Selenskyj states: At the Olympics, ceasefire won't be a credible scenario.

Selenskyj: Ceasefire during Olympics not a "feasible option"

Volodymyr Zelensky refuses to consider a truce during the Paris Olympics. The specifics of this proposal elude him, particularly the potential for Russian forces to advance on Ukraine whilst the ceasefire is in place. Zelensky recalls an existing ceasefire that failed against the Russian opposition, and raises concerns over how forces would be deterred from encroaching during the proposed truce. He fears that weapons could be moved during the truce and then used for an attack. "I simply don't comprehend the details," he stated in an interview with "Ukrajinska Pravda".

Vladimir Putin, while in China, speaks out against Western countries demanding Russia to abide by an Olympic truce but not following through on embracing the Olympic ideals by denying Russian athletes.

At 4:43 PM: "Without China, Russia would be unable to wage war."Putin's reliance on Chinese counterpart Xi is evident, but despite China providing weaponry to support Russia's war against Ukraine, Xi insists on a political resolution. It's unclear how serious Xi is about this.

At 4:07 PM: Dead and Injured from Kharkiv Missile AttackRussia targets Kharkiv again, this time with several precision bombs resulting in at least two civilian casualties and thirteen injuries. Governor Oleh Sinehubov made this announcement via Telegram.

At 3:27 PM: Putin Criticizes Proposed Peace Summit in SwitzerlandPutin dismisses the Switzerland peace summit as an attempt to coerce Russia with terms to settle the conflict. Putin spoke during his final day in China, stating the conference scheduled for June 15 and 16 near Lucerne is a means to pressure Russia. Ukraine and the West hope for a representation from China at the summit to uphold the meeting's significance. Putin criticized the exclusion of Russia from the meet. The Kremlin has expressed its rejection of participation for months.

At 2:54 PM: Bodycam Footage of Intense Fighting in Kharkiv RegionUkrainian forces release video coverage from the hard-fought city of Vovchansk, demonstrating the ongoing intense battles, with Ukrainian defense holding firm. NATO believes Russia is incapable of significant advancement.

At 2:25 PM: EU Imposes Sanctions on Pro-Russian Platform Voice of Europe and Three Russian Media OutletsThe EU member countries have sanctioned the pro-Russian platform Voice of Europe as well as three Russian media organizations. The countries have declared they will be blocked across the EU.

At 1:53 PM: Putin labels Western Sanctions as “stupid decisions”Putin criticizes the Western sanctions as a skewed competition, negatively impacting the global economy. He condemned these actions as "market-unfriendly, completely foolish decisions without potential," during a gathering of Russian state media officials in China. He also accused the USA of weakening the dollar with sanctions while sitting on a branch they're chopping down. Putin insists the sanctions are not related to the conflict in Ukraine. Instead, he insists the West wants to achieve a competitive advantage.

At 1:41 PM: Putin Plans No New Pipeline but Considers Oil PipelineRussia and China aim to expand their energy partnership. Both countries have expressed interest in constructing the Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline to transport Russian gas to China. Putin anticipates an accord would be reached on the pipeline's path. They are also considering a potential oil pipeline within the same corridor.

At 1:21 PM: Putin Claims Kharkiv Not Currently a PriorityPutin states, as per Russian state media updates, that taking Kharkiv is not a current plan. A previous inquiry about Kharkiv's status prompted Putin to remark that Russia is establishing a buffer zone because of Belgorod being heavily shelled from Kharkiv. Many analysts suspect Russia wants to annex Kharkiv.

At 12:58 PM: Expert: China's messages to Putin are "extremely clear" behind the scenesDespite publicly maintaining courtesy towards Putin, China might be communicating differently in private. Thomas Jäger, a political scientist, points this out. China's dependence on its powerful neighbor is enormous: they are reliant on Russia for natural gas.

12:28 Putin offers to boost energy supplies to China
During a visit to China, Putin expressed his desire to increase the supply of energy to the neighboring country. "Russia is willing and able to consistently and dependably supply the Chinese economy, businesses, cities, and villages with environmentally friendly and affordable energy, electricity, and heat," said the Kremlin leader during the opening of a Russian-Chinese trade fair in the megacity of Harbin. He believed that the strategic alliance in the energy sector would be further fortified.

12:14 Satellite images reveal damage to Russian airbase Belbek
The Ukrainian military targeted the Belbek airbase in Crimea for two consecutive days, according to Russia. They claim to have intercepted a total of five ATACMS. Aerial photos recently revealed the aftermath of the attacks, showing remnants of fire and damaged fighter jets:

11:57 Munz perceives cracks in Russia-China partnership
A 30-page agreement between Russia and China was reported, but Munz, a correspondent for ntv, noticed some fractures, such as China's potential participation in the peace talks in Switzerland or the unwillingness to become excessively reliant on Russian natural resources.

11:34 Ukraine claims Russian troops have expanded active combat area
According to Ukrainian military chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, Russian forces have expanded their active combat area by nearly 70 kilometers through their offensive in the Kharkiv region. Russia launched the attack to make Ukraine deploy extra reserve brigades. Syrskyi anticipates increased fighting as troops in Kiev prepare for defense in the Sumy region.

11:15 Video showcases the aftermath of mass attacks on Russia
Reports indicated that Ukraine had attacked several locations on Russian territory, including a drone strike on an oil refinery in Tuapse in the southern Krasnodar region. Russia claimed to have downed over 100 Ukrainian drones during the night:

10:31 Baerbock supports procuring longer-range weapons
As the situation in and around the city of Kharkiv deteriorated, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock called for weapons with a longer reach. During the Council of Europe's foreign ministers' meeting, Baerbock described the situation around Ukraine's second largest city as "severely dramatic." Russia was striking the city from its own territory, making it difficult for Ukraine's air defense to take effect. She emphasized the requirement for "weaponry with medium and long-range capabilities." Kharkiv is approximately 40 kilometers from the Russian border.

10:02 Putin and Xi share a warm goodbye
After completing their talks in China, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President and Party Leader Xi Jinping parted ways with a pleasant displays of camaraderie. A video from state broadcaster CCTV showed Putin extending a reconciliatory handshake with Xi. Putin's two-day state visit to China would continue in the northern city of Harbin.

09:26 Ukrainian military reports four explosions in Kharkiv
Ukraine reported shooting down all 20 drones launched by Russia while targeting the nation during the night in the regions of Kharkiv, Poltava, Vinnytsia, Odessa, and Mykolaiv. In Kharkiv, four explosions occurred during the attack, as communicated by the city's mayor, Ihor Terekhov. A fire broke out as a result of one of the detonations. The regional governor stated that five structures were harmed, including an administrative building.

09:02 ntv reporter: "Russians are approaching closer to the city limits of Kharkiv"
The conflict in Kharkiv is markedly tense, and despite Ukraine's ability to maintain the military situation at the city's perimeters, the "Russians have also secured their position" and are roughly 30 kilometers away from the city. wrote ntv reporter Jürgen Weichert.

08:34 Russia reports casualties in Belgorod region
Authorities cited two deaths in Russia as a result of the nocturnal Ukrainian drone assaults. On the outskirts of the village of Oktyabrsky in the border region of Belgorod, a mother and her four-year-old son were killed by a fierce drone, as relayed by Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov.

08:06 Russia confirms attack on Sevastopol in Crimea
Russia's Ministry of Defense claimed that the city of Sevastopol in Crimea was assaulted during the night. The region's governor announced that a substation had been damaged, resulting in potential power outages. The schools and kindergartens in the city remained closed due to security concerns. Sevastopol is home to the Russian Black Sea Fleet.

07:42 Reports surface of an attack on the Black Sea Fleet port
Videos emerged on the web purporting to show a massive Ukrainian drone barrage on the Black Sea Fleet port of Novorossiysk. Russia's state news agency RIA reported missile attacks on the area, albeit without explicitly mentioning the port.

From 7:18 am Moscow time, reports indicate that more than 100 Ukrainian drones were intercepted. Of these, 51 were stopped over the annexed Crimean peninsula, 44 in the Krasnodar region, six in the Belgorod border region, and one more in the Kursk region. Additionally, the navy destroyed six naval drones in the Black Sea. In retaliation for the daily shelling from Russia, Ukraine has continually targeted Russian territory with a focus on energy facilities.

Satellite images from Maxar revealed that three fighter jets were completely destroyed - two MiG-31s and one Su-27 - and one more MiG-29 was damaged in the Ukrainian strikes on the Russian military airfield Belbek in Crimea. On Thursday night, Ukraine attacked the Belbek airbase for the second consecutive night.

Reports circulate of a potential new Ukrainian drone attack on a Russian oil refinery in Tuapse, located on the Black Sea. However, as of 7 am, local authorities have confirmed the fire and indicated it has been successfully contained.

Russian President Vladimir Putin plans to emphasize the importance of trade in northeastern China, following a strategic partnership with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Later today, Putin is set to conclude his visit to China in Harbin, Heilongjiang province, a region that has long maintained trade and cultural ties with Russia.

The Russian Foreign Ministry has declared the British military attaché, Adrian Coghill, persona non grata, and given him a week to leave the country. This is in response to the UK's expulsion of the Russian military attaché earlier on May 8, whom they believed to be a secret intelligence agent.

Some NATO member countries are discussing the possible deployment of military trainers or defense contractors to Ukraine. These individuals would help train Ukrainian troops and repair equipment, responding to Ukraine's request for aid in equipping 150,000 soldiers near the front lines.

The United States has expressed concerns about the possibility of attacks on foreign trainers, which could potentially trigger NATO's collective defense clause. This has caused some officials to suggest continuing to train large numbers of Ukrainian recruits in Germany and Poland as an alternative, although this would create significant logistical challenges with transporting such a large number of soldiers. Other NATO countries, such as the UK, Germany, and France, are considering sending defense contractors to Ukraine while the White House considers lifting its ban on US defense contractors operating in Ukraine.

Japanese Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki expresses the importance of respecting international law in the discussions regarding the use of interest from frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine. While Japan plans to participate in the upcoming G7 meeting from this standpoint, he notes that Russia's presence in Eastern Europe poses a significant threat to European security.

Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, denies any arms deals with Russia, stating that the weapons developed in North Korea are intended for defense purposes. She dismisses the alleged arms deal with Russia as a fabrication stemming from prejudices and misinformation, despite accusations from the USA and South Korea that North Korea has been supplying weapons to Russia as part of their war against Ukraine.

The air raid alert in Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, has been lifted in most areas after drone attacks. Governor Oleh Synyehubov states that at least five drones had previously attacked the city, resulting in a hit on a district and a fire. The longest air raid alert since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 lasted more than 16 hours.

Despite these aggressive actions from Ukraine, the US government perceives Chinese support for Moscow as a delay in their rapprochement with the West. State Department spokesman Vedant Patel comments that China cannot "dance at two weddings at the same time." He adds that better relations with Europe and other countries are unattainable if China simultaneously "fuels the greatest threat to European security in a long time," referring to the Russian war against Ukraine.

11:34 PM Zelensky issues warning about Russian missile attacks on gas infrastructure

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky warns of potential risks for Europe due to Russian missile strikes on the country's gas transport system. He shared this information during a conversation with Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk, as mentioned in a video message Zelensky shared later. These strikes pose a threat not only to Ukraine but also to its neighbors, emphasizing the need for joint action, says Zelensky.

10:06 PM Long-term power outages in Ukraine after attacks

Due to the severe damage done to power plants and substations in Ukraine, the country's government anticipates power cuts lasting over a month. Improvements are unlikely before August or September, according to Yuri Boyko, an advisor to the Prime Minister and a member of the supervisory board at Ukrenerho. Planned blackouts will start in select regions on Thursday in an attempt to conserve electricity. Even the streets of Kiev are impacted. Boyko attributes the significant disruptions to the power grid to Russia's missile attacks.

Find more details here. [On the previous developments.]