6:24 PM: Groups of LGBTQ+ military personnel rally for expanded privileges

6:24 PM: Gays and Lesbians in Military Uniforms Protest for Enhanced Rights

Hordes of Ukrainian military personnel, representing the LGBTQ+ community along with their allies, take part in the Pride March in Kiev. They appeal to the Ukrainian government to officially recognize same-sex partnerships. Some soldiers don rainbow and unicorn insignia on their uniforms. A soldier shares, "We're just typical people, presenting a united front alongside everybody else, yet those with denied rights are like everyone else." Employees of the US and European embassies also join the protest. The demonstration happens under the close eye of police, due to possible counter-protesters. The Ukrainian orthodox church rejects the demonstration.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Army announces further progress of its troops in the Serebrjansker Wald in the Luhansk region. Brigades "Asow" and "Burewij" moved one kilometer deep and two kilometers wide into the forest, as per the Ukrainian Armed Forces' Telegram page. Earlier, the "Asow" Brigade stated the Russian troops had abandoned their positions in that wooded area.

At a Detroit rally, Trump satirizes Zelensky, calling him "the exceptional salesman" and asserting, against the facts, that Zelensky demanded $60 billion every time.

The Kremlin advises the Ukrainian leadership to ponder Putin's proposal to withdraw troops from the east and south of Ukraine, enabling peace talks. Kremlin spokesman Peskov stated, "The current situation on the front clearly shows the deterioration of the Ukrainians' circumstances." While Zelensky was in Switzerland discussing the conflict's end with numerous world leaders, Moscow urged a weapons truce and peace negotiations if Ukraine surrendered its partially occupied territories in the east and south and abandoned NATO membership.

Zelensky sets a Russian troop withdrawal as a prerequisite for peace talks, indicating, "Russia can hold negotiations with us tomorrow, without delay, if it withdraws from our lawful territories." He added, however, that Russia and its leadership are not willing for a just peace.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen claims that peace would not be achieved in a single step, as Russian President Vladimir Putin has no genuine interest in ending the war. Instead, he demands capitulation and acquisition of Ukrainian territory, and wishes for Ukraine to disarm and become vulnerable.

At the conference's conclusion, Zelensky proposes a subsequent international conference to develop "Action Plans for Peace." Once these strategies are finalized, a path to a second summit will be paved. They agreed to continue working in special groups on concrete ideas for enhancing security in various areas.

Zelensky suggests a rapid second meeting following the Ukraine summit in Switzerland. The preparations would only take months rather than years, according to him. Some countries have already signaled their readiness to host such a summit. A prerequisite for Russian participation is that Moscow acknowledges the UN Charter, says EU Commission President Von der Leyen. Though there's no mention of a follow-up conference in the final declaration, it wasn't signed by all attending countries. Swiss Federal President Amherd acknowledges the diverse viewpoints and starting positions at the conference. However, it marked the first time a high-level and broadly representative gathering discussed a peace process.

The majority of summit participants support the final declaration, opposing the use or threat of nuclear weapons, nuclear energy, or facilities in the context of the war against Ukraine. Nuclear power plants and facilities in Ukraine, such as the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, should be under full Ukrainian control and subject to International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) supervision.

A bystander captures a drone strike on a military truck in the Russian region of Belgorod. No casualties were reported, but frequent attacks are on the rise, according to Governor Gladkov. Hits on Saturday were numerous, he explains.

Conference Declaration in Switzerland: No Use of Food Security as a Weapon

The end result of the Ukraine conference in Switzerland states that food security should not be utilized as a tool for warfare. Thus, there should be free and secure shipping, as well as access to seaports in the Black and Azov Seas. Attacks on merchant ships in ports and throughout the whole route, as well as on civilian ports and civilian port infrastructure, are unacceptable, as stated by Swiss Federal President Viola Amherd, the host of the conference. Furthermore, all war prisoners must be released through exchange. All forcibly displaced and unlawfully expelled Ukrainian children and all other Ukrainian civilians who are unlawfully detained must be returned to Ukraine.

15:17 Peace Process: Involve All Parties

A majority of participants at the Ukraine conference in Switzerland are calling for Russia to be involved in future peace talks. The declaration states: "We believe that achieving peace requires the involvement of and dialogue between all parties." However, there is no clear agreement about a follow-up conference in the declaration. No date or location for a future summit with Russia is mentioned. Previously, several conference participants, including Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz, had called for Russia to be included in future conferences. Russia was not invited to the Swiss meeting, nor was China represented. The goal of the conference is to find common ground on an international level for possible peace talks between Ukraine and Russia.

15:02 Peace Summit Disagreement: Not All Participants Agree to the Declaration

The declaration of the peace summit in Switzerland is not supported by all participating countries. The document is only approved by 80 of the 93 participating countries. The UN Charter and the "respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty" are the basis for "a comprehensive, fair, and lasting peace in Ukraine," according to the declaration. It also deals with nuclear security, food security, and prisoner exchange. Among the countries that do not agree to the declaration are six countries from the G20 group of the world's most important economic powers: Brazil, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, India, and Indonesia. Additionally, Armenia, Bahrain, Thailand, Libya, the United Arab Emirates, Colombia, and the Vatican are not in agreement.

14:53 Union's Call for End of Welfare Payments for Ukrainians

The parliamentary spokesperson of the Union faction in the Bundestag, Thorsten Frei, calls for an end to welfare payments to Ukrainian refugees. "Welfare payments to the displaced persons set completely false incentives", says the CDU politician to Funke Media Group. While it is crucial for Ukraine in the face of the Russian attack that everything is at stake, many Ukrainian soldiers hid away here. The country needs not only weapons, but also soldiers, according to Frei. He also calls for changes in welfare payments for Ukrainian women: The urgency of aid for displaced persons is evident in the fact that the number of Ukrainian women looking for jobs in Germany is surprisingly low.

14:17 Russia Tries to Capture Village in South

Russia reports the capture of another village in the south of Ukraine. "The units of the Eastern Military District have liberated the settlement of Sagrine in the region of Zaporizhzhia and taken advantageous positions", the Russian Defense Ministry reports. Russia's army has been advancing primarily in the east of Ukraine for months, but without significant breakthroughs. Before the capture of Sagrine, it had announced the capture of three villages in the east, south, and north-east of Ukraine in the previous week. Russian troops had started an offensive in the north-east of Ukraine on May 10 and occupied several places before their advance was halted by reinforced Ukrainian troops.

13:50 Putin Not Excluding Talks with Ukraine

Russian media report that Russian President Vladimir Putin is not ruling out talks with Ukraine. However, guarantees are necessary to ensure the credibility of any potential negotiations, according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.Many observers view Putin's supposed offer as poisoned, intended to influence the conference in Switzerland.

13:23 Trubetskoy on Ways out of the War: "We're not talking about negotiations instead of war, but about negotiations to end the war"

While representatives from 92 countries are discussing a peace plan for Ukraine at the Burgenstock in Switzerland, fighting continues in the country being attacked by Russia. Ukrainian journalist Dennis Trubetskoy talks in an ntv interview about the remote chances of a negotiated solution and the positions of Zelensky and Putin: [

(Note: The last sentence is incomplete in the original text, so I cannot translate it accurately without additional context.)

12:49 Swiss-Ukraine Summit closing statement unlikely to receive unanimous support

The closing statement of the Ukraine conference in Switzerland is unlikely to receive unanimous support, according to Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer. Some countries have issues with the formulation of the statement, Nehammer told journalists at Bürgenstock. There is a desire for a follow-up conference on Ukraine. However, it is too early to say how the format will look. Additionally, it needs to be seen if Russia will be able to participate. Before the participation of a Russian delegation, there could be an interim conference, Nehammer added.

12:23 Putin's Arms Truce Offer: Ukrainian Soldiers Don't Want to "Play with the Beast"

Putin announced that Russia is ready for arms truce and peace talks with Ukraine under certain conditions. Kiev rejected the offer outright, as it sees it as a capitulation. But what do the soldiers, who risk their lives every day at the front, think about the Kremlin's offer?

12:02 Ukrainian Foreign Minister Praises Balanced Closing Statement of Ukraine Conference in SwitzerlandThe closing statement of the Ukraine conference in Switzerland is deemed "well-balanced" by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, speaking to reporters at Bürgenstock. The views of the Kiev administration were acknowledged. No alternate peace proposals were discussed during the summit. Ukraine will not allow Russia to communicate in a threatening manner.

11:23 British Intelligence Forecasts Additional $29 Billion Revenue for RussiaRecent tax hikes in Russia are likely to be utilized with considerable confidence to cover expanding financial obligations, such as the conflict in Ukraine, according to British intelligence. London anticipates the Kremlin to generate additional revenues of $29 billion in 2025 due to the increased corporate tax rate from 20 to 25 percent. Furthermore, new tax categories will be introduced, and the highest income tax rate will increase from 15 to 22 percent in the context of the new income tax system. "The increased tax burden for companies is likely to suppress future investments and the growth of non-military sectors," the British intelligence report states.

11:04 Peace Conference on Ukraine in Switzerland: Nuclear Security, Grain Exports, and Humanitarian Issues DiscussedThe participants of the international Ukraine conference in Switzerland have continued their discussions today. In larger groups, they are focusing on nuclear security, grain exports from Ukraine, and humanitarian issues like the fate of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia. Results from these areas are expected to be integrated into a closing statement. For the afternoon, press conferences are scheduled with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy among others at the end of the two-day meeting. The goal of the conference is to initiate a peace process, in which Russia is intended to be involved in the long term. Moscow has not been invited this time and has not expressed a desire to attend.

10:23 Historian Wehewski: Putin's "Marionette in Ukraine" Gives Perplexing "Interview"Historian Matthäus Wehewski from the Hannah-Arendt Institute for Totalitarianism Research finds it at best unsophisticated to believe that Putin is open to any form of compromise or negotiations. As an example, Wehewski refers to X, the head of the movement "Another Ukraine": "Putin's 'peace offering' phase 2 is an 'interview' with Viktor Medvedchuk, who is already in Putin's puppet boxes in Ukraine." In the interview published by the Kremlin propaganda outlet TASS, Medvedchuk spreads bewildering falsehoods, such as that Zelenskyy does not represent the interests of the Ukrainian people. He also states that the interests of Russia and the Ukrainian people are now "the liberation of Odessa and other cities." In addition, Medvedchuk repeats common Kreml narratives and speaks of a "complete denazification and demilitarization" of Ukraine. According to Historian Wehewski, the movement "Another Ukraine" consists of politicians from former pro-Russian parties in Ukraine. "Putin has already constructed an 'alternative' Ukrainian government, with which he intends to engage in 'negotiations' for the dismemberment and political/cultural subjugation of Ukraine. This strategy was used by Stalin in 1939/40 against the Baltic countries or Finland."

09:49 Swiss Conference Excludes Russia: "Scholz addresses the core issue"In Switzerland, state and government leaders are discussing methods to establish peace in Ukraine. A significant player is missing at the event. Russia remains absent from the conference. The reason is not that Moscow did not receive an invitation, explains NTV reporter Jürgen Weichert:

09:07 Ukraine Reports Severe Losses of Russian TroopsUkraine continues to report extremely high losses on the Russian side – not as high as in May after the start of the Kremlin troops' offensive at the new third front in the Kharkiv region. Within the past day, 1160 soldiers were reportedly eliminated. In addition, six infantry fighting vehicles and 58 artillery guns were destroyed. Tanks damaged were not reported according to the statements. The numbers cannot be independently verified.

Neither Ursula von der Leyen nor Volodymyr Selenskyj recognize Russia's willingness to end the war - without Ukraine's capitulation.

08:31 Ukraine Waits for Major Part of $61 Billion Aid Package from the USAAccording to the first deputy Ukrainian Defense Minister, General-Lieutenant Iwan Hawriljuk, Ukraine is still waiting for the largest part of the $61 billion support package from the USA. However, a limited amount has reached the country and has alleviated the shortage of artillery ammunition. The advantage of Russian forces in available projectiles is said to have decreased from seven to five to one. Until sufficient Western aid has arrived to have a significant impact on the battlefield, it will probably still take some weeks or months, Hawriljuk says.

07:53 Ukraine's Coal Power Plants Building "Frankenstein Units" according to Dmytro Sakharuk from Ukrainian energy conglomerate DTEK, the capacity of coal power plants has decreased from 5 Gigawatts to 500 Megawatts due to Russian attacks. For the upcoming heating season, this is disastrous. Ukraine is trying to reassemble the power plants as best as possible to restore some capacity. However, this requires parts like turbines or generators, which are not easy to acquire. "This year there could be at least a short-term solution. We might get material from power plants built in countries like Poland, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Romania, and Greece," Sakharuk said in an interview with ntv.de. "This is the quickest way to restore at least some of our electricity generation capacity. Of course, the material doesn't always fit. Our power plant blocks will be Frankenstein units."

23:23 Activists allege Russia renames abducted childrenUkrainian human rights activists allege that Russia is indoctrinating abducted children from Ukraine. According to Mykola Kuleba, head of the charitable organization Save Ukraine, the children are forbidden to speak Ukrainian or show any Ukrainian symbols. They are strictly punished if they refuse to sing the Russian anthem. Furthermore, the Russian authorities are said to be changing the names and birthdates of these children. Save Ukraine has so far rescued 373 children, notes Kuleba, many of whom show signs of trauma. The Ukrainian government asserts that over 20,000 children have been abducted since the start of the war. Russia, however, denies these allegations and claims to have brought children to safety from the war zone.

00:54 Zelenskyy: Russia fires 3,5k rockets at civilian targets every monthUkrainian President Zelenskyy states that Russia fires approximately 3,5k rockets at civilian targets and Ukrainian infrastructure every month. He says these rockets are aimed exclusively at civilian targets to force people to evacuate cities and villages, paving the way for Russian occupation. Russia is falsely claiming to target only military objectives, asserts Zelenskyy.

01:28 Prepare for emergencies: Latvia practices crisis responsesLatvia held a nationwide civil defense information day titled "Armed with Knowledge." In 14 cities and municipalities, the population learned how to act in crisis situations. Topics covered included first aid, setting up emergency supplies, and handling explosive objects, radiation, or chemical hazards. The aim is to strengthen civil defense in light of Russia's aggressive war in Ukraine. Defense Minister Andris Spruds emphasized the importance of informing the public about how to act in emergency situations.

02:50 A lasting peace calls for restoring Ukraine's territorial integrity: von der LeyenAt the Ukraine summit in Switzerland, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen voiced her opposition to freezing the conflict while foreign troops occupy Ukrainian territory. She stated, "A frozen conflict today, with foreign troops occupying Ukrainian land, is not a solution. It's a recipe for future attacks." Instead, the summit attendees should work towards a comprehensive, fair, and sustainable peace for Ukraine, restoring its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

03:55 Biden skips Ukraine summit for a Hollywood galaDespite being near the Ukraine summit in Switzerland following the G7 summit in Italy, US President Biden chose to return to the US to attend a fundraising gala with celebrities such as Julia Roberts and George Clooney. In his place, US Vice President Kamala Harris represented the US at the Ukraine summit.

05:24 Stübgen agrees with Bavarian colleague's demand to withdraw citizens' benefits for Ukrainian refugees in GermanyThe Chairman of the Interior Minister Conference, Brandenburg's Interior Minister Michael Stübgen, concurred with his Bavarian colleague's stance on denying citizens' benefits to Ukrainian refugees in Germany. Stübgen argued, "We cannot claim to support Ukraine while feeding flag-fleeing Ukrainians." He further asserted that providing immediate citizens' benefits to refugees from Ukraine has proven to be a mistake, creating a barrier for employment. The federal government should consider a policy change.

06:07 Counterattack successful? Ukrainians claim capture of Russian positions in Serebryansky ForestAccording to the Ukrainian Asov Brigade, Russian invaders have lost positions in the Serebryansky Forest. Swjatoslaw Palamar, deputy commander of the 12th Brigade of the Azov National Guard, shared this information on social media. Nasar Voloshyn, a spokesperson for the Chortyzja grouping, also confirmed the advance: "Our defensive forces are storming the enemy's positions and pushing back Russian defensive lines and firing positions. We are also conducting counterattacks, seizing their firing positions on tactical levels and driving them out of their lines." The military-affiliated Deepstate channel also reported on these advances, with the frontline in the Luhansk region being located in the Serebryansky Forest.

06:54 Intensified activity in Wremiwka sector: Ukrainian General Staff reports storm attacks by Russian forcesAs per the Ukrainian General Staff, Russian forces have tripled their activity in the Wremiwka sector, located between the cities of Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia. The Russian forces have reportedly stormed the frontlines in the areas of Vodyane, Uroschajne, and Staromayorsk ten times. The situation is reportedly tense, and measures are being taken to stabilize it.

07:32 Germany not sufficiently prepared against hybrid threats: cybersecurity expertChristian Dörre, a cybersecurity expert based at the Hasso-Plattner-Institute (HPI) in Potsdam, views Germany as inadequately prepared to protect against foreign disinformation campaigns and cyberattacks. He asserts, "When it comes to hybrid threats, we are unfortunately not well prepared." The past two years of the Ukraine conflict have shown how unprepared societies can be as society faced disinformation, fake news, and attacks on infrastructure in Ukraine.

Eastern Ukraine: Civilians met with tragic outcomes due to Russian shrapnelAs stated by Ukrainian investigators, the east of the nation has seen innocent individuals lose their lives and sustain injuries as a result of Russian shrapnel. The Prosecutor's Office in Donetsk shares that Russian forces fired multiple rocket launchers fitted with shrapnel at the village of Ulakly in Wolnowacha district. A residential zone was struck by the multiple rocket launchers, causing the deaths of two men and a woman, and injuring an additional five civilians.

Sunak lambasts Russia's supporters and alliesBritish Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has criticized the supporters and allies of Russia, asserting that they are aligning themselves with the aggressor and perpetrating an error by doing so. At the peace conference in Switzerland, Sunak allegedly stated, "They are siding with the aggressor - and on the wrong side of history." Additionally, he noted that individuals who support Russia by supplying weapons or components for such weapons should ponder over this very peace conference and reflect on atrocities such as Bucha, Mariupol, and Kharkiv. Sunak believes that Putin doesn't seek genuine peace. Russian President Vladimir Putin, however, has been alleged to make false claims about his desire to negotiate, according to Sunak.

Saudi Arabia deems Russian involvement crucial for credible peace talksSaudi Arabia has expressed that for credible peace talks to occur, the participation of Russia will be essential. Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud expressed this sentiment at the Ukraine conference in Switzerland, stating that a peace plan would necessitate "difficult compromises." Saudi Arabia is being recognized as a top contender to host a subsequent conference.

Ukrainian military records successes on the Eastern FrontThe Ukrainian military has reported successes in the Klischtschijiwka and Serebrjansker Wald regions on the Eastern Front. Official reports suggest that Russian forces have been forced to vacate their positions, according to the Ukrainian army's Telegram page. The 12th Special Brigade Asow contributing to this success; its deputy commander, Sviatoslav Palamar, announced on Facebook that the Russian forces had lost their positions in the Serebrjansker Wald area.

Continuing attacks near Vovchansk despite international peace endeavorsRussian forces record several attacks on various frontlines despite persistent efforts by the international community for peace in Ukraine. The General Staff in Kiev reports additional attacks close to Vovchansk, supported by the Russian air force. Strong advances were also observed in the Pokrovsk region in southeastern Ukraine, with approximately one third of the 74 Russian attacks of the day occurring there. The attacks were reportedly repelled.

Scholz advocates for Russia's inclusion in the Ukraine peace processGerman Chancellor Olaf Scholz stresses the need for Russia to be part of the peace process for Ukraine. "It is true that peace in Ukraine cannot be attained without Russia being involved," Scholz asserted at the peace conference in Switzerland. Simultaneously, Scholz emphasizes the necessity for a full withdrawal of Russia from the partially occupied Ukraine. "Russia is in a position to end this war today or at any given time if it ceases its attacks and withdraws its troops from Ukraine," Scholz stated.