Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said yesterday that he would consolidate a strong global response to any force that aids Russia's war effort and incites or prolongs the conflict between Kiev and Moscow.

- I want to say to everyone in the world who still wants to somehow help (Russian President Vladimir) Putin: We will do everything not only to defend our country and people, but to truly consolidate the world for strong responses to the incitement of the war or any attempts to prolong it, Zelensky said in his evening video address.

Germany, France and Great Britain announced yesterday that they are introducing new sanctions against Iran over alleged sales of ballistic missiles to Russia.

- France, Germany and Great Britain strongly condemn the export of Iran and the Russian purchase of Iranian ballistic missiles, according to the joint statement of the three countries.

- It is a further escalation of Iran's military support for Russian military aggression against Ukraine and will lead to Iranian missiles reaching European territory, increasing the suffering of the Ukrainian people. This escalation of Iran and Russia is a direct threat to European security. We will take immediate steps to terminate bilateral agreements with Iran on air services, the statement said.

At a joint press conference with his British counterpart David Lammy in London yesterday, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said the US had warned Iran that supplying Russia with such weapons would be a "dramatic escalation".

Blinken announced new US sanctions against Iran over this and said he expected US allies and partners to take their own measures.

Iran's missiles have a maximum range of about 120 kilometers and would allow Russia to use its own arsenal to hit targets further from the front line, Blinken said.

- These developments and the strengthening of cooperation between Russia and Iran threaten European security and prove that Iran's destabilizing influence has a much wider reach than the Middle East, said Blinken.

In return, Russia is allegedly giving Iran the technology it wants.

Kiev summoned Iran's ambassador for talks following media reports of the missile delivery.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Khanani denied the allegations. He said it was unfortunate that "some parties who are themselves part of the war" are making accusations against the Islamic Republic of Iran for political purposes.

It is known that Iran previously provided Russia with so-called kamikaze drones, although Tehran denies this.

Blinken visited London to discuss strengthening cooperation. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is due to visit Washington at the end of the week.