The statement added that the aircraft are designed to destroy ground and air targets, and infrastructure facilities covered by air defense systems. Izvestia reported how on March 31, a Su-34 aircraft had bombed a Ukrainian stronghold in the border area of Russia's Kursk region.

President Trump’s envoy says the territories are key to resolving the war, but their status could in fact become a sticking point to any deal.

Reuters, the news and media division of Thomson Reuters, is the world’s largest multimedia news provider, reaching billions of people worldwide every day. Reuters provides business, financial, national and international news to professionals via desktop terminals, the world's media organizations, industry events and directly to consumers.

Russia said that 246 Russian service members were returned from territory controlled by Kyiv, and that 31 wounded Ukrainian prisoners of war were transferred in exchange for 15 wounded Russian soldiers in need of urgent medical care.

Ukraine imposed sanctions on three Chinese companies on Friday claiming they were involved in production of advanced Iskander missiles, a day after President Volodymyr Zelenskiy alleged that China had been supplying weapons to Russia.

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a temporary Easter ceasefire in Ukraine, the Kremlin said Saturday. According to the Kremlin, the ceasefire will last from 6 p.m. Moscow time (1500 GMT) on Saturday to midnight (2100 GMT) following Easter Sunday.

Ukraine imposed sanctions on three Chinese companies on Friday, a day after President Volodymyr Zelenskiy alleged that China had been supplying weapons to Russia. China's foreign ministry earlier on Friday dismissed Zelenskiy's accusation as groundless.

Ukraine imposed sanctions on three Chinese companies on Friday claiming they were involved in production of advanced Iskander missiles, a day after President Volodymyr Zelenskiy alleged that China had been supplying weapons to Russia.

China on Friday rejected accusations levelled by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky who claimed that Beijing has provided weapons to Russia. China rejects false accusations and political manipulation,