Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stressed the importance of protecting international order in the face of the Russian invasion. He made the comments in an online speech addressing the Shangri-La Dialogue, an Asian security forum held in Singapore.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine is one of the main topics of this year's conference.

Zelenskyy said Russia was preventing a neighbor from existing freely as an independent state and was killing many Ukrainian people.

He warned that Africa and Asia faced severe food shortages due to Russia's blockade of Black Sea ports.

Zelenskyy called on participants, who are involved in defense affairs in the Asia-Pacific region, not to let powerful countries do as they wish.

He said diplomacy should always be the first option when resolving an issue. Zelenskyy also said supporting Ukraine is in the interest of future peace for all.