Ukraine-Russia war latest: Zelensky backs down over ‘regrettable’ White House clash with Trump and Vance

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday he had instructed his defence minister and other officials to secure precise information on military supplies after the United States announced it was pausing assistance.

“I have instructed Ukraine’s minister of defence, intelligence chief and diplomats to contact their counterparts in the United States and obtain official information,” Zelensky said in his nightly video address. “People should not be left to guess.”

He said maintaining a “normal, partnership relationship with America is crucial for truly ending the war. None of us wants an endless war.”

The prospective partners in Germany’s next government said Tuesday that they will seek to loosen the nation’s rules on running up debt to allow for higher defence spending.

They said they also will seek to set up a huge 500 billion euro ($533 billion) fund to finance spending on Germany’s infrastructure over the next 10 years.

Center-right election winner Friedrich Merz, who is trying to put together a coalition government with the center-left Social Democrats of outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz, said the two sides will propose exempting spending of more than 1 per cent of gross domestic product on defense from rules that limit the government’s ability to borrow money.

One option facing the EU is to borrow 150 billion euros against the security of the EU budget to provide loans to governments for defence investment. The borrowing could be decided with qualified majority of EU governments, so no single country could block it.

The funds would be for projects that benefit all in the EU and would pool demand and entail buying together.

The projects would include pan-European air and missile defence, artillery systems, missiles and ammunition drones and anti-drone systems as well as cyber and military mobility.

The money from the EU, even though a loan, could be attractive to most EU governments because the Commission borrows more cheaply with a AAA rating, while most European countries have a lower rating.

Maturities of the loans would be “pretty long”, EU officials said, and the loans would be allocated on the basis of demand — countries would apply with proposals to get them.

A former North Korean sergeant has said Pyongyang troops fighting in Ukraine were told their families would be executed if they are captured alive.

“If the soldiers are captured and tell information to the enemy, their families will be punished, go to a political prison camp, or worse, they will be executed in front of the people,” North Korean defector and researcher, Pak Yusung, told ABC News.

Volodymyr Zelensky said he was grateful for Sir Keir Starmer’s “advice and support during this challenging time” following their call.

The Ukrainian president said: “We discussed the current developments and exchanged views on the next steps.

“We are co-ordinating our positions and doing everything to achieve guaranteed peace as soon as possible and bring an end to this war.

“Peace is needed for all of us. A just peace with clear security guarantees.

“Together with the leadership of the United States and all of Europe, this is absolutely achievable.

“I am grateful for the advice and support during this challenging time. We will always remember everything the British people have done for Ukrainians and our shared security.”

“I would like to reiterate Ukraine’s commitment to peace.

“None of us wants an endless war. Ukraine is ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible to bring lasting peace closer. Nobody wants peace more than Ukrainians. My team and I stand ready to work under President Trump’s strong leadership to get a peace that lasts.

“We are ready to work fast to end the war, and the first stages could be the release of prisoners and truce in the sky — ban on missiles, long-ranged drones, bombs on energy and other civilian infrastructure — and truce in the sea immediately, if Russia will do the same. Then we want to move very fast through all next stages and to work with the US to agree a strong final deal.

“We do really value how much America has done to help Ukraine maintain its sovereignty and independence. And we remember the moment when things changed when President Trump provided Ukraine with Javelins. We are grateful for this.

“Our meeting in Washington, at the White House on Friday, did not go the way it was supposed to be. It is regrettable that it happened this way. It is time to make things right. We would like future cooperation and communication to be constructive.

“Regarding the agreement on minerals and security, Ukraine is ready to sign it in any time and in any convenient format. We see this agreement as a step toward greater security and solid security guarantees, and I truly hope it will work effectively.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday a military unit from Myanmar would take part in this year’s military parade in Moscow on May 9 marking Victory Day celebrations.

Putin was speaking after talks with Myanmar junta chief Min Aung Hlaing in Moscow, whom he also invited to attend the May 9 celebrations.

Askold Krushelnycky in Kyiv speaks to soldiers deployed to the frontlines around Ukraine about their shock at Donald Trump’s decision – but that they have faith European allies like the UK will ensure they can keep fighting