Ukraine-Russia war latest: Putin warns Russia could provide long-range weapons to attack West - and issues new nuclear threat (2024)

Vladimir Putin's latest comments underline the need for peace talks and an "immediate ceasefire" in the Ukraine war, Hungary's foreign minister has said.

Peter Szijjarto said the Russian president's warning thatMoscow could provide long-range weapons to others to strike Western targets show Budapest's position "is the only right position".

"Our position is that peace must be made as soon as possible. Peace talks should be started and an immediate ceasefire should take place," he said.

He cautioned that the "risk of escalation will grow" with each day the war rages on.

"We don't want this war to be escalated because this is not our war. We have paid a very high price already and we don't want to pay a higher price," said Mr Szijjarto.

Mr Putin has previously shown readiness to halt the war in Ukraine with a ceasefire that recognises the current battlefield lines, according to Russian sources - but Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly ruled out any deal that would leave Ukrainian territory under Russian occupation.

The Kremlin has issued a stern warning to Western countries which help to arm Ukraine.

Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said any countries supplying weapons for use inside Russia will face definite consequences.

It comes after Vladimir Putin warned he could provide long-range weapons to nations to strike Western targets in response to NATO allies allowing Ukraine to use their arms to attack Russian territory (see 8.31 post).

Mr Peskov did not comment on which countries or regions would be supplied with such weapons by Moscow.

A Russian tugboat has been destroyed in Crimea, Ukraine has claimed.

In a post on Telegram, the Ukrainian intelligence department shared a video of what appeared to be a drone hitting the vessel.

Sky News has not verified the footage.

The department identified the vessel as a Russian Project 498 Saturn tugboat, which is designed for towing ships and floating structures.

"As a result of the operation in the water area of Lake Panskow, another ship of the Russian invaders was destroyed," the post said.

"Devastating fire damage was inflicted after the successful breakthrough of the occupiers' line of defensive barriers in the Black Sea area."

A D-Day veteran, who was once handed a medal by Vladimir Putin, has said he's now horrified by the Russian president's actions.

Speaking to Sky News on the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings, Alec Penstone said he was given the medal for his bravery in the Second World War.

"He gave me a medal of bravery award and then he goes and pulls a trick like marching into Ukraine. It's terrible," the 99-year-old said.

"I just can't understand the human mind any more."

You can keep up to date with all our D-Day anniversary coverage in our special blog below...

A fire caused by a drone attack at an oil plant in Russia has been extinguished, the local governor has said.

Writing on Telegram, Vasily Golubev said the flames had spread across 100 square metres at the Novoshakhtinsk refinery in Rostov.

"About 120 people and 15 pieces of equipment were involved in extinguishing the fire," he said.

"Work was suspended due to a repeated attack, and personnel were withdrawn to a safe distance."

He said there has been no confirmation of any dead or injured.

Ukraine has repeatedly launched drone attacks on Russia throughout the war and they have increased in recent months.

Throughout the week, Russia will be holding its annual St Petersburg International Economic Forum.

Vladimir Putin is due to speak at the summit tomorrow, but today some leaders from Russia's closest allies will meet to discuss a series of topics.

China's President Xi Jinping, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the President of the United Arab Emirates Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan are among those attending.

The presidents of Boliviaand Zimbabwe are due to appear alongside Putin at Friday's plenary session.

This morning, Russia's Central Bank governor Elvira Nabiullina told the forumRussia must be integrated in the global economy.

"Despite sanctions, we must be integrated in the globaleconomy with those who are ready for it," Ms Nabiullina told apanel discussion.

We'll bring you the key updates from the event throughout the day.

Vladimir Putin has warned he could provide long-range weapons to nations to strike Western targets in response to NATO allies allowing Ukraine to use their arms to attack Russian territory.

The Russian president also reaffirmed Moscow's readiness to use nuclear weapons if it sees a threat to its sovereignty.

During an audience with international journalists, he said the recent actions by the West will further undermine international security and could lead to "very serious problems".

"That would mark their direct involvement in the war against the Russian Federation, and we reserve the right to act the same way."

It comes after the US, UK and Germany authorised Ukraine to hit some targets on Russian soil with the long-range weapons they are supplying to Kyiv.

Mr Putin also claimed using some Western-supplied weapons meant military personnel of those countries were controlling the missiles and selecting targets.

He used this as justification for Moscow being able to take "asymmetrical" steps elsewhere in the world.

What about nuclear weapons?

Asked whether Russia could resort to using nuclear arms, Mr Putin said the conditions for using that arsenal are clearly spelled out in Moscow's security doctrine.

"For some reason, they believe in the West that Russia will never use it," he said.

"Look at what is written there," he said of Russia's nuclear doctrine.

"If somebody's actions threaten our sovereignty and territorial integrity, we consider it possible to use all means at our disposal."

Welcome back to our live coverage of the war in Ukraine.

Yesterday, Russia's foreign minister Sergei Lavrov warned French military instructors operating in Ukraine would be a "legitimate target" of his country's armed forces.

It came after top Ukrainian commander Oleksandr Syrskyi said he had signed paperwork allowing French military instructors to visit Ukrainian training centres soon.

The office of French President Emmanuel Macron declined to comment on Mr Lavrov's remarks.

We'll be bringing you live updates throughout the day, but before we do, here's a reminder of the other key developments from the last 24 hours:

• A Western source said Ukraine has used American weapons to strike inside Russia;
• A former British defence attache has warned Russia's disinformation campaigns are "only going to get worse" as EU parliament elections and the Olympics approach;
  
• Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Qatar for talks with the state's emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani;
  
• Ukraine unveiled new remote-controlled electric stretches.

We're pausing our coverage for today but we will be back tomorrow with more updates.

Here is a rundown of the key developments today:

• Ukraine has used American weapons to strike inside Russia, according to an unnamed Western source;
• Joe Biden will hold talks with Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Normandy this week during his visit celebrating the 80th anniversary of D-Day;
• Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov has been visiting countries in Africa as part of an ongoing diplomatic offensive from the Kremlin;
• A former British defence attache has warned Russia's disinformation campaigns are "only going to get worse" as EU parliament elections and the Olympics approach.

You can scroll back through the blog to read all our updates from today.

A 26-year-old man of dual Ukrainian-Russian nationality has been arrested inpossession of explosives after some of them detonated in a hotel room north of Paris.

The man was treated by fire-fighters after he "sufferedsignificant burns following an explosion," on Monday, according to a source.

A source at the French anti-terror prosecutor's office said they had taken charge of the case and opened an investigation on suspicion of a terrorist conspiracy.

A subsequent search of his room led to the discovery ofproducts and materials intended for the manufacture of explosivedevices, the source added.

France's domestic spy agency DGSI is handling the investigation, Reuters reports.