Ukraine welcomes leader back from US

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as he addresses a joint meeting of Congress (Carolyn Kaster/AP)

Ukrainians welcomed President Volodymyr Zelensky back from a wartime visit to the United States, hailing his trip as successful while Russian officials said on Thursday that the visit only fuelled the conflict.

The US has announced a new 1.8 billion US dollar (£1.49 billion) military aid package, including supplies of the Patriot air defence systems, the most powerful such weapons to be delivered to Ukraine yet.