Russia-Ukraine war: Zelensky holds 'productive' talks with Biden

In the aftermath of an explosion that damaged the bridge linking Russia and Crimea, the former has mounted aggressive missile attacks on Ukraine. Consequently, allies US and Germany have stepped up and promised to rush air defence systems to Kyiv's rescue.

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In an emergency meeting of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Ukraine ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya, in an impassioned speech, called for deterring Russia.

“Russia has proven once again, that this is a terrorist state that must be deterred in the strongest possible ways,” said Sergiy. He added that Russia’s illegal annexations pose an “existential threat” to the UN charter.

"Should russian convulsions went on I’d be compelled to request Secretariat to bring a defibrillator - russian delegation needed an emergency room in a general hospital rather than emergency session in General Assembly. Bowing under UA colors at ru #77UNGA seat is act of exorcism!" he later tweeted. 

In a message posted on Telegram, Ukraine President Volodymr Zelensky said he had a productive conversation with his US counterpart regarding the ongoing developments.

"Had a productive conversation with US President Joe Biden. The main topic of discussion was air defence. Currently, this is the number 1 priority in our defense cooperation. America's leadership, G7's tough stance and support for our UNGA resolution is very important for Ukraine," wrote the Ukrainian President. 

In the wake of Russian missile attacks on cities across Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky is planning to address the West at emergency G7 meeting
 

White House said on Monday (October 10) that it did not have any indication that Russia was preparing to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine.

"We take any nuclear weapons or nuclear saber rattling very seriously here. But I do want to say that we have not seen any reason to adjust our own strategic nuclear posture, nor do we have indication that Russia is preparing to imminently use nuclear weapons," said Karine Jean-Pierre, White House Press Secretary.

US President Joe Biden has spoken on Russian missile strikes across Ukraine condemning their 'utter brutality'.

"The United States strongly condemns Russia's missile strikes today across Ukraine," Biden said in a statement.

"These attacks killed and injured civilians and destroyed targets with no military purpose," he said.

"They once again demonstrate the utter brutality of Mr. Putin's illegal war on the Ukrainian people."

In light of the Russian missile strikes across Ukraine, India has asked its citizens to avoid non-essential travel 'to and within Ukraine'

Here is the full statement issued by Indian embassy in Kyiv.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has condemned Russia's 'horrific strikes' across Ukraine.

Blinken said he had spoken to his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba "to reiterate US support for Ukraine following the Kremlin's horrific strikes this morning."

"We will continue to provide unwavering economic, humanitarian, and security assistance so Ukraine can defend itself and take care of its people," Blinken tweeted.

Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko slammed Russia saying that it was conducting a "war against civilians". He has also said that Russia was carrying out "genocide" of Ukrainians and that "Putin needs Ukraine without Ukrainians."

Germany has now said that air defence system would be provided to Ukraine in a matter of days. The comments have come on a day when Russian missile strikes hit targets across Ukraine.

It was earlier expected that Germany would provide these systems by year-end. But Defence Minister Christine Lambrecht said the first would now be "ready for the effective protection of people in the coming days". 

"The latest rocket strikes on Kyiv and many other cities clearly underline the importance of the rapid delivery of air defence systems to Ukraine," she added.

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres has slammed Russian missile strikes across Ukraine as 'unacceptable escalation'.

"The Secretary-General is deeply shocked by today's large-scale missile attacks by the armed forces of the Russian Federation on cities across Ukraine that reportedly resulted in widespread damage to civilian areas and led to dozens of people being killed and injured," Guterres's spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.

"This constitutes another unacceptable escalation of the war and, as always, civilians are paying the highest price."

(File photo)

French President Emmanuel Macron has said that Russian missile strikes across Ukraine represent a 'profound change' in the nature of Ukraine war. 

He was speaking with reporters during a trip to Mayenne region of France. He said that he would convene his diplomatic and military advisors when he returned to Paris.

The United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan is visiting Moscow to meet Vladimir Putin, reported state media. He will be one of the few leaders to visit Moscow since Ukraine war started.

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan "will discuss with President Putin the friendly relations between the UAE and Russia along with a number of regional and international issues and developments of common interest," the UAE's state news agency WAM said Monday.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has vowed more 'severe' attacks on a day Russian missile strikes pounded cities across Ukraine.

"Let there be no doubt," Putin said in televised comments addressed to his security council, "if attempts at terrorist attacks continue, the response from Russia will be severe."

Putin's predecessor, Dmitry Medvedev, warned on social media that the strikes -- which disrupted water and electricity services across Ukraine -- were only "the first episode".

Russian strikes across Ukraine have till now claimed 11 lives. The tally is feared to increase.

India has said that it is 'deeply concerned' at the escalation of conflict. Arindam Bagchi, Spokesperson of External Affairs Ministry of India, said that escalation of conflict was in no one's interest.

"India is deeply concerned at the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine, including targeting of infrastructure and deaths of civilians," he said.

"We reiterate that escalation of hostilities is in no one’s interest. We urge immediate cessation of hostilities and the urgent return to the path of diplomacy and dialogue. India stands ready to support all such efforts aimed at de-escalation."

"India has consistently maintained since the beginning of the conflict that the global order is anchored in the principles of the UN Charter, international law and respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states.”

The European Commission has announced that it plans to extend EU scheme for protection of Ukrainian refugees till 2024.

Ylva Johansson, EU Home Affairs Commissioner said that Ukrainians who go home and are forced to flee again need not "de-register" from the scheme.

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Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko has made an impassioned plea to international community in the wake of Russian missile attacks across Ukraine

"This is city of Kyiv, just an hour ago, this attack, another attack, continued attack of Russia on Ukraine killed civilians. Millions of people living in the city of Kyiv and this war and so-called free world must help us Ukrainians, continuing help us Ukrainians to stop this genocide of the Ukrainian population and destruction of life our infrastructure and our cities," he said.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has said that Russian President Vladimie Putin is 'deperate because of battlefield defeats.' His words have come in the backdrop of Russian strikes across Ukraine on Monday.

Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24 this year. In recent weeks, Russian forces have had to retreat in the face of Ukrainian counter-attacks.

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The Russian foreign ministry has said that Russian strikes on Ukraine have 'achieved their objective'.

Earlier today, the Kremlin indicated that Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet the head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi on Tuesday, in Russia. 

This comes amid the growing calls of the IAEA and Grossi for demilitarising the zone near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine, for months now. Furthermore, Putin will also meet the President of the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday, said the Kremlin. 
 

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell: 

"Such acts have no place in (the) 21st century. I condemn them in the strongest possible terms," Borrell tweeted. 

"We stand with Ukraine. Additional military support from the EU is on its way," he aded. Borrell apparently referred to a new tranche of funding the EU is looking to agree for military spending for Ukraine.

UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly: 

"This is a demonstration of weakness by (Vladimir) Putin, not strength," Cleverly tweeted. He added that he had contacted his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba. 

Poland's Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau: 

The bombing of "cities and civilians is an act of barbarism and a war crime. Russia cannot win this war. We stand behind you Ukraine!" Zbigniew Rau wrote on Twitter. Rau called it "an act of barbarism and a war crime". 

President of Belarus, Aleksandr Lukashenko, accused Ukraine of preparing an attack on Belarus. 

According to Lviv mayor Andriy Sadovyi, the in western Ukraine faced power and hot water outages as a result of bombardments that targeted vital infrastructure, including energy facilities. 

Sadovyi said on social media: "Due to the lack of electricity, the operation of the city's thermal power plants has been temporarily suspended. Therefore hot water is not provided at the moment."

Sadovyi added that "part of the city was without electricity". 

Zelensky claims that Russia used Iranian drones in Monday's attacks. 

Zelensky also said that the Russian strikes targeted the Ukrainian energy infrastructure. Russian forces launched at least 75 missiles at Ukraine on Monday morning, according to the commander of the Ukrainian armed forces, with lethal strikes aimed at the country's capital Kyiv and cities in the south and west. 

General Valeriy Zaluzhny said on social media: "The terrorist country, Russia, has carried out massive missile and air strikes on the territory of Ukraine, also using attack drones. In the morning, the aggressor launched 75 missiles. 41 of them were shot down by our air defence." 

At least five people were killed and 12 others were hurt in a barrage of Russian airstrikes early on Monday on the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, according to the national police agency.

The national police service said in a statement on Facebook: "The enemy launched massive strikes on Kyiv. Most of the strikes hit the centre of the capital. At the moment, 12 people are reported injured. Five people died." 

A wheelchair-bound paraplegic Russian man received his orders to join the army in its invasion of Ukraine. Oleg Vasiliev, a man who can barely move his body due to spinal muscular atrophy has been ordered to report to his local draft office. 

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According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, there have been fatalities and injuries as a result of numerous strikes on Ukrainian cities, including the first bombardment of the capital in months. 

Zelensky said on social media: "Air raid sirens are not subsiding around Ukraine... Unfortunately there are dead and wounded. Please do not leave the shelters." 

He accused Russia of wanting to "wipe us from the face of the Earth". 

A day after Moscow accused Kyiv of being responsible for an explosion on a bridge linking Crimea to Russia, Ukraine's presidency claimed Monday that there had been strikes on "several" locations within the country. 

Kyrylo Tymoshenko, who is the deputy head of the president's office, said on social media: "Ukraine is under missile attack. There is information about strikes in many cities of our country." 

Tymoshenko urged the people to "stay in shelters". 

Vitali Klitschko, the mayor of Kyiv, posted on social media, "Several explosions in the Shevchenkivskyi neighbourhood — in the centre of the capital." 

Videos shared on social media showed black smoke spouting above a number of metropolitan neighbourhoods. 
 
Russia's last strike on Kyiv took place on June 26. 

A day after Russian President Vladimir Putin accused Ukraine of being responsible for an explosion on a Crimea bridge, three loud explosions were reported early on Monday in central Kyiv, according to AFP correspondents there. 

Air raid sirens sounded in the Ukrainian capital more than an hour before the explosions, which occurred at approximately 08:15 local time (05:15 GMT).