THE WAR in Ukraine could "last for years", according to NATO boss, as Russia continues to send troops into the country.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said: “We must prepare for the fact that it could take years.
“We must not let up in supporting Ukraine.
“Even if the costs are high, not only for military support, also because of rising energy and food prices,” he added.
Russian troops have continued to bombarded Ukraine in recent days, as leaders from across the world flock to Kyiv to show support.
In recent weeks, reports have emerged that Vladimir Putin is reportedly growing weak from sickness.
Speculation surrounding the tyrant's condition has been a topic of hot discussion for a while now – with claims that he has Parkinson's.
Read our Ukraine war live blog below for the latest news & updates…
- henry moore
German Chancellor pleads with Russia to ease global food shortage
Olaf Scholz, the German Chancellor, has called un Russia to ease their blockade of Ukrainian ports and help ease the global food crisis.
“You have to hope for the world’s sake that an agreement is reached,” Scholz told the dpa news agency, referring to continuing negotiations about establishing an export corridor across the Black Sea.
“Russia must enable safe passage and at the same time give credible assurances that it will not use the corridor for an invasion,” he told dpa.
- henry moore
Russia's losses as of June 19th
The Kyiv Independent, an English-language news source in Kyiv, has highlighted the reported Russian losses in a new graphic.
The image shows that approximately 33,600 Russian troops have fallen since the conflict began, with 216 planes being put out of service.
- henry moore
Canada donates $733m to Ukraine war effort
$773m has been loaned to Ukraine from Canada, its finance ministry confirmed in a statement on Friday.
“The funds will be directed to the state budget to finance priority expenditures, in particular, to ensure priority social and humanitarian expenditures,” the ministry said.
Al-Jazeera reports that Ukrainian Minister of Finance Sergii Marchenko said he was grateful to the government of Canada “for the unwavering support for Ukraine in the fight for our freedom”.
- henry moore
NATO pledges to deploy military to eastern Europe
There are already 40,000 troops mobilised in response to Russia’s aggressive invasion of Ukraine.
Germany has previously announced that it will strengthen engagement with Lithuania.
France aims to increase its presence in Romania, where it plans to have deployed 1,000 troops by the end of 2022.
- henry moore
War in Ukraine could 'take years' say NATO
The conflict in Ukraine could rumble on for years, NATO's top brass has claimed.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said: “We must prepare for the fact that it could take years.
"We must not let up in supporting Ukraine.
“Even if the costs are high, not only for military support, also because of rising energy and food prices,” he added.
- henry moore
Ukrainian oil depot hit by three Russian missiles
The Dnipropetrovsk regional governor has claimed that three Russian missiles have hit an oil depot.
Via a secure Telegram account,Valentyn Renichenko says the missiles destroyed an oil depot near the town of Novomoskovsk, leading to a large fire.
Reports have suggested that three people have been injured by the attack, no deaths have been declared.
Mr Renichecnko says fire fighters have since put out the fire.
- henry moore
Johnson says UK military assistance should ‘expel Russia from Ukraine’
Speaking at a joint news conference in Kyiv with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy yesterday, Boris Johnson has pledged his continued support for Ukraine.
“We will continue, as we have from the beginning, to provide the military equipment you need – and now, of course, the training that may be necessary to go with that new equipment – so that you, the Ukrainian people, the Ukrainian armed forces, will be able to do what I believe Ukrainians yearn to do, and that is to expel the aggressor from Ukraine,” Johnson said.
“That will be the moment for talks about the future of Ukraine and it will be in that context of a free Ukraine that we and other countries will be making the security commitments and guarantees we have discussed so often.”
He said there is “evidence” Russian troops are under “acute pressure” and are taking “heavy casualties”.
“Their expenditure of munitions – of shells and other weaponry – is colossal. After 114 days of attack on Ukraine, they have still not achieved the objectives they set out for the first week,” he said.
“We are here once again to underline that we are with you to give you the strategic endurance that you will need and we are going to help to continue to intensify the sanctions on Putin’s regime.”
- henry moore
Ukraine will 'definitely win', says Zelenskiy
The Ukrainian gave a rousing speech to Ukrainian troops yesterday, as he handed out medals and other honours.
“Our brave men. Each one of them is working flat out,” he said. “We will definitely hold out. We will definitely win.”
This speech was shared via video on his official Telegram account.
- henry moore
Kyiv Mayor claims peace talks can't begin until Russia leaves Ukraine
Vitali Klitschko, the Mayor of Kyiv, has said his country will only enter peace talks after the “last Russian soldier has left Ukraine”.
Some Ukrainian officials have expressed private concerns that Western allies may push their country towards a peace deal with Russia.
Speaking to the BBC, Mayor Klitschko was asked if he was concerned Ukraine could be pressured to making concessions to the Russians.
He replied: “The Russians talked about ‘Let’s find a compromise. Let’s find a solution’. What are they talking about? Which compromise? To give parts of Ukrainian territory to the Russians is not a compromise.
“I’m more than sure we will be ready to talk with the Russians about some compromise. If the last Russian soldier left Ukraine, it will be time to talk but not yet. Russians have to go from our homeland.”
- henry moore
German Chancellor pleads with Russia to ease global food shortage
Olaf Scholz, the German Chancellor, has called un Russia to ease their blockade of Ukrainian ports and help ease the global food crisis.
“You have to hope for the world’s sake that an agreement is reached,” Scholz told the dpa news agency, referring to continuing negotiations about establishing an export corridor across the Black Sea.
“Russia must enable safe passage and at the same time give credible assurances that it will not use the corridor for an invasion,” he told dpa.
- henry moore
‘Full intention Ukraine’s win will be reflected in next year’s Eurovision’
Yesterday, we reported that war-torn Ukraine, which won this year’s Eurovision, will be unable to host next year’s contest, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) said.
Ukraine’s Kalush Orchestra last month won the world’s biggest live music event, and according to tradition, the country should host next year’s event.
But EBU said “given the ongoing war” since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last February, it had determined it was impossible for the event to go ahead there.
“Given the current circumstances, the security and operational guarantees required for a broadcaster to host, organise and produce the Eurovision Song Contest… cannot be fulfilled,” it said.
Instead, EBU said it would “now begin discussions with the BBC, as this year’s runner up, to potentially host the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest in the United Kingdom.”
“It is our full intention that Ukraine’s win will be reflected in next year’s shows,” the EBU stressed.
“This will be a priority for us in our discussions with the eventual hosts.”
The office of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson welcomed the move.
- Matt Snape
Ukrainian civilian casualties hit 10,000-mark, according to UN
Civilian casualties in Russia’s war on Ukraine have passed the 10,000 mark, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR) has stated
Al-Jazeera reports that officials said they have recorded 10,046 civilian casualties in the nation, including 4,481 who were killed and 5,565 injured.
Officials have confirmed that the actual numbers are likely higher.
- Matt Snape
$773m loaned to Ukraine from Canada
$773m has been loaned to Ukraine from Canada, its finance ministry confirmed in a statement on Friday.
“The funds will be directed to the state budget to finance priority expenditures, in particular, to ensure priority social and humanitarian expenditures,” the ministry said.
Al-Jazeera reports that Ukrainian Minister of Finance Sergii Marchenko said he was grateful to the government of Canada “for the unwavering support for Ukraine in the fight for our freedom”.
- Matt Snape
Lavrov: Russia not squeaky clean but not ashamed of it
Ukraine’s foreign minister claims that Russia has not been “squeaky clean” in the war – and is “not ashamed of it”.
Sergei Lavrov was asked by the BBC about a UN report in the Ukrainian village of Yahidne where 360 residents were forced to stay in a school basement by Russian forces for 28 days and 10 people died.
He replied: “It’s a great pity but international diplomats, including the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the UN Secretary-General and other UN representatives, are being put under pressure by the West.
“And very often they’re being used to amplify fake news spread by the West.”
- Matt Snape
Zelensky: Ukraine to introduce visas for Russians
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced Friday that Kyiv intends to introduce visas for Russians from July 1, four months into Moscow’s invasion of his country.
“Ukraine is introducing a visa regime for citizens of the Russian Federation,” Zelensky said on his Telegram account. He said the requirement would take effect on “July 1, 2022”, according to a government decision that he expected “today.”
The move will end visa-free travel for Russians that began when Ukraine became independent from the Soviet Union in 1991.
Zelensky’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, said the move was being taken because of Russia’s invasion that began on February 24 and to bolster his country’s defensive efforts.
“Due to the full-scale war launched by the Russian Federation, we need to strengthen the control over the entry of Russian nationals into our territory. Security is a priority.”
The two neighbours share a border stretching almost 2,300 kilometres (1,400 miles) and share extensive family links.
- Matt Snape
Video shows Putin GRIPPING table hard amid claims he has Parkinson’s
VLADIMIR Putin ‘does not look well’ according to an expert as he is seen gripping table so hard – his veins start to bulge.
Speculation surrounding the tyrant’s condition has been a topic of hot discussion for a while now – with claims that he has Parkinson’s.
However, there is once again speculation over the Russian president’s health after a televised meeting with RusNano State Corporation’s CEO Sergey Kulikov in Moscow earlier this week.
Footage shows the veins on the president’s hand bulging – appearing like they are about to explode – as he furiously grips a table for support.
John Hardy, a neurogeneticist at the UK Dementia Research Institute, said: “Real neurologists are unlikely to comment because they are taught never to comment on people who are not their patients.
“No sign of parkinsonism in my view. He did not look well…but not Parkinson’s disease.”
Ray Chadhuri, a neurologist at the University of London, added: “Looking at the short clip, I can find no evidence that I can tell of parkinsonism in Putin.”
- Matt Snape
PM: UK military assistance should ‘expel Russia from Ukraine’
Speaking at a joint news conference in Kyiv with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy yesterday, Boris Johnson has pledged his continued support for Ukraine.
“We will continue, as we have from the beginning, to provide the military equipment you need – and now, of course, the training that may be necessary to go with that new equipment – so that you, the Ukrainian people, the Ukrainian armed forces, will be able to do what I believe Ukrainians yearn to do, and that is to expel the aggressor from Ukraine,” Johnson said.
“That will be the moment for talks about the future of Ukraine and it will be in that context of a free Ukraine that we and other countries will be making the security commitments and guarantees we have discussed so often.”
He said there is “evidence” Russian troops are under “acute pressure” and are taking “heavy casualties”.
“Their expenditure of munitions – of shells and other weaponry – is colossal. After 114 days of attack on Ukraine, they have still not achieved the objectives they set out for the first week,” he said.
“We are here once again to underline that we are with you to give you the strategic endurance that you will need and we are going to help to continue to intensify the sanctions on Putin’s regime.”
- Matt Snape
‘Full intention Ukraine’s win will be reflected in next year’s Eurovision’
Yesterday, we reported that war-torn Ukraine, which won this year’s Eurovision, will be unable to host next year’s contest, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) said.
Ukraine’s Kalush Orchestra last month won the world’s biggest live music event, and according to tradition, the country should host next year’s event.
But EBU said “given the ongoing war” since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last February, it had determined it was impossible for the event to go ahead there.
“Given the current circumstances, the security and operational guarantees required for a broadcaster to host, organise and produce the Eurovision Song Contest… cannot be fulfilled,” it said.
Instead, EBU said it would “now begin discussions with the BBC, as this year’s runner up, to potentially host the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest in the United Kingdom.”
“It is our full intention that Ukraine’s win will be reflected in next year’s shows,” the EBU stressed.
“This will be a priority for us in our discussions with the eventual hosts.”
The office of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson welcomed the move.
- Matt Snape
Moldova hails Ukraine’s ‘important’ move towards EU candidacy
Moldova’s President Maia Sandu has yesterday hailed as an “important moment” the decision of the European Commission to recommend granting EU candidate status to the ex-Soviet country.
The European Commission on Friday recommended that Ukraine, which Russia invaded on February 24, and Moldova each be formally named a “candidate” for joining the EU.
“This is an important moment for the future of the Republic of Moldova, and this is the hope our citizens need,” Sandu said on Telegram.
“We know that the process will be difficult, but we are determined to follow this path, the purpose of which is to consolidate our country in the space of European values, on the path of progress and prosperity,” she added.
Sandu said the EC’s decision “encourages us and strengthens our confidence that we are on the right track”.
Foreign minister Nicu Popescu also called the decision “a historic day on the path of Moldova’s accession to the European Union”.
- Matt Snape
UK: Russia will never take control of Ukraine
The head of the UK’s armed forces on Thursdayday said that Moscow will never be able to take over all of Ukraine.
“This is a dreadful mistake by Russia. Russia will never take control of Ukraine.
“Russia has strategically lost already. NATO is stronger, Finland and Sweden are looking to join.”
Admiral Sir Tony Radakin said President Vladimir Putin has lost 25% of Russia’s land power for only “tiny” gains.
- Matt Snape
Russia won’t stop at Ukraine, says Zelenskiy
President Zelenskiy said Friday that Russia aims “to break Ukraine and to break the whole of Europe through Ukraine”.
President Zelenskiy has given a very grave warning that Putin aims to destroy the whole of Europe.
Ukraine is desperate to join the EU as soon as possible, Zelenskiy said membership “can amplify freedom in Europe historically and become one of the key European decisions of the first third of the 21st century.”
He was joined with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi and Romanian President Klaus Iohannis for the Press Conference today in Kyiv.
- Matt Snape
NATO pledged to deploy military to eastern Europe
There are already 40,000 troops mobilised in response to Russia’s aggressive invasion of Ukraine.
Germany has previously announced that it will strengthen engagement with Lithuania.
France aims to increase its presence in Romania, where it plans to have deployed 1,000 troops by the end of 2022.
- Louis Allwood
Zelensky visits Odesa
Zelensky visited the city of Mykolaiv near the front lines of the fighting with Russia forces earlier today.
Following his visit there the head of state proceeded to the Odesa region, his office announced.
Since Russia launched its invasion on 24 February, Zelensky has not left Ukraine, but has defied the Russians with visits to areas close to intense fighting.
- Louis Allwood
Three Russian missiles reportedly hit oil depot
According to the Dnipropetrovsk regional governor three Russian missiles have reportedly hit an oil depot.
Writing on Telegram, Valentyn Renichenko says the missiles destroyed an oil depot near the town of Novomoskovsk, leading to a large fire.
It is understood that three people have been left injured following the attack.
Mr Renichecnko says fire fighters have since put out the fire.
- Louis Allwood
Zelensky hails EU backing as ‘historic’ step on path to join bloc
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky today praised a decision from the European Commission to give its backing for Ukraine to be granted EU candidacy status.
“It’s the first step on the EU membership path that’ll certainly bring our victory closer,” Zelensky wrote on Twitter.
He added that he was “grateful” to EU chief Ursula von der Leyen and “each EC member for a historic decision”.
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