This prolonged assault, occurring on Saturday night, marks one of the most intense overnight aerial bombardments in months, as Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine extends into its third year. An attack on the city's Institute of Cardiology resulted in the deaths of a nurse and a patient, emergency services disclosed. President Zelensky also noted that a large bakery, residential buildings, civilian infrastructure, and an automobile rubber factory were intentionally struck.

President Zelensky promised that Ukraine "will strike back" to "force diplomacy" from Russia, adding that he expects a "strong reaction" from the United States and Europe. "This dastardly attack took place in fact as the end of the week of the UN General Assembly, and this is how Russia declares its real position," Zelensky stated. The Ukrainian leader reiterated his support for US President Donald Trump's proposal of stricter sanctions against Russia, along with his demand that European allies limit Russian oil and gas imports.

The regions of Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv, Sumy, Khmelnytskyi, Odesa, and Chernihiv also experienced impacts from the attacks, Zelensky indicated. Governor Ivan Fedorov stated that 31 people were wounded in the Zaporizhzhia region, including three children: two boys, aged 11 and 12, and a nine-year-old girl. Additionally, a 59-year-old man was confirmed dead in strikes within the Sumy region, according to its regional governor.

President Trump has recently adjusted his stance on the war, suggesting last week for the first time that Ukraine is capable of reclaiming land lost to Moscow as the protracted conflict weakened the Russian economy. Despite this, the US president has refrained from imposing further sanctions on Russia, though he appears increasingly frustrated by the Kremlin's lack of eagerness to initiate peace discussions.

President Zelensky cautioned that Russia would not be confined to his country, which he believes is why European air defenses are being tested through incursions into several nations belonging to the NATO alliance. Responding to the strikes on western Ukraine, jets were scrambled in neighboring Poland early on Sunday, the nation's armed forces reported. While denying any intent to attack NATO or EU states during a speech at the UN General Assembly, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov did issue a warning of a "decisive response" to any "aggression" directed toward Moscow, Reuters reports.

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He made the remark in response to a reporter's question during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.

Later, in a post on his social media platform following the meeting, Trump wrote that he believes Ukraine can win the war against Russia.

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"We could have continued with this flag, but sometimes embarrassing situations can arise with foreign visitors," explained Colonel Tomi Bhem, head of the air defense force of the air wing in the Karelia region, in an interview with Finnish public broadcaster YLE. "Sometimes it's wise to move with the times."

Although Finnish defense forces claim the flag renewal program, launched in 2023 with Finland's NATO membership, is not directly related to alliance membership, the newspaper Helsingin Sanomat revealed the symbol is perceived as "embarrassing in international contexts."

It was also reported that in 2021, German units refused to participate in a closing ceremony of a joint exercise due to the use of swastika flags.

The story behind the controversial symbol began in 1918, shortly after Finland gained independence from the Russian Empire. A Swedish count named Erik von Rosen donated Finland's first military aircraft, and the plane bore his personal symbol, a swastika. Von Rosen, who was a researcher and ethnographer, was the brother-in-law of Hermann Göring, a senior Nazi Party member and commander of the Luftwaffe, the Nazi air force.

Finland fought alongside Nazi Germany in the Continuation War (1941-1944) against the Soviet Union, attempting to regain territories lost in the Winter War. Despite the military alliance, Finland refused to adopt Nazi antisemitic ideology, and Finnish Jews served in its army, and it refused to hand over its Jewish citizens to the Germans. Only at the war's end did Finland switch sides and declare war on Germany.

The new flags will feature an eagle instead of the swastika, and they will be introduced after their preparation is complete, though the Finnish military did not specify when this will be finished. "Von Rosen's swastika has been used by us since 1918, but we already removed it from most air force symbols in previous reforms," stated the message to AP. "Removing it from unit flags is simply a logical continuation."

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French President Emmanuel Macron intends to persuade European Union countries to stop purchasing American defense equipment and instead buy European-made alternatives, POLITICO reported.

Macron, who has long advocated directing defense spending toward EU products, expressed his desire to convince European nations that have grown accustomed to American military hardware to shift to local options. "My intention is to go and convince European states that have become accustomed to buying American," he said in an interview with several French media including Nice-Matin and Le Parisien.

The French president specifically mentioned alternatives to popular American systems. "Those who buy Patriot should be offered the new-generation Franco-Italian SAMP/T. Those who buy the F-35, should be offered the Rafale. That's the way to increase the rate of production," Macron stated.

Macron's comments come at a time when European NATO members have grown increasingly dependent on US weapons, POLITICO noted. This month, both the Netherlands and Belgium confirmed they would continue purchasing American-made F-35 fighter jets, while Portugal is reconsidering replacing its US-made F-16 fighter jets with more modern F-35s because of "the recent position of the United States, in the context of NATO."

The French president has asked defense companies in his country to reduce bureaucracy and costs to become more attractive options for other European nations, Nice-Matin reported.

Macron also clarified what a potential deployment of European troops to assist Ukraine might entail. The objective would be to "deploy a few thousand men per nation, at key points, to carry out training programs" and "show our support over the long term," he explained.

When discussing the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Macron stated that the conditions set by Russian President Vladimir Putin for a ceasefire are "unacceptable," saying: "This would mean a partial invasion of Ukraine and a freeze on the conflict, without offering any security or guarantees for the future."

The French leader also announced upcoming reforms to the "Service National Universel" – a voluntary program for young people aged 15 to 17 that includes sporting activities, civic education, and time spent at government organizations or NGOs. However, he ruled out reinstating mandatory military service.

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US President Joe Biden issued a special statement Monday to mark the first anniversary of the October 7 tragedy. He spoke of a day that should have been a joyous Jewish holiday but instead became the deadliest for the Jewish people since the Holocaust. Biden expressed profound sorrow for the loss of more than 1,200 lives, including 46 Americans, and reaffirmed his commitment to Israel's security and the release of hostages still held by Hamas.

In his statement, Biden said: "Today marks one year of mourning for the more than 1,200 innocent people of all ages, including 46 Americans, massacred in southern Israel by the terrorist group Hamas. One year since Hamas committed horrific acts of sexual violence.  One year since more than 250 innocents were taken hostage, including 12 Americans. One year for the survivors carrying wounds, seen and unseen, who will never be the same. And one year of a devastating war."

Biden emphasized that the United States stands behind Israel's right to defend itself against attacks from Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthi rebels. He recalled how American forces assisted in protecting Israel from Iran's ballistic missile attack just last week.

Biden condemned the global surge in antisemitism and called for a united front against all forms of hatred. He also expressed hope that October 7 would be remembered as a dark day for Palestinians due to the conflict it sparked. "We will not stop working to achieve a ceasefire deal in Gaza that brings the hostages home, allows for a surge in humanitarian aid to ease the suffering on the ground, assures Israel's security, and ends this war," he said.

The president concluded with a call for unity and reaffirmed his administration's commitment to regional stability and diplomatic solutions. "We also continue to believe that a diplomatic solution across the Israel-Lebanon border region is the only path to restore lasting calm and allow residents on both sides to return safely to their homes."

Vice President Kamala Harris reiterated her commitment to Israel's security and the release of the hostages: "I will do everything in my power to ensure that the threat Hamas poses is eliminated, that it is never again able to govern Gaza, that it fails in its mission to annihilate Israel, and that the people of Gaza are free from the grip of Hamas. I will never stop fighting for the release of all the hostages, including the seven American citizens, living and deceased, still held: Omer, Edan, Sagui, Keith, Judy, Gad, and Itay."

October 7, 2023 was a day of unimaginable horrors for Israel.

In observance of the one-year anniversary, I ask my fellow Texans to join me in a moment of silence for the people of Israel and the seven Americans still held hostage.

Texas will always stand with Israel. pic.twitter.com/mAHWl3aB7H

— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) September 30, 2024

 Texas Governor Greg Abbott proclaimed October 7, 2024, as a "day of observance for Israel" in a statement: "During this observance, flags of the State of Texas and the United States of America will be lowered to half-staff, and many entities across the state will erect moving displays featuring empty chairs to symbolize the Americans kept from their loved ones."

French President Emmanuel Macron, who recently suggested considering an arms embargo on Israel, tweeted in Hebrew, English, and French: "October 7. The pain remains, as vivid as it was a year ago. The pain of the Israeli people. Ours. The pain of wounded humanity. We do not forget the victims, the hostages, or the families with broken hearts from absence or waiting. I send them our fraternal thoughts."

October 7.

The pain remains, as vivid as it was a year ago. The pain of the Israeli people. Ours. The pain of wounded humanity.

We do not forget the victims, the hostages, or the families with broken hearts from absence or waiting. I send them our fraternal thoughts.

— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) October 7, 2024

 European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who was among the first to visit Israel and express public support after October 7, issued a special statement Monday morning: "There can be no justification for Hamas' acts of terror. They brought immense suffering not only upon the people of Israel, but also upon innocent Palestinians. We reiterate our call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, for the unconditional release of all hostages and for an end to the conflict. One year on, the humanitarian situation in Gaza is appalling. The European Union will keep doing its utmost to mobilise financial assistance and facilitate deliveries and distribution of humanitarian aid, to the Palestinian people, and now also in Lebanon. Hamas' terrorist attacks on Israel ignited a spiral of violence which has brought the entire region to a state of extreme tension and volatility. All parties must act responsibly, with restraint, and engage to de-escalate the current tensions."

She also addressed goals for after the wars end: "While we address the immediate crisis, the European Union is ready to help prepare for the day after. We will work in support of all efforts to set the conditions for a durable peace, leading to a two-state solution, where Israel and Palestine coexist side-by-side in peace, with security for both. It's the only viable path forward, to finally end the suffering."

The new NATO Secretary General and former Dutch Prime Minister, Mark Rutte, expressed support for Israel: "One year on from October 7, my thoughts are with the people of #Israel, with the families of the victims and hostages taken by Hamas. I welcome efforts by Allies to bring about a ceasefire, the unconditional release of all hostages, and an end to the conflict."

Dutch politician Geert Wilders, known for his staunch support of Israel, tweeted a message of solidarity against the backdrop of the Israeli flag: "Today we honor the innocent victims of the barbaric Islamic terrorist attack on October 7 last year in Israel. But commemorating isn't enough; there must also be commitment. This day's memory only holds value when we wholeheartedly support Israel in its existential struggle for survival, while those behind the attacks – the terrorist organizations Hamas, Hezbollah, and all their affiliates – are destroyed. We must confront antisemites in our country and expel them wherever possible."

Argentinian President Javier Milei tweeted in Hebrew and English, "Our hearts are captive in Gaza. BRING THEM HOME NOW."

הלב שלנו שבוי בעזה
BRING THEM HOME NOW

— Javier Milei (@JMilei) October 7, 2024

 Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, a known supporter of Israel, also issued a statement: "A year after the October 7 massacre it feels as though the world is forgetting the horror and the evil that took place that day. It is time for us to stand with Israel. Bring back moral clarity. Bring back the hostages."

A year after the October 7 massacre it feels as though the world is forgetting the horror and the evil that took place that day.

It is time for us to stand with Israel.

Bring back moral clarity. Bring back the hostages. pic.twitter.com/fkhQ6eulBn

— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) October 7, 2024

Other politicians also expressed solidarity with Israel on its day of mourning. Matteo Salvini, Italy's Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, wrote: "A year after the horrific massacre on October 7, our thoughts are with the Israeli people – with children killed in their cradles, young lives cut short, women violated, those who died in captivity, and those still held hostage. We must always remember Israel's right to exist, to defend itself against Islamic terror, and finally to live in peace with its neighbors."

In Germany, the hostage symbol was placed in the German Parliament. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz posted a picture of the hostage symbol in the Bundestag and wrote, "We share your grief."

Justice Minister Marco Buschmann added: "The Hamas terror attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, was the largest mass murder of Jews since the end of the Holocaust. Israel continues to be a target for terrorist actions. As any country would, Israel defends itself against these attacks... We protect Jewish life in Germany... We stand with Israel and with the Jews in Germany."

We share your grief. pic.twitter.com/T89QnG1QOE

— Bundeskanzler Olaf Scholz (@Bundeskanzler) October 7, 2024

 Several foreign ministries worldwide also sent special messages. The Danish Foreign Ministry tweeted: "Today, on 7 October, we mourn the loss of lives caused by Hamas' brutal terrorist attack against Israel one year ago. More than 100 people are still held hostages in Gaza. Our thoughts go out to all of those affected by the tragic event."

Spain's Foreign Ministry, one of the more critical voices towards Israel, also published a statement. However, Israel's name was notably absent: "The Spanish Government recalls and restates its strongest condemnation of the atrocious Hamas terrorist attacks of 7 October 2023 and conveys its solidarity to the families and relatives of the victims."

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Former NATO officers who toured Israel last week commended the Israel Defense Forces' operations and believe Israel is nearing its war objectives. After visiting the Rafah area and the Philadelphi Corridor, the trio emphatically recommends that Israel maintain its presence in the region. The officers' visit was organized by the ELNET organization, aimed at strengthening Israel-Europe relations, as part of a larger delegation comprising about 15 former NATO commanders and officers. The group engaged with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, received detailed briefings from top IDF and defense officials, met with families of hostages, and surveyed affected communities. A scheduled visit to the northern city of Kiryat Shmona was called off due to Hezboallah's intense attacks.

Retired Brigadier General Marius Dumitru Crăciun, former head of Romanian special forces, noted that in Romania and across Europe, there's a lack of comprehensive understanding about the war's realities. Addressing criticism, also voiced within Israel, that the war's goals remain unmet, Crăciun argues, "Critics fail to grasp the nature of this combat environment. This isn't 20th-century warfare – it's 21st century, fundamentally different. The IDF is employing unprecedented tactics. Previously, it was about boots on the ground – now it's also about boots underground. You can't conclude this until you've cleared everything above and below ground. Hamas had a decade to prepare for this."

Getting the job done 

Q: What do you think about the controversy over the Philadelphi Corridor?

 "It must remain under military control. Relinquishing it is not an option." Crăciun commends the IDF's leadership quality: "The generals I've encountered are exemplary commanders, arguably the IDF's greatest asset." 

Q: From a military standpoint, how do you assess the IDF's performance over these 11 months? Are the objectives being met?

 "Yes. While you haven't achieved all goals as total clearance is pending – you're on the right trajectory and heading in the correct direction. You need to get the job done." 

Q: Meanwhile, our hostages are being murdered.

 "Indeed, it's a brutal tactic. Meeting with the parents was heartbreaking. As a parent and grandparent, I empathize deeply with their anguish. However, at the political level, the broader national interest must be considered. Such blackmail cannot be yielded to. Using innocent kidnapped children as leverage against Israel is utterly reprehensible. Sadly, this isn't unprecedented in history, nor likely the last instance. The only viable approach, in my view, is resilience – as a society, as parents, even as hostages. It's crucial to address this and implement measures to prevent a recurrence of the events from 11 months ago."

Combating terrorism

Retired Colonel Richard Kemp, who commanded British forces in Afghanistan and advised the British Prime Minister on counter-terrorism, stands as one of Israel's staunchest advocates in Europe. Kemp has been a frequent presence in Israel since the war's outbreak. While acknowledging the complexities surrounding the Philadlphi Corridor, he maintains a consistent stance.

"From a professional perspective, the Philadlphi Corridor should not be relinquished," Kemp said. "The IDF must maintain control over this border, which essentially serves as Hamas' lifeline. I wouldn't surrender the strategic advantage, particularly in an area where soldiers have already made the ultimate sacrifice. Withdrawing and potentially needing to reclaim the area would incur further loss of life. It's about striking a delicate balance. Despite the hostage crisis's gravity, their lives cannot be valued above those of IDF soldiers. It's an intricate equation."

Q: Should it not be vacated even for six weeks?

 "Correct. Six weeks provide ample time for significant developments – an influx of equipment, weapons, and fighters. There's also the risk of hostages being smuggled out, potentially to Iran."

 Q: How can we secure the return of our people? It's been nearly a year.

 "The strategy involves continuing to dismantle Hamas, clearing tunnels, and persisting in efforts to recover the hostages. The international community, particularly the US, should redirect their pressure from Israel making security-compromising concessions to exerting influence on Hamas and Qatari leadership. They possess leverage over Hamas that remains unutilized."

On the brink of Hamas' defeat

Q: How would you rate the IDF's performance from a professional perspective?

 "It's been exceptional. They've neutralized numerous terrorists and dismantled extensive infrastructure at a remarkably low cost. Hamas' defeat appears imminent." 

Lt. Col. (ret.) Jeff Tiegs, a former Delta Force commander, also highly commends the IDF's wartime performance: "The IDF's achievements are remarkable. They've implemented a highly sophisticated combined arms approach, integrating heavy armor with infantry, special operations, and engineering units. This level of complexity reflects decades of development in the US military, insights we've endeavored to share with Israel over the years. The IDF's learning curve has been impressively steep." 

Q: What are your thoughts on the Philadelphi Corridor?

 "Ceding control of the border zone would be tactically and strategically unsound. In the immediate term, Israel must maintain control. It will be years before alternative arrangements can be seriously contemplated."

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As NATO leaders gather in Washington to mark the alliance's 75th anniversary, US officials report that Russia is unlikely to make significant territorial gains in Ukraine in the coming months. This assessment, shared with The New York Times, suggests a shift in the war's dynamics, which had previously favored Moscow.

Hello! Welcome to Washington, D.C.

Capital of the United States, witness to the founding of NATO 75 years ago, and host of the 2024 #NATOSummit pic.twitter.com/YyB7rlcM8V

— NATO (@NATO) July 9, 2024

According to senior US officials speaking to The New York Times, Russian forces, hampered by inadequate training and facing reinforced Ukrainian defenses bolstered by Western munitions, are struggling to break through enemy lines. This development represents a notable change in the conflict's trajectory.

"Ukrainian forces are stretched thin and face difficult months of fighting ahead, but a major Russian breakthrough is now unlikely," said Michael Kofman, a senior fellow in the Russia and Eurasia program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, who recently visited Ukraine.

Throughout the spring and early summer, Russian troops attempted to seize territory outside the city of Kharkiv and renew their offensive in eastern Ukraine, aiming to capitalize on their capture of Avdiivka. However, these efforts have resulted in thousands of Russian casualties with minimal territorial gains, US officials told The New York Times.

While Russian forces continue to inflict damage, their incremental advances have been slowed by Ukraine's fortified defensive positions. The coming months are expected to be challenging for Ukraine, but allied leaders can argue that their efforts to strengthen the country's defense capabilities are yielding results.

The NATO summit in Washington is expected to address Ukraine's ongoing conflict and future within the alliance. Leaders are anticipated to pledge new funding for Ukraine, announce plans for coordinated weapons delivery, and reinforce their commitment to eventually granting Kyiv full membership in the organization.

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President Joe Biden said Wednesday it was "unlikely" that a missile that killed two in NATO-ally Poland was fired from Russia, but he pledged support for Poland's investigation into what it had called a "Russian-made" missile.

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Biden spoke after he convened an "emergency" meeting of the Group of Seven and NATO leaders in Indonesia Wednesday morning for consultations on the attack that killed two people in the eastern part of Poland near the Ukraine border.

"There is preliminary information that contests that," Biden told reporters when asked if the missile had been fired from Russia. "It is unlikely in the lines of the trajectory that it was fired from Russia, but we'll see."

It was not immediately clear whether Biden was suggesting that the missile hadn't been fired by Russia at all. Ukraine still maintains stocks of former Soviet and Russian-made weaponry, including the S-300 air-defense missile system.

The president, who was awakened overnight by staff with the news of the missile explosion while in Indonesia for the Group of 20 summit, called Polish President Andrzej Duda early Wednesday to express his "deep condolences" for the loss of life. Biden promised on Twitter "full US support for and assistance with Poland's investigation," and "reaffirmed the United States' ironclad commitment to NATO."

Biden said that he briefed the allies on his conversations with Duda and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and that there was "Total unanimity among the folks at the table" to support Poland's investigation into the attack.

"I'm going to make sure we find out exactly what happened," he said. "And then we're going to collectively determine our next step as we investigate."

Meeting at a large round table in a ballroom in his hotel, the US president hosted the leaders of the G-7, which includes Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the European Union, along with the president of the European Council and the prime ministers of NATO allies Spain and the Netherlands.

Biden held a separate meeting later with new British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, in their first extended conversation since he took office last month.

"We're going to continue to support Ukraine as long as Russia continues their aggression," Biden said alongside Sunak, adding that he was "glad we're on the same page" in backing Ukraine.

A statement from the Polish Foreign Ministry identified the missile as being made in Russia. But Poland's president, Duda, was more cautious about its origin, saying that officials did not know for sure who fired it or where it was made. He said it was "most probably" Russian-made, but that is being still verified. If confirmed, it would be the first time since the invasion of Ukraine that a Russian weapon came down on a NATO country.

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The foundation of the NATO alliance is the principle that an attack against one member is an attack on them all, making the source of the missile launch critical for determining next steps.

Biden also said the leaders condemned "the latest series of Russian missile attacks," referring to the confirmed Russian strikes in recent days that have targeted Ukraine's power grid and caused widespread blackouts.

"The moment when the world came together at the G-20 to urge de-escalation, Russia continues to escalate in Ukraine, while we're meeting," Biden said. "There were scores and scores of missile attacks in western Ukraine."

Biden and his allies had set out to isolate Russia at the G-20 summit and the group's final communique was expected to show that "most" of the nations in the G-20 condemn Russia's invasion.

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The United States and its allies hit back at Russia's annexation of four Ukrainian regions on Friday, slapping sanctions on more than 1,000 people and companies including arms supply networks as President Joe Biden warned Vladimir Putin he can't "get away with" seizing Ukrainian land.

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The Russian annexation, though expected, escalated an already heated conflict that's become fraught with potential nuclear implications.

Biden said his administration would support any effort by Ukraine to retake the annexed territories by force, setting the stage for further hostilities. And Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that his country would make an "accelerated" bid to join the NATO military alliance, a plan not endorsed by the US or other allies that could add fuel to the fire.

"America and its allies are not going to be intimidated by Putin and his reckless words and threats," Biden told reporters. He added that Putin "can't seize his neighbor's territory and get away with it."

Russian President Vladimir Putin's announcement that Russia is incorporating four Ukrainian cities and areas was not unexpected following referendums this week that the West had denounced as shams. And the US and Western allies had previewed what their reaction would be.

But the developments dramatically increased tensions to a point not seen since the Cuban Missile Crisis 60 years ago during the Cold War.

Biden had spoken out against the annexation plans last week at the UN General Assembly, where a vast majority of other members also voiced support for respecting the territorial integrity of all nations On Friday, he used the moment to reiterate that the US and NATO allies would not allow Russia to attack any of the nearby NATO members without facing a strong military response.

"America is fully prepared, prepared with our NATO allies to defend every single inch of NATO territory. Every single inch," Biden said. "And so, Mr. Putin, don't misunderstand what I'm saying. Every inch."

While the Biden administration has identified the suppliers of Russia's weapons and battlefield high-tech as a priority, many of Friday's other sanctions were in line with penalties already enacted on thousands of Russian individuals and companies, and may have comparatively little impact on the war effort. The administration hopes they will serve to further undermine support for Putin's invasion among Russia's elite.

Meanwhile, the US and its European allies are rushing to complete an agreement on a measure they hope will do more to damage Russia's economy: a cap on Russia's maritime oil exports that would undermine the prices Putin can demand for his country's oil globally.

For now, Biden said the new US financial penalties, similar to those coming from like-minded countries, will impose severe costs on people and companies "that provide political or economic support to illegal attempts to change the status of Ukrainian territory." The sanctions will apply to countries, people or firms that support or do business with Russia-backed authorities in the newly annexed areas.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken, echoing Biden, said the US "unequivocally rejects Russia's fraudulent attempt to change Ukraine's internationally recognized borders. ... This is a clear violation of international law and the United Nations Charter."

"No one is fooled by what Moscow has done," Blinken told reporters at a joint news conference with Canada's visiting foreign minister. "The entire process around these sham referenda was a complete farce. This territory is and will remain Ukraine, and Ukraine has every right to defend its land, to defend its people and to take back the territory that Russia has seized from it."

This suggests the US will support the Ukrainians with weapons and ammunition to help them with military action to retake the annexed areas. The US has warned Ukraine in the past not to use American weapons against Russian territory.

Blinken also spoke out against Putin's nuclear threats..

"This kind of loose talk about nuclear weapons is the height of irresponsibility, and it's something that we take very seriously," he said. "To date" he said, the US has not seen that "Russia is actually doing anything that suggests they are contemplating the use of nuclear weapons."

"I can just tell you that we plan against every possible scenario, including this one."

Biden also pushed back against Putin's comments on Friday in which he accused the West of sabotaging Russia-built natural gas pipelines under the Baltic Sea to Germany. Nordic nations said the undersea blasts that damaged the pipelines this week and have led to huge methane leaks involved several hundred pounds of explosives.

The president said the US and allies are still working to determine who was responsible for the blasts, but excoriated Putin over his accusation.

"Let me say this, it was a deliberate act of sabotage," Biden said. "And now the Russians are pumping out disinformation and lies."

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said that "not many" countries have the ability to carry out such an attack on the pipelines. He stopped short of charging Russia was responsible but made clear the US is suspicious that they may be complicit.

"Russia has done what it frequently does when it is responsible for something, which is make accusations that it was really someone else who did it," Sullivan said. "We've seen this repeatedly over time."

As for a broader guarantee of protection, Ukraine has sought NATO membership for years but has not yet been admitted due to concerns about its domestic governance. As a result of Russia's invasion, Finland and Sweden have applied for fast-track admission into the alliance.

The White House said Sullivan had spoken with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg to highlight the US and NATO's "firm commitment to Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity."

But the Biden administration isn't embracing Zelenskyy's push for an accelerated path to NATO membership. Sullivan said the US was focused on supporting Ukraine through "practical on-the-ground support." He added that "the process in Brussels should be taken up at a different time."

Earlier, following Putin's announcement, the White House along with the State, Treasury and Commerce departments had announced the new sanctions in a series of coordinated statements. The sanctions expand on what have been escalating penalties against Russia and its proxies since the invasion began on Feb. 24.

Treasury designated hundreds of members of Russia's parliament, leaders of the country's financial and military infrastructure and suppliers for sanctions designations that include asset freezes and bans on Americans doing business with them. The Commerce Department added 57 companies to its list of export control violators, and the State Department added more than 900 people to its visa ban list, making them ineligible for travel to the United States.

Since the start of the invasion, the US and European nations have imposed significant financial penalties on Russia, its leadership and wealthy oligarchs tied to Putin. The allies have gone after the central bank reserves that underpin the Russian economy and have severed many Russian banks from a vital global financial network called SWIFT.

The war is having a devastating impact on the global economy and has contributed to massive disruptions to supplies of energy and food throughout the world. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development this week said the global economy is set to lose $2.8 trillion in output in 2023 because of the conflict.

Putin appears undeterred. He warned that Russia would never give up the absorbed regions – the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions – and would protect them as part of its sovereign territory.

Both houses of the Russian parliament will meet next week to approve the treaties for the regions to join Russia.

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Russian forces pounded areas around Kyiv and another Ukrainian city overnight, local officials said on Wednesday, just hours after Moscow pledged to scale back military operations in those places. The shelling further tempered optimism about possible progress in talks aimed at ending the punishing war.

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Russia did not spell out what exactly a reduction in activity would look like, and while the promise initially raised hopes that a path toward ending the bloody war of attrition was at hand, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and others cautioned that the commitments could merely be bluster.

Moscow, meanwhile, reacted coolly Wednesday to Kyiv's proposed framework for a peace deal, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov saying it was a "positive factor" that Ukraine has submitted its written proposals but adding that he saw no breakthrough.

The British Defense Ministry said heavy losses have forced some Russian units to return to Belarus and Russia to regroup but that Moscow would likely compensate for any reduction in ground maneuvers by using mass artillery and missile barrages. And the Russian military reported a new series of missile strikes on Ukrainian arsenals and fuel depots over the past 24 hours.

As the war unleashed five weeks ago by Moscow ground on, so, too, did the fallout beyond Ukraine's borders. The United Nations said the number of refugees fleeing the country has now surpassed a staggering 4 million, while European industrial powerhouse Germany issued a warning over its natural gas supplies amid concerns that Russia could cut off deliveries unless it is paid in rubles.

Zelenskyy reacted with skepticism to Russia's announcement at talks in Istanbul on Tuesday that it would reduce military activity near the capital and the northern city of Chernihiv.

"We can call those signals that we hear at the negotiations positive," he said in his nightly video address to the Ukrainian people. "But those signals don't silence the explosions of Russian shells."

That skepticism appeared well placed by Wednesday morning.

"The so-called reduction of activity in the Chernihiv region, was demonstrated by the enemy strikes including air strikes on Nizhyn, and all night long they were shelling Chernihiv," said the regional governor, Viacheslav Chaus. "Civilian infrastructure facilities, libraries, shopping centers, many houses were destroyed in Chernihiv."

Oleksandr Pavliuk, the head of the Kyiv region military administration, said Wednesday that Russian shells targeted residential areas and civilian infrastructure in the Bucha, Brovary and Vyshhorod regions around the capital.

They weren't the only attacks by Moscow.

Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said Wednesday that the military targeted fuel depots in two towns in central Ukraine with air-launched long-range cruise missiles. Russian forces also hit a Ukrainian special forces headquarters in the southern Mykolaiv region, he said, and two ammunition depots in the eastern Donetsk region.

Donetsk is in the eastern industrial heartland of Donbas, where the Russian military says it has shifted its focus. Top Russian military officials have said twice in recent days that their main goal now is the "liberation" of Donbas, where Moscow-backed rebels have been battling Ukrainian forces since 2014.

Some analysts have suggested that the Kremlin's apparent lowering of its aims and the pledge to reduce activity around Kyiv and Chernihiv may merely reflect the reality on the ground: Its ground troops have become bogged down and taken heavy losses in their bid to seize the capital and other cities.

Still, the outlines of a possible deal to end the war came into view at the latest round of talks Tuesday in Istanbul.

Ukraine's delegation offered a detailed framework for a peace deal under which a neutral Ukraine's security would be guaranteed by a group of third countries, including the US, Britain, France, Turkey, China and Poland. Among other things, the Kremlin has demanded all along that Ukraine drop any hope of joining NATO.

Russian delegation head Vladimir Medinsky said negotiators would take them to Russian President Vladimir Putin and then Moscow would provide a response, but he did not say when.

Russian Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin said Moscow would in the meantime "fundamentally ... cut back military activity in the direction of Kyiv and Chernihiv" to "increase mutual trust and create conditions for further negotiations."

The talks had been expected to resume on Wednesday, but with what Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu called "meaningful" progress made, the two sides decided to return home for consultations.

Despite the apparent signs of progress, Zelenskyy warned the world and his own people not to get ahead of themselves.

"Ukrainians are not naïve people," he said. "Ukrainians have already learned during the 34 days of the invasion and during the past eight years of war in the Donbas that you can trust only concrete results."

Western countries also expressed doubts about Russia's intentions.

"We judge the Russian military machine by its actions, not just its words," British Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab told Sky News on Wednesday. "There's obviously some skepticism that it will regroup to attack again rather than seriously engaging in diplomacy."

He added that "of course the door to diplomacy will always be left ajar, but I don't think you can trust what is coming out of the mouth of Putin's war machine."

An assessment from Britain's Ministry of Defense said that Russia's focus on the Donbas region "is likely a tacit admission that it is struggling to sustain more than one significant axis of advance."

"Russian units suffering heavy losses have been forced to return to Belarus and Russia to reorganize and resupply," the ministry said in a statement Wednesday. "Such activity is placing further pressure on Russia's already strained logistics and demonstrates the difficulties Russia is having reorganizing its units in forward areas within Ukraine."

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said the US has detected small numbers of Russian ground forces moving away from the Kyiv area, but it appeared to be a repositioning of forces, "not a real withdrawal."

In response to Moscow's pledge, US President Joe Biden and his secretary of state, Antony Blinken, said they would wait to see what Russia's actions are.

Blinken added that Russian indications of a pullback could be an attempt to "deceive people and deflect attention."

It wouldn't be the first time. In the tense buildup to the invasion, the Russian military announced some units were loading equipment onto rail cars and preparing to return to their home bases after completing exercises. At the time, Putin signaled interest in diplomacy. But 10 days later, Russia launched its invasion.

Western officials say Moscow is now reinforcing troops in the Donbas in a bid to encircle Ukraine's forces there. And Russia's deadly siege in the south continues, with civilians trapped in the ruins of Mariupol and other devastated cities. The latest satellite imagery from Maxar Technologies showed hundreds of people waiting outside a grocery store in besieged Mariupol amid reports of food and water shortages.

Even as negotiators gathered Tuesday, Putin's forces blasted a gaping hole in a nine-story government administration building in a strike on the southern port city of Mykolaiv, killing at least 14 people, emergency authorities said.

"It's terrible. They waited for people to go to work" before striking the building, said regional governor Vitaliy Kim. "I overslept. I'm lucky."

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Meanwhile, Russia said on Tuesday it was expelling 10 diplomats from Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia in a tit-for-tat move after the Baltic countries expelled Russian diplomats over military action in Ukraine earlier in the month.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said it summoned the ambassadors of the three EU and NATO member countries and "strongly protested" the "unjustified" expulsion of Russian diplomats.

"Based on the principle of reciprocity", Moscow will be expelling four diplomats from the Lithuanian embassy and three each from the Latvian and Estonian embassies, the ministry added.

Since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine, a growing list of states have moved to expel Moscow's envoys from their countries, citing allegations of espionage. On Tuesday, EU countries Belgium, the Netherlands and Ireland also announced the expulsion of dozens of Russian diplomats suspected of spying.

Ireland Foreign Minister Simon Coveney said in an official statement posted to Twitter that "four senior officials have been asked to leave the state" for engaging in activities which are "not... in accordance with international standards of diplomatic behavior."

He said that the decision was made "in the interests of our citizens" and to additionally ensure future diplomatic communications between Ireland and Russia.

Coveney also spoke of Ireland's "strong views" on Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, and condemned the war as "a serious breach of international law."

Belgian Foreign Minister Sophie Wilmes also said that Belgium would remove 21 Russian diplomats – joining the nearby Netherlands, which will oust 17 of Moscow's envoys.

Poland announced last week that it expelled 45 envoys from Russia over suspected espionage.

The US also said back in February that it would oust 12 staff on Russia's mission to the United Nations for spying.

The decision later prompted Russia's Foreign Ministry to respond in kind – last week, Moscow provided a top Washington envoy with a list of US diplomats to be expelled from the country over the UN move.

i24NEWS contributed to this report.

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