Ukraine: NATO Leaders to Visit Kyiv As Capital Comes Under Fire

Leaders of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) will visit Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital which has come under heavy fire in recent days.

According to the Associated Press, Russia’s offensive in Ukraine edged closer to central Kyiv on Tuesday, with a series of strikes hitting a residential neighbourhood as the leaders of three NATO member countries planned a visit to Ukraine’s embattled capital.

Ukrainians reportedly woke up, on Tuesday, to large explosions across Kyiv from what authorities said was artillery strikes. The shelling ignited a huge fire and a frantic rescue effort in a 15-story apartment building. At least one person was killed and others remain trapped inside, the AP reports.

This came as peace talks were scheduled to continue Tuesday morning.

Meanwhile, as Russia stepped up its assault on Kyiv, the leaders of Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovenia said they would travel to Ukraine’s capital Tuesday on a European Union mission to show support for the country, according to the AP.

“The aim of the visit is to express the European Union’s unequivocal support for Ukraine and its freedom and independence,” Czech Prime Minister, Petr Fiala, said in a tweet.

Russian and Ukrainian negotiators also planned to hold a second day of talks as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine entered its 21st day, the AP reports.