The high-risk visit, to a Ukrainian capital that has been under threat of missile attacks, signals continued commitment from the United States, the largest financial and military backer of Ukraine's effort to repel Russian from its territory.
Russian missile strikes targeted the energy infrastructure in Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia on Friday morning, The Kyiv Independent reported citing Zaporizhzhia City Council Secretary Anatolii Kurtiev.
The conflict between Moscow and Kyiv continues to escalate as in the latest, a Russian missile strike in Eastern Ukraine's city of Kramatorsk killed 3 people, CNN reported citing Police officials.
The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine has resulted in almost 86 per cent of schools becoming bomb shelters, CNN reported citing the head of the Kyiv Regional Military Administration, Oleksiy Kuleba on Monday.
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has thanked US President Joe Biden for providing Kyiv with a defense package of USD 2.5 billion in new weaponry, and munitions for Ukraine as the country prepares for a new stage in the ongoing conflict with Russia.
The package does not feature battle tanks requested by Kyiv, but includes 90 Stryker armoured personnel carriers, an additional 59 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles, Avenger air defence systems, and large and small munitions, according to a Pentagon statement.
At least 14 people have been killed in a helicopter crash near a kindergarten in the Kyiv region of Ukraine, CNN reported citing officials. The emergency service earlier reported that the death toll was 18. Later it was revised down to 14.
Putin also called on Kyiv to declare a ceasefire so that a large number of Orthodox citizens living in areas of hostilities could attend church services on Orthodox Christmas Eve and Christmas Day , according to the statement.
The poll was conducted by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology conducted from December 4 - 27 and involving 2,005 residents in all regions of Ukraine except for areas occupied by Russia. Respondents reiterated that Ukraine should not give up any of its territories to Russia, even if
Monday's early morning attack comes after a New Year assault by Russia that saw Kyiv and other cities under fire from missiles and Iranian-made drones.
Massive explosions rocked the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv on Sunday following a barrage of at least 20 cruise missiles fired at targets across Ukraine, Al Jazeera reported on Sunday citing Kyiv's Mayor Vitali Klitschko.