VLADIMIR Putin is producing a new line of "powerful weapons of destruction" as Ukraine fights to liberate a city in the occupied south.

Russian ex-president and Putin mouthpiece Dmitry Medvedev has claimed the nation has ramped up production of "powerful" new-generation weapons as its war in Ukraine falters.

Speaking on Telegram, deluded Medvedev warned: "We are increasing production of the most powerful means of destruction. Including those based on new principles,"

"Our enemy dug in not only in the Kyiv province of our native Malorossiya," Medvedev said, using the term to describe territories of modern-day Ukraine that were part of the Russian Empire under the tsars. It is in Europe, North America, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and a whole number of other places that pledged allegiance to the Nazi."

Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces attacked occupied Melitopol, with the region's Russian-installed leader saying a missile attack killed two people and injured 10.

Read our Ukraine-Russia live blog below for the latest news...

Cleverly: Ukraine peace talks can't be used as cover for Russian rearmament

Any peace talks in Ukraine cannot be a fig-leaf for Russian rearmament, British foreign minister James Cleverly said on Sunday, adding that he had not seen any signs that Moscow would enter into negotiations in good faith.

Cleverly said that, while Britain wanted to see peace talks "sooner rather than later", he reiterated that Ukraine should set the parameters for any negotiations that were held.

"Any negotiations need to be real, they need to be meaningful, they can't just be a fig leaf for Russian rearmament and further recruitment of soldiers," Cleverly told Sky News.

"I'm not really seeing anything coming from the Russian side that gives me confidence that Vladimir Putin is entering these talks in good faith. The wider rhetoric is still very confrontational."