Russia-Ukraine war live news: India to join peace talks in Saudi Arabia

Two boys walk toward a playground past apartment buildings destroyed in Russian attacks in Borodyanka, Ukraine [Jae C. Hong/AP Photo]

Edna Mohamed

• India will attend peace talks on Ukraine in Saudi Arabia on August 5-6, where world leaders are expected to discuss President Zelenskyy’s peace plan.
• Russian shelling has damaged a landmark church in Kherson and reportedly wounded several people, including members of Ukraine’s emergency services
• Ukrainian troops preparing for an offensive in Zaporizhia have been repelled, according to the region’s Russian-installed head.
• Wagner mercenary forces are moving closer to NATO’s eastern flank to destabilise the military alliance, Poland’s prime minister says.

Germany rules out sending Taurus missiles to Ukraine

“We continue to believe that this is not our top priority right now,” Pistorius said during a visit to a mountain infantry brigade in Bavaria.

Pistorius said the concerns about sending “special range” missiles to Ukraine “are obvious”.

“Our American allies are not delivering these cruise missiles either,” he added.

Despite initial hesitation, Germany has drastically ramped up its support for Ukraine and is now the second-biggest supplier of military assistance to Kyiv after the US.

A South Korean air force F-15K fighter jet releases a Taurus missile during a drill off the country’s western coast, South Korea [File: South Korea Defense Ministry via AP]