President Vladimir Putin earlier accused Kiev of refusing to hold further negotiations The armed conflict in Ukraine cannot be resolved through negotiations under current circumstances, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday, as cited by Interfax.

The Russian lower house of parliament, the State Duma, adopted amendments to the Criminal Code on Tuesday, which would impose tougher punishment for crimes committed during “wartime,” “martial law” or a “mobilization period.”

Moldova has paid in full for August supplies, according to a local natural gas distributor Gas distributor Moldovagaz announced on Monday that it has paid in full for August supplies of Russian natural gas to Moldova.