Ukraine crisis latest headlines: Zelensky meets with US Sec State Blinken

An adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the US secretary of state and defense chief were meeting with the Ukrainian leader in the highest-level visit to Kyiv by an American delegation since the start of Russia's invasion. Oleksiy Arestovich, Advisor to the Head of Office of the President of Ukraine, announced this.

In other related headlines, the UK MOD has stated that “Russia is planning a staged referendum in the southern city of Kherson aimed at justifying its occupation. The city is key to Russia’s objective of establishing a land bridge to Crimea and dominating southern Ukraine.''

Vladimir Putin has reported to have abandoned the possibility of concluding a peace deal with Ukraine and is "turning to a land-grab strategy," the Financial Times writes, citing three sources with knowledge of the Russian president's plans.