Polish, Ukrainian presidents hold talks after Russia blasts Ukraine’s cities
Poland’s president has held urgent consultations with his Ukrainian counterpart after Russia’s deadly rocket attack on Kyiv and other cities across Ukraine.
Poland’s President Andrzej Duda has held urgent consultations with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky after Russia’s deadly rocket attack on Kyiv and other cities across Ukraine on Monday. Twitter/Office of the President of Poland
Andrzej Duda and Volodymyr Zelensky spoke on the phone around midday on Monday, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
On Monday morning, Russia fired dozens of cruise missiles at cities across Ukraine, including the capital Kyiv, Kharkiv in the east, Lviv and Zhytomyr in the west, Dnipro and Kremenchuk in central Ukraine and Zaporizhia in the south, according to news outlets.
The attacks occurred during the morning rush-hour, killing civilians and disconnecting power and heat, the Reuters news agency reported.
Duda-Zelensky talks
The office of the Polish president tweeted on Monday: “After today’s attacks on Kyiv and other cities in Ukraine, Presidents Duda and Zelensky are holding urgent consultations.”
Meanwhile, Zelensky said in a tweet: We’ve coordinated steps with President of Poland Andrzej Duda. We will work on consolidating international support, strengthening Ukraine’s defense capabilities, restoring the destroyed, as well as increasing Russia’s isolation.”
Monday’s attacks on Ukraine
By mid-morning, Ukraine’s defence ministry said Russia had fired 81 cruise missiles, of which Ukraine’s air defences had shot down 43, the Reuters news agency reported.
In the capital Kyiv, rockets killed at least five people and injured at least 51, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Telegram on Monday afternoon, as reported by the Ukrainska Pravda website.
Klitschko added that the Russians had struck several parts of Kyiv’s critical infrastructure and urged residents not to ignore the air-raid signals and go to shelters, Ukrainska Pravda reported.
Revenge for Crimea bridge: Putin
In a televised address on Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said he had ordered „massive” long-range attacks against Ukraine’s energy, command and communication targets, using missiles fired from air, sea and land, Reuters reported.
Putin said the strikes were in retaliation to “terrorist attacks,” including the explosion at the key Kerch Strait bridge on Saturday, according to the Associated Press news agency.
„The Kyiv regime, with its actions, has put itself on the same level as international terrorist organisations. With the most odious groups. To leave such acts without a response is simply impossible,” Putin said, as cited by Reuters.
‘The true face of a terrorist state:’ Zelensky
Ukraine’s Zelensky commented on Twitter: “The world once again saw the true face of a terrorist state that is killing our people. On the battlefield & in peaceful cities.”
He added: “A country that covers its true bloody essence & goal with talks about peace. It proves that the liberation of Ukraine is the only basis of peace & security.”
Monday is day 229 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
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Source: PAP, Reuters, pravda.com.ua, apnews.com
