Russia's war on Ukraine latest: Zelenskiy to lobby European leaders at Brussels summit

* The United States, which has refused to send Kyiv F-16 fighter jets, is expected to announce a $2 billion weapons package in coming days that would include rockets with bombs that double the range of those it sent last year. * Western partners could deliver the first battalion of Leopard 2 battle tanks to Ukraine in the first three or four months of this year, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said on Wednesday during a trip to Warsaw.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy prepared to lobby European leaders on Thursday at a summit in Brussels for more weapons in the fight against Russia and a quick start to EU membership talks for his country. DIPLOMACY

* Zelenskiy started his European trip on Wednesday in London, where he won a British pledge from British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to train Ukrainian pilots on advanced NATO fighter jets. * Zelenskiy met French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Paris for talks over dinner. Both vowed continued support for Ukraine.

* Russia's embassy to Britain on Wednesday warned London against sending fighter jets to Ukraine, saying such a move would have "military and political consequences for the European continent and the entire world", the TASS news agency reported. * The United States, which has refused to send Kyiv F-16 fighter jets, is expected to announce a $2 billion weapons package in coming days that would include rockets with bombs that double the range of those it sent last year.

* Western partners could deliver the first battalion of Leopard 2 battle tanks to Ukraine in the first three or four months of this year, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said on Wednesday during a trip to Warsaw. RUSSIA

* International prosecutors said they had found "strong indications" that Russian President Vladimir Putin approved the use in Ukraine of a Russian missile system that shot down Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 (MH17) over eastern Ukraine in 2014. The Kremlin, which has repeatedly denied any Russian state involvement in the past, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. * Russian authorities are discussing a one-off budget contribution from businesses this year of about 200-250 billion roubles ($2.8-$3.5 billion), three sources familiar with the discussions told Reuters, as Moscow seeks to rein in its widening budget deficit.

* Western sanctions on Russia have significantly reduced state oil revenues and diverted tens of billions of dollars towards shipping and refining firms, some with Russian connections. FIGHTING

* Russian attacks remained intense on Wednesday in the eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions, said Ukrainian officials. Moscow's forces concentrated on the areas of Kupiansk, Lyman, Bakhmut and Aviivka, the General Staff said on Facebook. * Kyiv says it expects Moscow to broaden that offensive with a big push as the Feb. 24 anniversary of the invasion approaches.

QUOTES * "France and Germany have the potential to be game changers and that's how I see our talks today," Zelenskiy said. "The sooner we get heavy long range weapons and our pilots get modern planes ... the quicker this Russian aggression will end."

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