Russia-Ukraine updates: Lula speaks to Putin, declines invitation

The European Union has condemned an agreement to allow the deployment of Russian nuclear warheads in Belarus.

“This is a step which will lead to further extremely dangerous escalation,” EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said in a statement.

Russia moved ahead on Thursday with its plan to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, whose leader said the warheads were already on the move. The plan was announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin in March.

On Thursday, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said he was signing documents in Minsk on the process for storing such weapons in Belarus.

Borrell said the decision contravened multiple international agreements.

“The Belarusian regime is an accomplice in Russia’s illegal and unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine,” Borrell said.

“We call on Belarusian authorities to put an immediate end to their support of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, and reverse decisions that can only contribute to heightening tensions in the region, and undermine Belarus’ sovereignty.”

He said any attempt “to further escalate the situation will be met by a strong and coordinated reaction”.

If the United States fails to back Ukraine enough in the war against Russia, that would send a signal to China that it could take Taiwan, a senior senator on a visit to Kyiv has said.

Lindsey Graham, a Republican, said after meeting President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that US President Joe Biden should send more weapons to Ukraine in addition to the more than $35bn of weaponry and military hardware already provided.

“There can be no backing off of helping Ukraine because if we fail here, there goes Taiwan,” Graham told reporters.

“If you’re running for president, as a Republican or Democrat, I don’t know how you can make the argument that we’re stronger against China if we pull the plug on Ukraine – that makes zero sense. What I want the Chinese to see is that invading a neighbour is not as easy as it looks.”

He continued: “The best way to protect Taiwan and world order is for [Russian President Vladimir] Putin to lose.”

In order for a long-anticipated Ukraine counteroffensive to succeed, its forces need more and better armaments, such as US-made F-16 fighter jets and longer-range weapons, Graham said.

“There are weapons that matter and we’ve been too slow getting weapons that matter to the Ukrainian military … my message to the Biden administration is, I appreciate what you have done. You need to do more,” said Graham.

At least 483 children have been killed and nearly 1,000 have been wounded, according to figures from Ukraine’s general prosecutor’s office.

Meanwhile, UNICEF says an estimated 1.5 million Ukrainian children are at risk of depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental health issues, with potentially lasting effects.

Nearly 1,500 Ukrainian children have been orphaned, the National Social Service of Ukraine said.

The largest number of child casualties comes from Donetsk, the epicenter of many battles, where 462 children have been killed or wounded, according to Ukrainian officials.

That figure does not include casualties from the Russian occupied city of Mariupol, which is also part of Donetsk province, where Ukrainian officials have found it difficult to track the dead and wounded.

Japan has announced additional sanctions on Russia after the Group of Seven (G7) summit the country hosted last week agreed to step up measures to punish Moscow over its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

In coordination with other G7 members, Japan will freeze the assets of 78 groups and 17 individuals, including army officers in Russia and ban exports to 80 Russian entities such as military-affiliated research labs, according to a foreign ministry statement released on Friday.

Read more here.

Russia has indicated it views Pope Francis’s Ukraine peace initiative positively, while stressing that there are no immediate plans for a Vatican mission to Moscow.

The statement from the Russian foreign ministry to the state RIA Novosti agency was the first public acknowledgement by Moscow of the pope’s initiative.

It followed the weekend announcement that a veteran of the Catholic Church’s peace mediation initiatives, Italian Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, had been tapped by Francis as his envoy.

Zuppi spoke to reporters Thursday and said the approach he would use in Ukraine was similar to the one he adopted in the mediation of the peace talks to end Mozambique’s civil war.

A leading defence company says the German military has ordered 18 new Leopard 2 tanks to replace vehicles that were sent to Ukraine earlier this year.

Kraus-Maffei Wegmann said on Friday that a contract for the Leopard 2A8 tanks was signed with the federal office for military equipment.

It didn’t give financial details, but the German parliament’s budget committee on Wednesday approved funding of some $563m.

The company said that delivery of the new tanks is scheduled to start in 2025, and that the deal includes options for another 105 Leopard 2A8 tanks.

A deal allowing the safe wartime export of grain and fertiliser from Ukrainian Black Sea ports has not yet resumed full operations, the United Nations has said, having come to a halt before Russia’s decision last week to extend it.

The pact called the Black Sea Grain Initiative, brokered by the United Nations and Turkey last July with Russia and Ukraine to try to ease a global food crisis aggravated by Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, covers three ports, but no ships have been authorised to travel to Pivdennyi (Yuzhny) port since April 29, the UN said.

The United Nations and Turkey “are working closely with the rest of the parties with the aim to resume full operations … and lift all impediments that obstruct operations and limit the scope of the Initiative,” the UN said in a statement.

Ukraine accused Russia on Tuesday of effectively cutting Pivdennyi port out of the Black Sea deal as Russia complained that it had been unable to export ammonia via a pipeline to Pivdennyi under the agreement.

The UN said on Friday that the Black Sea deal also provides for the exports of fertiliser, including ammonia, but “there have been no such exports so far.”

Russia signaled on Thursday that if demands to improve its grain and fertiliser exports are not met then it will not extend the deal beyond July 17. It made the same threat and demands in March, before agreeing last week to renew it for 60 days.

Germany will move its Patriot missile defence system currently stationed in Slovakia to Lithuania to protect the NATO summit in Vilnius scheduled for July, the country’s defence ministry has said in a statement.

Germany has stationed two Patriot units in Slovakia and three in Poland.

“For the ground-based air defence [at the NATO summit], we will move our Patriot units from Slovakia and supporting elements from Poland to Lithuania,” the defence ministry said, adding this would end the deployment to Slovakia.

The US Department of State’s acting top diplomat for Europe has voiced hope that Sweden would be a member of NATO by July 11-12, when alliance leaders are set to meet in the Lithuanian capital.

“We have had extensive conversations with the Turkish government about allies’ – including ours – clear conviction that Sweden is ready for membership now,” acting Assistant Secretary Dereck Hogan told reporters.

“We do very much look forward to seeing both Turkey as well as Hungary ratify Sweden’s accession protocols very soon, prior to the summit in Vilnius,” Hogan said, adding that Washington and others would be discussing it with the new Turkish government following Sunday’s second round of presidential elections there.

Turks go to the ballot boxes on Sunday for the run-off of a tight presidential race, with incumbent Recep Tayyip Erdogan leading after the first round on May 14.

Hogan’s optimism is also in stark contrast with Erdogan’s comments from a CNN International interview last week during which he said Turkey was not ready for Sweden’s membership right now.

The United Kingdom’s former prime minister, Boris Johnson, and former US President Donald Trump discussed Ukraine and “the vital importance of Ukrainian victory”, Johnson’s spokesperson has said.

Since being removed as the UK’s prime minister last year, Johnson has been eager to forge a profile as one of Ukraine’s most ardent backers in its fight against Russia’s full-scale invasion and has been visiting the United States this week to speak to politicians about maintaining support for Kyiv.

A spokesperson for Johnson, who was once dubbed “Britain Trump” by the former president, said Johnson met Trump on Thursday “to discuss the situation in Ukraine and the vital importance of Ukrainian victory”.

The Netherlands is “seriously considering” sending F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine but has not taken any final decision yet, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said.

While Rutte told a news conference, “If you start training, it’s obvious that it is something you are seriously considering.”

But any decision on sending F-16s was dependent on approval from the US to do so, Rutte said.

He added that the Netherlands would potentially have fighter jets to pass on as it was currently phasing out its F-16s.

Russia’s Lavrov expressed gratitude for China’s “balanced position” and willingness to play a positive role in a meeting with China’s Ukraine envoy, the foreign ministry said.

China’s Li Hui, who spent 10 years as ambassador to Moscow, has been on a tour of European capitals, and last week visited Kyiv.

After those talks, China said it wanted to “form the greatest common denominator for resolving the Ukrainian crisis, and make its own efforts to stop the fighting and [establish a] ceasefire and restore peace as soon as possible”.

Kyiv has told Li, however, that it would not accept any proposal that involved Ukraine losing territory.

Earlier this year, China published a 12-point peace plan that involved declaring a ceasefire but did not stipulate that Russia should withdraw from any of the territories it has taken.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva says he spoke to his Russian counterpart President Vladimir Putin and reiterated his country’s willingness to talk to both sides.

Lula also thanked Putin for inviting him to the International Economic Forum in St Petersburg on Twitter and said:

“I thanked him for an invitation to attend the International Economic Forum in Saint Petersburg, and replied that I could not go to Russia at the moment, but reiterated Brazil’s willingness, along with India, Indonesia and China, to talk to both sides of the conflict in pursuit of peace.”

Conversei agora por telefone com o presidente da Rússia, Vladimir Putin. Agradeci a um convite para ir ao Fórum Econômico Internacional de São Petersburgo, e respondi que não posso ir a Rússia nesse momento, mas reiterei a disposição do Brasil, junto com a Índia, Indonésia e…

— Lula (@LulaOficial) May 26, 2023

Lavrov and the Chinese special envoy have discussed prospects for resolving the conflict in Ukraine during a meeting in Moscow, Russia’s foreign ministry says in a statement.

Li said in a meeting with EU officials in Brussels on Thursday that China had always upheld an objective, just position on the Ukraine conflict and actively promoted peace talks.

Li’s previously visited Ukraine, Germany, Poland and France as part of a European tour to resolve the war.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit Finland next week and will deliver a speech championing Ukraine’s defence against Russia, the Department of State says.

Blinken will travel to Helsinki on Thursday for a two-day visit to NATO’s newest member after a meeting of the alliance’s foreign ministers in Oslo.

During his speech, Blinken will “highlight all the ways in which Russia’s aggression against Ukraine has been a strategic failure”, state department spokesman Matthew Miller said.

The US official will also outline “our continued efforts to support Ukraine’s defence of its territory, sovereignty and democracy in pursuit of a just and durable peace”, he said.

Finland joined NATO in April after it had applied with Sweden after Russian invaded Ukraine last year.

Turkey and Hungary have yet to approve Sweden’s membership. Joining the alliance requires the approval of all members.

Al Jazeera’s Natacha Butler, reporting from Kyiv, said a Russian missile attack in Dnipro hit a psychiatric hospital, killing two people.

“The Russian strike on a hospital in Dnipro happened mid-morning at local time. What we know from Ukrainian officials is that at least two people were killed in that strike, and now we know that at least 26 people were also injured, including two children,” she said.

“Officials in the city say that this was a psychiatric hospital, not a military facility. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on his Telegram that this was just another example of what he called ‘inhumanity’ by Russian fighters.”

Russian missile and drone attacks were felt across the country, including in the capital Kyiv, Butler explained, adding to increased Russian aggression over the past few weeks.

“Many say this is because Russia is looking very closely at Ukraine’s anticipated counter-offensive,” Butler added.

Click here for a roundup of the key events from day 457 of the war.

Keep reading:

• Japan tightens Russian sanctions in line with G7
• US says Russia cannot win in Ukraine, Moscow sees long war ahead
• US accuses Wagner Group of supplying missiles to Sudan’s RSF
• Damage to Russian-occupied dam floods Ukrainian island community

Russia’s foreign ministry summons senior US diplomats after it said comments made by White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan were “effectively endorsing strikes” on Crimea.

“It is time for Washington to learn that any form of aggression against Russia will continue to be met with the strongest possible response,” the ministry said.

On Sunday, Sullivan was asked in a CNN interview about whether Ukraine should have weapons that can reach Russian targets in Crimea, to which he replied:

“Yes. We have not placed limitations on Ukraine being able to strike on its territory within its internationally recognised borders.

“What we have said is that we will not enable Ukraine with US systems, Western systems, to attack Russia. And we believe Crimea is Ukraine.”

Russia unilaterally annexed Crimea in 2014 but remains internationally recognised as Ukrainian territory.

Russia’s Ministry of Defence says it carried out an overnight attack on Ukrainian ammunition depots, the RIA news agency reported.

“The target of the strike has been achieved. All designated facilities were hit,” the defence ministry said.

Two people have died after a Russian missile attack hit a clinic in Dnipro and wounded 23 others, the regional governor said.

Serhiy Lysak said on Telegram that a 69-year-old man had been killed, adding: “He was just passing by when the Russian terrorists’ rocket hit the city.”

Lysak said another man’s body was pulled out of the rubble, and 21 of the 23 wounded had been taken to hospital, with three seriously hurt.

Earlier on Friday, President Zelenskyy described the attack as a crime against humanity.

“Only an evil state can fight against clinics. There can be no military purpose in this. It is pure Russian terror,” he said.

Rafael Grossi, head of the UN’s nuclear watchdog, will brief the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday on a proposal to safeguard the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, according to a statement seen by the AFP news agency.

The safety of Europe’s largest nuclear power plant has been a concern since Russian forces took it over last year.

Kyiv and Moscow have repeatedly accused each other of attacking the plant after frequent shelling has caused several power outages.

In a press release last week, Grossi said, “It is very simple: don’t shoot at the plant and don’t use the plant as a military base.”

“It should be in the interest of everyone to agree on a set of principles to protect the plant during the conflict,” he said.

Chinese Special Envoy for Eurasian Affairs Li Hui has arrived at the Russian Foreign Ministry for talks with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, the TASS news agency reported.

Russia said that the Chinese envoy would also speak to Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin during his visit.

Li’s trip is part of a European tour to resolve the war in Ukraine. The envoy previously visited Ukraine, Germany, Poland and France.

Officials in the southern Russian city of Krasnodar, east of Crimea, say two drones have caused a blast that has damaged a residential and office building.

“There is damage to buildings, but life-supporting infrastructure was not damaged, and most importantly, there were no casualties,” the governor of the region, Veniamin Kondratyev, wrote on the Russian social network VK.

Sweden is still hoping to join the NATO military alliance by the time of July’s summit in Vilnius, Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom says.

“We should be able to be members before then, and it is the government’s ambition that will be the case,” he said at a news conference with his Spanish counterpart.

Despite applying to join the bloc with Finland, which has now become a member, Stockholm’s accession to NATO has been held up by Turkey and Hungary.

Russia’s Belgorod region was hit with drones over the past 24 hours, the governor said on Telegram.

Five districts were repeatedly hit by drones, mortars and artillery, and the village of Kozinka had been struck 132 times, Vyacheslav Gladkov said.

Areas around the city of Belgorod came under fire 14 times, he added.

Gladkov also said the Grayvoron district, where Russian troops fought a cross-border incursion earlier this week, saw the worst attacks.

Russia has promised an “extremely harsh” response to attacks on its soil after a “Ukrainian sabotage group” opened fire on residential and administrative buildings.

While Ukraine has denied the claims, two anti-Putin groups, the Russian Volunteer Corps and Freedom of Russia Legion, have claimed responsibility.

Ukraine’s First Lady Olena Zelenska posted footage of the Dnipro attack on Twitter and said medical facilities were “again” under attack.

Zelenska wrote: “Ukrainian medical facilities and civilian objects are again under attack. A terrible level of cynicism to hit a psychological dispensary in the Dnipropetrovs’k region with missiles. There are killed and wounded. My condolences to all those who suffered from this terrorist attack.”

Earlier on Friday, President Zelenskyy said at least one person had been killed, and 15 were wounded after an overnight missile attack on a clinic in Dnipro.

Ukrainian medical facilities and civilian objects are again under attack. A terrible level of cynicism to hit a psychological dispensary in the Dnipropetrovs'k region with missiles. There are killed and wounded. My condolences to all those who suffered from this terrorist attack. pic.twitter.com/xTVgTMcu8b

— Олена Зеленська (@ZelenskaUA) May 26, 2023

Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich has appealed against a Russian court decision to extend his pre-trial detention by three months, court data showed.

Gershkovich was initially remanded in custody until May 29, but on Tuesday, it was extended in a closed hearing until August 30.

The American journalist was arrested in March on espionage charges after Russia’s security service accused him of collecting military secrets.

The Wall Street Journal and Washington have denied Russia’s claims and called for his release.

China hopes the Black Sea grain export deal can be implemented in a balanced and comprehensive manner, foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning says.

On Thursday, Russia hinted that if its ability to export grain and fertilizer has not improved, it will not extend the agreement beyond July 17. The deal allows Ukraine to export its agricultural goods from its Black Sea ports.

China’s Ukraine envoy is expected to meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Friday in Moscow.

A former Russian president and prime minister warns that the West is underestimating the risk of nuclear war and says peace negotiations are “impossible” as long as Zelenskyy remains in power.

“There are irreversible laws of war. If it comes to nuclear weapons, there will have to be a pre-emptive strike,” Dmitry Medvedev, who is now the deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies.

“The Anglo-Saxons do not fully realize this and believe that it will not come to this,” the senior ally of President Vladimir Putin said. “It will under certain conditions.”

Medvedev also said it is “inevitable” that the war will end due to negotiations but “as long as these people are in power, the situation for Russia will not change”, referring to the Zelenskyy administration.

Ukraine says it has shot down 10 missiles and more than 20 drones in an overnight attack on Kyiv, the city of Dnipro and eastern regions.

Zelenskyy’s office said in a statement that a fire broke out on the outskirts of Kharkiv after an oil depot was hit twice.

The Ukrainian air force said the missiles it shot down were fired from the Caspian Sea.

It said 17 missiles and 31 drones had been launched during the attacks, which started about 10pm (19:00 GMT) on Thursday and continued until 5am (02:00 GMT) on Friday.

This month, Russia has intensified its missile and drone attacks on Ukraine, mainly targeting logistics and infrastructure facilities.

At least one person has been killed and 15 wounded in a Russian missile strike on a medical clinic in the city of Dnipro, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says.

“Russian terrorists once again confirm their status of fighters against everything humane and honest,” he wrote on the Telegram messaging app.

“A rocket attack on a clinic in the city of Dnipro. As of now, one person was killed and 15 were wounded. The shelling aftermath is being eliminated, and the victims are being rescued.”

Earlier in the day, Ukrainian officials said air defence systems had shot down 10 missiles and more than 20 drones in overnight attacks on the capital, Kyiv, as well as Dnipro and eastern regions.