Swedish defense officials criticized after warning public to prepare for war; Kyiv rejects idea of cease-fire

This was CNBC's live blog tracking developments on the war in Ukraine.

Top Swedish defense officials have been accused of alarmism after they warned the public that it should be prepared for war.

Civil Defense Minister Carl-Oskar Bohlin told a "People and Defense" conference last weekend that "there could be war in Sweden."

He noted that it wasn't his "primary intention to appeal to your fear, but rather to your situational awareness" and said he was trying to make Swedes aware of the potential for conflict, and to ask them to be prepared.

When asked to respond to Bohlin's comments, Sweden's military Commander-in-Chief Micael Bydén said he agreed with the minister, stating: "We need to prepare as far as possible, at all levels, throughout society."

In other news, two Russian missiles struck a hotel in the center of Ukraine's second largest city, Kharkiv, last night, leaving 11 people injured, the regional governor said.

Elsewhere, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy rejected the idea of a cease-fire with Russia, saying it would benefit Moscow, giving it time to replenish its weapons stocks.

Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas on Thursday announced a fresh 80 million euros ($87.5 million) in military assistance to Ukraine, and said Estonia would provide long-term assistance equaling 0.25% of its GDP over the next four years.

"If all the countries supporting Ukraine made a similar commitment, this would lead to a definite victory for Ukraine," Kallas said. 

She met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Estonian capital Tallinn.

A memorandum of understanding was signed in support of defense partnerships between the countries, including research and production of autonomous systems, and electronic