Plans to intensify sanctions on Russia have stalled after Hungary blocked new measures, undercutting a planned show of EU unity.

MOSCOW, Feb 24 (Reuters) - Russia accused Ukraine on Tuesday of trying to obtain a nuclear weapon with help from Britain and France, an allegation Kyiv called an absurd lie. A French foreign ministry spokesperson said the allegation was "blatant disinformation".

About half of the country’s federal budget goes toward the fight in Ukraine, money that does little to support its long-term development.

As Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine marks four years, the pressure on Russia’s economy is starting to show.

The gap between Russia and the West has pushed Moscow to prioritize unconventional capabilities, a top Norwegian military official said.

Russian officials claim that Moscow has allegedly suffered a Ukrainian drone attack, with flight restrictions introduced at all four of the city's airports. Source: Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin; Russian Ministry of Defence;

Britain has been accused of involvement in an assassination attempt in Moscow which left a senior Russian military intelligence chief seriously wounded

India has seized three sanctioned shipping tankers that were operating off its coast. They were part of the “shadow fleet” fueling Russia’s war against Ukraine. The seizure is a welcome break with India’s long-standing reliance on Russian oil and thus its contributions to Moscow’s war chest.