Zelenskyy urges more pressure on Russia after no ceasefire agreed in Trump-Putin call – Ukraine war live

Zelenskyy urges more pressure on Russia after no ceasefire agreed in Trump-Putin call – Ukraine war live

At least one civilian hasbeen killed and 13 injured in Russian attacks across Ukrainian regions over the past day, regional authorities have reported. Ukrainian air defences intercepted 93 of the 108 Shahed-type attack drones and decoy drones launched by Russia overnight, the Air Force said. Thirty-five of them were shot down, while 58 were neutralised by electronic warfare systems, according to the statement, The Kyiv Independent reported. Russia has lost 975,800 troops in Ukraine since the beginning of its full-scale invasion on 24 February 2022, the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces reported on 20 May. This number includes 1,030 Russian casualties over the past day. Russia has also lost 10,834 tanks, 22,567 armoured fighting vehicles, 49,093 vehicles and fuel tanks, 28,067 artillery systems, 1,388 multiple launch rocket systems, 1,167 air defence systems, 372 aircraft, 336 helicopters, 36,621 drones, 28 ships and boats, and one submarine, according to the report. China says it backs “direct dialogue” between Russia and Ukraine, after US President Donald Trump announced the two would “immediately” start peace talks after he spoke with Vladimir Putin. “China supports all efforts aimed at achieving peace,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said. China said on Tuesday it supported “direct dialogue and negotiations between Russia and Ukraine and advocate for the political resolution of the crisis”, Agence France-Presse reports. “It is hoped that the parties concerned will carry on with the dialogue and negotiation so as to reach a fair, lasting and binding peace agreement acceptable to all parties,” Mao said. Good morning and welcome to our blog covering developments in the Ukraine-Russia conflict following yesterday’s call between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin. While the US leader described the conversation as “excellent”, the Kremlin refused to agree to a ceasefire, despite pressure from Washington and European allies. Speaking to reporters in Sochi after the two-hour conversation on Monday, Putin described the call as “very meaningful and frank” and said he was prepared to work with Ukraine on drafting a memorandum for future peace talks. However, the Russian leader declined to support the US-proposed 30-day unconditional ceasefire, which Ukraine had already agreed to – and which Washington had framed as the call’s primary objective. Putin also suggested his country’s maximalist objectives in the war with Ukraine were unchanged. Trump said he spoke with Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy and several European leaders after his call with Putin. In a statement late on Monday, Zelenskyy insisted Ukraine was ready for a full ceasefire and direct negotiations with Moscow, but said: “If the Russians are not ready to stop the killings, there must be stronger sanctions. Pressure on Russia will push it toward real peace.” Stay with us for all the day’s developments.

Author: Jane Clinton