The decision by the US House of Representatives to earmark $61 billion in long-delayed aid for Ukraine shows the country will not become "a second Afghanistan," President Volodymyr Zelensky said Sunday.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Thursday that Ukraine had an "urgent, critical need for more air defence", at a G7 foreign ministers' meeting on the Italian island of Capri.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Thursday that Russia fired more than 40 missiles and 40 drones at Ukraine overnight, again hitting the city of Kharkiv and targeting "critical infrastructure" throughout the country.

Lithuania said Friday that it would supply Ukraine with around 3,000 combat drones, which have become key in its fight against Russia's invasion, and also help set up three recovery centres for Ukrainian soldiers.

Slovaks voted on Saturday in the first round of a tight presidential election pitting the Moscow-leaning ruling camp against a pro-Kyiv candidate amid deep divisions in the country on the war in neighbouring Ukraine.

A Russian missile attack has "completely" cut off the electricity and heat supply to Ukraine's second largest city, Kharkiv, its mayor said on Friday.

The International Monetary Fund's executive board confirmed Thursday that it will disburse $880 million to Ukraine in the third phase of a $15.6 billion aid package to support the country's war-torn economy.

Several explosions sounded early Thursday morning in the centre of the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, following an air alert prompted by missiles and drones launched by Russia, according to an AFP journalist.

Ahead of a pivotal European Council meeting, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni addressed Parliament, outlining Italy's foreign policy priorities. The meeting, set for later this week, will focus on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the crisis in the Middle East. PM Meloni welcomed Sweden and Finland's NATO accession, denouncing Russia's hostility towards these nations…

NATO head Jens Stoltenberg said on Thursday alliance members "are not providing Ukraine with enough ammunition" and the shortfall has allowed Russia to push Kyiv's forces back.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Monday that Russian advances had been "halted" in Ukraine and the situation was now "much better" for his troops than in recent months.

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, says the fact that Nigeria accepted grains from Ukraine does not make Nigeria a weak or failed state.