Ukraine president vows to defend country as Russia says separatists ‘ask for military help’

Volodymyr Zelenskiy appeals to Russian people to help prevent war after request from separatist leaders sets stage for Putin to order troops over border

• Ukraine crisis: live updates

Ukraine's president has made a desperate appeal to the Russian people asking them to listen to the voice of reason" and stop a war he said the Kremlin has already ordered.

After Ukraine declared a state of emergency and started calling up reservists, Volodymyr Zelenskiy delivered a 10-minute video address in the early hours of Thursday morning, saying Vladimir Putin had not taken his call.