Russia warned the West and Ukraine on Friday of "disastrous consequences" if Kyiv moved against close Russian ally Belarus, making clear it would intervene to defend a country where it has deployed tactical nuclear weapons.

Kiev’s setbacks on the frontline are causing Western backers to change their position on how the conflict between Russia and Ukraine should be resolved, French publication Le Figaro reported, citing multiple sources.

European Union lawmakers on Thursday called to lift "restrictions hindering Ukraine from using Western weapons systems against legitimate military targets in Russia," a press release said. The restrictions hinder Ukraine’s ability to fully exercise its right to self-defence and leave Ukraine exposed to attacks on its population and infrastructure,