Russia-Ukraine war live: Zelensky cancels all foreign visits as Putin’s forces advance around Kharkiv

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova called British Foreign Minister David Cameron’s remarks that Ukraine could deploy British weapons in attacks on Russia as crazy, anti-Russian and aggressive. Russian territory.

Ms Zakharova was speaking at a press conference in Moscow.

Cameron, during a visit to kyiv on May 3, said Reuters that Ukraine had the right to use weapons supplied by Britain to strike targets in Russia, and that it was up to kyiv whether or not to do so.

His comment prompted Moscow to warn London that it could retaliate against British military installations and equipment in Ukraine and elsewhere if British weapons were used by Ukraine to strike Russian territory.

Footage has shown the moment missiles believed to be US-supplied ATACMS long-range warheads struck a Russian airfield in occupied Crimea.

Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak dismissed Russian President Vladimir Putin’s comments on possible negotiations over his war in Ukraine as “hypocrite” on Wednesday.

“Once again, Putin’s hypocritical ‘negotiation’ activity… At the same time, Russia continues to burn the cities of Donbass and tries to break through into the Kharkiv region, while intensifying crimes against civilians,” he said on X.

Ukraine expects Russia to devote as many resources as possible to an attack around Kharkiv, as kyiv’s forces are “running out of steam” given their lack of weaponry compared to Moscow’s troops .

Russian troops captured at least six villages last week after storming the northeastern border region, forcing thousands of residents to flee.

Russian forces are establishing positions inside the Ukrainian border town of Vovchansk in the northeastern Kharkiv region and fighting there is intense, the local police chief said.

Capturing the town three miles from the border would be Russia’s most significant gain since it launched an incursion into the Kharkiv region on Friday, opening a new front and forcing kyiv to rush reinforcements.

“The situation is extremely difficult. The enemy is taking positions on the streets of the city of Vovchansk,” Oleksiy Kharkivskiy, head of the Vovchansk police patrol, said on Facebook.

The Ukrainian army announced on Tuesday that its forces had retreated to “more advantageous” positions in two areas of the Kharkiv region, including the Vovchansk region.

He cites “a consequence of enemy fire and attacks” and indicates that the decision was taken “to preserve the lives of our soldiers and avoid losses”.

Olena Gubenko refused to leave her home in Kharkiv when Russia first invaded Ukraine, but she was eventually evacuated after Vladimir Putin’s troops launched a new offensive in the northeastern region.

She fled with a pack of more than a hundred rescue dogs, which she and other volunteers rushed to evacuate.

“I will be with them, wherever they are…they are my life,” she said as she pushed her frightened dogs into cages that volunteers loaded into vans.

Below are some of the latest photos from Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has canceled his visit to Spain and Portugal, authorities said Wednesday, with CNN Portugal and other media reporting that it was due to renewed fighting in his country.

King Felipe of Spain was to host a reception for Mr. Zelensky on May 17 and host a meal in his honor.

Mr Zelensky was also expected to sign a bilateral security cooperation agreement with Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez following a joint NATO statement last year.

A Portuguese government spokesperson said the Ukrainian president had canceled the visit, but did not give a reason.

The Spanish government said it could not comment for security reasons.

Alongside other European Union countries, Spain has pledged to support Ukraine with financial and military aid following Russia’s invasion in February 2022.

Mr. Zelensky’s planned visit was to coincide with a European Union commitment to provide long-term security support to kyiv, according to a draft document.

Vladimir Putin’s visit to Beijing which begins tomorrow will probably be marked little by difficult agreements, but will mark the start of his new presidential term with a show of support from his most powerful political partner, his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.

Putin’s two-day mission is expected to highlight the much-vaunted “no-holds-barred” partnership between the two countries, in defiance of US pressure over Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

China’s Foreign Ministry confirmed Putin’s trip yesterday, saying Xi and Putin would exchange views on relations and “international and regional issues of common concern.”

While diplomats and analysts expect Putin to push Xi for more support for Russia’s war economy, from machinery and chemicals to help its military industries to lower-priced oil and gas purchases, Putin’s trip is likely to be strongly symbolic of a shared worldview centered on the fight against terrorism. an order led by the United States.

“China is Russia’s strategic partner – that is the path chosen by the Russian president and the Chinese leader – and nothing will change that, no matter what the West tries to say or do,” said one Russian official on condition of anonymity. .

In an interview with China’s Xinhua news agency published today, Putin supported China’s plan for a peaceful settlement of the Ukraine crisis, saying Beijing fully understood what was behind the plan.

“In Beijing, they really understand its root causes and global geopolitical significance,” Putin said, according to a Russian-language transcript posted on a Kremlin website.

Putin will also discuss economic ties with Chinese Premier Li Qiang and visit Harbin, a northeastern city with historic ties to Russia.

Putin’s arrival follows a mission to Beijing late last month by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in part to warn China’s top diplomat Wang Yi against stepping up military support for Russia.

Ukrainian grid operator Ukrenergo today launched new controlled countrywide power cuts, amid Russian attacks on the war-hit country’s energy infrastructure.

Ukraine is facing electricity shortages due to damage to production capacity from recent Russian missile strikes.

The power cuts will be implemented between 6:40 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. local time, Ukrenergo said.

This follows last night’s budget cuts across Ukraine.