May 21, 2023 Russia-Ukraine war news

By Heather Chen, Andrew Raine, Sophie Tanno, Maureen Chowdhury, Mike Hayes and Matt Meyer, CNN

Updated 12:05 a.m. ET, May 22, 2023
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2:17 p.m. ET, May 21, 2023

Ukrainian forces continue to hold areas of Bakhmut, Armed Forces spokesperson says

From CNN's Maria Kostenko

An armored infantry carrier is seen driving to the front line south of Bakhmut on May 17.
An armored infantry carrier is seen driving to the front line south of Bakhmut on May 17. Vincenzo Circosta/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

Ukraine's Armed Forces said Sunday it continues to hold a number of buildings in the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, after Russia's Wagner Group claimed to have taken the city Saturday. 

"We have strongholds in the southwestern part of the city. Our units are in the city. We continue efforts to counterattack the enemy," Serhii Cherevatyi, spokesperson for the eastern grouping of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, told CNN. 

Ukraine's Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar also reiterated Sunday that Ukrainian forces were holding the defense, posting on Telegram that the "enemy failed to encircle and they lost some of the dominant heights around the city."

She said Ukrainian forces were still making advances in the suburbs around the city, which “makes it very difficult for the enemy to remain in Bakhmut."

"Our defenders retain control over industrial and infrastructure facilities and the private sector of Bakhmut in the ‘Airplane’ district,” Maliar said.

CNN cannot independently verify these battlefield claims.

9:40 a.m. ET, May 21, 2023

G7 strives to bring "just and lasting peace" to Ukraine as soon as possible, says Japanese prime minister 

From CNN's Mayumi Maruyama and Alex Stambaugh 

The Group of Seven nations strives to bring "just and lasting peace to Ukraine as soon as possible," Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Sunday, following talks between G7 leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Hiroshima.

Kishida said the summit was held in the midst of "challenges to principles that our predecessors had forged and defended over the years," including respect for sovereignties and territorial integrity, and that inviting Zelensky showed the "unwavering solidarity" between the G7 and Ukraine. 

The Japanese prime minister, who hosted the event, also highlighted the multiple crises facing the global community, including climate change and the pandemic, as well as the impacts of the war in Ukraine. 

"If we do not show a willingness to listen to the voices of countries and people and cooperate on a wide range of urgent issues, our claim to uphold a free and open international order based on the rule of law could become futile,” Kishida said in his remarks. 

Kishida also highlighted an action plan endorsed by G7 leaders to work toward global nuclear disarmament.

The document, known as the Hiroshima Vision on Nuclear Disarmament, is of "historical significance," Kishida said.

10:08 a.m. ET, May 21, 2023

Zelensky thanks Biden for new aid package

From CNN's Maria Kostenko and Victoria Butenko

Zelensky and Biden shake hands in Hiroshima on Sunday.
Zelensky and Biden shake hands in Hiroshima on Sunday. Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Reuters

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked President Biden Sunday for the “powerful” financial assistance provided by the US, which totals $37 billion, and for the new military assistance package, according to a readout from the president’s office.

“A huge gratitude from our people. I am glad that we have such strong relations,” Zelensky said, adding, “We discussed further cooperation to bolster the defense capabilities of our country.”

Biden earlier announced the military assistance package, worth $375 million, which includes ammunition, artillery and vehicles, as he met with Zelensky in Japan at the G7 summit.

"The United States continues to do all we can to strengthen Ukraine's ability to defend itself," Biden said, citing his recent decision to allow F-16 fighter jets to go to Ukraine and to train Ukrainian pilots on the aircraft in the United States.

Biden said new sanctions on Russia would "ensure that we keep pressure on Putin to hold his backers accountable."

9:45 a.m. ET, May 21, 2023

Zelensky says the world needs "clear global leadership of democracy" as he attends G7 summit in person

From CNN's Victoria Butenko and Sophie Jeong

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called for a "clear global leadership of democracy" in remarks delivered in person at a session of the G7 summit in Japan on Sunday, according to a readout from the president's office.

Zelensky emphasized the importance of having air defense systems to protect all cities of Ukraine, saying that “we decide – not our enemy – what the sky security will be like.”

"Together we have proven that the question is not how many missiles our common enemy has, but how many air defense systems we have," Zelensky said.

Zelensky also thanked leaders who helped Ukraine with air defense and said he was grateful for the decision to train Ukrainian pilots on modern fighter aircrafts. 

This week US President Joe Biden gave his backing for Ukrainian pilots to be trained to fly F-16s, reversing his previous position.

"When our pilots know the F-16 and when these aircraft appear in our skies, it will matter not only for Ukraine," Zelensky said. "This will be a historic moment for the entire security architecture in Europe and the world."

Zelensky said on Saturday that his government is coordinating on weapons, air defense and fighter jets with its allies in response to Russia’s war.

The G7 are seeking common ground on a host of global issues, including how to confront Beijing’s growing military and economic assertiveness as well as the war raging in Europe.

G7 member countries, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States, include the largest backers of Ukraine’s defense.

10:24 a.m. ET, May 21, 2023

Zelensky denies the fall of Bakhmut, but says brutal fighting has "destroyed" the city

From CNN's Alex Stambaugh in Hong Kong and Victoria Butenko in Kyiv

Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky looks on during his meeting with US President Joe Biden in Hiroshima, Japan, on Sunday.
Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky looks on during his meeting with US President Joe Biden in Hiroshima, Japan, on Sunday. Jonathan Ernst/Reuters

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky denies claims that the city of Bakhmut has fallen to Russian forces, spokesperson Sergiy Nykyforov said Sunday. 

"I think no," Zelensky told reporters, when asked both whether he thinks the city is still in Kyiv's control and about claims Russia captured the city. 

His office later told CNN the president was referring specifically to Russia's claim. 

"The president has denied Bakhmut has been taken over," Nykyforov said.

Zelensky also mentioned the city during an appearance with US President Joe Biden at the G7 summit in Hiroshima, Japan, where the two later held a one-on-one meeting.

"There is nothing. They destroyed everything. There are no buildings. It's a pity, it's a tragedy, but for today Bakhmut is only in our hearts," Zelensky said. 

The Ukrainian leader also thanked his country's fighters in Bakhmut, saying "we appreciate them for their great job."

2:27 a.m. ET, May 21, 2023

Entire G7 has "Ukraine's back," Biden says as he announces new aid package during meeting in Japan

From CNN's Kevin Liptak

US President Joe Biden announced a new security assistance package to Ukraine as he met with the country's President Volodymyr Zelensky in Japan on Sunday.

It was their first face-to-face meeting since Biden visited Kyiv in February, and came amid Zelensky's historic visit to the G7 summit in Japan.

"The United States continues to do all we can to strengthen Ukraine's ability to defend itself," Biden said, citing his recent decision to allow F16 fighter jets to go to Ukraine and to train Ukrainian pilots on the aircraft in the United States.

Biden said new sanctions on Russia would "ensure that we keep pressure on Putin to hold his backers accountable."

The new security assistance package, which a senior US administration official said earlier would total $375 million, would include ammunition, artillery and vehicles, Biden said.

He voiced support for a "just peace" in Ukraine and said the country's territorial integrity and sovereignty was "non-negotiable."

"What you've achieved is a matter for the entire world and we are in awe of what you've done so far," Biden said.

"Together with the entire G7, we have Ukraine's back and I promise we're not going anywhere."

Biden recounted hearing air raid sirens blaring while the two men were walking through the Ukrainian capital during Biden's visit earlier this year.

"We kept walking. You don't care about the sirens. I don't care about the sirens," Biden said.

8:21 a.m. ET, May 21, 2023

"Ukraine’s security is our security," says British leader Sunak

From CNN's Angus Watson in Sydney, Australia

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak attends a press conference at tthe G7 summit in Hiroshima on Sunday.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak attends a press conference at tthe G7 summit in Hiroshima on Sunday. Issei Kato/Pool/Reuters

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has underscored his country’s support for Ukraine’s defense against Russia, saying “Ukraine’s security is our security.”

The United Kingdom will begin training Ukrainian pilots on US-made F-16 fighter jets “this summer” to “support Ukraine’s air force with what it needs for the future,” Sunak said in remarks delivered Sunday in Hiroshima, Japan.

Sunak welcomed the “very tangible progress on providing further support,” made at the G7, most notably US President Joe Biden’s support for an “international coalition” of countries to provide the advanced fighter jets to Ukraine.

Ukraine must not only win the war but win a just and lasting peace,” Sunak said.

Sunak lauded Zelensky’s presence at the G7 in Hiroshima as a "very powerful moment." The pair held a bilateral meeting Saturday.

“To see President Zelensky standing shoulder to shoulder with his G7 allies I think sends a message to Russia and the world, that we are united behind President Zelensky and his people and will continue to support him for as long as it takes,” Sunak said.

2:00 a.m. ET, May 21, 2023

Biden meets Zelensky

President Joe Biden meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Hiroshima on Sunday.
President Joe Biden meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Hiroshima on Sunday. Jonathan Ernst/Reuters

US President Joe Biden is meeting Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky in Hiroshima on the sidelines of the G7 summit.

1:35 a.m. ET, May 21, 2023

"We are all in it together," Zelensky says as he attends G7 summit

From CNN's Mayumi Maruyama

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Sunday he had presented Ukraine's 10-point peace formula "to the world," as he met world leaders at the G7 summit in Hiroshima, Japan.

"As long as invaders remain on our land, no one will sit down at the negotiating table with Russia," Zelensky wrote on Twitter, adding that "the world has enough power to force Russia to restore peace step by step."

"Our world is vast, but we are all in it together," Zelensky added. "From Japan to the Arab countries, from Europe to Latin America, we find support for our formula. And we continue this work," he said.