KYIV, Ukraine - Russia held back Monday from launching a new round of strikes that have been expected against power stations and other key infrastructure in Ukraine, as officials warned a lingering energy and water crisis from earlier attacks could prompt more evacuations from the capital.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, hosting the largest delegation of top foreign officials since Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a Russian invasion of Ukraine over nine months ago, insisted that better air defenses were needed from allies "to break this vicious cycle" of Russian air strikes followed by Ukrainian rebuilding of damaged infrastructure.

"Every time we will be restoring it, the Russians will be destroying it," he told counterparts from seven Baltic and Nordic countries.

https://www.startribune.com/lull-in-russian-attacks-against-ukraine-energy-aid-pledged/600230641/