Ukraine war latest: Putin and Xi issue nuclear war warning; Russia expels British defence attache in retaliation to 'unfriendly' UK

Denmark has announced it will send a new military aid package to Ukraine, worth around 5.6bn Danish crowns (approximately £699m).

Troels Lund Poulsen, Denmark's defence minister, said the packages includes primarily air defence and artillery.

He said it was Denmark's 14th package to the country.

In the Kharkiv region, where Ukrainian soldiers are fighting to hold back two Russian fronts, operators man drones from a trench.

A member of Achilles battalion, 92nd brigade, can be seen emerging, carrying a first-person view drone before lift off.

Back inside the wooden walls, another operator wears goggles allowing him to steer the weapon.

Russia has said it has expelled British defence attache Adrian Coghill in retaliation for the UK's announcement it was kicking out his Russian counterpart last week. 

Mr Coghill was reportedly called to the Russian embassy, where he was told of his expulsion. 

The Russian foreign ministry called Britain's actions "unfriendly"and "anti-Russian" and said retaliatory measures from Moscow will not end here. 

"The initiators of the escalation will be informed about further retaliatory steps," the ministry said. 

On 8 May, Britain announced that it would expel the Russian defence attache, remove diplomatic status from some properties and limit the length of Russian diplomatic visas in response to what Home Secretary James Cleverly called Moscow's "malign activity". 

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said all they need is two Patriot systems and to stop Russia from occupying the Kharkiv region.

Speaking to ABC News during a visit to the embattled region, the Ukrainian president said the country "cannot afford to lose Kharkiv" and "needs help now" to save it from occupation. 

"The situation is very serious," Mr Zelenskyy said.

Moscow launched a fresh incursion across the border into Kharkiv last Friday, forcing 8,000 people to flee their homes.

It comes after the announcement of a further $2bn in US aid  - on top of the $61bn already promised.

US secretary of state Antony Blinken said yesterday that Washington is "focused" on sending Patriot missile systems and other forms of critical air defence to Ukraine.

The Patriot, is a surface-to-air missile defence system and considered one of the most advanced air defence systems in the US.

Earlier this month, Germany also pledged an additional Patriot battery, while Spain said it will deliver anti-aircraft Patriot missiles.

A Russian activist living in exile in Georgia has sounded alarm over a bill dubbed "the Russian law".

Over the past month, thousands of Georgian protesters have taken to the streets to voice their opposition to a draft law on "foreign agents". 

Critics call it a copycat of Russian legislation that has been wielded for more than a decade to target critics of Vladimir Putin's Kremlin. 

If it passes, charities receiving at least 20% of their funding from abroad will have to register with the government as "foreign agents" and submit onerous financial reports.

Grigory Sverdlin, 43, was himself branded a "foreign agent" by the Russian government last September in connection with a non-profit he runs from Georgia advising Russian men on how to avoid military conscription.

"Georgia has just adopted the same 'foreign agents act' using the very same arguments. It is quite obvious that this act will be used to oppress dissidents," he told Reuters.

"I think a lot of people in Georgia want to move along a different path - they want to move towards European integration."

The Georgian government says the law - which cleared parliament on Tuesday and now heads to Georgia's president for review - is needed to ensure transparency in the foreign financing of non-profit organisations. 

The Kremlin has denied any association with the bill. 

Back in China, and Vladimir Putin is continuing his state visit, hosted by Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

He laid a wreath at the Monument to the People's Heroes at Tiananmen Square in Beijing.

Then he attended a gala event celebrating the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations forged between the former Soviet Union and the Peoples Republic of China, which was established following a civil war in 1949.

By Ivor Bennett, Moscow correspondent

There's obviously a great deal of symbolism to this visit.

The banquet, the tea ceremony, the walk in the park - Xi and Putin are closer than ever, and they want the world to see it.

Their message is that it's time for a new global order, that isn't dominated by the West.

The Kremlin also wants to tell those watching back home that Russia isn't alone. That it no longer needs Europe.

But the primary aim for Putin here is more pragmatic. It's about the economy.

The war in Ukraine has left Russia isolated from Western markets, and it needs China to keep it afloat.

So far, Beijing's been more than happy to buy discounted Russian energy, which has proved a lifeline for Moscow.

A tidal wave of Chinese goods has come the other way, which has kept the shelves stocked for consumers and softened the impact of sanctions.

For now, Russia's economy is growing. It's forecast to expand more than 3% this year. But for how much longer?

There are labour shortages in key sectors, like oil and gas. The losses on the frontline have exacerbated a demographic crisis, and the brain-drain that followed the invasion has affected the quality of the workforce.

What's more, the war is fast turning into a money pit for Moscow. Defence spending is projected to reach nearly 9% of GDP this year.

That explains the recent reshuffle of Putin's top team, in which he replaced his defence minister with an economist.

He wants to ensure Russia can continue to afford the war for as long as it takes.

And that's where China comes in.

The delegation accompanying Putin speaks volumes: both new and old defence ministers, his finance minister, central bank governor, oil bosses and oligarchs, and more.

Putin will be pushing for more support for Russia's war economy. The West will be scrutinising what form that support takes.

Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping announced their new "new era" strategic partnership agreement in a statement topping 7,000 words. 

Earlier, we took you through the key points regarding the Ukraine war (see our 10.52am post), but there were other important sections regarding international relations.

Following are the key points:

Ukraine war: "The Russian side positively assesses China's objective and unbiased position on the Ukrainian issue."

China "supports the efforts of the Russian side to ensure security and stability, national development and prosperity, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and opposes outside interference in Russia's internal affairs."

United States: Russia and China have serious concerns at "US attempts to violate the strategic balance", including the development of high-precision non-nuclear weapons for potential "decapitation" strikes, and plans to deploy ground-based missiles in the Asia-Pacific and European regions.

North Korea: "The parties oppose the actions of intimidation in the military sphere carried out by the United States and its allies, which provoke further confrontation with the DPRK."

Industry: Develop civil aircraft construction, shipbuilding, carmakers, machine tool industry, electronics industry, metallurgy, iron ore mining, chemical industry and forestry.

Agriculture: Expand mutual access of agricultural
products, increase the volume of trade in soybeans, pig
breeding, water production, grain, fat and oil, fruits and
vegetables, nuts and other products.

Technology: Develop cooperation in information and
communication technologies, including artificial intelligence,
software, and network and data security.

Nuclear: Deepen partnership in peaceful nuclear energy, including thermonuclear fusion, fast neutron reactors and the
closed nuclear fuel cycle.

Anti-Putin Russian paramilitary soldiers have joined Ukrainian troops on the new frontier in northeastern Ukraine.

The Freedom of Russia Legion are attempting to shore up Kyiv's defence against the unrelenting Russian incursion, launched across the border on Friday.

Its deputy commander, Maksimilian Andronikov, who is also known by his call sign, Caesar, said Russia's fighters had become more innovative.

"They've learned the lessons of the war, they're using rather intelligent tactics," he said.

In particular, Russia has been expending relatively cheap Soviet-era bombs by packing several hundred kilograms into planes and hammering frontline towns and infantry positions.

"The situation is difficult, the intensity is very high, there is fighting almost every 10 minutes," said a Legion mortarman from under a hat and face covering, identifying himself only by his call sign, Winnie.

"It's an unbelievable meat grinder that they're still [sending] their people into," Winnie said, describing Russian losses as Moscow's infantry tries to storm deeper into Ukraine.

Mr Andronikov said the Russian forces have fewer vehicles than before, but have the manpower and artillery advantage.

He blasted the limits placed by some Ukrainian allies on the
use of their weapons to strike Russia, saying they limited Kyiv's ability to fight back where front lines are only few miles from Russian territory.

Context: The Freedom of Russia legion gained name-recognition in the war after they claimed responsibility for raids into the Belgorod and Kursk regions of Russia.

Russia launched its newest border incursion with the goal of capturing two specific settlements, a Russian-installed official said, quoted by RIA state news agency.

The village of Lyptsi, located 19 miles north of Kharkiv city, where Volodymyr Zelenskyy is currently visiting, and the town of Vovchansk, 30 miles further east, where combat has reportedly been fiercest.

"The most important city, which is now on the verge of complete liberation, is undoubtedly Vovchansk," said Vitaly Ganchev, a Russian-installed official in Ukraine.

"Next is the settlement of Lyptsi - our guys are already on the outskirts. Work is beginning to liberate it, aviation and artillery are working constantly, they do not stop," he said.