Next few days of war are crucial, says Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Ukrainian leader also reveals he has spoken to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv on April 9. AP

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday night warned his nation that the coming week would be crucial in the war.

“Russian troops will move to even larger operations in the east of our state,” Mr Zelenskyy said in his nightly address.

He accused Russia of trying to evade responsibility for war crimes.

“When people lack the courage to admit their mistakes, apologise, adapt to reality and learn, they turn into monsters," Mr Zelenskyy said.

"And when the world ignores it, the monsters decide that it is the world that has to adapt to them. Ukraine will stop all this.

“The day will come when they will have to admit everything. Accept the truth."

He again called on western countries, including Germany, to provide more assistance to Ukraine.

Mr Zelenskyy said he had discussed more possible sanctions against Russia in a call with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and praised what he said was a more favourable change in Germany's position towards Kyiv.

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  A young woman looks out the window as her train arrives from Pokrovsk, in the east of Ukraine, to Lviv in the country's centre. Getty

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  A truck carries black bags containing bodies exhumed from a mass grave for investigations in Bucha, in the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine. AP

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  A child uses an air rifle to shoot at a target with the face of Russian President Vladimir Putin in Lviv, Ukraine. Getty

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  Firefighters try to contain a blaze at a factory after Russian shelling in Kharkiv, Ukraine. Reuters

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  A woman reads as residents shelter from Russian shelling in a Kharkiv metro station. Reuters

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  Ukrainian rescuers try to put out the fire at a private building after shelling in Kharkiv, Ukraine. EPA

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  A couple of residents walk past burning shops after a Russian attack in Kharkiv, Ukraine. AP Photo

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  A destroyed Russian tank on the outskirts of Buzova village in Kyiv draws crowds of curious residents. AFP

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  The Russian offensive in the Kyiv region has left a huge crater on a bridge in Makariv. AFP

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  Workers put an Ukrainian flag on a pole in the centre of Makariv. AFP

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  A Ukrainian mother is comforted by relatives after the body of her son was discovered in a manhole in Buzova village, west of Kyiv. AFP

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  An injured Ukrainian on a medical evacuation train bound for the western Ukrainian city of Lviv. AFP

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  A Doctors Without Borders team at work on medical evacuation train. AFP

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  A damaged building in the southern port city of Mariupol. Reuters

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  Graves of the victims of the Ukraine-Russia conflict in Mariupol. Reuters

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  Emergency workers sift through debris of a damaged building in Mariupol. Reuters

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  The conflict has forced Mariupol residents to wait in line for drinking water. Reuters

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  A Russian military vehicle in Mariupol. Reuters

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  Food distribution at a church in the town of Borodyanka, north-west of Kyiv. AP

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  A visitor is in shock after returning to her church, which had come under Russian attack, in the Kyiv town of Makaro. AP

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  Mourners gather at the funeral of Ukrainian soldier Andriy Zagornyakon in Kamianka-Buzka. Getty Images

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  A resident returns with his dog to survey his damaged building in Kharkiv. EPA

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  A woman and a child are forced to sit on the corridor of a building in Kharkiv that is used as a bomb shelter. EPA

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  A Ukrainian guard in the eastern town of Barvinkove, during Russia's invasion of its neighbouring country. AFP

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  Ukrainian guards strengthen their position in the eastern town of Barvinkove. AFP

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  Emotional farewell at the train station in the eastern Ukrainian city Kramatorsk, which has come under Russian attack. AFP

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  A Ukrainian serviceman surveys the damaged cultural centre, in the town of Rubizhne, Luhansk region. AFP

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  A participant at the pro-Ukrainian demonstration outside Downing Street in London. Reuters

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  Colleagues bid farewell to Yuriy Dadak-Ruf and Taras Kryt, the Ukrainian soldiers killed in Russian shelling of the Luhansk region. Reuters

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  A villager warms himself in the yard of his house in Bucha, on the outskirts of Kyiv. AP

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  Vlad, the six-year old Ukrainian who lost his mother during their confinement in a Bucha basement amid the Russian invasion, plays with a friend inside his house. AP

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  A group of women wait to receive free food in Bucha. AP

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  Shakhtar Donetsk players carry the Ukrainian flag before their football match against Olympiakos in Piraeus, near Athens. AP

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  Rescue workers clear the rubble of an apartment building in Borodianka. Getty Images

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  A man repairs the roof of a house while standing on a ladder, in Andriivka, Ukraine. Getty Images

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  Valerii, 65, rides by his destroyed apartment building in Borodianka. Getty Images

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  A Ukrainian woman in Borodianka waits as rescue workers search for her daughter, her son-in-law and her granddaughter among the rubble. Getty Images

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  Family photos are scattered among the debris of a destroyed apartment tower in Borodianka. Getty Images

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  A distraught survivor of the attack on Borodianka. Getty Images

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  Debris of an apartment building in Borodianka. Getty Images

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  A writing on the gate of a destroyed building in Andriivka - 'Shells, mines?' - points to the threat faced by Ukrainians. Getty Images

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  Another writing on the fence of a destroyed building, in Andriivka, reads 'People children live here'. Getty Images

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  A bullet-riddled car near Ozera. Getty Images

"I spoke today with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz about how to bring to account all those guilty of war crimes, about how to strengthen sanctions against Russia and how to persuade Russia to seek peace," he said.

"I am happy to note that recently Germany's position is changing in Ukraine's favour. And I consider this absolutely logical as a majority of Germans support this policy.

"I am grateful to them. And I expect that everything we agreed will be implemented. This is very important."

Germany, reluctant in the early stages of the Russian invasion to provide Ukraine with arms, has now agreed to supply anti-tank weaponry and missiles.

Mr Zelenskyy, initially critical of Germany for failing to provide concrete help, particularly in an address to the Bundestag last month, has applauded Berlin's moves.