KYIV: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday accused Russia of ramping up strikes across his country in order to pressure Ukraine and its allies at US-brokered talks scheduled for next week.

Zelensky said the latest barrage came “ahead of another joint effort with our partners to reinvigorate negotiations” and charged that “by intensifying its attacks on Ukraine and our infrastructure at this very moment, Russia is trying to additionally lay the groundwork for putting pressure on Ukraine’s position and that of its partners.”