TOP HEADLINES

· U.S. President Joe Biden visited Kyiv for the time since the conflict began with Russia nearly a year ago. The unannounced trip came while Biden was on his way to neighboring Poland and a meeting with President Andrzej Duda. READ MORE BELOW

· The EU needs to ensure Ukraine has enough ammunition to continue its fight against Russia, their top diplomat said. Josep Borrell said: "It is the most urgent issue. If we fail on that, the result of the war is in danger."

· Ukrainian forces are inflicting "extraordinarily significant" losses on Russian soldiers near the town of Vuhledar, and the defense of the beleaguered town of Bakhmut would continue, but "not at any price," said Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. 

· Dutch intelligence agencies said Russia appeared to be preparing for the disruption and sabotage of critical offshore infrastructure in the Dutch part of the North Sea.

· Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu insisted Türkiye was not selling products that could be used in Russia's war effort, after U.S. warnings earlier this month about exports of chemicals, microchips and other products.

· Russia has charged 680 Ukrainian officials, including 118 members of the armed forces and defense ministry, with breaking laws governing the conduct of war, including the use of weapons against civilians, TASS news agency has reported.

· Zelenskyy said French leader Emmanuel Macron was wasting his time considering any sort of dialogue with Russia.

IN DETAIL

Biden meets Zelenskyy in surprise visit to Kyiv

U.S. President Joe Biden announced new military aid for Ukraine during an unannounced visit to the Ukrainian capital on Monday, showing solidarity with Kyiv days before the first anniversary of the start of the conflict with Russia.

Air raid sirens blared across Kyiv as Biden met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. There were no reports of Russian missile or air strikes. Biden said Washington would stand with Ukraine as long as it takes. The U.S. has been by far the largest supplier of military assistance to help Zelenskyy's army.

"Your visit is an extremely important sign of support for all Ukrainians," Zelenskyy said.

Biden revealed the U.S. would provide a new military aid package worth $500 million, that would include more ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems. In a speech, Biden commended Ukraine's courage and noted that he had visited Kyiv six times when he had earlier served as vice president.

"I knew I would be back," he said.

The air raid sirens wailed while Zelenskyy and Biden were inside the St Michael's Golden-Domed Cathedral on a square in central Kyiv where burnt-out Russian tanks have been placed.

Ukraine is preparing for what it expects to be a major new Russian offensive that some military analysts say is already under way.