Ukraine-Russia war latest: Moscow warns it could go to war with NATO over US move - as Germany follows Washington in approving strikes inside Russia with its weapons (2024)

Fresh off signing a security pact with Sweden, Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said it is a matter of time before Ukraine uses Western weapons to strike Russian territory.

The Ukrainian president has just signed his 13th security agreement with a western nation, and is signalling that Kyiv will be striking north of Kharkiv after countries like the US and Germany approved plans to do so.

He says: "I think that using any weapon, Western kind of weapon, on the territory of Russia is a question of time."

Going further, Zelenskyy called for next month's NATO summit to address letting Ukraine join the military alliance.

Russia has consistently threatened to retaliate if Ukraine is allowed to join the military bloc.

Later today, Zelenskyy will sign more security agreements with Norway and Iceland - both also NATO countries.

Russia and Ukraine have today carried out their first prisoner swap since February.

The exchange, brokered by the United Arab Emirates, saw 75 Ukrainians and 75 Russians released.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy says four of the Ukrainians released were civilians held as prisoners of war.

Ukrainian officials added that 19 were defenders of Snake Island, which became the focus of global attention when a soldier stationed on the rocky outcrop told a Russian warship "go f*** yourself" at the start of the war.

Russia also handed back the bodies of 212 Ukrainians.

The Ministry of Defence says it's likely there have been 500,000 Russian casualties since the start of Russia's war in Ukraine.

It says in its defence intelligence update that, during May, Russia has suffered its highest rate of reported casualties since February 2022 - at more than 1,200 per day.

By Alex Rossi, international correspondent

The change in US policy will not be a game changer in the Ukraine conflict but it does represent a significant shift in Washington's position.

It has far-reaching ramifications - and not just on the battlefield.

The frontlines on Ukraine's north eastern border around Kharkiv are looking increasingly shaky.

The second city is now in striking distance of Russian artillery.

Washington’s change in policy is limited in scope but it means the defenders will now be able to fire US munitions into Russia in this area only, to try and stymie a new front opening further and stop Russian forces advancing.

Again, the emphasis is being placed on defensive action rather than offensive operations - but that is a matter of interpretation and will look very different in Kyiv, Washington and of course Moscow.

Using American weapons for attacks inside Russia has always been a red line for the Americans.

Since the conflict started, the Kremlin has continuously played up with bellicose rhetoric that such moves could lead to a direct conflict with America - and the spectre of a nuclear war.

But the precarious situation in North East Ukraine and the subsequent appeals from the Zelensky administration appear to have changed the calculation of policy-makers in Washington.

It marks a sharp departure from where the Americans were at the beginning of the war.

Then the supply of weapons was only meant to be defensive in nature and to be used inside Ukrainian territory.

Now you have a situation where American guns and rocket launchers can be used to target positions inside a nuclear armed country and enemy.

Russia's response has been predictable - it's warning that the move is a serious escalation and will have serious consequences.

The move though is unlikely to change the course of the war.

For many months Ukraine has been striking deeper inside Russian territory and it has not changed Russia’s will to fight.

But it's hoped the power of American weapons will help Ukraine stabilise an area that has been under constant attack for the last three weeks and looks increasingly weak.

Time is a valuable commodity on the battlefield and the change in policy will give Kyiv the room to regroup and solidify positions as it takes arrival of the latest weapons package from the US, which was approved by Congress last month.

But America's decision also brings with it peril.

Moscow has made many empty threats since it launched its calamitous invasion but, although incremental, this represents an even deeper involvement by the US and its allies in the war.

And increases the possibility of a direct confrontation with Russia in the future.

The Kremlin says Ukraine is already trying to strike targets inside of Russia with American weapons - less than a day after Joe Biden gave Kyiv the green light to do so.

Spokesman Dmitry Peskov says: "What we know is that generally, there are already attempts to strike Russian territory with weapons produced by the United States.

"This is enough for us and it speaks volumes about the degree to which the United States is involved in the conflict."

He doesn't specify what attempts have been made by Ukraine to strike inside Russia.

As other officials have said today, Peskov blames the West for escalating the conflict and says that support for Ukraine in Europe is being whipped up to the point of "pre-war hysteria".

Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev said earlier today that Ukraine striking with US weapons inside of Russia could mean war with NATO (see 9.14am post).

Two Russian soldiers were found stabbed to death in Crimea this morning, according to Telegram report.

Sapa 15, a Russian-language Telegram channel, reports a 40-year-old local resident attacked three men with a knife.

Two men, who were servicemen, died in the attack. The third man was hospitalised in shock and suffered injuries to his hand and to the area near his kidneys.

Sapa 15 named the two men killed as Niyazbek, 39 from Vladikavkaz, and Alexander, 32 from Rostov-on-Don.

According to the Telegram channel, some reports claim the three men attacked a passerby and began to beat him. The passerby then took out a knife and stabbed the trio.

Other reports say the three men "made a remark to a group drinking on a bench" before a fight broke out.

Sapa 15 also said that "it is known that the attacker was convicted of robbery almost ten years ago".

China has insisted its demands for an international peace conference that is recognised by both Russia andUkraineare "fair" and "impartial", and not directed at any party.

Mao Ning, a foreign ministry spokesperson, made the remarks at a news briefing after Reuters reported that China would not attend aUkrainepeace conference to be hosted by Switzerland next month - to which Russia is not invited.

"China attaches great importance to Switzerland hosting the firstUkrainePeace Summit, and has been working with the Swiss side and all parties involved since the beginning of this year," Ms Mao said.

While continuing to insist it is neutral in the conflict, China remains a strong ally of Russia - with Vladimir Putin being welcomed for a state visit in the country earlier this month.

Berlin has announced Ukraine can now use German weapons to strike inside Russia, following the US and NATO allies in loosening rules on Kyiv.

In line with the US, a government spokesperson says Ukraine can use military supplies to strike targets behind the border, but only to defend Kharkiv from attacks from the north.

"We are jointly convinced that Ukraine has the right, guaranteed under international law, to defend itself against these attacks," government spokesmanSteffen Hebestreit said.

"To do so, it can also use the weapons supplied for this purpose in accordance with its international legal obligations; including those supplied by us."

Ukraine says at least four people died after Russian missiles struck an apartment building in Kharkiv overnight.

Kyiv's air force say Russia launched five S-300/S-400 ballistic missiles at the besieged city overnight, with one hitting the block of flats around midnight last night.

Regional governor Oleh Syniehubov says another missile struck first responders at the scene 25 minutes later.

It marks another attack on Kharkiv - Ukraine's second biggest city, and just 12 miles away from Russia - as Moscow continues its fresh offensive from the northern border.

Last Saturday, a Russian strike on a construction supply store in the city killed 18 people.

Russian defence ministerAndrei Belousov says Moscow stopped a Ukrainian attack using American-made missiles in Crimea last night.

He said Kyiv's "massive" bombardment used eight ATACMS - secretly sent to Ukraine by the US in March - to target the Kerch Bridge.

Russia's Ministry of Defence said air defence systems shot down the missiles and eight drones on Thursday night.

However, the general staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces said yesterday that they successfully struck the Kerch ferry crossing.

Two ferries were "significantly damaged" by the attack, the general staff said, and one of the ferries was stranded and reportedly "blocked the functioning of the entire Kerch crossing".

Nikolai Lukashenko, a Russia-appointed official in Crimea, also acknowledged the strike in the port of Kerch, but said yesterday it was debris from downed Ukrainian missiles that damaged the vessels.