President Duda in Kiev: this is not war, this is terrorism

In Kyiv to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy alongside the three leaders of the Baltic states, Duda told a news conference: "This is not war, this is terrorism."

He added that Russia, along with its government, could not be tolerated. "You don't engage in a dialogue with those who break all the rules," he said.

Polish president also stressed that those responsible for war crimes in Ukraine should be punished by international courts.

Concluding his speech, Andrzej Duda said he hoped Ukraine would become a member of the European Union as a free, sovereign, independent, and self-determining state.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy thanked the "wonderful leaders of Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, who have always stood shoulder to shoulder with us and from the beginning of war have been first to support Ukraine". He added that "at the moment they are the first to support Ukraine, which is to become a member of the European family".

"They are also the first to impose sanctions on the Russian Federation. These leaders defend us (...) even if we speak about arms deliveries, equipping our army, these leaders are always the first," he said. "Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia always stand shoulder to shoulder with our country," he stressed.

He admitted he would like Ukraine to have such good relations with all the other countries. "I'm sure that these four countries will be mentioned first in history books in the future, and there's a bright future ahead of us, as now that we have such partners and friends we will certainly prevail," Zelenskiy said.

The presidents had earlier visited the towns of Bucha, Borodyanka and Irpin just outside Kyiv, where the discovery of slain civilians after Russian forces withdrew has provoked a global outcry.

"I just cannot compare even with Nazis, I think this is worse than Nazis," Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said as he witnessed the rubble of destroyed high-rise housing blocks in Borodyanka, about 60 km (37 miles) northwest of Kyiv.

"There were whole families murdered and then buried on the spot, there were infants raped. Hate and beastliness came out. These were not humans (who did it), they were a mistake of nature. This terrible war must be stopped," he said, standing in front of burned-out residential high-rises.

"The world must understand: there is no time for considerations, there is no time for diplomatic twists and turns. We must take immediate action to stop the aggressor," he added.

The presidents of Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Kyiv on Wednesday, adding to a procession of European leaders pledging backing for Ukraine against Russia's invasion.

European politicians have flocked by train to the Ukrainian capital since Russian forces withdrew from the country's north in the face of strong Ukrainian resistance earlier this month.

The meeting was to focus on ways to assist civilians and the military in Ukraine, said a spokesperson for Estonian President Alar Karis, as well as with investigations into allegations of Russian war crimes which Moscow has denied.

The four presidents' visit came a day after U.S. President Joe Biden said Moscow's invasion of Ukraine amounted to genocide, while Russian President Vladimir Putin promised Moscow would "rhythmically and calmly" continue its operation and achieve its goals.

Putin sent his troops into Ukraine on Feb. 24 on what he calls a "special military operation" to demilitarise and "denazify" the country. Ukraine and the West say Putin launched an unprovoked war of aggression.