Ukraine and Russia: What you need to know right now

(Reuters) – Ukrainian President Zelenskiy said in a video address that the military situation in the east remained extremely difficult and Russia was preparing for new strikes there.

FIGHTING

* Ukraine recaptured more territory around Kyiv from Russian soldiers who left shattered villages and their own abandoned tanks as they moved away from the capital.

* In the Russian border city of Belgorod, a logistics hub for its war effort, Moscow said Ukrainian helicopters struck a fuel depot, causing a huge fire. Ukraine denied responsibility.

ECONOMY

* Zelenskiy said sanctions imposed by the United States and other countries on Russia are working and need to be increased.

* The United States added 120 Russian and Belarusian entities, mostly companies linked to the military, to the list of those restricted from receiving U.S. supplies and goods.

* Sanctions by the United States and its allies are pushing Russia into recession and starting to turn it back into a closed economy, a senior U.S. Treasury official said.

HUMANITARIAN

* A Red Cross convoy travelling to the besieged Ukrainian port of Mariupol turned around because it had become impossible to proceed with its mission to begin evacuating civilians on Friday, and will try again on Saturday.

ENERGY

* Europe vowed to stay united against Russia’s demand that they pay for its gas in roubles, as the threat of an imminent supply halt eased on Friday.

DIPLOMACY

* China offered the European Union assurances that it would seek peace in Ukraine but said this would be on its own terms, deflecting pressure for a tougher stance towards Russia.

(Compiled by Grant McCool)