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Combat Operations
Ukraine
Russia
United States
NATO
United Nations
Foreign Reactions
News Reports

Combat Operations

• Senior Defense Official Holds a Background Briefing DoD 18 May 2022
• Russia: 959 Ukrainian Troops Surrender in Mariupol VOA 18 May 2022 -- Russia's defense ministry said Wednesday 959 Ukrainian troops have surrendered this week at the last stronghold in the besieged port city of Mariupol.
• Russia-Ukraine peace talks stall as war enters 'protracted phase' Press TV 18 May 2022 -- Peace talks between Russia and Ukraine have stalled, with the two sides trading accusations over the breakdown of the negotiations.
• The operational update regarding the russian invasion on 18.00 on May 18, 2022 Ukraine MOD 18 May 2022
• The total combat losses of the enemy from 24.02 to 18.05 Ukraine MOD 18 May 2022
• The operational update regarding the russian invasion on 06.00 on May 18, 2022 Ukraine MOD 18 May 2022
• Russia's Capture Of Azovstal: Symbolic Success, 'Pyrrhic' Victory? RFE/RL 18 May 2022 -- Russia's capture of a massive steel plant in the port city of Mariupol where hundreds of soldiers ended their fight after a grueling siege will represent a symbolic victory for the Kremlin at this stage of its invasion of Ukraine rather than a significant military breakthrough, analysts said.
• Russia Claims Nearly 1,000 Ukrainians 'Surrendered' In Mariupol RFE/RL 18 May 2022 -- Russia says that nearly 1,000 Ukrainian fighters holed up in the Azovstal steel plant - their last stronghold in the besieged southern Ukrainian port city of Mariupol - have given themselves up.
• Fighting Rages In Ukraine As Talks Over Soldiers At Steelworks Continue RFE/RL 18 May 2022 -- Fighting continues to rage in several parts of Ukraine as Kyiv negotiates the release of soldiers holed up at Mariupol's Azovstal steelworks.
• Over 260 Ukrainian soldiers evacuated from Mariupol's Azovstal People's Daily 18 May 2022 -- More than 260 Ukrainian soldiers have been evacuated from the Azovstal plant in the embattled city of Mariupol, the government-run news agency Ukrinform reported Tuesday, citing Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar.
• Russia, Ukraine say their peace talks on hold People's Daily 18 May 2022 -- Russian and Ukrainian officials said on Tuesday that negotiations on a solution to the current crisis have been suspended as the process is mired in stalemate.
• Ukraine says evacuation from Azovstal only way to save troops People's Daily 18 May 2022 -- The evacuation of Ukrainian troops from the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol was the only possible formula for their rescue, Ukraine's government-run Ukrinform news agency reported Tuesday, citing Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar.
• Russian Soldier Pleads Guilty to Killing Ukrainian Civilian VOA 18 May 2022 -- A 21-year-old Russian soldier pleaded guilty Wednesday to killing an unarmed Ukrainian civilian in the first war crimes case Kyiv has brought since the Russian invasion three months ago.
• Russian Soldier Accused Of War Crime Pleads Guilty At Trial In Kyiv RFE/RL 18 May 2022 -- The first Russian soldier to stand trial on accusations of committing a war crime in Ukraine has pleaded guilty at a hearing in a Kyiv court.

Ukraine

• Oleksii Reznikov at the EU Foreign Affairs Council on the level of Defense Ministers with the participation of the NATO Secretary General Ukraine MOD 18 May 2022
• Russia is trying to find its "wonder weapon", which indicates the complete failure of the invasion and the fear of admitting catastrophic mistakes - address by the President of Ukraine President of Ukraine 18 May 2022
• Along with the embargo on Russian oil, it is extremely important to stop its transportation by vessels under EU flags - Oleg Ustenko President of Ukraine 18 May 2022
• Address by the President of Ukraine on the occasion of the Day of Remembrance of the Victims of the Crimean Tatar Genocide President of Ukraine 18 May 2022
• Missile shelling of a number of regions and subversive activity at the border are an attempt of the Russian army to compensate for a series of failures in the east and south of Ukraine - address by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy President of Ukraine 18 May 2022
• Ukrainian president holds phone talks with German, French leaders People's Daily 18 May 2022 -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday held separate phone talks with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron.
• Ukraine not to exchange territories for peace with Russia: negotiator People's Daily 18 May 2022 -- Ukraine will not exchange its territories for a peace deal with Russia, the government-run Ukrinform news agency reported on Tuesday, citing Mykhailo Podolyak, a member of the Ukrainian delegation to the peace talks with Russia.
• Zelenskiy Mocks Russia's Claim Of Laser Weapon Ready To Deploy In Ukraine RFE/RL 18 May 2022 -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy says Russia's claim that it is close to introducing a high-powered laser weapon system to shoot down drones in Ukraine is wartime propaganda distributed by leaders afraid to admit their "catastrophic mistakes."
• Ukraine Marks Anniversary Of Stalin-Era Deportations Of Crimean Tatars RFE/RL 18 May 2022 -- Ukraine has marked the 78th anniversary of the Stalin-era deportations of Crimean Tatars from Crimea.

Russia

United States

• Additional $100 Million in Howitzers, Tactical Vehicles, Radars Headed to Ukraine DoD News 18 May 2022 -- The Pentagon announced today that another tranche of presidential drawdown support is headed to Ukraine. The latest package is worth $100 million and mostly includes more of the same items the U.S. has sent to Ukraine in the past.
• Biden's Nominee To Be U.S. Ambassador To Ukraine Approved By Senate Committee RFE/RL 18 May 2022 -- The U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee has unanimously approved President Joe Biden's nominee to be the next ambassador to Ukraine.

NATO

• Finland and Sweden submit applications to join NATO NATO 18 May 2022 -- Finland and Sweden on Wednesday morning (18 May 2022) simultaneously handed in their official letters of application to join NATO.
• Remarks by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg with Klaus Korhonen (ambassador of Finland accredited to NATO) and Axel Wernhoff (ambassador of Sweden accredited to NATO) NATO 18 May 2022
• Sweden, Finland Apply for NATO Membership DoD News 18 May 2022 -- Finland and Sweden officially applied to join the 30 members of the NATO alliance earlier today.
• Statement by President Biden on the Applications to NATO by Finland and Sweden The White House 18 May 2022
• Biden Expresses Strong Support For Finland, Sweden NATO Bids RFE/RL 18 May 2022 -- U.S. President Joe Biden has strongly backed the bids of Finland and Sweden to join NATO in the face of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and said the United States will remain vigilant against any threats to their security.
• Statement by the Prime Minister on Finland and Sweden's application to join the NATO Alliance Prime Minister of Canada 18 May 2022 -- The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today issued the following statement on Finland and Sweden's application to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Alliance:
• Finland signs NATO admission request People's Daily 18 May 2022 -- Finland's Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto on Tuesday signed the letter informing the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) about his country's interest in engaging in accession talks.
• NATO Chief Says Finland, Sweden Have Officially Applied For Membership RFE/RL 18 May 2022 -- Finland and Sweden have handed in their official applications for membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), ending their longtime neutrality status amid growing concerns over Russia's military aggression against Ukraine.
• Secretary Blinken's Call with NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg US Dept. of State 18 May 2022
• Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks with Prime Minister Sanna Marin of Finland Prime Minister of Canada 18 May 2022 -- Today, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke with the Prime Minister of Finland, Sanna Marin, to express Canada's support for Finland's accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Alliance.

United Nations

Foreign Reactions

• Ukraine: the EU Advisory Mission returns to Ukraine European External Action Service (EEAS) 18 May 2022 -- The EU Advisory Mission Ukraine (EUAM) is returning today to Kyiv, after it was forced to evacuate on 24 February because of Russia's invasion.
• Ukraine: Commission presents plans for the Union's immediate response to address Ukraine's financing gap and the longer-term reconstruction European Commission 18 May 2022 -- Today, the Commission has set out plans in a Communication for the EU's immediate response to address Ukraine's financing gap, as well as the longer-term reconstruction framework. This Communication follows from the European Council call to address the consequences of the war in Ukraine via a dedicated Europe-led effort.

News Reports

• Latest Developments in Ukraine: May 18 VOA 18 May 2022
• Global economic growth downgraded due to spillover from Ukraine war UN News 18 May 2022 -- The global economy is expected to grow by only 3.1 per cent this year, down from the 4.0 per cent projected in January, largely derailed by the war in Ukraine, according to the UN's latest World Economic Situation and Prospects (WESP) report, launched on Wednesday.