The change in the Kremlin's position can also be seen in the statement of President Vladimir Putin's spokesman. According to Dmitry Peskov, Moscow's goal is no longer the denazification of Ukraine, but having Kyiv accept that Crimea is Russian and that two independent states have emerged in Donbas. Russia would only resort to the use of nuclear weapons in the context of the conflict in Ukraine if it were faced with an "existential threat," Peskov told CNN International.

The Kremlin's refusal to rule out the use of nuclear weapons was condemned by the Pentagon. ""It's not the way a responsible nuclear power should act," said Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby.

During the night, Russian forces tried to advance on Kyiv and Kharkiv. They were pushed back at the Makarov suburb of Kyiv where the highway from Kyiv to Zhytomyr and Lviv passes. Fighting is also taking place near Boryspil Airport and in besieged Mariupol.

Russia has also launched missile strikes at Pavlohrad railway station near the Dnieper and in Rivne, in the northwest.