Ukrainians wonder if there's a double standard. An international community that comes together to fend off Iran's attack on Israel can't increase its air defence commitments in time to defend against Russian air strikes, such as the one that took out the Trypilska thermal power station last week.

Reacting to news of Alexei Navalny's death in an interview with FRANCE 24 on Friday, Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko blamed the Kremlin for the Russian opposition leader's "killing". He said: "In Russia, if you tell your opinion, and if it is different from Vladimir Putin's, you will be put in prison or be killed."

As a nation enters a third winter of fighting for its very existence, it must wait – one ocean away – on a domestic partisan feud. Republicans in the US Senate have shrugged off Joe Biden's plea not to gift a win to Vladimir Putin and have blocked aid for Ukraine over a dispute on funding for the border with Mexico.

Constitutionally neutral Switzerland had resisted European pressure to send Leopard 2 battle tanks to Ukraine. But Bern ultimately agreed to return 25 unused models, provided they did not end up on the battlefield.

Ursula von der Leyen , visit ,Kyiv

EU foreign ministers traveled to Kyiv to hand-deliver a message of solidarity with Ukraine in the face of Russia's full-scale invasion. But their trip comes just as fissures in a united Western front threaten to appear.

Retired US General David Petraeus told DW that Russian defenses are "formidable" and also commended Ukrainian forces for switching up their tactics and accumulating gains.

The German and Ukrainian capitals marked their new partnership in Berlin, where Mayors Vitali Klitschko and Kai Wegner met at the Brandenburg Gate. "Together we are much stronger than alone," said Klitschko.

The Netherlands will supply F-16s to Ukraine, but it's unclear how many would be available and when. Meanwhile, Russia reported drone attacks in three regions.

Ukraine's Zelenskyy said Moscow has hidden the bodies of those killed in the Kakhovka dam breach. Meanwhile, the UN has put Russian forces on a blacklist over the killings of Ukrainian children.

In Kyiv, South African leader urges Russia and Ukraine to de-escalate. KYIV - South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Friday called on Ukraine and Russia to de-escalate their conflict, as he arrived in the war-torn country on a mission to broker peace.

Kyiv said it had made the first modest gains in reclaiming territory from Russia as part of its counteroffensive. DW has the latest.