Russia-Ukraine war live: Ukraine’s counteroffensive will be ‘very impressive’, US general says

Russia will come back to full compliance with the New START treaty if Washington abandons its “hostile stance” toward Moscow, Russian news agencies reported, citing deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov.

The United States said earlier this week that it would stop providing Russia with some notifications required under the arms control treaty, including updates on its missile and launcher locations, to retaliate for Moscow’s “ongoing violations” of the accord, Reuters reports.

Ukraine’s plans for a counteroffensive against Russian occupation remain on track, its deputy defence minister told Reuters on Saturday, despite an “unprecedented” wave of missile and drone attacks across the country in recent weeks.

The top US military officer has said training for Ukrainian forces on advanced US Abrams tanks has started, but those weapons crucial over the long term in trying to expel Russia from occupied territory will not be ready in time for Kyiv’s imminent counteroffensive.

Photograph: Anadolu Agency/Getty Images The US secretary of state, Antony Blinken, said on Friday the US was working with Ukraine and other allies to build consensus around the core elements of a “just and lasting peace” to end the war with Russia.

Britain supports Ukraine joining Nato, the defence minister, Ben Wallace, has said on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue security summit in Singapore, saying the path is open to them although political realities may slow the process as it is not possible to add members in the middle of a war.