PUTIN is feared to be plotting an enormous airstrike on Kyiv the place world leaders have gathered “at any time”, in keeping with US intelligence.
Keir Starmer, France‘s Emmanuel Macron, new German chancellor Friedrich Merz, and Polish premier Donald Tusk, are all within the Ukrainian capital in the present day.
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The three-day ceasefire Putin introduced is because of finish tonight – whereas the leaders will nonetheless be in Kyiv.
And Ukraine has accused Russia of already breaching the truce quite a few instances with bomb raids and gunfire.
American officers felt pressed to problem a public warning, which learn: “The US Embassy in Kyiv has obtained info regarding a probably vital air assault which will happen at any time over the subsequent a number of days.
“The Embassy, as all the time, recommends US residents be ready to right away shelter within the occasion an air alert is introduced.”
Western leaders have grouped round President Zelensky in a present of assist after greater than 20 travelled to Moscow on Friday for Russia‘s massive Victory Day parade.
The 4 from the UK, France, Germany and Poland arrived collectively at Kyiv’s practice station, presenting a united entrance of their requires peace.
The same warning was issued on November 20 final yr – at some point earlier than Russia struck Dnipro with an Oreshnik ballistic missile.
Intelligence has revealed that Russia plans to shut the airspace over its Kapustin Yar missile check website between 6:00am on Monday and 6:00 am on Tuesday.
This is identical website that launched the Oreshnik on Dnipro final yr – and so may sign Russia is plotting comparable assault.
Any contemporary Russian strike will mark the failure of main current efforts to power Putin into an extended, 30-day ceasefire.
Zelensky has lengthy pushed for an prolonged truce to create a window for a full peace settlement.
However Putin has proven few indicators of any want to halt the warfare.
Chancellor Merz was hopeful that an settlement was inside attain, amid threats of giant new sanctions in opposition to Russia.
He mentioned: “I’ve nice hope {that a} ceasefire settlement in Ukraine will probably be reached this weekend.
“Now the ball is in Moscow‘s court docket.”
Donald Trump demanded: “I’ve a message to either side: finish this warfare.
“We’re shedding 5,000 troopers every week, Russian and Ukrainian troopers, and different individuals, and I say: finish this silly warfare. That is my message to either side.”
The Kremlin fell again on its stalling techniques, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov saying that Putin demanded “sure dynamics” on the battlefield earlier than agreeing an prolonged ceasefire.
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Most notably, the Russian need the West to cease navy provides to Kyiv.
Peskov mentioned: “In any other case, will probably be [advantageous] for Ukraine.
“Ukraine will proceed their complete mobilisation, bringing new troops to [the] entrance line.
“Ukraine will use this era to coach new navy personnel and to offer a relaxation to their present ones.
“So why ought to we grant such a bonus to Ukraine?”
Regardless of Zelensky’s continued pleas for peace, Peskov accused Kyiv of being “not prepared for rapid negotiations”.
Denying the Kremlin was dragging its toes, he claimed: “President Putin is doing no matter is feasible to unravel the issue, to attain a settlement by means of peaceable and diplomatic means.
“However having no peaceable and democratic means at hand, now we have to proceed [the] navy operation.”
Trump has additionally throw his weight behind a 30-day unconditional ceasefire.
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He mentioned: “Hopefully, an appropriate ceasefire will probably be noticed, and each nations will probably be held accountable for respecting the sanctity of those direct negotiations.”
European leaders – together with Starmer – mentioned in a press release earlier than arriving in Kyiv: “The bloodshed should finish, Russia should finish its unlawful invasion, and Ukraine should be allowed to flourish as a safe and impartial nation inside its internationally recognised borders for generations to come back.
“We intend to proceed to extend our assist for Ukraine.
“We’ll improve strain on the Russian warfare machine till Russia agrees to a everlasting ceasefire.”
The leaders vowed to reaffirm to Zelensky their unwavering assist.
The joint assertion continued: “We, the leaders of France, Germany, Poland and Britain, stand in Kyiv in solidarity with Ukraine in opposition to Russia’s barbaric and unlawful full-scale invasion.”
Three Ukrainian civilians had been killed within the Sumy area by Russian strikes on Might 8 and 9 – regardless of the supposed ceasefire.
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Russian media has reported in current days that Putin had given the go-ahead to a brand new Oreshnik strike.
Kremlin-friendly Mash mentioned three days in the past:“Vladimir Putin gave the Russian Defence Ministry directions to determine targets in Kyiv for the Oreshnik strike.”
The same report was carried by Baza, additionally near the Kremlin.
Oreshnik is nuclear-capable, however Putin threatens it’s nearly as harmful with non-nuclear warheads.
Targets can be incinerated, he mentioned, with the weapons unleashing a temperature of 4,000 levels – nearly as scorching because the floor of the solar.
Russia hit Ukrainian metropolis Dnipro with a fearsome Oreshnik missile in November 2024 in revenge for the usage of UK and US missiles in opposition to his territory.
