Increased spending on defense and a new Russian conscription law are signs of the Kremlin's increasingly aggressive posture and preparations for future conflict with Europe and NATO states, according to analysts.

Ukraine has relied on this innovative tactic to wreak havoc on Russia's Black Sea fleet, damaging or destroying a number of warships.

At the end of the day, the EU needs U.S. weapons to keep Ukraine afloat into its struggle for survival against Russia.”

DA WEI is Director of the Center for International Security and Strategy and a Professor in the Department of International Relations at Tsinghua University.

Russia prefers political and diplomatic means to resolve conflict in Ukraine, but Kyiv and the West rejected that path, Russian news agencies reported on Sunday, citing Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

Russia on Sunday began direct commercial flights to North Korea, in a further sign of closer ties with its Asian ally helping its offensive in Ukraine.

At the United Nations, Pakistan has expressed grave concern over devastating consequences of Russia-Ukraine conflict. Deputy Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the UN, Ambassador Usman Jadoon, at a briefing on Humanitarian situation in Ukraine, said Ukraine conflict is threatening peace and stability far beyond the region.

The Ukrainian president has rowed back from curbing anti-corruption bodies following a burst of public outrage. Some fear the damage has already been done.