Delegates from Ukraine and Russia have sat down for talks for the first time since the invasion started last week.

They gathered in southeastern Belarus near the border with Ukraine on Monday.

The Ukrainian side is urging an immediate ceasefire and withdrawal of Russia's military.

The Russian delegation is demanding what it calls "demilitarization" of Ukraine and a guarantee it will remain neutral. Moscow apparently wants legal assurance that Ukraine won't join NATO.

Russian ground troops are closing in on the capital, Kyiv, and Ukraine's second-largest city, Kharkiv.

Ukraine's military is putting up strong resistance.

A local governor said on social media that the Russians had been driven away.

The mayor of Bucha, a city some 20 kilometers northwest of the capital, posted a video on social media.

Anatolyy Fedoruk said, "This was all caused by the Russian invasion. Our troops fought well. Glory be to Ukraine."

The mayor said Ukrainians will not forgive their enemies, and will rebuild all that has been destroyed.

Children are among the victims. A six-year-old girl was rushed to a hospital after being severely wounded in Russian shelling.

Her doctor said, "President Putin should look at the girl's eyes and see the grief of her parents." The hospital's staff was not able to save her.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says 16 children were killed and 45 wounded during the first four days of the invasion.

Railway stations are packed with people trying to flee Ukraine...most of them women and children.

Ukrainian men aged between 18 and 60 are not allowed to leave, so they can help with the country's defense.

The leaders of Japan and Ukraine talked by phone on Monday.

Prime Minister Kishida Fumio told Zelenskyy that Japan will restrict transactions with Russia's central bank as an additional sanction on Moscow.

Kishida said, "I told the president that Japan stands by Ukraine, and conveyed my heartfelt condolences for the victims of Russian aggression. I also conveyed our firm support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity."

The government is also considering sanctions against senior officials of Belarus, citing the country's support for Russia's military action.

People across the world have taken to the streets to protest the invasion.

Russian citizens are also holding demonstrations despite crackdowns by police.