Leaders of 3 NATO countries plan to visit Ukraine, Kiev is engulfed in smoke and fire

A building in the capital Kiev was engulfed in flames after the Russian shelling. Photo: AP

According to the AP news agency, before dawn, lots of loud bangs resounded throughout Kiev. According to Ukrainian officials, these were artillery attacks.

The shelling caused a massive fire that left at least one person dead and many others trapped inside a 15-story apartment building.

The shockwaves caused by the explosion destroyed the entrance to a downtown metro station that was used as a bomb shelter. City authorities posted pictures of the station’s facade being blown away and said the train could not stop at this station.

Photo: AP

The leaders of Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovenia are due to travel to the Ukrainian capital Kiev today, carrying out the mission of the European Union (EU) to express support for Ukraine.

“The purpose of the visit is to express the EU’s clear support for Ukraine and its freedom and independence,” said Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala.

Accompanying Mr. Fiala were Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and Jaroslaw Kaczynski – Poland’s Deputy Prime Minister in charge of security and leader of the ruling conservative party.

Russian and Ukrainian negotiators also plan to hold a second day of talks when Russia’s invasion of Ukraine entered its 21st day. In recent days, fighting has increased in the suburbs of Kiev, and the sirens of air raids have not stopped ringing.

Ukraine’s President Zelensky is seeking to extend martial law until April 24 and requires men aged 18 to 60 to stay in the country to fight. Mr. Zelensky submitted the extension in a bill sent to Congress, which is expected to be voted on this week.

In Washington, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said that when President Joe Biden’s administration supports Ukraine to enter negotiations with Russia, President Putin will have to show signs of de-escalation to show goodwill.

Hoai Linh