Ukraine-Russia war latest: Zelensky says invitation to join Nato is ‘only way’ to end Putin’s war
Zelensky says Putin ‘only understands power’ and a formal Nato invitation would boost Ukrainian morale
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A formal invitation for Ukraine to join Nato is “the only way” to end Russia’s war, Volodymyr Zelensky has said.
“We cannot be very strong without having an invitation [which] strengthens our diplomatic ways to end the war,” he told the Financial Times. “This war will finish when Putin will be isolated, and pushed by other partners to diplomacy.”
Earlier, Mr Zelensky said his spy agency has information that 10,000 troops from North Korea are being readied to join Vladimir Putin’s invasion.
“From our intelligence we’ve got information that North Korea sent tactical personnel and officers to Ukraine,” he said during a visit to Nato’s headquarters. “They are preparing on their land 10,000 soldiers, but they didn’t move them already to Ukraine or to Russia.”
A third nation wading into the hostilities would be “the first step to a world war”, Mr Zelensky said.
On the frontline, Ukrainian forces repelled 36 of 45 ground attacks near the strategic city of Kurakhove over the past 24 hours and nine clashes were still going on, Ukraine’s General Staff of the Armed Forces said on Friday morning.
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Nato seeks more details about Ukraine ‘victory plan’
NATO shows no sign of letting Ukraine join soon and wants more details about its 'victory plan'
NATO is showing no sign it would be willing to invite Ukraine to join its ranks anytime soon
Zelensky says 10,000 North Koreans could join Russia in Ukraine
Volodymyr Zelensky said his spy agency has information that 10,000 troops from North Korea are being prepared to join Russian forces fighting against his country
A third nation wading into the hostilities would turn the conflict into a “world war,” Mr Zelensky said.
“From our intelligence we’ve got information that North Korea sent tactical personnel and officers to Ukraine,” he told reporters at Nato headquarters. “They are preparing on their land 10,000 soldiers, but they didn’t move them already to Ukraine or to Russia.”
He did not go into detail about the claim that came a day after US deputy secretary of state Kurt Campbell said that Washington and its allies are alarmed by North Korea’s military support for Russia’s war in Ukraine but couldn’t confirm Ukrainian claims that soldiers were sent to fight for Moscow.
Earlier, he warned that any North Korean involvement would be “the first step to a world war.”
Meet Ukraine’s ‘Witches of Bucha’ – the all-female unit shooting down Russian drones
When nightfall descends on a suburban area northwest of the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, the Witches of Bucha come alive.
By day, the women work as doctors and teachers, but by night, they safeguard Ukraine from the Russian drones that surge above them.
The women - who go by the moniker of the Witches of Bucha - are volunteers in air defence units.
As increasing numbers of men are deployed to the frontlines, the volunteers have undergone training to wield machine guns and assault rifles to shoot down drones filled with explosives sent from Russia.
“My role is to listen for them,” Valentyna, a veterinarian, tells the BBC. “It’s nervous work. But we have to stay focused, to [listen out] for the slightest sound.”
Our women’s correspondent Maya Oppenheim reports:
Meet Ukraine’s all-female unit shooting down Russian drones
‘I remember the occupation. I remember the horror. I remember the screams of my own child. I remember the dead bodies when we were fleeing,’ Valentyna says
Czech, Danish, Dutch PMs urge Ukraine allies to keep up ammunition drive
Ukraine’s allies must keep supplying it with ammunition in 2025, the Czech, Danish and Dutch prime ministers said in a joint statement on Thursday, as they vowed during a meeting in Brussels to continue doing so themselves.
The Czech Republic has this year led an initiative to buy ammunition for Kyiv with funding from NATO allies, in order to make up for shortages on the frontlines in the war against invading Russian forces.
“The Ammunition Initiative must continue in 2025,” the leaders said. “Our countries are already finalizing further concrete projects for deliveries of 155 mm ammunition within the Initiative, as well as other calibres on a bilateral basis.”
They said it was crucial for Kyiv’s other allies to quickly make decisions about supplying funds for ammunition.
“Only early indication and allocation of funding will secure a stable and predictable flow of ammunition to continue in the early months of 2025 to make sure Ukraine is well stocked,” they said.
Last Thursday Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala said the initiative to supply large-caliber ammunition to Ukraine would meet the target of delivering half a million shells by the end of the year.
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Russia releases man whose daughter’s drawing opposed Ukraine war
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Senior US official warns of North Korean nuclear threats and help for Russia
Senior US official warns of North Korean nuclear threats and help for Russia
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell says that Washington and its allies are “alarmed” by North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats as well as its increasing military support for Russia’s war in Ukraine, but said he couldn’t confirm Ukrainian claims that Pyongyang was also sending soldiers to fight for Moscow
A glance at Ukraine's plan aimed at nudging Russia into talks to end the war
A glance at Ukraine's plan aimed at nudging Russia into talks to end the war
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has partially revealed his five-point plan aimed at prompting Russia to end the war through negotiations
Zelensky unveils his ‘victory plan’ to end Putin’s invasion at Ukraine’s parliament
Zelensky unveils his ‘victory plan’ to end Putin’s invasion at Ukraine’s parliament
Russian forces launch one of their largest drone salvos at Ukraine in recent months
UK makes new commitment on European defence in deal with Estonia
The UK’s involvement in European air defence and long-range missile development is a sign of the “new determination to work more closely” with continental allies, defence secretary John Healey has said.
Thousands of UK troops will be put on stand-by to deploy to Estonia’s border with Russia under a new agreement Britain has signed with the Baltic nation in another sign of the commitment to European defence, Mr Healey said at a meeting of Nato counterparts.
Arriving at Nato headquarters in Brussels, Mr Healey said: “Today, we will make the commitment to reinforce Nato’s eastern flank with a new plan alongside Estonia for our forces there.
“And we will make a commitment, a UK commitment, to bolstering the future of Europe’s defences, leading a new initiative to net together the European air defence systems and to work together with other European allies to develop long-range missiles.
“This is part of the UK’s new determination to work more closely with other European allies on security for the future, and Europe’s security is guaranteed by this Nato alliance.”
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