Air raid alerts sounded for hours across Ukraine, with explosions heard in nine of its 24 regions, from Kyiv to Lviv and Volyn in the west, Ukrainian officials and media said.

President Vladimir Putin has said Russia will achieve all its objectives by force if Ukraine does not agree to a deal. "It seems to me that if common sense prevails, it will be possible to agree on an acceptable solution to end this conflict," Putin said. "If not, then we will have to resolve all our tasks militarily."

The war is raging unabated, with no cease-fire in sight — and the crucial question of American involvement in ensuring Ukraine’s future security remains unresolved.

Some 30 leaders will hold talks on Thursday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy over future security guarantees to Kyiv if there is a ceasefire with Russia, hoping they have done enough to persuade the United States to back their efforts.

Russian President Vladimir Putin suggests meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Moscow while attending military parade with leaders from China and North Korea.

Russia has launched over 500 drones and two dozen missiles at Ukraine, targeting civilian infrastructure, especially energy facilities.

The UK and its allies stand ready to support Ukraine before negotiations to end the war as well as to secure an eventual peace deal, the UK defence secretary says.

Now that Putin has shown his card following the summit in Alaska, it’s important for the White House strategy to adapt to this new reality. The aim should be for Ukraine to not only survive the winter months, which it will do, but to emerge stronger and backed by a concrete program for security guarantees when diplomacy resumes.

Russia launched more than 500 drones and missiles into Ukraine overnight into Wednesday morning, according to Ukraine's air force, with explosions reported across the west of the country and NATO aircraft scrambling across the border in Poland.