"At its core, (the war) is about 11% of one part of that country that Russia wants and cannot take militarily and that Ukraine is unwilling to give up," Rubio said.
Since invading Ukraine in February 2022, Russia has intensified its crackdown on dissent and introduced laws prescribing long prison terms for those found guilty of "discrediting" the military.
"I have no doubt the enemy will crumble," Russian President Vladimir Putin told reporters, standing firm on his stance against Ukraine as war fatigue continues to grow in Russia.
Another 42 people were also injured and more than 380 evacuated from the strike area in the Bucha district, Tymur Tkachenko, governor of the Kyiv region, wrote on the Telegram app.
CNN reported that Ratcliffe also used the trip to warn the Kremlin to cut off economic and military support for Iran.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov called the reports of a Russian attack on NATO "scare-story material" and claimed that it had "nothing to do with the intentions of the Russian Federation."
SVR head Naryshkin said that he had held a "working-level meeting" with CIA director John Ratcliffe in Moscow earlier this week.
The leaders of Britain and France pledged to provide Ukraine with stronger military support, including access to classified technology and faster deliveries of air defense missiles.
"Ukraine's security is our security," UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham said in a statement, adding that Britain would stand by Ukraine "for as long as it takes."
"Attacks like these are nothing less than terrorist acts," Zelensky said on Telegram, urging the world to hold Russia to account.
Yevgen Korniychuk thanked Israel for its support for Ukraine in its struggle for “independence and peace and prosperity,” citing polls showing that over 85% of Israelis support Ukraine in its war.
