Russia to take adequate measures to protect civilians in Ukraine from Russian attacks.

Turk said his office had confirmed 10,000 civilian deaths since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, but that the true toll is likely far higher.

He said most of the civilians were killed near the conflict's front lines in Donetsk, Kharkiv, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, but that there were also "significant casualties" because of Russian missile attacks on Ukrainian cities.

Turk said his office has documented cases of arbitrary detention and enforced disappearance in areas occupied by Russian forces, and that U.N. human rights workers have not had access to prisoners of war held in those areas.

"I urge all states, especially those with influence, to call for immediate and decisive measures by both parties - and in particular, by the Russian Federation - to ensure that their personnel fully comply with international human rights and international humanitarian law," Turk said. "They must take all feasible precautions to avoid and minimize civilian harm, including through the selection of means and methods of warfare."

Russia has denied targeting civilians.

In another development, France and Britain pledged ongoing support for Ukraine in Paris, where French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna and British Foreign Secretary David Cameron held talks.

Cameron said the two countries will back Ukraine "for as long as it takes."

"I have no doubt that we can make sure Putin loses, and it is essential he does lose," Cameron said.