Russia-Ukraine war: Putin makes 'significant' attempt to 'redraw red lines' on using nukes (2024)

While we haven't been able to bring you live updates on the war in Ukraine today, we have been keeping an eye on the main developments.

Here's what you need to know:

Zelenskyy meets Trump in New York

Volodymyr Zelenskyy met Donald Trump in New York as public tension rise between the two over Ukraine's defence against Russia's invasion.

"I think we have a common view that the war in Ukraine has to be stopped and Putin can't win," Mr Zelenskyy said.

After arriving together, Mr Trump said: "The fact that we're even together today is a very good sign."

The visit is taking place a day after Vice President Kamala Harris, Mr Trump's Democratic opponent, met the Ukrainian leader and expressed unwavering support.

Three killed in Russian missile attack

At least three people have been killed in a Russian missile attack on the central Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih.

A building housing the regional police department was struck in the attack, officials said.

Ukraine's emergency services said they were continuing towork at the site as people were feared buried under the rubble.

Local authorities said 23 private houses, three blocks of flats and an educational facility were also damaged.

'Clear evidence' Chinese companies supplying Russia with military attack drones

A western official told our security and defence editor Deborah Haynes that there was "clear evidence" that Chinese companies were supplying military attack drones to Russia.

The allegation, if confirmed, would be the first known complete weapons system to be delivered to Russia from China for use in Ukraine.

Such a development would be of huge concern to Kyiv and its western backers and would further ratchet up tensions between Beijing and the West.

A spokesperson for the NATO alliance called the allegation "deeply concerning" and revealed that allies were "consulting on this matter".

Contacted for a response, the Chinese embassy in London said it was "not aware of the specifics you mentioned".

Russian forces push further east in Ukraine

Russia has claimed to have captured the village of Marynivka in Ukraine's eastern Donetskregion.

The village is close to where its forces have been pushing towards the key city of Pokrovsk.

Ukraine's General Staff did not comment on the status ofMarynivka but said areas near there had seen the biggest concentration of Russian attacksover the past day.

It said 42 Russian assaults on the Pokrovskfront had been repelled.

We are pausing our live coverage of the war in Ukraine.

Here are the main things you need to know:

• The Kremlin has said the West should take Vladimir Putin's latest nuclear threat as a "signal", as it warned of "unprecedented confrontation" if Ukraine's allies help attack Russia;
• It comes after the Russian president suggested new rules which would let Moscow use nukes if it came under attack by conventional weapons;
  
• Our Moscow correspondent Ivor Bennett said this attempt to "redraw the red lines"was"significant" because using conventional weapons on Russian soil is exactly what Ukraine has been doing since its surprise incursion;
• But he noted Mr Putin's previous threats"have not been followed through on", with the West having been able to provide missiles, tanks, and fighter jets without any retaliation.

• Joe Biden has announced a "surge" in military support for Ukraine, with a new package including long-desired glide bombs, fresh air defence kit, and more training for Ukrainian pilots;
• The announcement was welcomed as "critical" by Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who has been holding talks with Mr Biden at the White House after speaking at the United Nations in New York yesterday;
• But our security and defence editor Deborah Haynes said while the package was welcome, it fell short of what Kyiv had been hoping for;
• While it includes more long-range missiles, permission for Ukraine to fire them into Russian territory has still not been given.

That's all for now - thanks for joining us today.

For more from the war in Ukraine, watch the special report below by our correspondent Alex Rossi, who joins Ukrainian forces defending a besieged city from Russian attacks.

These are the latest photographs from the frontline in Ukraine, where daily airstrikes have become the norm since Russia invaded in February 2022.

In Kharkiv in the northeast - very close to the land border with Russia - Ukrainian servicemen have been spotted operating drones.

It's certainly not the first time you've tapped into our Ukraine live blog and been greeted with nuclear threats from the Kremlin.

But ourMoscow correspondent Ivor Bennettsays this one is "slightly different" to the ones we've had on a fairly regular basis since Russia launched its full invasion back in February 2022.

He says "it's more specific, more defined, and an attempt by Moscow to redraw the red lines".

It's all to do with Russia's nuclear doctrine - the document that defines when and how Moscow can use its nuclear arsenal.

Ivor says: "Currently, it's only if the existence of the state is under threat.

"But yesterday, Putin said he wanted to update this doctrine so in theory Russia could respond with nukes to an attack by any state using conventional weapons - things like missiles, drones, and aircraft."

Has the nuclear sabre-rattling lost its impact?

That's "significant" because it's exactly what's happening with Ukraine.

He also said the Kremlin would consider any assault by a non-nuclear power supported by a nuclear power to be a joint attack - essentially a warning aimed at Ukraine's allies.

As we've reported, Mr Putin's officials have doubled down on those threats today, saying the West should take it as a "signal".

As Ivor notes, previous threats of retaliation "have not been followed through on".

"Providing missiles, battle tanks and fighter jets to Ukraine all happened without any consequence," he says.

There have been "loads of threats of nuclear Armageddon" and perhaps now both sides sense "this kind of language has lost some of its impact".

It could well be "yet another bluff".

Antony Blinken, the US Secretary of State, has condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin's warning to the West about nuclear weapons as "irresponsible" and "poorly timed".

The Kremlin said today that changes outlined by Mr Putin to Russia's nuclear weapons documents should be considered a "signal" to the West.

Addressing this, Mr Blinken told MSNBC: "It's totally irresponsible.

"I think many in the world have spokenclearly about that when he's been rattling the nuclear sabre -including China, in the past.

"So I would just say especially todo that now, while the world's gathered… talking about theneed for more disarmament, non-proliferation."

Sanctions on Russia were introduced two years ago shortly after the start of the country’s Ukrainian invasion. The purpose? To limit the Russianwar machine and starve Russian oligarchs of access to luxury items.

Our economics and data editor Ed Conway noticed that sales of Britishluxury vehicles to Russiahad fallen away to almost nothing, yetsales to former Soviet states such as Azerbaijanand Georgia have massively increased. The suspicion was that these cars would then somehow make it into Russia,but we didnot know how.

In this episode, Niall Paterson sits down with Ed to find out the process by which sanctioned luxury European cars find their way to Moscow.

👉Tap here to follow the Sky News Daily podcast - 20 minutes on the biggest stories every day👈

Sergei Lavrov and Cardinal Pietro Larolin - in effect, Pope Francis's second in command - met for talks about the war with Ukraine late on Wednesday.

A statement from the Russian ministry said the pair discussed "mutual actions in the humanitarian sphere in the context of the Ukrainian crisis" on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

It also said Mr Lavrov and Cardinal Parolin spoke about "reasons for the geopolitical crisis, a direct consequence of the consistent anti-Russian policies of Western countries".

Relations between the Vatican and Kyiv have been strained at times due to a number of Pope Francis's comments since the invasion took place in February 2022.

However, the pope has repeatedly called for peace and condemned attacks by Russia that have caused loss of life since the conflict began.

Additionally, a papal envoy has visited both Kyiv and Moscow as part of efforts to bring Ukrainian children allegedly deported to Russia back to their homes.

Perhaps the most notable part of the new US aid package announced for Ukraine today is the inclusion of glide bombs.

This type of weaponry has been used by Russia during the war and has been long desired by Kyiv.

What are they?

The US Air Force describes them as "an unpowered glide weapon used to destroy high-value targets".

They are 12ft long, 18 inches in diameter, and weigh 2,500 pounds.

Each bomb costs up to $245,000 - they're cheaper than the ballistic and cruise missiles Russia regularly fires at Ukraine.

As our security and defence editor Deborah Haynes says - and as their name implies - they have retractable wings that help them reach targets upwards of 70 miles away.

They can be deployed from the F-16 fighter jets Ukraine also recently received from the US.

Reports suggest the glide bombs will be equipped with cluster munitions.

How do they work?

These bombs are equipped with satellite guidance capabilities that help them navigate in all conditions - day and night, and during bad weather.

They can be guided by an operator by remote control after being launched from the aircraft, but they can also lock on to targets beforehand and be guided there automatically.

The wings are arranged in an X-like arrangement, helping them glide through the air with the required accuracy.

Their wingspan is 4ft 11 inches.

The UK has just confirmed it has extended its sanctions regime on Russia to include five ships and two shipping fulfilment companies.

Earlier this month, the Westminster government slapped sanctions on 10 ships in Moscow's so-called "shadow fleet".

It is alleged that Russia uses these vessels to avoid Western restrictions on Russian oil exports.

In the past year, there has been growth in the number of oil tankers transporting cargoes that are not regulated or insured by conventional Western providers

The new ships under British sanctions are: Asya Energy, Pioneer, North Sky, SCF La Perouse and Nova Energy.

And the shipping companies are: White Fox Ship Management and Ocean Speedstar Solutions OPC.

If you're just joining us, it's been a significant few hours for the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

Here are the main things you need to know:

• Joe Biden has announced a "surge" in military support for Ukraine, with a new package including long-desired glide bombs, fresh air defence kit, and more training for Ukrainian pilots;
• The announcement was welcomed as "critical" by Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who has been holding talks with Mr Biden at the White House after speaking at the United Nations in New York yesterday;
• But our security and defence editor Deborah Haynes said while the package was welcome, it fell short of what Kyiv had been hoping for;
• While it includes more long-range missiles, permission for Ukraine to fire them into Russian territory has still not been given.

• Vladimir Putin has been back at the nuclear sabre-rattling, suggesting new rules which would let Russia use them if it ever came under attack - even by conventional weapons;
• The Kremlin said the West should take it as a "signal", and warned of "unprecedented confrontation" if it helps attack Russia;
• Experts say his threat is designed to trigger"a new wave of panic"across the West and ensure they don't give Ukraine permission to fire long-range missiles into Russia.

• And back to those Biden-Zelenskyy talks, it's been reported the US president isn't happy with his Ukrainian counterpart's "victory plan";
• According to The Wall Street Journal, US officials are concerned it doesn't include enough detail on potential diplomatic solutions.

That's all for now - stay with us for more updates and analysis from Washington, Kyiv, and Moscow throughout the day.