Zelensky reiterates Ukraine's calls to join NATO: Ukraine's message is that it will be a NATO member after the war has ended, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday.

On Wednesday, Ukraine’s State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate accused Russia of placing weapons, explosives and military equipment in one of the power plant’s units.

Russia denies deploying explosives at Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant: Russia has dismissed claims that it deployed military equipment and explosives at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.

Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said the US did not know who was responsible. John Kirby, the National Security Council’s Coordinator for Strategic Communications, called Russia’s allegation that the US directed Ukraine to carry out such an attack “ridiculous.” Both allegations drew sharp denials from Kyiv and Washington. Some context: The news comes on the heels of Russia's claim that the US was involved in an alleged drone attack on the Kremlin and an assassination attempt against President Vladimir Putin.

Ryabkov said Moscow and Washington are in contact as needed, including at a high level, but also added that 'Washington has long been a direct party to the Ukrainian conflict and aims to destroy sovereign Russia,' TASS reported. Russia and the United States are on what Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov called 'the verge of an open armed conflict.' But Ryabkov told Russia's state-owned First Channel that 'Moscow is working to make sure it doesn't happen,' according to state news agency TASS.

It calls for a ceasefire but includes no provision that Moscow first withdraw its troops from Ukrainian land, which Ukrainian officials have suggested is necessary for them to engage in negotiations.ĭuring the previous meeting between the two foreign ministers on April 13, Qin told Lavrov that all parties need to take action to build mutual trust and create conditions for peace talks. It has also continued to deepen diplomatic and economic ties with Moscow.Ī vaguely-worded “political settlement” to the conflict released by China on the first anniversary of Russia's invasion has been widely viewed in the West and Kyiv as being far more favorable to Russia than Ukraine. “China is willing to maintain communication and coordination with Russia to make tangible political contributions to the political settlement of the crisis,” Qin Gang told Sergei Lavrov at the SCO Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Goa, India, according to a statement released by China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.īeijing has so far refused to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine or call for a withdrawal of its troops, instead urging restraint by “all parties” and accusing NATO of fueling the conflict.

Anna covered in blood