The Russian president says in comments broadcast on Sunday the need to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine has not arisen, and he hopes it will not arise. Listen to the latest episode of The World podcast as you scroll.
Sunday 4 May 2025 15:22, UK
Volodymyr Zelenskyy is visiting the Czech Republic today to meet its president Petr Pavel.
The Czech government has been a strong backer of Kyiv since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, and has led an initiative to supply Ukraine with large-calibre ammunition that has delivered more than a one million shells.
Under the initiative, the Czechs have used their diplomatic, business and industrial expertise to find large-calibre ammunition around the world and ship it to Ukraine with funding from NATO allies.
Zelenskyy, who is accompanied on the trip by First Lady Olena Zelenska, will also meet Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala on Monday, with the Czech ammunition drive among the topics on the agenda.
Chinese President Xi Jinping will make an official visit to Russia this month to participate in VE Day celebrations, the Kremlin has said.
In a statement on Telegram, the Kremlin said that Xi will discuss with Vladimir Putin the development of the two countries’ strategic partnership, as well as signing a number of documents.
“During the talks, the main issues of further development of relations of comprehensive partnership and strategic interaction, as well as current issues on the international and regional agenda will be discussed,” the Kremlin said.
Russia’s celebrations of the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany will take place from 7-10 May.
Xi’s visit to Russia comes after Putin proposed a three-day ceasefire with Ukraine around the celebration.
Responding to Moscow’s offer of the ceasefire, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he was ready as long as the ceasefire would be 30 days in length, something Putin had already ruled out in the near term.
At least four people have been killed and 30 injured in Russian attacks on Ukraine, regional authorities have reported today.
As previously reported, Ukraine shot down 69 of 165 Russian drones overnight.
In Kyiv, 11 people, including two children, were injured, according to authorities. The Dream Town shopping mall, at least seven cars, and the upper floors of a high-rise caught fire from strikes.
In Donetsk three were killed, while a man was killed and four women injured in Kharkiv.
Ukrainian troops will take part in the UK’s military procession to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day in London tomorrow.
They will join about 1,000 UK service personnel from the Royal Navy, the Royal Marines, the British Army and the Royal Air Force.
Victory in Europe Day, known as VE Day, is celebrated on 8 May each year to mark when the Allies formally accepted Germany’s surrender in 1945.
According to the Ministry of Defence, the forces joining together for the procession will symbolise the global support for Ukraine’s “continued fight for freedom against Russia’s unprovoked, illegal invasion”.
Photos from Ukraine’s emergency services show firefighters battling several large blazes last night in Kyiv.
Several cars also reportedly caught fire from falling drone debris, with witnesses saying they heard what sounded like air defence systems in operation.
Kyiv, its surrounding region and the eastern half of Ukraine were under air-raid alerts for about an hour, starting soon after midnight on Sunday local time.
There was no immediate comment from Moscow about the attack, but it comes amid uncertainty around a temporary ceasefire for VE Day celebrations next week.
Vladimir Putin has said this morning there has been no need to use nuclear weapons in the conflict with Ukraine – and he hopes there never will be.
Speaking in a broadcast on state television, Putin said Russia has the strength and the means to bring the conflict in Ukraine to a “logical conclusion”.
Some context: Putin signed a revamped version of Russia’s nuclear doctrine in November, spelling out the circumstances that would allow him to use the world’s largest atomic arsenal.
The document gave the option of nuclear warfare in response to even a conventional attack backed by a nuclear power.
Ukraine’s military says it has shot down 69 of 165 drones launched by Russia overnight.
It says a further 80 drones were lost – this means either the Ukrainian military used electronic warfare to redirect them, or they were drone simulators that did not carry warheads.
Russia’s overnight attacks have injured at least 11 people, including two children, and set several residential buildings on fire in Kyiv.
Timur Tkachenko, head of Kyiv’s military administration, said on social media that falling debris from destroyed drones sparked fires at residential buildings in Kyiv’s Obolonskyi and Sviatoshynskyi districts.
Welcome back to our coverage of the war in Ukraine.
Yesterday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he and Donald Trump had the “best” conversation they had ever had when they met on the sidelines of the Pope’s funeral.
The Ukrainian leader also said he and Trump agreed a 30-day ceasefire between Kyiv and Moscow was the correct first step towards peace in the war with Ukraine.
Here are the other key lines from the last 24 hours:
The map below shows the latest territorial picture in Ukraine…
We’re pausing our coverage for the evening.
As we have been reporting today, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he and Donald Trump had the “best” conversation they had ever had when they met on the sidelines of the Pope’s funeral.
On the critical minerals deal, Zelenskyy also said the deal signed by the two countries was mutually beneficial, and that it would allow Ukraine to defend future US investments, as well as its own territory and people.
Here is a look at what else has been happening:
Ukraine’s air defence units are trying to repel an overnight Russian attack on Kyiv, Ukraine’s military and officials are reporting.
“Air defence forces are working in the capital,” Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko has written on Telegram.
“Stay in shelters!”
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