U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to ramp up arms shipments to Ukraine is a signal to Kyiv to abandon peace efforts, Russia said on Thursday, vowing it would not accept the "blackmail" of Washington's new sanctions ultimatum.

Russia “increasing the pace” of its gains in Ukraine despite Donald Trump’s please for Vladimir Putin to end the war. The Ministry of Defence’s (MoD) latest intelligence update on the conflict says Russian troops are seized more of their neighbour’s territory throughout May and June.

President Trump reportedly questioned Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky about whether Kyiv could blast Moscow and St Petersburg, but later indicated publicly that Russia’s capital should be off limits.