Ukraine war live: Russia warns of full-scale war in Europe as Putin ‘will not stop’ says Biden

The British Embassy has reiterated its advice for UK citizens to avoid all travel to Russia, after its US counterpart warned of reports that extremists were planning to imminently target public places in Moscow within the next 48 hours.

Senior Ukrainian officials have pressed Kyiv’s plan to end Russia’s war in a meeting with a Chinese regional envoy, and presented what they said was evidence of North Korean weaponry supplied to Moscow.

Andriy Yermak, head of Ukraine’s presidential administration, said he and his team presented the situation on the battlefield and Kyiv’s peace proposals to Li Hui, China’s special representative for Eurasian affairs.

Mr Yermak said the Ukrainian side “discussed with Li Hui the prospects for establishing a just peace for Ukraine, the restoration of our country’s territorial integrity and sovereignty on the basis of the Ukrainian peace formula”.

Ukraine’s peace plan, as presented by Volodymyr Zelensky, calls for removing all Russian troops, restoring Ukraine’s 1991 post-Soviet borders and a process to make Russia accountable for its actions.

In a statement on Friday, the Chinese foreign ministry said Li “held frank and friendly talks” with Mr Yermak, Ukraine’s first deputy prime minister and foreign minister on both countries’ ties and the Ukraine crisis, but gave no details.

Switzerland has pledged to stage a peace summit and several preparatory meetings have already taken place. Kyiv has been trying to cultivate good relations with Beijing, and China has attended at least one of the meetings, though Russia has not been invited.

The US embassy in Russia has warned that extremists had imminent plans for an attack in Moscow and urged American citizens to avoid large gatherings in the Russian capital over the next 48 hours.

The embassy, which has repeatedly urged all US citizens to leave Russia immediately, gave no further details about the nature of the threat, but said people should avoid crowds and be aware of their surroundings.

“The Embassy is monitoring reports that extremists have imminent plans to target large gatherings in Moscow, to include concerts, and US citizens should be advised to avoid large gatherings over the next 48 hours,” the embassy said in a message on its website on Thursday.

Britain will provide 10,000 drones to arm Ukraine in its fight against Russia.

The announcement by defence secretary Grant Shapps during a visit to Kyiv with Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky includes an investment of £125m on top of £200m previously committed for drones.

The weaponry will include 1,000 one-way attack — or kamikaze — drones and models that target ships.

“Ukraine’s Armed Forces are using UK donated weapons to unprecedented effect, to help lay waste to nearly 30 per cent of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet,” Mr Shapps said.

The UK has pledged a further £125 million to supply Ukraine with drones to target Vladimir Putin’s army and the Russian Black Sea fleet.

The investment, on top of £200 million already promised, will help deliver more than 10,000 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), including kamikaze drones and anti-shipping capabilities.

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps made the announcement as he visited Kyiv for talks with Ukraine‘s president Volodymyr Zelensky.

He urged the UK’s allies to step up their own supplies of weapons to Kyiv.

Mr Shapps said: “I am ramping up our commitment to arm Ukraine with cutting-edge new drones coming directly from the UK’s world-leading defence industries – straight from the factory floor to the frontline. I encourage international partners to join the UK in this effort.

“Ukraine‘s Armed Forces are using UK donated weapons to unprecedented effect, to help lay waste to nearly 30% of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet.

“On my third visit to this great country, I was pleased to be able to offer my firm reassurance to President Zelensky on the UK’s unwavering commitment to the brave people and military forces of Ukraine.”

Valerii Zaluzhnyi, the former commander-in-chief of Ukraine, will become the country’s next ambassador to the UK.

The announcement comes a month after he was fired by president Volodymyr Zelensky in a major shake-up to the country’s military following failed counteroffensive efforts.

The Ukrainian general rose to popularity after leading the war efforts against Russia in 2022 and is seen as a potential political rival to Mr Zelensky.

Pinchas Goldschmidt, the chief Rabbi of Moscow, witnessed first-hand the rise of Putin, writes Adam Luck. Now that he’s fled the country after criticising the Ukraine war, he has a stark warning for the West – the Russian leader has his sights set on more than just Kyiv…

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The UN nuclear watchdog’s Board of Governors voted on Thursday to demand Russia withdraw from Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.

It was the board’s fourth resolution condemning Russia’s actions against Ukrainian nuclear facilities. The first was passed in March 2022, the day before Russia captured Europe’s largest nuclear plant.

The board called “for the urgent withdrawal of all unauthorised military and other unauthorised personnel” from the nuclear facility.

It asked the plant to be immediately returned to the full control of the “competent Ukrainian authorities”.

However, the demilitarisation demand was rejected by Russia, saying that “their implementation will make the plant even more vulnerable”.

Lord David Cameron said there was “incredible unity between allies” when asked about a leaked call between German military officials about Ukraine which included details of UK operations.

The Foreign Secretary’s visit to Berlin on Thursday came just days after Russia intercepted a telephone conversation in which officials were heard suggesting British service personnel were on the ground in Ukraine.

He was asked at a press conference alongside his German counterpart Annalena Baerbock whether he agreed with Berlin’s assessment that trust among allies was unbroken.

Lord Cameron said: “I don’t want to play into the hands of some Russian narrative about divisions between allies. What I see … is incredible unity between allies, incredible unity in Nato.

“Of course, we’re going to have areas where we want to discuss what more we can do, what more we can help. And those are the sorts of discussions that good friends and allies with this unity have in private.”

Read the full story here…