Ukraine assured the governments of foreign students still trapped in the country that they are extending all necessary assistance to their nationals but said they cannot be safely evacuated unless Russia stops its attacks.

Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Minister Dmytro Kuleba made the statement as more foreign students take to social media their pleas to be evacuated amid the ongoing armed conflict in Eastern Europe.

The tension between Ukraine and Russia escalated during the last week of February 2022 when Russia started its invasion of the former Soviet republic.

In a virtual press briefing with the international press early Sunday (Manila time), Kuleba said Ukraine has set up measures to help foreign students leave the country.

"To facilitate the withdrawal, the movement of foreigners from Sumy and Kharkiv, Ukraine arranged some trains. We'll also set up a hotline that the foreign students can address," he said.

"We work closely with relevant embassies and coordinate our efforts with them. Our border guards were instructed to provide foreign students with all necessary assistance," he added.

"The Ukrainian government is doing its best to allow foreign students to leave the country in the safest way possible under the circumstances," he continued.

However, Kuleba said the total evacuation will be impossible if Russia will not do its part.

"If Russia stops manipulating the issue of foreign students and stops the fire and reaches a ceasefire, they will all be safely evacuated," he said.

"What we observe now is the manipulation by Russia. They accuse, they try to win the sympathy of the countries I mentioned by accusing Ukraine of keeping these foreign students as hostages, of violating their rights, of discriminating them," he added.

He called on the governments of India, China, Nigeria, and other countries whose foreign students are still stranded in Sumy and Kharkiv to appeal to Russia to cease attacking so foreigners can leave safely.

"I encourage you, I call on you to appeal to Russia stop the fire and allow civilians to leave these cities through the territory of Ukraine," Kuleba said.

The top Ukrainian official likewise denied allegations that foreigners in Ukraine are being discriminated against.

"For 30 years, Ukraine was a real home for your students and it continues to be a home for them even under the fire of Russia," he said.

"Trust me, your students, your nationals who are living in Ukraine, they enjoy the same level of support from their Ukrainian neighbors, friends," he added.