Russian forces intensified their bombardment of Mariupol and other cities on Thursday, trapping hundreds of thousands of people, with food and water running short.
Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskyy said 35,000 people managed to get out on Wednesday from several besieged towns, and more efforts were underway on Thursday in eastern and southern Ukraine - including Mariupol - as well as in the Kyiv suburbs.
This comes as White House press secretary Jen Psaki says the world needs to have its "eyes open" to the capability, capacity and pattern of the Russians to use chemical and biological weapons as Russia continues its invasion of Ukraine.
Still, the press secretary wouldn't say whether the use of a chemical or biological weapon would constitute a "red line" and trigger a military response from the United States.
"I'm not going to get into hypotheticals. What we're saying right now is they have the capacity and the capabilities. I'm also not going to get into intelligence. But the president's intention of sending U.S. military to fight in Ukraine against Russia has not changed. The president's first and most important objective is the national security and interests of the United States and being clear and direct with the American people. He has been clear and direct with the American people. He is not intending to send U.S. troops to fight in Ukraine against Russia, to start another war, that that would be an escalatory step that would not be in our national security interests and not in the interests of NATO."
European Union leaders have focused on how to help Ukraine in its war with Russia, but the measures discussed are expected to stop short of fulfilling the country's hopes it can soon join the bloc.
E-U nations have been fully united in backing Ukraine's resistance with unprecedented economic sanctions against Russia, but divisions have started to surface on how fast Brussels could move in integrating Ukraine, and how swiftly the 27-nation bloc could sever energy ties with Moscow.
The Ukrainian fast-track bid has received warm support in Eastern European countries, but EU officials have stressed the process could take years, with unanimity among current members required to allow a newcomer in the club.
Meanwhile, a spokesman for the United Nations says it now estimates that 2.3 million people have fled Ukraine.
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