On Friday, Ukraine's president posted a video on Instagram stating he is staying in the country's capital, despite the fact that officials have ordered Kyiv people to construct Molotov cocktails to use against Russian soldiers.

The self-shot video from central Kyiv was intended to dispel rumors that he was fleeing Ukraine in the face of the Russian invasion.

Standing outside the president building alongside his prime minister, chief of staff, and other top advisers, he said, "We're all here. Our military is here. Citizens in society are here. We're all here defending our independence, our country, and it will stay this way."

"We defend our independence": Ukraine's president posted a video on his Instagram on Friday saying he is staying in Ukraine's capital, even as the situation is becoming so desperate that authorities have told Kyiv residents to make Molotov cocktails to use against Russian forces. pic.twitter.com/0qZpeJ0HXO

— CBS News (@CBSNews) February 26, 2022

Ukraine's President Zelenskiy claimed he spoke with US Vice President Joe Biden about toughening sanctions, tangible defense help, and forming an anti-war alliance.

As the US-led West prepared to vote on a resolution calling on Moscow to withdraw from Ukraine, Zelenskiy said he spoke with President Joe Biden about toughening sanctions, concrete defense help, and forming an anti-war alliance. While Moscow vetoed the resolution, the United States imposed penalties on Russian President Vladimir Putin and many top advisers as his soldiers advanced into Kyiv.

“President Putin and Minister Lavrov are directly responsible for Russia’s unprovoked and unlawful further invasion of Ukraine,” the US treasury department said in a statement.