Some believe this is a movie and expect results now. It's not.Lives are at stake

PRESIDENT Volodymyr Zelensky yesterday admitted the progress of the Ukrainian counter-offensive has been "slower than desired".

-  Michael Knowles

But the country's leader insisted the safety of his people was more important than the speedy, blockbuster-style ending some analysts might have been anticipating.

He said: "Some people believe this is a Hollywood movie and expect results now. It's not. What is at stake is people's lives.

"Whatever some might want, including attempts to pressure us, with all due respect, we will advance on the battlefield the way we deem best."

Ukrainian forces have so far reclaimed eight villages in the Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk regions, but are struggling to move swiftly through heavily-mined battlefields.

But the president said "victories on the battlefield are necessary" and vowed his forces will not stop fighting while Russian troops are in his country.

He said: "No matter how far we advance in our counter-offensive, we will not agree to a frozen conflict because that is war, that is a prospectless development for Ukraine".