(Reuters) – Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Friday said attempts to isolate Moscow with sanctions was akin to a declaration of economic war by the West, dismissing what he said was "frenzied" criticism of the war in Ukraine.

FIGHTING

* Moscow's ambassador to London told Reuters Russia is unlikely to withdraw from a swathe of land across Ukraine's southern coast and will defeat Ukrainian forces in the whole of the eastern Donbas region.

* Russia is likely concentrating its equipment in the direction of Siversk, about 8 km (4.9 miles) west of the current Russian front line, Britain's defence ministry said on Friday. Russian forces are likely pausing to replenish before undertaking new offensive operations in the Donetsk region.

* An increased number of young Russian men are looking to avoid the country’s mandatory military service since the conflict with Ukraine began in late February, some lawyers and rights advocates say.

DIPLOMACY/ECONOMY

* U.S. Secretary of State Blinken addressed Russia directly at the G20 foreign ministers meeting and called on Moscow to let Ukrainian grain out to the world, a Western official said.

* In a hawkish speech to parliamentary leaders more than four months into the war, Putin said Russia had barely got started and the prospects for negotiation would grow dimmer the longer the conflict dragged on.

* Zelenskiy, in his nightly video message responded with defiance, saying the two-month operation to retake Snake Island was a warning to all Russian forces that Ukraine will not be broken.

* Ninety minutes after resigning as British prime minister on Thursday, Boris Johnson called Zelenskiy to say his people had the UK's unwavering support, and Britain would continue to supply vital defensive aid for as long as needed.

REFUGEES

* More than 8.79 million people have crossed the border from Ukraine since the invasion on Feb. 24 the U.N. refugee agency said.

* Removed from a warzone, a Ukrainian circus troupe delights in France.

QUOTES

* "We have heard many times that the West wants to fight us to the last Ukrainian. This is a tragedy for the Ukrainian people, but it seems that everything is heading towards this," said Putin.

* "It's their (Russians') fantasy to occupy these cities, but they don't expect the level of resistance. It's not just the Ukrainian government, it's the people who refuse to accept them," said mechanic-turned-soldier Artchk in Kramatorsk.

(Compiled by Grant McCool, Alexandra Hudson and Michael Perry)

Source: Read Full Article