Ukrainian troops have advanced some 30 km into Russian territory with Moscow terming it an effort by terrorists to destabilize the country in the latest continuing tensions between Kyiv and Moscow. Watch this video to know more.

Russia pledges 'tough response' to Ukrainian border incursions

Russia claims full control of Ukraine's eastern city Avdiivka. Ukraine's General Oleksandr Tarnavsky early on Saturday said that the Ukrainian forces withdrew from the eastern town of Avdiivka, where the situation had considerably deteriorated in the past few days. The step was taken by Ukraine, hours after it signed the French security deal. Russian troops launched multiple attacks to the west of recently captured Avdiivka in a bid to force more gains on the battlefield, a Ukrainian army spokesperson said Sunday. Kyiv said that Russia is trying to attack beyond Avdiivka. Watch former US Ambassador to NATO, Kurt Volker speak to WION on Russia capturing Avdiivka...Watch to know more!

Russia-Ukraine war: Former US ambassador to NATO speaks to WION on possible ceasefire

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky was told he should open an investigation sought by Donald Trump if he wanted an invitation to visit Washington, according to text messages published Thursday.

Trump is accused of pressuring Zelensky to investigate his potential 2020 election rival Joe Biden in return for $400 million in military aid, a scandal that has prompted an impeachment probe into the American president.

The messages, released by House Democrats, show former US special envoy to Ukraine Kurt Volker writing to top Zelensky aide Andrey Yermak, promising the new Ukrainian leader a trip to Washington in exchange for the investigation.

"Heard from White House -- assuming President Z convinces trump he will investigate / 'get to the bottom of what happened' in 2016, we will nail down date for visit to Washington. Good luck!" Volker wrote in the July 25 message.

Trump has been accused of pressuring Zelensky to open a corruption investigation against Biden in a phone call later that same day by making military aid to Ukraine contingent on that favour.

Days before the two leaders spoke, Volker wrote in a text message to Gordon Sondland, the US ambassador to the European Union, that it was most important for "Zelensky to say that he will help (the) investigation."

The release of the text messages came the same day Volker spoke for more than eight hours to House lawyers, in an interview centred on his role in alleged efforts by Trump and his personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani to solicit foreign interference in the next US election.

A whistleblower, so far only identified as a US intelligence officer, went to the authorities with concerns about the phone call between Trump and Zelensky, triggering the impeachment inquiry.

"Engaging in these stunning abuses in broad daylight does not absolve President Trump of his wrongdoings -- or his grave offences against the Constitution," said the chairs of three House committees, who received Volker's testimony, in a joint statement.

On Thursday, Trump publicly called for both China and Ukraine to open investigations into Biden and his son, Hunter Biden.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky was told he should open an investigation sought by Donald Trump if he wanted an invitation to visit Washington, according to text messages published Thursday.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky was told he should open an investigation sought by Donald Trump if he wanted an invitation to visit Washington, according to text messages published Thursday. Trump is accused of pressuring Zelensky to investigate his potential 2020 election rival Joe Biden in return for $400 million in military aid, a scandal that has prompted an impeachment probe into the American president. The messages, released by House Democrats, show former US special envoy to Ukraine Kurt Volker writing to top Zelensky aide Andrey Yermak, promising the new Ukrainian leader a trip to Washington in exchange for the investigation. "Heard from White House -- assuming President Z convinces trump he will investigate / 'get to the bottom of what happened' in 2016, we will nail down date for visit to Washington. Good luck!" Volker wrote in the July 25 message. Trump has been accused of pressuring Zelensky to open a corruption investigation against Biden in a phone call later that same day by making military aid to Ukraine contingent on that favour. Days before the two leaders spoke, Volker wrote in a text message to Gordon Sondland, the US ambassador to the European Union, that it was most important for "Zelensky to say that he will help (the) investigation." The release of the text messages came the same day Volker spoke for more than eight hours to House lawyers, in an interview centred on his role in alleged efforts by Trump and his personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani to solicit foreign interference in the next US election. A whistleblower, so far only identified as a US intelligence officer, went to the authorities with concerns about the phone call between Trump and Zelensky, triggering the impeachment inquiry. "Engaging in these stunning abuses in broad daylight does not absolve President Trump of his wrongdoings -- or his grave offences against the Constitution," said the chairs of three House committees, who received Volker's testimony, in a joint statement. On Thursday, Trump publicly called for both China and Ukraine to open investigations into Biden and his son, Hunter Biden.

Texts show US diplomat pushing Ukraine on probe for Donald Trump meeting

A longtime US&nbsp;diplomat who served as President Donald Trump's special envoy for Ukraine will tell his story to congressional committee staff on Thursday as part of a Democratic-led impeachment probe of the Republican president.

Kurt Volker resigned as special representative for Ukraine negotiations on Friday, the day after the public release of a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/whistleblower-in-donald-trump-ukraine-scandal-a-cia-officer-report-252276">whistleblower complaint</a> that described him as trying to "contain the damage" from efforts by Trump's lawyer Rudy Giuliani to press Ukraine to investigate Democrats.

Volker's meeting with the committee comes after an emotional day in the impeachment inquiry on Wednesday when Trump railed at journalists during a news conference, resorted to the use of an expletive on Twitter and called the probe "a hoax and a fraud" while pledging to cooperate.

Democratic lawmakers had said earlier on Wednesday they were prepared to subpoena White House records about Trump's July 25 telephone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.

Charges that Trump pressured Zelenskiy in that <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/as-feud-heats-up-donald-trump-says-joe-biden-was-subject-of-ukraine-call-251345">call</a> to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden, a leading rival in Trump's bid for re-election in 2020, helped prompt House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi to announce a formal <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-denounces-impeachment-inquiry-as-a-coup-253163">impeachment investigation</a> last week.

On Thursday, staff from the House Foreign Affairs, Intelligence and Oversight committees will conduct a transcribed interview with Volker.

The 54-year-old, who is also a former US&nbsp;ambassador to NATO, is appearing voluntarily.

The briefing will take place behind closed doors, the first of a series of events in the probe, none of them public, scheduled within the 10 days.

More are expected.

Late on Wednesday, US&nbsp;Representative Mike McCaul, the top Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, criticized the session with Volker, saying that Foreign Affairs Committee Republicans were not being given equal representation or the chance to question Volker.

He also expressed concern that US&nbsp;Representative Eliot Engel, the Democratic House foreign affairs chairman, had ceded oversight of US foreign policy to the Intelligence Committee because that panel, he said, would lead the questioning of Volker.

An Intelligence Committee aide said the panel's staff would conduct the interview because Pelosi had designated it as the lead committee in the impeachment inquiry.

Intelligence Committee investigators have been working with the Foreign Affairs and Oversight committees, "both of which will have equal Majority and Minority representation," the aide said in an email.

Representatives for the Foreign Affairs Committee did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

On Friday, Intelligence Community Inspector General Michael Atkinson will testify at an Intelligence Committee hearing.

Marie Yovanovitch, who was the US&nbsp;ambassador in Kiev until Trump recalled her in May before her normal term was up, will meet with committee staff on October&nbsp;11.

'Perfect'- or 'wrong'?

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/putin-says-nothing-compromising-in-trump-call-to-ukraine-leader-253325">Trump</a>&nbsp;has denied wrongdoing, repeatedly calling his call with Zelenskiy "perfect."

Pelosi dismissed that characterization at a news conference on Wednesday, saying: "It's not perfect - it's wrong."

Some of Trump's Republican allies have joined him in seeking to discredit Representative Adam Schiff, chairman of the House intelligence panel, after a New York Times report on Wednesday that the whistleblower had contacted the committee for advice on how to proceed.

Both Republicans and Democrats familiar with the process said, however, that Schiff's panel had acted properly in advising the person to contact an Inspector General and seek legal counsel.

Staff from eight Senate and House congressional committees, including Republicans and Democrats, also reacted with surprise on Wednesday after a briefing by the State Department's inspector general, Steve Linick.

At the briefing, which was held behind closed doors but not classified, Linick handed out packets of documents that the only lawmaker who attended, Democratic Representative Jamie Raskin, described as "propaganda and disinformation."

Committee staff members who attended the briefing said it concerned a package of documents delivered to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that included allegations against Biden and Yovanovitch.

A photograph of one document, whose source was not disclosed, described a discredited theory promoted by Trump allies that Yovanovitch was installed in her post by billionaire George Soros, a Democratic donor frequently attacked by far-right activists.

The impeachment probe could lead to approval of articles of impeachment - or formal charges - against Trump in the House. A trial on whether to remove Trump from office would then be held in the Republican-controlled Senate. Republicans, however, have shown little appetite for ousting him.

A longtime US diplomat who served as President Donald Trump's special envoy for Ukraine will tell his story to congressional committee staff on Thursday as part of a Democratic-led impeachment probe of the Republican president.

A longtime US diplomat who served as President Donald Trump's special envoy for Ukraine will tell his story to congressional committee staff on Thursday as part of a Democratic-led impeachment probe of the Republican president. Kurt Volker resigned as special representative for Ukraine negotiations on Friday, the day after the public release of a whistleblower complaint that described him as trying to "contain the damage" from efforts by Trump's lawyer Rudy Giuliani to press Ukraine to investigate Democrats. Volker's meeting with the committee comes after an emotional day in the impeachment inquiry on Wednesday when Trump railed at journalists during a news conference, resorted to the use of an expletive on Twitter and called the probe "a hoax and a fraud" while pledging to cooperate. Democratic lawmakers had said earlier on Wednesday they were prepared to subpoena White House records about Trump's July 25 telephone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. Charges that Trump pressured Zelenskiy in that call to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden, a leading rival in Trump's bid for re-election in 2020, helped prompt House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi to announce a formal impeachment investigation last week. On Thursday, staff from the House Foreign Affairs, Intelligence and Oversight committees will conduct a transcribed interview with Volker. The 54-year-old, who is also a former US ambassador to NATO, is appearing voluntarily. The briefing will take place behind closed doors, the first of a series of events in the probe, none of them public, scheduled within the 10 days. More are expected. Late on Wednesday, US Representative Mike McCaul, the top Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, criticized the session with Volker, saying that Foreign Affairs Committee Republicans were not being given equal representation or the chance to question Volker. He also expressed concern that US Representative Eliot Engel, the Democratic House foreign affairs chairman, had ceded oversight of US foreign policy to the Intelligence Committee because that panel, he said, would lead the questioning of Volker. An Intelligence Committee aide said the panel's staff would conduct the interview because Pelosi had designated it as the lead committee in the impeachment inquiry. Intelligence Committee investigators have been working with the Foreign Affairs and Oversight committees, "both of which will have equal Majority and Minority representation," the aide said in an email. Representatives for the Foreign Affairs Committee did not immediately respond to a request for comment. On Friday, Intelligence Community Inspector General Michael Atkinson will testify at an Intelligence Committee hearing. Marie Yovanovitch, who was the US ambassador in Kiev until Trump recalled her in May before her normal term was up, will meet with committee staff on October 11. 'Perfect'- or 'wrong'? Trump has denied wrongdoing, repeatedly calling his call with Zelenskiy "perfect." Pelosi dismissed that characterization at a news conference on Wednesday, saying: "It's not perfect - it's wrong." Some of Trump's Republican allies have joined him in seeking to discredit Representative Adam Schiff, chairman of the House intelligence panel, after a New York Times report on Wednesday that the whistleblower had contacted the committee for advice on how to proceed. Both Republicans and Democrats familiar with the process said, however, that Schiff's panel had acted properly in advising the person to contact an Inspector General and seek legal counsel. Staff from eight Senate and House congressional committees, including Republicans and Democrats, also reacted with surprise on Wednesday after a briefing by the State Department's inspector general, Steve Linick. At the briefing, which was held behind closed doors but not classified, Linick handed out packets of documents that the only lawmaker who attended, Democratic Representative Jamie Raskin, described as "propaganda and disinformation." Committee staff members who attended the briefing said it concerned a package of documents delivered to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that included allegations against Biden and Yovanovitch. A photograph of one document, whose source was not disclosed, described a discredited theory promoted by Trump allies that Yovanovitch was installed in her post by billionaire George Soros, a Democratic donor frequently attacked by far-right activists. The impeachment probe could lead to approval of articles of impeachment - or formal charges - against Trump in the House. A trial on whether to remove Trump from office would then be held in the Republican-controlled Senate. Republicans, however, have shown little appetite for ousting him.

United States diplomat at center of Trump-Ukraine affair to meet House committee staff

A US envoy for Ukraine on Saturday accused Russia of seeking to remove Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko from power in the March polls, in the hope of working out a favourable deal with a different government.

"What they are trying to do is attack Poroshenko and weaken Poroshenko," Special Representative Kurt Volker told AFP on the sidelines of a security conference in Munich when asked whether Moscow supports a specific candidate in the presidential election on March 31.

"They very much want to see him removed from power and I think they are hoping that they will be able to cut some kind of deal that favours Russia with a new government because they are not getting that from Poroshenko," he said.&nbsp;

Poroshenko, who was elected following the ousting of Russia-backed Viktor Yanukovych in the wake of bloody protests in Kiev, is running an uphill battle for re-election.

Other top contenders include former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko and comedian Volodymyr Zelensky, who once played the role of president in a Ukrainian TV series.

After the 2014 uprising, Moscow annexed Crimea and supported Russian-speaking separatists in the industrial east, in a conflict that according to the United Nations had killed some 13,000 people as of the end of last year.

Poroshenko's low popularity ratings received a boost after he oversaw the creation of a Ukrainian Orthodox Church independent of Moscow.

His standing also increased after Russia seized three of Kiev's navy vessels and two dozen sailors as they tried to pass from the Black Sea to the Sea of Azov in November.

A US envoy for Ukraine on Saturday accused Russia of seeking to remove Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko from power in the March polls, in the hope of working out a favourable deal with a different government.

A US envoy for Ukraine on Saturday accused Russia of seeking to remove Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko from power in the March polls, in the hope of working out a favourable deal with a different government. "What they are trying to do is attack Poroshenko and weaken Poroshenko," Special Representative Kurt Volker told AFP on the sidelines of a security conference in Munich when asked whether Moscow supports a specific candidate in the presidential election on March 31. "They very much want to see him removed from power and I think they are hoping that they will be able to cut some kind of deal that favours Russia with a new government because they are not getting that from Poroshenko," he said. Poroshenko, who was elected following the ousting of Russia-backed Viktor Yanukovych in the wake of bloody protests in Kiev, is running an uphill battle for re-election. Other top contenders include former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko and comedian Volodymyr Zelensky, who once played the role of president in a Ukrainian TV series. After the 2014 uprising, Moscow annexed Crimea and supported Russian-speaking separatists in the industrial east, in a conflict that according to the United Nations had killed some 13,000 people as of the end of last year. Poroshenko's low popularity ratings received a boost after he oversaw the creation of a Ukrainian Orthodox Church independent of Moscow. His standing also increased after Russia seized three of Kiev's navy vessels and two dozen sailors as they tried to pass from the Black Sea to the Sea of Azov in November.

Moscow wants Ukraine's leader 'removed from power': US diplomat

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Texts show US diplomat pushing Ukraine on probe for Donald Trump meeting

United States diplomat at center of Trump-Ukraine affair to meet House committee staff

Moscow wants Ukraine's leader 'removed from power': US diplomat