Turkey welcomes more than 20,000 Ukrainian refugees fleeing Russia invasion, while UK takes 300

Turkey has taken in more than 20,000 Ukrainian citizens since the start of Russia's invasion of the country,  Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu has said.

Ukrainians are able to enter Turkey under a visa waiver programme which allows them to stay for up to 90 days.

"We do not discriminate against any race, regardless if they have blonde hair and blue eyes. We are Muslim and we embrace victims wherever they come from," Soylu was quoted by Turkish media as saying.

He also took a shot at Western states and the UN Security Council, echoing President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's criticism of the system which gives precedence to five world powers over other states.

"Where is your Security Council? Go ahead and solve this problem," Soylu said.

Soylu's remarks came as European states scrambled to accommodate the outflow of refugees from Ukraine as Russia's military assault continues.

Russia's invasion has forced 2 million people from their homes, the UN refugee agency has said, most seeking shelter in neighbouring countries.

The UN refugee agency UNHCR said 2,011,312 people have fled since Russia launched its brutal assault on Ukraine on 24 February, with Poland hosting around 1.3 million Ukrainian refugees.

The UK has meanwhile issued visas to only 300 Ukrainians.

Most refugees are fleeing Russia's bombardments of packed cities such as Kyiv and Kharkiv, with thousands of civilians believed killed in shelling and rocket fire.