He suggests the plane was blown up from inside, saying that the head of Russia's investigative committee had reported to him a few days ago.

Zelensky also says he remains confident of continued US and European financial aid despite 'political storms' in Washington and elsewhere.

Putin also said that Moscow had successfully tested a nuclear-powered and nuclear-capable cruise missile - the Burevestnik - whose capabilities he has called unmatched.

Russia passed new laws against discrediting or distributing 'deliberately false information' about the armed forces on March 4, 2022, eight days after invading Ukraine.

He says the army has enough servicemen.

News of Cubans ending up in the Russian military hit headlines this month when the Havana government said it had arrested 17 people connected with a human-trafficking ring that lured Cubans to fight for Moscow.

Helicopter pilots must fly at low altitudes to avoid becoming targets for enemy anti-aircraft defences.

Russian forces do not control any of the regions in full.

Any fuel export quotas are likely to be put in place after the lifting of an export ban and would be similar to Russian restrictions on cross-border fertiliser sales.

The meeting underscored the Kremlin's attempt to show that the state had now gained control over the mercenary group after a failed June mutiny by Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin.

So far this year, Russia has imported 118 tonnes of Japanese seafood.

The episode played into the narrative promoted by Russian President Vladimir Putin that he sent his army into Ukraine last year to 'demilitarise and denazify' the country.