Russia-Ukraine reside information: Biden endorses Sweden, Finland NATO bid – Al Jazeera English

By | June 10, 2022

President Biden pledges his assist and mentioned the US ‘will work’ with the 2 international locations in case of ‘aggression’.
INTERACTIVE Russia Ukraine War Who controls what Day 84
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These had been the updates on Wednesday, Might 19:
18 Might 2022 – 20:16 GMT
Turkish Overseas Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu mentioned that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken mentioned in a gathering that needed messages will likely be given relating to Turkey’s safety considerations about Sweden and Finland’s NATO bids.
In a information convention with Turkish media, Cavusoglu additionally mentioned he instructed his American counterpart that the US ought to strike a stability in its insurance policies in direction of Greece and Turkey.
18 Might 2022 – 19:44 GMT
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau slammed Russia’s closure of the Canadian Broadcasting Company’s Moscow workplaces, saying the transfer was “unacceptable”. 
Putin’s choice to expel Canadian media from Moscow is an try to silence them from reporting the details, and it’s unacceptable. Journalists should be capable of work safely – free from censorship, intimidation, and interference. That’s one thing Canada will all the time rise up for.
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) Might 18, 2022

“The reality, accountable journalism, sharing what’s really occurring with residents is a deep risk to Vladimir Putin and his unlawful conflict and his authoritarian tendencies,” he instructed reporters in Ottawa.
18 Might 2022 – 19:40 GMT
UN Secretary-Normal Antonio Guterres mentioned that he’s in “intense contact” with Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, the US and the EU to try to restore Ukrainian grain shipments and revive Russian fertiliser exports.
“I’m hopeful, however there’s nonetheless a approach to go,” he instructed a meals safety assembly on the UN hosted by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. “The advanced safety, financial and monetary implications require goodwill on all sides.”
18 Might 2022 – 19:15 GMT
Ten civilians, together with two kids, had been killed within the Donetsk jap area as a result of Russian shelling, its governor has mentioned.
Pavlo Kirilenko added that seven different folks had been injured.
18 Might 2022 – 18:38 GMT
US’s nationwide safety officers “unanimously” supported Finland and Sweden’s bids to enter NATO, seeing them as robust navy companions, a high aide mentioned.
Biden’s Nationwide Safety Adviser Jake Sullivan additionally mentioned the staff “supported the entry of Finland they’ve already confirmed themselves as extremely succesful safety companions.”
Regarding Turkey’s objection over the 2 nation’s NATO membership, Sullivan added that US officers had been speaking to their Turkish counterparts: “We really feel excellent about the place this may observe to.”
18 Might 2022 – 17:47 GMT
After three months of closure, the US flag is flying over the American embassy in Kyiv as soon as once more.
“We’re formally reopening operations,” spokesperson Daniel Langenkamp instructed Reuters, including {that a} small variety of diplomats would return initially to workers the mission.
The information was additionally confirmed by US State Secretary Anthony Blinken: “The Ukrainian folks, with our safety help, have defended their homeland within the face of Russia’s unconscionable invasion, and, because of this, the Stars and Stripes are flying over the Embassy as soon as once more,” he mentioned in an announcement.
18 Might 2022 – 17:07 GMT
A Ukrainian police chief has mentioned that the our bodies of 1,288 civilians killed by Russian servicemen have been discovered within the Kyiv area.
“I’m stressing it – they’re civilians! Most had been shot from computerized weapons,” Andriy Nebitov mentioned in televised remarks.
Survivors and Ukrainian officers mentioned that Russians arbitrarily killed, tortured and raped civilians north of Kyiv till Moscow withdrew its troops in early April.
Reporting by Mansur Mirovalev in Kyiv.
18 Might 2022 – 17:05 GMT
A whole lot of Ukrainian fighters from the Azov battalion who surrendered to Russian and separatist forces needs to be sentenced to dying, a Russian senator has mentioned.
Russia has banned the dying penalty, however the separatist “Individuals’s Republics” of Donetsk and Luhansk reside in accordance with Josef Stalin’s structure that prescribes capital punishment for plenty of crimes.
“All of the neo-Nazis from Azov needs to be tried for the crimes they dedicated in Donetsk and Luhansk,” Senator Andrey Klichas mentioned on Telegram.
They need to be “tried in accordance with the legal guidelines of the folks’s republics,” he added.
The Kremlin has lengthy referred to as the Azov battalion a hotbed of white supremacism and neo-Nazism.
Reporting by Mansur Mirovalev in Kyiv.
18 Might 2022 – 17:02 GMT
The European Union’s international coverage chief Josep Borrell has lamented what he referred to as a “silent strategy of disarmament” as member international locations had been urged to rapidly replenish their depleted shares of ammunition and navy gear.
“We’ve been stripping ourselves of arms with out saying it. We’ve diminished our navy belongings between 2008 and 2014 in a really stunning manner and in a really uncoordinated manner,” Borrell mentioned at a briefing in Brussels.
Long term, the bloc goals to develop extra drones and air-to-air refuelling capabilities, improve Europe’s tank and combating automobile armoury, strengthen naval capacities, and bolster its’ cyberdefence talents.
18 Might 2022 – 16:58 GMT
Prime EU officers have urged member states to be bold in serving to Ukraine rebuild after the conflict, together with by attainable joint borrowing to cowl the large prices.
To assist pay for this, officers are floating a repeat of the EU’s post-pandemic restoration fund, the 800 billion euros ($840bn) in fiscal stimulus that’s being financed by widespread debt among the many EU’s 27 member states.
The fund, formally generally known as Subsequent Technology EU, overcame deep reticence by so-called “frugal” member states such because the Netherlands and Denmark to come back into being.
18 Might 2022 – 16:40 GMT
Ukraine and Russia have suspended negotiations to finish the conflict in the interim.
Kyiv’s negotiator Mykhailo Podolyak mentioned on Ukrainian tv that progress couldn’t be made in talks if Russia didn’t recognise the state of affairs on the bottom.
“To this present day, they reside in a world the place there’s supposedly a Ukrainian Nazism,” Podolyak mentioned, including there was solely “Russian Nazism”.
18 Might 2022 – 16:34 GMT
Progress on Finland and Sweden’s NATO membership bids will solely be attainable if concrete steps are taken to deal with Turkey’s nationwide safety considerations, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s spokesman has instructed his Nordic counterparts in calls.
Ibrahim Kalin, who’s Erdogan’s chief international coverage adviser, held calls with counterparts from Sweden, Finland, Germany, the UK and the US to debate the proposed NATO enlargement, in accordance with a readout from Erdogan’s workplace.
“It was underlined that if Turkey’s expectations weren’t met, the progress of the method wouldn’t be attainable,” it mentioned.
18 Might 2022 – 16:23 GMT
Russia’s state statistics company says it expects financial development to face at 3.5 p.c within the first quarter of this 12 months.
The figures launched by Rosstat had been the primary estimate of Russian financial development since Putin despatched troops to Ukraine on February 24 and the West slapped a number of rounds of unprecedented sanctions towards the nation.
The expansion is anticipated to be pushed by passenger transport and the extraction of mineral sources, in accordance with Rosstat.
By comparability, Russia’s economic system expanded by 5 p.c within the fourth quarter of 2021.
18 Might 2022 – 15:54 GMT
President Biden has expressed robust backing for the bid by Finland and Sweden to affix NATO and has supplied US assist within the occasion of “aggression” through the utility course of.
“America will work with Finland and Sweden to stay vigilant towards any threats to our shared safety, and to discourage and confront aggression or the specter of aggression” whereas their bid is taken into account, Biden mentioned in an announcement.
18 Might 2022 – 15:33 GMT
Russia will finance the reconstruction of territories in Ukraine that it has taken management of and can restore roads that hyperlink these areas with Russia, the nation’s RIA Novosti information company has quoted Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin as saying.
Khusnullin additionally mentioned the Zaporizhzhia nuclear energy plant, the largest in Europe by capability, will provide power to Russia and to Ukraine if the latter pays for it, RIA reported.
Russian troops seized management of the Zaporizhzhia plant, positioned in southeastern Ukraine, in early March.
18 Might 2022 – 15:12 GMT
Switzerland’s Federal Felony Court docket has upheld two appeals by defendants arguing that Russia didn’t deserve authorized help in prison instances given its invasion of Ukraine, the courtroom says.
The judgements aren’t last and could also be appealed to the Swiss Supreme Court docket. They involved instances wherein Russia accused the unnamed defendants of unlawful exports to Israel by way of Switzerland of supplies that could possibly be used to make weapons.
“The authorized necessities and people developed by case legislation within the space of worldwide mutual authorized help are now not current so as to have the ability to belief – even with diplomatic ensures – that Russia will adjust to worldwide legislation, particularly with regard to human rights,” the courtroom mentioned in an announcement.
18 Might 2022 – 14:58 GMT
Germany’s defence ministry says Berlin will give the Czech Republic 15 Leopard 2 tanks as a part of a “ring change” programme underneath which it goals to assist international locations go their shares of Soviet weaponry to Ukraine.
The ministry mentioned it could pay for the transaction and practice the Czechs to make use of the Leopard 2 A4 tanks. The Czechs have current shares of previous Soviet tanks with which Ukrainian troopers are already acquainted.
“The change is one other good instance of how we’re serving to Ukraine in its courageous combat towards Russian aggression,” Defence Minister Christine Lambert mentioned. “The Czechs ship heavy weapons, and we fill the ensuing holes with Leopard tanks.”
18 Might 2022 – 14:32 GMT
Russia says it’s closing the Moscow bureau of Canada’s CBC and withdrawing visas and accreditation from the general public broadcaster’s journalists after Ottawa banned Russian state TV station Russia At present.
Canada in March formally banned RT from its airwaves, saying their programming was “not in step with Canadian broadcasting requirements”.
RT and state-controlled outlet Sputnik have been blocked in most Western international locations since Russia’s navy offensive in Ukraine, accused of spreading propaganda.
18 Might 2022 – 14:13 GMT
Poland’s military says it’s launching a brand new type of navy service this month amid safety considerations due to the conflict in neighbouring Ukraine.
The Polish navy mentioned volunteers will be capable of present a 12 months’s paid service that may be become long-term or skilled service.
Those that enter the programme will undergo a 28-day coaching interval with a navy unit, after which carry out 11 months of service. They are going to obtain a pre-tax month-to-month wage of some 4,500 zlotys ($1,000).
The primary volunteers will be capable of enlist from Might 21. A NATO member since 1999, Poland has some 111,500 skilled troopers and 32,000 volunteer territorial troops.
18 Might 2022 – 13:53 GMT
US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen says that Western sanctions towards Russia have already had an unlimited affect.
“Russia is experiencing recession, excessive inflation, acute challenges of their monetary system, and [an] incapability to acquire the fabric and merchandise they should assist their conflict or their economic system,” Yellen instructed reporters earlier than a gathering of G7 finance ministers in Bonn, Germany.
18 Might 2022 – 13:43 GMT
If the 2 Nordic international locations be part of the alliance, it could imply that NATO forces could possibly be proper subsequent to the Finnish-Russian 1,340km (833-mile) border, in flip extending the NATO-Russia borderlines alongside the northwest of Russia.
Learn extra right here.
18 Might 2022 – 13:01 GMT
A Russian soldier going through the primary conflict crimes trial because the begin of the conflict has pleaded responsible to expenses of killing a Ukrainian civilian.
Vadim Shishimarin, 21, appeared in a Kyiv courtroom on Wednesday accused of taking pictures a Ukrainian man within the head within the nation’s northeastern Sumy area on February 28, 4 days into Moscow’s invasion.
If convicted, he could possibly be imprisoned for all times.
Ukraine’s Prosecutor Normal Iryna Venediktova has beforehand mentioned her workplace was readying conflict crimes instances towards 41 Russian troopers for offences together with bombing civilian infrastructure, killing civilians, rape and looting.
It was not instantly clear how lots of the suspects are in Ukrainian palms and what number of could possibly be tried in absentia.
18 Might 2022 – 12:18 GMT
The 2 Nordic nations have formally submitted bids for NATO membership amid rising considerations for his or her long-term safety within the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
For extra info on precisely how a rustic turns into a NATO member, and the way lengthy the method would possibly take for Finland and Sweden, click on right here.
18 Might 2022 – 12:08 GMT
Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi has condemned Russia’s choice to expel a wave of European envoys, together with Italians, as a “hostile act” however referred to as for diplomatic channels with Moscow to stay open.
“That is clearly a hostile act, it’s additionally a response to our expulsions,” Draghi mentioned at a joint information convention together with his Finnish counterpart Sanna Marin in Rome.
He added that diplomatic channels should stay open “as a result of it’s by these channels that, if attainable, peace [in Ukraine] will likely be achieved”.
18 Might 2022 – 12:00 GMT
Russia’s international ministry says Moscow has expelled 24 Italian and 27 Spanish diplomats in tit-for-tat responses to the expulsion of Russian envoys over the conflict in Ukraine.
The ministry mentioned in an announcement that 27 workers of the Spanish embassy in Moscow and the Spanish consulate basic in Saint Petersburg “have been declared persona non grata”, whereas ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova instructed Russian information companies that 24 Italian diplomats had additionally been ordered to go away the nation.
Spain mentioned in April that it could expel some 25 Russian diplomats and embassy workers from Madrid, becoming a member of different European Union international locations which have ordered Russian officers to go away.
18 Might 2022 – 11:43 GMT
The EU intends to mobilise as much as 300 billion euros ($315bn) of investments by 2030 to finish its reliance on Russian oil and gasoline, European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen says.
The investments will embody 10 billion euros ($10.5bn) for gasoline infrastructure, two billion euros ($2.1bn) for oil, with the remaining for clear power, von der Leyen instructed reporters, including that Brussels was additionally proposing larger legally-binding EU targets for renewable power and power financial savings by 2030.
“RePowerEU will assist us to save lots of extra power to speed up the phasing out of fossil gas and, most significantly, to kickstart investments on a brand new scale,” she mentioned. “So I’d say this would be the speed-charging of our European Inexperienced Deal.”
18 Might 2022 – 11:31 GMT
Italy strongly helps Finland’s and Sweden’s utility to affix NATO and is keen to hurry up any inside procedures for the 2 international locations to affix the alliance as quickly as attainable, Draghi says.
Following a gathering together with his Finnish counterpart Sanna Marin in Rome, the Italian prime minister mentioned Europe wanted to construct a “true” defence system, complementary to NATO.
18 Might 2022 – 11:19 GMT
Germany’s cupboard has permitted Finland and Sweden’s request to affix the NATO defence alliance, the nation’s justice minister says.
“We’re dedicated to a quick accession course of,” Marco Buschmann tweeted.
Buschmann is a member of the Free Democrats get together, which types part of Germany’s governing coalition authorities.
INTERACTIVE--NATO-in-Europe-map-updated
18 Might 2022 – 11:01 GMT
Russia’s deputy prime minister says Moscow’s navy doctrine determines it may possibly solely use nuclear weapons in a “retaliatory strike” for an assault on the nation.
“In accordance with the doctrine, we don’t assault first,” Yuri Borisov mentioned.
Some Western politicians and analysts are involved Russia could but use nuclear weapons in Ukraine.
Reporting by Mansur Mirovalev in Kyiv.
18 Might 2022 – 10:46 GMT
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says he expects Turkey’s NATO allies to grasp its sensitivities on safety, having set out his opposition to Sweden and Finland’s functions to affix the bloc.
In a speech to legislators from his governing AK Occasion, Erdogan reiterated that Swedish and Finnish delegations mustn’t hassle coming to Turkey to try to persuade Ankara to assist their membership bids.
He added that Sweden mustn’t count on Turkey to approve its NATO utility with out returning “terrorists”.
18 Might 2022 – 10:35 GMT
Russia’s international ministry says it’s expelling 34 French diplomats in a retaliatory transfer.
France kicked out 35 Russians with diplomatic standing in April as a part of a broader wave of expulsions that noticed greater than 300 Russians despatched dwelling from European capitals.
Later that month, France’s international ministry declared six Russian brokers posing as diplomats as “persona non grata” after an investigation by the home intelligence companies concluded they had been working towards French nationwide pursuits.
18 Might 2022 – 10:19 GMT
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has mentioned there’s at the moment no motion in negotiations with Ukraine about ending the conflict, and accused Kyiv of exhibiting a complete unwillingness to proceed the talks.
“Negotiations aren’t progressing and we notice the entire unwillingness of Ukrainian negotiators to proceed this course of,” he mentioned.
Peskov’s remarks got here after officers from Ukraine and Russia mentioned individually on Tuesday that negotiations between the 2 sides had stalled, with Kyiv and Moscow blaming one another for the breakdown.
18 Might 2022 – 10:04 GMT
Russian forces who occupied areas round Kyiv and elements of Ukraine’s northern Chernihiv area within the weeks after Moscow launched its invasion subjected civilians there to abstract executions, torture, and different grave abuses which might be “obvious conflict crimes”, Human Rights Watch (HRW) says.
HRW mentioned it had investigated 22 obvious abstract executions, 9 different illegal killings, six attainable enforced disappearances, and 7 instances of torture in 17 villages and small cities throughout a go to to the previously occupied areas by a few of the NGO’s workers in April.
Its findings, printed in a brand new report on Wednesday, had been primarily based on interviews with 65 folks, together with former detainees, torture survivors, households of victims, and different witnesses. HRW mentioned it had additionally examined bodily proof on the places the place a few of the alleged abuses befell in addition to photographs and movies shared by victims and witnesses.
“The quite a few atrocities by Russian forces occupying elements of northeastern Ukraine early within the conflict are abhorrent, illegal, and merciless,” Giorgi Gogia, HRW’s affiliate Europe and Central Asia director, mentioned. “These abuses towards civilians are evident conflict crimes that needs to be promptly and impartially investigated and appropriately prosecuted.”
Reporting by Mansur Mirovalev in Kyiv.
18 Might 2022 – 09:42 GMT
Prime-ranking Ukrainian commanders holed up at Mariupol’s Azovstal steelworks are but to give up, native media has quoted pro-Russian separatist chief Denis Pushilin as saying.
Pushilin, who heads the self-declared breakaway Donetsk Individuals’s Republic, mentioned that the a whole lot of fighters who had given themselves up didn’t embody any commanders of the best degree, the Donetsk Information Company (DAN) reported.
“They haven’t left [the plant],” he mentioned.
Mini map showing Mariupol's location within Ukraine
18 Might 2022 – 09:15 GMT
Russian forces used rocket launchers to fireplace at a column of civilians making an attempt to drive from town of Kryvyi Rih to the city of Beryslav in Ukraine’s southern area of Kherson, killing no less than three folks, in accordance with a neighborhood legislator.
A number of different folks had been wounded by the strikes on Tuesday, Ihor Iosipenko, a member of Kherson’s regional council, mentioned in a Fb publish.
He added those that had been a part of the convoy of about 100 automobiles had ignored warnings from Ukraine’s navy about “crossing the road of fireside”.
“The implications are horrifying,” Iosipenko mentioned.
There was no rapid response to the claims from Moscow and Al Jazeera couldn’t independently confirm Iosipenko’s report.
Reporting by Mansur Mirovalev in Kyiv.
18 Might 2022 – 08:43 GMT
Russians lined up in a Moscow railway station on Tuesday for what could also be their final Huge Mac from one of many few McDonald’s eating places nonetheless open within the nation.
The world’s largest burger chain is rolling down the shutters in Russia after greater than 30 years, turning into one of many largest world manufacturers to go away following Moscow’s actions in Ukraine.
Learn extra right here.
18 Might 2022 – 08:20 GMT
Israel’s defence ministry says it has delivered 2,000 helmets and 500 protecting vests for emergency and civilian organisations in Ukraine following a request from Kyiv for the provides.
Defence minister Benny Gantz final month mentioned he would authorise the supply of helmets and vests, signalling a shift in Israel’s place on offering such gear.
18 Might 2022 – 08:05 GMT
Russia’s defence ministry says that 694 Ukrainian fighters who had been holed up in Mariupol’s Azovstal steelworks have surrendered over the previous 24 hours, in accordance with a report by the nation’s RIA information company.
The event signifies that since Monday, a complete of 959 fighters who had been holding out on the plant have surrendered, 80 of whom had been wounded, RIA reported, citing the ministry.
18 Might 2022 – 07:53 GMT
Swiss packaging group Vetropack has mentioned it’ll minimize roughly 400 jobs in Ukraine following extreme harm to its Hostomel plant in an indication of the widening financial toll of the conflict.
The producer of glass packaging, which has employed roughly 600 on the facility, located northwest of Kyiv, mentioned it had continued to pay full salaries whereas releasing workers from their duties.
Nevertheless, with the harm from navy exercise now rendering the plant inoperable for the close to future and hostilities persevering with within the area, the corporate mentioned it could must let go of roughly two-thirds of the workforce.
18 Might 2022 – 07:33 GMT
Ivan Kuliak has been handed a one-year ban for displaying the letter “Z” on his outfit throughout an occasion in Qatar in March, the Worldwide Gymnastics Federation (FIG) says.
Russian forces have used the letter “Z” as an figuring out image on their automobiles in Ukraine following the invasion. Some supporters of the invasion have additionally used the signal.
The 20-year-old, who received bronze within the parallel bars on the Equipment World Cup in Doha, displayed the letter as he stood on the rostrum subsequent to Ukrainian gold medallist Illia Kovtun.
“Mr Kuliak breached the FIG Statutes, the FIG Code of Self-discipline, the FIG Code of Ethics, the FIG Code of Conduct and the FIG Technical Rules when he wore the letter ‘Z’ on his singlet,” the governing physique mentioned in an announcement.
18 Might 2022 – 07:15 GMT
Moscow could order its peacekeepers within the separatist Moldovan area of Transnistria that borders southwestern Ukraine to start out an offensive, a Moldovan politician claims.
“Orders are normally adopted. I feel that [the 1,300 servicemen of] Russia’s 14th military [stationed in Transnistria] will comply with the Kremlin’s calls for with out asking questions,” Kirill Motspan, a former legislator and safety official, instructed Ukraine’s UNIAN information company.
He mentioned the state of affairs has been “tense” in current weeks as automobiles with Russian licence plates are noticed close to border villages and trenches are being dug close to the Dniester River that separates Transnistria from Ukraine.
Reporting by Mansur Mirovalev in Kyiv.
18 Might 2022 – 06:45 GMT
NATO chief Stoltenberg says Finland and Sweden have utilized to affix the transatlantic navy alliance.
“I warmly welcome the requests by Finland and Sweden to affix NATO. You’re our closest companions,” Stoltenberg instructed reporters after receiving utility letters from the 2 Nordic international locations’ ambassadors.
The functions should now be weighed by NATO’s 30 member states. However Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has mentioned he’s against Finland and Sweden becoming a member of the alliance.
Learn extra right here.
18 Might 2022 – 06:35 GMT
Russian shelling has killed 4 folks and wounded a toddler in Ukraine’s southeastern Luhansk area, its governor has mentioned.
The assaults befell in cities across the Seversky Donets River that Russian forces did not bridge and cross in current days, Serhiy Haidai mentioned on Fb.
He mentioned a dozen house buildings and a plant had been destroyed by the assaults.
“With out folks, homes, factories – that is the life the ‘Russian world’ needs to impose on the Luhansk area,” Haidai mentioned.
Al Jazeera was unable to independently confirm his report.
Reporting by Mansur Mirovalev in Kyiv.
18 Might 2022 – 06:15 GMT
Russian shelling in Ukraine’s central-eastern metropolis of Dnipro has wounded three folks, its governor says.
Valentin Reznichenko mentioned in a Telegram publish that the people – two girls and a person – all had “shrapnel wounds” and had been being handled in hospital.
“Particles fell on a non-public courtyard … Two homes had been broken. One other missile hit a transport infrastructure facility. It was destroyed,” Reznichenko mentioned.
Reporting by Mansur Mirovalev in Kyiv.
18 Might 2022 – 06:07 GMT
Ukraine’s human rights ombudsman Lyudmyla Denisova says 229 kids have been killed and one other 424 wounded since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24.
18 Might 2022 – 05:59 GMT
Russian forces are attacking the village of Dovhenke within the Donetsk area close to Sloviansk, and have deployed jets and artillery models to assist the offensive, Ukraine’s military has mentioned.
In its newest briefing, the overall workers of Ukraine’s armed forces mentioned Russia additionally launched an offensive to attempt to set up full management of the settlement of Drobysheve, to dam the Donetsk metropolis of Lyman from the north.
To assist the offensive within the areas of Bakhmut and Severodonetsk, in Luhansk, Russians introduced in as much as 15 helicopters, the military mentioned.
“In Mariupol, the Russian enemy is focusing its efforts on blocking our models close to the Azovstal plant. Continues to inflict artillery and air strikes,” it added.
18 Might 2022 – 05:43 GMT
About 300,000 tonnes of Ukrainian wheat booked by Egypt’s state grains purchaser for supply in February and March is but to be shipped, with one cargo caught in port and 4 others nonetheless to be loaded, 4 merchants have mentioned, in accordance with a report by the Reuters information company.
Egypt’s Normal Authority For Provide Commodities (GASC) has granted an extension to safe the cargoes however is just not providing buying and selling corporations any pressure majeure launch from contractual obligations, in accordance with merchants.
Egypt, usually the world’s largest wheat importer, depended closely on shipments of Black Sea wheat that had been disrupted by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
18 Might 2022 – 05:30 GMT
Russia has a “vital resourcing downside” in Ukraine and a “disunited command” which hampers its operations, the UK’s defence ministry says.
In its newest intelligence briefing, the ministry mentioned regardless of Russian troops having circled the port metropolis of Mariupol for greater than 10 weeks, Ukraine’s stiff resistance delayed them gaining full management of town.
The ministry mentioned Russia “made vital use of auxiliary personnel” to beat the resistance, which included the deployment of Chechen forces. Whereas Chechen chief Ramzan Kadyrov maintains oversight over deployment, his cousin acts as area commander of the forces in Mariupol, it added.
This disparate construction “is contributing to a disunited command which continues to hamper Russia’s operations”, the ministry mentioned.
Newest Defence Intelligence replace on the state of affairs in Ukraine – 18 Might 2022
Discover out extra in regards to the UK authorities’s response: https://t.co/7wf7eAl1Pc
🇺🇦 #StandWithUkraine 🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/EDgWj6lYbl
— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) Might 18, 2022

18 Might 2022 – 05:14 GMT
The governor of Russia’s Belgorod area says an influence transmission line was broken by Ukrainian shelling within the village of Bezymeno on Tuesday.
“The destruction of residential buildings is insignificant, principally glass is damaged,” Vyacheslav Gladkov was quoted as saying by Russia’s TASS information company.
18 Might 2022 – 04:44 GMT
Australia has sanctioned 11 people and 12 entities it says are “purveyors of propaganda and disinformation who’ve sought to legitimise Russia’s unlawful invasion of Ukraine”, in accordance with an announcement from the international minister.
People sanctioned embody the primary deputy director of Russia’s Federal Safety Service (FSB), Sergei Korolyov, and All-Russian State Tv and Radio Broadcasting Firm journalist Yevgeny Poddubny.
Among the many entities are the Wagner Group, described as Putin’s de facto personal military, and two Belarusian enterprises, the assertion from Marise Payne mentioned.
Additional Russia and Belarus Sanctionshttps://t.co/t9WAxK3Xkk
— Marise Payne (@MarisePayne) Might 18, 2022

18 Might 2022 – 04:26 GMT
The UN has confirmed 3,752 civilian deaths in Ukraine since Russia’s invasion started.
In its newest civilian casualties replace, the Workplace of the UN Excessive Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) mentioned 4,062 civilians had additionally been wounded amid the combating.
“A lot of the civilian casualties recorded had been prompted by means of explosive weapons with a large affect space, together with shelling from heavy artillery and a number of launch rocket techniques, and missile and air strikes,” OHCHR mentioned, including the true toll is prone to be far larger.
18 Might 2022 – 03:02 GMT
America Division of State has introduced a brand new program to “seize, analyse, and make extensively accessible proof of Russia-perpetrated conflict crimes and different atrocities in Ukraine,” in accordance with an announcement.
Known as Battle Observatory, this system’s info will likely be publicly accessible on-line “to assist refute Russia’s disinformation efforts and shine a light-weight on abuses,” the assertion mentioned.
A brand new Battle Observatory will seize and shine a light-weight on open-source proof of Russia-perpetrated conflict crimes and different atrocities being dedicated in Ukraine. We assist a spread of initiatives to doc crimes and convey perpetrators to justice. https://t.co/PQTtpimKZw
— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) Might 17, 2022

18 Might 2022 – 02:39 GMT
A Reuters information company video exhibits girls on board no less than one of many buses carrying Ukrainian fighters from the Azovstal garrison that arrived at a newly reopened jail within the Russian-controlled city of Olenivka, close to Donetsk.
Among the girls wore olive-green uniforms, as did a lot of the males. All of them appeared exhausted. One rested towards duffel baggage stacked on the ground.
Girls additionally seem in images by the Related Press information company.
Ukraine mentioned on Might 7 that every one girls, kids and the aged had been evacuated from the Azovstal metal plant.
18 Might 2022 – 02:22 GMT
Ukraine, in negotiating to evacuate its fighters from the Azovstal metal plant, doubtless agreed to Russia’s possible situation of give up and ordered its troops to take action, the Institute for the Examine of Struggle has advised.
“Mariupol defenders trapped within the Azovstal Metal Plant doubtless surrendered after Ukrainian officers negotiated evacuation measures with the Kremlin,” the institute mentioned in its newest marketing campaign evaluation.
“The Kremlin may need agreed to the conditional give up of the Azovstal defenders to speed up Russia’s skill to declare Mariupol absolutely underneath its management,” it added.
The institute additionally mentioned there have been blended responses on Russian social media channels to the occasion, with some blaming the Russian authorities for negotiating with Ukrainian “terrorists” and “Nazis”.
Observe: The Kremlin could have agreed to a conditional give up of the Azovstal defenders to hasten its skill to declare full management of #Mariupol. It might even be looking for to deflect criticism of the failed Siverskyi Donets River crossings and the general gradual tempo of the invasion. https://t.co/zV30jkYi5J
— ISW (@TheStudyofWar) Might 18, 2022

18 Might 2022 – 01:59 GMT
Moscow should continually remind others of its skill to “give a right away and overwhelmingly highly effective response to an assault on our nation,” Russia’s former prime minister and deputy chairman of its safety has mentioned.
“We will repulse any aggression which threatens our state,” Dmitry Medvedev wrote on his Telegram channel after a go to to Russia’s city of Sarov, the nation’s centre for nuclear analysis.
The Telegram publish included a video wherein Medvedev spoke to scientists on the All-Russian Scientific Analysis Institute of Experimental Physics the place the primary Soviet nuclear bomb was developed within the Nineteen Forties.
“The historical past of the nuclear centre in Sarov is without end linked to the names of those that created our nation’s nuclear protect. The arsenal of contemporary, dependable, efficient weapons cools down the ambitions of those that are prepared to start out World Struggle III with their very own and others’ palms. We is not going to enable such a state of affairs to occur,” he mentioned on Telegram.
18 Might 2022 – 01:25 GMT
Ukraine’s human rights ombudsman mentioned the Russian navy was holding greater than 3,000 civilians from Mariupol at one other former penal colony close to Olenivka within the Donetsk area of jap Ukraine.
Seven buses carrying an unknown variety of Ukrainian troopers evacuated from the Mariupol metal plant had been seen arriving Tuesday at former penal colony No 120 close to Olenivka.
Ombudsman Lyudmyla Denisova mentioned on Telegram earlier on Tuesday that the civilians had been being held at former penal colony No 52, additionally close to Olenivka. She mentioned most civilians are held for a month, however these thought-about “significantly unreliable,” together with former troopers and police, are held for 2 months.
Denisova mentioned these held embody about 30 volunteers who delivered humanitarian provides to Mariupol whereas it was underneath Russian siege.
18 Might 2022 – 01:06 GMT
Inexperienced commerce offers may help to finish the world’s dependence on Russian oil and gasoline and “de-Putinise” the worldwide economic system, UK Commerce Minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan will say in a speech on Wednesday.
“This horrible battle in Ukraine has underlined what will be achieved by a cohesive world strategy. It has additionally reminded the globe that we should de-Putinise the world’s economic system,” Trevelyan will say, in accordance with speech extracts launched by her workplace.
“These previous months have highlighted the necessity to speed up our journey as a world group away from hydrocarbons, to decisively flip our backs on the period of dependence on polluting fuels, and transition to a Internet Zero future.”
Within the speech, she is going to announce mortgage ensures for inexperienced companies price practically 190 million kilos ($237m) and a inexperienced commerce and funding expo within the northeast of England within the northern autumn, her workplace mentioned.
18 Might 2022 – 01:00 GMT
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will journey to New York this week to chair a United Nations assembly on meals safety and talk about its hyperlink with battle with the Safety Council, the State Division has mentioned.
Blinken will meet on Might 18 with senior officers from 10 international locations in Africa and with the international ministers of Pakistan and Turkey. He’ll then chair a “World Meals Safety Name to Motion” on the UN, the division mentioned.
It mentioned that on Might 19, Blinken will chair a gathering of the Safety Council that may function “an open debate specializing in the vital hyperlinks between battle and meals safety”.
After the controversy, Blinken will meet with UN Secretary-Normal Antonio Guterres “to debate the worldwide response to the acute human struggling in and round Ukraine,” the division added.
18 Might 2022 – 00:12 GMT
Ukrainian fighters have reportedly killed a number of high-ranking Russian officers within the southern metropolis of Melitopol, the regional administration has mentioned.
Russian forces have occupied town since early within the conflict.
In accordance with the regional administration, the occupiers try to hide the state of affairs however Russian troops had been extra actively checking personal automobiles within the metropolis on Tuesday, probably in search of the fighters.
No particulars of the killings got and the report couldn’t instantly be confirmed, in accordance with The Related Press information company.
17 Might 2022 – 23:55 GMT
Russia’s international ministry has introduced Moscow is formally withdrawing from the Council of the Baltic Sea States “in response to hostile actions,” the state-owned TASS information company has reported.
In an announcement, the international ministry mentioned that NATO and the council’s EU states have turned the organisation “into an instrument of anti-Russian politics”.
The 11 member council that features the EU, Finland, Germany, Poland and Sweden, suspended Russia from participation in March in response to its invasion of Ukraine. Belarus, which held observer standing, was additionally suspended.
The assertion from Russia’s international ministry mentioned the council had made “unlawful and discriminatory selections” and Russia wouldn’t “take part in turning the organisation into one other platform for sabotage actions and ‘western vainness’”.
The Council of Baltic Sea States had its origins within the imaginative and prescient after the autumn of the Soviet Union of constructing the area a hub of connections between the East and the West within the spirit of the previous Hanseatic League. It was a lovely imaginative and prescient – now it’s gone. https://t.co/LtL6l7kpzL
— Carl Bildt (@carlbildt) Might 17, 2022

17 Might 2022 – 23:41 GMT
Zelenskyy has mentioned Russian missiles struck the areas of Lviv, Sumy and Chernihiv on Tuesday.
Russian forces had additionally carried out air raids within the Luhansk area, within the east of the nation, Zelenskyy mentioned in a late-night video deal with.
He mentioned the assaults had been Russia’s try to “compensate” for failures within the east and south of the nation.
“They can not display success with basic navy motion within the areas the place they’re attempting to advance. So they’re attempting to point out success by their missiles and different actions,” Zelenskyy added.
17 Might 2022 – 23:29 GMT
The destiny of Ukrainian defenders of Mariupol’s Azovstal metal plant remained unsure on Tuesday after a whole lot surrendered and had been transported to Russian-controlled territory.
Whereas Ukrainian Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Malyar mentioned “an change process will happen for his or her return dwelling”, Zelenskyy cautioned that “the work of bringing the boys dwelling … wants delicacy and time”.
The speaker of Russia’s parliament mentioned it’ll think about banning the change of Russian prisoners of conflict for captured members of Ukraine’s Azov regiment.
Vyacheslav Volodin, the speaker of the State Duma, mentioned its members had been “Nazi criminals” who shouldn’t be included in prisoner exchanges.
Learn extra right here.
17 Might 2022 – 22:49 GMT
Ukraine’s former world boxing heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko has referred to as on the Worldwide Olympic Committee (IOC) to ban Russian athletes.
Klitschko, whose brother Vitali is the mayor of Kyiv, enlisted within the Ukrainian reserve military shortly after Russia launched its invasion.
“The IOC ought to ban the Russian staff now. The conflict goes now, they can not take part on the subsequent Olympic video games, they can not take part at any athletic occasions as a result of this conflict is represented by Russia,” he instructed the “Piers Morgan Uncensored” programme on Fox Nation.
“Actions converse louder than phrases. Isolation, and this isolation speaks louder than any phrase or any line as a result of isolation is painful.”
17 Might 2022 – 22:42 GMT
The autumn of Mariupol seems at hand as Ukraine is shifting to desert the Azovstal metal plant the place its troopers had held out for months. The port metropolis would turn into the most important in Ukraine to be absolutely captured by Russia.
Zelenskyy mentioned Ukraine is working to get its remaining troops safely out of the metal plant.
In his nightly video deal with to the nation, he mentioned the evacuation mission was being supervised by Ukraine’s navy and intelligence officers and added that “essentially the most influential worldwide mediators are concerned”.
17 Might 2022 – 22:10 GMT
The European Fee is anticipated to unveil a 210 billion euro ($221bn) plan for a way Europe can finish its reliance on Russian fossil fuels by 2027, the Reuters information company has reported.
To wean international locations off these fuels, Brussels will suggest a three-pronged plan: a swap to import extra non-Russian gasoline, a sooner rollout of renewable power, and extra effort to save lots of power, in accordance with draft paperwork seen by Reuters.
The draft measures, which may change earlier than they’re printed, embody a mixture of EU legal guidelines, non-binding schemes, and suggestions nationwide governments may take up.
17 Might 2022 – 21:55 GMT
US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo has mentioned concerted efforts by the EU and the US to chop off Russia’s entry to expertise over its conflict on Ukraine have drastically succeeded.
“We’ve primarily stopped sending high-tech to Russia, which is what they want for his or her navy,” mentioned Raimondo, after coming back from a gathering close to Paris of the EU-US Commerce and Know-how Council.
Representatives of the EU Fee, the bloc of 27 nations’ government physique, and the Biden administration agreed to additional coordinate their actions “to mitigate the damaging impacts” of Russia’s conflict in Ukraine on the worldwide economic system.
17 Might 2022 – 21:37 GMT
Republican US Senator Josh Hawley has mentioned he opposes the $40bn assist invoice to Ukraine that the Senate is within the strategy of approving as a result of it represents “misplaced” priorities in US coverage.
“My largest concern is that I don’t assume this represents a nationalist international coverage. I imply, it appears to me to be a part of this unfocused globalism that sadly many in my get together have embraced within the final couple of a long time,” Hawley instructed Fox Information.
The $40 billion Ukraine invoice represents a return to nation constructing. Unsuitable alternative. I’m a no https://t.co/qHno86Qllj
— Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) Might 17, 2022

17 Might 2022 – 21:22 GMT
The seventy fifth Cannes Movie Competition has kicked off with a video deal with from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Zelenskyy, who addressed the viewers nearly, spoke at size in regards to the connection between cinema and actuality, referencing movies like Francis Ford Coppola’s “Apocalypse Now” and Charlie Chaplin’s “The Nice Dictator” as not in contrast to Ukraine’s current circumstances.
“We’d like a brand new Chaplin who will display that the cinema of our time is just not silent,” mentioned Zelenskyy, who drew a standing ovation.
17 Might 2022 – 20:55 GMT
Seven civilians have been killed in Ukraine’s jap Donetsk area on account of Russian assaults, the Ukrainian regional governor has mentioned.
Pavlo Kyrylenko wrote in a Telegram publish that Russian assaults killed two in Bakhmutsky, two in Bakhmut, and one every in Avdiivka, Drobyshev and Soledar. One other six folks had been injured.
The publish didn’t present additional particulars of the alleged assaults. The Donetsk area has been the main focus of fierce combating over the current days.
17 Might 2022 – 20:50 GMT
US State Division Spokesperson Ned Value has mentioned it’s as much as Ukraine to outline its personal goals in talks with Russia to finish the conflict.
“It’s not for us to outline the goals that our Ukrainian companions search to attain,” Value instructed reporters. “It’s the job of the Ukrainian authorities, which is in flip expressing the desire of the Ukrainian folks.”
He added that Washington’s “job” is to assist Kyiv.
17 Might 2022 – 20:46 GMT
Sporting a message of “United for Ukraine” on their shirts, Ukraine’s nationwide soccer staff has received its second straight pleasant match in a 3-1 victory over Italian Serie A membership Empoli.
Having additionally overwhelmed German membership Borussia Monchengladbach final week in its first sport because the Russian invasion started, Ukraine is regaining its type forward of a World Cup qualifying playoff towards Scotland subsequent month.
🇺🇦 Ukraine have claimed a victory! 💙💛 The nationwide staff confidently defeated Empoli in Italy 🇮🇹
The nationwide staff of Ukraine will play their subsequent match vs Rijeka on Might 18.#Україна #Ukraine #StandWithUkraine #ЕмполіУкраїна #Shakhtar #МиЗбірна pic.twitter.com/yQYsoKXNOU
— FC SHAKHTAR ENGLISH (@FCShakhtar_eng) Might 17, 2022

17 Might 2022 – 20:40 GMT
The conflict with Russia is getting into “a protracted part”, Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov has mentioned, as Moscow’s troops are actually attempting to take full management of the east and south of the nation.
“Russia is getting ready for a long-term navy operation,” Reznikov instructed EU defence ministers and NATO chief Stoltenberg.
“The conflict is getting into a protracted part,” he added within the speech, the textual content of which was printed on his Fb web page.
In accordance with Reznikov, Russian troops are at the moment constructing fortifications within the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson areas to be able to “transfer to defence if needed”.
17 Might 2022 – 17:20 GMT
Seven buses carrying Ukrainian fighters who held out for weeks towards Russian forces on the Azovstal steelworks arrived at a former penal colony within the Russian-controlled city of Olenivka close to Donetsk, in accordance with a Reuters witness.
The TASS information company mentioned the Russian Investigative Committee deliberate to query the troopers, a lot of them members of the Azov Battalion, as a part of an investigation into what Moscow calls “Ukrainian regime crimes”.
Hey and welcome to Al Jazeera’s persevering with protection of the conflict in Ukraine.
Learn all of the updates from Tuesday, Might 17 right here.
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