Russian President Vladimir Putin slammed the West again on Wednesday, saying sanctions imposed on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine are a "danger" to the world.
Speaking at an economic forum in Russia's far east, Putin said Western countries have aggressively tried to impose their way of life on other countries and to make them "submit to their will."
Meanwhile, Ukraine appears to have launched a counterattack in the Kharkiv region in the northeast of the country, with several reports of fighting in the region.
Overnight and early this morning, the head of the Kharkiv regional state administration, Oleg Synegubov, posted on Telegram that Russian forces were shelling various parts of Kharkiv, the second-largest city in Ukraine, and fighting was taking place in the province.
Analysts said Russia's redeployment of troops from eastern to southern Ukraine to defend against Ukraine's counteroffensive there has likely enabled Kyiv to carry out the counterattack around Kharkiv.