Ukraine news – live: Turkey says Nato hopefuls must ‘cooperate’ on fighting terrorism

High loss of Russian drones in Ukraine could compromise its forces’ operational effectiveness, according to an intelligence update from UK military officials.

Tweeting earlier on Saturday, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) wrote: “The Russia-Ukraine war has seen Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) playing a pivotal role for both sides although they have suffered a high rate of attrition. UAVs have proved vulnerable both to being shot down and to electronic jamming.

“Russia has attempted to implement the concept of ‘Reconnaissance Strike’ it refined in Syria, which uses reconnaissance UAVs to identify targets to be struck by combat jets or artillery.

“Russia is likely experiencing a shortage of appropriate reconnaissance UAVs for this task, which is exacerbated by limitations in its domestic manufacturing capacity resulting from sanctions.

“Crewed Russian aircraft mostly continue to avoid conducting sorties over Ukrainian territory, likely because of the threat from intact Ukrainian air defence missiles systems.

“If Russia continues to lose UAVs at its current rate, Russian forces intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capability will be further degraded, negatively impacting operational effectiveness.”

Russia has claimed to have captured Mariupol in what would be its biggest victory yet in its war with Ukraine, after a nearly three-month siege that reduced much of the strategic port city to a smoking ruin, with over 20,000 civilians feared dead.

Defence minister Sergei Shoigu reported to president Vladimir Putin the “complete liberation” of the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol — the last stronghold of Ukrainian resistance in the city— spokesman Igor Konashenkov said.

There was no immediate confirmation from Ukraine.

Defenders of Mariupol’s Azovstal steelworks – considered heroes by their fellow Ukrainians – are sure to face a tribunal for their actions during the conflict, Denis Pushilin, the head the Moscow-backed separatist region of Donetsk, has said.

“I believe that justice must be restored. There is a request for this from ordinary people, society, and, probably, the sane part of the world community,” Russian state news agency Tass quoted Pushilin as saying.

People view a Russian tank and armoured vehicles that have been put on display in Saint Michaels Square for public viewing in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv.

Following Russia’s retreat from areas around the city, signs of normal life have returned to Kyiv, with residents taking advantage of shortened curfew hours, businesses reopening, and foreign countries returning their diplomats.

Turkey’s President has told the cheif of the Nato military alliance that Ankara will not look positively on Sweden and Finland’s membership bids unless they clearly show cooperation on the fight against terrorism and other issues.

In a statement by the presidency on Saturday, Erdogan said he supported Nato’s open door policy.

In a tweet following the call, Nato secretary general Jens Stoltenberg said the security concerns of all allies must be taken into account and talks need to continue to find a solution.

A top Russian official has expressed suspicion that Ukraine could be paying for European weapons with grain exports.

A tweet posted by Russia’s UK embassy, relaying comments made by Moscow’s ambassador to the United Nations Vasily Nebenzya, reads: “Grain is exported from Ukraine at very high pace, by rail and barges through Danube. Where to?

“We suspect it’s not for the needs of those starving in the global South, but rather ends up in European storages. This looks how is paying for Western weapons deliveries.”

Portugal will provide financial assistance to Ukraine, it was announced at a meeting between the two heads of state.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky met Portuguese PM Antonio Costa in Kyiv.

Prior to the meeting, Mr Costa had visited Irpin in the Kyiv region to see the damage caused to the city by Russian invaders.

The amount of money to be given by Portugal has yet to be publicised.

Mr Zelensky said: “I appreciate the readiness to provide financial assistance to our country. Relevant agreements on Portugal’s provision of financial assistance will be formalised today at the governmental level.”

The pair also discussed the provision of further security assistance, post-war reconstruction of Ukraine, and bringing Russian war criminals to justice.

Finnish president Sauli Niinisto said he held “open and direct” talks with his Turkish counterpart Tayyip Erdogan today to discuss Finland’s bid for Nato membership.

Last week, before the two Nordic nations submitted their applications, Mr Erdogan publicly questioned whether Finland and Sweden should be allowed to join the military alliance.

During the call, Mr Erdogan told Mr Niinisto that overlooking terrorist organisations that pose a threat to a Nato member is not in the spirit of the alliance.

Mr Erdogan also said Ankara expected support for its fight against terrorist organisations that threaten its national security and people, according to a statement by the Turkish presidency.

After the call, Mr Niinisto tweeted: “I stated that as Nato allies Finland and Turkey will commit to each other’s security and our relationship will thus grow stronger. Finland condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. Close dialogue continues.”

Mr Erdogan has also spoken to Magdalena Andersson to outline his expectations from Stockholm – including concrete steps to address Turkey’s concerns about people linked to the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) living in Sweden.

Turkish president Tayyip Erdogan told Sweden’s PM Magdalena Andersson today that Ankara expects concrete steps regarding its concerns about terrorist organisations, the state-owned Anadolu news agency reported.

In a phone call, Mr Erdogan also said an arms exports embargo imposed on Turkey after its Syria incursion in 2019 should be lifted, according to Anadolu.

Finland and Sweden formally applied to join Nato on Wednesday, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Turkey surprised Nato allies last week by objecting to the two countries’ membership, but Western leaders have expressed confidence that Ankara’s objections will not be a roadblock to the Nato accession process.

Ankara says Sweden and Finland harbour people linked to the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militant group and followers of Fethullah Gulen, whom Ankara accuses of orchestrating a 2016 coup attempt.