Ukraine-Russia war latest: Kyiv faces ‘critical’ period on frontline ahead of Trump envoy’s ‘Putin talks’ in Moscow

Lithuania intends to supply a further €20 million for Ukraine to buy ammunition, Defence Minister Dovilė Šakalienė has mentioned.

She urged allies to speed up help to Ukraine, warning that “the summer season could also be very tough”.

Šakalienė mentioned that Lithuania described ammunition as probably the most urgently wanted assets for Ukraine at current.

Particular envoy of US President Donald Trump, Steve Witkoff, traveled to Russia, the place he’s anticipated to satisfy with Vladimir Putin on Friday, in keeping with experiences.

This may mark their third assembly as a part of the Trump administration’s ongoing efforts to discover a path towards ending Russia’s conflict in opposition to Ukraine, Axios experiences, citing a supply aware of the journey and flight knowledge from FlightRadar.

A supply in politics advised Kyiv Submit: “Trump needs some sort of victory [in talks with Putin on ending the war] in his first 100 days in workplace. Hopefully there’ll be some model of a ceasefire — together with a humanitarian monitor.”

In keeping with Axios, if no ceasefire deal is reached by the top of the month, Trump might impose extra sanctions on Russia.

Trump is rising more and more pissed off with the shortage of progress in ceasefire negotiations and was not too long ago described as “p***** off” over Putin’s latest feedback about Ukraine.

The Ministry of Defence introduced {that a} “main” new bundle of navy help might be delivered by British and Ukrainian suppliers to assist enhance Ukraine’s armed forces as they proceed to defend in opposition to Russian assault.

The bundle, value £450 million, contains £350 million from the UK, with additional funding being supplied by Norway, through the UK-led Worldwide Fund for Ukraine.

It should embody £160 million of UK funding to supply repairs and upkeep to autos and gear that the UK has already supplied to Ukraine – partnering UK corporations with Ukrainian trade.

The bundle additionally features a “shut combat” navy help bundle – with funding for radar techniques, anti-tank mines and lots of of hundreds of drones – value greater than £250 million, utilizing funding from the UK and Norway constructing on the work of the drone functionality coalition, led by the UK and Latvia.

Defence Secretary John Healey added: “2025 is the crucial yr for the conflict in Ukraine, and that is the crucial second.”

The Netherlands has introduced the allocation of €150m to bolster Ukraine’s air protection capabilities.

Dutch Protection Minister Ruben Brekelmans made the announcement to journalists forward of the Ukraine Protection Contact Group assembly at NATO headquarters in Brussels.

Mr Brekelmans referenced President Volodymyr Zelensky’s latest attraction for larger air protection help including hat the Netherlands would proceed delivering F-16 fighter jets as a part of its ongoing help.

He mentioned the brand new €150m bundle would “additional assist Ukraine defend its skies”.

At the least three individuals have been injured after Russian glide bombs have been dropped on Kupiansk, in keeping with State Emergency Service of Ukraine.

One of many glide bombs hit the yard of a personal residence, damaging the home and beginning a fireplace.

“Russian aviation dropped bombs on Kupiansk, inflicting fires and leading to casualties. Preliminary experiences point out three individuals have been injured,” their message states.

At one other location, a medical facility constructing was broken, with eight storage bins and three ambulances burning over a complete space of 320sqm.

Norway has formally joined the drone coalition for Ukraine, which is led by the UK and Latvia.

The Norwegian Protection Ministry introduced on X: “Norway is now formally part of the worldwide drone coalition led by Latvia and the UK. Collectively we’re constructing a powerful alliance to help Ukraine.”

Norwegian Protection Minister Tore O. Sandvik signed the respective doc in Brussels on Friday becoming a member of 18 different international locations, together with Latvia, the UK, Australia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Estonia, Italy, New Zealand, Canada, and Lithuania within the pact.

Through the EU-Ukraine Affiliation Council assembly in Brussels, discussions centered on financing two million artillery shells for Ukraine’s protection.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal introduced on Ukrainian tv that each one events agreed to start out implementing the mission instantly.

“Europe has woke up and is actively advancing protection trade and safety innovation packages. Ukraine holds a major position on this cooperation, taking part in main initiatives such because the European Protection Technique and the European Protection Program,” he mentioned.

“We’re already members in these processes and can proceed to play an lively position.”

The Prime Minister revealed that the European Fee plans to allocate roughly €800 billion for protection trade growth and innovation within the coming years.

The Russian Defence Ministry has accused Ukraine of attacking Russian power infrastructure 5 instances within the final 24 hours.

The ministry mentioned in a press release that Ukrainian strikes had hit energy services in Russia’s Kursk and Bryansk areas, in addition to power targets in Russian-controlled elements of the Ukrainian areas of Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia, which Moscow has claimed as its personal.

The Unbiased was unable to confirm the experiences of the strikes.

Ukraine has made related accusations in opposition to Russia for the reason that US-brokered moratorium on strikes on one another’s power services.

Germany will present €11billion of navy help for Ukraine till 2029, Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov mentioned on Friday.

In his publish on X, Umerov mentioned that the deliveries deliberate for this yr would assist strengthen Ukrainian air defences and help Kyiv troops on the battlefield.