Ukraine-Russia war latest: Mass drone attack by Putin’s forces as Zelensky says Nato invite is way to end war
Zelensky says Putin ‘only understands power’ and a formal Nato invitation would boost Ukrainian morale
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Ukraine’s air defences shot down 80 out of 135 drones launched in a mass attack by Vladimir Putin’s forces, Kyiv has said, as Volodymyr Zelensky insisted that Nato membership is the only way to end Russia’s war.
The air force said it lost track of 44 drones that likely fell into Ukrainian territory following active electronic warfare measures, while two drones went to Belarus, while Nato member Romania scrambled fighter jets after an unidentified object breached its airspace near the Black Sea.
It came after Mr Zelensky urged EU and Nato leaders in Brussels to formally invite Ukraine to join the military alliance as part of his five-point “victory plan”.
“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.”
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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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.”
Norway to supply Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets ‘in near future’, Kyiv says
Norway will supply six F-16 jets to Ukraine “in the near future”, Ukrainian defence minister Rustem Umerov has said, following talks with his Norwegian counterpart Bjoern Arild Gram.
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Full report: US imposes sanctions on Chinese companies accused of helping make Russian attack drones
US imposes sanctions on Chinese companies accused of helping make Russian attack drones
The U.S. Treasury has announced sanctions against two Chinese makers of drone engines and parts that the Biden administration says directly helped Russia build long-range attack drones used in the war in Ukraine
Moldova says its citizens were trained in Russia to stage riots
Moldovan police claim to have uncovered a programme in which hundreds of its citizens were brought to Russia to undergo training to stage riots and civil unrest, the latest in a slew of meddling allegations ahead of Sunday’s election.
The police said earlier this month that Russia-backed crime groups had bribed a swathe of voters and plotted to disrupt this weekend’s presidential election and referendum on the country’s European Union membership aspirations, going as far as a plan to seize state buildings .
Russia, which accuses the pro-Western government of fomenting “Russophobia”, has denied meddling in Moldova, which accelerated its push to leave Moscow’s orbit after Russia’s full-scale invasion of neighbouring Ukraine.
Moldovan police told a news conference that law enforcement agencies believed a group linked to fugitive pro-Kremlin businessman Ilan Shor had organised the training to stage unrest.
“The anti-corruption prosecutor’s office is currently conducting an investigation into several criminal cases related to the preparation of mass disturbance in the interests of the criminal community,” prosecutor Victor Furtuna said.
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