Russia is closing in on a key town in Ukraine's defensive line made vulnerable by the loss of Vuhledar, the British defence ministry says. Meanwhile, Vladimir Putin has signed off on increasing Russia's military spending to almost a third of the total budget.

Volodymyr Zelensky has called on the US to convince “sceptics” in Europe that Ukraine should be invited to join Nato. For the first time the Ukrainian president indicated that Kyiv could accept Russian control over some of its territory in order to end the “hot phase of the war”, and on the condition that Ukraine joins Nato.

President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Russia would use all weapons at its disposal against Ukraine if Kyiv were to acquire nuclear arms. The New York Times reported last week that some unidentified Western officials had suggested U.

Putin warns Ukraine against nuclear weapons, suggesting military action and downplaying missile impacts, while addressing economic concerns.

Vladimir Putin warned on Thursday at a press conference in Kazakhstan that he would use all available weapons against Ukraine if Kyiv acquired nuclear weapons. "We will not allow it. We'll be watching their every move,

A massive aerial bombardment of Ukraine's energy facilities was in response to Kyiv striking Russian territory with Western-supplied missiles, President Vladimir Putin said Thursday. Pledging Moscow would always respond to Ukraine's use of US-supplied ATACMS missiles,