Russia-Ukraine war live: Kyiv and Moscow welcome China’s intervention – as it happened

It is midnight in Kyiv. It has been a busy day for Ukraine as the country marked its one-year anniversary since the Russian invasion. Here is a wrap-up of today’s developments:

• Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau has announced that Canada will provide additional military support to Ukraine. On Friday, Trudeau said that Canada will provide four additional Leopard 2 main battle tanks. The additional tanks will bring up the total number of tanks provided by Canada to eight.

• The US has announced that it will offer over $10 billion in assistance to Ukraine. Blinken said that the funds are crucial to Ukraine and ensure that the Ukrainian government can continue to meet “the critical needs of its citizens, including healthcare, education, and emergency services.”

• A ‘people’s court’ has endorsed an indictment against Russian president Vladimir Putin for the crime of aggression and called for his arrest. After a week of hearings in The Hague, a panel of three international legal experts issued the order and called on the international community “to take every step necessary to ensure that a court with legal powers issues an indictment against president Vladimir Putin and takes appropriate measures to arrest the perpetrator and put him on trial in an official Ukraine tribunal as soon as possible,” the AP reports.

• The European Union has promised additional support for millions of Ukrainian refugees that have fled their country since Russia’s invasion one year ago. Speaking to the Associated Press on Friday, EU Commission vice president Margaritis Schinas said, “As far as (refugees from) Ukraine are concerned, the figures are stable. “If it happens, we are ready, but it doesn’t seem to be the case for the time being,” he said, referring to a potential increase in refugees.

• US Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer has released a statement marking the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in which he pledged American solidarity. “One year ago, Vladimir Putin committed his greatest mistake by underestimating the resolve of Ukraine. Since then, we have seen bravery, patriotism, and valor personified by President Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian people,” Schumer wrote.

• Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, has declared victory to be inevitable as his country marked the anniversary of the moment it was invaded by Russian troops. In a national address earlier on Friday, Zelenskiy told Ukrainians they had been proven invincible over “a year of pain, sorrow, faith and unity.”

• The Group of Seven (G7) has announced a range of further economic, military and financial sanctions against Russia. The group announced it would take unprecedented measures in order to weaken Russia, promising measures against Russian diamond exports. It warned that third countries that help Russia evade sanctions would face “severe costs” and is understood to be setting up an “enforcement coordination mechanism” to stop evasion of G7 sanctions already imposed.

• The UK said it was banning the export of every item Russia has been found using on the battlefield to date, a list covering hundreds of goods, including aircraft parts, radio equipment and electronic components. The British government is also imposing sanctions on senior executives at Russia’s state-owned nuclear power company Rosatom, who Ukraine says are complicit in the seizure and forced nationality change of the staff of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and their children.

• Sweden will send up to 10 Leopard tanks and anti-aircraft systems to Ukraine, the prime minister, Ulf Kristersson, and defence minister, Pål Jonson, said today. “The Swedish tanks reinforce the Leopard 2 contribution that other European countries make. Coordination of support is ongoing with international partners donating Leopard 2 or other tanks,” the government said.

• President Zelenskiy has welcomed some elements of a Chinese proposal for a ceasefire in Russia’s war on Ukraine. China’s government called for peace talks while urging all parties to avoid nuclear escalation and end attacks on civilians, in a statement which appeared to maintain Beijing’s stance that the west was fuelling the conflict and which analysts dismissed as anodyne. “China has shown its thoughts. I believe that the fact that China started talking about Ukraine is not bad,” Zelenskiy said.

• Russia appreciated China’s plan to resolve the conflict in Ukraine and was open to achieving the goals of what it calls its “special military operation” through political and diplomatic means, foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said. However, this would also mean recognising “new territorital realities” in Ukraine, Zakharova said, referring to Russia’s unilateral annexation of four Ukrainian regions - Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia - as well as of Crimea.

That’s it from me, Maya Yang, as we close the blog for today. Thank you for following along.

Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau has announced that Canada will provide additional military support to Ukraine.

On Friday, Trudeau said that Canada will provide four additional Leopard 2 main battle tanks, CTV News reports.

The additional tanks will bring up the total number of tanks provided by Canada to eight.

Canada will also provide an armoured recovery vehicle, as well as over 5,000 rounds of ammunition.

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The US has announced that it will offer over $10 billion in assistance to Ukraine.

In a statement on Friday, secretary of state Antony Blinken said, “…in coordination with the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of the Treasury, we are announcing over $10 billion in assistance, including budgetary support to the Government of Ukraine and additional energy assistance to support Ukrainians suffering from Russia’s attacks.”

Blinken said that the funds are crucial to Ukraine and ensure that the Ukrainian government can continue to meet “the critical needs of its citizens, including healthcare, education, and emergency services.”

He added that the Biden administration is also working alongside Congress to provide additional energy assistance to the war-torn country – a $250 contribution that will in turn address “immediate needs, including critical power grid equipment.”

The assistance is in addition to the $270 million that the US has already committed to help safeguard and bolster the country’s energy security in the past year.

A ‘people’s court’ has endorsed an indictment against Russian president Vladimir Putin for the crime of aggression and called for his arrest.

The Associated Press reports:

The symbolic decision Friday came on the anniversary of Russia’s illegal invasion of its neighbor that triggered Europe’s biggest and deadliest conflict since World War II.

After a week of hearings in The Hague, a panel of three international legal experts issued the order and called on the international community “to take every step necessary to ensure that a court with legal powers issues an indictment against president Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin and takes appropriate measures to arrest the perpetrator and put him on trial in an official Ukraine tribunal as soon as possible.”

The judges, including Stephen Rapp, a U.S. prosecutor who once headed the successful effort to bring former Liberian President Charles Taylor to justice for crimes in Sierra Leone, heard testimony from survivors of Russian attacks in Ukraine and from military experts before issuing their order.

The ruling comes amid international efforts to establish a tribunal that could prosecute Putin and other Russian leaders for the crime of aggression. The International Criminal Court has opened an investigation in Ukraine, but doesn’t have jurisdiction to prosecute the crime of aggression.

The presiding judge at the court, South African Zak Jacoob, said that he hoped the hearings would add to the pressure for a special court.

“Hopefully this is a step to prosecution. As I said, we have no legal authority or force, but hopefully we have the authority of moral force and moral persuasion, which would take us somewhere,” he told reporters.

The people’s court found that evidence presented was strong enough to indict Putin, saying that as head of state he “planned, prepared, initiated and executed — and continues to plan and execute — the Russian Federation’s acts of aggression in Ukraine.”

Jacoob, called Putin’s justifications for the war “pathetic.” An invitation for Putin or his legal representatives to take part in the hearings went unanswered, prosecutors said.

“It is an insult to the international community and to the integrity of the world to make the sort of claims that he has made. And I reject them in no uncertain terms,” Jacoob said.

The Eiffel Tower has lit up in blue and yellow – colors of the Ukrainian flag – in a show of solidarity for the country on the one-year anniversary of the Russian invasion.

“Paris once again shows its solidarity with the Ukrainian people, who are fighting tirelessly for freedom and democracy,” tweeted Paris deputy mayor Jean-Luc Romero-Michel.

The European Union has promised additional support for millions of Ukrainian refugees that have fled their country since Russia’s invasion one year ago.

Speaking to the Associated Press on Friday, EU Commission vice president Margaritis Schinas said, “As far as (refugees from) Ukraine are concerned, the figures are stable.

Schinas added that he did not think it was “automatic” that the number of refugees would increase in the coming months.

“If it happens, we are ready, but it doesn’t seem to be the case for the time being,” he said.

View image in fullscreen

US Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer has released a statement marking the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in which he pledged American solidarity.

“One year ago, Vladimir Putin committed his greatest mistake by underestimating the resolve of Ukraine. Since then, we have seen bravery, patriotism, and valor personified by President Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian people,” Schumer wrote.

“To honor that heroism and show the United States’ unwavering support for Ukraine’s fight for freedom and democracy, I was proud to lead the Senate in delivering over $113 billion in military, economic, and humanitarian aid their country needed and deserved. Now, and for as long as it takes, the United States stands shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine,” he added.

During a security council meeting at the United Nations, Russia’s UN ambassador, Vassily Nebenzya, interrupted a minute of silence which Ukraine’s foreign minister requested for those who died as a result of “Russian aggression.”

‘All lives are priceless ... we are rising to remember the memory [of all the victims],” Nebenzya said, interrupting the minute’s silence, before it resumed.

1:09

Today marks the first anniversary of Russia’s full-fledged invasion of Ukraine. It’s been a busy one, so here’s a look at the key developments:

• Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, has declared victory to be inevitable as his country marked the anniversary of the moment it was invaded by Russian troops. In a national address earlier on Friday, Zelenskiy told Ukrainians they had been proven invincible over “a year of pain, sorrow, faith and unity”. He paid homage to cities that have become bywords for Russian war crimes, such as Bucha, Irpin and Mariupol, describing them as “capitals of invincibility”.

1:39

• The Group of Seven (G7) has announced a range of further economic, military and financial sanctions against Russia. The group announced it would take unprecedented measures in order to weaken Russia, promising measures against Russian diamond exports. It warned that third countries that help Russia evade sanctions would face “severe costs” and is understood to be setting up an “enforcement coordination mechanism” to stop evasion of G7 sanctions already imposed.

• The US led the way with an announcement of further military aid for Ukraine and sanctions against Russia and its supporters, including Chinese companies. The military assistance package will include several new drone and anti-drone systems the US has not previously made available, as well as equipment to help Ukraine counter Russian electronic warfare. The US will also send more ammunition for the high mobility artillery rocket systems (Himars) and 155mm howitzer guns Washington has provided over the course of the year.

• The UK said it was banning the export of every item Russia has been found using on the battlefield to date, a list covering hundreds of goods, including aircraft parts, radio equipment and electronic components. The British government is also imposing sanctions on senior executives at Russia’s state-owned nuclear power company Rosatom, who Ukraine says are complicit in the seizure and forced nationality change of the staff of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and their children.

• But Britain is not planning to send RAF Typhoons to Ukraine, the defence secretary Ben Wallace has said. Wallace said the jets would be too complex for Ukraine – but added, with the backing of Downing Street, the fighters could provide air cover for eastern bloc countries to backfill if they wanted to send their MiG-29 and other Soviet-era jets to Kyiv.

• The EU is expected to announce a ban on €11bn (£9.7bn) worth of exports of critical technologies to Russia, as part of a 10th round of sanctions. Despite plans to have the measures in place by the first anniversary of the invasion, the latest measures were being held up by a last-minute dispute over how quickly to ban synthetic rubber imports from Russia. Italy objected to a rapid phase-out, while Poland blindsided other member states with its insistence the trade be stopped as soon as possible.

• The first Polish Leopard tanks have arrived in Ukraine. Poland’s prime minister, Mateusz Morawiecki, confirmed that four Leopard tanks had been delivered to Ukraine. “Poland and Europe stand by your side. We will definitely not leave you, we will support Ukraine until complete victory over Russia,” he said, standing alongside President Zelenskiy during his visit to Kyiv. He said Poland will provide more Leopard tanks soon, as well as a number of upgraded, Soviet-era T-72 tanks.

• Sweden will send up to 10 Leopard tanks and anti-aircraft systems to Ukraine, the prime minister, Ulf Kristersson, and defence minister, Pål Jonson, said today. “The Swedish tanks reinforce the Leopard 2 contribution that other European countries make. Coordination of support is ongoing with international partners donating Leopard 2 or other tanks,” the government said.

• President Zelenskiy has welcomed some elements of a Chinese proposal for a ceasefire in Russia’s war on Ukraine. China’s government called for peace talks while urging all parties to avoid nuclear escalation and end attacks on civilians, in a statement which appeared to maintain Beijing’s stance that the west was fuelling the conflict and which analysts dismissed as anodyne. “China has shown its thoughts. I believe that the fact that China started talking about Ukraine is not bad,” Zelenskiy said.

• Russia appreciated China’s plan to resolve the conflict in Ukraine and was open to achieving the goals of what it calls its “special military operation” through political and diplomatic means., foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said. However, this would also mean recognising “new territorital realities” in Ukraine, Zakharova said, referring to Russia’s unilateral annexation of four Ukrainian regions - Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia - as well as of Crimea.

• But western leaders have largely dismissed China’s peace plan for Ukraine, arguing that Beijing does not have the international credibility to act as a mediator in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The 12-point position paper on Ukraine, for which Kyiv was not consulted, was criticised by US officials and some analysts who noted the growing ties between China and Russia. On Wednesday, China’s top diplomat visited Moscow and pledged a deeper partnership.

• The World Bank has announced $2.5bn (£2.1bn) in additional grant financing for Ukraine to support the country’s budget and to maintain essential services. The funds will go towards supporting Ukraine’s key sectors, including health care, schools, payment of pensions, payments for internally displaced people, social assistance programs, and wages for employees providing core government services, it said.

• The White House says it believes Russia may provide Iran with fighter jets and other military equipment in exchange for support for its war in Ukraine. The White House’s national security spokesperson, John Kirby, said the US had information that Iran had shipped artillery and tank rounds to Russia in November. In return, Russia was offering “unprecedented defence cooperation”, including on missiles, electronics and fighter jets, he said.

• Commemorations have been held in Ukraine and around the world on the first anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion, with moments of silence observed, candlelit vigils and protests. Our picture editors have selected some of the strongest images from the events for this gallery.

Britain is not planning to send RAF Typhoons to Ukraine, the defence secretary has said, rejecting a high profile campaign led by Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, with the support of the former prime minister Boris Johnson.

Ben Wallace said the jets would be too complex for Ukraine – but added, with the backing of Downing Street, the fighters could provide air cover for eastern bloc countries to backfill if they wanted to send their MiG-29 and other Soviet-era jets to Kyiv.

The defence secretary said: “We’re not going to send our own Typhoon jets in the short term to Ukraine,” in an interview with Sky News to coincide with the first anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion on Friday.

But the comments deal a blow to Zelenskiy, who travelled to the UK this month to make a dramatic request for “wings for freedom” in a rare address by a foreign leader to both Houses of Parliament in Westminster.

Instead, Wallace said that if other countries with Soviet-origin aircraft wanted to supply Ukraine instead, the UK would be willing to help provide air cover for that country to make up for the loss of jets.

Read the full story here:

The World Bank has announced $2.5bn (£2.1bn) in additional grant financing for Ukraine to support the country’s budget and to maintain essential services.

The funds will go towards supporting Ukraine’s key sectors, including health care, schools, payment of pensions, payments for internally displaced people, social assistance programs, and wages for employees providing core government services, a statement from the World Bank said.

The president of the World Bank group, David Malpass, said:

One year into Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the world continues to witness the horrific destruction inflicted on the country and its people.

We will continue supporting the people of Ukraine through urgent repair projects and coordination with the Government for recovery and reconstruction efforts

Ukraine’s defence minister, Oleksii Reznikov, has thanked Sweden’s prime minister, Ulf Kristersson, following the announcement that Stockholm will send up to 10 Leopard tanks and anti-aircraft systems to Kyiv.

Volodymyr Zelenskiy has wrapped up his press conference after more than two hours of taking questions from journalists.

The Ukrainian leader concluded the conference by talking about his family. “I love them, I love my family. I love my wife,” he said.

He said his children are “the most important people” for him, but that he did not get to see them often and that he didn’t have “any opportunities” to see his own parents.

On the subject of Ukraine’s first lady, Olena Zelenska, he said he was “very proud” of her and that she was “doing everything she can for the sake of our children and the country”.

He added:

The most important thing is not to let them down. The most important thing is to make sure that my children are proud of me.

The EU’s top diplomats have for a third day running failed to agree on the bloc’s tenth round of sanctions against Russia, according to sources.

Talks are understood to be stuck on the question of rubber trade with Russia, with Poland reportedly rejecting Italy’s demand for laxer new curbs on rubber imports.

Reuters reports that Poland said proposed restrictions on EU imports of Russia rubber included such a big quota of imports exempted and such long transition periods that they would have no effect in practice.

The European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, had told Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the EU aimed to have the measures in place by today, the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Zelenskiy asks the BBC’s James Waterhouse if he can send a question to Rishi Sunak for fighter jets and Typhoons.

Britain’s prime minister, Rishi Sunak, told leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) that he supported Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s calls for China to engage with Ukraine during a virtual meeting to mark the one-year anniversary of the war in Ukraine, Downing Street has said.

During the meeting, Sunak said Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was “not just a Euro-Atlantic problem, but an attack on universal principles”, a spokesperson for the prime minister said.

The G7 leaders “reiterated their unfaltering support for Ukraine and agreed on the need to continue to intensify military aid”, and “praised the steadfast international unity throughout the past year”, they said.

The leaders also discussed the strong show of support for Ukraine at the United Nations (UN) last night, and the prime minister emphasised that by supporting Ukraine, the international community was upholding the UN’s Charter.

They added:

Reflecting on China’s ceasefire proposals, the prime minister said he supported President Zelenskiy’s calls for China to engage with Ukraine, adding that peace could only be achieved on Ukraine’s terms.

The prime minister added that the international community needed to support Ukraine with long-term military and security assurances to send a strong message to President Putin that the global support was enduring.

Volodymyr Zelenskiy says he plans to meet the Chinese president, Xi Jinping, and said it would be “useful” to both countries and global security.

“As far as I know, China respects historical integrity”, he says at a news conference in Kyiv.

China needs to do its best to make sure that the Russian Federation withdraws from our territory because that’s what respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty means.