Poland and Romania scrambled Nato fighter jets early on Wednesday as a series of explosions rang out across western Ukraine. In Poland, two airports in its southeast were shut down as Russian airstrikes targeted the cities of Lviv and Ternopil. The Polish military said it was forced to act to ensure the safety of Polish airspace.

Peace talks have been grinding on for months, with little visible progress toward a deal to end the war in eastern Europe.

It comes amid reports the US and Russia have prepared a 28-point peace plan, allegedly containing major concessions for Ukraine.

Ukraine has asked the Vatican to formalize its role facilitating negotiations for the return of Ukrainian children and civilians taken by Russia during the war.

At least 10 people were killed and 37 injured, including 12 children, during a large Russian strike on the city of Ternopil in western Ukraine, said Igor Klymenko, Ukraine's minister of internal affairs. He said the western regions of Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Ternopil were "under a massive enemy attack" on Wednesday.

Immigration lawyers say those deported to Ukraine could be conscripted to fight in the war, contrary to international laws that prohibit deportations to places where people could face violence.

Russian lawmakers have endorsed new tax hikes as Moscow tries to boost its economy during its almost four-year war with Ukraine.

A full-scale invasion of Poland, in the manner Russia invaded Ukraine, is rather not viable, given Russia's current military capacities, Poland's military build-up and the collective defense guarantees of NATO membership, Michnik said, "however, this reality must not diminish Poland’s ongoing preparation."