Rubio speaks to Zelenskyy, denies U.S. is deliberately hindering Ukraine's defences

• Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Tuesday that he had an extensive conversation with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the wake of disputes over intelligence gathering, denying that there has been a "deliberate political directive to harm Ukraine.
• "Rubio's comments came as Russia unleashed another missile and drone blitz of civilian areas in Ukraine, killing at least seven people, officials said Tuesday.