Britain announced Monday that it would deliver long-range attack drones and air-defence missiles to Ukraine as President Volodymyr Zelensky continued his European tour with talks with UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. The Ukrainian President has met with leaders in Italy, Germany and France in recent days, securing a promise from French President Emmanuel Macron to provide additional military aid to Ukraine including light tanks, armoured vehicles and military training. Follow our live blog for all the latest developments. All times are Paris time (GMT+1).
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05:43am: New CIA Telegram video urges Russians to leak information
The US Central Intelligence Agency bolstered efforts to convince Russians to leak their country's secrets on Monday, posting an emotional video on Telegram aimed at people frustrated with the situation under President Vladimir Putin.
The short video depicts a Russian bureaucrat and a woman at home with a child, both apparently troubled in their lives, asking if it is what they dreamed of.
2:46am: Several blasts in Kyiv, says mayor
There were blasts in several districts of Kyiv in early hours on Tuesday, city officials said, with no immediate information about the extent of the damage and potential casualties.
"Explosions in Kyiv. A few - in the Solomyanskyi district," Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on the Telegram channel. He added that falling debris fell onto the city's zoo in the Shevchenkivskyi district.
In a separate post, Klitschko added that falling debris set ablaze several cars in the Solomyanskyi district.
8:41pm: France open to training Ukraine fighter jet pilots, Macron says
French President Emmanuel Macron said in an interview with France's TF1 television on Monday that France is open to training Ukrainian fighter jet pilots in France and that those training programmes could start rightaway.
Asked about delivering warplanes to Ukraine, Macron said he had not discussed that issue with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky during his visit this weekend.
"I have not talked about airplanes, I have talked about missiles, I have talked about training," he said. Asked about training for Ukraine pilots on French warplanes, he said: "there are no taboos".
7:46pm: Russia looks to purchase more attack drones from Iran after depleting stockpile, White House says
The White House on Monday said Russia is looking to buy additional advanced attack drones from Iran for use in its war against Ukraine after using up most of the 400 drones it had previously purchased from Tehran.
The Biden administration last year publicised satellite imagery and intelligence findings that it said indicated Iran sold hundreds of attack drones to Russia. And for months, officials have said the United States believed Iran was considering selling hundreds of ballistic missiles to Russia, but Washington did not have evidence a deal was consummated.
“Iran also continues to provide Russia with one-way attack UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles). Since August, Iran has provided Russia with more than 400 UAVs primarily of the Shahed variety,” White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said.
“Russia has expended most of these UAVs, using them to target Ukrainian critical infrastructure inside Ukraine. By providing Russia with these UAVs, Iran has been directly enabling Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine,” Kirby told reporters.
5:29pm: Russia says it intercepted NATO jets over Baltic sea
Russia said Monday it had scrambled a Su-27 fighter jet over the Baltic Sea to intercept two aircraft, one German and one French, which Moscow said had attempted to "violate" its airspace.
"After turning the foreign military planes away from the Russian Federation state border, the Russian fighter (jet) returned safely to its airbase," the Russian defence ministry said in a statement.
4:30pm: Efforts to extend Ukraine Black Sea grain deal to continue in coming days, UN says
UN aid chief Martin Griffiths said on Monday that efforts will continue in the coming days to extend a deal allowing the safe Black Sea export of Ukraine grain, a pact Moscow has threatened to quit on May 18 over obstacles to its grain and fertilizer exports.
"Continuation of the Black Sea Initiative is critically important, as is recommitment by the parties to its smooth and efficient operation," Griffiths told a UN Security Council meeting on Ukraine. "We will continue to call on all to meet their responsibilities as the world watches us very closely."
4:09pm: Zelensky completes European Tour, secures promises of additional military aid
High on the agenda for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as his European tour across Germany, France and the UK comes to an end was securing additional military aid. More specifically, Zelensky was asking his European allies for F26 fighter jets as he hopes to create a jet coalition.
While the UK has already delivered long-range missiles to Ukraine, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has also pledged to provide pilot training to Ukrainian fighter jet pilots. FRANCE 24's Benedicte Paviot tells us more.
3:30pm: Ukraine's Zelensky hails 'important and powerful' new military aid
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday lauded "important and powerful" military aid from Britain, France and Germany, and said he was pleased with agreements reached during a tour of Europe.
"The priority (during our talks) was our counteroffensive actions, I am very pleased with the achievements and agreements," he said in remarks in Ukrainian while visiting Britain.
2:07pm: Russia for the first time claims downing of British Storm Shadow missile
Russia's Defence Ministry said for the first time on Monday that it had downed a long-range Storm Shadow missile supplied to Ukraine by Britain, which announced last week that it was providing them.
The ministry said in its daily briefing on the Ukraine conflict that it had shot down the cruise missile, as well as shorter-range US-built HIMARS-launched and HARM missiles. Reuters was unable to verify the reports.
Britain is the first country to publicly supply Kyiv with long-range cruise missiles, which will allow Ukrainian forces to hit Russian troops and supply depots far behind the front lines as it prepares a major counteroffensive.
Moscow said on Sunday that Ukraine had used the missiles to strike industrial sites in the Russian-controlled city of Luhansk in eastern Ukraine.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday that Russia viewed Britain's decision to supply the missiles "extremely negatively".
"Britain claims to be at the forefront among those countries that continue to pump weapons into Ukraine," he told reporters in a daily call.
1:23pm: Zelensky says he is optimistic for a quick decision on fighter jet deal
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday said he was hopeful of securing a quick deal to get fighter jets from Western partners after meeting British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
Zelensky said he was "very positive" about creating a "jets coalition" for the war against Russia and that a decision would come "in the closest time", but added that "a little bit more" work was needed.
12:38pm: Kremlin slams Macron comments over Russia's 'subservience' to China
The Kremlin on Monday slammed comments made by French President Emmanuel Macron, who said Russia was becoming a vassal to China as a result of the conflict in Ukraine.
"We categorically disagree with this. Our relations with China have the character of a special, strategic partnership," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
Peskov said Macron's comments reflected "an absolutely wrong understanding of what is happening."
In an interview published Sunday, Macron said that Russia, isolated by its offensive in Ukraine, had "entered a form of subservience with regards to China".
Macron also said Russia had already suffered a "geopolitical defeat" in the interview published by the Opinion newspaper.
11:50am: New UK weapons for Ukraine will not change outcome of the conflict, Kremlin says
Russia takes an "extremely negative" view of Britain's decision to supply long-range Storm Shadow cruise missiles and other military hardware to Ukraine, but does not believe it will change the conflict's outcome, the Kremlin said on Monday.
The new UK weapons for Ukraine will only cause 'further destruction', the Kremlin added.
11:23am: Future of Black Sea grain deal uncertain, Ukraine says
Ukraine cannot rule out that a deal allowing the safe Black Sea export of Ukrainian grain will end on May 18 when it expires and the situation is uncertain, with no additional negotiations planned this week, a Ukrainian foreign ministry official said on Monday.
Olha Trofimtseva, a foreign ministry ambassador at large, told a briefing that Ukraine was receiving conflicting signals about the future of the grain deal.
11:16am: Ukrainian security agency suspects businessman Firtash of embezzlement
Ukraine's state security agency has served businessman Dmytro Firtash and top managers of companies he controls with "notices of suspicion" of embezzlement, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) said in a statement on Monday.
The SBU said that, acting with the Economic Security Bureau, it had uncovered a "large-scale scheme" that involved theft from Ukraine's gas transit system.
10:27am: China envoy to arrive in Ukraine on Tuesday, says Kyiv
A top Chinese envoy is due to visit Ukraine on May 16-17, a Ukrainian government official told Reuters on Monday.
Li Hui, China's special representative for Eurasian affairs and former ambassador to Russia, will be visiting Ukraine, Russia and other European cities in a trip Beijing says is aimed at discussing a "political settlement" to the Ukraine crisis.
The Ukrainian official declined to provide further details.
8:53am: UK to give Ukraine 'hundreds' of air-defence missiles and drones
Britain said Monday that it would deliver "hundreds" of both air-defence missiles and long-range attack drones to Ukraine, as Prime Minister Rishi Sunak prepared to host President Volodymyr Zelensky for talks.
"This is a crucial moment in Ukraine's resistance to a terrible war of aggression they did not choose or provoke," Sunak said in a statement ahead of their talks at his country retreat of Chequers.
8:13am: Zelensky to meet British PM Sunak
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Monday he would travel to Britain for a meeting with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
"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," Zelensky said on Twitter.
"I will meet my friend Rishi. We will conduct substantive negotiations face-to-face and in delegations."
7:51am: Ukraine hails 'first success' in Bakhmut offensive
The defence of Bakhmut continues and recent days have shown that Ukraine can move forward and counter the Russian forces there, the commander of Ukrainian ground forces Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi said on Monday.
"The advance of our troops along the Bakhmut direction – that is the first successful offensive operation in the city's defence," Syrskyi, was quoted as saying on Ukraine's Media Military Centre Telegram messaging platform.
"The last few days have shown that we can move forward and destroy the enemy even in such extremely difficult conditions ... The operation to defend Bakhmut continues. All necessary decisions for the defence have been made."
5:00am: Top Chinese envoy to visit Ukraine, Russia on 'peace' mission
A top Chinese envoy will begin a tour of Ukraine, Russia and other European cities on Monday in a trip Beijing says is aimed at discussing a "political settlement" to the Ukraine crisis.
Li Hui, China's special representative for Eurasian affairs and former ambassador to Russia, will also visit Poland, France and Germany on the multi-day trip, the foreign ministry announced Friday without providing a detailed schedule.
"The visit ... is a testament to China's efforts towards promoting peace talks, and fully demonstrates China's firm commitment to peace," foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said at a daily briefing.
3:34am: Ukraine says it has captured over '10 enemy positions' in Bakhmut
Kyiv said Sunday that Ukrainian forces had captured more than 10 Russian positions on the outskirts of the frontline city of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine.
"Today our units have captured more than 10 enemy positions in the northern and southern outskirts of Bakhmut," Deputy Defence Minister Ganna Malyar said on social media.
"Enemy soldiers of various units have been captured," she said.
"Anyone who knows the real situation and is there now understands the gravity of what is happening," Malyar added.
3:00am: Wagner head offered to reveal Russian troop locations to Ukraine
Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the Wagner mercenary force, offered to reveal the position of Russian troops to the Ukranian government, the Washington Post reported on Sunday, citing leaked US intelligence documents.
Wagner's soldiers have been at the forefront of a bloody Russian offensive to take the city of Bakhmut. In exchange for Ukraine withdrawing its soldiers from the area, Prigozhin in January offered to tell its intelligence service the positions of Russian forces, the Post reported.
The paper said Ukraine rejected the offer.
12:57am: France promises Ukraine more light tanks, armoured cars
France on Monday announced dozens more light tanks and armoured vehicles for several battalions of Ukraine's army, together with training for the soldiers using them.
In their joint statement, French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also called for fresh sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.
12:02am: G7 leaders to target Russian energy, trade 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 aimed at energy and exports aiding Moscow's war effort, said officials with direct knowledge of the discussions.
New measures announced by the leaders during the May 19-21 meetings will target sanctions evasion involving third countries, and seek to undermine Russia's future energy production and curb trade that supports Russia's military, the people said.
Separately, US officials also expect G7 members will agree to adjust their approach to sanctions so that, at least for certain categories of goods, all exports are automatically banned unless they are on a list of approved items.
Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said last month a G7 move to ban exports to the country would cause Moscow to terminate a Black Sea grain deal that enables vital exports of grain from Ukraine.
Key developments from Sunday, May 14:
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday that Kyiv and its Western supporters could make a Russian defeat in the war in Ukraine "irreversible" as early as this year and thanked Germany for being a "true friend" during a visit to Berlin.
France said it will send dozens of armoured vehicles and light tanks, including the AMX-10RCs fighting vehicles, to Ukraine in the coming weeks. It made the announcement after a working dinner between French President Emmanuel Macron and Zelensky in Paris.
On Saturday, Zelensky met Italian leaders, and Pope Francis, in Rome.
Read yesterday's live blog to see how the day's events unfolded.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP & Reuters)
