Russia-Ukraine: Kremlin warns of territorial rift with NATO if Ukraine joins alliance

At a press conference following a meeting of the EU Council of Foreign Ministers, EU High Representative Josep Borrell stated that the European Union will assist Ukraine in exporting grain to seaports that have been closed as a result of Russian military activity.

He stated that in the meeting, the ministers discussed ways to help Ukraine's economy by liberalizing trade and streamlining transportation linkages. He further said that they must assist Ukraine in sustaining its grain production and exports. The warehouses in Ukraine are currently filled, yet they are unable to export this grain. Borrell went on to say that they are attempting to get the grains out by train, via the "solidarity corridors."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Russian troops continue to attack Ukraine's military forces, with Severodonetsk and other Donbas cities remaining their primary targets. He claimed that in places where Russia is still attempting to expand, Ukraine's armed forces are fending off relentless attacks but the occupiers continue to focus their efforts on Severodonetsk and other Donbas cities.

Andriy Sadovy, the mayor of Lviv, announced that explosions were heard in the city and urged the residents of the town to remain in hiding.

However, he also stated that there has been no confirmation of missiles hitting the city and expressed his gratitude to the defenders. The Mayor stated that they will provide more accurate details in the morning

The EU Council of Ministers authorized the fourth tranche of € 500 million for Ukraine's military equipment and right to self-defence during a meeting in Brussels.

EU High Representative Josep Borrell announced during a press conference after a meeting of the EU Council of Foreign Ministers that they have examined all options for financial assistance in light of the deteriorating humanitarian situation, as well as financial demands during the conflict and for the country's post-war reconstruction. He further said that they have agreed to offer an additional € 500 million in weaponry supplies from the European Peace Facility to Ukraine.

US ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield stated that the US supports UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' efforts to reintroduce Ukrainian grain into the world market despite the conflict. Ambassador Greenfield told reporters that the UN chief has spoken to them about his goals and his contacts with the Ukrainians and Russians on this matter.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba stated that only a comprehensive boycott of Russian exports will persuade Russia to cease the war.

Kuleba, during a meeting of the EU Council of Foreign Ministers on Monday in Brussels, said that only a total boycott of Russian exports can force Russia to terminate the conflict. He further said that rather than offering Ukraine the opportunity to make concessions to the Russian Federation in the name of peace, they must force the Putin regime to sit down at the negotiating table and seek acceptable solutions.

Bulgarian Prime Minister Kirill Petkov stated that in two years, Bulgaria will be able to diversify its oil imports and break its dependence on Russia.

He believes that Bulgaria should be exempt from the European oil embargo because it is currently 95% dependent on Russian oil. He also mentioned that Russia had previously ceased delivering gas to Bulgaria, and as a result, Sofia had cut funds to the Putin dictatorship.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that they still do not know how many children were killed by the Russians in the temporarily occupied territories and how many young Ukrainians were forcibly deported. The head of state noted that almost 300 children are known to have died in the previously occupied territories of Ukraine as a result of Russian shelling, bombing and torture.

The latest report suggests that at least 51 injured Ukrainian soldiers were evacuated from Azovstal in Mariupol after Russia announced the evacuation of Ukrainian soldiers on Monday.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on Monday via video link to students, rectors and professors from US universities that Ukraine will never again be a victim claiming that they have the ability, desire and will to be the subjects of life. He further stated that this is their strong longing for liberty and that he is grateful to those who are fighting for freedom.

Deputy Head of the Ukrainian President's Office Igor Zhovkva stated that President Vladimir Putin of Russia is not ready to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and has told some leaders that the moment is not yet right. The official emphasized that the Ukrainian president has already stated his willingness to meet directly with Putin.

Zhovkva further said that several heads and states have publicly urged President Putin to get down to the bargaining table. However, he is still not ready, and he informs some leaders that the time has not yet arrived.

High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell stated that the sixth package of sanctions against Russia was not agreed upon by EU foreign ministers. He also stated that the EU will assist Ukraine in transferring grain from storage to Europe, even by sea, to make place for a new harvest.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky discussed the need for financial support for the Ukrainian economy with IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva and said that Ukraine looks forward to continued constructive collaboration to ensure the financial stability of the country. Georgieva said that she will inform the G7 representatives of the need to speed up financial support to Ukraine on Monday.

Zelenskyy stated that he talked with Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund about how the Ukrainian economy needs financial assistance. He further said that they work closely with the IMF and that they anticipate more beneficial collaboration in the future to ensure financial stability.

US Permanent Representative to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield stated that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has demonstrated great leadership at the inaugural ceremony of Columbia University's School of International and Public Relations in New York, according to a Ukrinform.

She stated that President Zelenskyy has modelled great leadership for the rest of the world. He rallied to the defence of Ukraine and that is just what they achieved at the United Nations, where Russia was kicked out of the Human Rights Council and 140 members voted to censure and isolate Russia.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stated that Finland and Sweden are NATO's closest partners and it would be a historic moment if they decided to apply. He further said that their inclusion would boost the collective security, show that NATO is open for business, and that hostility does not pay.

Ukraine has accused the Russian troops of attempting to break through the Ukrainian border into Sumy Oblast. The State Border Guard claimed that Russian troops used mortars, grenade launchers, machine guns, and assault rifles while sending a group of saboteurs into the region on Monday morning.

Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed that nowhere Nazism is being encouraged at a state level, except for Ukraine. He also stated that NATO is being aggressively used as a US foreign policy instrument. "Monuments are demolished in Europe, history is cynically rewritten. The feats of those who helped bring victory in WW2 are destroyed," Putin stated, as per Sputnik. 

Speaking about Finland and Sweden's decisions to join NATO, Putin said that "Russia has no problem with this as their accession bids do not pose a threat but will definitely trigger a response."

Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko claimed that the "North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is aggressively building up military muscles" and acting on the principle "whoever is not with us is against us." Speaking at the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) summit in Moscow, the Belarusian President stated that NATO is aggressively carrying out a demonstration of its weapons near the country's western frontiers, and that the alliance is also bringing formerly neutral countries into its fold. His statement came after countries like Finland and Sweden officially announced their decisions to join the intergovernmental military alliance, the Ria Novosti news agency reported. 

Ukraine's Minister of Agrarian Policy and Agriculture met with his Polish counterpart Henryk Kowalczyk and signed a joint declaration, which agreed to significantly speed up control at the Ukrainian border and simplify the export of Ukrainian agricultural products to the European Union (EU) and third countries. 

The United States affirmed it will reopen its embassy in Ukraine "very soon." The announcement was made by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken while he was addressing a press conference in Germany's Berlin on Sunday. Blinken informed that several US diplomats returned to Ukraine's national capital, Kyiv, last week. He further reiterated that the Joe Biden administration is adopting all precautionary measures to resume the US embassy in Kyiv "very soon."

"American diplomats have returned to Ukraine after several weeks of working out of Poland. We’re re-opening our Embassy in Kyiv – we’re taking all necessary precautions, but that work is underway – and we will resume operations very soon," Blinken said.

Read more. 

Russia has accused the United States of purposefully "obscuring" its military-biological activities in Ukraine. The Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov has claimed that the Pentagon's Defense Threat Reduction Agency played a key role in funding and conducting military biological research in Ukraine.

According to Russia's state-owned media, TASS, on May 16, at a meeting of a parliamentary commission investigating the circumstances surrounding the establishment of bio laboratories on Ukrainian territory by American specialists, Ryabkov stated, "The circumstances that arose in connection with the conduct of a special military operation (of Russia in Ukraine) made it possible to look inside what is happening at the suggestion of the United States in this area (military biological activity in Ukraine), which Washington deliberately glosses over, obscures making it impossible for other members of the international community to at least understand what, where, how and for what reasons, for what purpose this country is carrying out."

Read more.

Amid the ongoing brutal war, Kremlin stated that Ukraine's potential accession to North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) would result in a territorial conflict between Russia and the military alliance. "Unlike Ukraine, Finland and Sweden have no territorial disputes with Russia," Kremlin spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov said, as per Sputnik. His statement comes after the two Scandinavian countries officially announced their decision to join the intergovernmental military alliance. 

As Finland and Sweden officially announced their decisions to join North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister warned that this move "would be a mistake with far-reaching implications." Speaking to reporters, Sergey Ryabkov said that the overall level of military tension will escalate, and there will be less predictability in these regions if Finland and Sweden enter the intergovernmental military alliance.

"It's a pity that common sense is being sacrificed to some phantom ideas about what should be done in the current situation. This is another serious mistake with far-reaching implications. But there's nothing to be done, such is the level of those who make the appropriate decisions in the respective countries," he stated, as per Sputnik. 

Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitri Peskov cautioned that "NATO's further expansion will not make Europe more stable and safe." According to him, further bolstering NATO's eastern flank would "become an element for a specific assessment and the formulation of the necessary steps to balance the situation and secure our security,"

McDonald’s stated that it has started the process of selling its Russian business, which includes 850 restaurants that employ 62,000 people, making it the latest major Western corporation to exit Russia since it invaded Ukraine in February. The fast-food giant pointed to the humanitarian crisis caused by the war, saying holding on to its business in Russia “is no longer tenable, nor is it consistent with McDonald’s values.”

The Chicago-based company announced in early March that it was temporarily closing its stores in Russia but would continue to pay employees. On Monday, it said it would seek to have a Russian buyer hire those workers and pay them until the sale closes. It did not identify a prospective buyer.

CEO Chris Kempczinski said the “dedication and loyalty to McDonald’s” of employees and hundreds of Russian suppliers made it a difficult decision to leave. “However, we have a commitment to our global community and must remain steadfast in our values,” Kempczinski said in a statement, “and our commitment to our values means that we can no longer keep the arches shining there.”

As it tries to sell its restaurants, McDonald’s said it plans to start removing golden arches and other symbols and signs with the company’s name. It said it will keep its trademarks in Russia.
 

(AP)

The mayor of Melitopol city, located in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, stated that nearly 50% of residents have fled the occupied city since the onset of the war. Speaking to the Ukrainian media, mayor Ivan Fedorov claimed that around 65,000 residents have escaped Russian-occupied Melitopol, whereas, nearly 70,000 are still remaining in the city.

Ukraine's military intelligence has obtained documentary evidence of the loss of manpower and equipment of the 1st Panzer Army of the Russian Armed Forces. According to the Ukrainian Defence Ministry, the study and analysis of the obtained documents helped in establishing the list of units involved in the military invasion of Ukraine, military ranks and names of the occupiers who died during the war, went missing, were captured or wounded. 

As of March 15, the total loss of 1 Russian tank army amounted to 409 people. Ukrainian soldiers killed 61 and wounded 209 occupiers. In the first two weeks of the war alone, 44 Russian tankers went missing and 96 occupiers of the army decided to save their lives and surrender. During the same period, the defenders of Ukraine destroyed and captured 308 units of military equipment from the Russian forces, the Ukrainian Defence ministry claimed citing the documentary evidence. 

The Ukrainian government has proposed the Group of Seven (G7) countries to create an influential organization of grain exporting countries to tackle the global market challenges. Speaking at the opening of the G7 Conference of Ministers of Agriculture in Germany, Mykola Solsky, Ukraine's Minister of Agrarian Policy, claimed that a lot of food products could not enter the global market because of the challenges created due to ongoing war.

"7 million tonnes of wheat, 14 million tonnes of corn grain, 3 million tonnes of sunflower oil, 3 million tonnes of sunflower meal, and other crops were unable to enter the world market due to the blockade of Ukrainian seaports," he added, European Pravada reported. 

Viacheslav Chaus, the governor of Chernihiv Oblast, said the authorities were beginning to restore power grids, water supply facilities, hospitals, and kindergartens that had been devastated by the Russian battle, The Kyiv Independent reported. 

Belarusian volunteers in the Kastus Kalinowski Battalion fighting for Ukraine have suffered their third loss, said a tweet by NEXTA. "Today our Battalion suffered a huge loss. During the liberation of the Ukrainian village from Russian occupation, the commander of the detachment, a soldier of our Battalion Pavel “Volat” was mortally wounded. He was taken to the hospital in critical condition, but it was [too] late," they wrote. 

Ukraine General Staff of Armed Forces on Monday claimed that defending forces killed at least 27,700 Russian troops in Ukraine. Ukrainian defenders have also destroyed over 1200 tanks and 2900 armoured vehicles. 

Plumes of smoke billowed after a colossal blast in Luhansk after Ukrainian Armed Forces destroyed key linking bridge between Rubizhne and Severodonetsk.

Russian gas transfer through Ukrainian territories may drop by a quarter to about 46.8 billion cubic meters per day, RIA Novosti reported. 

Russian state media, RIA Novosti on Monday reported that the Russian assets of car manufacturer Renault have been transferred to state ownership. Moscow Mayor Sobyanin stated that the company will resume production of Renault cars under the brand name 'Moskovitch'.

The UN Development Programme of Eurasia in its latest report warned that as many 9 out of every 10 in Ukraine could plummet into poverty in the wake of the ongoing Russian war. 

Mayor of Mykolaiv Oleksandr Sienkevych, on Monday, said that Russian troops bombed a local store and a car in the region leading to a massive fire. The arbitrary shelling also damaged a gas pipeline was damaged as a result of the attack on the morning of May 16. 

In a surprising turn of events, Turkey a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) on Monday refused to view the membership applications of Finland and Sweden to the bloc. Following the fallout, Sweden has decided to send a team of delegates to convince Ankara otherwise, Sweden defence minister Peter Hultqvist said. 

"We will send a group of diplomats to hold discussions and have a dialogue with Turkey so we can see how this can be resolved and what this is really about," The Guardian quoted Hultqvist as saying. 

Turkey has demanded the Nordic countries suspend support to Kurdish militant groups present in Turkish territories. Further, it has also called on Sweden and Finland to scrap bans on the sale of some weapons to Turkey. 

Speaking to The Guardian, the spokesperson of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Ibrahim Kalin said that Turkey has to maintain a crucial balance to host negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv. While Ankara criticises the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the spokesperson warned that it would do "no good" to impose more sanctions against Russia. Turkey has favorable ties with both West and Russia. It has overseen the docking of several sanctioned yachts of Russian oligarchs since the war began. Although, Ankara has also delivered non-lethal military aid to Ukraine to so solidarity amid with the ex-Soviet nation.

UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) in its latest operational briefing stated that, Belarusian territory was used as a staging post for Russia’s initial advance on Kyiv and Chernihiv. Russia has also launched air sorties and missile strikes from Belarus. It added, "Belarusian President Lukashenko is likely balancing support for Russia’s invasion with a desire to avoid direct military participation with the risk of Western sanctions, Ukrainian retaliation and possible dissatisfaction in the Belarusian military."

Kharkiv Governor Oleh Sinegubov on Monday informed that the counterattack by Ukrainian Armed Forces has pushed out Russian invaders from Kharkiv- the second-largest city in Ukraine. Taking to Telegram, Sinegubov said that the Russian troops reached the north-eastern state border. 

Kharkiv governor Oleh Sinegubov on Sunday in a Telegram post claimed that strong Russian defence has pushed out Russian troops to north-eastern state borders.

Amid the Russia-Ukraine war wherein Kremlin is believed to be supported by the Belarusian army, Baltic nation Latvia has announced that it will suspend rail transit of Belarus’ military cargo through the country’s territory to its Baltic seaports. According to the Delfi news website, the Latvian Transport Ministry avered on Sunday that starting May 10, the country suspended the agreement which paved the way for the direct rail transportation of military cargo from Belarus to third countries through Latvian ports. 

The intergovernmental agreement on the transportation of military goods by rail from Belarus to third countries using the Latvian ports was signed back in January 1994, when Latvia had not joined the European Union (EU). The Ministry of Transport said in a statement, “Latvia joined the EU on 1 May 2004 and on 29 March 2004 became a member of NATO. In this regard, Latvia is bound by the legal norms of these international organizations, and the agreement with Belarus does not apply to these norms”.

Read more here

The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) is set to begin its large-scale exercises in Estonia on Monday. The drills were reportedly planned way ahead of the Russian invasion. 'Hedgehog', one of the largest exercises, including 15,000 troops from 14 countries will take place in Estonia today, The Guardian reported. Other drills - 'Defender Europe' and 'Swift Response' will take place in the coming days in Poland and 8 other countries. It will include at least 18,000 soldiers from 20 countries. 

Estonia Foreign Minister Eva-Maria Liimets said Finland and Sweden joining NATO will increase defence cooperation in the Baltic region. Speaking on the sidelines of the NATO FM Summit in Berlin, Liimets said the joining of the Nordic countries will ensure "broader joint exercises and also ... more defence cooperation," The Guardian reported. 

As the deadly war in Eastern Europe entered its 82nd day with Russian troops failing to achieve their pre-set targets and Ukrainian troops putting up a tough resistance against the invading Russian forces, Republic TV reached Dnipro, the city of Ukraine.

Dnipro has been a hub for Ukrainians fleeing war and humanitarian aid. Many buildings have been damaged by Russian missile attacks in the city. However, Ukrainian defenders staged sturdy resistance against invading troops which resulted in some notable wins on and off the battlefield. 

Read more here

While the European Union (EU) mulls over its next set of sanctions which might include an embargo on Russian oil imports, Germany on Monday declared that it will stop purchasing Russian oil regardless of the sanctions, Bloomberg said in a report. An official from Berlin told the publication that German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's government is set to push ahead with the plan. According to German Economy Ministry, Germany has already decreased its Russian oil consumption to 12% from 35% since the war Russia-Ukraine war broke out. 

"Russian forces have likely abandoned the objective of completing a large-scale encirclement of Ukrainian units from Donetsk City to Izyum in favor of completing the seizure of Luhansk Oblast... Russian forces have likely run out of combat-ready reservists," the Institute for Study of War said.

The Foreign Ministers of the European Union are set to meet today to discuss the ongoing war in Ukraine and the sixth package of sanctions on Russia, an official told Tass News Agency. In attendance will be Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba and Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly. The FMs "will focus on continued support for Ukraine, diplomatic ties, ongoing work on an action plan to overcome global consequences and counter the manipulation of foreign information," the EU official said under conditions of anonymity. 

Sweden's ruling  Social Democratic Workers' Party On Sunday supported the country's move to seek NATO membership, however, stated that the alliance must not station permanent bases in the country's territory. 

"The party board has at its meeting on May 15, 2022 decided that the party will work toward Sweden applying for membership in NATO," the Social Democrats said in a statement, as quoted by TASS News Agency. 

As the deadly war in Eastern Europe entered its 82nd day with Russian troops failing to achieve their pre-set targets and Ukrainian troops putting up a tough resistance against the invading Russian forces, Ukrainian military commander Serhiy Volyna has now reached out to billionaire and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, seeking assistance to save him and the other defenders who are trapped inside the besieged Azovstal style steel plant in Mariupol. 

This came at the time when Elon Musk recently stepped in to extend his satellite communication services -Starlink to Ukraine while on the other hand, Ukrainian forces have pledged to continue the fighting against Russian forces at the steel plant in the war-hit region. 

Tweeting in English, the Ukrainian commander said, "Elon Musk, people say you come from another planet to teach people to believe in the impossible. Our planets are next to each other, as I live where it is nearly impossible to survive. Help us get out of Azovstal to a mediating country. If not you, then who? Give me a hint."

Read more here

In its latest briefing about the Russian war, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said that Ukrainian defence has continued to push invading troops out of Kharkiv City toward the Russian state border. 

A movie directed by former Kremlin prisoner Oleh Sentsov, Rhino is set to debut on the global streaming service platform Netflix. The movie will be available on the application from May 13. The 2021 movie is based in 1990s Ukraine when a bandit falls into the grip of the criminal world that leads him to an unknown path.

Ukraine Armed Forces on Sunday claimed to have destroyed at least 11 Russian aerial attacks on May 15. According to the latest intel report, Ukraine Air Force shot down two cruise missiles, three Orlan-10 UAVs and one Ka-52 helicopter. Apart from this, Ukraine's Air Defence also thwarted a Mi-28 helicopter and four other Orlan-10 UAVs.

As the Russian war entered day 82, developments in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) and Ukrainian defenders staging sturdy resistance against invading troops have resulted in some notable wins on and off the battlefield. Meanwhile, the Western leaders, citing intelligence analysis have also flagged that Russia is losing momentum in Ukraine due to logistical and moral issues. "Ukraine can win this war," NATO General-Secretary Jens Stoltenberg said, during a virtual address to the military bloc's informal meeting in Berlin.

On the other hand, Finland and Sweden acted on their long-awaited plan to join NATO membership despite strong Russian opposition. Helinski on Sunday stated that the Russian war in Ukraine has changed the "security landscape" in Europe, thus, leaving them no option but to scrap its age-old non-alliance status. Hours later, Sweden too followed the suit and cleared the air over its potential membership request to NATO in the coming days. While the intergovernmental military bloc calls it to be a defensive expansion, Russia describes it as a threat to its territorial borders.

Read more here

As the ruthless war in Ukraine escalated to day 82, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, during a telephonic conversation on Sunday, apprised Ukrainian Defense Minister Alexei Reznikov regarding his May 13 meeting with Russia's Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu. According to a readout, Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby stated that Austin and Reznikov spoke about the situation in war-ravaged Ukraine and Kyiv's military requirements. 

Kirby further noted that Pentagon chief Austin has shared an update on his phone call with Russian Defense Minister Shoygu, wherein he advocated for an immediate cessation of the hostilities in Ukraine and underscored the necessity of preserving communication lines.  

Read more here

The Russian war in Ukraine has entered day 82 with devastation and destruction evident across the ex-Soviet nation. The atrocities in the country have forced at least 6 million to flee, as per UN data. Those left behind are reeling from grave personal losses. 

"(US) President (Joe) Biden recently nominated Bridget Brink to serve as our next ambassador to Ukraine. She’s an outstanding veteran diplomat.  We hope the Senate will move quickly to confirm her, just as we hope Congress will move quickly to pass the $40 billion supplemental funding bill to ensure that our ability to provide assistance to Ukraine is not interrupted," US State Secretary Antony Blinken said in Berlin. 

Ukraine's men's team at the Summer Deaflympics 2021 beat France in the finals to bag a gold medal in Brazil. 

The first deputy mayor of the west Ukrainian city of Lviv, Andriy Moskalenko, on Sunday took to his Telegram channel to report an attack on the website of the City Council. 

A Polish Nobel Prize-winning author on Sunday said that Russia presents a threat to the "free world" and its attack on neighboring Ukraine had echoes of the Second World War. 

Olga Tokarczuk, known for her humanist themes and playful, subversive streak, spoke at a writers festival in Jerusalem.

"The Poles and Ukrainians share the feeling of danger that Russia presents to the free world," Tokarczuk said, adding that the Polish government had warned about the risk presented by Russian aggression for years.

Poland, Ukraine's western neighbor, has taken in over three million Ukrainian refugees since Russia launched its invasion in late February. 
 

Finland's government declared a “new era” is underway after announcing its intention to seek NATO membership, hours before Sweden's governing party on Sunday backed a plan to join the trans-Atlantic alliance amid Russia's war in Ukraine.

Russia has long bristled about NATO moving closer to its borders, so the developments will be sure to further anger Moscow. President Vladimir Putin has already warned his Finnish counterpart on Saturday that relations would be “negatively affected.” 

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, speaking Sunday after top diplomats from the alliance's 30 member states met in Berlin, said the process for Finland and Sweden to join could be very quick. He also expressed his hope that Ukraine could win the war as Russian military advances appear to be faltering.

(AP)
 

Dozens of worshippers attended a Sunday morning service at the Christian Orthodox monastery of Archangel Saint Michael in the southwestern Ukrainian city of Odesa.

The strategic port city has been largely spared from the worst of the war. But it has still suffered repeated missile strikes. 
Air raid sirens are frequent, including two on Sunday morning.

Many people have fled the city, heading abroad or to parts of Ukraine they considered safer. 

Sweden has officially decided to join North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) as the Social Democrats party will work for Sweden to apply for NATO membership. 

Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde stated that today, the Swedish Social Democratic Party made history by agreeing to apply for membership in NATO's defence alliance. Sweden's and Europe's security situation has deteriorated as a result of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

US State Department spokesman Anthony Blinken stated that NATO partners aim to maintain sanctions pressure on Russia for as long as it takes. He said that they aim to continue to offer security assistance to Ukraine, enforce sanctions, implement export controls and exert diplomatic pressure on Russia for as long as required. He further said that the US and its allies are concentrating their efforts on assisting Kyiv both militarily and at the diplomatic table.

At the NATO Foreign Ministers meeting in Berlin, the leaders discussed Finland and Sweden's NATO membership. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said that Sweden and Finland are NATO's closest allies and that their application for membership would be historic. NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg stated, "Their membership in NATO would improve our shared security, indicate that NATO's door is open and that aggression does not pay."

The Office of Ukraine's Prosecutor General suggests that the Main Directorate of the Ukrainian Security Service in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions have begun an investigation into Russia's use of illegal incendiary missiles in Mariupol against Azovstal defenders.

The investigation suggests that the Russian Federation's armed troops assaulted the defenders of Mariupol on May 14, 2022, while stationed on the land of PJSC "MK" Azovstal. The invaders used incendiary weapons with thermite coatings, which are illegal under international humanitarian law. Such weapons have a combustion temperature of almost 3,000 degrees Celsius and are designed to kill enemy soldiers and equipment by igniting large fires.

US State Secretary Antony Blinken met with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dymytro Kubela to discuss Ukraine's security amid war. He stated that before today's NATO Foreign Ministerial, he met with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba to discuss the security and economic help Ukraine requires to defend itself against Russia's unprovoked attack. He further said that their commitment to Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity is unwavering.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Bearrbock stated that while bilateral engagement is necessary, there are currently no channels for communication with the Russian Federation. She said that NATO represents an international order built on dialogue, among other things. However, there are currently no contact platforms with the Russian Federation and the OSCE format was the last available platform. Bearrbock further said that the Russian side destroyed this last conversation platform.

Russian soldier says Russians use prohibited weapons in an intercepted phone conversation. Security Service of Ukraine shared the phone conversation on YouTube. In the phone conversation, Russian soldiers said, "Phosphorous bombs, cluster munitions – they have allowed us to use everything that is banned by international conventions."

Russia attacked residential buildings in Gulyaipol, Zaporizhzhia region and destroyed civilian residents on May 14. According to media reports, law enforcement personnel stated that several dwellings of local inhabitants were destroyed by enemy strikes.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Sunday that Ukraine can defeat Russia's invasion and urged the alliance to continue providing military supplies to Kyiv. He said that this conflict is winnable for Ukraine and that they must continue to step up and sustain their assistance to Ukraine

Stoltenberg also expressed optimism that Turkey's reservations about Sweden and Finland's upcoming membership aspirations will be addressed.

At a press conference following an informal meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Berlin, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stated that Russia has failed to achieve any of its strategic goals of taking Ukrainian territory or eroding NATO unity after it started an aggressive invasion of Ukraine.

Ukraine's President Adviser, Oleg Ustenko stated that the European Union's embargo on Russian oil imports must go into effect immediately because Ukraine cannot afford to wait another six months while Russia continues to murder its civilians.

In an interview with the international media outlet Project Syndicate, Ustenko stated that while Ukraine supports the European Commission's plan to halt Russian crude oil imports, delaying the implementation for six months is unacceptable. After all, the Russian Federation relies on energy income to fund its war force.

The audio from the sinking of the Moskva warship has been released by the Ukrainian military. The audio suggests that the ship was hit twice and was tilting on its side. On April 14, the Black Sea Fleet's flagship, the Moskva, sank.

The Mayor of Lviv, Andriy Sadovy has expressed grave concerns over Russian missiles hitting a military facility near the Poland border. He stated that a military complex in the Yavoriv district was attacked by four Russin missiles. It had been completely demolished. However, there were no injuries. He also announced that two missiles were shot down by air defence forces. The attack was 15 kilometres from Poland's border.

As NATO member states are ready to ratify Finland and Sweden's membership applications as quickly as possible, the accession could take only a few weeks.

Following a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Berlin, German Foreign Minister Annalena Bearbock said that Germany has prepared everything for a swift ratification procedure. She further claimed that other ministers also agreed to ratify the treaty quickly.

Russian State Duma suggests that the final statement adopted following the meeting of the G7 foreign ministers, confirms the course of some countries to interfere in the internal affairs of the Russian Federation by imposing their ideas of democracy.

Vasily Piskarev, the chairman of the State Duma commission said that Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States are interfering in Russia's internal affairs by forcing their concepts of democracy on Russian society.

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba stated that Ukraine will join the EU and will be granted candidate status shortly. The Minister added that during his visit to Berlin, he had a very good conversation regarding Ukraine's accession to the European Union with leaders from the German government. 

He believes that Germany now has the opportunity to make a historic decision and avoid political blunders, stating that the German elites have a simple choice, either lead this process and write their names in European history, or it will happen regardless of their leadership.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has stated that Serbia has paid a high price for refusing to endorse Western sanctions against Russia. On Sunday, the Serbian President said that seven American producers and performers declined to come to Serbia because the country did not impose sanctions on Russia. He stated that they know what sanctions are and how dishonest and pointless they are.

Finland declared on Sunday that the country intended to apply for membership in NATO, paving the path for the 30-nation Western military alliance to expand amid Russia's conflict in Ukraine.

The announcement was made at a joint press conference held by Finnish President Sauli Niinisto and Prime Minister Sanna Marin at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki. The decision is expected to be approved by the Finnish Parliament in the next few days. Following that, a formal membership application will be filed at NATO headquarters in Brussels, most likely next week.

In the Black sea, Russia is holding 7 surface ships, which include two cruise missile carriers and five huge landing ships, as a spokesman for the South Operational Command Vladislav Nazarov suggests.

Nazarov stated that in the Black Sea, there are two cruise missile ships and five huge landing craft as a result of that the fear of missile strikes from the sea is still present, as is psychological pressure. He stated that stormy weather forced one of the enemy sea mines and brought it closer to the coast of Odessa. He claimed that the appropriate units of the Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are in charge of the situation.

Mykhailo Podoliak, an adviser to the President of Ukraine has stated that Ukraine will not be able to end the war fought by Russia this month, but it can end this year. He outlined the requirements for Ukraine to defeat Russia completely.

He stated that Ukraine, like the rest of the world, is not interested in a long-term conflict with Russia. He said that they won't be able to put an end to the war this month, but they will be able to do so next year. He further stated that a true oil embargo combined with tanks, planes and artillery is the recipe for triumph.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba stated that the G7 countries are supportive of the notion of transferring confiscated Russian assets to Ukraine for state reconstruction.

He stated that he can't comment on the specifics but all he can say is that the idea of Russian assets being not only frozen but also transferred to Ukraine for the rehabilitation of the country is great. The Minister also mentioned that the G7 confirmed its willingness to assist in the rehabilitation of Ukraine, particularly in the cities, infrastructure, and regions damaged by the fighting.

The Russian Federation has confirmed that they have used phosphorous and cassette weapons in their fight against Ukraine, according to media reports. International conventions prohibit certain weapons because they are particularly destructive and inhumane. Ukraine says that Russia continues to break the laws of war, attempting to kill as many peaceful Ukrainians as possible.

NATO must maintain its 'open door' policy towards admitting new members, UK foreign secretary Liz Truss said in the aftermath of meeting foreign ministers of member countries in Berlin. She said, "Nato’s open-door policy is essential and if Finland and Sweden decide to apply to join, it is clear that they would strengthen the alliance and European security as a whole,' as reported by The Guardian. Notably, both the countries have indicated that they would be joining the 30 member military alliance soon. 

On Saturday, Ukraine's Kaluch orchestra won the Eurovision song competition 2022- a move that indicated global solidarity with the embattled nation. However as the Zelenskyy administration penned notes of celebration, Russians shared images of shells with '#Eurovision2022' inscribed on them. 

A missile strike hit Ukraine's western city of Lviv early on Sunday. In a telegram statement, the region’s Governor Maxim Kozitsky said, "Four enemy missiles hit one of the military infrastructures in the Lviv region. The object is completely destroyed. According to preliminary information, there are no casualties. No one sought medical help." Lviv-the cultural capital of Ukraine- borders Poland and is NATO's gateway inside Ukraine. 

"Russia’s Donbas offensive has lost momentum and fallen significantly behind schedule,' British intelligence said, adding that it has failed to achieve substantial territorial gains over the past month whilst sustaining consistently high levels of attrition. In its latest report, it said that Russia's bridging equipment has been in short supply throughout the conflict, slowing and restricting offensive manoeuvres. Russian UAVs are vital for tactical awareness and directing artillery, but have been vulnerable to Ukrainian anti-air capabilities.

A Ukrainian official has claimed that Russia is planning to hold a referendum in Mariupol over whether the city will join Russia. While the city is yet to surrender to Putin's forces, Petro Andryushchenko, an adviser to the city's mayor, said that there have been certain integration of Mariupol's education, and banking system into the Russian Federation. 

"We have some information that the Russian authorities are preparing a referendum and could even call it tomorrow, but we don’t know yet if this is the case. But we see lots of integration of Mariupol into the Russian system, the education system, and the banking system," he said. 

Russia’s blockade of the Black Sea is pushing entire populations toward famine, G7 foreign ministers said at a meeting held in Berlin. "Russia’s unprovoked and premeditated war of aggression has exacerbated the global economic outlook with sharply rising food, fuel and energy prices," the leader said in a statement. "Combined with Russia blocking the exit routes for Ukraine’s grain, the world is now facing a worsening state of food insecurity and malnutrition … This is at a time when 43 million people were already one step away from famine," they added. 

Shells that the Netherland supplied to Ukriane are reported to be inscribed with the words "Revenge for MH17". In 2014, a Russian BUK downed flight MH17 and killed all 298 passengers, most of whom were Dutch. However, Moscow denies its involvement and refuses to pay compensation.

_{Image: Nexta TV/Twitter} 

Russia’s ambassador to the US, Anatoly Antonov, says his country’s diplomats in Washington DC are being threatened with violence and harassed by US intelligence services, Tass news agency said. 

US Senate minority leader, Mitch McConnell, joined the growing list of US politicians making visits to Kyiv. In a statement released in the aftermath, he said, "We (US delegates) saw firsthand the courage, unity, and resolve of the Ukrainian people"

A large convoy of hundreds of cars and vans carrying refugees from the ruins of Mariupol arrived in the Ukrainian-controlled city of Zaporizhzhia on Saturday night. Zelenskyy administration in collaboration with international aid organisations has been gradually evacuating citizens from the besieged city since March. A  report carried by local media stated that all civilians have been rescued from the Azovstal plant, while troops still remained holed up in the factory. 

The influx of refugees from Ukraine to Germany has decreased, the country's Interior Minister Nancy Feser said. According to her, while in mid-March 15,000 people were arriving in the country every day, now there are only about 2,000. This comes as Russian troops retreated from many towns of Ukraine. 

Russia carries out 9 attacks in eastern Ukraine where the most experienced and well equipped Ukrainian troops are stationed. Meanwhile, Ukraine's Operational Tactical Group “East” reported on Facebook on May 14 that in the area Ukrainian forces destroyed a warehouse with up to 80 Russian troops inside. 

Fresh explosions were heard in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv on Sunday, according to Suspile News. Lviv is located in the western part of the country and serves as the doorway of NATO to the country. 

After Ukraine's Kalush Orchestra called for help for the battered steel factory in Mariupol, an online search for Azovtal surged. According to Google Trends, the search for "Azovstal" increased several times. 

The leader of the Kalush Orchestra group, after his performance at the Eurovision 2022 final, addressed the world community from the stage and shouted: "Please help Azovstal, help Mariupol!". Kalush Orchestra won the Eurovision Song Competition 2022. 

Russian troops were withdrawing from around Ukraine’s second-largest city Kharkiv after bombarding it for weeks, the Ukrainian military said on Saturday. As the war continued for the 11th week, Putin's troops focussed on guarding supply routes. However, they continued bombing the eastern heartland of the country- the industrial region of Donbas.