Ukraine Russia conflict: Battles in key eastern Ukraine city as EU struggle to agree Russian oil ban

EU leaders in Brussels have failed to come to an agreement on an import ban of Russian oil.

Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban, whose country is heavily dependent on that oil, accused the European Commission of “irresponsible behaviour” for trying to push forward with an all-out ban.

EU leaders are now pinning their hope for agreement on a watered down deal, which would ban imports by sea but allow those by pipeline.

While in Ukraine, heavy fighting continues in the eastern Donbas region. The focus of Russian forces at the moment is the city of Severodonetsk. It is one of the last Ukrainian-held cities in the Luhansk region and taking control of this, along with Donetsk region, is a key Russian objective.

The governor has reported Russian troops were advancing into the centre of the city.