Russia’s offensive ‘stalled’ in Ukraine but Moscow not backing down: Pentagon

US official says Kyiv using Turkish drones 'effectively' against Russian assets

Smoke rising in Kyiv, which mayor Vitali Klitschko says faces a 'difficult and dangerous moment' as Russian forces step up strikes. AFP

Pope Francis meets visitors holding the Ukrainian flag during his weekly general audience in the Vatican. AFP

An anti-war protester demonstrates against Russia's invasion of Ukraine in front of the Nato headquarters in Brussels. AFP

A poster in Saint Petersburg carries the letter Z, a symbol of support for the invasion, and reads: "We are proud of Russia! We are not ashamed!" AFP

Amid the Ukraine war, there's time for a seaside stroll in Odesa. Reuters

A child who fled from Ukraine to Belgium waits outside an immigration office in Brussels. EPA

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy receives a standing ovation as he appears via videoconference to make an address to Canada's Parliament. AP

A woman walks with a bicycle next to a building damaged during the conflict in the separatist-controlled town of Volnovakha, Donetsk region. Reuters

A firefighter outside a destroyed apartment building in a residential area of Kyiv. AP

Ukrainian soldiers pay tribute to Col Valeriy Gudz, who was killed in battle against Russian troops, at a cemetery in the town of Boryspil. AP

Firefighters work to extinguish a fire in a housing block hit by shelling in the Sviatoshynsky district, in western Kyiv. AFP

Two people were killed as a series of powerful explosions rocked residential districts in Kyiv just hours before talks between Ukraine and Russia were set to resume. AFP

The Met Opera and Chorus performs during 'A Concert For Ukraine' in New York City. AFP

A worker welds metal at the Interpipe Steel plant in Dnipro, Ukraine. Hundreds of Interpipe’s 10,000 employees have joined the fight against Russia. AP

A woman is rescued by firefighters from her apartment in a burning building that was hit by artillery shells in Kyiv. AP

Rescuers work at a building damaged by an air strike, in central Kharkiv, Ukraine. Reuters

A woman who fled Ukraine to Belgium waits outside an immigration office, in Brussels. EPA

Cars stuck at the Irpin River bridge, as Russia unleashes a barrage of air strikes on cities across Ukraine. AFP

A firefighter looks at a section of a Ukrainian Tochka-U missile on a street in the separatist Donetsk region. The Russian military said 20 civilians were killed by a ballistic missile launched by the Ukrainian forces. AP

Musician Davide Martello plays a piano near the Ukrainian border in Medyka, Poland. More than 1.76 million people have crossed the Polish-Ukrainian border into Poland, the Polish Border Guard reported on March 14. EPA

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, left, snaps a selfie with a wounded man during a visit at a military hospital after fighting in the Kyiv region.AFP

Ukrainian soldiers carry rocket-propelled grenades and sniper rifles as they walk towards the city of Irpin, north-west of Kyiv. AFP

Troops carry an elderly woman on a stretcher across a makeshift bridge as Ukrainians flee Irpin. AFP

Irina Moprezova, 54, stands in front of a house that was damaged by an air strike in Irpin. AFP

The flags of Russia and Ukraine are projected on the walls of Jerusalem's Old City, which a representative from the Jerusalem Municipality said is a show of support for diplomatic dialogue between the countries. Reuters

A person holds a Ukrainian flag during an anti-war demonstration at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany. Reuters

A Ukrainian soldier takes cover as people flee Irpin. AFP

Ukrainians shelter in an underground train station during the day in Kyiv. EPA

A Ukrainian serviceman walks carefully with his weapon in the city of Irpin, near Kyiv. AFP

Ukrainian people flee the city of Irpin, north-west of Kyiv. AFP

Ukrainian servicemen carry an elderly woman on a stretcher from the city of Irpin. AFP

A girl plays games on her tablet inside a subway carriage being used as a bomb shelter in Kyiv. AFP

A Ukrainian firefighter drags a hose inside a large food products storage facility which was destroyed by an air strike on the outskirts of Kyiv. AP

Ukrainian troops with a Javelin anti-tank missile on the front line in the northern Kyiv region. Reuters

A woman carries her dog during an evacuation in Irpin. Reuters

A Ukrainian woman takes shelter in a metro station during the day in Kyiv. EPA

A member of the Ukrainian armed forces on patrol in Irpin. Reuters

A Ukrainian fighter takes cover behind a car in the city of Irpin. AFP

Firefighters at work after air strikes hit residential buildings in Chernihiv, northern Ukraine. AFP

A man wounded in an air strike is helped by medical staff in Novoiavorivsk, western Ukraine. Getty

The ruins of the Ukraine Hotel after recent shelling in Chernihiv. EPA

Live updates: follow the latest news on Russia-Ukraine

A senior US defence official said on Monday that Russia’s offensive in Ukraine, now in its third week, remains stalled across different cities but there is no sign of the Kremlin backing down.

“Almost all of Russia's advances remain stalled,” the official said, with the Russian military facing mounting challenges on the battlefront.

But despite those challenges, the Pentagon saw no sign of Russia slowing its battlefield tempo.

“We want to see a ceasefire … but what we are seeing is still a very concerted Russian efforts to continue with ever more violence.”

The official estimated that Russian forces continue to be stalled about 15 kilometres from Kyiv’s city centre while the bombardments of Mariupol and Kharkiv continue, though Moscow has been unable to prevail on either front.

The Pentagon added that Russia has now fired more than 900 missiles in Ukraine but has yet to achieve air superiority.

“The Russians, for all their inventory and for all the munitions that they have available to them … they have still not achieved air superiority over all of Ukraine,” the official said.

Asked about the Russian strike on the Yavoriv military base close to the Polish border on Sunday, the US official said it involved “several dozen” missiles fired from bombers flying inside Russian airspace.

But he added that the strike, which occurred alarmingly close to a Nato country, will not affect the US military posture in Poland or assistance flowing to Ukraine.

“I would just tell you that the that the strike on Yavoriv has not changed our posture and it certainly hasn't precipitated any specific decision to move or reposition anybody else [out] of Poland.”

He added that part of the $350 million security package authorised by President Joe Biden for Ukraine last month will soon be delivered.

“We are fast at work on filling that out,” he said.

Russia warned the West on Saturday against sending further weapons to Kyiv, saying that convoys carrying weaponry to Ukraine could be considered “legitimate targets”.

The official also noted that Ukraine is using drones sent by Turkey “effectively” and that it still has “a significant majority of their inventory left".

Ukraine has received Turkish-made Bayraktar TB2 drones that have been reportedly used to attack Russian tanks and missile launchers over the past three weeks.

The US official said Washington is holding talks with allies and partners on boosting Ukraine’s weapons capabilities.

Mr Biden spoke with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday and the two leaders “reaffirmed their strong support for the government and people of Ukraine”, the White House said.

A satellite image shows homes and buildings in Mariupol, Ukraine, in February, before Russia's invasion. Maxar Technologies via Reuters

A satellite image shows destroyed homes and buildings in Mariupol on March 9. Maxar Technologies via Reuters

Grocery stores and shopping malls in Mariupol in February before Russia's invasion. Maxar Technologies via Reuters

A satellite image shows destroyed grocery stores and shopping malls in Mariupol on March 9 amid Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine. Maxar Technologies via Reuters

The Portcity shopping mall and other stores in Mariupol in February before the Russian invasion. Maxar Technologies via AP

The heavily damaged Portcity shopping mall and other stores in Mariupol on March 9. Maxar Technologies via AP