Ukraine war latest: Macron says Putin is threatening UK because he ‘feels exposed’

We are hearing from Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi about the role Beijing wants to play in a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine.

He says they want to play a “constructive role” and is willing to “cooperate with the international community”.

He told reporters: “China is willing to cooperate with the international community in accordance with the wishes of relevant parties to achieve a final resolution of the crisis and lasting peace, and will continue to play a constructive role.”

China is a staunch ally of Russia who has not openly backed Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine but is believed to be supplying materials critical to Moscow’s war effort.

It has been accused of promoting a peace that is favourable to Russia.

Eight people have been wounded in a Russian missile attack on the northeastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, emergency services have reported.

“The enemy hit near a three-story building and a civilian infrastructure facility in the Kyivskyi district of the city,” Ukraine’s state emergency services wrote on X.

“Despite the threat, rescuers from the State Emergency Service continue to work at the scene.”

Hungarian leader Viktor Orban has said the EU cannot afford to finance Ukraine’s military efforts after the US said it was suspending its support.

An ally to both Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, the Hungarian prime minister made the remarks after the leaders of 26 EU countries signed a statement voicing support for Ukraine without Hungary.

Mr Orban said his government would launch a domestic “public consultation” on Ukraine’s EU accession in the coming weeks. He faces elections in early 2026.

“I think we should treat the issue of Ukraine’s EU membership seriously. It is impossible to make a responsible decision at this point, and I don’t want this decision to be made behind the people’s backs,” he told state radio.

“That is why I came to a conclusion that we need to hold a plebiscite on the subject of Ukraine’s membership in the European Union,” Mr Orban said, echoing Moscow’s concerns.

It is an attempt to force the surrender of Ukraine to Russia.

Sam Kiley writes:

A Russian attack damaged natural gas production facilities of Ukraine’s state-run oil and gas firm Naftogaz, the company said in a statement today.

“Production facilities that ensure gas production were damaged. Fortunately, there were no casualties,” Naftogaz said on Telegram channel.

The attack was confirmed by Ukraine’s energy minister German Galushchenko.

Russia has hit out at Sir Keir Starmer’s plan for British troops to form part of a peacekeeping force in Ukraine, saying it would amount to direct involvement in the war.

The prime minister, along with Emmanuel Macron, has been seeking to build a “coalition of the willing” to enforce any potential deal.

But Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said troops on its border would amount to the “direct, official and unveiled involvement of Nato members in the war against Russia”, adding: “It can’t be allowed.”

Britain has signed a deal with an Anglo-American security firm to provide Ukraine with more advanced attack drones – in contrast to Donald Trump’s White House which has paused supplies of US military aid and intelligence-sharing.

Russian forces targeted Ukraine’s energy and gas infrastructure in their latest drone and missile attack, Ukraine’s energy minister said this morning.

“Once again, energy and gas infrastructure in various regions of Ukraine has come under massive missile and drone fire,” energy minister German Galushchenko said in a statement.

The impact of the attack and the damage is not immediately clear.