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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Ukraine’s ex-military chief endorses ‘victory plan’ in first speech since his dismissal
Ukraine’s former commander-in-chief, Valeri Zaluzhny, on Thursday expressed his support for Volodymyr Zelensky’s “victory plan,” despite the tensions between he and the president which led to his dismissal.
“Ukraine must clearly follow the plan,” Mr Zaluzhny said in his first public appearance since his appointment as ambassador to the UK.
He told an audience at London’s Chatham House think-tank: “But this list of steps primarily concerns those countries that should ultimately be interested in stopping the war.”
Ukraine's former armed forces chief endorses 'victory plan' in first speech since his dismissal
Ukraine’s former commander-in-chief, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, has expressed his support for President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s “victory plan,” despite the tensions between the two that led to his dismissal in February
US sanctions two Chinese firms involved in making and shipping attack drones
The United States has sanctioned two Chinese companies and a Russian affiliate involved in making and shipping attack drones which the US alleges are used in Russia’s war effort.
The new measures are aimed at the Chinese company, Xiamen Limbach Aircraft Engine Co Ltd, that makes an engine that powers Russia's Garpiya series long-range unmanned aerial vehicles, the US Treasury Department said.
They also target China-based Redlepus Vector Industry Shenzhen Co Ltd for its role in the drones’ shipment and an affiliated Russian person and company.
Swiss minister welcomes China-Brazil peace plan for Ukraine
Switzerland’s foreign affairs minister has welcomed a peace plan for Ukraine led by China and Brazil, saying Bern was looking at it in a “favourable light”.
“It’s the opening of a door to dialogue. In that sense we can only welcome any initiative that wishes to open doors,” said Ignazio Cassis, after being asked about the plan at a conference on demining Ukraine.
He added that a revised version of the plan still had “some contradictions”, without elaborating.
Greece signs security pact with Ukraine at EU summit
Greece’s prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has signed a security agreement with Volodymyr Zelensky, following the European Union and 20 other EU member states in committing to support Ukraine’s security.
The pact was signed on the sidelines of the European Council meeting in Brussels, the premier’s office said in a statement.
“Greece is ready to continue meeting Ukraine’s most urgent defence needs. It will also provide additional resources to accelerate F-16 training for our pilots and technicians,” Mr Zelensky said on X.
The agreement is intended to complement other deals sealed between Ukraine and its allies as it continues its defence against Russia’s invasion, and paves the way for Greece’s active involvement in Ukraine’s reconstruction efforts, the statement said.
Zelensky warns North Korean involvement in conflict would be ‘first step to world war’
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that a third nation wading into Russia’s war could turn the conflict into a “world war”, as he revealed his country had intelligence that 10,000 troops from North Korea were being prepared to join Russian forces fighting against his country.
“We know about 10,000 soldiers of North Korea that they are preparing to send [to] fight against us,” Mr Zelensky said, calling any North Korean involvement “the first step to a world war.”
Ukraine’s PM appeals for help from ‘entire civilised world’ in clearing landmines
Ukraine’s prime minister has appealed at a meeting in Switzerland for more help clearing landmines and unexploded bombs covering up to a quarter of the country, making it the most mined nation in the world.
Switzerland, which is providing financial support, is hosting the conference this week attended by officials from around 50 countries to drum up funds for demining Ukraine set to cost $34.6bn, according to a World Bank study.
Clearance is seen as a critical requisite for boosting agricultural production and for the return of millions of Ukrainians who have fled since Russia’s full-scale invasion. Already, 399 civilians have been killed by landmines and 915 injured, according to UN human rights monitors.
“The scale of this challenge is truly massive,” Ukraine’s premier Denys Shmyhal told the meeting in the city of Lausanne. “I call on the entire civilised world to increase support for Ukraine in the field of demining.”
Free world ‘must not tremble’ at Putin’s threats, Zelensky tells EU
Addressing European Union leaders at a summit in Brussels, Volodymyr Zelensky has called for more military aid for Ukraine’s fight against Russia’s invasion as he sought to win support for his “victory plan”.
“An immediate invitation to Ukraine to join Nato would be decisive. Putin just must see that his geopolitical calculations are worthless,” Mr Zelensky told the leaders of the EU countries, most of which are also members of Nato.
“Putin must respect our strength, not have the free world tremble at his threats,” Mr Zelensky said.
North Korea planning to send 10,000 soldiers to fight in Ukraine, warns Zelensky
Ukrainian intelligence has information that North Korean officers have already been deployed in Ukrainian territories occupied by Russia, Volodymyr Zelensky has warned.
The Ukrainian president told reporters in Brussels that North Korea was preparing to send a total of 10,000 soldiers to fight against Ukraine.
Zelensky warns Ukraine must prepare for third winter of war
Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that a third winter of war has the potential to be devastating for Ukraine’s citizens.
“Winter is coming, so we have to prepare,” he said in an appearance with European Council president Charles Michel, warning that Ukraine urgently needs more help with air defence.
During “months without without military support,” Ukraine’s own “production of drones and ... systems of electronic warfare helped a lot,” Mr Zelensky said, adding: “We need money for this, and partly the money from Russian assets.”
Solid and constructive conversation needed on Ukraine’s Nato membership, Norway says
Norwegian foreign minister Espen Barth Eide has said that a solid and constructive conversation is needed on Nato’s invitation to Ukraine to join the military alliance.
Speaking during a visit to Kyiv, he said that Norway welcomed President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s victory plan as it would help develop conversation between Ukraine and its Western allies.
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