By Patricia Zengerle WASHINGTON, Feb 18 (Reuters) - Democratic U.S. senators traveling in Ukraine and neighboring countries on Wednesday vowed to return to Washington and push for stiff new energy sanctions and other legislation to put pressure on Russia to end its aggression against Ukraine.

U.S. senators visiting Odesa on Feb. 18 struck a cautious tone when asked whether Special Envoy Steve Witkoff should remain at the center of negotiations with Russia. The remarks place Congress in a

The U.S. is brokering a 3rd round of Russia-Ukraine talks, but there's little hope of a breakthrough to end the deadliest war on European soil in 80 years.

KYIV, Feb 18 (Reuters) - Ukraine imposed sanctions against Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Wednesday, vowing to "increase countermeasures" against Minsk for its wartime assistance to Russia.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused the U.S. of focusing on Ukrainian concessions to bring an end to the war, rather than pressing Russia.

Ukraine has recaptured territory at its fastest pace in nearly three years, data show. The country gained 78 sq miles in five days between Wednesday and Sunday, which was equal to Russia’s advances for the entire month of December, according to an AFP analysis of data from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

By Karolos Grohmann and Julien Pretot MILAN, Italy, Feb 18 (Reuters) - Ukraine officials will boycott the Milano Cortina Paralympics next month over the participation of a handful of Russian and Belarusian athletes cleared to compete under their flags,

A delegation of U.S. senators is returning from a trip to Ukraine. They hope to spur action in Congress for a series of sanctions meant to economically cripple Moscow and pressure President Vladimir Putin to make key concessions in peace talks.