Ukraine war latest: Putin arrives in Kazakhstan for Xi talks - amid claim China could end war with one phone call (2024)

After Russian forces invaded Ukraine in 2022, Europe promised to end its reliance on Russian gas.

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Our economics and data editor Ed Conwayreports the"uncomfortable truth" behind why the cost of living crisis came to an end - starting with the story of a very unusual ship.

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The number of people killed in Russia's morning attack on Dnipro has risen to four.

Regional governor Serhii Lisak said the number of injured has also risen to 27. Two people have "heavy" injuries, he said.

Eleven of the wounded have been taken to hospital for treatment.

Ukraine's air force says it shot down six drones and five missiles launched by Russia at Ukraine this morning.

In a post on Telegram, it said defence forces downed one cruise missile andfour guided missiles. They also shot down five Shahed-typedrones and one reconnaissance drone, the air forcesaid.

Russian forces were mainly targeting Ukraine's Dnipro region in the attack, it added.

At least three people were killed and 18 others injured in a Russian missile and drone attack on Dnipro city earlier, local officials said (see 9.12 post).

A Ukrainian attack on Russian-occupied territory in the southern Kherson region has killed one person and wounded two others, a Kremlin-allied official has said.

Vladimir Saldo, the Moscow-installed governor of Kherson, said Ukrainian forces launched drones at the town of Oleshky in two separate attacks.

Two people were killed and another was hurt, he said.

It comes as Ukrainian officials report a series of Russian attacks across Ukraine this morning.

Russia and Donald Trump are not engaged in talks on the war in Ukraine, Russian media is reporting, citing the Kremlin.

Mr Trump said in a debate with Joe Biden last week that he could end the conflict before taking office in January if he won the November election.

He has repeatedly asserted that he could quickly settle the conflict.

The Kremlin said it could not comment on his proposals for peace without knowing the details.

A top aide to Volodymyr Zelenskyy said earlier that Ukraine wasn't prepared to compromise and give up territory to Russia to end the war (see 8.50 post).

We've an update to bring you now after explosions were reported in the central Ukrainian city of Dnipro (see 8.02 post).

Dnipro governor Serhii Lisak says three people have been killed and 18 injured after Russia launched drones and missiles at the city.

A 14-year-old girl is among those hurt, he said.

"There were several fires. There is destruction," Mr Lisak wrote on Telegram.

Ukraine isn't ready to compromise with Russia and cede parts of its territory in order to end the war, a top aide to Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said.

Vladimir Putin said last month that Ukrainian troops would need to withdraw from regions Russia claims to have annexed as part of any peace proposal.

But Andriy Yermak, the president's chief of staff, said: "We [are] not ready to go to the compromise for the veryimportant things and values... independence, freedom,democracy, territorial integrity, sovereignty."

Asked about Donald Trump's assertion that he could rapidly end the conflict if he's elected to the White House, Mr Yermak said Kyiv would not take advice on how to achieve a "just peace".

Mr Trump has repeatedly claimed he could end the war in Ukraine in one day if he won the November election, but has not given details of how he would do so.

Questioned on how Ukraine assesses Mr Trump would handle the conflict, Mr Yermak said: "Honest answer: I don't know. Let's see."

A French citizen has pleaded guilty to failing to register as a foreign agent while collecting information on Russia's military, the Russian Investigative Committee has said.

Researcher Laurent Vinatier, 47, was detained last month under laws used to crack down on Kremlin critics.

He could face up to five years in prison.

Mr Vinatier has been placed in pre-trial custody until 5 August despite a French embassy-endorsed request for him to be freed.

"Explosions" have been heard in two Ukrainian cities this morning, Ukrainian media is reporting.

The Kyiv Post reported explosions in the central city of Dnipro and in Zaporizhzhia, in the southeast.

RBC-Ukraine reported in a Telegram post that a rocket had been launched throughZaporizhzhia in the direction of Dnipro.

The Suspilne news outlet said a shopping centre was damaged after the "explosions" in Dnipro, but did not provide further details.

Dnipro governor Serhii Lisak has urged people in the city to stay in shelters.

A single phone call from Xi Jinping to Vladimir Putin could end the war, the Finnish president has claimed.

Alexander Stubb told Bloomberg that Moscow is now so reliant on Beijing's support that if the Chinese leader called for peace negotiations to start, Russia would be "forced to do that".

China offered a 12-point plan for peace last year - which Ukraine and the West rejected.

It has yet to condemn Russia or describe the war in Ukraine as an "invasion" - and has also criticised Western sanctions imposed on Moscow.

Mr Putin and Mr Xi are expected to meet in Kazakhstan over the next two days for their second summit in as many months.

Mr Stubb said China would benefit from ending Russia's "aggressive and colonial war".

"It needs to protect the international rules which are linked to territorial integrity and sovereignty," he said.

The Chinese foreign ministry didn't immediately respond to Bloomberg's request for comment.