Russia's war on Ukraine latest news: U.S. close to providing Patriot missile defence system to Kyiv

The United States was finalising plans to send its sophisticated Patriot air-defence system to Ukraine, U.S. officials said, while allies pledged just over 1 billion euros ($1.05 billion) to help Ukrainians survive the freezing winter. DIPLOMACY/ECONOMY/AID * An announcement on U.S. plans to provide the Patriot missile defence system to Ukraine could be made as soon as this week, three U.S. officials told Reuters on Tuesday.

The United States was finalising plans to send its sophisticated Patriot air-defence system to Ukraine, U.S. officials said, while allies pledged just over 1 billion euros ($1.05 billion) to help Ukrainians survive the freezing winter. DIPLOMACY/ECONOMY/AID

* An announcement on U.S. plans

to provide the Patriot missile defence system to Ukraine could be made as soon as this week, three U.S. officials told Reuters on Tuesday. * In Paris, about 70 countries and institutions pledged just over 1 billion euros ($1.05 billion) to help maintain Ukraine's water, food, energy, health and transportation in face of Russia's attacks, French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna said.

* They also promised energy-efficient LED bulbs

to ease power shortfalls and help Ukraine get through freezing winter months as Russia pounds the country's infrastructure. * Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said environmental harm from Russia's war would affect millions of people for years.

* Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping will hold talks to discuss the events of 2022 in late December, the Russian business daily Vedomosti reported. * Arms supplies from Italy to Ukraine would stop as soon as peace talks on ending the Russian invasion began, the Italian defence minister told parliament, as lawmakers endorsed a government decision to extend military aid throughout 2023.

* Russia dismissed a peace proposal from Zelenskiy that would involve a pullout of Russian troops, saying Kyiv needed to accept new territorial "realities". * Eight ships loaded with grain had left ports in Ukraine's Odesa region after a pause caused by power cuts following Russian missile strikes, Kyiv's infrastructure ministry said.

CONFLICT * Russia and Ukraine pounded each other's forces in heavy fighting around the small eastern city of Bakhmut.

* Ukrainians leaving Bakhmut this week described almost constant Russian shelling that had forced residents to shelter in basements and sleep in the bitter cold. * Reuters could not independently verify reports of attacks or deaths by either side.

* Russia's close ally Belarus announced a snap military inspection including increased combat readiness in the south of the country, the latest in a burst of exercises that have prompted concern from neighbouring Ukraine.