“I do not want to become involved in political battles, particularly in the current situation,” Klitschko said in a video posted on Telegram.

“That is senseless. I have things to do in the city.”

Klitschko, who had been mired in several disputes with Zelenskiy before the invasion, said the president’s allies had engaged in “manipulation” about the city’s efforts, including “incomprehensible photos” posted online.

“To put it mildly, this is not nice. Not for Ukrainians or for our foreign partners,” Klitschko said. “Today, like never before, everyone must unite and work together. And here we have some sort of political games.”

Zelenskiy has in the past week promoted the efforts of thousands of “invincibility centres” set up throughout Ukraine to provide heat, water, internet and mobile phone links.