Ukraine war latest: Attempt to 'overthrow Ukrainian government' foiled (2024)

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has told Volodymyr Zelenskyy that a ceasefire in Ukraine could help speed up peace negotiations with Russia.

The Hungarian PM - who is one of the most supportive European leaders of Vladimir Putin's regime in Russia - is in Kyiv today for talks with Mr Zelenskyy.

There, at a joint media briefing, Mr Orban suggested to Ukraine's president that a quick ceasefire in Ukraine could accelerate peace talks with Russia.

Mr Orban also said that Hungary would like to have much better bilateral relations with Ukraine and his country was ready to take part in the modernisation of Ukraine's economy.

He said that Hungary would be at Ukraine's disposal in their current role as rotating presidents of the EU Council, stressing that peace was important for all of Europe.

For context: Russian President Vladimir Putin set out what he said were Russia's preconditions for starting peace talks with Ukraine last month.

He said Russia would be ready for such talks "tomorrow" if Ukrainian troops withdraw from the Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Donetsk and Luhansk regions and if Ukraine gave up its plans to join NATO.

If Ukraine agreed to those conditions, he said Russia would cease fire and start negotiations.

Mr Zelenskyy dismissed the ceasefire offer as "nothing new" and likened it to Adolf Hitler's promises before the Second World War.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has been welcomed in Kyiv by Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Mr Orban is visiting Ukraine for the first time since the full-scale invasion of Russia began in February 2022.

The main topic of the meeting will be the opportunity for building peace as Ukraine fights off Russia's invasion, according to Mr Orban's press chief.

Hungary is among the most supportive European nations of Vladimir Putin's regime in Russia.

Mr Orban has consistently opposed sanctions and frustrated the European Union and NATO over aid for Ukraine and accession of Kyiv and other neighbours to the alliance.

Read more on Mr Orban's visit to Ukraine in our 10.12am post.

Ukrainian President VolodymyrZelenskyy has congratulated outgoing Dutch Prime MinisterMark Rutte on his appointment as secretary general of NATO.

Speaking to the former Dutch leader in a call on Tuesday, Mr Zelenskyy also thanked Mr Rutte for his support of Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion.

In a post on Telegram, Mr Zelenskyy said: "I sincerely thanked him for everything that he personally, his government and the people of the Netherlands have done for Ukraine.

"All timely and large-scale defence, humanitarian and political support. We will continue to stay in touch with the new secretary general of NATO."

At least one person has died and eight were injured after more Russian shelling in Kherson, the region's governor has said.

Oleksandr Prokudin posted the update on his Telegram channel today.

Roman Mrochko, the head of Kherson's military administration, said that multiple residential buildings in the western Korabelnyi district were damaged in the attack.

Kherson and other regional settlements west of the Dnipro river have been hit with near-daily Russian strikes since Ukraine liberated the area in November 2022.

Ukraine's security service said yesterday that it had foiled a plot to topple its government.

The country's domestic intelligence agency, the SBU, said on its Telegram channel that four people had been arrested and charged.

They claim the group of conspirators - described as agents working on behalf of Russia - were planning to spark a riot in Kyiv on Sunday.

Using the planned unrest as a distraction, the accused then hoped to "seize" the parliament building "and block its work", according to SBU spokesperson Artem Dekhtyarenko.

Searches of their flats reportedly revealed evidence of their criminal activities including weapons and ammunition, recordings documenting their crimes and various computer equipment.

They could face up to 10 years in prison.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban arrived in Kyiv today to talk with Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy about relations between the two countries.

According to Mr Orban's spokesman Bertalan Havasi, the "most important topic" of today's talks is the chance for peace.

Mr Orban has regularly opposed ongoing military and financial aid given to Ukraine by the EU and NATO.

He is also one of two Western leaders, along with Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer, to have met Russian President Vladimir Putin in the last two years.

The Hungarian leader yesterday took over the rotating presidency of the EU Council and is on his first visit of Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion of the country began in February 2022.

Readers have been sending in their questions to our senior correspondents and military experts for their take on the changing battlefield environment in Ukraine.

Reader Rick S asks:

With the knowledge that Russia is gaining ground and villages around Kharkiv and on the presumption they succeed, is it safe to say Kyiv is next?

Military analyst Sean Bell has this to say...

Thanks, Rick, for this very topical question.

Russia is believed to have suffered nearly 500,000 casualties since the start of the war, and a further mobilisation campaign could prove deeply unpopular for Vladimir Putin.

As a result, although Russia has provided incentives (financial and passport) to encourage mercenaries from around the world to join the Russian effort, Russia cannot sustain its military campaign at current loss rates without compromising its own ability to withstand any Ukrainian counterattack.

Most informed defence sources believe that due to the very significant loss of Russian military capability since the start of the war - up to 3,000 modern battle tanks - Russia does not have the capacity or capability to mount a strategically decisive offensive anytime this year.

Despite this limitation, it would appear the Russian leadership has decided to capitalise on the fleeting window of opportunity provided by Ukraine's shortage of weapons and ammunition to attempt to break the deadlock on the frontline and perhaps make progress to achieving its objectives - even if that results in heavy casualties.

Kharkiv could be the start of a major Russian secondfront, but that appears unlikely given Russian military limitations.

More likely is that Russia is seeking to protect Belgorod and provide a buffer zone by pushing the nearby Ukrainian border back outside artillery range.

Russia would have massed more troops than required for two main reasons: to force Ukraine to divert limited resources to stem the Russian offensive; and to ensure sufficient resources to capitalise should the Ukrainian lines be breached.

In sum, Russia does not appear to have the military resources to take Kharkiv anytime soon, so Kyiv would almost certainly be a step too far.

Besides, if the prime objective of Putin's special military operation is to secure the Donbas, it would be military folly to dilute available resources away from main effort.

Putin might still harbour ambitions to subjugate the whole of Ukraine, but Russia lacks the military capability to achieve such ambitions - at least for the coming year.

Footage released by the Russian ministry of defence reportedly shows them attacking Ukrainian ammunition depots and military airports.

Missiles can be seen being fired from the ground.

Earlier today, reports emerged that Russian strikes at the Myrhorod airfield had destroyed five Ukrainian fighter jets, a claim which Ukraine contests.

More now from the missile attack at the Myrhorod airfield in Ukraine today, which Russia says managed to destroy SU-27 fighter jets.

A Ukrainian air force official, Yuriy Ihnat, confirmed the attack, though said the losses were not as great as those claimed by Russia.

Military bloggers from Ukraine reported that, prior to the strike, a Russian reconnaissance drone had been able to fly above the airfield.

"There is not enough means to destroy [reconnaissance[ drones," Ihnat told Reuters today, adding that they were a "very serious threat".

He added: "It flies and reports everything in real-time, thenIskander [missles] arrives in a couple of minutes. It is obvious."

Ukraine's defence minister will hold talks with his US counterpart Lloyd Austinin Washington today to discuss firming up military cooperationbetween the two countries.

Mr Austin and Rustem Umerov will discuss "bilateral defence cooperation" and "regional security issues", according to US deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh.

The talks come after Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, renewed his plea over the weekend for moreweapons to be sent from Kyiv's allies.

The US is the largest provider of military assistance to Ukraine and has sent more than $50bn (£39.57bn) in military aid to the country since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022.

"The sooner the world helps us deal with the Russian combat aircraft launching these bombs, the sooner we can strike – justifiably strike – at Russian military infrastructure, military airfields, the closer we will be to peace," Mr Zelenskyy said over the weekend.