Steve Rosenberg
BBC Russia editor

Holding an international investment forum when your country has just invaded its neighbour is quite a challenge. After all Russia is becoming an international pariah, the country is now the most sanctioned in the world.

But speaking at Russia’s version of Davos, the St Petersburg Economic Form, Vladimir Putin defended his invasion of Ukraine - and who did he blame for Russia’s economic woes? As usual, the West.

President Putin accused the West of launching an “economic blitzkrieg” against Russia with “its mad, thoughtless sanctions”. He conceded Russia was experiencing economic problems. But he claimed his country would emerge stronger in the “new world order”.

The Kremlin leader claimed he wasn’t against the idea of Ukraine joining the European Union, since the EU wasn’t a military bloc. Though he doubted that Kyiv would actually benefit from moving closer to Brussels.

A softening of the Kremlin’s position? Not really. President Putin knows that EU membership for Kyiv is still a long way off. The reality right now is that the Russian troops are in Ukraine continuing their offensive.

Image source, EPA

Some more now from President Putin, who's been speaking today at an economic forum in the city of St Petersburg.

The Russian leader insists he has nothing against Ukraine joining the European Union; objecting only to "military utilisation" of its territory.

His remarks come after the European Commission - the EU body responsible for drafting laws - recommended that Ukraine be made an official candidate country for accession.

Earlier, Putin made a variety of attacks on the EU, including a claim that its sanctions targeting Russia had backfired.

EU chief Ursula von der Leyen says she was "very moved by President Zelensky's kind words over the phone today" following the European Commission's recommendation to grant Ukraine candidate status.

She tweets to say Ukrainians can count on the EU Commission's "constant support" as their journey to join the European Union continues.

Image source, EPA

Turning away now from Boris Johnson's visit to Kyiv and Putin’s speech in St Petersburg, let’s have a quick look at what’s happening in the war itself.

• The eastern city of Lysychansk has been heavily shelled by Russian forces and there are many dead, the regional governor is quoted as saying
• Serhiy Haidai also writes on Telegram that shelling and fighting are “constant” in the nearby, embattled city of Severodonetsk
• 568 people are sheltering in a chemicals plant there, he adds, and evacuation will only be possible with a “complete ceasefire”
• Russian troops are thought to be trying to renew their efforts to approach Severodonestk from the south, from the direction of Popasna, the UK’s Ministry of Defence says
• The Ukrainian armed forces claim some “successes” around Zaporizhzhia and Kherson in the south-east
• Ukraine's navy says it has hit a Russian naval tugboat that was carrying weapons and soldiers to occupied Snake Island in the Black Sea
• Russia says the flow of foreign "mercenaries" travelling to fight for Ukraine has been reversed

It was not possible for the BBC for verify the claims made.

UK PM Boris Johnson has said that he understands why the people of Ukraine "can make no compromise with Putin", during a surprise visit to Kyiv.

Speaking at a news conference with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, Mr Johnson also said that "we can only salute the heroism of the Ukrainian forces."

Zelensky thanked the UK leader for his second visit to Kyiv since the start of the invasion and said that they discussed the military requirements needed for a Ukrainian victory over Russia.

Image source, Ukrainian Presidential Press Service

If you're just joining us or need a recap, here's a reminder of what's been happening today:

• Boris Johnson has travelled to Kyiv to have talks with the Ukrainian president. The PM offered a UK-led military training programme which he said could "change the equation of the war"
• President Putin has insisted western sanctions imposed have backfired. In a speech in St Petersburg, the Russian leader blamed the US and EU for the increase in global food prices, and said Russia would prioritise exports to some poorer countries in Africa and the Middle East
• Ukraine has moved a step closer to joining the EU after the European Commission recommended it be given the official status of a candidate country - the first step in a lengthy accession process
• And Ukraine wants the organisers of Eurovision to reconsider their decision to potentially move 2022's contest to the UK after the European Broadcasting Union concluded this year's winners cannot host the competition. Kyiv says further talks are needed to find a solution

Image source, Ukrainian Presidential Press Service

You may have noticed the images of UK PM Boris Johnson signing a book in the Presidential Palace on his visit to Kyiv.

It's now been revealed that he gave President Zelensky a biography of the Queen during the surprise trip.

Video footage from the Ukrainian government shows Johnson carrying Robert Hardman's book Queen Of Our Times: The Life Of Elizabeth II.

The book - published to coincide with the monarch's Platinum Jubilee - features insights from family, friends and staff of the Queen, as well as interviews with world leaders and unseen photographs and papers.

Earlier this month Zelensky congratulated the Queen on her 70-year milestone tweeting: "Congratulations on the Platinum anniversary of the reign of the Queen of (Britain) Her Majesty Elizabeth II...

"Grateful for supporting Ukraine in the fight for our freedom and independence."

Ukraine's President Zelensky says Kyiv intends to introduce visas for Russians from 1 July.

"Ukraine is introducing a visa regime for citizens of the Russian Federation," Zelensky announced on his Telegram account.

He said the requirement would take effect next month, following a government decision that he expected later "today."

An update from the United States now, where President Joe Biden says he has been "briefed" on two Americans who have been reported missing in Ukraine - but adds that he does not know where they are.

The families of Alexander Drueke, 39, and Andy Huynh, 27, both from Alabama, say they have not heard from the two men since 8 June.

Both were said to have volunteered to fight in eastern Ukraine.

Biden goes on to reiterate a warning from other officials that Americans should not travel to the country.

Image source, PA Media

Earlier, we brought you the news that the BBC is in talks with the European Broadcasting Union "to potentially host the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest" in the UK.

The show's organisers cited the ongoing war in Ukraine as a reason for why it was not realistic for this year's winning country to stage the event.

But Ukraine now says it disagrees with the EBU's assessment and will it will "demand that the decision be revisited".

In a Facebook statement, Culture and Information Policy minister Oleksandr Tkachenko says Kyiv "believes that it has grounds for conducting further talks on finding a solution that will satisfy all... We believe that we can fulfil all the commitments".

Ukrainian rap-folk band Kalush Orchestra won last month's Eurovision in Turin - securing the right to host the 2023 event in their home nation.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has met Ukraine's President Zelensky in Kyiv.

Mr Johnson appeared to give and sign a book for Mr Zelensky before they sat down for talks.

Johnson says he and Zelensky also discussed how the UK can assist in ending the Russian blockade of grain, amid fears it could lead to a surge in famine in parts of the world.

He says: "We are going to work together to liberate the grain, as you rightly say, that has been held hostage right now by Putin, depriving people around the world of the food that they need.

"And of course we will continue... to provide the military equipment - and now of course the training that may be necessary to go with that new equipment - so that you, the Ukrainian armed forces, will be able to do what I believe Ukrainians yearn to do.

"And that is to expel the aggressor from Ukraine."

Russia's onslaught in eastern Ukraine continues, at high cost to the Ukrainian army, but Boris Johnson says he understands why Zelensky is refusing to compromise with Moscow.

He says that evidence shows Russian troops are under "acute pressure themselves and taking heavy casualties".

The Russian army's "expenditure of shells and other weaponry is colossal", he says. Russia has made progress in recent weeks in the Luhansk region but the UK PM says "they still have not achieved objectives they set out for first week" of the war.

He adds: "We are here to underline that we will give you the strategic endurance that you need and we are going to intensify the sanctions on Putin's regime."

Ukraine has been calling for more long-range weapons to help fight back Russia's ferocious attacks in the east.

Boris Johnson says the barbaric assault of Ukraine continues on entirely innocent people, with towns and villages being reduced to rubble.

He adds there is continued evidence of the “deliberate targeting of civilians in what is unquestionably a war crime".

The UK prime minister also says “in a hideous echo of the past, the illegal deportation of people that the Russian forces believe are insufficiently sympathetic to Putin’s aggression”.

Johnson says the UK salutes the heroism of the Ukrainian forces.

More now on Boris Johnson's visit to Kyiv to meet with Ukraine's President. The two men are holding a news conference in Kyiv.

Volodymyr Zelensky says they share a vision of how to reach victory for Ukraine.

He says he discussed the situation at the front lines, as well as the need to increase the supply of heavy weapons.

Zelensky says they also discussed how to step up sanctions against Russia.

Image source, Ukrainian Presidential Press Office

We're getting updates from the UK side now, after Prime Minister Boris Johnson made another surprise visit to Kyiv to meet his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky.

Johnson offered to launch a major training operation for Ukrainian forces, a statement from Downing Street says.

This claims to have the potential to train up to 10,000 soldiers every four months, which could "fundamentally change the equation of the war".

The proposal would see Ukrainian troops trained in other countries for a period of three weeks each - learning "battle-winning skills" as well as medical training, cyber-security, and counter-explosive tactics.

The statement says the ambition would be to rebuild and increase Kyiv's resistance against the Russian invasion.

Johnson is quoted telling the people of Ukraine that the UK is with them until they "ultimately prevail".

Volodymyr Zelensky and Boris Johnson discussed supplies of heavy weapons as part of their talks, the head of the Ukrainian president's office says.

The two leaders also spoke about air defence systems, economic support for Ukraine and further sanctions on Russia, Andriy Yermak writes on the Telegram messaging app.

He goes on to express gratitude for Johnson's visit, saying the two countries have "common goals and an understanding of how to achieve them".

Following the news that the UK PM is in Kyiv, the official Telegram channel of Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has put out this message: "Many days of this war have proved that Great Britain's support for Ukraine is firm and resolute.

"Glad to see our country's great friend Boris Johnson in Kyiv again."

A video accompanying the message , externalshows Zelensky greeting Johnson outside the presidential palace, then walking through the building's corridors before posing for photos and sitting down for talks.

PM Boris Johnson is in Kyiv. It's the second unannounced visit he's made to Ukraine during the war - after he previously visited the capital in April.

He had been due to appear at a conference held by a group of his Tory MPs in Doncaster, but cancelled the visit to travel to Kyiv instead.

Boris Johnson has just tweeted a picture of himself with Volodymyr Zelensky, adding: "Mr President, Volodymyr, it is good to be in Kyiv again."

Read more here.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has travelled to Kyiv for talks with President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Stay with us for the latest updates.