Russia sent hundreds of drones toward Ukraine overnight into Wednesday, with four key regions coming under heavy attack and President Volodymyr Zelensky’s hometown facing “massive” bombardment, officials said.

The European Union failed for a second day to approve a new package of sanctions against Russia on Wednesday as Slovakia continued to seek concessions over gas supplies, four EU diplomats told Reuters.

Flight data showed how American and British reconnaissance aircraft flew from England toward Russia on Monday.

President Donald Trump is downplaying the possibility of sending Ukraine long-range weapons as Kyiv awaits an injection of U.S. weaponry that it hopes will help it beat back an intensifying Russian air offensive.

Germany and Spain issued arrest warrants for seven suspected members of a pro-Russian hacking group accused of carrying out cyber attacks against critical infrastructure, arms makers, power companies and public authorities.

Georgia was the poster child of post-Soviet countries on their way to democracy and freedom. US lawmakers hope a bill will help combat democratic backsliding.

Russia operations and North Korean threats pose the greatest challenge to global order since World War II, in its annual assessment.

By Elena Fabrichnaya MOSCOW (Reuters) -Prolonged high interest rates in Russia may drive mergers and acquisitions of distressed assets, a study by leading law firms showed, though Western-led sanctions and a liquidity shortage among buyers are likely to restrain growth in deals for now.