Putin urges Ukraine negotiations based on 'realities on the ground'

Over two years after the start of his war on Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin has reiterated his willingness to negotiate, but noted Russia will not return the occupied territories it has annexed.

"There is again talk of the need to return to negotiations," Putin said during a visit to Belarus on Friday, the Russian news agency Interfax reported.

"Let's return to them, but not on the basis of what one side wants, ... [rather] on the basis of today's realities that have developed on the ground," Putin added.

Russia has been waging open war against Ukraine since February 2022 and currently occupies around a fifth of the neighbouring country.

Ukraine repeatedly emphasizes that the withdrawal of Russian troops from its territory is a condition for lasting peace.

During his visit to Belarus, Putin also said that Volodymyr Zelensky was no longer the legitimate president of Ukraine. He said: "Of course we are aware that the legitimacy of the current head of state has lapsed."

Zelensky's five-year term in office would have expired last Monday, but due to the Russian invasion, martial law has been in force in Ukraine for more than two years - and therefore, according to the Ukrainian constitution, Zelensky will remain in office until new elections can be held.

During a visit to Kiev a few days ago, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock also underscored that Zelensky is still legally in office. She defended the Ukrainian president against what she called the "perfidious game" of Russian propaganda.

Meanwhile the Defence Ministry in Berlin said Germany has delivered another IRIS-T air defence system unit to Ukraine.

The IRIS-T unit arrived in Ukraine on Friday, the ministry posted on the social media platform X.

Defence Minister Boris Pistorius called the combined unit of IRIS-T SLM and IRIS-T SLS "a highly modern and tried-and-tested medium and short-range air defence system manufactured directly by German industry."

Germany has already delivered several IRIS-T and Patriot air defence systems to Kiev.

In Washington, the US State Department announced that the United States is providing Ukraine with further military aid.

A new package worth $275 million includes ammunition for the HIMARS multiple rocket launchers and 155 and 105-millimetre calibre artillery ammunition, the State Department said in a statement on Friday.

This is the fifth tranche authorized by US President Joe Biden since the US Congress released new funds totalling some $61 billion for Kiev at the end of April.

A US official indicated on Friday that Ukraine is unlikely to be invited to join NATO at the alliance's upcoming meeting in June.

"We do not anticipate that there'll be an invitation for Ukraine to join NATO, but we think there will be substantial show of support for Ukraine as it works to win its war," said James O'Brien, assistant secretary for European and Eurasian affairs.

"This will include ongoing NATO support in building Ukraine's future force and efforts to help Ukraine as it makes the reforms needed so that it's able to join the EU and and run across the bridge to NATO as quickly ... as it's able," he added.

According to the Pentagon, the US has already provided Kiev with military aid totalling more than $50 billion since the start of the Russian war against Ukraine.

On the ground, there were reports that two glide bombs hit Kharkiv in a renewed overnight attack on the north-eastern Ukrainian city which has been the target of Russian airstrikes for months.

Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said on Telegram on Friday that there were no casualties reported and several residential buildings as well as an uninhabited building were slightly damaged.

Seven people were killed by Russian strikes in Kharkiv on Thursday when at least 15 missiles hit the city and the surrounding area during daytime hours.

One of Ukraine's major printing presses was hit in that attack. "The Ukrainian book is the Ukrainian strength. That's why the enemy wants to destroy it," the internationally renowned Ukrainian writer Serhiy Zhadan commented on Facebook.

Kharkiv has been one of the hardest-hit cities during Russia's all-out invasion of Ukraine, which began more than two years ago.

The metropolis has been repeatedly attacked from the air - with drones, missiles and glide bombs.

Two weeks ago, Russian armed forces also launched a ground offensive in the Kharkiv border region. The foremost Russian troops are currently less than 20 kilometres from the edge of the city.

The Ukrainian army has now regained control of the border in the eastern Kharkiv region, according to Zelensky. "Our fighters have now managed to take over combat control of the border area where the Russian occupiers have penetrated," Zelensky said in his evening video address on Friday after a visit to Kharkiv.

Zelensky's statements could not initially be independently confirmed.