President Volodymyr Zelensky has landed in the UK and met with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, as Britain is to confirm that it will provide hundreds of air defence missiles and new long-range attack drones to Ukraine.
Mr Zelensky arrived in Buckinghamshire by helicopter on Monday morning to meet Mr Sunak at the Chequers country residence for what Mr Zelensky described as “substantive negotiations” between the UK and Ukraine. Mr Sunak posted an image of the two leaders warmly embracing on Twitter, with the caption: “Welcome back.”
Speaking in front of broadcast cameras, Mr Sunak told the Ukrainian leader: “You are actually the first foreign leader that I have had the privilege of welcoming here as Prime Minister and there is a lot of great history here.
“In fact this room that we are standing in, Winston Churchill made many of his famous speeches in World War Two from this room and in the same way today your leadership, your country’s bravery and fortitude are an inspiration to us all.
“I look forward to us discussing what more we can do to support you and your country.”
The Prime Minister’s office said that Mr Sunak would confirm the provision of hundreds of air defence missiles and further unmanned aerial systems including hundreds of new long-range attack drones with a range of over 200 kilometres. Last week, Britain became the first country to start supplying Ukraine with long-range cruise missiles.
10:04 AM
NATO should make a decision on Ukraine membership in July, says Zelensky
President Zelensky has appealed to NATO to make a “positive political decision” on Ukraine’s membership bid to be part of the alliance in July.
In a video address to the Copenhagen Democracy Summit, Mr Zelensky said: “It is time to remove the biggest security uncertainty in Europe — that is, to approve a positive political decision on (Ukrainian) membership in NATO.
“This is worth doing at the July summit already. This will be a timely signal.”
09:41 AM
Pictured: PM welcomes Zelensky to UK
09:28 AM
Two missiles damage former military aviation school in Luhansk, claim Russian-backed officials
Russian state news agency TASS is reporting that two missiles launched by Ukrainian forces have hit an administrative building of a former military aviation school for navigators in Luhansk.
One of the floors of the building was damaged, Russian-backed senator of the region Darya Lantratova said on Monday.
Ms Lantratova wrote on Telegram on Monday that the fourth floor of the former school was damaged.
On Monday morning, Russian-backed politician and former envoy for the Luhansk region in Moscow Rodion Miroshnik told TASS of two explosions in the bus station district of Luhansk. Mr Miroshnik had pointed out that the target of the strike could have been the territory of the former military aviation school.
The claims have not been independently verified.
09:18 AM
Volodymyr Zelensky ‘wanted Ukraine to occupy Russian villages’
Volodymyr Zelensky raised the possibility of Ukrainian troops occupying Russian villages, according to leaked US intelligence, James Kilner reports.
Quoting fresh details from a Pentagon intelligence leak earlier this year, The Washington Post reported that Mr Zelensky has been far more hawkish about attacking Russia than previously thought.
To receive long-range weapons from the West, including British Storm Shadow cruise missiles that were fired for the first time in Ukraine this weekend, Mr Zelensky has vowed not to attack Russia.
09:06 AM
Ukrainian advances in Bakhmut ‘first success’ in operation to defend city
The commander of the Ukrainian ground forces has hailed the advance in Bakhmut as the “first success” in the operation to take back the city.
Oleksandr Syrskyi said: “The advance of our troops in the Bakhmut direction is the first success of the offensive in the course of the operation to defend Bakhmut.
“The last few days have shown that we can move forward and destroy the enemy even in such extremely difficult conditions.
“We are fighting with fewer resources than the enemy. At the same time, we manage to destroy its plans.”
Ukrainian deputy defence minister Hanna Malyar had said on Sunday that forces had captured ten Russian positions near the eastern city.
08:38 AM
Top Chinese envoy to visit Ukraine and Russia this week
Top Chinese special envoy Li Hui will begin his tour of Ukraine, Russia and other European countries on Monday, in a trip aimed at discussing a “political settlement” to the Ukraine crisis, according to Beijing.
The special representative for Eurasian affairs and former ambassador to Russia is also expected to visit Poland, France and Germany, China’s foreign ministry confirmed on Friday.
In a daily briefing, spokesman for the foreign ministry Wang Wenbin said: “The visit…is a testament to China’s efforts towards promoting peace talks, and fully demonstrates China’s firm commitment to peace.”
08:22 AM
Ukraine captures 10 Russian positions near Bakhmut
Ukraine’s military said it has captured 10 Russian positions near Bakhmut as it stepped up its counteroffensive around the besieged city, James Kilner reports.
Earlier, Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the Kremlin’s Wagner mercenary group, confirmed that Ukrainian forces had captured land on the Russian southern flank and there was a rare admission from the Russian military that two senior officers had been killed.
“Today, our units have captured more than 10 enemy positions in the northern and southern outskirts of Bakhmut,” Ganna Malyar, the Ukrainian deputy defence minister, said on social media.
08:10 AM
Latest MoD update
In its latest daily intelligence update, the UK Ministry of Defence has said that several drones struck Russia’ Seshcha Airbase, which is located 150km north of the border with Ukraine.
The airbase is a hub for Russia’s Military Transport Aviation, which “has played a major role in enabling Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.”, according to the ministry.
08:03 AM
Russia’s plans in Bakhmut remain unchanged, says Ukrainian defence minister
Russia’s plans to capture Bakhmut remain unchanged and new assault forces are being deployed to the city’s outskirts, Ukraine’s deputy defence minister has said.
In a statement uploaded onto Telegram, Hanna Malyar said: “In Bakhmut and on the outskirts, everything is difficult now. Very.
“Despite everything, our troops managed to advance for several days.”
07:56 AM
Zelensky lands in UK for ‘substantive negotiations’
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is travelling to the UK today to meet with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for “substantive negotiations”, the president said.
Downing Street confirmed that Mr Zelensky had already arrived in the UK and would be heading to Chequers to meet Mr Sunak.
Mr Zelensky wrote on Twitter on Monday morning: “Today – London. The UK is a leader when it comes to expanding our capabilities on the ground and in the air. This cooperation will continue today.”
“I will meet my friend Rishi. We will conduct substantive negotiations face-to-face and in delegations.”
07:54 AM
France to send ‘tens of armoured vehicles and light tanks’ to Ukraine
France has announced that it is to send tens more light tanks and armoured vehicles to Ukraine, and will train soldiers to use them.
The announcement came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky flew to Paris late on Sunday and joined French President Emmanuel Macron for a dinner at the Elysee Palace.
In a joint statement released on Monday, the pair said: “In the coming weeks, France will train and equip several battalions with tens of armoured vehicles and light tanks including AMX-10RC.”
Mr Zelensky called for fresh sanctions against Russia, and France said it would focus its efforts “in supporting Ukraine’s air defence capabilities in order to defend its population against Russian strikes.”
The statement added: “Ukraine and France agree on the need to increase collective pressure on Russia through further sanctions to weaken Russia’s ability to continue its illegal war of aggression.”