Russia-Ukraine war: EU signs deal with Ukraine for further €500m in aid; Europe’s weapons stocks depleted by conflict – live news | Ukraine

The Guardian’s Moscow correspondent, Andrew Roth, has been covering the sentencing of the journalist Ivan Safronov to 22 years in prison for treason.

Journalists were seen crying and hugging each other on the streets outside the courtroom following the verdict.

Speaking outside the courtroom, Safronov’s lawyer Dmitry Katchev said he was almost lost for words at the ruling.

Katchev told reporters:

Safronov was given 22 years for his journalistic activity. I want each of you, who are looking at me now, to think whether it is worth staying in this profession. If somebody was given 22 years for doing his job.

Safronov, a former military correspondent for Kommersant and Vedomosti, was found guilty in the Moscow court of treason charges that have been prosecuted with secret evidence behind closed doors.

Many will see today’s ruling as an enormous blow to media freedom in Russia, as it comes on the same day that a Moscow court stripped Novaya Gazeta of its print media licence, effectively banning the newspaper from operating inside the country.

Boris Johnson thanked Volodymyr Zelenskiy for his “leadership and friendship” during a phone call this afternoon, Downing Street has said.

A spokesperson for the prime minister said:

The prime minister made clear that he believed President Zelenskiy and his people can and will win the war in Ukraine.

President Zelenskiy thanked the prime minister for believing in Ukraine and his people and updated on the recent progress of his armed forces in the south of the country.

Johnson said he was “convinced” Ukraine’s forces could “continue to succeed in pushing back Russian forces” and that the UK “remains steadfast in its support”, Downing Street said.

The spokesperson added:

The prime minister told President Zelenskiy it had been a privilege to work with him and support him and the leaders agreed to stay in close touch as friends.

White House accuses Russia of ‘using energy as a weapon’

Zelenskiy thanks Boris Johnson whom he says will remain ‘a great friend of Ukraine’

Isobel Koshiw

In the conference, Josep Borrell, the EU foreign policy chief, congratulated Liz Truss for her “clear victory” and wished her the best as Britain’s new leader – but said he was not expecting the UK to return to the EU any time soon.

A press conference with Ukraine’s prime minister, Denys Shmyhal, and EU foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell is under way in Brussels.

Russian journalist Safronov sentenced to 22 years in prison for treason

French president, Emmanuel Macron, has spoken with Volodymyr Zelenskiy in a “substantive” phone call to discuss the situation on the frontline and to coordinate further defence support from France, the Ukrainian leader said.

The talks between the two leaders took more than an hour and a half, according to Zelenskiy.

Following the call, Macron said the only way to restore security at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine was via withdrawal of Russian troops, the Élysée palace said in a statement.

The Kremlin has warned that Russia will not resume gas supplies to Europe until western sanctions are lifted, blaming the “collective west” for its decision to shut down flows through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov was cited earlier today by the Interfax news agency as saying:

The problems pumping gas came about because of the sanctions western countries introduced against our country and several companies. There are no other reasons that could have caused this pumping problem.

Peskov’s comments mark Moscow’s clearest demand to date that the EU roll back its sanctions in exchange for Russia resuming gas deliveries to the continent.

But the Guardian’s Moscow correspondent, Andrew Roth, points out that Peskov did leave some wiggle room.