Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy has accused Vladimir Putin of targeting civilian areas following new airstrikes.
137 people, both civilians and military personnel, have been killed since the beginning of Russia's advance upon Ukraine on Thursday, according to Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
Zelenskiy also reported that as many as 316 additional people had been wounded.
During a stark televised address to his nation just after midnight on Friday, Zelenskiy said that Ukraine has "been left alone" to defend itself.
"We have been left alone to defend our state," he said.
"Who is ready to fight alongside us? I don’t see anyone. Who is ready to give Ukraine a guarantee of NATO membership? Everyone is afraid."
Referring to apparent saboteurs that have infiltrated Ukraine while outlining an assassination plot against him and his family, Zelenskiy added:
"They want to destroy Ukraine politically by taking down the head of state.
"I am staying in the government quarter together with others.
"The enemy has designated me as the target number one, and my family as the target number two."
Zelenskiy has accused Russian president Vladimir Putin of recklessly targeting civilian areas of Ukraine as further airstrikes rocked the country overnight.
"They say that civilian objects are not a target for them," he said.
"It is a lie, they do not distinguish in which areas to operate."
As of Friday morning, Ukrainian defence forces continue to attempt to repel Russian military personnel from advancing upon its capital of Kyiv.
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Zelenskiy's address followed on from a
crucial summit involving European leaders that promised to impose "the strongest possible" sanctions upon Russia.
"The European Council condemns in the strongest possible terms the Russian Federation’s unprovoked and unjustified military aggression against Ukraine," the Council wrote.
"By its illegal military actions, Russia is grossly violating international law and the principles of the UN Charter and undermining European and global security and stability.
"The European Council underlines that this includes the right of Ukraine to choose its own destiny.
"Russia bears full responsibility for this act of aggression and all the destruction and loss of life it will cause.
"It will be held accountable for its actions."
"The European Council today agrees on further restrictive measures that will impose massive and severe consequences on Russia for its action, in close coordination with our partners and allies.
"These sanctions cover the financial sector, the energy and transport sectors, dual-use goods as well as export control and export financing, visa policy, additional listings of Russian individuals and new listing criteria."
The Council also said it was prepared to introduce further individual and economic sanctions on both Russia and Belarus.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin attended the meeting in Brussels, stating that he supported the "strongest possible sanctions" against Russia in response to the conflict in Ukraine.
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Martin described the invasion as an "outrageous and immoral attack on the territorial integrity Ukraine and its people".
"We will support the imposition of comprehensive and severe sanctions on Russia, sanctions that reflect the grave nature of the assault on the Ukrainian people.
Martin said that Ireland would support the strongest possible sanctions in particular in the financial sector, along with energy and resources, along with any other sectors that would weaken Russia's industrial base and its capacity to wage war.
The Taoiseach confirmed that €10 million would be made available for humanitarian purposes, and will "do anything else we can" to support Ukrainian people in need.
When asked if he supported the removal of Russia from The Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT), Martin re-emphasised his support for the strongest possible measures against Russia.
"We believe in peaceful resolutions of disputes. We think of the Ukrainian people in the line of fire, we think of the young people who will die because of this Russian aggression unnecessarily and in no way is this justifiable by any yardstick."
US President Joe Biden said that the G7 have also agreed on "devastating" sanctions and other economic measures against Russia.
