Ukrainian President urges West not create panic over tensions with Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday sought to play down fears of a war between his country and Russia, saying that he did not believe that 'the situation is worse now than it was' in early 2021 when Russia began amassing troops on the border between the two nations.

He also urged countries in the West not to create panic as it was negatively impacting Ukraine's economy as the alarm over an imminent invasion has prompted many investors in the country's financial markets to cash out.

Russia on Friday said it will not start a war in Ukraine but warned that the U.S. and NATO have ignored its demands and left little room for compromise in the crisis.

Also watch: Explained: Ukraine crisis - What Russia demands and what is US response

President Vladimir Putin told French President Emmanuel Macron that the West has failed to consider Russia’s key conditions of halting further NATO expansion, stopping the deployment of alliance weapons near Russian borders, and rolling back its forces from Eastern Europe, the Kremlin said.