LONDON 

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has spoken with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy following what Downing Street described as “appalling” Russian attacks overnight.

According to a statement by 10 Downing Street, Starmer opened the call by offering his condolences and paying tribute to Ukrainians who “showed such courage and resilience in the face of daily hardship and bloodshed from Putin’s ongoing onslaught.”

The two leaders discussed recent diplomatic efforts, including talks in Geneva, and “agreed on the importance of securing a just and lasting peace for Ukraine.”

Starmer assured Zelenskyy that Ukraine could rely on continued UK support as those discussions move forward, said the statement.

Ahead of a planned meeting of the Coalition of the Willing later in the day, both leaders highlighted the “international unity that has been shown in support for Ukraine.”

They also stressed the importance of coalition partners continuing to prepare for the deployment of a multinational force once hostilities end.

Downing Street said the two “looked forward to speaking again soon.”

Russia and Ukraine on Tuesday traded accusations against each other regarding overnight airstrikes, which have killed at least nine people in both countries.

Krasnodar Governor Veniamin Kondratyev wrote on Telegram that the southern Russian region suffered "one of the most sustained and massive attacks of the Kyiv regime,” which injured six people in total.

Meanwhile, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko wrote on Telegram that at least six people were killed and 14 others injured in overnight Russian airstrikes on the Ukrainian capital.

Ukraine's Air Force claimed on the same social media platform that the country's air defenses shot down 438 out of 464 various types of drones, as well as 14 out of 22 different types of missiles, launched by Russia overnight.