Russia's Foreign Ministry on Wednesday accused Italy of discrimination and said it had caved into misplaced Ukrainian lobbying after Italian authorities cancelled a classical music concert by Russian conductor Valery Gergiev.

Donald Trump has been growing increasingly frustrated with Vladimir Putin's refusal to agree to a peace deal in Ukraine

The U.K. chaired a Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting to discuss rapid transfer of arms including Patriot missiles, as the Britain responds to President Donald Trump's 50-day ultimatum to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The judge studied with Vladimir Putin at university and was the first woman to be appointed as Chief Justice of Russia's Supreme Court.

A face-to-face meeting between the Ukrainian and Russian leaders is needed "to truly ensure a lasting peace," Zelensky said late on Saturday.

Valery Gergiev, who is widely regarded as close to Russian President Vladimir Putin, had been expected to lead an Italian orchestra and soloists from St Petersburg's Mariinsky Theatre, which he leads, on July 27.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is ready to move toward a peace settlement for Ukraine but Moscow's main objective is to achieve its goals, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told state television in a clip published on Sunday.

Putin has spurned Zelensky’s previous offers of a face-to-face meeting to end Europe’s biggest conflict since World War II.

The dire water scarcity is attributed to rampant corruption and gross mismanagement by the Kremlin-backed leadership.Donetsk and Makiivka are bearing the brunt of the crisis, inciting residents' fears of potential disease outbreaks.