Ukraine-Russia war latest: Navalny’s wife confirms funeral date as she says husband body was ‘abused’

President Zelensky has co-hosted a summit with the Albanian government to encourage further support for Kyiv from south-eastern European countries.

It comes as signs of fatigue grow as the war enters its third year.

Mr Zelensky arrived as part of an international tour that saw him in Saudi Arabia earlier on Tuesday to push for a peace plan and the return of prisoners of war from Russia.

The Ukrainian leader called Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama “Ukraine’s unwavering friend” in a message on X, adding the two would “discuss defence and political cooperation, support for the Peace Formula, and security agreements”.

“I will propose supporting Ukraine’s efforts to achieve just and lasting peace, as well as organizing the Global Peace Summit in Switzerland,” he said, referring to the summit.

Mr Zelensky and Mr Rama also signed a friendship and cooperation agreement “to strengthen our cooperation with Albania and Ukraine‘s position in the Balkans”.

The Ukrainian leader also awarded Mr Rama the “Yaroslav the Wise” medal for his contribution to Ukraine.

While addressing the European Parliament on Wednesday, Alexei Navalny’s widow claimed he was tortured in prison and that his body was “abused”.

“Putin killed my husband,” Yulia Navalnaya said. “On his orders, Alexei was tortured for three years, he was staved in a tiny stone cell. Cut off from the outside world and denied visits, phone calls and then even letters.”

She added: “And then they killed him. Even after that, they abused his body.”

Alexei Navalny’s widow is currently addressing the European Parliament as the Russian opposition leader’s funeral in confirmed.

Speaking to the parliament on Wednesday, Yulia Navalnaya said she was “not sure” whether her late husband’s funeral will be peaceful as she fears police will make arrests.

Ukraine is facing ammunition shortages that could last for “several months”, according to the head of the UK Armed Forces claimed.

Admiral Sir Tony Radakin reportedly told a conference in London on Tuesday that NATO allies were discussing how to strengthen support for the country as the war enters it’s third year.

With US aid held up in Congress, Mr Radakin said Ukraine’s army “was struggling in terms of its ammunition and its stockpiles”.

“I think that’s the predicament that’s likely to last for at least the next few months,” Radakin said, according to The Guardian.

The widow of Putin’s biggest political foe Alexei Navalny is due to address the European Parliament this morning.

Yulia Navalnaya is expected to speak about her late husband’s death on February 16 in a Russian prison and urge the parliament to support political prisoners in Russia.

The address is expected to begin at around 10am.

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny’s funeral and farewell ceremony will be held on Friday, Navalny‘s spokesperson Kira Yarmysh said on the X social network.

The funeral will be held at the Borisovskoye cemetery after a farewell ceremony at a church in the Maryino district of Moscow, she said.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in the Albanian capital of Tirana, Albanian Foreign Minister Igli Hasani said on Wednesday.

The European Commission President said that the EU should consider using profits from frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine’s war effort.

Ursula von der Leyen said that it was “time to start a conversation” about the controversial policy on Wednesday.

“It is time to start a conversation about using the windfall profits of frozen Russian assets to jointly purchase military equipment for Ukraine,” she told the European Parliament in a speech urging the EU to do more on defence policy.

“There could be no stronger symbol and no greater use for that money than to make Ukraine and all of Europe a safer place to live.”

Military analysts have said that Russian forces are maintaining a “high tempo of operations” around the city of Avdiivka, which was captured after months of heavy fighting.

Putin’s troops are hoping to prevent the Ukrainian army from regrouping and building defensive lines, and have increased the size of their assault groups, the Institute for the Study of War said.

In a blow to Zelensky’s forces, they have also withdrawn from the villages of Stepove and Severne as Moscow focuses its attention to the settlements around the city.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in the Albanian capital of Tirana, Albanian Foreign Minister Igli Hasani said on Wednesday.

“A pivotal moment for fostering bilateral ties, and standing in solidarity with Ukraine in its heroic fight against Russia’s aggression,” Hasani wrote on the X social network.