Ukraine-Russia war latest: Russia responds to Poland's claim it could host nuclear weapons

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko says the conditions are "ripe" for peace talks between Ukraine and Russia as both sides are at a stalemate.

According to Russian state-run news agency TASS, Putin-ally Mr Lukashenko pointed to preliminary talks held in 2022 between Russia and Ukraine as a starting point for negotiations.

Despite this, he also said the risk of military incidents with Kyiv was "quite high", and claimed that around 120,000 Ukrainian servicemen are stationed on the border between the two countries.

He also said "several dozen" Russian tactical nuclear weapons had been deployed in Belarus, as part of an agreement signed last year with Vladimir Putin.

Earlier today, Russia's deputy foreign minister said Russia would target NATO nuclear weapons if they were stationed in Poland.

Poland's defence minister has said the country is ready to help military-aged Ukrainian men get ready to go back to fight Russia.

Kyiv said yesterday that men aged between 18 and 60 will not be able to apply for or renew their passports while living abroad. (see previous post)

Speaking to Polsat News television, minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said Poland is prepared to help send Ukrainian men subject to military service back to Kyiv, without sharing details on how.

"I think many Poles are outraged when they see young Ukrainian men in hotels and cafes, and they hear how much effort we have to make to help Ukraine," he added.

Nearly one million Ukrainian refugees have relocated to Poland since Russia started the war in February 2024.

Ukraine has temporarily banned men eligible to serve in the military from applying for passports abroad.

Men aged between 18 and 60 will only be able to apply for or renew their passports in Ukraine.

Ukraine's foreign ministry also said consular services for men in the age group are suspended until 18 May.

Yesterday, foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba hit out at Ukranian men living elsewhere and said that "staying abroad does not relieve a citizen of his or her duties to the homeland".

Around 86,000 military-aged Ukrainian men are believed to be living in the EU.

Earlier this month, Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a bill lowering the age limit of conscription from 27 to 25.

 Emmanuel Macron says "there is a risk our Europe could die" at a speech today.

The French president called the war in Ukraine the "principal danger for European security".

He adds that the main condition for peace in Europe is that "Russia does not win this war of aggression".

Speaking from the Sorbonne University in Paris, Mr Macron calls for a boost in Europe's cybersecurity capacity, closer defence ties with the UK and the creation of a European academy to train high-ranking military personnel. 

"There is no defence without a defence industry ... we've had decades of under-investment," he adds.

"We must produce more, we must produce faster, and we must produce as Europeans."

Volodymyr Zelenskyy is meeting Chancellor Jeremy Hunt in Kyiv - shortly after the UK approved £500m in aid for Ukraine.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced the latest military aid package earlier this week, which includes around 400 vehicles, 60 boats, 1,600 strike and air defence missiles, and four million rounds of ammunition.

Posting on Telegram, the Ukrainian president said he thanked Mr Hunt for the UK's support, and added they discussed more sanctions against Russia.

Russia's US ambassador says the transfer of long-range ballistics missiles to Ukraine is "impossible to justify".

Three American officials told NBC News, Sky's partner network, that Ukraine had already used the US's Army Tactical Missile System - dubbed ATACMS – against Russia twice (see previous post).

In response, Anatoly Antonov said "local officials 'retroactively' confirmed the fact that extremely dangerous weapons had been sent to Kiev", and called it an "underhand act".

According to the Russian embassy's Telegram channel, he added that Russia had "already shot down several ATACMS missiles" and "will continue to do so".

Mr Antonov also said: "Aren't local politicians afraid of drowning in the quagmire of conflict?

"Washington will not be able to get out of the horrible swamp that has absorbed the blood of ordinary soldiers."

Ukraine has already used long-range ballistic missiles from the US against Russia twice this month, according to NBC News.

Three US officials told Sky News' partner network yesterday that Ukraine first used the Army Tactical Missile System - dubbed ATACMS – on 17 April.

The first strike was against a Russian military airfield 100 miles inside Crimea.

Ukrainian forces used the system for the second time on Tuesday against Russian forces east of the southeastern Ukrainian town of Berdyansk in Zaporizhzhia Oblast.

The missile systems have a range of around 187 miles and were provided as part of the US' $300m military aid package on 12 March, according to a National Security Council spokesperson.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy says 16 Ukrainian children who were forcibly taken to Russia have been reunited with their families.

In a post on X, Mr Zelenskyy thanked Qatari officials for helping secure their safety, and said he looked forward to the "return of more of our children".

For context: Roughly 20,000 children have been illegally transferred to Russia since the invasion began in February last year, with some being put up for adoption, Ukraine has alleged.

Pope Francis has called for an end to the war in Ukraine, saying that a "negotiated peace is better than a war without end".

The Pope told CBS: "Please. Countries at war, all of them, stop the war. Look to negotiate. Look for peace."

In March, the Pope angered Ukrainian officials after saying Kyiv should have the courage of "the white flag".

Ukraine's foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, said at the time that the country "shall never raise any other flags" and urged the Vatican to "support Ukraine and its people in their just struggle for their lives".

Russia's deputy foreign minister has warned that NATO's nuclear weapons and facilities will be targeted if they are deployed in Poland.

Sergey Ryabkov told the state-run TASS news agency that joint NATO nuclear missions near the Russian border would be considered a threat to its security.

"Let alone permanent deployment [that] hotheads in Warsaw are speaking about," he adds.

"That is why all those politicians who are discussing such an option in and outside Poland should understand: any steps in this direction will not add to Poland's security and relevant facilities will inevitably be a target. And they will be in the fore in our military planning."

For context: Poland's president said this week that the country would be ready to host the nuclear weapons of NATO allies in response to Russia moving its nuclear weapons to neighbouring Belarus.

Andrzej Duda made the comments in an interview published in the Fakt tabloid.

"If there were a decision by our allies to deploy nuclear weapons, within the nuclear sharing, also on our territory in order to strengthen the security of NATO's eastern flank, we are ready," Mr Duda said.