European Union leaders are aiming to greenlight a new raft of sanctions against Russia at a summit on Thursday.

Nato Secretary-General Mark Rutte says pressure and sanctions are changing Vladimir Putin's calculus as Russia deals with heavy military losses in Ukraine as the war continues.

European Union officials could reach a political agreement as soon as Thursday on a plan for a huge loan to Ukraine backed by Kremlin money frozen in a Belgian financial institution.

LONDON -- Russia overnight launched a heavy air attack on Ukraine -- including striking Kyiv with drones and ballistic missiles -- that killed at least six people, including two children.

The move coincides with a Trump push to pressure Moscow into talks on ending the war and to withhold U.S. Tomahawk missiles from Kyiv.

Ukrainian and Swedish officials announced Oct. 22 the signing of a letter of intent for the export of up to 150 aircraft jets to Kyiv, which could provide the war-torn country with an advantage against a wide range of electronic-warfare and missile threats.

Sweden has signed a letter of intent that could see it supply up to 150 of its domestically produced Gripen fighter jets to Ukraine, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said on Wednesday after meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.

The Trump administration on Wednesday imposed sanctions on Russia’s two largest oil companies as it called on Moscow to agree to an immediate ceasefire in the war with Ukraine.