World

The Ukrainian military said Sunday it was engaged in "fierce battles" with Russian forces for the control of borders at the southern city of Mykolaiv and Chernihiv in the north.

Russian forces have made progress in southern Ukraine since their February 24 invasion, overrunning the city of Kherson and besieging the port of Mariupol.

Kyiv has urged the West to boost military assistance, with President Zelensky pleading for Eastern European neighbours to provide Russian-made planes that his pilots are trained to fly.

The West, dismissing that rationale as a pretext, has responded with harsh sanctions on Moscow and heavy military and other aid to Kyiv.

The Ukrainian side had to put off a planned evacuation from strategically placed Mariupol, and blamed Russian forces for breaking the temporary ceasefire.

Guy Reffitt, a 49-year-old oil industry worker from Wylie, Texas, is facing charges of bringing a gun to Washington, battling police officers and impeding an official proceeding.

Archer will appeal the conviction and sentence. He faces one year behind bars for defrauding the Oglala Sioux tribe.

Boris Johnson made the statement during a visit to Estonia where Britain has deployed more troops.

Lukashenko denied Kyiv's allegations that Russian troops were attacking Ukraine from Belarus' territory

Russia's track record in the Syrian civil war, and in its own ruthless efforts to crush separatism in Chechnya, suggest an increasingly brutal campaign ahead.

The report came as Russia and Ukraine began ceasefire talks on the Belarusian border.

The move by Belarus comes as the country is being condemned internationally for being used as a launchpad by Russian forces to attack neighbouring Ukraine.

Talks began with the aim of an immediate ceasefire and the withdrawal of Russian forces, the Ukrainian president's office said.

Alphabet said it had taken the action for the safety of local communities in the country, after consulting with sources including regional authorities.

The EU has also sanctioned Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

The Kremlin said that Putin had briefed Israel's Prime Minister Naftali Bennett about "the course of a special military operation to protect Donbas".