Kaja Kallas, the EU Commission Vice President and High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, discussed Russia's offensive against Ukraine during a press conference prior to the EU Foreign Affairs Meeting in Brussels.

Washington has given Moscow 50 days from July 14 to reach a peace deal or face bruising sanctions. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

In the north a 50,000-strong Russian force is attacking Sumy, a provincial capital. Our model is detecting artillery fire and explosions along the city’s northern defensive lines. Ukraine is badly outnumbered but officials say the front is holding.

An emboldened Russia has ramped up military offensives on two fronts in Ukraine. That is scattering Kyiv’s precious reserve troops and threatening to expand the fighting to a new Ukrainian region as each side seeks an advantage before the fighting season wanes in the autumn.

For months the talk in Kyiv was of a much-anticipated Russian offensive that would aim to gobble up more of Ukraine’s eastern regions. So far, it’s been underwhelming – but the Russians have made some gains and vastly reinforced their troop numbers in some areas.

A Russian official says American Daniel Martindale has been rewarded with citizenship for spying on Ukraine, "by decree of our President Vladimir Putin."

President Donald Trump is downplaying the possibility of sending Ukraine long-range weapons as Kyiv awaits an injection of U.S. weaponry that it hopes will help it beat back an intensifying Russian air offensive.