Russia warns NATO against military intervention and nuclear weapons in Ukraine

Russian officials issued warnings against NATO military intervention in Ukraine. The Russian Foreign Ministry said the deployment of NATO troops in Ukraine would be 'categorically unacceptable.' Dmitry Medvedev, a senior Russian official, stated such troops would become 'legitimate targets' for destruction. Russian intelligence also claimed NATO nations were plotting to smuggle a nuclear weapon into Ukraine and accused Britain and France of seeking to arm Ukraine with nuclear weapons.

Russian military activity continued alongside the warnings. Russia reported capturing another settlement in Ukraine and claimed its forces had gained more territory in the fourth year of the war than in the previous two years combined. Russian strikes targeted Ukrainian energy infrastructure, railways, and a market, causing civilian casualties and power outages. Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian leader, said 55,000 Ukrainian soldiers had been killed and warned of more Russian attacks.

The warnings came as new peace talks were announced. Zelenskyy said the U.S. had given Ukraine and Russia a June deadline to reach a peace agreement. Russia launched a large-scale strike on Ukraine the day before planned talks in Abu Dhabi.