The Russian president says Moscow's initial tough demands must be met, despite a looming US sanctions deadline.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Moscow hoped for more peace talks with Ukraine but that the momentum of the war was in its favour, signalling no shift in his stance despite a looming sanctions deadline from Washington.

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) continues to conduct long-range operations on Russian territory, delivering significant blows to the enemy, said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Zelenskyy said that on August 2,