Intense fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces was taking place around two towns in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine, Bakhmut and Soledar, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Sunday.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says his country is ready to start grain shipments from Black Sea ports and is awaiting a signal from the UN and Turkey to start the shipments. There are already 17 ships ready to move goods from ports in Odesa.