Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has played down his US counterpart Joe Biden’s gaffe during the Nato summit as a mere “mistake” after arriving in Ireland.
Mr Biden accidentally introduced the Ukrainian leader as “president Putin” during the final day of the Nato summit before quickly correcting himself. At the time, Mr Zelensky responded: “I am better.”
Speaking to reporters from Shannon Airport, Co Clare, Mr Zelensky described the gaffe as a simple “mistake”.
“ I think the United States gave a lot of support to Ukrainians,” he said. “We can forget some mistakes, I think so.”
He was later pictured embracing Irish taoiseach Simon Harris as the pair held a meeting inside the airport.
It comes as Poland said it was considering Kyiv’s proposal to shoot down Russian missiles flying towards Polish territory while they are still in Ukraine’s airspace.
Polish foreign minister Radoslaw Sikorski told the American Enterprise Institute in Washington that they were considering such a move but only with the approval of Nato.
Warsaw, an alliance member, frequently scrambles fighter jets to protect Polish airspace as Russian forces launch large-scale aerial attacks on Ukraine.
Key points
- Zelensky responds to Biden gaffe, arrives in Ireland
- Poland considering Kyiv proposal to help down Russian missiles in Ukrainian airspace
- Ukraine to receive tens of thousands of shells per month, reports Czech Republic
- Zelensky to visit London next week, says report
- Fire at a Russian oil depot as Russia after drone attack
Watch: Zelensky responds to Biden’s ‘president Putin’ gaffe
15:15
Tom Watling
Poland considering Kyiv proposal to help down Russian missiles in Ukrainian airspace
14:45
Tom Watling
Poland is considering a proposal from Kyiv to shoot down Russian missiles flying towards Polish territory while they are still in Ukraine’s airspace.
Polish foreign minister Radoslaw Sikorski told the American Enterprise Institute in Washington that they were considering such a move but only with the approval of Nato.
Warsaw, an alliance member, frequently scrambles fighter jets to protect Polish airspace as Russian forces launch large-scale aerial attacks on Ukraine.
“At this stage, this is an idea. What our agreement said is we will explore this idea,” Mr Sikorski said, calling the potential move self-defence.
Last year, a Russian missile entered Polish airspace, putting the country’s defenses on high alert. In another incident on Nov. 15, 2022, a missile flew onto Polish territory during a Russian mass attack, killing two civilians. Polish investigators later concluded that it was a stray Ukrainian anti-air projectile launched to intercept the Russian attack.
Zelensky responds to Biden gaffe
14:37
Tom Watling
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has responded to US president Joe Biden calling him “Putin” during the Nato summit.
After arriving in Ireland, Mr Zelensky was asked to speak about the gaffe for the first time since it happened on Thursday.
Speaking to reporters from Shannon Airport, Co Clare, Mr Zelensky described the gaffe as a simple “mistake”.
“ I think the United States gave a lot of support to Ukrainians,” he said. “We can forget some mistakes, I think so.”
Some background on Ireland’s relationship with Ukraine
14:15
Tom Watling
Below we have some background on Ireland’s relationship with Ukraine as president Volodymyr Zelensky holds talks with taoiseach Simon Harris.
Ireland’s ability to support Ukraine militarily is limited but their armed forces have trained 455 Ukrainian personnel in demining, battlefield casualty care and the use of non-lethal mine clearance equipment.
The country has also provided €250 million (£210m) in non-lethal military assistance to Ukraine under the European Peace Facility, while they have welcomed over 108,000 Ukrainians under the EU Temporary Protection Directive.
The two leaders have met before, speaking last month on the sidelines of the Ukraine Peace Summit in Switzerland.
Ireland is also a member of Ukraine’s International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children (ICRUC), co-chaired by Labour Baroness Helena Kennedy, which focuses on how to return the roughly 19,000 children forcibly deported by Russia to the occupied territories and mainland Russia.
Zelensky and Harris hold meeting in Ireland - images
14:00
Tom Watling
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky and Irish taoiseach Simon Harris have been pictured holding a bilateral meeting at Shannon Airport, Co Clare.
Mr Zelensky was also pictured being greeted by Ukrainian ambassador to Ireland Larysa Gerasko.
Asked by reporters for his message to Ireland upon arrival, Mr Zelensky said: “First of all, thank you so much for your support, thanks to Ireland for hosting a lot of Ukrainian refugees, you were with us from the very beginning of the Russian invasion.”
We have some more details from Zelensky’s trip to Ireland
13:53
Tom Watling
Irish taoiseach Simon Harris has expressed his condolences to Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky for those who lost their lives during the widespread Russian bombing of Ukraine on Monday, which destroyed, among other areas, the country’s largest children’s hospital.
After Mr Zelensky touched down, Mr Harris also expressed the country’s full support for Ukraine’s bid for European Union membership and offered further assistance for thousands of Ukrainian children forcibly relocated to Russia and Belarus and entered into Russian re-education programmes since the war began.
He confirmed Ireland’s membership of an international coalition for the return of the estimated 20,000 children.
The pair were seen embracing after Mr Zelensky’s arrival.
Footage shows Zelensky arriving in Ireland
13:42
Tom Watling
Footage has shown the moment Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky arrived at at Shannon Airport, Co Clare
Zelenskyy flew to Ireland
— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) July 13, 2024
The President's plane landed at the international airport "Shannon". The head of state was met by Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris. pic.twitter.com/vl7Vq2vIVm
Labour aims to make Britain the leading European nation in Nato – but will Trump care?
13:30
Tom Watling
Zelensky arrives in Ireland
12:59
Tom Watling
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has just arrived in Ireland, photos show.
He will meet with the Irish taoiseach, Simon Harris.
We will have more on Mr Zelensky’s visit later.
China lashes out after Nato says it is ‘decisive enabler’ of Ukraine war
12:30
Tom Watling
Belarus jets scrambled after Russian drone veers off course towards Minsk
12:00
Tom Watling
Belarus was forced to launch a fighter jet and attack helicopter to intercept a misfired Russian drone intended for Ukraine last night, it has been revealed.
The Russia-launched “Shahed” drone flew some 217 miles in Belarusian airspace, at one point heading close to the capital Minsk, after it veered off course in Ukraine. Ukraine shares its northern border with the south of Belarus.
Sources confirmed that the Belarusian Mig-24 helicopter and Su-30 fighter jet were indeed scrambled to respond to the drone threat.
You can read more details on the incident below.
❗️The Shahed entered Belarus at 3 a.m. and flew over 350 km. Details
— Belarusian Hajun project (@Hajun_BY) July 13, 2024
Last night, a UAV (kamikaze drone of the Shahed type) launched by Russia entered the airspace of Belarus again – this is the second time in the last two days. According to the Ukrainian Air Force, last night… pic.twitter.com/aXfL7I0sYt
Hungary’s Viktor Orban gushes over Trump after ‘peace talks’ at Mar-a-Lago
11:30
Tom Watling
Ukraine to receive tens of thousands of shells per month
11:05
Tom Watling
The Czech Republic will send tens of thousands of vital ammunition to Ukraine each month through to the end of the year, the Czech president has announced.
Speaking after the Nato summit in Washington, president Petr Pavel announced that they will send 50,000 shells to Ukraine in July and August, and then between 80,000 to 100,000 each month from September until the end of 2024.
The donation of shells is part of an initiative set up by the Czech Republic to supply half a million rounds of ammunition to Ukraine in 2024.
The country has suggested it can find the shells from third-party countries that remain unnamed so long as its allies provide funding.
The plan is intended to offset an ammunition disparity between Ukrainian and Russian forces, caused by European underinvestment in defence and the delay of a US military package for seven months, from October to April, while Congress disagreed over how to apportion its funds.
The Czech Republic says it could supply up to 1.5 million rounds to Ukraine.
Ukraine intercepts 80% of Russian drones fired overnight
10:40
Tom Watling
Ukraine‘s air defenses intercepted four of the five drones launched by Russia overnight, the Ukrainian Air Force said Saturday morning.
Mykola Oleschuk, commander of Ukraine‘s Air Forces, said the fifth drone left Ukrainian airspace in the direction of Belarus.
Zelensky thanks US governors after post-Nato summit meeting
10:15
Tom Watling
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has thanked US governors after giving an address at the National Governors Association following the Nato summit in Washington.
Mr Zelensky spoke to the US governors at the NGA’s 2024 summer meeting, held in Salt Lake City at the Grand America Hotel.
All the pain Ukraine endures is a direct result of Russia’s criminal actions and sick desires, its unprovoked and unjust aggression.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) July 13, 2024
Therefore, it is incredibly valuable that so many people and countries have united to help us preserve our freedom and, consequently, uphold the… pic.twitter.com/cw1QcS6B4b
Fire at a Russian oil depot as Russia
10:00
Tom Watling
An oil depot caught fire in Russia’s southwestern Rostov region Saturday following a Ukrainian drone attack in the early hours, local officials said, in the latest long-range strike by Kyiv’s forces on a border region.
Ukraine has in recent months stepped up aerial assaults on Russian soil, targeting refineries and oil terminals in an effort to slow down the Kremlin’s war machine.
Moscow’s army is pressing hard along the front line in eastern Ukraine, where a shortage of troops and ammunition in the third year of war has made defenders vulnerable.
Rostov regional Gov. Vasily Golubev said a drone attack had caused a blaze spanning 200 square meters (2,100 square feet), but there were no casualties. Some five hours after he reported the fire on Telegram, Golubev said the fire had been extinguished.
In addition to two drones being intercepted over the Rostov region, Russian air defense systems overnight destroyed two drones over the country’s western Kursk and Belgorod regions, the Russian Ministry of Defense said Saturday.
Smoke rises from a Russian oil depot in the Rostov region after Ukraine's strike today at 4 am.
— Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) July 13, 2024
Video shared by locals via Shot Telegram channel. https://t.co/O7b7IGftdL pic.twitter.com/jCPNyo0xvr
Zelensky to visit London next week
09:50
Tom Watling
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to travel to the UK next week to address European leaders at Blenheim Palace who are meeting to discuss Ukraine, European security and democracy, The Guardian has reported.
Zelensky to arrive in Ireland today
09:27
Tom Watling
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to arrive in Ireland later this morning when he touches down in Shannon airport, Co Clare, for a meeting with the Irish taoiseach, Simon Harris.
Ukraine urges ICC to investigate strike on Kyiv children’s hospital as crime against humanity
09:04
Tom Watling
Poland to spend 5% of GDP on defence in 2025, says foreign minister
08:35
Tom Watling
Poland will spend five per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) on defence in 2025, the foreign minister told Bloomberg Television in an interview broadcast on Friday evening.
Warsaw has already ramped up defence spending to more than 4% of its economic output this year in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“Poland spends four (percent of GDP on defence) and we are going to spend five next year,” Radoslaw Sikorski said. “We are number one in nato including the United States, in proportion obviously, because we are no longer in eternal post-Cold War peace.”
Deputy defence minister Cezary Tomczyk told private broadcaster TVN24 on Thursday that Poland would increase its defence budget by about 10 per cent in 2025 to a record high.
Army chief of staff General Wieslaw Kukula told a press conference on Wednesday that Poland needed to prepare its soldiers for all-out conflict.
Ukraine orchestra performs at destroyed children’s hospital
08:08
Tom Watling
Keir Starmer defends Joe Biden’s Nato leadership after Zelensky gaffe
07:00
Tom Watling
US urges India to use its relationship with Russia to help end the war in Ukraine
06:45
Shahana Yasmin
The US said it “privately and directly” raised its concerns over India’s relationship with Russia as Narendra Modi met Vladimir Putin with bonhomie amid international outrage over Moscow’s deadly missile strike on a children’s hospital in Ukraine.
The White House urged India to use its long-standing relationship with Moscow to persuade the Kremlin leader to end his “brutal war” in Ukraine.
Mr Modi travelled to Russia on 8-9 July for his first bilateral visit to the country since the start of its war on Ukraine. India under Mr Modi’s leadership has taken a neutral stance in the Ukraine war while increasing energy trade with Russia.
Hungary’s Viktor Orban gushes over Trump after ‘peace talks’ at Mar-a-Lago
06:30
Shahana Yasmin
While Joe Biden was meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky in Washington, DC, on Thursday as part of the latest NATO summit to discuss ending Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, his presidential rival Donald Trump was hosting Hungary’s Kremlin-friendly authoritarian leader Viktor Orban at his home in Florida.
Orban branded his visit “peace mission 5.0” in a tweet, posting a picture of himself posing beside the American at Mar-a-Lago as both men grinned and made the thumbs-up sign.
“We discussed ways to make peace,” the Hungarian prime minister wrote. “The good news of the day: he’s going to solve it!”
Finnish lawmakers approve controversial law to turn away migrants at border with Russia
06:15
Shahana Yasmin
Finnish lawmakers on Friday narrowly approved a controversial bill that will allow border guards to turn away third-country migrants attempting to enter from neighboring Russia and reject their asylum applications because Helsinki says Moscow is orchestrating an influx of migrants to the border.
The government’s bill, meant to introduce temporary measures to curb migrants from entering the Nordic nation, is a response to what Finland sees as “hybrid warfare” by Russia. It believes Moscow is funneling undocumented migrants to the two countries’ border.
US special advisor on disability rights hails The Independent’s Ukraine investigation: ‘Not an acceptable loss’
06:00
Tom Watling
Jailed human rights campaigner denounces mass repression across Russia before court hearing feed cut off
05:45
Shahana Yasmin
The jailed co-chair of the Nobel Peace Prize-winning human rights group Memorial, Oleg Orlov, hit out at the “mass repression” in Russia during a court hearing – before the sound on his video feed was cut.
Mr Orlov, 71, was found guilty in February of discrediting the Russian army after he protested against the war and wrote an article accusing Russian president Vladimir Putin of leading the country into fascism. He was sentenced to two and a half years in prison, losing an appeal against that sentence on Thursday.
The case has been condemned by the West as being part of a increasing crackdown on dissent as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine moves through a third year.
Kherson sees ‘massive shelling’ as Russia targets several cities across Ukraine
05:30
Shahana Yasmin
The Ukrainian city of Kherson saw “massive shelling” by Russian forces, said the head of the regional military administration said on Friday.
The Russian assault hit the central Dnipro district and lasted about an hour, Roman Mrochko posted on Telegram, along with footage of heavily damaged and collapsed buildings.
“Miraculously, no one was hurt,” he added.
Ukraine’s air defences shot down five cruise missiles and 11 drones aimed at cities across Ukraine overnight to Friday, the commander of the country’s air forces, Lt Gen Mykola Oleschuk said on Telegram.
In the eastern Ukrainian region of Kharkiv, three civilians were injured by a mine. The regional military administration said the incident took place in the village of Staritsa, about 46km from Kharkiv.
05:15
Shahana Yasmin
Mapped: Russian missile strikes kill dozens across Ukraine
05:00
Tom Watling
Ukraine urges ICC to investigate strike on Kyiv children’s hospital as crime against humanity
04:45
Shahana Yasmin
Ukraine’s top prosecutor has urged the International Criminal Court (ICC) to prosecute Russia over a missile strike on a children’s hospital that killed or wounded dozens of doctors and civilians.
Prosecutor general Andriy Kostin, who was in The Hague where the ICC is based, for meetings with legal officials, said the strike was worth “lifting” to the court in part because Kyiv seeks to demonstrate the systematic nature of Russia’s attack on civilians.
“For the sake of international justice, cases like the intentional attack on the biggest child hospital in Kyiv (are) worth lifting to the ICC,” he said.
At least 44 people were killed and around 200 wounded by the Russian strikes on Monday in what one United Nations aid worker described as “one of the worst attacks” they had seen since February 2022, when the full-scale invasion began.
Zelensky reacts to Joe Biden calling him ‘Putin’
04:30
Shahana Yasmin
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky’s reacted to President Joe Biden mistakenly introducing him as “Putin” at a NATO summit in Washington on Thursday (11 July).
“And now I want to hand it over to the president of Ukraine, who has as much courage as he has determination, ladies and gentlemen, President Putin,” Biden said while speaking to reporters about NATO’s support for Ukraine.
He immediately corrected himself, saying: “President Putin? He’s going to beat President Putin. President Zelensky.”
Ukrainian president to hold talks with Simon Harris in Ireland
04:15
Shahana Yasmin
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky will meet Irish premier Simon Harris at Shannon Airport on Saturday.
It will be the first bilateral meeting with Mr Zelensky on Irish soil and will focus on Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
While discussing the future of the conflict, Mr Harris is expected to express his condolences for the citizens whom Ukraine has lost in the war including the bombing of Ukraine’s largest children’s hospital earlier this week.
He will also express Ireland’s full support for Ukraine’s bid towards EU membership.
‘The whole room was covered in blood’: Inside the Russian missile strike on a Kyiv children’s hospital
04:00
Tom Watling
Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko issues plea for air defences after ‘very painful’ Russian attack on hospitals
03:00
Tom Watling
Modi receives Russia’s highest civilian award for promoting bilateral ties
02:00
Tom Watling
Psychiatrist shares analysis of Joe Biden’s gaffes at Nato summit
01:00
Tom Watling
Nato pledges F-16s and billions in finance to Ukraine during historic summit
Saturday 13 July 2024 00:00
Tom Watling
Labour aims to make Britain the leading European nation in Nato – but will Trump care?
Friday 12 July 2024 23:00
Tom Watling
Hungary will not support Nato becoming an ‘anti-China’ bloc
Friday 12 July 2024 22:00
Tom Watling
Healey warns of ‘a decade or more’ of Russian aggression as he outlines new military deal with EU
Friday 12 July 2024 21:00
Tom Watling
Starmer signals Ukraine can use British Storm Shadow missiles to strike inside Russia
Friday 12 July 2024 20:00
Tom Watling
Paris to bring Olympics back to the people with opening ceremony like no other
Friday 12 July 2024 19:00
Tom Watling
Biden mistakenly calls Zelensky ‘Putin’ while introducing him at NATO summit
Friday 12 July 2024 18:00
Tom Watling
China lashes out after Nato says it is ‘decisive enabler’ of Ukraine war
Friday 12 July 2024 17:00
Tom Watling
Biden issues message of defiance
Friday 12 July 2024 16:30
Tom Watling
US president Joe Biden issues message of defiance on X, formerly Twitter.
Russia will not prevail.
— President Biden (@POTUS) July 12, 2024
Ukraine will prevail.
Germany says it won't be intimidated by Russian threats after report on alleged assassination plot
Friday 12 July 2024 15:45
Tom Watling
US special advisor on disability rights hails The Independent’s Ukraine investigation: ‘Not an acceptable loss’
Friday 12 July 2024 15:15
Tom Watling
Russia accuses South Korea of blackmail and threats over potential weapons supplies to Ukraine
Friday 12 July 2024 14:45
Tom Watling
The Russian Foreign Ministry on Friday accused South Korea of blackmail and threats over potential weapons supplies to Ukraine.
In late June, South Korean National Security Advisor Chang Ho-jin said Seoul might review the possibility of supplying weapons to Ukraine, after North Korea and Russia signed a pact pledging mutual defence in the event of war.
“We very much regret that Seoul’s foreign policy uses NATO narratives, blackmail and threatening tactics, which is unacceptable to sovereign states,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told reporters.
Zelensky aide calls for Western allies to greenlight strikes on mainland Russia
Friday 12 July 2024 14:15
Tom Watling
A Ukrainian presidential aide to Volodymyr Zelensky has called on the country’s key allies to cease their opposition to Kyiv using Western-supplied missiles to hit targets on mainland Russia.
It comes after the British Ministry of Defence walked back Mr Zelensky’s claims that newly-elected prime minister Sir Keir Starmer had told him Ukraine could fire Storm Shadow missiles, which are UK supplied long range missiles, onto Russian territory.
An article published in The Telegraph suggested that there was more “nuance” to Sir Keir’s alleged remarks and that it would not be as simple as Kyiv using the Storm Shadows to hit targets inside Russia.
You can read Mykhailo Podolyak’s full quote below.
What is a true meaning behind the term "strikes deep inside #Russia"?
— Михайло Подоляк (@Podolyak_M) July 12, 2024
Of course, we are not talking about symbolic, demonstrative single strikes for the sake of strikes... This is about systemic destruction, first of all, of air bases where strategic aviation is based, which in…
IAEA Board condemns attack on Kyiv children's hospital, blaming Russia
Friday 12 July 2024 13:45
Tom Watling