"Russia should be criticised when it makes mistakes, but Russia cannot be demonised and pushed out of Europe," Fico said. "The European Union does not need more weapons and Russophobia."

Fico also warned that while Nazi Germany had been defeated militarily during the Second World War, Nazi ideology had not been completely eradicated from society and could re-emerge in different forms.

He cited a journalist's question during an August 8 press conference in Belgrade with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic. The journalist asked what Europeans could do to help Ukraine "kill more Russians", later clarifying that he meant Russian soldiers.

Fico described the exchange as evidence of a growing "militant atmosphere" and hatred towards Russia . He warned that the greatest danger would be if what he called "dark ideas" and "returns to the past" began influencing EU decisions.

The Slovak prime minister has repeatedly opposed expanding European military support for Ukraine.

He said the government and parliament would work with Ukraine's international partners to secure the necessary funds .

In June, Ukraine's parliament approved an additional 1.56 trillion hryvnias for security and defence, bringing planned spending in the sector to 4.367 trillion hryvnias for 2026. The Finance Ministry said EU support would help finance the increase.

The EU has agreed a €90 billion loan package for Ukraine covering 2026 and 2027, with an indicative €60 billion earmarked for defence and €30 billion for economic support. So far, €11.6 billion has been disbursed.

The IMF also approved a new four-year programme for Ukraine in February, releasing about $1.5 billion immediately and a further $690 million in July.

He did not provide evidence to support the claim but described it as an "alliance of Moscow scum with the insane regime of DPRK."

Zelensky urged Ukraine's allies to increase air defence support, arguing that stronger pressure on Russia was needed to stop its attacks.

Ukraine said at least 13 people were killed in overnight strikes. Russia's Defence Ministry said it had launched precision missile and drone attacks against Ukrainian military-industrial facilities and military infrastructure in regions including Kyiv, Lviv and Dnipropetrovsk.

Earlier this week, Zelensky also alleged that Russia and North Korea were considering deploying another 30,000 DPRK troops, a claim the Kremlin declined to comment on.

“Why did Marco Rubio and the US Congress propose to tighten sanctions the day before yesterday?” Kobyakov said. “It became clear to them that the outcome was not in their favour, but in our favour. And now what do they need to do? They need to make our lives as difficult as possible.”

He also criticised Washington's role in peace efforts, alleging that the United States was attempting to distance itself from negotiations after supporting Ukraine throughout the conflict.

“The United States is trying to get out of the negotiations,” Kobyakov said. “The United States ignited the conflict , dragged everyone into it, and now they pretend that they can become mediators.”

His remarks came days after U.S. lawmakers announced plans to develop additional sanctions targeting Russia.

Despite political tensions, Kobyakov said American businesses appeared interested in rebuilding ties with Moscow, citing the presence of a U.S. delegation at this year's forum after years of limited participation.

Speaking about the prospects of ending the conflict , Putin said legal issues surrounding Ukraine's leadership would need to be clarified if both sides reach a settlement.

Under Ukraine's constitution, the president is limited to two five-year terms. Putin argued that questions remain about how President Zelensky's extended time in office should be interpreted.

"Under the Ukrainian Constitution, the president is limited to two five-year terms. If we agree with those who believe that President Zelensky extended his term legally, then two years have already passed. So is he now going to run for another five years? That is not permitted under the Constitution."

Putin continued: "Only two five-year terms, or ten years in total. But what about the two years he has already spent in power? There are many questions."

Despite raising concerns over the legal framework, Putin said Russia remains willing to pursue a negotiated end to the conflict.

"But if we do eventually get to signing the documents, I think that if there is a desire to end the armed conflict peacefully - and Russia does have such a desire - we will find those who need to sign the relevant document."

He added that the legal aspects of any agreement would require further examination by specialists.

"It's a very important matter, but it is, after all, a legal issue."

Putin said that if the conflict ultimately comes to an end, both sides should be able to recognise that outcome.

"With regard to what we might say to one another when the conflict comes to an end, the very least we could and should say is, 'Thank God it's all over.'"

"But the legal side to the matter must, naturally, be looked into at the specialists level. I think this is understandable."

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) secured its second UEFA Champions League title after defeating Arsenal in the 2026 final, moving the French club into a select group of multiple European champions and updating the competition's all-time winners list.

According to UEFA records, Real Madrid remains the most successful club in Champions League history with 15 titles, far ahead of AC Milan's seven. Liverpool and Bayern Munich follow with six crowns each, while Barcelona has won five.

PSG's latest triumph lifts the club to two Champions League titles, placing it alongside historic European powers including Chelsea, Juventus, Porto, Benfica and Nottingham Forest. The victory marks another milestone in PSG's transformation from a dominant domestic force into a consistent contender on Europe's biggest stage.

The updated rankings highlight the enduring dominance of a handful of clubs. Real Madrid's record haul accounts for nearly one-quarter of all European Cup and Champions League titles awarded since the competition began in 1955. The Spanish giants have also won more finals than any other club.

England remains one of the competition's most successful nations, with clubs such as Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea, Nottingham Forest, Aston Villa and Manchester City combining for multiple titles. Italy's AC Milan, Inter Milan and Juventus have likewise played a major role in shaping the tournament's history.

PSG's latest success is particularly significant for French football. Before the Paris club's emergence, Marseille's 1993 triumph stood as France's only European Cup victory. With two titles now to its name, PSG has become the country's most successful club in the competition.

UEFA says the Champions League is still the most prestigious club tournament in world football, attracting hundreds of millions of viewers globally each season. The competition's rich history, legendary finals and elite clubs continue to make lifting the trophy one of the sport's greatest achievements.

The issue was discussed on the sidelines of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in Vilnius, where several officials linked the incident to Russia while others avoided mentioning it altogether.

NATO Deputy Secretary General Radmila Shekerinska described the event as "reckless behaviour" by Russia.

Portuguese representative Marcos Perestrello also placed responsibility on Moscow.

"Whether caused by deliberate violation, reckless military activity near a light border, or the spillover effects of Russian actions, the responsibility lies with Russia," he said.

Several senior figures, including Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda and European Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius, did not address the incident in their public remarks. Kubilius did, however, acknowledge concerns about Europe's defence capabilities.

"Russia still out produces European Union and really heavily out produces," he said.

On Friday, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte criticised what he described as Russia's "recklessness" and said the alliance would defend "every inch" of allied territory. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Russia had "crossed yet another line".

Later the same day, Romanian President Nicosur Dan provided a different account of the incident.

"When drones had passed over the territory of Ukraine , some of them were shot down, and one of them was probably hit over the city of Reni. His (the drone's) trajectory changed, and he hit Galati," Dan said.

Asked what caused the change in direction, he said the drone was "hit kinetically" and was "shot down" by Ukraine.

Romania's Defence Ministry also stated that the incident was "not an attack" on the country.

Speaking at the Eurasian Economic Union Forum in Astana, Russian President Vladimir Putin urged caution over assigning responsibility before the facts are established.

"No one can determine the origin of any aircraft until an investigation has been conducted," Putin said.