INTERNATIONAL: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Wednesday ,March 16, has said negotiations with Russia would continue amid signs of a compromise at peace talks.

Speaking in a video address, Zelenskiy has said his priorities for negotiations were an end to the war with "real guarantees" for Ukraine's security and the "restoration of territorial integrity."

Earlier on Wednesday, the Kremlin has said negotiators were discussing a status for Ukraine similar to that of Austria or Sweden, both members of the European Union that are outside the NATO military alliance.

Zelenskiy has said Ukraine could accept international security guarantees that stopped short of its longstanding aim to join NATO, one of Russia's main demands before it invaded.

Zelenskiy has also said 6,000 people had been evacuated from Mariupol but that Russian mortar fire had wounded five Ukrainians, including two children, who were travelling in a convoy from the besieged city. Moscow denies targeting civilians.

In Chernihiv, ten people were killed by Russian forces while waiting in a line for bread, Zelenskiy has added. Russia denied the attack and said the incident was a hoax.