The first set of talks involving the Russian and Ukrainian foreign ministers has ended without any progress.

The talks were held in Turkey amid international condemnation of a Russian airstrike on maternity hospital in the city of Mariupol.

After the talks Ukraine’s foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said the ongoing siege at the south-eastern city remains the biggest problem facing his country.

"We will not surrender"

Speaking after the talks he said the Russian side warned that it would continue its invasion until Ukraine meets their demands.

“The list of those demands includes surrender,” he said. “This is why it is not acceptable to us.”

He said Ukraine’s fighters would not put down their weapons.

“Ukraine is strong; Ukraine is fighting,” he said.

“Ukraine made Russian initial plans fail. We are ready to seek balanced diplomatic solutions to Putin and this war – but we will not surrender.”

Western suport

Speaking through a translator, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov criticise western nations for the support they have shown Ukraine.

“Yes, we see how dangerously our western colleagues are acting,” he said. “Supplying weapons, including thousands of rocket launchers.”

Meanwhile a German Government official said the Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron urged Vladimir Putin to implement a ceasefire immediately during talks over the phone today.

Hospitals

Earlier Ukraine said two more hospitals had been hit by Russian airstrikes, with the President Volodymyr Zelenskyy calling for international support before it’s “too late”.

He said millions of people could die if the west fails to act now.

Meanwhile, the Taoiseach is today traveling to France for an informal summit of EU leaders.

The Versailles summit is being hosted by President Macron and will focus on Europe's response to the war in Ukraine.

In Ireland meanwhile, a Fine Gael Senator is calling for carbon Tax to be lifted while crisis continues and an Independent TD is calling for all taxes on fuel to be lifted.