Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Friday that Mariupol is one of the most complicated points of this war, accusing Russians of blockades and torture with starvation, during a virtual event held by policy institute Chatham House to discuss the war.

When asked about the situation in Mariupol, Zelensky said all the international organizations — including Ukrainian ones — are prohibited from entering the area to provide water, food and other supplies to civilians.

“If they kill people who can be exchanged - as POWs, or just released as civilians, or be helped as wounded or injured, civilian and military alike - if they destroy them, I don’t think we can have any diplomatic talks with them after that”, - Zelensky said.

“Those hidden in Azovstal have no access to food, medicine or other aid. This is a beastly attitude. Anyone would agree it’s not human.

That’s how the military, the Russian military, treats people. That’s inhuman treatment, of humankind...the cruelty, the sheer cruelty, the assured degrading and torture...This is not a military event. This is torturing, this is terrorism and hatred”, - said Volodymyr Zelensky.

The United Nations has been rushing to evacuate as many civilians as possible from the area, with about 500 rescued in recent weeks.