Europe

The discovery of the slain civilians, many of them bound, after the withdrawal of Russian forces from the town has stirred a global outcry.

West pledges to increase sanctions on Moscow over civilian killings in Bucha. Russia said to plan offensive in southeast Ukraine. Germany and France expel dozens of Russian diplomats, suggesting they are spies. Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz visits the Israeli field hospital in Ukraine.

Russia has closed its airspace to airlines from 36 countries, including all 27 members of the European Union, in response to Ukraine-related sanctions targeting its aviation sector. Punitive measures imposed by Western powers have also forced Western firms to terminate leasing contracts with Russian airlines for over 500 aircraft.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy describes bodies lying in suburban streets as a "scene from a horror movie." Russia's Defense Ministry says photos and videos of dead bodies in Bucha were a "staged performance… by the Kyiv regime for the Western media."

Officials say the stream of declassified intelligence, which includes regular briefings to journalists in Washington and London and daily Twitter updates from Britain’s Defense Ministry, has several aims.

As some of her supporters defect to extremist candidate Eric Zemmour, Marine Le Pen could find herself facing incumbent President Emmanuel Macron, against whom she lost 66%-34% in 2017.

The Russian president "is a war criminal,” asserts Carla Del Ponte, former chief prosecutor of the UN tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda.

"Now I do not have time to deal with all the traitors but gradually they will all be punished," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says after firing two top security officials who he claimed are "traitors."

The Russians had said they would significantly scale back military operations in areas around Kyiv and Chernihiv to help negotiations with Ukraine along. Russian President Vladimir Putin warns Europe to pay for gas in rubles or else.