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Published: 15:54, May 31, 2022 | Updated: 15:58, May 31, 2022
US not providing Ukraine with long-range rocket systems
By Xinhua
Published:15:54, May 31, 2022 Updated:15:58, May 31, 2022 By Xinhua

Ukrainian tanks move in Donetsk region, eastern Ukraine, May 30, 2022. (FRANCISCO SECO)

WASHINGTON/MOSCOW/KYIV/ANKARA – The United States will not provide Ukraine with long-range rocket systems capable of hitting targets inside Russia, President Joe Biden said on Monday, despite pleas from Ukraine for the advanced weaponry.

“We are not going to send to Ukraine rocket systems that can strike into Russia," Biden said in response to a question from the media as he arrived at the White House from Delaware.

Reports emerged last week that the US was preparing to send Ukraine advanced long-range rocket systems as Russia focused its military operation in the eastern part of Ukraine, but the US Defense Department refused to confirm such a plan.

"We are still working through what the next package is going to look like," Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby told reporters on Friday.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and other top officials in the government have been requesting that Washington to provide Multiple Launch Rocket Systems as well as High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems to their country to help it fight Russia.

Putin, Erdogan discuss Ukraine situation 

Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the situation in Ukraine during a telephone call with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday.

READ MORE: Putin discusses Ukraine, food security with Macron, Scholz

Putin said Russia was ready to "facilitate the unhindered sea transit of goods" in coordination with the Turkish side, adding that this also applied to grain exports from Ukrainian ports.

Ukraine has formed a new division of the Azov Battalion to defend the Kharkiv region from Russian forces

The Turkish president emphasized the need for steps that will "minimize the negative effects of the conflict and build trust by re-establishing the ground of peace between Russia and Ukraine as soon as possible."

According to a statement issued by the Turkish presidential office, Erdogan told Putin that Turkey is ready for meeting with Russia, Ukraine, and the United Nations in Istanbul and to play a role in a possible observation mechanism if both sides agree on principle.

Erdogan, Zelensky stress restoration of peace

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Monday that he had talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, with both sides agreeing on the need to restore peace in Ukraine.

According to a statement issued by Erdogan's office, the two leaders discussed the recent developments in the Ukrainian crisis, and Erdogan said Turkey attached importance to the project of creating a safe corridor for the export of Ukraine's agricultural products by sea.

Erdogan said Turkey had made every effort to continue the negotiations between Ukraine and Russia and that his country was ready to provide the needed support including mediation, the statement said.

In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Office on May 29, 2022, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visits the war-hit Kharkiv region. (UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL PRESS OFFICE VIA AP)

New division of Ukraine battalion in Kharkiv

A new division of the Azov Battalion of Ukraine has been formed in the eastern city of Kharkiv, the Ukrainian UNIAN news agency reported on Monday.

The soldiers of the newly-formed military unit will defend the Kharkiv region from Russian forces, the agency said.

The Azov Battalion, which is part of the Ukrainian National Guard, took part in the battle for Mariupol, a key Azov Sea port city that had been under siege for more than two months.

Gazprom suspends supply to Netherlands

Russia's Gazprom Export would suspend gas supplies to Dutch energy company GasTerra from Tuesday due to its refusal to pay in rubles.

GasTerra announced that it did not intend to pay for the supplied gas in rubles, Gazprom said, adding that it would suspend deliveries from May 31 until a payment is made in accordance with a Russian presidential decree from March.

France to deliver more Caesar howitzers to Ukraine

France will deliver more Caesar howitzers to Ukraine, the Interfax-Ukraine news agency reported.

"There will be new deliveries of Caesar self-propelled artillery systems soon, and we will continue to work together in this context," visiting French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna told a joint media briefing with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba in Kyiv.

Colonna said that France stands ready to become a mediator in Ukraine's open dialogue with Russia if a need arises.

Besides, the French minister said that Paris supports granting Ukraine a candidate status to the European Union under a fast-track procedure.

ALSO READ: Fighting in Ukraine rages as Russia hints at longer operation

According to media reports, France has already supplied six Caesar howitzers to Ukraine.

President Zelensky met with Colonna and talked about the assistance in armaments, strengthening sanctions on Russia and bringing Ukraine closer to European Union membership, according to a statement on the Ukrainian presidential website.

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