02:40 Serbian President Vucic receives Russian Deputy Foreign Minister
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic received Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Gruschko in Belgrade. He spoke with Gruschko about the bilateral relations between Serbia and Russia and evaluated them as "very good", Vucic stated on Instagram. He also thanked Russia "for its support of Serbia's territorial integrity, as well as in regard to the UN Resolution on Srebrenica". Moscow still refuses to recognize Kosovo's independence. Serbia has been an EU membership candidate since 2012 but continues to maintain good relations with the Kreml despite the Russian annexation of Ukraine.
01:29 Russian Court Sentences 19-Year-Old to Twelve YearsA Russian court sentenced a 19-year-old man to twelve years in prison for "treason," after he was accused of donating money to the Ukrainian army. "The Rostov Regional Court found him guilty and sentenced him to a twelve-year term in a penal colony," according to a comment from the Russian domestic intelligence service FSB, picked up by state Kremlin media. The teenager is alleged to have sent money to help the Ukrainian army buy food and drones. Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, thousands of Russians have been arrested and many of them imprisoned. According to Amnesty International, at least 21,000 people were targets of repressions against war opponents in 2023.
00:20 One Quarter of Americans Believe US Aid to Ukraine InsufficientAlmost a quarter of Americans believe the United States is not providing enough military aid to Ukraine. This percentage has risen since November last year, according to a Pew Research Center survey. Twenty-four percent of respondents believe the United States is not providing enough aid, compared to 18 percent in November 2023 when the survey was last conducted. However, 31 percent of Americans believe the United States is providing too much aid, and 25 percent believe it is providing the right amount.
22:53 Lithuania Reports Airspace Violation by Russian AircraftLithuania reports a violation of its airspace by a Russian aircraft. The unspecified plane of the Russian airline Pobeda allegedly entered the airspace of the Baltic EU and NATO member unlawfully on the evening of June 30 and stayed there for about a minute. The representative of the Russian embassy was summoned, and the Russian authorities were urged to take all necessary measures to prevent such incidents in the future. The airspace violation occurred over the Baltic Sea, as the plane was on its way from Moscow to the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad bordering Lithuania. The EU has closed its airspace to Russian aircraft as a reaction to Russia's aggression in Ukraine.
22:12 Survey in Member States: High Trust in NATO, Low Trust in Zelenskyy
Coming week, NATO celebrates its 75-year anniversary. In member states, the transatlantic defense alliance is generally viewed favorably, according to a Pew Research survey. On average in 13 countries, 63 percent of the population holds a positive opinion, while 33 percent hold a negative one. Germany is slightly above the average with 64 percent positive views. Poland stands out with 91 percent having a positive image of the alliance. The trust in Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stands at an average of 40 percent and has decreased in member states over the past year. Poland is also notable, where the president has lost 22 percentage points - from 70 to 48 percent. In Germany, trust has decreased by 7 percentage points to 54 percent.
21:27 Zelenskyy rejects Orban's peace proposal
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has rejected a peace proposal from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán for peace talks, according to a spokesperson from the Presidential Administration. During his first visit to Kiev since the war began, Orbán suggested a rapid ceasefire that could "accelerate peace negotiations with Moscow," he said. "The president listened to him, but in response, he clarified Ukraine's stance and rejected the proposal," the spokesperson said. Previously, Kiev had rejected ceasefires, citing the concern that Russian forces could regroup during this time.
21:02 Ukraine: Moscow recruits minors
Russia is actively recruiting minors for the war in Ukraine, Ukraine claims. The recruitment contracts are reportedly signed with minors and take effect upon reaching adulthood. "They hope to recruit tens of thousands of teenagers with propaganda," says the Ukrainian agency "National Resistance Center": "We warn that any enemy on our territory will be eliminated." On occupied Ukrainian territory, Russia also employs minors, for instance, to manufacture drones.
You can read about previous developments here.
- Amidst the ongoing Ukraine conflict, a Russian court sentenced a 19-year-old man to twelve years in prison for allegedly donating money to the Ukrainian army, contributing to military operations against Russia.
- Although Serbia has been an EU membership candidate since 2012, it continues to maintain good relations with Russia, defying Western pressure over Russia's annexation of Ukraine and support for separatists in Eastern Ukraine.
- As tensions with Ukraine remain high, Nato members like Lithuania have reported incidents of Russian aircraft violating their airspace, with the most recent instance occurring over the Baltic Sea.
- With the 75th anniversary of NATO approaching, a survey conducted in member states showed generally positive views of the alliance, while President Zelenskyy's trust levels, particularly in Poland and Germany, have seen a decline.
- In a move to exacerbate the conflict, Russia is reportedly recruiting minors or signing recruitment contracts with them, effectively conscripting children into the military operations against Ukraine.
