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Belarus visa free

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You can visit without a visa western territory of Belarus

What You Should Know

Visa-free rules

Visa-free region.

A tourist can visit Grodno, Brest, Lida without a visa, and when traveling together 2 or more people - the whole of Western Belarus Show on the map

Border crossing rules

Crossing the border is only permitted at the border checkpoints with Lithuania or Poland, sometimes you need to fill a customs declaration Show me the details

Allowed period

You can stay up to 15 days. It is allowed to apply for visa-free travel documents several times, but not more than 90 days a year.

A continuous journey lasting longer than 10 days requires mandatory registration in the police. does not apply to residents of Baltic states

Documents for the trip

Receive, print out and take with you visa-free travel documents for Belarus. What you need for a trip

Must have for Belarus

Documents required for travel without a visa to border areas in Belarus

Identity travel document, valid in the period of trip to Belarus

Each tourist must have for everyday of the trip minimum in any currency ~22

Purchased on bezviz.by tourist services and medical insurance in Belarus See, what you can buy

Free travel document for a visa-free trip issued for a ordered tour

Order visa-free travel documents

Are you a citizen of poland, lithuania, latvia read your rules, area near the border with eu.

All Western Belarus

* You need a min.2 persons and to know place of entry/exit from Belarus

• data from the passport
• decide, when to go to Belarus
• address/name of the accommodation (for 2 days of the trip or more)
• for 11-15 days of stay - prepare a scan/photo of passport and place of living
• place of entry and exit from Belarus
• at least 2 people are required
• - The system works around the clock and automatically
• - You will immediately receive all the necessary documents
• - Do you want to go tomorrow? Make it out before 14:00 (CET)
• Your order is handled by our employee manually -
• Documents will be ready within 30-600 minutes during working hours -
• You must send a passport no later than 48 hours before the trip -

Tourist guide

Individual trip to Belarus without a visa

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Belarus • Facts

Visa-free travel (general information).

* – Please pay attention to the fact that a passport should be valid for at least six months after expected date of departure from a foreign country and contain at least two blank pages, intended for visas or other marks. ** – To get acquainted with the rules of border crossing by foreign citizens with visa-free entry, please visit the website of the State Border Committee of the Republic of Belarus . *** – The information is only for reference, it has been prepared on the basis of open sources and communication with foreign partners and is subject to confirmation through the diplomatic mission of the country of your destination **** – More detailed information about visa-free entry to tourist and recreation areas “Brest” and “Awgustow Canal” is available on www.tour.brest.by and www.grodnovisafree.by ***** –  Information   on visa-free travel via the airports of the Republic of Belarus

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Travel visas for Belarus

Visit Belarus

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Belarus Visa-Free Entry and Conditions for Obtaining a Visa

In this article, we will provide you with a full list of countries that don’t need a visa to our country. We will also tell you everything about obtaining a Belarusian visa, its price and required documents.

Visa-free regime in Belarus for citizens of 80 States

Entry and exit of citizens of 80 States are visa-free for up to 30 days if made through the Minsk National Airport checkpoint.

To enter the Republic of Belarus in the visa-free regime through the Minsk National Airport, foreign citizens must have:

•   a valid passport or any substituting document to travel abroad;
•   money: for every day of stay amount in a foreign currency or Belarusian rubles, the equivalent of not less than 2 basic units;
•   medical insurance in an amount not less than 10000 euro, valid in Belarus.

Find out if you need a visa to Belarus here

There are also two other places in Belarus, where the visa-free regime works under slightly different conditions: Grodno and Brest .

Learn more details about Grodno and Augustow Canal visa-free entry here .

Details on visiting Brest without a visa can be found here .

Types of entry visas to Belarus

The Republic of Belarus provides the following types of visas:

•  B) transit, valid for 2 days;
•  C) short-term with validity up to 90 days;
•  D) long-term with validity up to 1 year and stay of up to 90 days.

Entry visas are divided into single, double and multiple.

You can find the nearest Belarusian embassy here

People visit Belarus on different purposes. The purpose of your trip should also be mentioned in your visa.

If you’re going to Belarus on business purposes , we recommend you to contact our legal partner and find out, how they can help you to open a company in Belarus , help with the visa procedure and much more.

Fill out the contact form here

Documents to obtain a visa to Belarus

In order to obtain an entry visa to Belarus, a foreigner provides to the bodies that issue entry visas of the Republic of Belarus the following documents :

• one copy of the visa application form according to the approved form ( http://mfa.gov.by/docs/visa/visa_en.html );
• one photo (size 35 x 45 mm, it should be taken not more than 6 months before);
• document for travel abroad;
• visa support documents;
• additional documents necessary for making a decision on issuance of entry visa (on demand of the consular officer);
• health insurance;
• proof of payment of consular fees.

From January 1, 2017, the following rates of the consular fees for visas are established:

• individual – 60 euros (for all types of visa with any number of entries)
• group (per person) – 10 euro.

With regard to citizens and residents with special status in Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Estonia, Japan and Serbia different rates of consular fees are set.

You can find more information on the website: http://mfa.gov.by  

List of countries, which citizens can visit Belarus without a visa

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A Visa is REQUIRED for any travel to Belarus.

Gather, complete, and submit the requirements below..

• Tourist Visa
• Business Visa

Tourist Visa Requirements

• Original, signed U. S. Passport with at least 6 months of remaining validity beyond stay in Belarus, with adequate unused visa pages to allow for entry and exit stamps upon arrival and departure from Belarus.  Note* Amendment pages in the back of your passport are NOT to be used for entry and exit stamps or visa issuance.
• Visa Application Form.  Please download, print, complete and sign the Visa application.
• 2 Recent Passport-type photograph  (2″ x 2″) in color, front view with  white background.
• Health insurance. As of July 1, 2014, Belarus requires proof of international health insurance specifically covering travel to Belarus and indicating the validity of this coverage (with a minimum medical coverage of $13,500 USD; EUR 10,000).
• Tourist Voucher (Invitation). Copy of tourist voucher (invitation) issued by tourist company or hotel in Belarus approved by the Ministry of Tourism. Please upload a copy to your profile.
• Itinerary. Copy of round trip tickets or confirmed itinerary.

Business Visa Requirements

• Original, signed U. S. Passport with at least 6 months of remaining validity beyond stay in Belarus, with adequate unused visa pages to allow for entry and exit stamps upon arrival and departure from Belarus. Note* Amendment pages in the back of your passport are NOT to be used for entry and exit stamps or visa issuance.
• Briefly introduce the applicant (please specify employment status/position held in the company by applicant).
• State the nature of the business to be conducted (ie. business meetings, contract negotiations, etc.) and the names and addresses of companies to be contacted in Belarus.
• Specify the Type and desired Validity of the visa (ie. a single entry business visa).

Instructions

Please send the passport(s) and all completed documents to the address below:

Atlas Visa Services, Inc.  1751 Clarendon Blvd Arlington, VA 22209

Service Fees

Other information.

FedEx Options

• $45.50 Fed Ex Letter (Not Including AK +HI – USA ONLY)
• $85.00 Fed Ex Envelope (First Overnight – Overweight package)
• $57.50 Fed Ex (Saturday Delivery – USA ONLY)

Embassy Information

http://usa.mfa.gov.by/en/

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Do I need an invitation from a travel agency in Belarus?

Important: for those flying in and out of Minsk after 12 February 2017 Belarus is visa-free for 5 days .

In case with migration-secure countries it is enough to print out a copy of the invitation and submit it to the local Consulate of Belarus along with a valid passport, visa application and the consular fee receipt. In case with other nationalities (UAE, SAR, etc.), the original of the letter of invitation to Belarus has to be sent via DHL – an inconvenient addition to the travel costs. 

The letter of invitation to Belarus is provided to a customer but is addressed to the Consulate of Belarus – hence the Russian language used in it. It contains a formal request of a travel agency to grant a visa to its tourist or tourists whose passport details are indicated in the invitation and who booked travel services listed in it. The invitation Belarus ends with a statement to undertake full responsibility for the actions of the invited person or persons while on a temporary stay in the Republic of Belarus. My experience as a travel agent shows that if you hold a passport of a migration secure country, e.g. any EU country, Australia, USA or Canada , a booking confirmation issued by your hotel will be enough to grant you a visa for up to 10 days (as many as the nights booked) thus sparing you from the need to deal with Belarus travel agents.

Belarus National Library, a highlight of my Minsk city tour

Cross-border Formalities

Toll Roads In Belarus

Transportation in Belarus

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• USD (dollar USA)

We give visa support for foreign citizens arriving to Belarus. Foreign citizens may enter Belarus and depart from Belarus on valid national passports and visas unless otherwise specified in the agreement between Belarus and foreign countries.

Citizens of 80 countries who arrived in  National Airport Minsk, will be entitled to visa-free entry to Belarus for a period not more than 5 days. The relevant decision is contained in the Decree of the President of Belarus on January 9, 2017 № 8 "On establishment of visa-free entry and exit of foreign nationals."

For entry into the visa-free mode, you must have a valid passport or other equivalent document for travel abroad, cash (for each day of stay the amount of currency or Belarusian rubles, not less than 46 BYN), a medical insurance policy for an amount not less than 10 thousand euros, operating in Belarus. For the citizens of Vietnam, Haiti, Gambia, Honduras, India, China, Lebanon, Namibia, Samoa compulsory additional requirement is the existence of the document for going abroad a valid multiple visa EU member states or Schengen area with a mark on the entry into their territory, as well as tickets confirming leaving from National airport Minsk within 5 days from the date of entry. 

Visit visa-free citizens of Belarus will be 39 countries in Europe, including the entire European Union, as well as Brazil, Indonesia, the US, Japan and other countries. List of countries:

• Austrian republic
• The Republic of Albania
• The Principality of Andorra
• Antigua and Barbuda
• The Argentine Republic
• Kingdom of Bahrain
• The Kingdom of Belgium
• Republic of Bulgaria
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Republic of Vanuatu
• Vatican City
• The Socialist Republic of Vietnam *
• The Republic of Haiti *
• Islamic Republic of The Gambia *
• The Federal Republic of Germany
• Republic of Honduras *
• Hong Kong (Syagan) - Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic **
• Hellenic Republic
• Kingdom of Denmark
• Commonwealth of Dominica
• The Republic of India
• The Republic of Indonesia
• The Republic of Iceland
• The Kingdom of Spain
• Italian Republic
• Republic of Cyprus
• Peoples Republic of China *
• The Republic of Korea
• State of Kuwait
• Latvian republic***
• Lebanese Republic *
• Republic of Lithuania
• The Principality of Liechtenstein
• Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
• Macau (Macau) - Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic **
• Republic of Macedonia
• Republic of Malta
• Order of Malta**
• United Mexican States
• Federated States of Micronesia
• The Principality of Monaco
• The Republic of Namibia *
• Netherlands
• The Republic of Nicaragua
• New Zealand
• Kingdom of Norway
• The Sultanate of Oman
• The Republic of Panama
• Republic of Peru
• The Republic of Poland
• Portuguese Republic
• Independent State of Samoa *
• The Republic of San Marino
• Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
• Republic of Seychelles
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• Republic of Singapore
• The Slovak Republic
• The Republic of Slovenia
• Eastern Republic of Uruguay
• Republic of Finland
• French Republic
• The Republic of Croatia
• Czech Republic
• Republic of Chile
• The Swiss Confederation
• Kingdom of Sweden
• The Republic of El Salvador
• The Republic of Estonia ****

* If there is a valid document for travel abroad with a valid multiple visa states - European Union member states - participants of the Schengen area with a note on the entrance to the territory of the State - a member of the European Union or the state - member of the Schengen area, as well as tickets with confirmation of departure date from  National airport Minsk.  ** It is not a state. ***Including persons having not the status of a citizen of the Republic of Latvia. ****Including stateless persons permanently residing in the Republic of Estonia.

The procedure to obtain visas to the Republic of Belarus with assistance from “TOP TOUR” Ltd. at consular offices in the host country:

• Name and surname;
• Date of birth;
• Nationality;
• Passport number;
• Passport validity;
• Type of service (transfer, hotel and etc.);
• Visa is valid for a period of stay in a hotel.

The procedure to obtain visas to the Republic of Belarus with assistance from “TOP TOUR” Ltd. at the consular office in the host country at the national airport “Minsk-2”

• Residential address;
• Position and place of work;
• Type of service (transfer, hotel and etc.)
• Visa is valid for a period of stay in a hotel. 

“TOP TOUR” provides visa support for foreign citizens on the basis of booking and payment of accommodation. 

Note: entry visa application on arrival in the Republic of Belarus is carried out exclusively at the national airport “Minsk-2” ( Smalyavichy city). Other crossing points of the Republic of Belarus don’t have consular offices.

To order: E-mail: [email protected]

After receiving an application a manager will contact you.

For further information please call: +375 (17) 228-20-15

Travel visas for Belarus

In order to enter Belarus most foreign tourists need to get one type of visas: transit, short-term/ long-term, single/ multiple.

Who doesn't need a visa for Belarus?

Citizens of the following countries don’t need a visa:

• The CIS (except for Turkmenistan);
• Venezuela (for stay for up to 90 days);
• Qatar (for stay for up to 30 days);
• Cuba (for stay for up to 30 days);
• Macedonia (with an invitation or tourist voucher);
• Mongolia (for stay for up to 90 days);
• Serbia (for stay for up to 30 days);
• Turkey (for stay for up to 30 days, 90 days during a year);
• Montenegro (for stay for up to 30 days with an invitation or tourist voucher);
• Israel (for stay for up to 90 days) – from 26 November 2015.
• People’s Republic of China
• Turkmenistan

All other foreigners need a visa.

How to get a visa

Visas are issued by:

• Consular offices of Belarus;
• Diplomatic representatives of Belarus;
• Consular Centre of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at Minsk Airport.

In order to get a visa, you should provide the following documents to your local Consular or representative office:

• completed visa questionnaire;
• 1 passport photo;
• supporting documents (original letter of invitation with the signature and stamp of the host party , if a business company invites);
• other documents agreed by the Consular office (depending on the aim of visit and type of visa required.);
• passport (with the date of expiry should be at least 90 days from the date of expiry of a visa).

Visa on arrival

Foreign tourists arriving to Belarus via “Minsk” National Airport can get a visa at the airport.

Foreigners should provide in advance (no later than the established deadline) all documents to the Foreign Admissions Division (FAD) of the Consular Directorate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, which is located at the airport:

• for short-term visas – no later than 3 working days before the expected arrival date;
• for long-term visas – no later than 5 working days before the expected arrival date.

You can apply documents personally or by post taking into account the delivery time.

Address: Foreign Admissions Division of the Consular Directorate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, National Airport Minsk, Minsk, 220054. Phone: +375 17 279 20 58

In case of serious illness or death of a close relative (family member) visa support documents can be provided at the time of application for a visa.

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Where can i get a voucher for belarus? - Belarus Forum

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Belarus Visa Invitation Online Support

Company information, payment methods, billing address.

Tourist Visa Application Details:

1. Original passport with at least 6 months validity from the date of intended travel and minimum 2 blank pages for the visa stamping along with the original previous passport (if any) 2. Completely filled and signed visa application form, declaration form and additional form 3. Four latest passport size white background photographs with face close up (do not staple the photograph) 4. Covering letter from the applicant stating name, passport number and the purpose of travel 5. Invitation from the tourist organization of Belarus with tourist voucher or a written invitation by a national of Belarus 6. Latest original personal bank statement for the last 6 months and ITR of last three years 7. Health insurance which has to be obtained from the Embassy’s Medical Panel 8. Confirm return air ticket

If Self Employed / Business

1. Relationship proof with the company (i.e. MOA if Director, Partnership deed if Partner and Proprietorship certificate if Proprietor) 2. Company’s latest bank statement for the last 3 months and ITR of last three years

If Employed / Service person

1. No objection certificate from the current Employer for the duration of travel 2. Salary slip for the last three months / salary certificate from the Employer

Please note :

1. Applicants personal appearence is mandatory 2. The covering letter should be addressed to “The Visa Officer, Embassy of the Republic of Belarus, New Delhi” 3. Declaration form has to be filled & signed by applicant if insurance is done by GTK Travels

Belarus Visa Checklist

Check Travel Requirements

Belarus Visa Application procedure

Visiting Belarus on a vacation trip can be exciting and fun! The food, cultural and architectural attractions in the country can make you spellbound. But before planning your Belarus trip, you must understand the visa requirements which are discussed thoroughly in the section below.

Below are the Belarus visa requirements! 

Travelers looking forward to visiting Belarus in the upcoming days, here you got it all, read the entire article minutely for the information you need to know to enter the country. 

Belarus has various visa options for travelers visiting for different purposes. These are as follows:

• Tourist Visa
• Business Visa

To acquire these, firstly you need to be a genuinely intended traveler and should have the capability of bearing your expenses when in a new country. Good health is important! 

A passport is an extremely important travel document to fly to Belarus. Please remember that your passport should be legal for a minimum of 6 months from your intended stay in Belarus. A minimum of 3 blank pages should be available in the passport for stamping. The passport should not be torn or damaged in any way. Intending to cross an international boundary will be considered to be an offensive crime so all should follow the rules and regulations of a country before going to visit. 

An old passport is also very important to showcase to the authorities of Belarus because it represents your travel record. So, in case you are having an old passport, submission is a must in proper condition. 

In case you have it, you compulsorily need to showcase it because without it you do not get a visa stamp.

What is the Visa Strategy and Visa Policy of Belarus?

Belarus Visa Policy is as follows:

The following country's passport holders can stay in Belarus indefinitely without any visa.

• Russia - An internal passport is sufficient if a traveler is entering from Kazakhstan or Russia

The following country citizens can stay in Belarus for a 90-day visa-free period.

• Argentina- 90 days visa-free in 1 year period.
• Brazil- 90 days visa-free in 1 year period.
• Israel- 90 days visa-free in 180 days period. 
• Mongolia- 90 days visa-free in 1 year period.
• Ukraine- 90 days visa-free in 180 days period. 

The following country citizens can stay in Belarus for a 30-day visa-free period.

• China- 90 days visa-free in 1 year period.
• Macao- 90 days visa-free in 1 year period.
• Saint Kitts and Nevis
• United Arab Emirates

North Macedonia citizens can also avail of a 30-day visa-free period if he/she carries an invitation letter or a tourist voucher.

Belarus Visa Requirements

The general visa requirements are as follows:

• For visiting any foreign country including Belarus, an original and valid passport is essential. 
• Ensure that the passport has a 6-months validity from the trip.

Old passports

·          The old passport copies should also be submitted as the consulate officials might want to know your travel record.

Photographs

• Two matte finishes with 35X45mm dimensions photographs need to be submitted. 
• Ensure that you don't wear glasses while clicking pictures.

Air Tickets

• The complete trip air tickets need to be submitted.
•  This is to ensure that the traveler has no intention to stay back in Belarus.

Travel Insurance

• Travel insurance is a mandatory document. 
• So, get travel insurance attested and sealed by the insurance company. 
• It should be valid during the trip. 
• The details in the insurance certificate should match that of the passport.

AIDS Certificate

• This certificate proves that the traveler is not suffering from AIDS.
• This medical certificate can be obtained from New Delhi Medical Centre.
• The certificate should be original and issued by an authorized hospital or medical clinic.

Visa Application Form

• The applicant should submit a filled Belarus visa application online form or offline form which should be duly signed by him/her.

Additional Documents

Tourist Visa:

The additional documents required for a tourist visa are as follows:

Covering Letter

A cover letter having the following information needs to be submitted.

• The details of the applicant's stay and accommodation.
• The person details who will be bearing the travel expenses in case of a couple or family trip.
• The relationship between the traveler and other persons accompanying him/her during the travel should be mentioned.
• Travel dates should be mentioned in the cover letter.
• The details mentioned in the passport should be noted in the letter.

Bank Statement

• Original bank statements with an authentic signature and seal of the bank officer need to be submitted.

Income Tax Returns

• The applicant should submit the last 3-year income tax returns.

Hotel Voucher

• The applicant should submit the reserved hotel vouchers for the trip.

Travel Itinerary

• The travel itinerary consisting of the daily schedule during the trip has to be submitted.

Final Thoughts

Ensure that you have all the required documents before applying for a visa. To know about Belarus visa prices contact Belarus tourist visa services and speed up your visa process. A last-minute rush is not wise and plans. Have a safe and happy trip to Belarus.

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Belarus Visa Application Guide

• Download the visa form from the Belarus Embassy website
• Fill in the visa form. If a question does not apply, please, write "n/a". Incomplete forms will be returned to the applicants unprocessed. The visa application form should be filled in legible handwriting or typing. The purpose of the visit must be described in detail. It is the applicant’s responsibility to check whether the information given on the form is correct. The application form should be signed by the applicant. Failure to observe this requirement may result in refusal of the application.
• A valid original passport or travel document with not less than two blank pages available for the visa. The passport must be valid not less than 90 days beyond the date of planned departure from Belarus.
• be taken against a plain, evenly lit and light background
• be clear and of good quality
• be printed on normal photographic paper
• display full face without sunglasses, hat or other head covering unless for ethnic or religious reasons
• If the applicant previously had the USSR or Belarus citizenship, he or she must submit the document proving the loss of the USSR or Belarus citizenship.
• Prepare additional documents. When applying for a visa, apart from an application, you need to submit the following supporting documents depending on the type of the visa : Type B – Transit visa (valid for up to 1 year, allowing stay in Belarus no more than 48 hours) – a valid visa of the country the applicant is travelling from/to via Belarus (e.g. Russia). If such visa is not required – a copy of the ticket, itinerary from a travel agency or any other documents confirming the applicant's trip to the country of destination. Type C – Short-term (tourist) visa (up to 30 days, short-term single or double entry) , a written request (a tourist voucher) by a Belarusian tourist company, or a written request by a rest house or rehabilitation centre, or a written invitation by a national of Belarus and supporting documents that confirm her/his ownership of an agrotourist homestead in Belarus. Citizens of the European Union states, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa and some other countries (please, check at the Embassy) can submit a copy of the tourist voucher with a covering letter from a Belarusian travel agency. We can assist with tourist vouchers to Belarus . Type C - Short-term (visitor) visa (up to 90 days, single, double or multiple entries) - an original letter of invitation (not a copy) made up by the applicant's friends or relatives residing in Belarus at the local citizenship and migration office of the Ministry of Interior of Belarus. An invitation may also be submitted in person by a Belarusian citizen on a temporary visit to the United Kingdom. The signature on this invitation must be notarized at the Consular and Visa Section of the Embassy of Belarus (the consular fee is 10 pounds sterling). Meanwhile, a visa for a private visit may be issued without an invitation in case the applicant submits a report (a doctor-certified fax message) proving an emergency need to visit Belarus due to a serious disease or death of a relative, or a document certifying that you own a residence in Belarus, or a court notice. Citizens of the European Union states, Australia, the USA, Israel, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa and some other countries (please, check at the Embassy), who intend to stay in the Republic of Belarus for the period less than 30 days do not need to provide letters of invitation. Still, the inviting person or organization and their address must be indicated in the visa application form.

Airlines must cough up cancellation cash and can no longer hide fees under new federal rule

A federal rule announced Wednesday will require airlines to quickly give cash refunds — without lengthy arguments — to passengers whose flights have been canceled or seriously delayed, the Biden administration said.

“Passengers deserve to get their money back when an airline owes them — without headaches or haggling,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a statement.

The rule from the Transportation Department says passengers who decline other reimbursement like travel credits are to get cash refunds.

It applies when a flight is canceled or has a “significant change,” the administration said.A “significant change” includes when departure or arrival times are three or more hours different from the scheduled times for domestic flights or six hours for international flights, and when the airport is changed or connections are added, it said.

Passengers are also to get refunds when their baggage is 12 hours late in delivery for domestic flights.

The new rule comes after promises to hold airlines accountable after major disruptions that made travel hell for passengers, including the 2022 Southwest Airlines meltdown , which resulted in almost 17,000 significantly delayed or canceled flights and a missing baggage nightmare.

The Transportation Department said that the new rule means refunds are automatic and that "airlines must automatically issue refunds without passengers having to explicitly request them or jump through hoops."

Also announced Wednesday was a rule requiring airlines to more clearly disclose so-called junk fees upfront, such as surprise baggage or other fees, the department said.

It said that rule is expected to save fliers around $500 million a year.

The surprise fees are used so tickets look cheaper than they really are, and then fliers get the unwelcome surprise of fees on checked bags, carry-on bags or reservation changes — or even discounts that are advertised but apply to only part of the ticket price, officials said.

Airlines will also have to tell fliers clearly that their seats are guaranteed and that they don't have to pay extra to ensure they have seats for flights, according to the Transportation Department.

Airlines for America, an industry trade group, said that its member airlines “offer transparency and vast choice to consumers from first search to touchdown” and that they do offer cash refunds.

The 11 largest U.S. airlines returned $10.9 billion in cash refunds last year, an increase over $7.5 billion in 2019 but slightly down from $11.2 billion in 2022, the group said.

“U.S. airlines are providing more options and better services while ticket prices, including ancillary revenues, are at historic lows,” Airlines for America said.

Left out of the federal changes announced Wednesday are those involving "family seating fees," but the Transportation Department said in a statement that "DOT is planning to propose a separate rule that bans airlines from charging these junk fees."

Travelers have complained to the Transportation Department that children weren’t seated next to accompanying adults, including in some cases young children, department officials said last year.

Fees on bags specifically have made up an increasing amount of airline revenues, the Transportation Department said Wednesday in announcing the new rules.

A Transportation Department analysis found that airline revenue from baggage fees increased 30% from 2018 to 2022, while operating revenue — which is from the flights themselves — increased by only half that amount, the department said.

Jay Blackman is an NBC News producer covering such areas as transportation, space, medical and consumer issues.

Phil Helsel is a reporter for NBC News.

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Airlines are ordered to give full refunds instead of vouchers and to stop hiding fees

Travelers and their luggage in a terminal at Los Angeles International Airport in August 2023. Mario Tama/Getty Images hide caption

Travelers and their luggage in a terminal at Los Angeles International Airport in August 2023.

WASHINGTON — In an effort to crack down on airlines that charge passengers steep fees to check bags and change flights, the U.S. Department of Transportation has announced new regulations aimed at expanding consumer protections .

One of the final rules announced Wednesday requires airlines to show the full price of travel before passengers pay for their tickets. The other will force airlines to provide prompt cash refunds when flights are canceled or significantly changed.

"Passengers deserve to know upfront what costs they are facing and should get their money back when an airline owes them - without having to ask," said Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in a statement announcing the new rules.

Taking on junk fees is popular. But can it win Biden more voters?

Surprise junk fees have become a large and growing source of revenue for airlines in recent years, according to the DOT.

"Today's announcements will require airlines to both provide passengers better information about costs before ticket purchase, and promptly provide cash refunds to passengers when they are owed — not only saving passengers time and money, but also preventing headaches," Buttigieg said.

The airline industry is unlikely to welcome the new rules. At a hearing on the proposed fee rule in March 2023, an industry lobbying group representing American, Delta and United said it would be too difficult for airlines to disclose their charges more clearly.

"The amount of unwanted and unneeded information forced upon passengers" by the new policy would only cause "confusion and frustration," warned Doug Mullen, the deputy general counsel at Airlines for America . "Very few, if any, need or want this information, and especially when they are initially trying to understand schedule and fare options."

But the DOT insists its new rule will give consumers the information they need to better understand the true costs of air travel.

Transportation Department cracks down on airline 'junk fees'

"I believe this is to the benefit of the sector as a whole," Buttigieg said in an interview with NPR's Morning Edition , because passengers will have "more confidence in the aviation sector."

The new rules require airlines to disclose all baggage, change, and cancellation fees, and to share that information with third-party booking sites and travel agents.

The regulation also prohibits bait-and-switch tactics, the DOT says, that disguise the true cost of flights by advertising a low base fare that does not include all mandatory fees.

"This is really about making sure that we create a better experience for passengers, and a stronger aviation sector in the United States," Buttigieg said in the NPR interview.

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Automatic Refunds and No More Hidden Fees: D.O.T. Sets New Rules for Airlines

The Transportation Department issued new requirements on refunds when flights are canceled or delayed and on revealing “junk” fees before booking. Here’s what passengers can expect.

By Christine Chung

The Transportation Department on Wednesday announced new rules taking aim at two of the most difficult and annoying issues in air travel: obtaining refunds and encountering surprise fees late in the booking process.

“Passengers deserve to know upfront what costs they are facing and should get their money back when an airline owes them — without having to ask,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in a statement, adding that the changes would not only save passengers “time and money,” but also prevent headaches.

The department’s new rules, Mr. Buttigieg said, will hold airlines to clear and consistent standards when they cancel, delay or substantially change flights, and require automatic refunds to be issued within weeks. They will also require them to reveal all fees before a ticket is purchased.

Airlines for America , a trade group representing the country’s largest air carriers, said in a statement that its airlines “abide by and frequently exceed” D.O.T. consumer protection regulations.

Passenger advocates welcomed the new steps.

Tomasz Pawliszyn, the chief executive of AirHelp, a Berlin-based company that assists passengers with airline claims, called it a “massive step forward and huge improvement in consumer rights and protection” that brings the United States closer to global standards in passenger rights.

Here’s what we know about the D.O.T.’s new rules, which will begin to go into effect in October.

There’s now one definition for a “significant” delay.

Until now, airlines have been allowed to set their own definition for a “significant” delay and compensation has varied by carrier . Now, according to the D.O.T., there will be one standard: when departure or arrival is delayed by three hours for domestic flights and six hours for international flights.

Passengers will get prompt refunds for cancellations or significant changes for flights and delayed bags, for any reason.

When things go wrong, getting compensation from an airline has often required establishing a cumbersome paper trail or spending untold hours on the phone. Under the new rules, refunds will be automatic, without passengers having to request them. Refunds will be made in full, excepting the value of any transportation already used. Airlines and ticket agents must provide refunds in the original form of payment, whether by cash, credit card or airline miles. Refunds are due within seven days for credit card purchases and within 20 days for other payments.

Passengers with other flight disruptions, such as being downgraded to a lower service class, are also entitled to refunds.

The list of significant changes for which passengers can get their money back also includes: departure or arrival from an airport different from the one booked; connections at different airports or flights on planes that are less accessible to a person with a disability; an increase in the number of scheduled connections. Also, passengers who pay for services like Wi-Fi or seat selection that are then unavailable will be refunded any fees.

Airlines must give travel vouchers or credits to ticketed passengers unable to fly because of government restrictions or a doctor’s orders.

The vouchers or credits will be transferable and can be used for at least five years after the date they were issued.

Fees for checked baggage and modifying a reservation must be disclosed upfront.

Airlines and ticket agents are now required to display any extra fees for things like checking bags or seat selection clearly and individually before a ticket purchase. They will also need to outline the airline’s policies on baggage, cancellations and changing flights before a customer purchases a ticket.

The rules, which apply to all flights on domestic airlines and flights to and from the United States operated by foreign airlines, have varying start dates.

For example, automatic refunds must be instituted by the airlines within six months. But carriers have a year before they’re required to issue travel vouchers and credits for passengers advised by a medical professional not to fly.

Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram and sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to get expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places to Go in 2024 .

Christine Chung is a Times reporter covering airlines and consumer travel. More about Christine Chung

Open Up Your World

Considering a trip, or just some armchair traveling here are some ideas..

52 Places:  Why do we travel? For food, culture, adventure, natural beauty? Our 2024 list has all those elements, and more .

Mumbai:  Spend 36 hours in this fast-changing Indian city  by exploring ancient caves, catching a concert in a former textile mill and feasting on mangoes.

Kyoto:  The Japanese city’s dry gardens offer spots for quiet contemplation  in an increasingly overtouristed destination.

Iceland:  The country markets itself as a destination to see the northern lights. But they can be elusive, as one writer recently found .

Texas:  Canoeing the Rio Grande near Big Bend National Park can be magical. But as the river dries, it’s getting harder to find where a boat will actually float .

A Phoenix team had its wheelchairs damaged after a flight. The airline's response? A $150 travel voucher

Members of a Phoenix-based wheelchair basketball team are speaking out after a pattern of what they consider their "freedom," their "livelihood," and their "legs" be treated as an inconvenience.

Players of the Ability360 Wheelchair Suns said they were stuck on a Southwest Airlines plane for more than two hours without their wheelchairs after they took a flight earlier this month from Phoenix to Richmond for the National Wheelchair Basketball Championships.

The problems continued off the plane.

"We watched our chairs come off of the conveyor belt off of the plane and we watched them fall off the conveyor belt onto the ground. Just chair, after chair, after chair," said Justin Walker, a player for the Wheelchair Suns.

Airport workers mishandling and damaging the wheelchairs, delays to travel and apologetic travel vouchers seem to be par for the course, team members told The Arizona Republic.

The experience is not unique to the Wheelchair Suns. Thousand of mobility device damage incidents are reported to the U.S. Department of Transportation a month.

'It's sickening, to be honest with you'

The team communicated with Southwest six months before the April 10 flight, according to Walker. There were three teams on the flight and each player would be traveling with both a sport wheelchair and an everyday chair. The return flight was scheduled for April 14.

On both the departing and returning flights, team members said they experienced long delays to get off the plane and incorrect storage of their wheelchairs that led to damage.

Walker said the airline should have known what accommodations they needed to make.

Despite that they had been in contact with the airline for half a year, not enough employees were there to help reassemble the wheelchairs they had deconstructed, he said.

"It's just sickening, to be honest with you," Walker said. "It's sickening because we know we're an inconvenience when we have two chairs, we know that. That's why we try to communicate with them as much as possible to allow the situation to be as seamless as possible."

Myranda Shields, social media manager for the Wheelchair Suns, said it wasn't like losing bags, luggage or medication. Wheelchairs serve as legs.

"It's not luggage and that is the problem, they don't look at it like, I've got 300 devices people need to live and then 200 bags under there," Shields said. "They look at it like, oh, I've got 500 bags."

In response to the incident, Southwest sent out an email to the NWBA and the coaches, but they have not reached out to the people who were on the plane, according to Walker.

In an email obtained by The Republic, the airline claimed they had been in communication with the cities involved for "well over a month" and failed on its end for "several" of the people on board.

The airline stated in the email it did not communicate with many of the people and their teams about whether it could take the wheels off the chairs, and the intent was to create more space for all baggage by removing the wheels.

For the flight home, the airline said it did not want to disappoint the team on their travel home and asked to zip tie the wheels together with nametags. It also stated it would give players the option of taking their sports chairs to the gate so the wheels could be removed there. The email acknowledged the team would be flying on a "smaller" Boeing 737-700 aircraft, which had a "smaller cargo hold area."

In a statement to The Republic, Southwest said it apologized if it had not met customer care expectations.

"We have reviewed the situation and addressed it with the appropriate parties so we are able to provide a better experience for our Customers the next time they fly with Southwest," the statement read. "We have a long history of caring for our Customers and apologize any time we don’t meet those expectations."

Walker said they were given a $150 travel voucher in an attempt to compensate for the mistreatment.

"It's a voucher to a place that's already mistreated us. Cool," Walker said. "What is $150 going to get us? Nothing. So, when our stuff is falling down and we're watching our legs, our livelihood, our freedom fall on the ground like no one cares. ... I know about disabled rights. I know if I give you my device, you are obligated by law to bring that chair back to me the way I gave it to you."

According to the Air Carrier Access Act, if an airline damages someone's wheelchair, they are completely liable, regardless of the cost.

Shields said they have not filed an official complaint because she has done it many times in the past. The Republic obtained emails confirming that on at least five occasions, the airline sent vouchers to Shields and Walker for bad experiences she said were "I'm sorry vouchers."

Now, she is taking a different approach and speaking out.

"This is a systemic problem with the airline industry and how they treat people in wheelchairs," Shields said.

"It's unreasonable to expect us to live like this whenever we want to travel and it's also unreasonable to expect us to not travel, not do the things we love to do that we are able to do, because we are in wheelchairs."

Laws are aimed to protect people with disabilities. But is it enough?

The Americans with Disabilities Act was established in 1990 to prohibit discrimination based on disabilities.

The Air Carrier Access Act requires airlines to provide assistance to people with disabilities when traveling by air, including with loading and stowing of assistive devices. In response to incidents like what the Wheelchair Suns faced, the U.S. Department of Transportation is proposing a rule to strengthen implementation of the act.

According to the Department of Transportation, airlines "mishandle" on average about 1.5% of the mobility devices they transport.

In 2022, airlines carried 741,582 wheelchairs and scooters, and there were 11,389 incidents reported to the DOT. That's an increase from 2021, when carriers transported 553,969 mobility devices and 7,239 incidents were reported, according to USA TODAY.

In the new proposal unveiled by Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in February, the definition of "mishandled" devices would specify that any mishandling of wheelchairs and assistive devices by airlines is a violation that is subject to penalty. If an airline does mishandle an assistive device, they would have to immediately notify the impacted passenger of their rights.

The passenger could then file a claim with the airline, receive a loaner wheelchair or scooter with certain customizations. If necessary, the passenger would have access to a complaints resolution official and to choose a preferred vendor for device repairs or replacement.

The proposal is undergoing public comment period through May 13. Many of those comments echoed a familiar sentiment:

"I am appalled by the rampant disregard that airline employees have displayed when handling passengers' wheelchairs."

"Airlines need to be held to account for this by training and retraining staff from baggage handlers to flight attendants."

"When wheelchairs are damaged or delayed, lives are upended due to missed connections, missed experiences, missed employment, and even injuries due to inadequate loaner wheelchairs."

Players watch wheelchairs be mishandled, fall off conveyor belt

After the team got off the plane, Walker said they started to notice their tires and rims were broken.

As they were sitting down at the carousel, a message came over the loudspeaker that said there was an inconvenience with the bags on the flight because of the wheelchairs and 30 bags were left in Denver because of it.

"Now we have every person that was on that flight that was already pissed off because we were late getting there," Walker said. "Now they're pissed off looking at us."

Walker said the airline only escalated the situation and when trusted to take care of the passengers' livelihoods, they did not.

When the team flew home to Phoenix, the airline said they would zip-tie and tag the wheels so the process would flow. The wheels were zip-tied, but during their layover in Chicago, the ground crew cut the zip ties, according to a social media post Walker and Shields posted to Instagram. Players then watched as their wheelchairs fell from the conveyor belt.

On the way back, the team needed an hour and a half to get off the plane so they could match the wheels to the chairs. Chairs and axles were broken. According to Walker, everyday wheelchairs cost between $5,000 and $8,000, and basketball wheelchairs between $8,000 and $12,000.

Walker said they were told it was an inconvenience for them to bring their chairs and that they would instead be put in a standard wheelchair, typically provided by airports and hospitals.

"For you to ask me to use somebody else's wheelchair that I don't know, that is honestly like asking you to use somebody else's underwear," Walker said. "We don't know if it's been clean, we don't know what's been happening in that chair, we don't know where it came from."

Players call for 'serious' policy changes

Speaking out about the experience has been part of the team members' way to share their story and their voices, they said.

"That's why we're doing what we're doing right now is because it needs to change," Shields said. "I don't need to be crying in the airport on the way to a national tournament because I've got all these angry strangers coming over and poking at me."

Shields said the airline needs serious policy changes regarding wheelchair storage. She said she would like to be able to remove the wheels herself, attach them to the chairs and make sure they are properly tagged.

She also suggested the airline pick a bigger plane to better accompany everyone and train their staff so they know the difference between an everyday wheelchair and a sports wheelchair.

Christopher Rodriguez, Ability360's CEO, got into disability advocacy work because of his older brother TJ — who has significant intellectual and developmental disabilities.

He said he has spent his career trying to assist in breaking down barriers for those with disabilities.

Ability360 is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit corporation. Through its comprehensive programs, Ability360 touches the lives of individuals with disabilities throughout Arizona and addresses the disability concerns of their family members, co-workers and employers, according to its website.

Ability360 has three adult wheelchair basketball teams that compete in Division II, Division III and the Women’s Division in the National Wheelchair Basketball Association.

"It's heartbreaking to hear about these stories and to understand how frequent they are, despite the fact that our paramount piece of legislation and law that put forth the rights to accessibility, the ADA, was passed over 25 years ago," Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez said the Southwest incident was disappointing and a horrible situation to put the athletes in.

Education needs to occur so both the workers at the airport and airline employees know the needs of individuals with disabilities and are aware of the challenges they may face, he said.

"If they fully appreciated or understood that a person's wheelchair is literally an extension of their body, perhaps they would have been more sensitive to the situation, but unfortunately, that did not seem to be the case," Rodriguez said.

After placing sixth in the tournament, the D2 Phoenix Suns season came to an end. While the men will not be playing again until next fall, travel will continue.

Shields said she is weary of traveling again but was hopeful that her next flight, which was scheduled for Wednesday, would not be as bad.

Ukraine-Russia war live: Kyiv forced to pull back US tanks as Moscow sends nuclear warheads to Belarus

LIVE – Updated at 09:36

Ukraine has withdrawn its American-made Abrams battle tanks from the frontline over concerns they can be easily detected and targeted by Russian drones.

Kyiv has lost five of the 31 Abrams tanks given to it by the US to Russian attacks since October last year. Ukraine had engaged in a months-long campaign arguing that the tanks, which cost about $10m apiece, were vital to its ability to breach Russian lines.

The US is expected to announce that it will provide another $6bn in long-term military aid to Ukraine, US officials said, adding that it will include much sought after munitions for Patriot air defence systems.

Elsewhere, Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko claimed “several dozen” Russian tactical nuclear weapons had been deployed in Belarus , Russia ’s Tass news agency said, under an agreement jointly announced last year with Vladimir Putin .

It came as the Belarusian security service claimed to have thwarted an attack on the capital Minsk by drones launched from Nato-member Lithuania , which denied taking any hostile action.

Ukraine pulls US- provided Abrams tanks from front lines over Russian drone threats

• US expected to provide $6bn to fund long-term weapons contracts for Ukraine

Russia has deployed nuclear warheads in Belarus, Minsk says

At least seven wounded in russian air attack on kharkiv, governor says, spain to send patriot missiles to ukraine - report.

Spain will send a small number of Patriot missiles to Ukraine, El Pais newspaper reported on Friday, in response to pressure from EU and NATO allies to send more military aid to Kyiv.

With Russia having stepped up air attacks on Ukraine, EU governments have been urged to supply more protective systems to Kyiv, especially countries like Greece and Spain that have such arms in their arsenal.

Greece said on Thursday it would not be able to provide air defence systems to Ukraine.

El Pais , quoting unidentified government sources, said on Friday that Spain had ruled out delivering Patriot anti-aircraft launchers but it would supply the Ukrainian military with missiles for the system.

"The transfer of a small number of missiles has come after the defence ministry refused to hand over to Ukraine the battery it has had deployed since 2013 on the Turkish-Syrian border," El Pais said.

"It will be a very limited number, as the Spanish war reserve is around 50 units and interceptors are very expensive."

The defence ministry did not immediately reply to a request for comment on the report but on Thursday a Spanish diplomatic told foreign reporters that Madrid needed to step up its commitment to Ukraine.

Greece rules out air defence systems to Ukraine, prime minister says

Prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said Greece can not offer air defence systems like Patriots or S-300 to Ukraine responding to pressure from EU and NATO allies to send more military aid to Kyiv.

With Russia having stepped up air attacks on Ukraine, EU governments are under pressure to supply more protective systems to Kyiv especially countries like Greece and Spain that have such systems in their arsenal.

"Greece is not going to send S-300 or Patriot to Ukraine," Mitsotakis said in an interview in Skai TV late on Thursday.

European Union ministers said on Monday they were looking urgently at how to provide more air defences to Ukraine but they stopped short of concrete pledges of the Patriot systems that Kyiv values most.

"We were asked and we explained why we cannot do it," Mitsotakis said adding that these systems are "critical to our deterrent capability."

Defence is a very sensitive issue for Athens given the tensions with Turkey, especially for a conservative government.

Greece has sent to Ukraine in the past thousands of rockets, explosives, IVFs vehicles, high explosive incendiaries, ammunition and anti-tank rockets.

The US will host on Friday a virtual meeting of Ukraine international aid donors, days after Congress emerged from a half-year of deadlock to approve a $61 billion aid package for Ukraine.

Russia responds to ‘dangerous’ Polish discussion of hosting US nuclear weapons

Russia yesterday said that Poland was playing a “very dangerous game” by considering the possibility of hosting US nuclear weapons.

Polish president Andrzej Duda earlier said he had invited prime minister Donald Tusk for talks on 1 May about the possibility of nuclear weapons from Nato states being deployed in Poland.

Mr Duda has reiterated his position that Poland would be ready for such a possibility, prompting Mr Tusk to say he would like a clarification from the president.

Russian state news agency RIA quoted deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov as saying that such discussions were provocative.

“If they follow the path of further escalation - and this is how the discussions can be assessed, these so far verbal games with nuclear weapons - then a further round of tension will occur. And in general, this game is very dangerous, its consequences may be hard to predict,” he said.

Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said any US nuclear missiles in Poland could become targets in the event of a Russia-Nato war.

“It is not difficult to assume that if American nuclear weapons appear on Polish territory, the corresponding objects will immediately join the list of legitimate targets for destruction in the case of direct military conflict with Nato,” she told reporters.

US secretly supplies Ukraine with long-range missiles that can reach deep inside Russia

The United States has secretly provided Ukrainian armed forces with long-range ballistic missiles which have already been used to strike targets deep within Russian territory, according to US officials.

Our White House correspondent Andrew Feinberg reports:

US secretly sent long-range missiles to Ukraine that can reach deep inside Russia

Case of US citizen facing drug charges in Russia adjourned until mid-May

A US citizen arrested on drug charges in Moscow amid soaring Russia-US tensions appeared in court yesterday and had his case adjourned until mid-May.

Robert Woodland is facing charges of trafficking large amounts of illegal drugs as part of an organized group — a criminal offence punishable by up to 20 years in prison. He was remanded into custody in January, and the trial began in the Ostankino District Court in late March.

“Our position is that there is, I may say, no evidence of drug sales in the materials on the case,” his lawyer Stanislav Kshevitskii told reporters.

A US citizen facing drug charges in Russia appears in court. His case was adjourned until mid-May

Nato chief warns against relying on China

Nato secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg yesterday cautioned Western allies against becoming as dependent on China as they had been on Russia.

“In the past, we made the mistake of becoming dependent on Russian oil and gas,” he said.

“We must not repeat that mistake with China. Depending on its money, its raw materials, its technologies - dependencies make us vulnerable.”

China has strengthened trade and military ties with Russia in recent years as the United States and its allies imposed sanctions on both, but particularly Moscow for the invasion of Ukraine.

China-Russian trade hit a record of $240.1bn in 2023, up 26.3 per cent from a year earlier, Chinese customs data shows. Chinese shipments to Russia jumped 46.9 per cent in 2023 while imports from Russia rose 13 per cent.

Last month, Reuters reported that Russian president Vladimir Putin will travel to China in May for talks with Chinese president Xi Jinping, in what could be the first overseas trip of his new presidential term.

China must stop aiding Russia if it seeks good relations with West, Nato says

China must stop supporting Russia’s war in Ukraine if it wants to enjoy good relations with the West, Nato secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg said yesterday, warning Beijing in unusually harsh words it cannot have it both ways.

During a visit to Berlin, the chief of the Western military alliance said Beijing’s help was vital to Moscow’s war effort as it was propping up Russia’s war economy by sharing high-end technology like semiconductors.

“Last year, Russia imported 90 per cent of its microelectronics from China, used to produce missiles, tanks and aircraft. China is also working to provide Russia with improved satellite capabilities and imaging,” Mr Stoltenberg said.

“China says it wants good relations with the West. At the same time, Beijing continues to fuel the largest armed conflict in Europe since World War Two. They cannot have it both ways,” he warned.

Ukrainian duo heads to Eurovision Song Contest with a message: We’re still here

Even amid war, Ukraine finds time for the glittery, pop-filled Eurovision Song Contest. Perhaps now even more than ever.

Ukraine’s entrants in the pan-continental music competition — the female duo of rapper alyona alyona and singer Jerry Heil — set off from Kyiv for the competition yesterday.

In wartime, that means a long train journey to Poland , from where they will travel on to next month’s competition in Malmö, Sweden .

Ukrainian duo heads to the Eurovision Song Contest with a message: We're still here

Macron outlines his vision for Europe as war in Ukraine rages on

French president Emmanuel Macron yesterday warned that Europe could “die” if it fails to build its own robust defence as Russia’s war in Ukraine rages on, or if it fails to undertake major trade and economic reforms to compete with China and the US.

Mr Macron urged Europeans to become more ambitious in a fast-changing world to face the challenges of war, fierce trade competition, energy scarcity, climate change and increasing authoritarianism.

Macron outlines his vision for Europe to become an assertive global power as war in Ukraine rages on

Conductor of Ukrainian orchestra to deliver lecture at Gordonstoun

The principal conductor of an orchestra from Ukraine has said it will be a “real privilege” to give a lecture to children at his former school in Scotland.

Hobart Earle, who has conducted the Odesa Philharmonic Orchestra for the last 30 years, will give the annual Prince Philip Memorial Lecture to pupils at Gordonstoun School near Elgin, today.

His interactive talk and presentation, titled Ukraine. Music In Wartime , will provide an insight into how musicians in Ukraine have adapted to living and performing in wartime, and features videos of the orchestra performing from 2014, when Russia first invaded the country, to the present day.

US expected to provide $6bn to fund long-term weapons contracts for Ukraine, officials say

The US is expected to announce that it will provide about $6bn in long-term military aid to Ukraine, US officials said, adding that it will include much sought after munitions for Patriot air defence systems.

The officials said the aid package will be funded through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which pays for longer-term contracts with the defence industry and means that it could take many months or years for the weapons to arrive. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss details not yet made public.

The new funding — the largest tranche of USAI aid sent to date - will include a wide array of munitions for air defence, such as the National Advanced Surface to Air Missile System and the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, as well as the Patriot munitions, Switchblade and Puma drones, counter-drone systems and artillery.

The announcement is expected to come as defence secretary Lloyd Austin convenes a virtual meeting today of defence officials from Europe and around the world to discuss international aid for Ukraine. The gathering — created by Mr Austin and known as the Ukraine Defence Contact Group — has been meeting about monthly for the past two years, and is the primary forum for weapons contributions to Kyiv for the war.

Europe is ‘too slow and lacks ambition’ in the face of global threats, says Macron

Emmanuel Macron has urged Europe to improve its defences and cut red tape as it faces existential threats from Russian aggression and American isolationism.

In a nearly two-hour speech at the Sorbonne University in Paris, Mr Macron claimed the 27-member European Union (EU) was “too slow and lacks ambition” before demanding that the bloc does not become a “vassal of the United States”.

“Our Europe is mortal. It could die,” the French president said. “We are not equipped to face the risks. We must produce more, we must produce faster and we must produce as Europeans.”

Thursday’s speech was billed by Mr Macron’s advisers as France’s contribution to the EU’s strategic agenda for the next five years. The agenda is due to be decided after the European elections, which will take place in early June.

My colleague Tom Watling reports:

Europe is ‘too slow and lacks ambition’ says Macron

Ukraine has sidelined US-provided Abrams M1A1 battle tanks for now in its fight against Russia, in part because Russian drone warfare has made it too difficult for them to operate without detection or coming under attack, two US military officials told the Associated Press.

The US agreed to send 31 Abrams to Ukraine in January 2023 after an aggressive monthslong campaign by Kyiv arguing that the tanks, which cost about $10m apiece, were vital to its ability to breach Russian lines.

But the battlefield has changed substantially since then, notably by the ubiquitous use of Russian surveillance drones and hunter-killer drones. Those weapons have made it more difficult for Ukraine to protect the tanks when they are quickly detected and hunted by Russian drones or rounds.

Five of the 31 tanks have already been lost to Russian attacks.

The proliferation of drones on the Ukrainian battlefield means “there isn’t open ground that you can just drive across without fear of detection,” a senior defence official told reporters yesterday.

The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to provide an update on US weapons support for Ukraine before today’s Ukraine Defence Contact Group meeting.

For now, the tanks have been moved from the front lines, and the US will work with the Ukrainians to reset tactics, said Joint Chiefs of Staff Vice Chairman Admiral Christopher Grady and a third defence official who confirmed the move on the condition of anonymity.“When you think about the way the fight has evolved, massed armor in an environment where unmanned aerial systems are ubiquitous can be at risk,” Mr Grady said, adding that tanks are still important.

“Now, there is a way to do it,” he said. “We’ll work with our Ukrainian partners, and other partners on the ground, to help them think through how they might use that, in that kind of changed environment now, where everything is seen immediately.”

Blinken meets Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Beijing

US secretary of state Antony Blinken met Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi in Beijing for talks across a range of complex issues, including deepening strains over China’s backing of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Mr Blinken is due to spend several hours with Mr Wang across closed-door meetings at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse and a working lunch as the two sides try to maintain progress in ties despite a broad and thorny agenda.

US State Department officials signalled ahead of the sessions that China’s support for Russia would feature strongly, saying that Washington is prepared to act against Chinese companies that have been helping retool and resupply Russia’s defence industry.

They have said that such assistance risks hurting the broader China-US relationship, even as ties stabilise after being hit by then-House speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan in 2022 and the US downing of a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon in February 2023.

Chinese officials and state media have cast doubt over the extent of possible progress on several fronts, with a China Daily editorial saying that both sides “have been largely talking past each other”.

“On the conflict in Ukraine, the world can see it clearly that the Ukraine issue is not an issue between China and the US; and the US side should not turn it into one,” it said.

Nato chief warns West against becoming as reliant on China as it did with Russia

Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg has warned Western allies against becoming as dependent on China as they had been on Russia.

“In the past, we made the mistake of becoming dependent on Russian oil and gas,” he said during a visit to Berlin.

China must stop supporting Russia’s war if it wants good relations with West, warns Nato chief

China must stop supporting Russia’s war in Ukraine if it wants to enjoy good relations with the West, Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg has warned.

During a visit to Berlin, Mr Stoltenberg said Beijing’s help was vital to Moscow’s war effort – as it was propping up Russia’s war economy by sharing high-end technology like semiconductors.

Watch: No way back for Putin after Ukrainian invasion, David Cameron says

Kyiv says fighting-age men will no longer be able to renew passports outside of ukraine.

In a push to reverse the drain of its potential soldiers, Kyiv has dramatically announced that men of conscription age will no longer be able to renew passports from outside Ukraine.

The Cabinet of Ministers said late on Wednesday that men between 18 and 60 years old who are deemed fit for military service will only be able to replace their passports inside Ukraine.

Millions of Ukrainians have fled the country since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, mostly to neighboring European countries. The European Union’s statistics agency, Eurostat, says 4.3 million Ukrainians are living in EU countries, 860,000 of them men 18 years of age or older.

Poland’s defence minister said his country – which is home to one of the largest Ukrainian diasporas – was ready to help “in ensuring that those who are subject to compulsory military service go to Ukraine” as they “have obligations towards the state” – but he did not specify how.

However the move has met with some criticism inside Ukraine, with senior opposition politician Ivanna Klympush-Tsyntsadze warning that denying military-age men access to consular services could lead to “well-founded” legal challenges at the European Court of Human Rights.

“I think that these actions will only push an enormous number of Ukrainians to look for different ways to obtain citizenship from other countries,” she warned.

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Putin to visit China in May

Vladimir Putin has announced that he plans to visit China in May, in what is likely to be the first overseas visit of his new six-year presidential term.

He last visited China in October 2023, having previously signed a “no limits” partnership agreement with Chinese president Xi Jinping just weeks before launching the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

At least seven people have been injured in a Russian air attack which hit an area close to a railway station in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region, its governor has said.

Oleh Syniehubov said the attack hit the city of Balakliia, which was seized by Russia early on in its full-scale invasion but recaptured by Ukraine months later.

Kharkiv and the surrounding region have long been targeted by Russian attacks – but the strikes have become more intense in recent weeks, hitting civilian and energy infrastructure.

Poland playing ‘very dangerous game’ if it hosts US nuclear weapons, Kremlin warns

Russia has warned that Poland is playing a “very dangerous game” by considering the possibility of hosting US nuclear weapons.

It came hours after Polish president Andrzej Duda revealed he had invited prime minister Donald Tusk for talks next week about the possibility of nuclear weapons from Nato states being deployed in Poland.

“If they follow the path of further escalation – and this is how the discussions can be assessed, these so far verbal games with nuclear weapons – then a further round of tension will occur. And in general, this game is very dangerous, its consequences may be hard to predict,” he said.

Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova added that any US nuclear missiles in Poland could become targets in the event of a Russia-Nato war.

Sweden to move ahead with sending troops to Latvia as part of Nato forces

Sweden will move ahead with plans to send troops to Latvia as part of Nato’s deployment in the Baltic countries, which share land borders with Russia and its ally Belarus, Swedish premier Ulf Kristersson has said.

“This morning, the government took the formal decision to assign the armed forces the task of preparing the Swedish contribution to the reduced battalion,” Mr Kristersson told a news conference with his Latvian counterpart Evika Silina. “The goal is to have this force operational from the beginning of next year.”

The contribution will include armoured vehicles and Leopard tanks, Mr Kristersson added. Sweden’s armed forces have previously said the country’s deployment to Latvia could include about 600 army troops.

The Nordic country joined Nato last month, abandoning decades of non-alignment in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Sweden had already said it aimed to contribute a reduced mechanised battalion to Nato’s deployment in Latvia as early as next year, troops intended to deter and defend against any attack, but the final decision awaited Nato membership.

Lithuania rejects claims drones were launched at Minsk from Nato territory

Lithuania’s army has denied taking any hostile action against other states – after the Belarusian security service claimed to have thwarted attack on Minsk by drones launched from Lithuania, which is part of the Nato military alliance.

“This is nonsense – I can’t find another word,” a Lithuanian military spokesperson told reporters.

“Such statements by the Belarusian KGB can be regarded as a continuous hostile provocation and an informational attack against Lithuania, which has nothing to do with reality,” added the Lithuanian crisis management centre.

“It can be considered that they are also intended for the domestic audience of the country.”

Lukashenko claims exiles planning to seize Belarus district and appeal to Nato for support

Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko has claimed that the country’s exiled opposition plans to seize a western district and request support from Nato troops, Russian state news reports.

“I don’t know why they chose Kobrin district, they talk a lot about it. [They plan to] seize it ... and appeal to Nato to deploy troops,” the autocractic leader told the All-Belarusian People’s Assembly – as he insisted that current realities required changes to the country’s security stance.

Mr Lukashenko – who has frequently talked up the dangers of an attack by Nato or Ukraine as justification for maintaining his military and security apparatus on a constant state of high alert – also claimed on Wednesday to have “several dozen” Russian tactical nuclear weapons stationed in Belarus.

“It has acquired a new topic: nuclear deterrence. Those who will push us towards it should know about it and have a rational look at the straightforward consequences of their ill-considered decisions, to put it mildly,” state news agency Belta quoted him as saying.

It was unclear whether Mr Lukashenko provided any evidence for such a plan to seize Kobrin, but all of Belarus’s main opposition figures are either in prison or have been forced into exile.

Franak Viacorka, a top aide to exiled opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, derided the claims and said Mr Lukashenko was “losing the connection to reality”, and said his desire to change Belarus’s military stance was “a desperate attempt somehow to restore his confidence in himself internally”.

Ukraine’s forces prepare for offensive from Putin’s troops in east

Ukraine prepares for offensive from Putin’s troops in east – as Russia gains ground

Russia has deployed “several dozen” nuclear warheads in Belarus, the country’s president Alexander Lukashenko said.

Speaking at the 7th session of the National Assembly, Mr Lukashenko also said the risk of military incidents between Minsk and Kyiv were “quite high”.

Russia vetoes UN vote on nuclear weapons in space

Russia vetoed a resolution at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) aimed at preventing a nuclear arms race in outer space.

The draft vote was proposed by Japan and the US and called on all states to uphold the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, which obligates nations “not to place in orbit around the Earth any objects carrying nuclear weapons or any other kinds of weapons of mass destruction.”

Thirteen of the UNSC’s members voted in favor, while Russia voted against. China abstained. It comes after US congressman Mike Turner raised concern in Februrary after saying that a “serious national security threat” faced the US.

Sources later disclosed that the threat was connected to an alleged Russian desire “to put a nuclear weapon into space.”

Belarus says it thwarted attack on capital by drones launched from Lithuania

Belarus thwarted a Lithuanian drone attack on its capital city Minsk, the country’s security service claimed. There was no immediate comment from NATO-member Lithuania.

“The State Security Committee, in cooperation with colleagues from other law enforcement agencies, has recently carried out a number of acute security measures, which made it possible to prevent strikes by combat drones from the territory of Lithuania on objects in Minsk and its suburbs,” RIA news agency quoted Belarusian security chief Ivan Tertel as saying.

Belarus is an ally of Russia and allowed Moscow to use its territory to launch its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Macron urges strategy for ‘credible’ European defence

French president Emmanuel Macron has called on Europe to create a credible defence strategy that would leave the continent less dependent on the United States.

“We need to build this strategic concept of a credible European defence for ourselves,” Mr Macron said in a keynote speech.

He said he would ask European partners for proposals in the next months and adding that Europe also needed its own capacity in cyberdefence and cybersecurity.

Ukraine to increase long-range strikes in Russia, UK says

Ukraine is set to increase long-range strikes inside Russia with the help of Western military aid, the UK’s defence chief admitted.

Admiral Sir Tony Radakin said long-range weapons would help Kyiv shape the war in “much stronger ways” amid the influx of aid.

“As Ukraine gains more capabilities for the long-range fight, its ability to continue deep operations will increasingly become a feature” of the war. They definitely have an effect,” he told the Financial Times .

It comes after US officials said long-range missiles used by Ukraine were “already hitting” Putin’s forces in Crimea under a secret deal secured by Biden earlier this year.

Talks on Ukraine without Russia are pointless, Kremlin says

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Thursday that any talks on ending the conflict in Ukraine were pointless without Russian participation, referring to a conference that Switzerland plans to host in June.

Zakharova also told reporters that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s peace formula - which calls for a full withdrawal of Russian forces from all the territory they have captured - does not bring peace closer but prolongs the conflict.

Switzerland announced earlier this month it would host a two-day high-level conference on June 15-16 on achieving peace in Ukraine. Russia has said it will not take part, and the Kremlin has said that the idea of holding peace talks without it was ridiculous.

Pictured: Jeremy Hunt and Zelensky

Zelensky meets british chancellor in kyiv.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky met British chancellor of the exchequer Jeremy Hunt in Kyiv ant thanked him for the UK’s aid package.

Writing on X, Zelensky said: “I welcomed the UK’s chancellor of the exchequer, Jeremy Hunt and thanked him for the UK’s largest defense aid package, worth half a billion pounds.

“We paid special attention to the sanction policy. It is important to extend restrictive measures against Russia and make the circumvention of sanctions impossible.

“I thank the people, the Government, the prime minister, and the Parliament of the United Kingdom for their support of Ukraine since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion. We highly value our countries’ partnership.”

US long-range missiles ‘already hitting’ Putin’s forces under secret deal

US-supplied long-range missiles used by Ukraine are “already hitting” Putin’s forces in Crimea under a secret deal secured by Biden earlier this year.

The Army Tactical Missile System, or Atacms, arrived in Ukraine last week under a secret deal agreed in March before the £76bn US security package was passed by congress on Wednesday.

US officials said the weapons had already been used to bomb a Russian military airfield in Crimea last week and Putin’s troops in another occupied area.

A Russian Orthodox priest who took part in services for Navalny is suspended

A Russian Orthodox priest who took part in services for Navalny is suspended by the patriarch

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Moscow court rejects Evan Gershkovich's appeal, keeping him in jail till at least June 30

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Sunak bizarrely blocks Nato chief from answering reporter’s question

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German leader says Europe must keep increasing aid to Ukraine after US approves new military help

Watch: Biden makes remarks after Congress finally passes Ukraine aid package