Ukraine war briefing: North Korea sending another 5,000 into Kursk – Russian claim

The “G6” leaders who remained to complete the summit in Canada discussed Russia’s war in Ukraine and international cooperation on key non-military issues. Zelenskyy said: “We are ready for the peace negotiations, unconditional ceasefire. I think it’s very important. But for this, we need pressure [on Russia].” Trump’s stance on Ukraine puts him fundamentally at odds with the other G7 leaders, who are clear that Russia is the aggressor in the war. The US has declined to join new sanctions against Russia from other countries, with Trump saying: “When I sanction a country, that costs the US a lot of money, a tremendous amount of money.”

Russia’s attack on Kyiv flattened a section of an apartment block, as a barrage of hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles killed at least 18 people and wounded 151 across Ukraine and officials declared a day of mourning on Wednesday. Authorities said 16 were killed in Kyiv and two in Odesa. A missile struck a nine-storey residential building in Kyiv’s Solomianskyi district. “I have never seen anything like this before. It is simply horrific. When they started pulling people out, and everyone was cut up, elderly people and children … I do not know how long they can continue to torment us ordinary people,” said Viktoriia Vovchenko, 57, a neighbour.

Australia has joined allies in imposing penalties on the Russian “shadow fleet” used to evade sanctions and trade in goods that help support Moscow’s war in Ukraine. They are the first such measures by Australia. “Operating under deceptive practices, including flag-hopping, disabling tracking systems, and operating with inadequate insurance, the shadow fleet enables the illicit trade of Russian oil and other sanctioned goods,” said Penny Wong, the foreign minister in Canberra.