New Delhi: Facing stiff resistance from Ukraine, Russia has stepped up its attack on its cities.

Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky has sought help from the US, saying it is important to stop the ‘aggressor’ at the earliest.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Russia must stop bombing Ukrainian cities before meaningful talks on a ceasefire could start, as a first round of negotiations this week had yielded scant progress.

Speaking in an interview in a heavily guarded government compound, Zelenskiy urged NATO members to impose a no fly zone to stop the Russian air force, saying this would be a preventative measure and not meant to drag the alliance into war with Russia.

US President Joe Biden announced a ban on Russian aircraft from using US airspace during his State of the Union speech. Canada and several other European nations have already closed their airspace to Russian planes following Ukraine’s invasion.

Meanwhile, with Operation Ganga in full swing on Ukraine’s western borders, the Narendra Modi government is in constant touch with Moscow to give safe passage to Indian students stranded in Kharkiv and Sumy warzones and allow evacuation through the eastern border with Russia.

A Russian speaking team from the Indian embassy in Moscow has been parked in Belgorod, which is close to both war-hit cities of Ukraine, for the past few days and evacuation through Russian diplomatic channels are being worked out at the highest levels.