US President Joe Biden has condemned a wave of Russian missile strikes that killed at least 38 people in Ukraine as a "horrific reminder of Russia's brutality", as he vowed to strengthen Kyiv's air defences, BBC reports.

At least 190 were injured across the country, including some at a children's hospital in the capital Kyiv on Monday.

It comes as Biden prepares to host a Nato summit in Washington on Tuesday.

The US president said further boosts to Ukraine’s air defences would be announced at the meeting.

Leaders from the 32 Nato member states, their partner countries and the EU are gathering to mark the 75th anniversary of the bloc. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky is also expected to attend.

He has been urging Western allies to step up deliveries of air defences for months, amid increased Russian attacks. UN officials said May was the deadliest month for civilian casualties in almost a year.

The summit will focus on defence and deterrence in the context of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Ukraine is not a Nato member, but it has asked to be admitted as soon as possible after its war with Russia ends.

Nato's outgoing secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, has said it is "inevitable" that Ukraine will eventually become a member, but not until after the war.

bd-pratidin/GR