yourcta trip planner

Chicago Transit: CTA Tracker 4+

Metra, bus and 'l' times, adamton apps ltd.

• 4.9 • 29 Ratings
• Offers In-App Purchases

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Description.

Introducing the ultimate travel app for Chicago! Say goodbye to waiting for buses or trains with our real-time tracking feature that shows you exactly where your ride is and when it will arrive. • Our app offers up to five different route options to your destination, so you can choose the fastest or most convenient route for your trip • Never miss your stop again with our stop notifications, which alert you when your stop is approaching. • With live crowding information, you'll know whether to skip the next bus or train or wait for the next one. • Stay ahead of delays and diversions with our real-time updates, and enjoy the convenience of full seven-day schedules with live and offline map routes. • Need to find your way home? Our one-tap "get me home" feature and last bus or train information will make sure you never get lost again. Simplify your daily commute and download our app today! -- Privacy Policy: https://travelwhiz.app/privacy Terms of Use: https://travelwhiz.app/terms

Version 2024.3

This release includes a number of bug fixes and improvements to the app, including: A new status indicator when activating a Live Activity. The app now correctly shows you multiple addresses when choosing a contact from your address book. Train departure search now works correctly. Watch App: Long line names now show correctly. Your feedback means a lot - if you have any suggestions, or run into any issues, just tap on the Settings button and get in touch with us. If you can spare a moment, we'd love it if you could leave a review on the App Store - it means so much to us to hear from you, our customer. Thanks for using the app!

Ratings and Reviews

Ui for live tracking is confusing.

There is the ability to show live tracking for a stop, but it is buried in a confusing UI. I would like to have a shortcut for showing live tracking on certain lines. But you have to click through multiple screens and manually select it each time, it is not clear or intuitive. Also, sometimes live tracking won’t turn off, so you have to uninstall the app to not drain battery life. This app has potential and i am paying for a subscription so hopefully they fix that part. The watch app and widgets are also not that useful, they just tell you if service is OK. Why not have the next 3 times for favorited lines, with service warnings only when there is a delay?

App Privacy

The developer, Adamton Apps ltd , indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy .

Data Not Linked to You

The following data may be collected but it is not linked to your identity:

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Privacy practices may vary, for example, based on the features you use or your age. Learn More

Information

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• Chicago+ Annual $29.00
• Chicago+ Monthly $5.00
• Chicago+ Annual $8.99
• Secret Discount $4.99
• Chicago+ Annual $12.99
• Chicago+ Annual $17.99
• Lifetime Pass $89.00
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Some in‑app purchases, including subscriptions, may be shareable with your family group when family sharing is enabled., more by this developer.

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Chicago BusTracker - CTA

12/16/08 - We are experiencing technical issues at this time which could result in Bus Tracker disruptions. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Cta bus tracker, your official source for up-to-the-minute arrival info..

Looking for the text-only/mobile version? Find it here.

What is this?

CTA Bus Tracker uses GPS devices to report bus location data (and more) back to our servers. We can then, in real time, show you where buses are on a map and estimate when they will arrive at your stop.

A note about delays and reroutes

Please note that if a bus goes off its regular route, our system will no longer be able to predict accurate arrival times, will not be able to automatically predict when it will return to normal service, and may not be able to show the bus on our map. Please check for service alerts.

If a bus is unable to move for several minutes due to an unusual event (such as stopped by a freight train at a crossing), arrival estimates will switch from counting down minutes to a "DELAYED" notification. Once the bus begins to move again, arrival estimates will appear again. In the event that a bus stops transmitting data to our servers, it will not appear on this Web site, even though it is in service.

Planning your trip

For directions and scheduling information to help you plan your trip, visit Google Transit , the RTA Trip Planner or call 312-836-7000 from any Chicago metropolitan area code. (Hearing impaired customers can call 312-836-4949.)

Looking for train arrivals?

Try the new CTA Train Tracker estimated arrivals beta today!

Attention, Developers!

Interested in developing apps or widgets with Bus Tracker data? Apply today and get in early on an exciting new data service from CTA - the Bus Tracker API! Learn more...

Questions or Comments?

CTA welcomes your comments regarding Bus Tracker. Please visit CTA Feedback.

You can also contact CTA Customer Service at 1-888-YOUR-CTA. Hearing impaired customers can contact CTA Customer Service by TDD/TTY at 1-888-CTATTY1 (1-888-282-8891).

Questions about cell phone or smartphone access to Bus Tracker? Click here.

Use Bus Tracker in the following languages:

RTA Board of Directors meeting May 16

The RTA Board of Directors will meet this Thursday, May 16 at 9:00 a.m.. The agenda will include an update on Transit is the Answer implementation and a legislative update.

Register now for Transportation Tuesday

The free, four-part webinar series will be live every Tuesday at noon from May 28–June 18. Attendees will hear from experts, ask questions, and learn about hot topics in transportation planning.

RTA debuts new Mobility Services materials

On May 1, the RTA launched a collection of newly designed brochures, flyers, applications, and fare cards for the ADA Paratransit, Ride Free, and Reduced Fare programs within RTA’s Mobility Services department.

Visit new Transit is the Answer website

The RTA has launched a new website to track progress toward safer, more reliable, more accessible public transportation for the Chicago region.

The RTA is...

A government agency created by the State of Illinois to coordinate the Chicago region’s transit system, oversee its financing with transparency and accountability, and plan for a future with adequate, accessible, and equitable public transportation for the six counties of Northeastern Illinois. Learn more about the work we do...

Learn about regional planning and collaboration, innovative mobility pilots, and how the transit system is performing.

Find out how your community can apply for funding to plan and implement transit-friendly policies.

Plan your trip and learn how we are making the system more affordable and accessible for all.

The RTA in action

Through the Section 5310 program, the RTA will award nearly $14M in federal funding for projects that enhance mobility for seniors and individuals with disabilities. The services funded through this program provided more than 600,000 trips in 2022.

Section 5310

In September, the RTA Board of Directors approved a program of projects that will make it easier for older adults and people with disabilities to get to jobs, medical appointments, the grocery store, social activities, and more. The Section 5310 Program is a federal formula grant program that provides assistance to public transportation projects that focus on enhancing mobility for seniors and individuals with disabilities.

View ridership statistics, maps, and find out where we are investing in transit infrastructure near you on RTAMS, the Regional Transportation Authority Mapping and Statistics website.

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Plan a Trip

The RTA Trip Planner allows travelers to plan trips in the Chicago region using public transit (CTA, Metra and Pace) that include driving, biking and walking directions.

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Use Transit for the best mobile trip planning and fare payment experience. Click here to download UTA’s preferred app for trip planning, real-time tracking, multimodal connections and fare payment. You can also use the app to subscribe to service alerts and get notified about detours and service disruptions.

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When using a computer, click here to plan your trip with Google Maps. (Detour and service disruption alerts are not available on Google Maps.)

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Planning a road trip?

Get advice from people who have done the same trip.

The Trippy road trip planner automatically calculates the optimal itinerary including stops recommended by Trippy members, favorite restaurants and hotels, local attractions and things to do based on what people who live in the area have suggested, and more.

Once you have a quick trip planned, you can customize every detail, adding or removing stops, or changing what time you leave in the morning or how long you stay at each stop. Then you can save your custom trip and share it with friends and family.

Let us know if you have requests for more features you'd like to see in the trip planner!

From saving on gas to driving with kids, here's your ultimate road trip planner

"Easy Travel” is a 10-part series focusing on how to reduce bumps during vacations, anticipate roadblocks and be ready when things aren’t going your way. If you'd like to contribute to our future reporting and share your experience as a source, you can click here to fill out this quick form .

Ina Daly has spent most of her life on the road.

“My dad was a truck driver and that led me to becoming a truck driver,” she said. “What we do in a day, on a daily job would be like a long road trip to most people.”

With nearly 40 years of driving for freight transportation services provider XPO and numerous industry accolades under her belt, including grand champion at this year’s Arizona Truck Driving Championship , Daly is a pro. She’s also a mom and a grandmother who’s happy to share her experiences to make everyone’s road trips better.

“Some of the things I'm telling you are what we truckers tell our family members,” she said. “I've had a lot of accomplishments in my career and going to the National Truck Driving Championships (this month) is a reward, but the bigger reward is being able to share some things … that have the potential to save lives.”

What to do before a long drive

“Make sure that your vehicle’s road trip ready,” Daly said. ”Really pay close attention to your tires, your coolant, your fan belt.”

She notes tire dealers often offer free inspections to ensure tires are properly inflated and undamaged.

AAA spokesperson Aixa Diaz advises getting the whole car serviced before hitting the road.

“If you're a car person and you can, do that yourself at home, by all means,” she said. Otherwise, she recommends getting the oil changed and battery and tires checked professionally. 

To save time and avoid stress, Diaz also suggests filling up on gas the night before leaving and making hotel reservations well in advance, noting that many hotels allow cancellations without penalty up until the day beforehand. 

What do you need before a road trip?

It’s always good to keep an emergency kit with supplies like first aid, a flashlight and extra batteries, and basic tools in the vehicle.

“You want to make sure that if you do have a tire issue, you have the proper tools and jacks in your vehicle to be able to change it,” Daly said. She said warning signals like reflective triangles can also warn other drivers to steer clear in the event of a breakdown.

For road trips, both she and Diaz recommend shelf-stable snacks like protein bars that won’t melt and plenty of water. “Don't think that a bottle or two for everybody is enough,” Daly said. “You've got to have, you know, five or six bottles for everyone.” 

Diaz also recommends wet wipes, blankets during the winter, and any time-sensitive medication or pet food that might be needed in the event of an extended delay.

“These things ideally wouldn't take up too much room in your trunk but they're just good to have in case of an emergency,” Diaz said. “Just think, ‘If I were stuck for a long time, what would keep me comfortable until I was able to (get) help?’”  

A printed map and a general sense of the route can also help in case there GPS hiccups or a phone dies.  AAA’s free TripTik planner can help travelers plot their trips in advance and find rest stops, lodging, food and gas along the way. And its free Gas Cost Calculator can help locate the cheapest average gas prices for drivers when it’s time to refuel.

'Get out there': This mom is using a never-ending road trip to inspire Black family travel

What I should know before a road trip?

“Everything can be a distraction in the car – the radio, the kids, etc. But the phone is a big one,” Daly advised. “When you’re driving, that thing should not ever be in your hand.”

More than 3,500 people were killed on U.S. roads in 2021 because of distracted driving, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration . 

Daly also recommends watching out for distracted drivers.

“You can tell a distracted driver by their fluctuating speed,” she warned. “They're drifting in their lane. Their head is looking down instead of focusing on the road. You want to give those people a wide berth.”

How long will a road trip take?

Road trips always take longer than expected because of traffic, construction and other things that arise en route.

Diaz says to expect at least an hour longer than whatever the GPS predicts. Daly recommends leaving at least two hours early.

“You don't want that stressful drive,” Daly said. “You’re hurrying. That lends to bad driving behaviors like tailgating and speeding, which leads to accidents. Don’t put yourself in that situation.”

How many hours a day should you drive on a road trip?

“It just varies so much from person to person, how long they’re comfortable driving,” Diaz said. “We want to err on the side of safety. We want people to be safe on the roads and drive the speed limit and not rush it, but everybody's different.”

Switching out drivers can lighten the load, but no matter who is driving, Daly said, “If you're starting to feel a little, less attentive, maybe a little fatigued, it’s time to take a break.”

What time is best to drive?

“We always recommend, especially during the holidays, leave early in the morning,” Diaz said. “The later you leave in the day, the worse it's going to be because a lot of times during the week … you're going to mix with those commuters on the road.”

“Some people enjoy night driving,” she added. “Once you get to like 8 p.m., 9 p.m. traffic comes down a lot.” 

However, she noted drivers who leave in the evening should watch out for fatigue and plan to drive less than if they started fresh in the morning.

How do you take a good road trip with kids? 

When possible, Daly recommends having a designated passenger to help with kids so the driver can focus on the road.  

Another important thing is to keep seatbelts on the whole way.

“Kids have a tendency to take those off,” Daly said. “Make sure they stay buckled up. I've seen some horrible things out there.”

'I just want to see more of us': The importance of seeing people like you while traveling

What do kids need on a road trip?

Entertainment helps pass the time, but it doesn’t have to be digital. There are all sorts of screen-free road trip games . 

Diaz recommends printing a map or list of sites or cities for kids to watch for along the way.

“You know, yell it out or mark it on your sheet,” she said. “Have some crayons in the car with them so they're following along on the trip, and they feel like they're part of it.”

“Point out historical landmarks and scenery; enjoy nature,” Daly echoed. “That's one of the things that we truck drivers love about our jobs is we get to see the country and nature.”

Stop at points of interest every few hours or simply for everyone to stretch their legs.

And for those times when kids are on screens, make sure to pack car chargers.

What is the best way to save gas?

Don’t speed. 

“Fuel economy peaks at around 50 miles per hour on most cars, and then it drops off as the speeds increase,” Diaz said. “You think, ‘OK, if I just go 70, I'm going to get there faster, and it'll be better,’ but essentially, you're just wasting gas at that point." Fuel economy can be increased by as much as 15% by reducing highway speeds by 5 to 10 miles per hour, she said.

Don’t idle unnecessarily either, like at rest stops.

“Your car engine consumes about a quarter to a half a gallon of fuel per hour while it's idling,” she said. “But a warm engine only takes about 10 seconds’ worth of fuel to restart, so if it's safe to do so, just shut off your engine.”

Story continues below.

What happens if my tire blows out?

“When you blow a tire, kaboom, it freaks you out. Do not panic,” Daly said. “Don't slow down abruptly or brake hard or jerk the wheel because that will cause you to lose control and have an accident.”

“Just focus on steering,” she added. “Slow very gradually, off to the side of the road in a safe area, and you won’t have any issue from your blown tire.”

How do you drive around semitrucks?

“Be aware of our needs and limitations,” Daly said. “You know we’re big. We need a lot of space around us. We have big blind spots. … If you can’t see the truck driver’s face in the mirrors of the truck, the truck driver can’t see you.”

She advised against passing on the right. 

“If you have to pass quickly, don’t linger over there. We see people driving over there for the shade (and it) puts us in a very dangerous situation,” she said. “And don’t cut in front of us and then hit your breaks. People don’t like to follow a truck because they can’t see around us, so they pass us and then cut in front of us.”

“It takes away that safety cushion we leave in front of us,” she added. “When you see all that space in front of a truck, that's not for your convenience so that you can pass us and cut into it. That’s for our safety and yours.”

By the same token, she advised fellow drivers to leave plenty of space in front of their own vehicles, so they have enough room to stop quickly in an emergency. If another driver cuts into that space, she suggested, “Take a break. Slow down again. Recreate that space. Bite your tongue and think pure thoughts.”

That last tip may not be so easy.

What has been your best or worst road trip experience?

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Trip Planners

You've got several options for planning a trips on CDTA, including online trip planners, mobile device applications, and by telephone.

Google Transit

CDTA uses Google Transit on the front page of our website. You can use it to: Google Trip Planner

Here are directions for using the trip planner on the front page

• Enter (origin) starting point (Building address, Street intersection, Landmark, station)
• Enter your destination point (Building address, Street intersection, Landmark, station)
• Select either departure time from your starting point (origin) or arrival time at your destination. Then, enter the time and date you want to depart the starting point (origin) or the time and date you want to arrive at you destination in the pull down menus.

CDTA Trip Planner

The CDTA trip planner is linked to our internal planning system so it is always up to date and available. Plan your trip using the CDTA Trip Planner

CDTA Customer Information Center

You can get travel information from the CDTA Customer Information Center by calling (518) 482-8822. Notes:

• CDTA's Call Center is open seven days a week:
• Monday - Friday (6:00am - 7:00pm)
• Saturday (8:00am - 6:00pm)
• Sunday (8:00am - 6:00pm)
• For faster service, be ready to give your starting point and destination and the day and time at which you wish to travel.

New York 511

NY511 is New York State's official traffic and travel info source. Whether you drive or take public transit. Try it now (www.ny511.org)

Last Updated: 05/26/2015

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Putin and Xi’s ‘no-limits’ friendship will be put to the test on state visit to China

Russia, shunned from the world stage, and China, subject to new US tariffs, want to pivot further from the west

H aving secured a mandate to extend his rule of Russia to three decades, Vladimir Putin is expected to travel to Beijing on Thursday on a state visit to meet Xi Jinping intended to shore up his most important international relationship.

The two men toasted their “no-limits” friendship in February 2022 – meant as a counterweight to the global influence of the US. That partnership has increasingly come under pressure as the Biden administration sought to isolate Russia from its Chinese lifeline after the full-scale invasion in Ukraine, which began later the same month.

But as the Biden administration unveiled tariffs on $18bn of Chinese imports on Tuesday, the strength of Xi and Putin’s relationship, based on a mutual opposition to a Washington-led global consensus, is likely to be bolstered this week.

Xi and Putin will gather with policy teams specialising in trade, energy and security cooperation. The two sides will be looking for ways to quietly circumvent US restrictions that have driven down Chinese exports to Russia following a postwar boom in both consumer products and dual-use goods that have been crucial to the Russian war machine in Ukraine.

Analysts in China and Russia said that while Beijing would prefer a quick end to the fighting in Ukraine, it would nonetheless tolerate the war and continue to prioritise trade and diplomatic relations with Moscow over the west while seeking to extract favourable conditions for greater trade and economic ties.

Russia, which has signalled it is unwilling to abandon the war, will become increasingly dependent on China as a trade partner and as a key diplomatic ally in its deepening conflict with the west.

In an interview with Xinhua state news agency released on Wednesday, Putin praised economic ties between the two countries, saying: “Today, Russia-China relations have reached the highest level ever, and despite the difficult global situation continue to get stronger.”

“If this is an existential war, then what are their other options?” said Alexander Gabuev, the director of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center. “There is no other China than China. Only China can bring in all this technology, from washing machines and cars to military-grade chips. Only China can provide its financial system and currency. Only China has this side of the market for all of these goods. India stands close to this, but China is bigger. And then there are the logistics. So there is simply no replacement.”

Yet US sanctions and Chinese fears of secondary sanctions have taken a toll, with a clear dip in Chinese exports after US threats in December to impose sanctions on any bank clearing payments for goods used in Russian military production.

Observers have noted that Chinese exports to Russia have dropped significantly in recent months after more than two years of booming bilateral trade since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Chinese exports to Russia fell to $8.3bn in April, according to preliminary statistics, a drop of nearly 14% compared with April 2023. In the first four months of 2024, exports fell by 2% in US dollar terms, although overall bilateral trade was still up by nearly 5% compared with 2023.

Shen Dingli, an international relations scholar based in Shanghai, said that the drop in Chinese exports to Russia “could be active risk aversion by Chinese companies in the face of US and western financial sanctions”.

Analysts in China and Russia told the Guardian that the two sides will look to resist US pressure to disengage from one another and will seek to find workarounds that could allow them to continue to expand trade away from the watchful eye of the US.

“When it comes to economics, the most critical question is the payment issue,” said Alexey Maslov, director of the Institute of Far Eastern Studies at the Russian Academy of Sciences.

China’s major banks are throttling payments out of concern over US sanctions, Maslov said, and Russia has proposed to solve the issue via a decentralised payment system that the west would be unable to track. “Both sides will look for sanctions-proof mechanisms going forward,” said Maslov.

Alexandra Prokopenko, a fellow at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center and former adviser to the Russian central bank, wrote that the teams would probably use the summit to brainstorm options to circumvent US restrictions before quietly implementing them, potentially developing tools that could be used by other countries seeking to evade US restrictions on trade.

“It is unlikely that we will hear statements as to how they plan to solve the sanctions given the sensitivity of the subject, it will just be quietly implemented,” said Vasiliy Kashin, a China specialist from the Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technology, a Moscow-based research group. “The drop in trade is likely to be just temporary, American efforts will turn out to be somewhat pointless. It is wishful thinking that China will just accept US pressure.”

China officially opposes US sanctions but in reality, banks and companies often find ways to comply so as to avoid encountering blowback from the US or being blocked from US dollar payments. One way to circumvent the restrictions is to trade through third countries.

Chinese exports to central Asian countries have surged since the start of the war in Ukraine. Compared with 2021, exports in 2023 to Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan were up 164%, 77% and 118% respectively. Joseph Webster, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, has noted that dual-use technology in particular has seen an increase in trade through central Asia. In 2023 Kyrgyzstan’s imports of Chinese ball bearings, which can be used in tank production, rose by more than 1,500% compared with 2021. “There is no apparent legitimate reason for this dramatic surge,” Webster wrote, adding that the ball bearings are “almost certainly diverted to Russia”.

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Russia also hopes to address its declining gas exports, which have plummeted since its invasion of Ukraine, resulting in record losses for Gazprom, once the country’s most profitable company. But observers question whether Moscow and Beijing will be able to finalise an agreement on the Power of Siberia 2 pipeline, a long-anticipated project that would supply China with Russian gas.

To bolster the Kremlin’s efforts at outreach, Putin is bringing an expanded team of advisers and industry leaders to Beijing. Gabuev noted that Putin’s team includes a number of seasoned technocrats that he called the Russian “A-Team”.

They include his new defence minister , Andrei Belousov, a veteran economist and former counterpart to Ding Xuexiang, a close ally of Xi and a member of the politburo standing committee, and Denis Manturov, a deputy prime minister acting as a point man for Russia’s military-industrial complex. Putin will meet with Chinese premier Li Qiang, to discuss economic cooperation.

Gabuev said: “They have invested a lot of effort to really get the teams acquainted, establish personal bonds, make them friendly. And now the Russian officials are not pulled in a thousand different directions because of Europeans and Americans because nobody talks to them.”

But Putin still holds some cards in the relationship with Beijing. Shen noted that Russia remains an important source of food and energy for China, as well as “strategic collaboration” on the international stage.

In his Xinhua interview on Wednesday, Putin said the two countries were working to build “equal, mutually beneficial economic and humanitarian cooperation, and strengthen foreign policy coordination in the interests of building a just multipolar world order.”

Webster said: “Meeting with Putin in Beijing allows Xi to hint that he might respond to western actions asymmetrically, such as by extending even greater semi-overt support for the Russian defence industrial base.”

That signalling is particularly acute under the shadow of the new Biden tariffs, which extends the Trump-era trade war. Trump introduced levies on more than $300bn of Chinese imports; Biden added $18bn of goods to that total this week. Tariffs were extended or introduced on a range of strategic sectors, including solar panels, electric vehicles and semiconductors. On EVs, rates were hiked from 25% to 100%.

All this prompted outrage from Beijing. Wang Wenbin, a foreign ministry spokesperson, said it was a “naked act of bullying”.

The ‘no-limits’ friendship between Putin and Xi

Putin’s relationship with Xi first took shape in May of 2014 when the Russian leader travelled to Beijing for a two-day state visit to discuss a major gas supply deal. The visit came on the heels of Russia’s annexation of Crimea, causing Moscow to be shunned by much of the western world.

Xi promptly returned the favour by visiting Moscow and sitting alongside Putin during the city’s Victory Parade, which celebrates its win over Nazi Germany. The parade was boycotted by western leaders as Russian-backed rebels seized territory in eastern Ukraine.

In the autumn of 2018, both countries celebrated their newfound military cooperation as China participated for the first time in large-scale strategic drills hosted by Moscow.

At the height of the US-China trade war in 2019, Xi flew to Moscow and praised Putin as his “best friend”. During the visit, the Kremlin announced that trade between Russia and China grew almost 25% over 2018. Xi ended the trip by giving Putin two pandas for the Moscow zoo.

Weeks before Putin sent his troops to invade Ukraine on 24 February 2022, the Russian leader flew to Beijing where the two leaders famously celebrated their “no-limits” friendship.

In an unmistakable show of support for Putin after his decision to invade Ukraine, Xi travelled to Moscow in the spring of 2023. Amid Moscow’s increasing isolation from the west, the three-day summit underscored the Kremlin’s growing economic dependence on Beijing, as bilateral trade between the two countries surged.

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Putin’s meeting with Xi in China underscores growing alliance

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Reporting By Greg Torode in Hong Kong and Guy Faulconbridge in Moscow; additional reporting by Chen Aizhu in Beijing; Editing by Alex Richardson and Lincoln Feast.

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Thomson Reuters

As Moscow bureau chief, Guy runs coverage of Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States. Before Moscow, Guy ran Brexit coverage as London bureau chief (2012-2022). On the night of Brexit, his team delivered one of Reuters historic wins - reporting news of Brexit first to the world and the financial markets. Guy graduated from the London School of Economics and started his career as an intern at Bloomberg. He has spent over 14 years covering the former Soviet Union. He speaks fluent Russian.

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At least five missing in landslide in central Kenya

A landslide that followed heavy rain in central Kenya has swept away at least five people, residents said on Wednesday, and the Red Cross said its workers would assist in rescue efforts.

Ukraine war latest: Zelenskyy cancels foreign trips as official sounds alarm from border town under attack

The Ukrainian president has cancelled visits to Spain and Portugal after Moscow's forces began a new offensive in the northeast of the country, where Kyiv says it is moving troops to new positions. Submit your question on the war for our experts to answer in the box below.

Wednesday 15 May 2024 11:32, UK

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• Zelenskyy postpones all foreign visits due to 'situation in Kharkiv'
• Situation in Kharkiv town under Russian attack 'extremely difficult'
• Ukrainian troops move into new positions in Kharkiv
• Russia downs missiles launched at Crimea
• Analysis:  Putin's 'baffling' reshuffle explained
• Live reporting by Lauren Russell

Ask a question or make a comment

The Russian defence ministry has claimed its troops have taken control of three more settlements in Ukraine, the state-owned news agency RIA has reported. 

The reports said two of the settlements - Hlyboke and Lukiantsi - are in the Kharkiv region and one - Robotyne - is in the Zaporizhzhia region.

Fierce fighting is currently ongoing in the Kharkiv region, particuarly in parts of Vovchansk and the border village of Buhruvatka.

The southeastern Zaporizhzhia region has also previously been targeted by Moscow due its nuclear power plant.

Last month, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) warned that the power plant has been attacked three times since 7 April.

It said the attacks have led the world "dangerously close to a nuclear accident".

Sky News cannot independently verify these battlefield claims.

This morning we reported on a Ukrainian drone attack on an oil depot and power substation in Russia's Belgorod and Lipetsk regions.

Responding to the attacks, Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said they were a demonstration of the "criminality" of Kyiv and the Western powers which back it.

She said all those responsible for the attacks will be punished.

The attack on the Oskolneftesnab oil depot near the city of Staryi Oskol and Yeletskaya power substation was conducted by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), a Ukrainian intelligence source said.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has postponed all foreign visits due to the situation in the Kharviv region, his press secretary has said.

Sergii Nykyforov said on Facebook that the Ukrainian leader instructed that "all international events scheduled for the coming days be postponed and new dates coordinated".

Earlier today Mr Zelenskyy cancelled trips to Spain and Portugal, but did not give a specific reason as to why.

Moscow began a pressing offensive on the Kharkiv region on Friday, after weeks of speculation that it was preparing to establish a new frontline there, and is forcing Ukraine to rush in reinforcements.

Ukraine is today planning to record high electricity imports after significant damage to its energy infrastructure from recent Russian strikes.

The energy ministry said imports were expected to rise to 23,692 megawatt hours (Mwh) up from of 21,072 Mwh on Tuesday and 19,484 Mwh on Monday.

The "emergency supplies" will come from Poland, Romania and Slovakia, as well as emergency assistance, the ministry said.

It warned that there could still be power shortages this evening. 

Ukraine's national grid operator said the import volumes would be close to the maximum that the country is technically able to receive from the EU.

Russian missile and drone attacks have caused more than $1bn (£792m) of damage to Ukraine's energy sector and a loss of 8,000 Mwh of generating capacity, energy minister German Galushchenko previously said.

Many regions have been experiencing blackouts as a result. 

US secretary of state Antony Blinken is in Kyiv meeting Ukrainian leaders.

Yesterday he also found time for an impromptu visit to a local nightclub where he took to the stage with an electric guitar to perform a version of Neil Young's 1989 hit Rockin' In The Free World. 

Before he began playing, he told the crowd: "The US is with you, so much of the world is with you."

For rights reasons, unfortunately, we can't show you him singing, but we can report he made a solid effort.

Russia's foreign ministry spokeswoman has said Moscow will destroy all US military equipment supplied to Ukraine.

Maria Zakharova's comments come after US secretary of state Antony Blinken told Ukrainian leaders in Kyiv that despite a month-long delay more US weaponry was coming and some had already arrived.

The US-aid package sets aside $61bn (£48.1bn) for Ukraine, much of which will go toward replenishing badly depleted artillery and air defence systems.

Ms Zakharova also took aim at attempts from the West to use frozen Russian assets to benefit Ukraine.

She said to do so would be in violation of Russian law and risked undermining the international financial system. 

If Russian assets in the US were seized, it could mean another $5bn (£3.9bn)  in assistance for Ukraine, coming from Russian Central Bank holdings.

However it is unlikely the US will seize the assets without agreement from other members of the G7 and the European Union.

The head of the Ukrainian police force in the Kharkiv region has described the situation in the town of Vovchansk as "extremely difficult". 

Oleksiy Kharkivskiy, Vovchansk's patrol police chief, said on Facebook that Russian forces are establishing positions inside the town. 

Yesterday Russia claimed it had taken parts of Vovchansk and the border village of Buhruvatka.

It is part of Moscow's pressing offensive on the Kharkiv region, which began on Friday after weeks of speculation that Russia was preparing to establish a new frontline there, and is forcing Ukraine to rush in reinforcements.

Russia has said it repelled a Ukrainian drone attack on the region of Tatarstan - around 497 miles east of Moscow.

The defence ministry said the attack occurred at around 7.30am local time.

It said Russian air defences had destoyed an aeroplane-style drone.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has cancelled a trip to Spain and Portugal, with some media outlets reporting it is because of renewed fighting in Ukraine.

King Felipe of Spain was due to hold a reception for Mr Zelenskyy on Friday. 

The Ukrainian leader was then expected to sign a bilateral security cooperation agreement with Portugal's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.

A spokesperson for the Portuguese government said Mr Zelenskyy had cancelled the visit but did not give a reason, while the Spanish government said it could not comment for security reasons. 

As we have been reporting, Ukrainian troops remain outgunned by Russian forces.

Yesterday, the western and northern parts of Vovchansk in Ukraine's Kharkhiv region fell under the control of Russian forces, according to the TASS state news agency.

Emergency teams have been working at the scene of a Russian airstrike in Kharkiv.

The region is where Russian forces are pressing on with an offensive, forcing Ukraine to rush in reinforcements.

Apart from the devastation and the blow to Ukrainian morale in the region, home to Ukraine's second largest city of Kharkiv, the incursion is a distraction for Kyiv's defensive operations in the east where Russia has focused its offensive for months.

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Blinken Tells Ukraine ‘You Are Not Alone’ as Russia’s Military Makes Gains

The Biden administration had warned for months that Congress’s delay in approving an aid package would leave the Ukrainians vulnerable.

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American Support for Ukraine has ‘Never Wavered,’ Blinken Says

Secretary of state antony j. blinken made an unannounced visit to kyiv amid russian military gains..

We’re meeting at a critical moment. Putin is ramping up yet another offensive against Ukraine in Kharkiv and across the east, sending wave after wave of Russian soldiers, Iranian drones, North Korean artillery and tanks, missiles and fighter jets built with machines and parts supplied by China. The coming weeks and months will demand a great deal of Ukrainians, who have already sacrificed so much. But I have come to Ukraine with a message. You are not alone. The United States has been by your side from Day 1. We are with you today and we will stay by your side until Ukraine’s security, its sovereignty, its ability to choose its own path is guaranteed. Now, after the delay in approving the latest U.S. assistance package to Ukraine, a delay that left you more vulnerable to Russia’s attacks, some Ukrainians may be wondering whether you can count on America to sustain its commitment. The $60 billion aid package that was approved by our Congress with overwhelming support across both political parties and both houses of Congress, I think demonstrates that you can, and a significant majority of Americans believe we should continue to provide assistance to Ukraine. Indeed, the American people’s support for Ukraine has been consistent over the course of the war. It has never wavered.

By Michael Crowley

Reporting from Kyiv, Ukraine

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken sought to reassure Ukrainians on Tuesday that they could weather an ominous new Russian military offensive and count on long-term support from the United States and its European allies.

“You are not alone,” Mr. Blinken declared in remarks in the capital city, Kyiv, where he arrived by train on Tuesday morning for an unannounced visit at what he called “a critical moment” for Ukraine’s future as Russia makes fresh military gains around the northeastern city of Kharkiv.

It is Mr. Blinken’s fourth trip to Kyiv since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and the first by a senior U.S. official since President Biden signed a $60.8 billion aid package approved by Congress three weeks ago after months of infighting among House Republicans.

Mr. Blinken’s trip was planned before the Russian offensive, which has only underscored the importance of the American support that he came to highlight.

Hours after meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky at his presidential offices and hearing his pleas for still more military assistance, Mr. Blinken conceded that the delay in U.S. aid had “left you more vulnerable to Russia’s attacks.”

But he argued that American support for the country remained durable. Congress ultimately approved the aid package first proposed by Mr. Biden last fall with overwhelming bipartisan support, he noted, implicitly downplaying the significance of the minority of House Republicans who managed to tie up the package for months.

“The American people’s support for Ukraine has been consistent over the course of the war,” he said. “It has never wavered.” That statement is supported by many polls that have shown enduring support for sending aid to the country.

Mr. Blinken was unable to guarantee continued financial support for Ukraine of the kind he and Mr. Biden have overseen, given the unpredictable nature of the U.S. political system — and, in particular, the skepticism about arming Ukraine often expressed by Mr. Biden’s Republican challenger, Donald J. Trump.

But he cited ways in which, he said, the country had enjoyed a “strategic success” since the war began more than two years ago, even though Russia occupies about one-fifth of Ukraine’s eastern territory.

Despite efforts by President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia to “lay waste” to Ukraine’s economy, he said, the country’s gross domestic product grew by 5 percent last year, and its steel factories have doubled their output over the past six months.

Mr. Blinken also reaffirmed the goal of Ukraine’s eventual membership in NATO. He said that “tangible steps” would be outlined at a NATO summit in Washington in July to help build its military and bring it closer to the alliance, including security agreements between Ukraine and each member country that extend for a decade and are not subject to political winds.

“These agreements send a clear message that Ukraine can count on its partners for sustainable, long-term support,” Mr. Blinken said. Such agreements involve intelligence sharing and military planning and cooperation, not direct financial aid.

“As the war goes on, Russia is going back in time,” Mr. Blinken said. “Ukraine is moving forward.”

But Mr. Blinken also cautioned that if Ukraine wanted to integrate with the West, including by joining the European Union, it must adopt legal and political reforms and commit to “rooting out the scourge of corruption — once and for all.”

“Winning on the battlefield will prevent Ukraine from becoming part of Russia,” he said. “Winning the war against corruption will keep Ukraine from becoming like Russia.”

Mr. Blinken, who arrived on an overnight train from Poland, met earlier in the day with Mr. Zelensky, who profusely thanked him for the “crucial” aid package for his country. Yet Mr. Zelensky quickly added that Ukraine was still in need, pointing to the Russian military advances near Kharkiv in recent days. Russian forces captured another village, Lukiantsi, overnight and bombed Kharkiv on Tuesday morning, injuring four people.

Calling air defense a “deficit for us,” Mr. Zelensky said, “We really need it today, two Patriots for Kharkiv.”

Mr. Blinken did not specifically respond to that request for the U.S.-made surface-to-air missile system. But he told Mr. Zelensky that incoming American aid — some of which he said had already arrived — would “make a real difference on the battlefield.”

Mr. Biden and Mr. Blinken had warned for months that Congress’s delay in approving critically needed U.S. arms would leave Ukraine’s military vulnerable along an eastern battlefront that has been at a stalemate for months. A senior U.S. official declined on Tuesday to draw a direct connection between the delayed aid and Russia’s gains near Kharkiv. But the official, who spoke of the condition of anonymity, said it was clear that the gap in funding had left Ukraine weakened as its military awaited ammunition and other critical equipment.

The official added that Ukrainian forces had held their positions and were exacting a toll on the Russians, and that they were likely to make gains as U.S. assistance flowed into the country.

A second senior U.S. official would not say whether Russia had been notified in advance of Mr. Blinken’s visit. Russian forces have frequently attacked Kyiv with missiles and drones.

Earlier, Mr. Blinken dined with Ukraine’s foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, at a pizza restaurant founded and staffed by veterans of the war. He planned to make more stops around the city on Wednesday before returning to Washington.

Maria Varenikova contributed reporting.

Michael Crowley covers the State Department and U.S. foreign policy for The Times. He has reported from nearly three dozen countries and often travels with the secretary of state. More about Michael Crowley

Our Coverage of the War in Ukraine

News and Analysis

Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine in Kyiv, assuring him that American military aid is on its way  at a “challenging time” for the country.

As Moscow seeks more support for its war in Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin of Russia will visit China’s top leader, Xi Jinping, testing their “no limits” partnership .

Putin replaced his minister of defense , Sergei Shoigu, with the economist Andrei Belousov , shaking up his national security team for the first time since his invasion of Ukraine.

Rebuilding Ukrainian Villages: The people of the Kherson region have slowly rebuilt their livelihoods since Ukraine’s military forced out Russian troops. Now they are bracing for another Russian attack .

Replenishing the Army’s Ranks: Ukraine’s Parliament passed a bill that will allow some convicts to serve in the military  in exchange for the possibility of parole at the end of their service.

Ukraine’s Unidentified Dead: Families of some Ukrainian soldiers say they have spent months trying to get official confirmation of their loved ones’ deaths , adding to their anguish.

How We Verify Our Reporting

Our team of visual journalists analyzes satellite images, photographs , videos and radio transmissions  to independently confirm troop movements and other details.

We monitor and authenticate reports on social media, corroborating these with eyewitness accounts and interviews. Read more about our reporting efforts .

• International

The latest on Russia's war in Ukraine

By Heather Chen and Sana Noor Haq, CNN

Zelensky postpones all international trips, as Russian forces advance through Kharkiv region 

From CNN's Radina Gigova

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will halt all international events scheduled for the coming days, his office announced on Wednesday, as Russian troops push into the northeastern Kharkiv region .

"Volodymyr Zelenskyy has instructed that all international events involving him scheduled for the coming days be postponed and new dates coordinated," Zelensky's office said in a statement. "We are grateful to our partners for their understanding."

It came days after Ukraine’s top military general warned fighting had "significantly worsened" in Kharkiv, as Russia claimed to have captured four further villages as it expanded its surprise cross-border offensive.

In the spotlight: More than two years into Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Zelensky has fought to keep attention on Kyiv's military efforts to deter advances from Moscow by strengthening ties with allies. Most recently, he thanked US lawmakers after they voted in favor of a new aid package worth nearly $61 billion. At the same time , European leaders approved a plan for regular payments to Ukraine as part of a $54 billion package.

Russia says its troops intercepted a large aerial attack on Crimea

From CNN staff and Mia Alberti 

Russia's Defense Ministry said Wednesday that troops had suppressed a large aerial attack on the Crimean peninsula by Ukrainian forces.

Moscow said that it intercepted 10 "American Atakms [ATACMS] tactical missiles" over Crimea. 

Missiles were shot down near the Belbek military airfield, according to Mikhail Razvozhayev, governor of Crimea's port city of Sevastopol, suggesting that could be the Ukrainians' target.

Elsewhere in Russia, there were two explosions at a fuel base in the Proletarsky district because of two drone attacks, according to Vasily Golubev, governor of the Rostov region. 

No casualties were reported in any of the attacks.

During his current visit to Kyiv, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said American ATACMS were part of the newly supplied arms already "on the front lines."

On Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told Blinken that Ukraine urgently needed aerial defenses. 

CNN has reached out to Ukrainian authorities for comment. 

Heavy fighting ongoing in Kharkiv region, Ukraine army says

From Mari Kostenko and CNN's Sandi Sidhu in Hong Kong

Ukraine's northern region of Kharkiv is enduring "heavy fighting" as Russian troops pushed on with ground and air offensives on Wednesday, Ukraine's army said.

"Heavy fighting is ongoing," said General Serhii Melnyk, Commander of the Kharkiv city defense forces.

"Three combat engagements are still ongoing," Melnyk said.

"In some areas, near (the towns of) Vovchansk and Lukiantsi, Ukrainian defenders were forced to move to more favorable positions to more effectively use their forces and defend the region from the offensive."

Kharkiv's border town of Vovchansk was liberated from Russian occupation more than 18 months ago.

Ukrainian troops repelled 11 attacks and are holding back Russia's advance towards "Lyptsi from Hlyboke and Lukiantsi, and towards Vovchansk from the direction of Shebekino (Russia)," Melnyk said.

Kharkiv city was hit Tuesday by a Russian airstrike that wounded 24 people, including 4 children, and damaged residential buildings, Melnyk said.

The attack also killed one person.

"On May 14, an enemy drone crashed into a residential building on a city street, killing an 80-year-old woman. Another person was killed in the village of Hatyshche," according to the city's defense forces commander.

Russia's Defense Ministry said Tuesday that they had "liberated" the settlement of Buhrovatka in the Kharkiv region and "defeated the manpower and equipment" of Ukraine's army in Vesele, Vovchansk, and Lyptsi.

It's morning in Ukraine. Here is what you need to know

Russia is continuing its push into northeastern Ukraine since making several advances there over the past week after launching a surprise cross-border assault .

These are Moscow’s most significant gains since Kyiv’s forces recaptured the Kharkiv region in 2022.

On Tuesday, at least 21 civilians, including two 12-year-old girls and an 8-year-old boy, were wounded in  Russian attacks on the city of Kharkiv , Ukraine's second-largest, according to prosecutors.

More than 7,500 people have been evacuated from the region. In the neighboring Sumy region, officials have also ordered a “voluntary evacuation” for several towns where attacks have increased, according to the military administration.

Here are the latest developments:

• More defense systems needed: As they met in Kyiv on Tuesday, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky told US Secretary of State Antony Blinken that Ukraine urgently needs more air defenses. That call that was echoed the same day by German Chancellor Olaf Scholtz , who urged European countries to do more to help Ukraine access these systems.
• Some US hardware already in Ukraine: Blinken said some long-awaited US military assistance has already started arriving in Ukraine after months of delays. 
• Seized Russian assets to fund Ukraine: Blinken reiterated that the US intends to use seized Russian assets to fund the reconstruction of Ukraine , and that the US is working with other G7 countries to do the same.
• More pressure on Donetsk: While attention is focused on Kharkiv, Russia’s forces continue to exploit Ukraine’s weaknesses elsewhere , in particular along a stretch of the frontline west of the Russian-occupied city of Donetsk. Zelensky has sought to reassure Ukrainians that defending Kharkiv will not lead to defensive gaps elsewhere.
• Grid under pressure: Ukraine's state-owned grid operator said that emergency  power cuts are being introduced following a series of Russian attacks on the country's energy infrastructure. Moscow has stepped up efforts to paralyze Ukraine’s energy system in the past month.
• Putin to meet Xi: Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping in China this week. Ahead of the visit, Putin commended China for its 12-point plan calling to end hostilities in Ukraine and bashed Ukraine's "Western patrons" for "stubbornly working to 'punish' Russia, isolate and weaken it."
• More Ukraine aid from EU leaders: The leaders of European Union countries approved a plan that will see a regular flow of payments as part of a financial package of up to $54 billion. And French President Emmanuel Macron told Zelensky that France will send more military aid to Ukraine “in the coming days and weeks.”

"The free world is with you": In a Kyiv bar, guitar in hand, Blinken rocks out

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken took to the stage at a bar in Kyiv during his state visit, playing the guitar with a Ukrainian band and singing Neil Young's 1989 hit "Rockin' in the Free World."

The visit, in which Blinken met with President Volodymyr Zelensky, comes as Russian forces make significant gains on the battlefield.

The US State Department said Blinken and Zelensky discussed battlefield updates and the importance of newly arrived US aid to help repel Russian attacks. Zelensky told US Blinken that Ukraine urgently needs more air defenses.

Putin hails relationship with China ahead of Beijing visit 

From CNN's Wayne Chang in Taipei and Anna Chernova

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said the “unprecedented level of strategic partnership” between Moscow and Beijing informed his decision to choose China for his first trip since entering a new term in office just over a week ago.

"Today, Russia-China relations have reached the highest level ever, and despite the difficult global situation continue to get stronger," Putin said in an interview with Chinese state news agency Xinhua on Wednesday, ahead of his arrival in Beijing on Thursday.

During his visit, Putin is expected to discuss situations in Ukraine, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, according to Putin's assistant for foreign affairs, Yuri Ushakov, state media RIA Novosti reported.

Speaking to Xinhua, Putin commended China for its 12-point plan calling to end hostilities in Ukraine and bashed Ukraine's "Western patrons" for "stubbornly working to 'punish' Russia, isolate and weaken it."

More context: Putin's visit mirrors  Xi’s own state visit to Moscow  just over a year ago, where he marked the norm-shattering start of a new term as president –  like Putin , after  rewriting rules  around how long leaders can serve.

It also comes as Russia claims to have captured further villages in Ukraine's northern Kharkiv region as it expands its surprise cross-border offensive.

Read the full story.

Emergency blackouts across Ukraine after months of devastating Russian attacks on power grid

From CNN’s Mariya Knight in Atlanta

Ukraine's state-owned grid operator announced on Tuesday that emergency power cuts are being introduced following a series of Russian attacks on the country's energy infrastructure.

Emergency shutdowns across Ukraine were implemented from 9 p.m. to midnight local time Tuesday, according to Ukrenergo.

The "significant" power shortage had been made worse when people used more energy during recent cold weather, Ukrenergo added.

More context: Moscow has stepped up efforts to paralyze Ukraine’s energy system in the past month, as Ukrainian troops struggle to  hold positions on key frontlines , particularly in the east.

On May 8, Russian forces carried out a “massive" missile attack on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, targeting power generation and transmission facilities in the Poltava, Kirovohrad, Zaporizhzhia, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk and Vinnytsia regions.

Ukraine's biggest power company, DTEK, said Russian missiles hit three of its thermal power plants on May 8, adding it was the fifth time its infrastructure had been targeted in the last six weeks. 

Russian glide bomb attacks wound at least 21 people in Ukraine's Kharkiv

From CNN’s Mariya Knight in Atlanta and Daria Tarasova-Markina in Kyiv

At least 21 civilians, including two 12-year-old girls and an 8-year-old boy, were wounded in Russian attacks on Ukraine's second-largest city of Kharkiv on Tuesday, according to prosecutors.

Russian forces used glide bombs in three waves of attacks, striking more than 20 targets, according to Oleksandr Filchakov, Kharkiv region prosecutor.

Glide bombs can carry hundreds of kilograms of explosives and are dropped from aircraft which — in the case of attacks on the Kharkiv border region — do not even need to enter Ukrainian airspace.

Writing on Telegram, Filchakov said that several apartment blocks, a shopping center, and an education institution were damaged in the bombardment that also set cars and garages ablaze.

The attack comes as Russian forces continue their advance into the Kharkiv region. Russian troops are regaining control of villages and areas of Ukraine that they were forced from near the end of 2022 during a Ukrainian counteroffensive. 

Ukraine's State Emergency Service on Tuesday said over 7,500 civilians had been evacuated from their homes during heavy fighting in the north of Kharkiv region. 

Reporting live from central Ukraine, CNN's Nick Paton Walsh said Russian troops are moving fast and have better resources and better ammunition. It is also clear that Ukrainians have failed to build sufficient defenses in the region.

Ukraine is calling for more rocket artillery ammunition and missiles to be sent to them as a priority, especially 155mm shells, so that it can repel Russia's resurgent invading force. 

Georgian president says protesters can use October elections to "reverse" foreign agents law

From CNN's Niamh Kennedy and the Amanpour team in London

Georgia’s president has called on protesters to use their vote in upcoming parliamentary elections to "reverse" the controversial foreign agents law passed by the country’s parliament on Tuesday.

President Salome Zourabichvili admitted to CNN's Christiane Amanpour that there are "many concerns" after the parliament voted in favor of the controversial foreign agents law.

"The way and the place where we can reverse all of this is the elections in October... And we have to use this mobilization of the society and this consolidation of the political parties to go and win those elections," Zourabichvili said.

The president, who has previously accused Russia of trying to bolster its influence over the former Soviet country, told CNN that she will symbolically veto the law.

Due to the setup of Georgia's parliamentary system, Zourabichvili holds mainly a figurehead role and her veto can be overruled by a simple parliamentary majority.

She called the law a complete "duplicate" of one passed by the Kremlin in 2012, which she said has been used to "completely oppress and repress the civil society" in Russia.

Russia is growing more and "more worried" by Georgia's rapprochement with the European Union, Zourabichvili remarked, referencing the recent decision by the bloc to grant Georgia candidate status.

Although roughly 20% of Georgian territory is currently controlled by Russia following the 2008 invasion, Georgia has not been "diverted" from "following its European path," the president added.

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