Russia's war on Ukraine latest: Kyiv prepares to launch counteroffensive

* British military intelligence said Russia had partially regained control over the approaches to the eastern Ukrainian town of Kreminna, after its troops were pushed back from the region earlier this year. * Russian forces have left the town of Nova Kakhovka in southern Kherson region, the Ukrainian military's General Staff said, but a Russian-installed official in the region denied the troops had left.

Ukrainian troops, on the defensive for four months, will soon launch a counterassault as Russia's huge winter offensive weakens without capturing the eastern city of Bakhmut, Ukraine's top ground forces commander said. FIGHTING

* Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy visited the southern region of Kherson, where he toured local infrastructure and promised to rebuild following Russia's invasion. * British military intelligence said Russia had partially regained control over the approaches to the eastern Ukrainian town of Kreminna, after its troops were pushed back from the region earlier this year.

* Russian forces have left the town of Nova Kakhovka in southern Kherson region, the Ukrainian military's General Staff said, but a Russian-installed official in the region denied the troops had left. * Reuters could not immediately verify battlefield reports.

DIPLOMACY * European Union leaders held talks with U.N. chief Antonio Guterres on global food security and sanctions against Russia, and also endorsed a plan to supply more artillery shells to Kyiv.

* Zelenskiy urged EU leaders to increase and speed up their supply of weapons to Kyiv or risk the war dragging on for years. * EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU would work to find some 16,200 Ukrainian children deported to Russia. Calling ita reminder of "the darkest times in our history," she said only 300 have been returned so far.

* Any attempt to arrest Russian President Vladimir Putin after the International Criminal Court issued a warrant for the Kremlin chief would amount to a declaration of war against Russia, his ally Dmitry Medvedev said. * Hungary would not arrest Putin if he entered the country, Prime Minister Viktor Orban's chief of staff said.

* Slovakia has handed over the first four MiG-29 jets it has pledged to Ukraine, with the rest to be delivered in coming weeks. (Compiled by Reuters editors)

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)