Ukraine and Russia: What you need to know right now

* Russia's defence ministry said its military had downed a Ukrainian Su-25 fighter jet in the Mykolaiv region. * U.S. President Joe Biden announced a new $700 million weapons package for Ukraine, including rocket systems capable of pinpoint strikes at targets as far away as 80 km (50 miles).

Russian forces tightened their grip on the city of Sievierodonetsk as part of their offensive in the eastern Donbas region and targeted rail links used to ferry weapons from Ukraine's Western allies. FIGHTING AND WEAPONS

* Russian forces in Ukraine's east are attempting to advance south towards the key Ukrainian-held cities of Kramatorsk and Sloviansk, the Donetsk region governor said. * Civilians are sheltering from Russian shelling under a chemical plant in Sievierodonetsk and authorities fear it may still have stocks of dangerous materials, the regional governor told Reuters.

* Russian forces control 70% of Sievierodonetsk, with 10-15% a "grey zone" and the rest in Ukrainian hands, Luhansk governor Serhiy Gaidai said. * Russia's defense ministry said its military had downed a Ukrainian Su-25 fighter jet in the Mykolaiv region.

* U.S. President Joe Biden announced a new $700 million weapons package for Ukraine, including rocket systems capable of pinpointing strikes at targets as far away as 80 km (50 miles). * The Biden administration plans to sell Ukraine four drones that can be armed with Hellfire missiles for battlefield use against Russia, sources said. The Kremlin said they would have no impact on its military operation.

* Russia criticized a U.S. decision to supply advanced rocket systems and munitions to Ukraine, warning of an increased risk of confrontation with Washington. ECONOMY

* Russia described as "self-destructive" European Union's decision to largely phase out imports of Russian oil. * Ukraine's 2022 wheat harvest is likely to drop to 19.2 million tonnes from a record 33 million tonnes in 2021, the Ukrainian grain traders' union UGA said.

DIPLOMACY * Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called on the West to step up its weapons supplies to get Kyiv's grinding war with Russia towards an "inflection point" and subsequent victory.

* Russia said on Wednesday that it did not rule out a meeting between President Vladimir Putin and Zelenskiy. * Ukraine is working with international partners to create a U.N-backed mission to restore Black Sea shipping routes for Ukrainian farm exports, its foreign ministry said.

QUOTES "Ukraine needs weapons to liberate Ukrainian territory that Russia has temporarily occupied. We are not fighting on Russian territory," said Andriy Yermak, Zelenskiy's chief of staff.

COMING UP * Biden and his national security adviser will meet NATO Secretary-General Stoltenberg in Washington on Thursday, the White House said.