Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made a shock go to to Paris for talks Sunday evening with French President Emmanuel Macron, extending a multi-stop European tour that has elicited contemporary pledges of army help as his nation gears up for a counteroffensive in opposition to Russian occupation forces. The two leaders will focus on Ukraine’s army and humanitarian wants. Follow our weblog to see how the day’s occasions unfolded. All instances are Paris time (GMT+1).
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05:00am: Top Chinese envoy to go to Ukraine, Russia on ‘peace’ mission
A high Chinese envoy will start a tour of Ukraine, Russia and different European cities on Monday in a visit Beijing says is geared toward discussing a “political settlement” to the Ukraine disaster.
Li Hui, China’s particular consultant for Eurasian affairs and former ambassador to Russia, will even go to Poland, France,Germany on the multi-day journey, the international ministry introduced Friday with out offering an in depth schedule.
“The visit … is a testament to China’s efforts towards promoting peace talks, and fully demonstrates China’s firm commitment to peace,” international ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin mentioned at a day by day briefing.
03:34am: Ukraine says captured over ‘ten enemy positions’ in Bakhmut
Kyiv mentioned Sunday that Ukrainian forces had captured greater than ten Russian positions on the outskirts of the frontline metropolis of Bakhmut in jap Ukraine.
“Today our units have captured more than ten enemy positions in the northern and southern outskirts of Bakhmut,” Deputy Defence Minister Ganna Malyar mentioned on social media.
“Enemy soldiers of various units have been captured,” she mentioned.
“Anyone who knows the real situation and is there now understands the gravity of what is happening,” Malyar added.
03:00am: Wagner head supplied to disclose Russian troop areas to Ukraine
Yevgeny Prigozhin, the pinnacle of the Wagner mercenary drive, supplied to disclose the place of Russian troops to the Ukranian authorities, the Washington Post reported on Sunday, citing leaked US intelligence paperwork.
Wagner’s troopers have been on the forefront of a bloody Russian offensive to take town of Bakhmut. In trade for Ukraine withdrawing its troopers from the world, Prigozhin in January supplied to inform its intelligence service the positions of Russian forces, the Post reported.
The paper mentioned Ukraine rejected the provide.
12:57am: France guarantees Ukraine extra gentle tanks, armoured automobiles
France on Monday introduced dozens extra gentle tanks and armoured automobiles for a number of battalions of Ukraine’s military, along with coaching for the troopers utilizing them.
In their joint assertion, French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky additionally referred to as for contemporary sanctions in opposition to Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.
12:02am: G7 leaders to focus on Russian power, commerce in new sanctions steps
Leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) nations plan to tighten sanctions on Russia at their summit in Japan this week, with steps geared toward power and exports aiding Moscow’s battle effort, mentioned officers with direct information of the discussions.
New measures introduced by the leaders throughout the May 19-21 conferences will goal sanctions evasion involving third international locations, and search to undermine Russia’s future power manufacturing and curb commerce that helps Russia’s army, the folks mentioned.
Separately, US officers additionally count on G7 members will agree to regulate their method to sanctions in order that, a minimum of for sure classes of products, all exports are routinely banned except they’re on a listing of permitted gadgets.
Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev mentioned final month a G7 transfer to ban exports to the nation would trigger Moscow to terminate a Black Sea grain deal that permits important exports of grain from Ukraine.
7:32pm: Ukraine’s Zelensky makes shock go to to Paris for talks with French President Macron
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made a shock go to to Paris for talks Sunday evening with French President Emmanuel Macron, extending a multi-stop European tour that has elicited contemporary pledges of army help as his nation gears up for a counteroffensive in opposition to Russian occupation forces.
France dispatched a aircraft to select up Zelensky in Germany, the place he met Chancellor Olaf Scholz earlier Sunday. Macron’s workplace mentioned the 2 leaders will maintain talks over dinner and that Macron will “reaffirm France and Europe’s unwavering support to reestablish Ukraine in its legitimate rights and to defend its fundamental interests.”
They’ll additionally focus on Ukraine’s army and humanitarian wants and “the more long term perspectives for a return to peace in Europe,” Macron’s workplace mentioned. FRANCE 24 journalist Carys Garland gives extra data under:
6:19pm: Russia turning into a vassal of China amid Ukraine battle, says Macron
Russia has “already lost geopolitically” its battle in Ukraine battle and is successfully turning into a vassal state of China, French President Emmanuel Macron mentioned in an interview revealed Sunday.
“De facto, it has entered a form of subservience with regards to China and has lost its access to the Baltic, which was critical, because it prompted the decision by Sweden and Finland to join NATO,” Macron informed the Opinion newspaper.
“This was unthinkable just two years ago. So it’s already a geopolitical defeat,” Macron mentioned forward of a go to to Paris by Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky later Sunday.
5:33pm: Ukraine says captured over ‘ten enemy positions’ in Bakhmut, says ministry
Kyiv mentioned on Sunday that Ukrainian forces have captured greater than ten Russian positions on the outskirts of the frontline metropolis of Bakhmut in jap Ukraine.
“Today our units have captured more than ten enemy positions in the northern and southern outskirts of Bakhmut,” Deputy Defence Minister Ganna Malyar mentioned on social media. “Enemy soldiers of various units have been captured.”
“Enemy soldiers of various units have been captured,” she mentioned.
“Anyone who knows the real situation and is there now understands the gravity of what is happening,” Malyar added.
5:27pm: Ukraine combating for European values, freedom, says EU chief
The Ukrainian individuals are combating for European freedom and values, EU chief Ursula von der Leyen mentioned Sunday at a ceremony in Germany the place President Volodymyr Zelensky obtained the celebrated Charlemagne prize for fostering European unity.
“President Zelensky and the people of Ukraine are fighting for the values and the obligation that this prize embodies,” von der Leyen mentioned.
“And in doing so, they are also fighting for our own freedom and our values. Democracy and the rule of law, free speech and the freedom to create your own destiny.”
5:02pm: War reveals Ukraine is ‘a part of European household’, says Scholz
Russia’s battle in Ukraine has made clear that the nation is “part of our European family”, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz mentioned Sunday at an award ceremony honouring President Volodymyr Zelensky for companies to European unity.
“All across Europe, the war has cemented one clear realisation: Ukraine is part of our European family,” Scholz mentioned on the award ceremony for the Charlemagne prize within the German metropolis of Aachen, the place Zelensky was in attendance.
“Russia’s war of aggression has brought the European Union and Ukraine closer than ever before,” Scholz added.
4:14pm: Ukraine’s Zelensky anticipated in Paris afterward Sunday, French media
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky is anticipated to reach in Paris afterward Sunday, BFM TV, Le Figaro and Agence France Presse reported.
Le Figaro mentioned Zelensky could be greeted on the Velizy-Villacoublay airport by French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne and French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna.
Officials on the French presidential workplace couldn’t be instantly reached for touch upon the experiences.
12:45pm: Ukraine ‘not attacking Russian territory’, Zelensky says
Ukraine has no plans to assault targets inside Russia, President Volodymyr Zelensky mentioned in Berlin on Sunday after receiving an enormous new army assist bundle forward of an anticipated counter-offensive.
“We are not attacking Russian territory,” Zelensky informed reporters in Berlin. “We have neither the time nor the strength to do so and we have no weapons left with which to do so. We are preparing a counterattack to de-occupy the illegitimately conquered territories,” he added.
12:44pm: Russia says two army commanders killed in east Ukraine
Russia mentioned Sunday that two of its army commanders had been killed in fight close to the frontline hotspot of Bakhmut in jap Ukraine.
In a uncommon announcement of its losses on the battlefield, the Russian defence ministry mentioned in an announcement that the commander of the 4th motorised rifle brigade, Vyacheslav Makarov, and Yevgeny Brovko, deputy commander of the Army Corps for military-political work, had been killed in combating in jap Ukraine.
12:40pm: Zelensky urges Germany to again fighter jet deliveries
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday urged Germany to again its bid to acquire fighter jets from the West, because it eyes a counter-offensive in opposition to Russia’s invasion.
During a go to to Berlin, Zelensky mentioned he would broach the difficulty with Chancellor Olaf Scholz, including that “this is not an easy question”.
“We’re now working on creating a coalition of fighter jets… Today I will appeal to the German side to support Ukraine in this coalition,” he mentioned.
12:28pm: Ukraine troops, Western arms focused in strikes, Russia says
Moscow mentioned Sunday that Russian forces had struck Western arm depots and Ukrainian troops within the western metropolis of Ternopil and the jap city of Petropavlivka.
Russia’s armed forces “delivered a strike with high-precision long-range air and sea-based weapons at the points of deployment of the Ukrainian armed forces,” the defence ministry mentioned in an announcement carried by Russian news businesses.
“Places of storage of ammunition, weapons and military equipment received from Western countries” had been additionally struck, it mentioned.
12:18pm: Ukraine prepared for peace however can not imply freezing battle, Scholz says
Ukraine is prepared for peace however that can’t imply freezing the battle and accepting a deal dictated by Russia, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz mentioned in a joint news convention with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday.
“Russia has to pull back its troops, it will not work any other way,” Scholz mentioned throughout Zelensky’s first go to to Germany since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
11:53am: Berlin will help Ukraine ‘so long as wanted’, Scholz tells Zelensky
Germany will help Ukraine so long as wanted, Chancellor Olaf Scholz mentioned Sunday as President Volodymyr Zelensky visited Berlin for the primary time since Russia’s invasion.
“I have said it many times, and I repeat it here today: we will support you for as long as it is necessary,” Scholz mentioned throughout a joint press convention.
10:52am: Zelensky lauds Germany as ‘true pal and dependable ally’
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday thanked Berlin for its backing in Kyiv’s battle in opposition to Moscow troops, calling Germany a “true friend” throughout his first go to since Russia’s invasion.
“In the most challenging time in the modern history of Ukraine, Germany proved to be our true friend and reliable ally, which stands decisively side-by-side with the Ukrainian people in the struggle to defend freedom and democratic values,” he wrote within the guestbook on the German president’s official residence.
8:56am: Zelensky meets President Steinmeier at begin of Germany go to
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday met his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier, on his first journey to Germany since Russia’s invasion.
Zelensky signed the guestbook on the Bellevue Palace, earlier than heading into talks with Steinmeier. He is anticipated to fulfill Chancellor Olaf Scholz later Sunday.
Zelensky’s go to comes as he seeks additional arms deliveries to assist his nation fend off the Russian invasion, and funds to rebuild what’s been destroyed by greater than a yr of devastating battle.
8:53am: Ukraine repels newest in a single day drone and missile assault
Ukrainian forces intercepted and destroyed three missiles and 25 drones in a single day within the newest aerial assault on the nation for the reason that starting of May, Ukraine’s air drive mentioned on Sunday.
Russia has elevated the variety of missile and drone assaults this month, which Kyiv attributes to Moscow’s worry of an anticipated Ukrainian counteroffensive.
Russia “attacked Ukraine from different directions with Shahed attack drones, Kalibr missiles from ships in the Black Sea, (and) cruise missiles from Tu-95 strategic aircraft,” the air drive mentioned in an announcement.
At least two folks had been injured within the western area of Ternopil, a senior Ukrainian presidential official mentioned on the Telegram messaging app.
Ukrainian authorities don’t report hits on important infrastructure or army amenities.
1:04am: Ukraine’s Zelensky arrives in Germany for go to
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky introduced his arrival in Berlin for an official go to Sunday, having flown out of Rome following conferences with Pope Francis and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
“Already in Berlin,” he wrote on Twitter. “Weapons. Powerful package. Air defense. Reconstruction. EU. NATO. Security.”
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Key developments from Saturday, May 13:
While on a go to to Rome on Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky mentioned he met with Pope Francis within the Vatican and thanked him for specializing in the plight of tens of millions of Ukrainians after the Russian invasion. Zelensky additionally met with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who promised Italy’s full help to Ukraine in its efforts to repel Russia’s “brutal and unjust aggression”.
Zelensky introduced on Saturday that he could be travelling to Germany on Sunday to fulfill with leaders of Europe’s high economic system, a authorities supply in Berlin informed AFP. The journey comes simply after Berlin mentioned it was making ready a brand new weapons bundle value €2.7 billion ($3 billion) for Kyiv, together with tanks, armoured automobiles and air-defence methods.
Read yesterday’s dwell weblog to see how the day’s occasions unfolded.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP & Reuters)
Originally revealed on France24