Ukraine Russia news – live: Putin claims he ‘shares pain’ of troops’ mothers

Foreign Secretary James promised president Volodymyr Zelensky that the UK will commit “action - not just words” in its support of the war-torn nation.

Mr Cleverly met with the Ukrainian president during a visit to Kyiv, just days after Rishi Sunak travelled to the the country’s capital.

He said the UK intends to keep its pledge to offer “concrete” assistance, as words alone “won’t keep the lights on” or “defend against Russian missiles”.

It came as Mr Cleverly announced a package of “hands-on” support to help the nation through the winter.

Ukraine‘s leaders will have to be “far-sighted” to secure peace, Pope Francis said on Friday, suggesting that Kyiv would have to make concessions to end the war with Russia.

The pope earlier this month called for a ceasefire to avert the risk of escalation of the conflict and asked God to “hurry up” to end it.

In an open letter released on Friday to mark the nine-month anniversary of the Russian invasion, Francis praised the strength of Ukrainians in the face of the onslaught.

“The world has recognised a bold and strong people, a people that suffers and prays, cries and struggles, resists and hopes: A noble and martyred people,” he wrote.

He also said he was praying for Ukraine‘s rulers. “On them lies the duty to govern the country in tragic times and to make far-sighted decisions for peace and to develop the economy during the destruction of so much vital infrastructure.”

Ukraine‘s four nuclear power plants have been reconnected to the national power grid after completely losing off-site power earlier this week, the IAEA has said.

The facilities were all disconnected from the grid on Wednesday for the first time in Ukrainian history after the latest wave of Russian air strikes on vital infrastructure.

In a statement, the IAEA nuclear watchdog said Ukraine had informed it on Friday that its Rivne, South Ukraine and Khmelnytskyy plants had been reconnected. Ukraine reconnected its vast Zaporizhzhia plant on Thursday, Kyiv said earlier.

The Zaporizhzhia plant was shut down in September, but still needs electricity to keep up essential safety work.

Hungary’s president Katalin Novak is travelling to Kyiv to meet his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskiy, website index.hu reported on Friday, adding Novak would go by train via Poland.

The Hungarian President’s office said it would neither deny nor confirm the information.

Russia’s bombardment of critical infrastructure in Ukraine is a sign of Vladimir Putin’s “desperation”, Ben Wallace has said.

The defence secretary said the Russian president is targeting Ukraine’s power grid and other civilian infrastructure to “mask” his military failures.

Ukraine’s energy facilities have been pounded by a barrage of Russian missile strikes, causing blackouts and leaving millions without heat, power or water as temperatures plummet.

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President Volodymyr Zelensky said he had spoken to European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and discussed cooperation on ensuring energy stability for his country.

Mr Zelensky made the comments in a Twitter post but did not give details.

He also thanked Ms von der Leyen for starting work on a fresh sanctions package against Russia.

Vladimir Putin told a group of Russian mothers whose sons have been sent to fight in Ukraine that he sometimes speaks to troops on the phone.

Speaking during their meeting, Russia‘s president declared that he was “surprised” by soldiers’ moods during phone conversations.

“They give me good reason to say that they are heroes, it’s true,” he added.

According to the Associated Press, many military draftees are inexperienced with no training, and were told to procure basic items such as medical kits and flak jackets themselves.

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