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Russia ready to talk if Ukraine lays down arms

Lavrov also stated that "neo-Nazis" should not be allowed to rule Ukraine

On Friday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated that Moscow would be willing to undertake talks with Kyiv if Ukraine's military put down its armaments first.

He also stated that "neo-Nazis" should not be allowed to rule Ukraine.

Following President Vladimir Putin's declaration of war, Russia started an invasion by land, air, and sea on Thursday, the largest attack on a European state since World War II.

Russia pressed its invasion of Ukraine to the outskirts of the capital Friday after unleashing airstrikes on cities and military bases and sending in troops and tanks from three sides in an attack that could rewrite the global post-Cold War security order.

Fearing a Russian attack on the capital city, thousands of people went deep underground as night fell, jamming Kyiv's subway stations.

The enemy's plan is to break through with tank columns from the side of Ivankiv and Chernihiv to Kyiv, Interior Ministry adviser Anton Gerashchenko said on Telegram.

Hours after the invasion began, Russian forces seized control of the now-decommissioned Chernobyl plant and its surrounding exclusion zone, presidential adviser Myhailo Podolyak told The Associated Press.