Moment when an alleged Ukrainian drone explodes next to the Kremlin building
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Russia accused Ukraine of attacking the Kremlin with drones overnight in a failed attempt to kill Vladimir Putin, according to state news agencies.
The Kremlin said it considered the attack a “planned terrorist act” and would retaliate “when and where it sees fit,” a Tass report said.
A Kremlin statement was quoted as saying that the Russian president was not injured and that two drones had been used in the alleged attack before being disabled by Russian defenses.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky denied involvement in the attack. “We don’t attack Putin, nor Moscow, we fight on our territory,” he said.
Speaking in Finland, Zelensky said his forces would soon launch a counteroffensive against the Russian invasion. The president said he was confident Western allies would provide fighter jets for the assault.
Earlier, a Russian official said a fuel tank was on fire near a key bridge linking mainland Russia with Crimea. The claim came days after Moscow blamed Ukraine for an attack on an oil depot in Sevastopol.
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Zelensky denies attempted assassination of Putin
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said his country had not attacked Russia or Vladimir Putin, after Moscow accused Kiev of staging a failed assassination attempt on the Russian president with a drone strike on the Kremlin .
“We do not attack Putin, nor Moscow, we fight on our territory. We are defending our towns and cities,” Zelensky said at a press conference in Helsinki.
Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak denied any involvement, saying: “Ukraine has nothing to do with the drone strikes on the Kremlin.”
Liam JamesMay 3, 2023 5:10 p.m
NATO looks at Japan office
NATO plans to open a liaison office in Japan, the first in Asia, to facilitate consultations in the region, Nikkei Asia reported today, citing Japanese and NATO officials.
The liaison office will enable talks with NATO’s security partners, including South Korea, Australia and New Zealand, taking into account geopolitical challenges from China and Russia, the outlet reported.
Asked about the report, NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu said the alliance would not go into details of the NATO allies’ ongoing deliberations.
Japanese Foreign Ministry spokesmen were not available for comment. Today is a public holiday in Japan.
Japan and the West have been getting closer in recent years. NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg visited Japan in January and pledged with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to strengthen ties in the face of “historic” security challenges, citing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and growing power China’s military
In the same month, Japan and the US expanded their military alliance to counter threats in outer space, while jointly recognizing China as an “unprecedented threat” to international order.
Natalie CrockettMay 3, 2023 8:50 p.m
Nordic nations support Ukraine EU, NATO do
Nordic nations support Ukraine in its efforts to eventually become a member of the European Union and NATO, the leaders of Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Iceland said in a joint statement with President Volodymyr Zelensky.
“The Nordic countries will continue their political, financial, humanitarian and military support for as long as necessary,” the joint statement said.
From left: Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Zelensky, Finnish President Sauli Niinisto, Icelandic Prime Minister Katrin Jakobsdottir and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store in Helsinki
(Press photo/AFP/Getty)
Natalie CrockettMay 3, 2023 8:20 p.m
Trump declares “I will end this war in one day” if re-elected president of the United States
Former US President Donald Trump said he could end the war in Ukraine within a day if re-elected to the White House.
Speaking to Nigel Farage on GB News in an interview recorded during his visit to Scotland, Trump said: “If I were president, I would end this war in one day.
“He’ll have 24 hours. I’ll be done with it. It would be easy.
“This deal would be easy. A lot of it has to do with money. This war has to stop. It’s a disaster.”
Trump said he “got along very well” with Russian President Vladimir Putin, adding: “Putin would never have gone into Ukraine if it wasn’t for the incompetence of this administration, this current administration.
“Putin didn’t come in, he was never mentioned and I knew him very well.”
(GB News)
Natalie CrockettMay 3, 2023 7:50 p.m
Germany announces Zelensky’s visit, but security concerns threaten trip
German police said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky would travel to Berlin on May 13, although a security source later told Reuters that public disclosure of the visit was premature and it was now unclear whether will carry out
Police and local media had reported that Zelensky would travel to Berlin on May 13 at the invitation of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and then to the western city of Aachen the next day to receive the 2023 Charlemagne Prize.
According to a report in Berlin’s Tagesspiegel newspaper, Mr Zelensky would be received by Scholz with military honours.
“At the invitation of the Federal Chancellor, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to pay an official visit to Berlin and Aachen on May 13-14,” the federal police said in a statement sent to Reuters.
However, a government spokesman refused to confirm the visit, saying only that Mr. Scholz were announced every Friday for the following week.
Liam JamesMay 3, 2023 7:30 p.m
Russian F1 star takes fight against sanctions to High Court
Russian racing driver Nikita Mazepin has launched a High Court fight with British government ministers after being hit with sanctions following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Mazepin, 24, who used to drive for the Haas Formula One team, wants the sanctions lifted and has taken legal action against Foreign Secretary James Cleverly.
A judge considered preliminary issues at a High Court hearing in London on Wednesday.
Mr Justice Chamberlain heard that Mazepin and his father Dmitry Mazepin, a Russian businessman, had been subject to sanctions in mid-March 2022.
In September 2022, Mazepin had asked for “the revocation of his appointment”, but ministers had decided “to take no action”.
A judge is due to oversee a further hearing in London in June.
Liam JamesMay 3, 2023 7:00 p.m
Former UK defense chief questions whether Ukraine’s aid isn’t immoral
A former British defense chief has questioned the morality of UK assistance to Ukraine.
Speaking in Westminster, Lord Houghton of Richmond said the support offered by Britain and its allies appeared aimed at enabling the war-torn country to “neither lose badly nor win decisively”.
The former chief of the defense staff argued that this had led to a “sustained and mutually damaging stalemate”.
The UK has provided key military assistance to the government in Kiev following the Russian invasion, including missiles, artillery and tanks.
British troops have also provided training to Ukrainian forces to prepare them for frontline combat.
Liam JamesMay 3, 2023 6:30 p.m
Zelensky is “sure” that West will donate warplanes to help the counteroffensive
Volodymyr Zelensky said he was confident Western allies would supply Kiev with modern warplanes once the counteroffensive against the Russian invasion begins.
Ukraine has been pressing allies for months to provide fighter jets to help dominate its skies and open up new strategies against Russian encroachment.
So far, only Poland and Slovakia have heeded the call, ending the MiG-29s, although Britain has strongly suggested it would provide planes, and the Netherlands said it was also open to such a move. Britain said in February it would train Ukrainian pilots to fly NATO planes.
At a press conference in Finland, NATO’s newest member, Zelensky said one of the reasons he had traveled to Helsinki was to show Kiev’s desire to become a full member of the ‘military alliance.
Zelensky speaks today in Helsinki
(Reuters)
Liam JamesMay 3, 2023 6:00 p.m
British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said Britain would assess reports of a drone strike on the Kremlin, which Russia claimed was a foiled attack by Ukraine.
He said: “These are initial reports, I have seen the statement from the Kremlin, I have not seen any statement from Ukraine.
“Obviously, we’ll evaluate what we’ve seen in the open media and then we’ll probably post a comment later, but I’m not going to comment at this point because it’s been pretty much a one-sided comment from the Russians and I think what we’ve learned throughout this conflict is that he would not accept Russia’s comments.
“I’ve seen the footage, we’ll do an assessment and then I can comment further at a later date.”
The US previously said it could not validate Russia’s claims.
Liam JamesMay 3, 2023 5:30 p.m
EU agrees to buy ammunition for Ukraine as counter-offensive approaches
European Union countries finalized a plan to jointly buy ammunition for Ukraine after weeks of fighting that had frustrated leaders in Kiev.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had expressed concern about his army’s ammunition supply ahead of a counteroffensive against the Russian invasion that he said would be launched soon.
Ambassadors from EU member states approved the deal at a meeting in Brussels, ending a dispute over how much of the munitions contract business should remain in Europe.
Sweden, the current holder of the EU’s rotating presidency, said ambassadors approved the decision “to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine through 1 billion euros (£0.9 billion) for joint procurement of ammunition and missiles”.
Details of the commitment were not immediately available.
Liam JamesMay 3, 2023 5:00 p.m
