Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday that he had a conversation with Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan to discuss his people's "struggle against Russian aggression".

"Had a phone conversation with Prime Minister Imran Khan," Zelensky tweeted. "Spoke about our struggle against Russian aggression. The people of Ukraine seek peace. This is our unconditional priority," he added.

Imran Khan expressed deep regret that the military conflict is continuing. He added that he has been persistently highlighting the adverse economic impact of the conflict on the developing countries, manifest in rising prices of oil and commodities.

The premier also reiterated Pakistan’s principled position in support of immediate cessation of hostilities and resolution of the conflict in Ukraine through dialogue and diplomacy.

The development comes after PM Imran criticised the European Union ambassadors’ statement for wanting Pakistan to condemn Russia for the Ukraine invasion.

“Have you ever acknowledged Pakistan’s support in the war against terror which claimed 80,000 lives and caused other collateral damage,” he said while addressing a public gathering in Mailsi town of Vehari district earlier this month.

“Has anyone of you severed trade relations with India or objected to its unlawful actions,” PM Imran said. "Are we slaves and act according to your wishes?"

PM Imran's comments came in response to a press release issued by ambassadors of EU countries, asking Pakistan “to join them in condemning Russia’s actions [in Ukraine] and to voice support for upholding the UN Charter and the founding principles of international law”.

Earlier, the UN General Assembly overwhelmingly adopted a resolution, demanding that Russia "immediately" withdraw from Ukraine.

While Pakistan abstained from the vote, Islamabad underscored the need for a diplomatic solution to the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, hoping that talks initiated between the two countries in Belarus would bring about an end to hostilities.

Zelensky's phone call with PM Imran comes as Ukrainian and Russian negotiators held face-to-face talks in Istanbul, under the shadow of shock allegations that delegates were poisoned at a previous round of negotiations, according to AFP.

Russian forces have encircled the southern Ukrainian city of Mariupol and have embarked on a steady and indiscriminate bombardment, trapping an estimated 160,000 people with little food, water or medicine, AFP added.

At least 5,000 people have already died, according to one senior Ukrainian official who estimated the real toll may be closer to 10,000 when all the bodies are collected.

During his address to Danish parliamentarians, Zelensky also said more deaths had been confirmed after a Russian strike hit the regional government building in the southern Ukrainian city of Mykolaiv.

“As far as we know now seven people were killed, 22 were wounded, and people are still going through the rubble,” Zelensky said.

“There were no military ambitions in Mykolaiv, the people in Mykolaiv presented no threat to Russia. And even then, like all the Ukrainians, they became the targets for the Russian troops”, he said.

This story was originally published in Business Recorder on March 29, 2022.