EU agrees new package of sanctions against Russia; Putin says Sarmat nuclear missiles ready soon – as it happened

EU members agree new sanctions against Russia; Russian president says warheads can soon be deployed for duty. This live blog is closed

• Zelenskiy admits Ukrainian counter-offensive going slower than desired'

Ukrainian forces are gaining some ground towards Melitopol and Berdiansk in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, Andriy Kovalev, a spokesman for the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, has said according to Reuters.

They had partial success, they are gaining ground," Kovalev was quoted as saying in a post on the Ukraine Military Media Center's Telegram channel, adding that the gains were near the settlements of Mala Tokmachka and Robotyne, among others.