The authorities of the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) have previously said that they are planning tribunals for suspected war crimes committed by Ukrainian troops, including members of the Azov Battalion, whose ranks include fighters with openly nationalist and neo-Nazi views.
Zelensky, in a video address early Monday, said:
"If this despicable show trial takes place... This will be the line beyond which any negotiations are impossible. Russia will cut itself off from any negotiations. Such a trial would be a violation of international law."Zelensky's statement comes after photos appeared on social media allegedly showing large cages being installed on the stage of the Mariupol Philharmonic. Ukraine's military intelligence service, the GUR, said that the cells will be used to house Ukrainian troops captured by Russian and Donbass forces during the siege of the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol. They were largely drawn from the Azov Battalion.
Comment: Donbass had something to say about Zelensky's ultimatum: