Twenty-one people, including two children, were killed in airstrikes on the besieged northeast Ukrainian city of Sumy, the authorities said. "The bodies of 21 people, including two children" were found at the site of strikes, the regional public prosecutor said on Facebook.

21 killed in airstrikes on Ukraine's Sumy, first convoy of evacuees leaves city

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz urged Russian President Vladimir Putin in a telephone call on Friday to stop all hostilities in Ukraine and allow access for humanitarian aid, his office said.

German Chancellor Scholz urges Putin to end hostilities in Ukraine

Ukraine has waived off visa requirements for foreigners who want to fight against Russia as it continues to attack the country. "Anyone who wants to join the defense of Ukraine, Europe, and the world can come and fight side by side with the Ukrainians against the Russian war criminals," according to a statement on the Ukraine president's website.

Ukraine lifts visa requirements for foreigners who want to fight against Russia

The NATO alliance is deploying its rapid response force for the first time ever to bolster its eastern flank in the face of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. In response to Europe’s biggest security crisis in decades, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said, “We are now deploying the NATO Response Force for the first time in a collective defence context.

NATO announces 'historic' deployment of forces to bolster Eastern Europe after Ukraine invasion

US President Joe Biden has approved military aid for Ukraine worth $350 million as it struggles to repulse a Russian invasion. In a memorandum to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Biden directed that $350 million allocated through the Foreign Assistance Act be designated for Ukraine's defence.

US President Joe Biden approves military aid for Ukraine worth $350 million

Donetsk and Lugansk: Ukraine's breakaway republics

In an exclusive conversation with WION's correspondent Jodie Cohen, former ambassador of Israel to India, Mark Sofer has said that he is hopeful that diplomacy will solve the Ukraine crisis.

Exclusive: Hopeful that diplomacy will solve Ukraine crisis, says former ambassador of Israel to India

The Indian Embassy in Kyiv has issued an advisory to Indian nationals in Ukraine to leave the country temporarily in the midst of multiple war risks. "In view of the continued high levels of tensions and uncertainties with respect to the situation in Ukraine, all Indian nationals whose stay is not deemed essential and all Indian students, are advised to leave Ukraine temporarily," said the embassy in its new advisory.

India asks citizens to leave Ukraine temporarily amid Russian conflict

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said that he sees a to Taiwan if the West does not support Ukraine. He has demanded Western unity over Russia's threats to Ukraine, warning any invasion would send a "shock" around the world including in Asia.

Boris Johnson says threat to Taiwan if West does not support Ukraine

Poland's Deputy Foreign Minister Marcin Przydacz sees India's role as positive amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine crisis without taking Moscow's name and said, " You have relatively good relations with those countries.

Poland's Minister Przydacz sees India's 'positive' role amid the Ukraine-Russia crisis