Ukraine forces can protect Europe from Russian forces: President Zelensky

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said Saturday that his forces could protect Europe from Russian forces, but added: "Now is the time to provide all the weapons necessary for defence."

Kyiv needed F-16 fighter jets and Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS), he said. "The security of Europe's eastern flank depends only on our defence."

Meanwhile, the chief of the mercenary group Wagner said in a surprise announcement on Saturday that his troops were turning back to avoid spilling blood.

"We are turning our columns around and going back to field camps," Yevgeny Prigozhin announced after vowing to march on Moscow to topple the military leadership. He said he understood the importance of the moment and did not want to "spill Russian blood."