Russia and the United States traded accusations Thursday over the possible use of chemical weapons in Ukraine, which has entered its 15th day of war.

While Washington urged the need to mobilize efforts to ensure Ukraine's independence, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky affirmed his country's readiness for dialogue and its refusal to surrender.

Zelensky blamed the West for a humanitarian catastrophe if it did not impose a no-fly zone.

He also praised US President Joe Biden for his decision to ban the import of Russian energy products, considering the decision a strong signal to the world.

He also thanked British Prime Minister Boris Johnson for taking a similar decision.

The Ukrainian president accused Russia of launching an air strike on a children's hospital in the southern city of Mariupol, and said in a tweet attached to a video clip of the destroyed hospital that people and children were still under the rubble.

For his part, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov announced that 90% of Ukrainian military airports have been taken out of service and 146 Ukrainian military aircraft have been destroyed since the start of military operations.

On the other hand, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said that Russia would suffer a strategic defeat.

Here are the latest developments on the fifteenth day of this war:

48 minutes ago

CNN about the mayor of Mykolaiv:

  • I wouldn't be surprised if Russian forces used chemical weapons in Ukraine

  • Russian forces bombed my city with internationally prohibited cluster bombs

  • Our city is almost surrounded by Russian forces coming from Crimea

52 minutes ago

US State Department:

  • The United States does not own or operate any chemical or biological laboratories in Ukraine

  • Russia invents false pretexts in an attempt to justify its horrific actions in Ukraine

  • It is Russia that has active chemical and biological weapons programmes

  • Russia is violating the Chemical Weapons Convention and the Biological Weapons Convention

  • We expect Russia to continue to multiply these kinds of baseless allegations

one hour ago

Reuters from the UNICEF Director: More than a million children have fled Ukraine since the start of the Russian invasion

one hour ago

Reuters from the UNICEF Director: More than a million children have fled Ukraine since the start of the Russian invasion

one hour ago

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki on Twitter:

  • We must all be alert to the possibility that Russia will use chemical or biological weapons in Ukraine

  • Russia's misleading claims we've seen time and time again from Russians over the years in Ukraine and in other countries

  • Russia has a long and documented record of using chemical weapons, including attempts to assassinate Putin's political enemies

  • It is Russia that continues to support the Assad regime in Syria that has repeatedly used chemical weapons

  • Russia's allegations are a clear ploy on its part to try to justify its deliberate and unjustified attack on Ukraine

  • Chinese officials are repeating these conspiracy theories and it is unreasonable