15:27: Increasing Pressure on Moscow Observed by Zelenskyy

15:27 Zelenskyy perceives intensifying pressure on Moscow

Zelenskyy feels the heatmounting on Moscow through a peace summit in Switzerland. The two-day gathering of 92 countries and 8 international bodies talks about joint efforts to end a war and foster trust and peace, as per Zelenskyy before the discussions start. "We're giving diplomacy a shot," he says. On the other hand, the conference's host, Swiss Federal President Viola Amherd, checks expectations, stating that the goals are modest, focusing primarily on inspiring a process for lasting, fair peace. She points out the significance of international law as the foundation for global order, bringing attention to Russia's actions being severe violations of these.

14:59: Harris arrives via helicopterUS Vice President Kamala Harris flew to Switzerland for the Ukraine peace summit in the afternoon. Keystone-sda states that she traveled from Zurich airport to the venue on Bürgenstock by helicopter. She represents President Joe Biden, who is attending a campaign event in California. It remains uncertain if there will be a joint declaration. There are still several contentious issues among the delegations, and there is a chance for a declaration without universal agreement.

14:34: Russians block views of "Admiral Gorshkov"Moscow sends four Russian Navy ships to Cuba, which includes a submarine with an atomic propulsion system, and the warship "Admiral Gorshkov." However, the frigate receives unwanted attention, as Russia invites spectators for a tour of the ship.

14:01: Scholz dismisses new Russia sanction blockage allegationsGerman Chancellor Olaf Scholz denies accusations that Germany is preventing new sanctions against Russia in the EU. "It's not being blocked. We're discussing the specific implementation," Scholz informs Welt TV and other media, asserting that it's about ensuring the German economy can carry on its activities while ensuring goods are not unintentionally sent to Russia.

13:38: USA announces additional aid for Ukraine's energy sectorUS Vice President Kamala Harris announces a $1.5 billion aid package to bolster Ukraine's energy sector. This money intends to assist in restoring the energy infrastructure damaged by the war, according to Harris' office, participating in the Ukraine peace summit in Switzerland. In addition, more than $379 million in humanitarian aid for Ukraine is planned.

13:18: Jaeger clarifies meeting queries: Is there a conference with Putin in Switzerland following the peace summit?

After the G7 summit, the backers of Ukraine gather for a peace summit in Switzerland. We talk to political scientist Thomas Jaeger from ntv about what to expect from this summit and what further steps a peace plan for Ukraine entails:

12:43: Swedish fighter jets intercept Russian military aircraftAccording to the Swedish military, a Russian military aircraft allegedly violated the Swedish airspace on Friday. The aircraft entered Swedish airspace east of the Baltic Sea island of Gotland and disregarded warnings, the Swedish military reports. Two Swedish fighter jets then intervened. Previously, the Finnish border guard had raised suspicions that as many as four Russian military aircraft had entered Finnish airspace on the previous Monday. Sweden has repeatedly raised concerns about a potential Russian attack, particularly in connection to the strategically vital island of Gotland:

12:07: Brigade: No country at peace will grasp the realities of modern warfareThe 47th Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces frequently battles in intense frontline areas. They utilize, among other things, US Bradley infantry fighting vehicles of the M1A1 type. The heavily demanded military equipment from abroad requires maintenance. "Every piece of equipment must be repaired and improved, especially foreign equipment. Because no country in the world, currently at peace, will ever comprehend the realities of modern warfare," the 47th posts on social media. "The main advantage of the Bradley is its precision, its excellent stability, and its maneuverability despite its high weight," says a commander. The Bradley can handle combat during the day and at night due to its good thermal imaging cameras.

11:35: Russia reports several casualties after Ukrainian attacksAccording to Russian reports, at least five people were killed, and several were injured in Ukrainian attacks on the Russian border town of Schebekino. As the governor of the region Belgorod, Vyacheslav Gladkov, reports, four bodies were found in the rubble of a house, and a woman died in the hospital. Additionally, six civilians were injured during the late Friday evening attack. The 40,000-resident Schebekino is situated on the southern border of the Russian region Belgorod, which shares a border with the Ukrainian region Kharkiv. Russian forces started a ground offensive there on May 10.

10:56 Russian Airfield under Unconfirmed Drone Swarm Attack: The Ukrainian military intelligence reveals through War Zone that a potential drone attack has taken place on the Morosovsk airfield in Russia. Approximately seventy drones are rumored to have been involved in the attack, with Su-34 fighter jets being amongst the aircraft allegedly stationed at the base. While no concrete numbers of downed jets have been released, evaluations of Russian losses are still ongoing. Evidence of the alleged attack has been published through satellite images by War Zone.

10:15 Ukraine Preparing for Escalation of War: The Ukrainian military has been targeting and damaging Russian air defense systems over the last few weeks. Military expert Nico Lange informs Bild that the intensified use of combat aircraft is being prepared by Ukraine. Lange claims that Ukraine is meticulously and systematically preparing to employ its own Su-24 aircraft equipped with British and French missiles and the use of F-16s. Ukraine has previously stated its objective of establishing air superiority to repel Russian forces. The first F-16s are anticipated to fly missions this summer, marking the initiation of a new phase. However, Kiev is believed to initially only be able to deploy a limited number of combat jets due to a pilot shortage. It is hoped that these F-16s will have the ability to shoot down planes firing glide bombs from Russian territory onto Ukraine.

09:33 Scholz Responds to Putin's Peace Proposal: Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz remarked that the peace initiatives proposed by Russian President Vladimir Putin for the initiation of peace talks were not discussed at the G7 summit, as they were perceived as insincere. Scholz conveyed to ZDF that Putin's proposals were not genuine and were related to the conference in Switzerland. Putin had announced prerequisites for peace talks with the Ukrainian government earlier on Friday. Russia would halt military action if Ukraine abandoned its attempts to join NATO, he declared. Furthermore, he insisted upon the withdrawal of the Ukrainian army from the four regions that Russia had proclaimed to be annexed.

09:01 ntv-Reporter Schmidt-Denker: "Summary of G7 summit is clear": The G7 summit in Italy has concluded, and the peace conference in Switzerland has commenced. Not all participants of the G7 summit are traveling further. Ntv-Reporter Holger Schmidt-Denker provides insight into the success of the meeting and the support being arranged for Ukraine:

08:35 Heusgen Anticipates Little Political Progress from Ukraine Peace Conference: Christoph Heusgen, the chief of the Munich Security Conference, expects minimal political advancement from the Ukraine peace conference in Switzerland this weekend. He tells t-online that the objective is to produce images of solidarity and a powerful closing declaration. Crucially, representatives from countries in Asia, Latin America, and Africa are expected to participate. According to the former foreign policy advisor to ex-Chancellor Angela Merkel, the two-day summit offers insight into the degree of restraint currently being exhibited by Russia and China within the international community.

07:47 Military Expert: Peace Conference could set Precedent, with Russia participating later: According to military expert Nico Lange, a peace conference in Switzerland "could set a process in motion, where later Russia could also participate. It's worth meeting. No blockade of food supplies, no atomic weapons, exchange of prisoners of war - these are generally accepted principles," Lange stated to X. Lange believes that Russia will only be serious about engaging in meaningful weapons ceasefire negotiations in Ukraine when it is under substantial military pressure. He asserts that Putin still holds the belief that he can attain his objectives, even with the hope that the Americans and Europeans will weaken.

07:03 Defense Contractor: We can still defend Augsburg, but not Berlin: The CEO of defense contractor KNDS acknowledges that the current German government is not notably strengthening Germany's defense capabilities. In contracts, he observes no notable change yet. "The vast majority of our contract intake in 2023 came not from Germany but from other NATO countries," says Frank Haun, whose company also manufactures the Leopard-2 combat tank, as reported by "FAZ." Haun also emphasizes: "We only have around 300 operational combat tanks in Germany. That's why I often say: Augsburg we can still defend, but Munich and Berlin, not anymore."

06:30 EU Commissioner Speaks of 2.5 Million Artillery Shells by the End of the Year: According to the French EU Commissioner Thierry Breton, the European Union will possess a production capacity of 1.7 million of the important 155mm artillery shells by the end of the year. In the following year, this capacity should exceed 2 million. "The goal is to reach 2.5 million. I think we should reach that by the end of 2025," Breton explained in an interview with "La Tribune." The EU has initiated a program of 500 million euros to fund a series of factories for the production of this ammunition. The Ukraine has been suffering from a significant shortage of 155mm artillery shells compared to the Russian side for some time.

05:54 EU to Begin Accession Talks with Ukraine and Moldova SoonThe EU countries have, in essence, agreed to initiate accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova. The Belgian EU presidency has announced that the first government meetings should commence on June 25. The decision is tentative and needs formal confirmation at an EU Council meeting on June 21. Additionally, the approval of the Dutch parliament is required. The President of the European Council of Heads of State and Government, Charles Michel, expressed his approval, stating that the EU will fulfill its promises and support Ukraine and Moldova in their journey towards membership. In June, the European Commission had already verified that Ukraine and Moldova had met all the conditions for the start of accession negotiations.

04:54 Casualties in Attacks in Russia and UkraineSix individuals were reportedly killed in the Russian region of Belgorod, bordering Ukraine, as per Russian authorities. Four of these fatalities occurred in the city of Schebekino when a multi-story building collapsed. A man was struck by a Ukrainian drone in his vehicle, and a woman was killed by rocket fire in the settlement of Oktjabrski in her home, according to the Governor of the region, Vyacheslav Gladkov. In the Ukrainian side, one individual was reportedly killed in Schostka in the Sumy Oblast. The residents of the Sumy region are regularly targeted by Russian attacks.

02:26 Russia Prepares for "Evacuation" of Cultural Heritage from CrimeaRussia is reportedly preparing for the potential transportation of cultural heritage and historical artifacts from the annexed Crimea. This information was reported by the Ukrainian news portal Ukrajinska Pravda, citing a letter from the Russian-led "Culture Ministry" of Crimea to museum directors regarding potential "evacuations." The Russians are allegedly accelerating the categorization and evaluation of artifacts using electronic registers. The Ukrainian National Resistance Center fears that the most valuable artifacts from Crimea could be taken to internationally recognized Russian territory.

00:39 Ukrainian Children from Russian-occupied Territories RecoveredTwelve Ukrainian children, who had been held captive in Russian-occupied territories, have reportedly been returned to territories controlled by Kiev, according to Ukrainian authorities. Three boys and nine girls aged between 2 and 17 were brought back from the southern region of Cherson to the Ukrainian-controlled side, as announced by the Governor of the region, Oleksandr Prokudin, on Telegram. Ukraine accuses Moscow of having abducted nearly 20,000 Ukrainian children from eastern and southern parts of Ukraine since the invasion began in February 2022. Many more children still live under Russian control. The return of these children is a diplomatic priority for the Ukrainian government.

23:07 Russia Accuses Ukraine of Attack on Gas Transshipment Facility in KurskThe Ukraine allegedly shelled, according to Russian reports, a gas transshipment facility in Russia. The Governor of the region Kursk, Alexei Smirnov, announced on Telegram that the Ukraine had attacked several settlements, including the city of Sudja. There, the last functioning distribution center for Russian gas exports to Europe via Ukraine is located. Smirnov reports no damage to the gas infrastructure. However, two people were reportedly injured, and a house was destroyed. The responsible Ukrainian utility company states that the Russian gas transit was not affected by the attacks.

22:13 Austin: Putin Cannot Impose Conditions for Ukraine's PeaceVladimir Putin, according to US Defense Minister Lloyd Austin, cannot impose conditions for Ukraine's peace. "Putin has illegally occupied sovereign Ukrainian territory," Austin stated after a NATO Defense Ministers meeting in Brussels. "We don't want a leader of a country waking up one day and deciding to erase the borders of its neighbor and annex its territory. That's not the world we want to live in." Austin emphasizes that Putin cannot dictate terms for Ukraine's peace. Putin could end this war today. Putin previously demanded the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from territories Russia had officially annexed as a prerequisite for a potential peace solution, including areas that Russia had annexed but still did not control. At the same time, he reiterated all demands he had made at the outset of the war he ordered in February 2022 against Ukraine. The demands center around a neutral, non-aligned, and nuclear-weapon-free Ukraine, Putin said. Ukraine must also demilitarize and undergo de-Nazification, under which Russia understands a friendly leadership in Kiev.

21:45 Germany Hesitates New Sanctions Package against RussiaThe EU countries had originally planned to discuss a 14th sanctions package against Russia at their regular meeting. However, Germany had expressed concerns about the plans that have not been resolved. The agreement on the start of accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova is an important signal - particularly towards Kiev. The Ukraine peace conference starts on Saturday in Switzerland.

21:34 EU Agrees on Accession Talks with Ukraine and MoldovaThe EU countries have agreed in principle to initiate accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova. This was announced by the Belgian EU presidency in Brussels.

8:36 PM Putin Proposes Global Security Overhaul - Invites NATO to JoinVladimir Putin, the Russian President, deems the "Western framework" for global security as flawed, according to his statements. The current state exhibits the disintegration of the European-transatlantic security structure, Putin stated during a gathering with representatives of the Russian Foreign Ministry. The world has reached a pivotal moment with no sentimental journey back. He blamed the U.S. specifically for sabotaging global security by abandoning disarmament accords. Putin advocates for the creation of a novel global security system. This system would extend invitations to all, including NATO.

Per Putin, 700,000 Russian troops are engaged in Ukraine battles. According to the words of Russian President Vladimir Putin, 700,000 Russian soldiers are currently involved in combat within Ukraine. In December, he asserted that there were 617,000 soldiers. The British intelligence agency estimated in late May that about 500,000 Russian soldiers have suffered casualties since the invasion's onset. According to the platforms "Mediazona" and the Russian arm of the BBC, 136,500 Russian soldiers have perished in Ukraine. Based on publicly accessible sources, the deaths of approximately 50,000 Russian soldiers have been verified. The Kremlin has officially acknowledged the deaths of only around 6,000 fighters, the last time being in September 2022.

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