PRAGUE (Reuters) -Slovakia aims to reach an agreement with the European Commission and EU partners by Tuesday on guarantees it will not suffer from the end of Russian gas supplies and on a new sanctions package against Russia,

A change to a nuclear-related license fueled the claim that the Trump administration lifted U.S. sanctions on Russia.

Momentum has been building behind a bipartisan bill to impose sanctions on countries that purchase Russian oil, as Republicans work behind the scenes to win President Trump’s support.

Oil prices rose on Friday after U.S. President Donald Trump said he would make an announcement regarding Russia, raising the prospect of more sanctions on the major oil producer, while tariff concern and rising OPEC+ output capped gains.

Russia is using gold and crypto to bypass Western sanctions, a top regulator said on Tuesday. "Netting" is another offbeat way Russia is using to beat sweeping sanctions. Russia's economy faces challenges, with a potential recession and slowing GDP growth.

The European Union faces challenges in adopting its 18th sanctions package against Russia due to disagreements over the oil price cap and a Slovak veto tied to energy import phase-out proposals.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he had discussed improved air defences and intensified sanctions against Russia with two U.S. lawmakers who are backing a bill to impose tougher punitive measures against Moscow.

After President Trump's criticism of Putin, Russia launches major attack on Ukraine, in heaviest single bombardment of the war. Also: Taiwan begins biggest war games, and what do emojis say about us?