Key points
- Russia economically strong despite 'illegitimate sanctions'
- Ukraine has right to strike targets in Russia - NATO chief
- Russian vessels to make port in Cuba in 'hopes of invoking memory of missile crisis'
- Biden to discuss $225m package with Zelenskyy in France
- Ivor Bennett:Why is Lavrov in Africa?
- Big picture:Everything you need to know about the war right now
- Your questions answered: Are there any signs of an underground resistance in Russia?
That's all for today
Thank you for reading.
We will be back soon with more updates from the war in Ukraine.
'No need' for use of nuclear weapons right now - Putin
Vladimir Putin has said he does not see the conditions for the use of nuclear weapons as set out in Russia's nuclear doctrine - but added he could not rule out a change to the doctrine.
"We have a nuclear doctrine which states that the use ofnuclear arms is possible in an exceptional case, when thesovereignty and territorial integrity of our country isthreatened," he told the St Petersburg International Economic Forum.
"But the doctrine can be changed.
"The same applies tonuclear tests. We will carry out tests if needed, but so farthere is no such need."
Putin repeats warning that he could send weapons to adversaries of the West
Russia could send weapons to adversaries of the West, Vladimir Putin has warned for a second time.
The Russian president repeated the warning from earlier this week during the St Petersburg Economic Forum.
He did not say what countries or entities he was referring to, and he stressed that Moscow is not doing it currently.
"If they supply (weapons) to the combat zone and call for using these weapons against our territory, why don't we have the right to do the same?" he told the crowds.
"But I'm not ready to say that we will be doing it tomorrow, either."
On Wednesday, Putin told international journalists that Russia could provide long-range weapons to others to strike Western targets in response to NATO allies allowing Ukraine to use their arms to attack Russian territory.
He also reaffirmed Moscow's readiness to use nuclear weapons if it sees a threat to its sovereignty.
Biden apologises to Zelenskyy
Joe Biden has apologised to Volodymyr Zelenskyy for the recent delay in approving new US aid for Ukraine.
Last month, following months of political disagreements, the Senate passed $95bn (£76.2bn) in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan.
"I apologise for those weeks of not knowing," the US president said.
"Some of ourvery conservative members [of Congress] were holding it up.
"Butwe got it done, finally. We're still in - completely, totally."
The Ukrainian president thanked his counterpart for American assistance.
"It's very important that you stay with us," he said.
"It's very important thatin this unity, the United States of America, all American peoplestay with Ukraine, like it was during World War Two - how the UnitedStates helped to save human lives, to save Europe."
The two men were speaking in Paris, the day after D-Day commemorations in Normandy.
Russia needs to boost use of non-Western currencies, Putin admits
Russia needs to boost its use of non-Western currencies, Vladimir Putin said as he addressed the St Petersburg International Economic Forum.
He also said his country needs to reduce imports while calling for a major expansion of its domestic financial markets.
Trade with Asia is soaring, he told delegates, adding that almost two fifths of Russian external trade is now in roubles.
The share conducted in US dollars, euros and other Western currencies has declined.
Russia will try to boost the share of settlements conducted in the currencies of BRICS countries - which include Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, Mr Putin said.
"Last year, the share of payments for Russian exports in the so–called 'toxic' currencies of unfriendly states halved, while the share of the rouble in export and import transactions is growing - it is approaching 40% today," the president said.
Russia has referred to nations that imposed sanctions on it as "unfriendly".
Russia economically strong despite 'illegitimate sanctions', Putin says
The session begins with an address by the Russian president.
Vladimir Putin says there is a race among world powers to establish sovereignty.
He speaks of the need for countries to both establish partnerships and also to look internally to tackle challenges presented by the current global economic landscape.
Despite all the "obstacles and illegitimate sanctions", Russia remains one of the world's economic leaders, he says.
He adds that "friendly countries" - those that have not joined sanctions against Moscow - account for three quarters of Russia's mutual trade turnover, and praises them for that.
Countries including India and China have strengthened economic ties since Mr Putin launched his war in Ukraine.
Putin speaking
Vladimir Putin has taken to the stage in St Petersburg to address the International Economic Forum there.
He's joined by Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwais and Bolivian President Luis Alberto Arce Catacora.
Chairing the session is Sergey Karaganov - a Russian political scientist.
We'll bring you any key lines here in this live blog.
St Petersburg merch: 'If a fight is inevitable, throw the first punch'
A T-shirt is on sale at the St Petersburg International Economic Forum printed with a phrase attributed to Vladimir Putin, Sky News has discovered.
"If a fight is inevitable, throw the first punch," it says.
The Russian president reportedly said it in 2015.
He apparently explained that it was something he had learned while growing up on the streets of Leningrad - a former name of St Petersburg.
Russia accuses Ukraine of injuring children with US-supplied missile
The Russian defence ministry has accused Ukraine of injuring 20 people, including children, in a missile attack on the Russian-controlled eastern Ukrainian city of Luhansk, using US-supplied ATACMS missiles.
Four of five missiles were shot down by air defence systems, the ministry said in a statement.
However, one of the missiles damaged two residential apartment blocks, it added, claiming it was deliberate.
Sky News is unable to verify the allegations.
There has been no immediate comment from Ukraine.
EU 'supports starting accession talks', Ukrainian PM says
The European Commissionsupports starting EU accession talks with Ukraine, the country's prime minister has said.
Denys Shmyhal said the commission had confirmed in a report that Kyivhad fulfilled the remaining steps required to startnegotiations.
"Now we expect our European partners to take the next step - to start negotiations on European Union membership thismonth," Mr Shmyhal said on Telegram.
Earlier (7.43am post) we reported that the commission was reportedly ready to recommend that accession talks get underway.
It is part of an attempt to signal support for Kyiv before Hungary takes over the rotating presidency of the EU next month, the Financial Times reported.
The EU announced earlier this year that it was sending an additional £42bn in aid to Ukraine - but only afterweeks of resistance from Hungary, which reportedly has concerns about minority rights in Ukraine.
