Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga issued a call on Tuesday to remain "clear-eyed and not give in to fear" in the face of Russia easing its rules on the use of nuclear weapons. Sybiga dismissed the changes during a congressional hearing at the US Capitol, saying, "their updated nuclear doctrine and public rhetoric on the use of nuclear weapons are nothing more than blackmail". Read our blog to see how the day's events unfolded.
This live blog is no longer being updated. For more of our coverage on the war in Ukraine, please click here.
Biden approves anti-personnel mines for Ukraine, Washington Post reports
President Joe Biden has approved providing anti-personnel land mines to Ukraine, the Washington Post reported on Tuesday, citing two U.S. officials.
An official, cited in the story, said Ukraine had committed to not using the mines in densely populated areas.
West continues to use Ukraine as tool for strategic defeat of Russia, Kremlin says
The West continues to use Ukraine as a tool to defeat Russia, Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin's spokesperson, told Russia's RIA state news agency in remarks published on Wednesday.
"Western politicians continue their line of inflicting a strategic defeat on our country," Peskov told RIA, commenting on reports that Washington has allowed Ukraine to use US-made weapons to strike deep into Russia.
"And, of course, they use Ukraine as a tool in their hands to achieve these goals."
If US cuts military funding to Ukraine, 'we will lose', says Zelensky
Ukraine "will lose" its war against Russia if the United States cuts military funding to Kyiv, President Volodymyr Zelensky told Fox News on Tuesday.
"If they cut, we will -- I think we will lose," Zelensky said in an interview with the US television network, adding: "We will fight. We have our production, but it's not enough to prevail."
US President-elect Donald Trump is a vocal skeptic of the billions that the administration of President Joe Biden has given to Ukraine since the Russian invasion began in 2022.
Macron urges Putin to 'listen to reason' on Ukraine
French President Emmanuel Macron urged his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to "listen to reason" on Ukraine, accusing Moscow of becoming "a force of global destabilisation" after it loosened its rules on using nuclear arms.
Speaking to journalists after the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, the French leader said: "I want truly to call here on Russia to listen to reason. As a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council it has responsibilities."
Ukraine foreign minister calls Russian nuclear rhetoric 'saber-rattling'
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga urged Ukraine's Western allies Tuesday to remain "clear-eyed and not give into fear" in the face what he termed Russian "saber-rattling" over its nuclear weapons.
Speaking at the US Capitol at a congressional hearing, Sybiga said: "Right now, we see new attempts by the Kremlin to use nuclear saber-rattling to scare the West.
"Their updated nuclear public rhetoric on the use of nuclear weapons is nothing more than blackmail," he added. "They have used it many times before when strong decisions were made. We must remain cold-headed, clear-eyed, and not give in to fear."
US will send Ukraine at least $275 million in new weapons in push to bolster Kyiv before Trump
The Pentagon will send Ukraine at least $275 million in new weapons, US officials said Tuesday, as the Biden administration rushes to do as much as it can to help Kyiv fight back against Russia in the remaining two months before President-elect Donald Trump takes office.
The latest tranche of weapons comes as worries grow about an escalation in the conflict, with both sides pushing to gain any advantage that they can exploit if Trump demands a quick end to the war – as he has vowed to do.
Russia vows response after Ukraine fires long-range US missiles
Russia warned on Tuesday that it would respond after Ukraine fired longer-range US missiles at its territory for the first time, as President Vladimir Putin issued a nuclear threat on the 1,000th day of the war.
A senior official told AFP that a strike on Russia's Bryansk region earlier on Tuesday "was carried out by ATACMS missiles" – a reference to the US-supplied Army Tactical Missile System.
Speaking 1,000 days after Russia invaded Ukraine, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the attack showed Western countries wanted to "escalate" the conflict.
"We will be taking this as a qualitatively new phase of the Western war against Russia. And we will react accordingly," Lavrov told a press conference at the G20 summit in Brazil.
Zelensky urges Germany to support Ukraine's longer-range strike capabilities
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday it was time for Germany to support Ukraine's longer-range strike capabilities against Russia.
FRANCE 24's Berlin correspondent in Berlin Holdsworth unpacked the German public's mixed reaction to Kyiv's request.
Netanyahu says Israel offering $5 mn reward for each Gaza hostage freed
Speaking from within Gaza itself during a visit, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday that Israel was offering $5 mn reward for each Gaza hostage freed.
Netanyahu also said Israel had not given up on locating the remaining hostages in Gaza.
"Anyone who dares to harm our hostages with have blood on their head. We will hunt you down and get you," he said.
Russian invasion toll on environment $71 billion, Ukraine says
Russia's invasion of Ukraine has caused $71 billion in environmental damage and led to a surge in greenhouse gas emissions, the Ukrainian government told the COP29 summit in Baku.
"Nature during this war is like a silent victim," said Svitlana Grynchuk, Ukraine's minister of environmental protection and natural resources.
The climate impact, especially through destruction of forests that naturally balance carbon emissions, shows that the consequences of the war are "not just for Ukraine, but for the global community," she told reporters.
Grynchuk said the Ukrainian government estimated that the war has cost $71 billion in environmental damage and led to the equivalent of some 180 million tons of carbon emissions.
The UN Development Programme a year ago had put environmental damage from the war at $56 billion.
A Ukrainian military intelligence source confirms responsibility for missile strike on Russia's Bryansk region
An anonymous source from Ukrainian military intelligence confirmed responsibility for Tuesday's missile attack on Russia’s Bryansk region, FRANCE 24's correspondent in Ukraine Gulliver Cragg said.
"Bryansk region borders Kursk region, and our understanding is that Kyiv sees this as part of their campaign in Kursk region – their campaign to hold onto the part of the Russian region that they occupied in August which the Russians are trying to take back," he added.
Zelensky accuses G20 of inaction after Putin eases nuclear weapons rules
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused G20 leaders at a summit in Brazil on Tuesday of failing to act after Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree easing Moscow's rules for using nuclear weapons.
"Today, G20 countries are sitting in Brazil. Did they say something? Nothing," Zelensky said at a press conference, accusing the G20 of failing to form a "strong strategy".
Ukraine working with all partners to allow longer-range strikes, Zelensky says
President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday that Ukraine was working with all partners to win their support for longer-range strikes.
Asked about an attack on a weapons depot in the Russian Bryansk region, Zelensky said Kyiv now had US ATACMS systems as well as its own long-range capabilities, and would use all of them.
Ukraine's fate will determine EU's 'destiny', says Borrell
The European Union's future hinges on the outcome of Russia's war on Ukraine, the bloc' top diplomat Josep Borrell warned Tuesday following defence minister talks on the 1,000th day of the conflict.
Borrell told reporters in Brussels that EU states had agreed "by an overwhelming majority" that "the fate of Ukraine will determine the destiny of the European Union."
Russia says Ukraine's ATACMS strikes mark 'new phase' of war
Russia said on Tuesday that Ukraine's use of long-range ATACMS missiles against its territory marked a "new phase of the Western war" against Moscow, and vowed to react "accordingly."
"We will be taking this as a qualitatively new phase of the Western war against Russia. And we will react accordingly," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told a press conference at the G20 summit in Brazil, accusing Washington of helping Kyiv operate the missiles.
EU ready 'to assume the burden' of Ukraine support from US, says Poland
Macron tells Xi he shares desire for 'durable peace' in Ukraine
French President Emmanuel Macron told China's leader Xi Jinping on Tuesday that he shared the desire to see "durable peace" in Ukraine – a topic discussed at a G20 summit both are attending in Rio.
Macron, making the comments at the start of their bilateral meeting on the summit sidelines, insisted France and China had a "convergence of views" on the conflict.
In the face of a world "made of instabilities, tensions, and increasing wars," Macron said, China and France were in agreement.
"You share like us the same concern following Russia's bellicose and escalatory declarations on nuclear doctrine," said the French president.
Russia says Ukraine attacked border region with US-made long-range missiles
Ukraine launched an attack on the Russian Bryansk region overnight with six US-made ATACMS long-range missiles, Russian news agencies reported on Tuesday citing the Russian Defence Ministry.
Russian air defence systems intercepted five of the missiles and damaged one, the report said. Debris from one missile fell on a military facility in the region, causing a fire, it added.
The attack resulted in no casualties or damage, the ministry said.
EU ready 'to assume the burden' of Ukraine aid, Polish foreign minister says
Major EU countries are ready to provide defence and financial aid to Ukraine if the United States reduces support, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said on Tuesday.
"I note with appreciation the readiness of the largest European Union countries to assume the burden of military and financial support for Ukraine in the context of a possible reduction in US involvement," Sikorski told reporters after talks with counterparts from Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Spain.
Ukraine may have to 'outlast' Putin to achieve goals, says Zelensky
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said Tuesday that Kyiv may have to wait for the end of Vladimir Putin's rule in Russia to reclaim its full internationally recognised territory.
"Perhaps Ukraine will have to outlast someone in Moscow to achieve all its goals ... Perhaps to restore the full integrity of the state," Zelensky said in an address to Ukraine's parliament.
Yesterday's key developments:
US President Joe Biden has given Ukraine permission for the first time to strike Russian territory with US-supplied long-range missiles. Moscow on Monday warned of an "appropriate response" if Ukraine fires Western-supplied missiles into Russian territory.
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday that Biden's administration made a "good decision" by allowing Ukraine the use of US-made weapons to strike inside Russia.
The European Union Monday widened sanctions against Iran over its support for Russia's war on Ukraine, including targeting vessels and ports used to transfer drones and missiles, as Britain also expanded its measures.
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has expressed his hope that EU members could agree to allow Ukraine to use arms to strike inside Russia.
