Russia-Ukraine war live: Sunak and Zelensky announce 'jet coalition'
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Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky have said that they want to create a “jet coalition”, of which Britain is to be a “key part”, to help Ukraine defend itself against Russia.
When asked about his previous pleas for western fighter jets, Mr Zelensky said: “Today we spoke about the jets, a very important topic for us because we can’t control the sky.”
He added: “We want to create this jet coalition and I’m very positive with it. We spoke about it and I see that in the closest time you will hear some, I think, very important decisions. But we have to work a little bit more on it.”
Mr Sunak said that the UK is “going to be a key part of the coalition of countries that provides that support to Volodymyr and Ukraine,” as he announced that Britain would be providing training to Ukrainian pilots.
“It’s not just the provision of planes, it’s also the training of pilots and all the logistics that go alongside that. The UK can play a big part in that. One thing that we will be doing, starting actually relatively soon, is training Ukrainian pilots.
"We’re ready to implement those plans in relatively short order, which will mean that we’re training Ukrainian citizens to become absolutely combat-ready aircraft pilots.”
Mr Sunak added that he would be speaking to other foreign leaders this week about aircraft provision, adding: “We’re very keen to build that coalition of countries to give Volodymyr and his people the aircraft support that they need.”
03:19 PM
Today's liveblog is now closed
Thanks for following today's Ukraine liveblog. Here are some of today's top stories:
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met at Chequers in Buckinghamshire, and said that they want to create a “jet coalition”, of which Britain is to be a “key part”, to help Ukraine defend itself against Russia. Britain will also deliver “hundreds” of long-range attack drones and air-defence missiles to Ukraine, Downing Street announced ahead of Mr Zelensky's visit.
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 head of the Wagner Group offered to give up Russian troop positions to Ukraine if it agreed to withdraw from around Bakhmut, leaked documents show. Yevgeny Prigozhin made the offer in January to his contacts in Ukraine’s military intelligence directorate, according to classified US documents leaked on Discord, The Washington Post reported.
We will be back tomorrow with all the latest updates on Ukraine.
02:57 PM
Putin tells security council that benefits of 'joint work' with ex-Soviet states should be discussed
Vladimir Putin has told members of the Russian Security Council that their video meeting, moved forward to Monday from Friday, should discuss the benefits of cooperation among former Soviet states.
The Russian president told the meeting, attended by top members of his cabinet, in televised remarks: “We and the republics of the former Soviet Union have a whole range of significant competitive advantages.”
He added: "Let's talk about this today, about what more can and should be done in order to achieve better results in our joint work."
02:51 PM
Russian-installed politician allegedly injured in Luhansk explosion
Russian state news agency RIA Novosti has reported that Igor Kornet, Russian-installed and acting head of the interior ministry of Luhansk, has been injured in an explosion at a hairdressing salon, citing a source in the law enforcement agencies.
The politician was allegedly among five people who were injured, three of whom seriously.
Mr Kornet is in a stable condition, according to the source.
02:25 PM
Speculation mounts about Alexander Lukashenko's health after he misses another engagement
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko did not appear at a ceremony in Minsk on Sunday, having not been seen in public since Tuesday, sparking speculation that he is seriously ill.
The 68-year-old leader, who has been in charge of the country since 1994, was replaced by Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko at an annual ceremony at which young people swear allegiance to the Belarusian flag, BelTA state news agency reported.
The agency gave no reason for Mr Lukashenko’s absence, five days after he appeared unwell at Victory Day celebrations in Moscow, and skipped parts of the commemoration. The Kremlin refused to be drawn into the speculation surrounding the ex-Soviet state’s health, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov saying that it will be guided by official statements from the Belarusian authorities.
Opposition news outlet Euroradio reported that Mr Lukashenko was taken to an elite clinic in the country’s capital on Saturday.
02:23 PM
On the front line when Ukraine did the unthinkable in Bakhmut after months of retreat
Usually when a multiple rocket launch system is firing you can count the whooshes out and listen to the rapid drum roll as they land, Roland Oliphant reports.
Not near Bakhmut on Thursday.
So many weapons were firing at once that outgoing booms and incoming rumbles became impossible to distinguish.
Read more from The Telegraph's senior foreign correspondent and watch his dispatch from Ukraine here.
02:08 PM
In pictures: Zelensky in talks with Sunak and Cleverly at Chequers
01:55 PM
Some nations want 'an end to Western double standards' so balk at Russia criticism, says Scholz
German chancellor Olaf Scholz has said that influential countries such as India, Vietnam and South Africa balk at criticising Russia’s invasion of Ukraine because they believe that international principles are not applied equally.
In a speech on Monday, Mr Scholz said: “When I talk to leaders from those countries, many assure me that they are not questioning the underlying principles of our international order. What they are struggling with is the unequal application of those principles.”.
He added: "What they expect is representation on equal terms, and an end to Western double standards."
This weekend, Germany announced a new 2.7 billion euro package of aid for Ukraine, including further Leopard 1 battle tanks, Marder infantry combat vehicles and IRIS-T systems.
01:43 PM
Wagner boss offered to betray Russian troop positions to Ukraine, leaked US files claim
The leader of the Wagner mercenary group offered to reveal the location of Russian troops to Ukraine in exchange for a withdrawal of Kyiv's forces from the besieged city of Bakhmut, according to a purportedly leaked top-secret document, Joe Barnes reports.
Yevgeny Prigozhin approached Ukraine’s military intelligence directorate on a number of occasions with the proposal as it appeared his forces would fail to capture the Donetsk region town, the Washington Post reported.
Kyiv spurned the offer because its officials did not trust Prigozhin, a known ally of Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, and thought his offer could have been disingenuous.
01:31 PM
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.
01:04 PM
'No plans' to donate planes to Ukraine, says No10
Downing Street said there are "no plans" to supply Ukraine with Typhoon or F-35 fighter jets, which are currently operated by the British armed forces.
The Ukrainian government has previously indicated that the more widely-used F-16 as its Western fighter plane of choice, and the Prime Minister's official spokesman told reporters: "You will know the RAF don't use those."
He added: "The Ukrainian government has made the decision to train their pilots on F-16 jets, that’s a decision for them.
"Obviously, I believe, they are in discussions with other countries who use those jets and we are working with those countries."
12:50 PM
Pictured: Sunak and Zelensky inside Chequers
12:41 PM
Poland receives first batch of HIMARS to position 50 miles from border with Kaliningrad
Poland has received the first batch of US-made HIMARS rocket launchers that it has said it plans to deploy in the region bordering Russia, the country’s defence minister said.
In March, the defence ministry said that the long-range precision rocket systems would be stationed in the military unit based in Olsztyn, approximately 50 miles from the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad.
Mariusz Blaszczak told reporters on Monday: “This weapon will be deployed in the northeastern part of our country... its task will be to deter the aggressor.”
Mr Blaszczak said that the rocket launchers would “strengthen the Polish army on the eastern flank of Poland and the eastern flank of the North Atlantic Alliance.”
20 HIMARS systems were purchased from the US in 2019 and Poland has now received the first batch, but Warsaw has said that it has negotiated the sale of almost 500 launchers to Poland.
12:18 PM
Pictured: Damage in Andiivka following missile strike
Donetsk regional governor Pavlo Kyrylenko has said that four people have been killed after a Russian missile attack on Andiivka, where a hospital was struck.
Mr Kyrylenko uploaded photographs of damaged buildings onto Telegram and said: "Every new day spent in the Donetsk region increases the risk of becoming a victim of Russian aggression!"
11:43 AM
Britain announces 'new UK flying school' for Ukrainian pilots
The UK is to open a new "UK flying school" to train Ukrainian pilots, Downing Street has announced.
In a post on Twitter, Downing Street said: "We will open a new UK flying school giving Ukrainian pilots the training they need to handle different types of aircraft, enabling them to better defend their citizens against Russian aggression."
We will open a new UK flying school giving Ukrainian pilots the training they need to handle different types of aircraft, enabling them to better defend their citizens against Russian aggression.
— UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) May 15, 2023
11:30 AM
Zelensky thanks Britain for its support
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for the UK's support for his country in the war against Russia, and said that the pair would disuss "urgent support" for Ukraine and European security issues.
In an exchange filmed by broadcasters, Mr Zelensky told Mr Sunak:
“First of all, thank you very much. You support it already, a lot for us, you did a lot, your government and His Majesty the King and of course your people, your society. We are thankful from all our hearts, from Ukrainians, from our soldiers, we are thankful. And it is a privilege to be here, yes, the first time. You said not the last.”
Mr Sunak replied: “Definitely not the last!”
Mr Zelensky added: “So of course we’ll discuss very important issues, urgent support for Ukraine and security for I think not only for Ukraine but for all of Europe.”
11:13 AM
Kremlin: Russia takes 'extremely negative view' of UK supplying Storm Shadow missiles
Russia takes an “extremely negative view” of the UK’s decision to supply Storm Shadow cruise missiles and other military hardware to Ukraine, however it does not believe it will change the outcome of the conflict, the Kremlin said on Monday.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov also said that the Russian president would hold a Security Council meeting on Monday after it was brought forward from Friday.
11:00 AM
Ukraine official: Four killed in Russian strike on Andiivka
A Russian strike on the frontline city of Avdiivka has killed at least four people and damaged a hospital, the regional governor has said.
Donetsk regional governor Pavlo Kyrylenko said in a statement on social media on Monday: "Four people died as a result of a missile attack on Avdiivka. Russians attacked the city with missiles this morning, hitting a hospital."
10:48 AM
Watch: Zelensky arrives by helicopter in Buckinghamshire to meet Sunak
President @ZelenskyyUa arrives in the UK for discussions with Prime Minister @RishiSunak on Ukraine’s ongoing military resistance to Putin’s brutal invasion. pic.twitter.com/Qh2tfpFDZE
— UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) May 15, 2023
10:45 AM
Sunak compares Zelensky to Churchill as he greets him at Chequers
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak greeted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at Chequers, Buckinghamshire, on Monday morning. Mr Sunak spoke to the Ukrainian leader in front of broadcast cameras - this is what he said:
“You are actually the first foreign leader that I have had the privilege of welcoming here as Prime Minister and there is a lot of great history here.
"In fact this room that we are standing in, Winston Churchill made many of his famous speeches in World War Two from this room and in the same way today your leadership, your country's bravery and fortitude are an inspiration to us all.
"I look forward to us discussing what more we can do to support you and your country."
10:41 AM
Prigozhin denies offering information on Russian troops positions to Ukraine
The head of the Wagner Group has denied a report in the Washington Post, citing leaked US intelligence documents, that he had offered to reveal the positions of Russian troops to the Ukrainian government if Ukrainian forces pulled back from Bakhmut.
In an audio message posted to Telegram, Yevgeny Prigozhin called the allegations that he offered the information to Ukrainian intelligence in January “nonsense”, and suggested that unnamed residents of Moscow's Rublyovka suburb, where many of the business and political elite reside, were orchestrating an attack on him.
Mr Prigozhin also denied having met the head of Ukrainian military intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov, in an unnamed country in Africa, saying that he had not been in the continent since the start of the Ukraine conflict and portraying the idea of a phone call with him as laughable.
The Washington Post had said that Ukraine had rejected the offer because officials do not trust the Wagner chief and thought his proposals could have been disingenuous.
10:31 AM
Ukraine cannot rule out the grain deal ending on May 18, says foreign ministry
Ukraine cannot rule out that the Black Sea grain deal will not be extended and that it will come to an end on May 18, a foreign ministry official has said.
Olha Trofimtseva, an ambassador at large for the Ukrainian foreign ministry, told a briefing that Ukraine was receiving conflicting signals about the future of the deal brokered in July 2022, which allows the safe export of Ukrainian grain.
Russia has repeatedly called the future of the deal into question and has threatened to walk away from the initiative on May 18 unless obstacles to its own exports of grain and agricultural products.
Ms Trofimtseva said that the situation surrounding the deal is uncertain, and that no additional negotiations were planned for this week.
Last week, talks were being held in Turkey - which had helped broker the deal - concerning the initiative, involving Ukrainian, Russian, Turkish and United Nations officials.
10:04 AM
NATO should make a decision on Ukraine membership in July, says Zelensky
President Zelensky has appealed to NATO to make a “positive political decision” on Ukraine’s membership bid to be part of the alliance in July.
In a video address to the Copenhagen Democracy Summit, Mr Zelensky said: “It is time to remove the biggest security uncertainty in Europe — that is, to approve a positive political decision on (Ukrainian) membership in NATO.
"This is worth doing at the July summit already. This will be a timely signal."
09:41 AM
Pictured: PM welcomes Zelensky to UK
09:28 AM
Two missiles damage former military aviation school in Luhansk, claim Russian-backed officials
Russian state news agency TASS is reporting that two missiles launched by Ukrainian forces have hit an administrative building of a former military aviation school for navigators in Luhansk.
One of the floors of the building was damaged, Russian-backed senator of the region Darya Lantratova said on Monday.
Ms Lantratova wrote on Telegram on Monday that the fourth floor of the former school was damaged.
On Monday morning, Russian-backed politician and former envoy for the Luhansk region in Moscow Rodion Miroshnik told TASS of two explosions in the bus station district of Luhansk. Mr Miroshnik had pointed out that the target of the strike could have been the territory of the former military aviation school.
The claims have not been independently verified.
09:18 AM
Volodymyr Zelensky ‘wanted Ukraine to occupy Russian villages’
Volodymyr Zelensky raised the possibility of Ukrainian troops occupying Russian villages, according to leaked US intelligence, James Kilner reports.
Quoting fresh details from a Pentagon intelligence leak earlier this year, The Washington Post reported that Mr Zelensky has been far more hawkish about attacking Russia than previously thought.
To receive long-range weapons from the West, including British Storm Shadow cruise missiles that were fired for the first time in Ukraine this weekend, Mr Zelensky has vowed not to attack Russia.
09:06 AM
Ukrainian advances in Bakhmut 'first success' in operation to defend city
The commander of the Ukrainian ground forces has hailed the advance in Bakhmut as the “first success” in the operation to take back the city.
Oleksandr Syrskyi said: “The advance of our troops in the Bakhmut direction is the first success of the offensive in the course of the operation to defend Bakhmut.
"The last few days have shown that we can move forward and destroy the enemy even in such extremely difficult conditions.
"We are fighting with fewer resources than the enemy. At the same time, we manage to destroy its plans.”
Ukrainian deputy defence minister Hanna Malyar had said on Sunday that forces had captured ten Russian positions near the eastern city.
08:38 AM
Top Chinese envoy to visit Ukraine and Russia this week
Top Chinese special envoy Li Hui will begin his tour of Ukraine, Russia and other European countries on Monday, in a trip aimed at discussing a “political settlement” to the Ukraine crisis, according to Beijing.
The special representative for Eurasian affairs and former ambassador to Russia is also expected to visit Poland, France and Germany, China's foreign ministry confirmed on Friday.
In a daily briefing, spokesman for the foreign ministry Wang Wenbin said: “The visit...is a testament to China's efforts towards promoting peace talks, and fully demonstrates China's firm commitment to peace.”
08:22 AM
Ukraine captures 10 Russian positions near Bakhmut
Ukraine’s military said it has captured 10 Russian positions near Bakhmut as it stepped up its counteroffensive around the besieged city, James Kilner reports.
Earlier, Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the Kremlin’s Wagner mercenary group, confirmed that Ukrainian forces had captured land on the Russian southern flank and there was a rare admission from the Russian military that two senior officers had been killed.
“Today, our units have captured more than 10 enemy positions in the northern and southern outskirts of Bakhmut,” Ganna Malyar, the Ukrainian deputy defence minister, said on social media.
08:10 AM
Latest MoD update
In its latest daily intelligence update, the UK Ministry of Defence has said that several drones struck Russia' Seshcha Airbase, which is located 150km north of the border with Ukraine.
The airbase is a hub for Russia's Military Transport Aviation, which "has played a major role in enabling Russia's invasion of Ukraine.", according to the ministry.
Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine - 15 May 2023.
Find out more about Defence Intelligence's use of language: https://t.co/MGwmuNjs6P
🇺🇦 #StandWithUkraine 🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/Y1CpyDzOTN— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) May 15, 2023
08:03 AM
Russia's plans in Bakhmut remain unchanged, says Ukrainian defence minister
Russia’s plans to capture Bakhmut remain unchanged and new assault forces are being deployed to the city’s outskirts, Ukraine’s deputy defence minister has said.
In a statement uploaded onto Telegram, Hanna Malyar said: “In Bakhmut and on the outskirts, everything is difficult now. Very.
“Despite everything, our troops managed to advance for several days.”
07:56 AM
Zelensky lands in UK for 'substantive negotiations'
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is travelling to the UK today to meet with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for “substantive negotiations”, the president said.
Downing Street confirmed that Mr Zelensky had already arrived in the UK and would be heading to Chequers to meet Mr Sunak.
Mr Zelensky wrote on Twitter on Monday morning: "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.”
"I will meet my friend Rishi. We will conduct substantive negotiations face-to-face and in delegations."
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. I will meet my friend Rishi. We will conduct substantive negotiations face-to-face and in delegations.
— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) May 15, 2023
07:54 AM
France to send 'tens of armoured vehicles and light tanks' to Ukraine
France has announced that it is to send tens more light tanks and armoured vehicles to Ukraine, and will train soldiers to use them.
The announcement came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky flew to Paris late on Sunday and joined French President Emmanuel Macron for a dinner at the Elysee Palace.
In a joint statement released on Monday, the pair said: “In the coming weeks, France will train and equip several battalions with tens of armoured vehicles and light tanks including AMX-10RC.”
Mr Zelensky called for fresh sanctions against Russia, and France said it would focus its efforts “in supporting Ukraine’s air defence capabilities in order to defend its population against Russian strikes.”
The statement added: “Ukraine and France agree on the need to increase collective pressure on Russia through further sanctions to weaken Russia's ability to continue its illegal war of aggression."
