Ukraine war latest: Russian officials 'thrown out of meeting' for breaking custom; new photos emerge of Putin and Kim's day out (2024)

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said Romania's decision to provide his country with two Patriot air defence systems will strengthen security in Ukraine and throughout Europe.

"This crucial contribution will bolster our air shield and help us better protect our people and critical infrastructure from Russian air terror," the Ukrainian president said on X.

The Patriot, which stands for Phased Array Tracking Radar for Intercept on Target, is a surface-to-air missile defence system.

For months now, Ukraine has been calling for countries to provide more air defence systems to help protect it from Russian attacks.

The next NATO leader is now all but certain after Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte's last rival dropped out of the race.

He's now the only person running to be Jens Stoltenberg's successor when he steps down from the secretary-general role in October.

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis dropped out of the race earlier today and Hungary lifted its veto on Mr Rutte's candidacy, paving the way for NATO to put on a show of unity over support for Ukraine.

Mr Rutte's appointment could be sealed by a meeting of NATO ambassadors in the coming days, or by the leaders when they meet in Washington in July for the alliance's 75th birthday.

NATO secretaries-general are responsible for chairing meetings and guiding consultations among the 32 member countries to ensure that the organisation, which operates on consensus, can continue to function.

Mr Rutte has already had to assure Hungary that he will not force it to take part in NATO plans to provide support to Ukraine.

Turkey, which had voiced opposition to Mr Rutte's bid earlier this year, has also lifted its objections.

Romania will donate two operational Patriot systems to Ukraine, the country's supreme defence council has announced.

The council said the decision was "based on an in-depth technical evaluation" and "all measures were being taken to eliminate the risk of creating possible vulnerabilities for Romania".

In a statement, it reiterated that Romania's position will continue to be that Ukraine has a "legitimate right" to defend itself against Vladimir Putin's invasion.

For context:Patriot, which stands for Phased Array Tracking Radar for Intercept on Target, is a surface-to-air missile defence system.

Ukraine has said it needs more air defence systems to protect against the barrage of missile and drones strikes from Russian forces.

While the Patriot system is designed to intercept threats like aircraft and ballistic missiles, it can also shoot down the "kamikaze" drones Russia has frequently sent to hit Ukrainian infrastructure.

Ukrainian troops have been examining a recently captured Russian battle tank in the eastern Donetsk region.

Donetsk is one of four regions illegally annexed by Russia, but Moscow's forces only partially control it.

Fighting along the roughly 620-mile front line has focused on the area in recent months, but both sides have failed to make any breakthroughs.

An awkward moment during Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un's bilateral meeting was broadcast live on state-run TV yesterday.

Part of Russia's delegation was unceremoniously thrown out of the meeting for entering the conference room before the two leaders, according to a report in the Moscow Times.

It is customary on such occasions to wait to be summoned by the North Korean leader once he and his guest have entered.

Among the group kicked out were foreign minister Sergei Lavrov, defence minister Andrei Belousov and the deputy prime ministers.

They were seen entering the room, getting set for the meeting and taking their seats.

Mr Lavrov apparently began to complain he had been made dirty by something, when a North Korean official told them off-camera to stop what they were doing and leave.

"We have a protocol. We invite you to the table. Our leaders will join us shortly," they could be heard saying.

The broadcast abruptly ended as a member of the Russian delegation team began to object, and viewers were instead shown an empty conference room.

A woman is facing up to 20 years in a Russian prison after making a small donation to a non-profit organisation raising funds for Ukraine.

Ksenia Karelina was born in Russia but moved to the US more than a decade ago and has been working as an aesthetician at a Los Angeles spa.

She was detained by Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) in January while visiting her parents and young sister in Yekaterinburg.

Her former mother-in-law, Eleonora Srebroski, told Reuters in February, Ms Karelina had travelled home in January after her boyfriend surprised her with a plane ticket.

She had told her boyfriend Russia was "safe" and he shouldn't worry about her travelling there.

Ms Karelina was initially arrested under a minor "petty hooliganism" statute, but was later charged with treason.

The aesthetician, who is in her early thirties, had reportedly made a small donation to Razom for Ukraine, a New York-based non-profit that sends non-military assistance to the country.

Her ex-husband described her as a fun-loving woman who didn't care much for politics.

Ms Karelina's social media profiles feature photos of herself and friends on the beach and on trips, but without political messaging.

One photo from November 2021 shows her in a long dress, smiling and waving a small American flag, with the caption, "Citizenship".

The trial is being held behind closed doors in Yekaterinburg, with the next session set for 7 August.

Vladimir Putin has reportedly invited top Vietnamese officials to visit Russia.

Russian state news agency RIA said General Secretary of the Communist Party Nguyen Phu Trong was among those invited.

It comes as the Russian president continues his visit to Vietnam, with the two countries already signing a series of deals to bring their working relationship closer together.

The two countries have agreed to strengthen their cooperation across multiple industries in a series of deals.

Vladimir Putin and To Lam have vowed to have closer ties around education, science and technology, oil and gas exploration and health.

The two leaders also agreed to work on a road-map for a nuclear science and technology centre in Vietnam.

Following the talks, Mr Putin said the two countries share an interest in "developing a reliable security architecture" in the Asia-Pacific region based on not using force and peacefully settling disputes without "closed military-political blocs".

Russia is keen to maintain "close and effective cooperation" in energy, industry, technology, education, security and trade, said Russian ambassador to Vietnam Gennady S Bezdetko, according to Vietnamese official media.

Russia and North Korea's new defence agreement has been condemned by South Korea, with the country saying it will reconsider sending weapons to Ukraine as a result.

The deal, which was signed by Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un yesterday, vows that both countries will help each other if they are invaded.

South Korea's presidential office said Russia's military assistance to the North would have a negative impact on relations between Seoul and Moscow.

It warned that any actions helping North Korea increase its military capability would be a violation of UN resolutions.

It said that it would also strengthen South Korea's security cooperation with the US and Japan in light of the deal.

Vladimir Putin was greeted with hugs, handshakes and music as he arrived in Vietnam today.

The Russian president has already held talks with his Vietnamese counterpart To Lam, who met him personally as he landed in Hanoi.

The pair have signed a series of deals to strengthen their cooperation on education, science and technology, energy, climate change and health.

Mr Putin's visit comes after a two-day trip to North Korea, where he signed a deal with the country's leader Kim Jong Un that pledges mutual aid in the event of war.