The EU has fallen short of signing a deal to loan Ukraine billions of euros backed by frozen Russian assets, after Belgium threatened to block the initiative.

Kim Jong Un made the comments at the groundbreaking ceremony for a memorial for North Korean soldiers who fought for Russia in its war with Ukraine, state media said.

The Kremlin continues to demonstrate to U.S. President Donald Trump that his calls for an immediate end to the war in Ukraine are incompatible with Russia's military objectives. — Ukrinform.

Nato Secretary-General Mark Rutte says pressure and sanctions are changing Vladimir Putin's calculus as Russia deals with heavy military losses in Ukraine as the war continues.

Russia's new wave of tax hikes, designed to mobilise state finances as the war in Ukraine grinds on, is set to hit one in 10 small business owners, many of whom say they will have no choice but to shut down or move into the shadow economy.

Ukraine's defense ministry said it continues to hit Russia's industries, "weakening the offensive potential of the aggressor state."