15:13 Paris Meeting: Biden Pledges Billions for Ukraine's Military Equipment
United States President Joe Biden has announced a new military aid package for Ukraine, worth $225 million (~207 million euros). Biden informed Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky about this during a meeting in Paris. Both leaders are on multi-day visits to France currently. The US Department of Defense states that this package includes rockets for Hawk anti-aircraft systems, ammunition for HIMARS multiple rocket launchers, Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, and artillery ammunition with 155 and 105 mm calibers. The US is especially focused on reinforcing Ukraine's air defense and supplying the country with ammunition after a prolonged delivery halt.
14:58 Moscow accuses Ukraine of striking residential area in Luhansk - Deaths and InjuriesMoscow alleges that Ukraine launched an airstrike on the Russian-controlled eastern Ukrainian city of Luhansk. The Russian Ministry for Emergency Situations reports that three people were killed and a residential building was partially destroyed. There are conflicting reports on the number of wounded, with some indicating 22 or 35 individuals, including three children. The Russian-appointed leader of the region, Leonid Pasetschnik, claims that Ukrainian nationalists conducted a "massive rocket attack on the civilian infrastructure of Luhansk." Ukraine allegedly fired "at least six rockets" at the city. The Russian Defense Ministry later says that Ukraine fired "five ATACMS missiles, US-made, deliberately at residential areas of the city." Four missiles were intercepted by Russian air defense systems, while the fifth struck two residential buildings, it says.
14:24 Germany Envisages Significantly More Soldiers for NATO PlansThere is a requirement for tens of thousands of additional soldiers in Germany, according to a report in "Der Spiegel," citing confidential documents from the Defense Ministry. The magazine asserts that, under overworked NATO plans, there is a need for "an additional 75,000 soldiers." At the NATO summit in Vilnius last year, the alliance agreed on these plans and demonstrated how it would respond in the event of a Russian attack. The German Defense Ministry has not yet commented on a request for remark. The Bundeswehr currently has around 180,000 soldiers and associated employees.
13:50 Ukraine's Satisfaction of EU Accession CriteriaUkraine and Moldova are thought to have fulfilled all prerequisites for the initiation of negotiations on joining the European Union, based on an assessment by the EU Commission. Officials in Brussels informally disclosed this information. Both nations supposedly rectified open issues in March. For Ukraine, this entailed measures for safeguarding national minorities and limiting political influence by oligarchs. The German government had already declared at the end of May that all conditions for the start of EU accession negotiations with Ukraine were fulfilled.
13:20 Biden Apologizes to Zelensky for Delayed Arms DeliveriesUS President Joe Biden extends an apology to his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, for the long-term interruption of arms shipments from the United States. Biden requests forgiveness for the weeks of uncertainty regarding additional support during their meeting in Paris. Both leaders are presently on extended stays in France. Biden attributed the lengthy blockade of US financial aid for Kiev to some "extremely conservative parliamentarians," who had halted the bill. However, the issue has been resolved now. The US president reassured Zelensky that the United States would not abandon Kiev. Ukraine is a "bulwark" against Russian hostility, and the United States carries a responsibility to bolster Kiev.
12:50 Russia Holds the US Responsible for Deaths of CiviliansRussia has, for the first time, charged the United States with causing the deaths of women and children in Russia through arms deliveries to Ukraine. Maria Zakharova, Foreign Ministry spokesperson, claimed that Ukraine had used weapons provided by the United States over the past week in attacks on the Belgorod border region. Statements from the US government approving these attacks equated to "confessing ... to the murder of children and women in the Belgorod region," she said. "Fragments of HIMARS rockets will serve as direct evidence," the spokeswoman added. This accusation follows Putin's warnings that the West risks global conflict if it permits Ukraine to fire weapons, supplied by Russia, on Russian territory.
12:11 Repercussions of Western Weapons on Military Targets in Russia: Security Expert on OutcomesRussian civilians have been victims of Western weapons, reports security expert. He cites the use of these weapons against military targets in the Belgorod border region as evidence of their impacts. These weapons, he believes, can also create retaliation from Russia. The expert claims further that US weapons are not only being used by Ukrainians against Russia but are also malfunctioning, adding to the risk for civilians.
Christian Mölling, a security expert, observes tangible outcomes after the agreement that permits Ukraine to strike targets in Russia with Western weapons. The area of Kharkiv is now temporarily protected from Russia's past ease in planning and commencing attacks in a secure region. "We're seeing that the lifting of shelling of Russian troops by Western weapons on Russian territory - trying to be very precise here - has promptly bettered the situation and brought Ukrainian troops to the forefront," said Mölling, the research director of the German Council on Foreign Relations in the "Stern" podcast "The Situation." Mölling underscores, "So to speak, the impact of weapons when you merely permit it, that Ukraine can rather quickly return to the spotlight again." This implies that weapons enable military targets to be challenged. Otherwise, one creates "safe havens for the aggressor, which is utterly irrational."
11:44 Zelensky: "Hitler crossed border after border. Putin is doing the same thing"
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky cautions against the expansion of Russia's war of aggression. "In the 30s, Hitler crossed border after border. Putin is doing the same thing," the Ukrainian president told French lawmakers in the National Assembly. "We can already observe how the hostility is disseminating to the Baltic states, Poland, and the Balkans." The Russian leadership will "find a way to destabilize Europe," he added. President Vladimir Putin is utilizing "the arsenal of the last century," sea blockades and the large-scale abduction of children to reeducate them. "He is blackmailing the entire world so that everyone is scared of him," stated Zelensky.
11:14 Russia tries US soldier in military court
The trial for a US soldier has commenced in Russia. The state news agency RIA Novosti reports that the 34-year-old Gordon Black has agreed to testify and respond to the accusations in the trial in Vladivostok. He had come to the city to visit his partner. He was arrested after she accused him of stealing from her. If convicted, he could face up to five years in prison. This event exacerbates the already delicate relationship between the United States and Russia even more. Russia is holding several Americans captive, including Paul Whelan, accused of spying, and "Wall Street Journal" reporter Evan Gershkovich. The United States maintains that both men are being held unlawfully.
10:44 "Russia wants to portray: The actual adversary in the war is America"
The Russian-occupied regions in Ukraine may soon be combined into a new federal district. What this entails and what the sending of more warships to Cuba conveys, explains ntv correspondent Rainer Munz.
10:23 Moscow accuses Ukraine of firing US rockets onto Russian soil
Russia accuses Ukraine of firing US rockets onto civilian areas on Russian territory. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova declares Ukraine liable for the deaths of women and children in the Belgorod region. Remnants of the Himars rockets will serve as proof, she says.
09:55 Ukraine indicts Russian general
The Ukraine is leveling charges at the Russian General Oleg Makarevich, previously the commander of the Dnieper Group, for premeditated murder and violations of the laws of war. The prosecutor and the SBU accuse him of ordering the annihilation of the Kakhovka Dam on June 6, 2023, resulting in a flood catastrophe in the Kherson region. The resulting humanitarian and ecological disaster could result in a life sentence for the general. "The SBU is making every effort to apprehend and bring to justice all those involved in crimes against Ukraine," states the SBU's communiqué.
09:25 "Russians attempted to breach the defense 28 times"
In numerous sections of Ukraine, air raid warning sirens are triggered. Russian air raids target Odessa and Kyiv, with the situation in Donetsk described as "tense," according to NTV correspondent Kavita Sharma. Additionally, the training of pilots for the promised combat aircraft is delayed.
08:59 Ukraine claims to have shot down dozens of drones
Ukraine asserts intercepting all five rockets fired by Russia. Of the 53 unleashed drones, 48 were shot down, according to authorities. The rockets were deployed in the Kiev region. The drones attacked the regions of Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, South Odessa, and Kherson. Energy infrastructure was not damaged. There were no casualties.
08:26 Historian Winkler warns of losing Ukraine
Historian Heinrich August Winkler perceives Germany's stubborn adherence to the debt brake as a security threat. "If a crisis erupted in Ukraine, it would be disastrous if we had to say: We conserved the debt brake and lost Ukraine. This would be hazardous for European peace and the liberty of European democracies," warns Winkler in "Sueddeutsche Zeitung." "We must, together with the other European members of NATO, significantly augment our conventional defense initiatives. The debt brake should not obstruct this," insists the historian. "We can't achieve dominance in European domestic politics regarding Russia."
Swiss President Viola Amherd anticipates the upcoming Ukraine peace conference hosted by Switzerland to serve as a starting point for additional negotiations. "It's quite clear that we won't sign a peace agreement at the end of the conference," she stated in an interview with the "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung." Amherd noted that for peace to be realized, both parties must be involved, referring to Russia's absence at the summit. "A potential follow-up conference could see Russia present." Reports indicate that more than 80 countries have agreed to take part, including Germany with Chancellor Olaf Scholz. However, Russia itself has not been invited to the June 15-16 summit, and the Russian government has expressed reluctance to send representatives if invited.
In other news, many German businesses in Ukraine are planning new investments in the Eastern European nation, despite the ongoing war. A survey by the German-Ukrainian Industry and Trade Chamber (AHK Ukraine) reveals that around 43 percent of companies aim to continue their engagement, with only eight percent planning to withdraw. KPMG surveyed 142 companies for this purpose. Key factors for increasing business activities are political and economic stability, along with public funding and guarantees. Approximately 42 percent of companies anticipate an improvement in Ukraine's economic situation within the next year, while 48 percent expect no change, and ten percent fear a decline.
The International Federation for Human Rights, the Center for Civil Liberties, and the Kharkiv Human Rights Group have submitted a report to the International Criminal Court, accusing Russian propagandists of inciting hatred against Ukrainians. These human rights organizations allege that five prominent Russian propagandists, Vladimir Solovyov, Margarita Simonyan, Dmitry Kiselyov, Sergei Mardan, Dmitry Medvedev, and Alexei Gromov, first deputy head of the Russian Presidential Administration, have "definitely incited violence." Previously, the ICC had issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova over the forced deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia.
Russian President Vladimir Putin vows to develop Russia's war economy after almost two and a half years of his attack on Ukraine. Putin has signed a list of instructions to increase weapons and ammunition production within the defense sector, according to first deputy prime minister Denis Manturov at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF). Panelists at the defense-focused event emphasized that Russia produces weapons and ammunition rapidly and at a quarter of the cost in the West. The country is preparing for a century-long war economy, they said. The number of companies - even in the private sector - has skyrocketed since the start of the war. "Today, the military-industrial complex is the engine of the economy," said Manturov. Economist Pyotr Fradkov, chairman of Promsvyazbank, echoed this sentiment during a series of major business deals.
The German government is sparking unease within NATO due to its reluctance to label a new support project for Ukraine as a "NATO mission." NATO allies find Berlin's arguments against using the term "NATO Mission Ukraine" (NMU) excessive and catering to Russian interests. The German government asserts that NMU could be misconstrued as sending soldiers to Ukraine. Supporters of the term "mission" argue that the Kremlin would use it for propaganda against the alliance and information campaigns. It's puzzling that Germany is the only country taking such measures, particularly given its explicit support for the project.
A Russia expert calls the anticipated absence of significant countries at the upcoming Ukraine conference in Switzerland a setback. Gerhard Mangott, a political scientist at the University of Innsbruck, considers the lack of countries like China, Brazil, or South Africa a blemish. He noted that the idea of a follow-up conference being discussed even before the current conference starts is unusual. "Normally, announcements of follow-up conferences are made only after the current conference begins, to show that one does not expect much from the current meeting," Mangott remarked. Most disappointing for Ukraine is the news that the United States will only send Vice President Kamala Harris and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan as representatives. Mangott finds it bewildering that President Joe Biden has opted not to participate.
Ukraine faces frequent air raids, with sirens sounding in large sections of the country, except for regions in the western part. The air force reports that attack drones have been launched towards Odessa, and cruise missiles have been downed.
The US is planning to support Ukraine's military effort with an additional aid package worth approximately $225 million. The package includes ammunition intended to target enemies outside of Ukraine's borders to protect Kharkiv from a potential Russian assault. Expected to be included in this package are ammunition for the HIMARS system, mortar systems, and artillery shells. President Joe Biden is scheduled to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Paris today.
At 00:54, Ukrenergo reported power outages in 12 regions across Ukraine. These regions include Lviv and Zakarpattia in the west, Kiev, the area surrounding Kiev, Odessa in the south, and Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia further east. The power outages are believed to be a result of consumption limits being exceeded and critical infrastructure being at risk.
In light of the passage of the "foreign influence" law in Georgia, the US is imposing visa restrictions on certain individuals involved in its creation, including members of the Georgian Dream party, parliamentarians, and security service personnel and their families. These restrictions were previously announced by the State Department. Thousands of Georgian citizens have been protesting against the law for weeks, viewing it as a threat to media freedom and civil society.
Russian Federation officials hinted at the possibility of combining Russian-occupied territories in Ukraine to form a new federal district. Evgeny Balitsky, a Russian governor active in the Zaporizhzhia region, made this suggestion. Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 and occupied parts of the Donbass region, then later occupied parts of Kherson, Donetsk, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia in the wake of the full-scale war that began in February 2022.
Ukrenergo cut power in Kiev and 12 other regions in the evening, due to exceeded consumption limits. Private households and industrial facilities in Volhynia, Donetsk, Zhytomyr, Transcarpathia, Saporizhzhia, Lviv, Mykolaiv, Kirovohrad, Odessa, Rivne, Kharkiv, and Kharkiv city itself are affected by the restrictions.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is supposedly set to speak in the German parliament, the Bundestag, on Tuesday. This follows a reconstruction conference for Ukraine organized by the German Foreign Office, taking place in Berlin on Tuesday and Wednesday. There have been rumors that Zelenskyy would attend the event in person since the beginning of the war, though this would be his first time addressing the Bundestag. To accommodate him, a special session would have to be convened.
French President Emmanuel Macron revealed in a television interview that France is transferring Mirage-2000 fighter jets to Ukraine. He also mentioned plans to train 4,500 Ukrainian soldiers.
Finally, President Zelenskyy took to social media to recall the first anniversary of the dam collapse in southern Ukraine, calling it "one of the largest environmental crimes committed by the Russian invaders since their invasion." The dam's destruction reportedly caused floods, disrupted water supplies for hundreds of thousands, and had repercussions in neighboring countries of the Black Sea region.
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Read also:
- Following the US announcement of a $225 million military aid package for Ukraine, US President Joe Biden met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Paris, discussing the inclusion of rockets for Hawk anti-aircraft systems, Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, and artillery ammunition in the package.
- Concurrently, Moscow accused Ukraine of launching an airstrike on the Russian-controlled eastern Ukrainian city of Luhansk, alleging that Ukraine fired "at least six rockets" at the city, resulting in three fatalities and damage to a residential building.
- Amidst the heightened tensions, NATO plans require tens of thousands of additional soldiers in Germany, according to a "Der Spiegel" report citing confidential documents from the Defense Ministry. At the NATO summit in Vilnius last year, the alliance agreed on these plans and demonstrated how it would respond in the event of a Russian attack.
- In response to the conflict, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned in Paris about the spreading hostility to neighboring countries, stating, "In the 30s, Hitler crossed border after border. Putin is doing the same thing." He emphasized that the Russian leadership would "find a way to destabilize Europe."
