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Liveupdated1716972021

Ukraine-Russia war – live: Macron says Kyiv should be allowed to hit military targets inside Russia

Belgium pledges two dozen more F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine

Tom Watling ,Shweta Sharma
Wednesday 29 May 2024 09:40
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Putin will be made to pay to rebuild Ukraine, says US secretary of state

Kyiv should be allowed to “neutralise” military bases inside Russia that are being used to attack Ukraine, French and German leaders said.

French president Emmanuel Macron said at a joint news conference with German chancellor Olaf Scholz in Meseberg, Germany, that “we don’t want escalation” but Ukraine could attack “military sites from which missiles are fired”.

Mr Olaf said he agreed as long as Ukraine respected the conditions of the weapons’ suppliers.“Ukraine has every possibility under international law for what it is doing. That has to be said explicitly,” Mr Scholz said.

The remarks came as Belgium pledged to send more than two dozen F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine as part of a near €1bn (£832m) military package.

The package was announced as Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Brussels for discussions with prime minister Alexander De Croo.

Ukraine is under increasing pressure as Russian troops are reportedly gathering on the Ukrainian border in preparation for fresh offensive operations.

The think tank Institue for the Study of War said this concentration of forces is likely to be used to draw Ukrainian troops into the area and prepare to expand the Russian foothold in the northeastern border area of Kharkiv.

1716972021

US Treasury official visits Ukraine to discuss sanctions on Russia and seizing Russian assets

US Treasury official visits Ukraine to discuss sanctions on Russia and seizing Russian assets

A U.S. Treasury official is traveling to Kyiv this week to talk about U.S. financial support for Ukraine, efforts to tighten sanctions on Russia and plans to use immobilized Russian sovereign assets for the benefit of Ukraine as it fends off Russian forces

Tom Watling29 May 2024 09:40
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Prisoner swaps between Russia and Ukraine are on pause, says Tass citing Russian official

Russia’s human rights commissionerhas said that prisoner of war exchanges between Russia and Ukraine had been suspended for several months.

Russian state media outlet Tass cited Tatyana Moskalova as blaming what she called Kyiv’s “false demands” for the pause in POW exchanges. There was no immediate comment from Ukraine.

Moscow and Kyiv have carried out periodic prisoner swaps via intermediaries since Moscow began what it calls its special military operation in Ukraine more than two years ago.

Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) react after a swap at an unknown location in Ukraine in January
Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) react after a swap at an unknown location in Ukraine in January (via REUTERS)
Tom Watling29 May 2024 09:25
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Photos show latest of Ukraine’s electronic warfare equipment

Photos from an event in western Ukraine have shown the latest examples of electronic warfare equipment.

The event, put on by Ukrainian charity foundation “Zavzhdy UA”, which translates as “Forever Ukraine”, showcased weapons made by Ukrainian manufacturer Kvertus.

Electronic warfare is used to block or jam signals used by Russian forces on the frontline to power drones and navigation systems on missiles, as well as communications.

An employee presents radio-electronic warfare (WB) and radio-electronic intelligence (PER) systems of the Ukrainian company Kvertus in Lviv region
An employee presents radio-electronic warfare (WB) and radio-electronic intelligence (PER) systems of the Ukrainian company Kvertus in Lviv region (AFP via Getty Images)
A Ukrainian serviceman tests an anti-drone gun during a presentation of radio-electronic warfare (WB) and radio-electronic intelligence (PER) systems
A Ukrainian serviceman tests an anti-drone gun during a presentation of radio-electronic warfare (WB) and radio-electronic intelligence (PER) systems (AFP via Getty Images)
olunteers and Ukrainian military personnel attend a presentation of radio-electronic warfare (WB) and radio-electronic intelligence (PER) systems of the Ukrainian company Kvertus
olunteers and Ukrainian military personnel attend a presentation of radio-electronic warfare (WB) and radio-electronic intelligence (PER) systems of the Ukrainian company Kvertus (AFP via Getty Images)
Tom Watling29 May 2024 09:10
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Zelensky urges Biden to attend Ukraine peace summit – saying only Putin would applaud him staying away

Zelensky urges Biden to attend Ukraine peace summit

Vladimir Putin has dismissed the Swiss peace summit as ‘pointless’ as his officials continue to try to discourage participation

Tom Watling29 May 2024 08:54
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Sweden announces £986 million in military support for Ukraine

Sweden will send military aid worth 13.3 billion Swedish crowns (£986m) to Ukraine, its biggest package so far, to aid the war against the Russian invasion, the Nordic country’s government has announced.

The package would among other things help strengthen the Ukrainian air defence and included Saab’s Airborne Surveillance and Control (ASC) 890 aircraft, Defence Minister Paal Jonson told a press conference.

The Swedish government said last week it had agreed on additional military support to Ukraine totalling 75 billion Swedish crowns over three years.

Tom Watling29 May 2024 08:37
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Poland arrests man suspected of seeking intelligence on Ukraine aid

Polish security services have arrested a man suspected of trying to get photos of military vehicles crossing the border into Ukraine.

It is the latest in a string of spy cases.

The 26-year-old Ukrainian man was suspected of encouraging a Polish citizen to share the photos and “take part in the activities of foreign intelligence against the Republic of Poland,” the spokesperson said.

Poland says its role as a hub for supplies to Ukraine has made it a key target for Russian spies who are trying to gather information on support for Kyiv’s war effort and engage in acts of sabotage.

The Ukrainian man, named as Oleksandr D., sent messages to a Polish citizen encouraging him to help foreign intelligence, Jacek Dobrzynski, the spokesperson of the minister coordinating special services said in a statement.

“This activity was to consist in sharing photos of military vehicles that were intended to help Ukraine and crossed the Polish-Ukrainian border,” Dobrzynski said.

“In exchange for the information provided, the Polish citizen was to receive a remuneration of 15,000 euros.”

A court agreed to a request from the prosecutor to hold the suspect in pre-trial detention for three months. If found guilty he could face up to eight years in prison.

Tom Watling29 May 2024 08:22
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Putin makes former bodyguard Alexei Dyumin secretary of State Council, says Kremlin

The Kremlin has announced that President Vladimir Putin has appointed Alexei Dyumin, an aide and former bodyguard, as secretary of the State Council, an advisory body to the Russian head of state.

After being re-elected for another six-year term earlier this year, Putin made Dyumin an aide specialising in the defence industry.

Tom Watling29 May 2024 08:12
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Here we have some more photos from Zelensky’s trip to Portugal

Below we have some more photos of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a visit to Portugal on Tuesday.

Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro (R) and Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa (C) review the guard of honour with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky upon his arrival at Figo Maduro military airport in Lisbon
Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro (R) and Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa (C) review the guard of honour with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky upon his arrival at Figo Maduro military airport in Lisbon (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Portuguese prime minister Luis Montenegro (R) and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky (L) during a meeting with Ukrainians after a joint statement at Sao Bento Palace
Portuguese prime minister Luis Montenegro (R) and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky (L) during a meeting with Ukrainians after a joint statement at Sao Bento Palace (Getty Images)
Tom Watling29 May 2024 08:00
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Ukraine military says it shot down 13 out of 14 drones launched by Russia

Ukrainian military shot down 13 drones out of 14 launched by Russia in an overnight attack on three regions, the country’s air force has said.

Drone debris fell on energy infrastructure in Ukraine‘s northwestern region of Rivne, governor Oleksandr Koval said on Telegram. The attack triggered a defence mechanism that cut power to some localities, although it has since been restored.

Drone debris also damaged power lines in central Kirovohrad region with repair work ongoing, its governor said.

The air force shot down 11 drones over the Mykolaiv region, with no details on damage reported by the local governor.

Tom Watling29 May 2024 07:36
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Biden should attend Swiss peace summit on Ukraine - Zelensky

US president Joe Biden should attend a planned peace summit in Switzerland on the Ukraine conflict next month to make the meeting a success, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky told a news conference in Brussels on Tuesday.

Biden’s absence would benefit Russian president Vladimir Putin, who gave the order to invade Ukraine in 2022, Zelensky said.

Zelensky
Zelensky (EPA)

Matt Mathers29 May 2024 07:00

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