11:02
Kremlin praises US efforts to end Ukraine war - but says it doesn't like European proposals

The Kremlin says US efforts to find peace in Ukraine are very important and can help resolve the long-standing conflict.

However, spokesperson Dmitry Peskov added that Moscow took a negative view on European proposals for security guarantees for Ukraine.

He reiterated Russia's long-standing position that no troops from NATO countries should be deployed to Ukraine.

On conducting high-level peace talks with Ukraine, Peskov said such meetings had to be well prepared for them to be effective.

Following reports that overnight Russian strikes in Ukraine targeted the country's energy infrastructure, Peskov said that Moscow only strikes military and military-connected targets.

Putin's 'unprecedented' China trip

Elsewhere, Peskov said active preparations are under way for Russian President Vladimir Putin's upcoming trip to China, calling the visit "unprecedented."

Putin and more than 20 other world leaders will attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, to be held in the northern port city of Tianjin from 31 August 31 to 1 September.

Peskov confirmed Putin will then visit Vladivostok, a major Russian port city near the borders with China and North Korea, on 5 September.