May 15, 2023 - Russia-Ukraine news

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he feels “positive” about the prospect of Western allies providing Kyiv with more fighter jets.

Zelensky spoke at a brief press conference alongside Rishi Sunak after the two leaders met at the British prime minister’s country retreat Chequers on Monday.

“Today we talked about the jets – a very important topic for us,” Zelensky said. “We want to create this jet coalition and I’m very positive about it. We spoke about it. And I see that in the closest time you will hear some, I think, very important decisions, but we have to work a little bit more about it.”

However, Sunak struck a more cautious tone. “We are going to be a key part of the coalition of countries that provides that support to Volodymr and Ukraine. It is not a straightforward thing … to build up that fighter combat aircraft capability," he said.

Sunak announced in February that the UK would start training Ukrainian pilots on NATO-standard fighter jets.

Slow progress: For months, Ukraine has made pleas to its Western allies to supply more military hardware. More than just ammunition and artillery, Ukraine wants tanks and jets.

In January, Ukraine secured a major breakthrough after Germany announced it would permit the supply of Leopard 2 tanks to aid the country's defense efforts. The United States also pledged to send Abrams tanks.

Yet many of Kyiv's Western allies have been reluctant to provide Ukraine with fighter jets, with the notable exception of Poland.

However, Monday's discussion of a fighter jet "coalition" shows that Ukraine has not abandoned its demands -- and that its allies are still listening.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has told journalists that Moscow views the UK’s announcement of a new military aid package for Ukraine “extremely negatively.”

“Great Britain qualifies to be able to take the first place among those countries that continue to pump Ukraine with weapons," Peskov said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is in the UK to meet British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

Sunak will announce a new package of military support for Ukraine, Downing Street said in a statement ahead of the meeting. The package will include “hundreds of air defense missiles and further unmanned aerial systems including hundreds of new long-range attack drones with a range of over 200km (124 miles),” the statement said. 

UK ramps up support: Last week, CNN revealed that the UK has provided Ukraine with multiple “Storm Shadow” missiles – long-range cruise missiles with a firing range in excess of 250 kilometers, or 155 miles. A senior US military official called the decision a “game changer,” since these missiles will allow Ukraine to strike targets deep into Russian-held territory in the eastern regions.

UK Defense Secretary Ben Wallace confirmed CNN’s reporting on Thursday, calling the donation Ukraine’s “best chance to defend themselves against Russia’s continued brutality.”

The UK is set to announce further military support to Ukraine during Zelensky's visit on Monday.

Four people have been killed in missile strikes hitting the eastern Ukrainian city of Avdiivka, the head of the Donetsk region military administration said on Telegram Monday.

Pavlo Kyrylenko said Russian missiles hit a hospital Monday morning, and urged people to evacuate.

Some context: Fighting has intensified in the occupied eastern regions of the country, as Ukraine tries to reclaim its stolen territories and Russia attempts to resist.

In a rare admission, Moscow announced that two senior Russian military officers had been killed in eastern Ukraine. The Russian defense ministry said Sunday that two officers – Col. Vyacheslav Makarov and Col. Yevgeny Brovko — were killed in action while leading Russian troops in the Donetsk region. It did not specify when or exactly where they were killed.

The Donetsk region of Ukraine includes the city of Bakhmut, which has seen some of the fiercest and most relentless fighting of the war.

A Chinese envoy will be in Kyiv on Tuesday and Wednesday, a source within the Ukrainian government has told CNN.

Last week, China’s foreign ministry announced that its special representative of Eurasian affairs, Li Hui, would visit Ukraine to “promote peace talks.” It said Li would travel to Ukraine, Poland, France, Germany and Russia during the tour.

CNN has now confirmed that the talks will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Some context: In a press briefing last week, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Wang Wenbin told reporters that “the visit of Chinese representatives to the countries concerned is another manifestation of China's commitment to persuade and promote talks, fully demonstrating that China is firmly on the side of peace.”

The visit will come after Chinese leader Xi Jinping spoke with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky by phone last month for the first time since Russia's invasion began last year.

China has repeatedly attempted to portray itself as a peacemaker in the conflict, but Western countries have viewed Beijing’s intentions with deep suspicion as it forges deepening ties with Moscow.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he would discuss the need for “urgent support for Ukraine” with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, as the two leaders met at Chequers on Monday.

He added that the two leaders would discuss “very important issues, urgent support for Ukraine.”

Sunak praised Zelensky, saying that his leadership was “an inspiration to us all.”

“I look forward to us discussing what more we can do to support you and your country,” Sunak added.

The UK is the latest stop on Zelensky’s tour of Ukraine’s European allies. He met the Italian prime minister in Rome on Saturday, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin and French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Sunday.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has arrived in the United Kingdom to meet with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, 10 Downing Street said in a statement Monday.

Zelensky arrived at Chequers, the official countryside home of the sitting British prime minister, at around 9:30 a.m. local time (4:30 a.m. ET), a CNN producer on site said. Chequers is in Buckinghamshire, about 40 miles west of London.

The two leaders will hold discussions “on Ukraine’s ongoing military resistance to Putin’s brutal invasion," according to the statement.

Some context: The United Kingdom has delivered multiple “Storm Shadow” cruise missiles to Ukraine, giving the nation a new long-range strike capability in advance of a highly anticipated counteroffensive against Russian forces, multiple senior Western officials told CNN last week.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will announce a new package of military support for Ukraine as he meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday, Downing Street said in a statement. 

The two leaders will meet at Chequers, the prime minister’s country residence in Buckinghamshire, according to the statement. Zelensky will be the first world leader Sunak has hosted at Chequers, it added. 

Zelensky's trip to the UK follows an announcement by the British Defense Mministry that Britain has delivered "Storm Shadow" long-range cruise missiles to Ukraine ahead of the highly anticipated counteroffensive. 

The advance of troops in Bakhmut has shown that Ukraine can counter Russian force, demonstrating the "first success of the offensive" in a city that has seen months of fighting, the commander of Ukrainian Land Forces said Monday.

Some context: In recent months, Ukraine has seen some of its biggest battlefield gains around Bakhmut since it forced Russian troops out of Kherson last November.

It has been the site of a months-long assault by Russian forces that has driven thousands from their homes and left the area devastated.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to meet with BritishPrime Minister Rishi Sunak on Monday, Zelensky tweeted. 

"Today – London. The UK is a leader when it comes to expanding our capabilities on the ground and in the air. This cooperation will continue today. I will meet my friend Rishi. We will conduct substantive negotiations face-to-face and in delegations." Zelensky tweeted.

Some context: The United Kingdom has delivered multiple “Storm Shadow” cruise missiles to Ukraine, giving the nation a new long-range strike capability in advance of a highly anticipated counteroffensive against Russian forces, multiple senior Western officials told CNN last week.