06:22 Spionage for Russia: Australian couple arrested
Two Australian citizens of Russian descent have been arrested in Australia on charges of espionage. The 40 and 62-year-old couple are accused of obtaining material from the Australian military to give to Russian authorities, according to the Australian Federal Police. One of them is a soldier in the Australian military. The Australian authorities accuse the couple of planning a spy offense, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.
05:55 Alarm over murder plans: "The Putin regime now targets German citizens as well"
A CNN report on alleged Russian assassination plans against Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger has caused outrage in Germany. "It shows once again that Russia is carrying its war and terror to Europe," says the chairman of the Defense Committee, Marcus Faber of the FDP, in an interview with the "Bild" newspaper. "The Putin regime now targets German citizens as well." The chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Michael Roth of the SPD, tells the paper that Putin is not only waging a war of annihilation against Ukraine, but also against its supporters and our values. US intelligence services, according to CNN, discovered plans of the Russian government to assassinate Papperger at the beginning of the year. The German side was then informed, and the 61-year-old was reportedly given increased protection as a result.
05:18 Hungary accuses NATO partners of hypocrisy and failure
The Hungarian government accuses its NATO partners of hypocrisy and failure in dealing with Russia's aggression against Ukraine at the end of the NATO summit in Washington. "We will continue to advocate for dialogue and diplomatic channels, as the current strategy of the last two and a half years has been a total failure," says Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto in a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, according to a spokesperson. Szijjarto represented Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who left the summit early to meet with former US President Donald Trump in Florida.
04:35 Britain calls on NATO allies to increase defense efforts
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announces a plan for his government at the NATO summit in Washington to increase defense spending to 2.5% of Gross Domestic Product. At the same time, he calls on other allies to also increase their defense spending. 23 of the 32 members of the alliance currently spend less than 2% of their GDP on defense, and given the serious threats to security, more needs to be done, says Starmer.
03:30 Biden: I would talk to Putin if he were open to change
US President Joe Biden currently sees no point in talking to Kremlin chief Putin. In general, he is willing to talk to any state or government leader - including Chinese State and Party Chief Xi Jinping, Biden emphasized in a press conference following the NATO summit. That also applies if Putin calls him. "I'm saying I'm willing to talk to anyone, but I don't see any willingness on his part," Biden says. Putin must be willing to change his behavior.
02:32 Building of new NATO-Ukraine Command in Wiesbaden beginsIn Wiesbaden, the construction of the new NATO-Ukraine Command for coordinating weapons deliveries and training activities for the Ukrainian forces starts today. However, the supreme allied commander Europe is expected to still need several months to set up the command so that it can take on all planned tasks, NATO representatives stated on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Washington. In the meantime, US military forces will continue to take on the coordination duties. The deployment is also seen as a precaution for the possible return of Donald Trump as US President in January 2025.
01:58 Scholz rejects unrestricted weapons engagement against RussiaFederal Chancellor Olaf Scholz rejects Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's call for lifting all restrictions on the use of Western weapons against Russian territory. "Nobody intends to change the previous guidelines and regulations - for good reasons", says the SPD politician at the end of the NATO summit. We want to support Ukraine as much as possible, but prevent the war from escalating into a war between Russia and NATO, Scholz adds. Zelenskyy is particularly concerned about military bases in the Russian hinterland from which rocket attacks on Ukraine originate. More than 40 civilians, including children, were killed in attacks on Ukrainian cities on Monday.
01:25 Scholz on attack report: Aware of Russian threatsIn connection with a media report about Russian threat plans against Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger, Chancellor Olaf Scholz referred to Russian threats. "I won't say anything about that in detail", Scholz said at the NATO summit in Washington. "But I'd be happy to tell you that we are very well aware that we are exposed to various threats from Russian activities."
00:40 UN demands Russia withdraw from Zaporizhzhia NPPThe United Nations General Assembly demands that Russia withdraw its military and other non-authorized personnel from the Ukrainian Zaporizhzhia NPP. Russia is called upon to place the power plant back under the full control of Ukrainian authorities, according to a UN resolution passed with 99 yes-votes, nine no-votes, and 60 abstentions. The Zaporizhzhia NPP, the largest in Europe, was taken over by Russia shortly after the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. It is currently shut down but requires external energy to keep the nuclear material cool and prevent a nuclear meltdown.
23:36 Pistorius expects correction in budget 2025Federal Defense Minister Boris Pistorius is convinced that there will be adjustments in favor of the defense budget in the draft budget 2025. "I assume that further talks will lead to changes", says the SPD politician in the ARD. He will not stop advocating for the Bundeswehr to be equipped so that it can fulfill its tasks.
22:46 Kremlin: "On the best way to a Cold War"The Kremlin criticizes the planned stationing of US long-range weapons in Germany as a return to the Cold War. "We are on the best way to a Cold War. It all happened before", says Kremlin spokesperson Dmitri Peskov to Russian state television. Peskow accuses Germany, the USA, France, and Britain of directly intervening in the conflict over Ukraine. "And all the features of the Cold War return - with confrontation, with direct confrontation between adversaries", he says. "All this is being done to undermine our country. All this is being done to ensure our strategic defeat on the battlefield", emphasizes Peskow. However, during the Cold War, there was peace in Europe. Russia began its war against Ukraine in 2014 and expanded it again massively in 2022.
21:34 Zelenskyy: Limitations for western weapons must endUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy calls for the lifting of all restrictions on the use of western weapons against Russian territory at the NATO summit in Washington. "If we want to win and save our country, then all these restrictions must be lifted", emphasizes the Ukrainian head of state. The main issue is military bases in the Russian hinterland from which rocket attacks are launched. "If they attack us and kill our children, it's crazy to ask why we can't attack this military base", so Zelenskyy.
20:58 USA announces further aid package with Patriot systemUS President Joe Biden announces another aid package for Ukraine worth $225 million. Part of the package includes a Patriot system, which is intended to strengthen the Ukrainian air defense against Russian air raids. The package also contains NASAMS missile defense systems, multiple rocket launchers of the HIMARS type, as well as artillery ammunition with calibers of 155 and 105 millimeters, according to the US government. The weapons come from US military stocks.
20:19 Stoltenberg accuses Russia of intimidation campaignNATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg reports on a Russian campaign of hostile actions against the Alliance. It aims to intimidate NATO members and prevent them from supporting Ukraine. However, this approach has had the opposite effect, says Stoltenberg at the NATO summit in Washington.
You can read about all previous developmentshere..
- Amidst the ongoing Ukraine-Conflict, NATO leaders are discussing ways to increase military deployments and support for Ukraine, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer of the UK calling for an increase in defense spending to 2.5% of GDP.
- The Hungarian Foreign Minister, Peter Szijjarto, has accused NATO partners of hypocrisy and failure in dealing with Russia's aggression against Ukraine, stating that their current strategy has been a total failure.
- Following the arrest of two Australian citizens of Russian descent on charges of espionage, providing material to Russian authorities, and planning a spy offense, Volodymyr Zelensky, the President of Ukraine, has emphasized the need for strong cybersecurity measures to protect against potential cyberwar attacks from Russia.
- The attack on Ukraine by Russia has resulted in numerous casualties, with more than 40 civilians, including children, killed in attacks on Ukrainian cities. In response, Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany has rejected calls for lifting all restrictions on the use of Western weapons against Russian territory, stating that the aim is to support Ukraine without escalating the conflict into a war between Russia and NATO.
- Russia's aggression against Ukraine has also led to diplomatic tensions with other nations, such as Germany, which has reportedly been the target of Russian assassination plans. In response, US intelligence services have discovered plans of the Russian government to assassinate Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger, and the German side has reportedly given increased protection to Papperger as a result.
