German-French tank maker eyes Ukraine for new production facility

A Franco-German tank manufacturer is planning to establish a production facility in Ukraine.

The German-French tank manufacturer KNDS is planning to establish a plant in Ukraine for the manufacturing of weapons and ammunition. Their CEO, Philippe Petitcollin, signed an agreement in Paris in the presence of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Though the specific details on the investment amount and the type of production have yet to be disclosed.

Putin dismisses any notion of a nuclear strike from Russia and insists that a nuclear weapon will only be utilized in extreme circumstances. He made this statement at the International Economic Forum in St. Petersburg. Furthermore, Putin mentioned that the Russian nuclear doctrine is a "living instrument" that could change depending on the scenario. In the ongoing war against Ukraine, Russia has previously tried to intimidate Western countries from supporting Ukraine by highlighting its nuclear capabilities.

French President Emmanuel Macron advocates for the swift formation of a coalition in order to send Western military advisers to Ukraine. He plans to create a coalition and hopes that "efficiency will be achieved" by having several partners on board.

A Russian-Ukrainian man is currently under investigation by the French anti-terrorist prosecutor's office on suspicion of being involved in attack plans. The 26-year-old had recently been in France and tragically injured himself severely while making explosives at a hotel in Roissy near the Paris Charles de Gaulle airport. The Donbass native reportedly took on Russian citizenship a few years ago and participated in pro-Russian activities. He supposedly fought in the Russian army about two years ago. According to security circles, he could be a Russian spy who was interested in French military materials intended for Ukraine.

The US government intends to pursue a more "competitive" nuclear weapons strategy moving forward due to a lack of cooperation with countries such as Russia or North Korea. The US will look to enhance its nuclear capabilities if necessary, with Joseph R. Biden Jr. stating, "Without a change in course by Russia, China, and North Korea, the United States must adapt its approach and capabilities to ensure its ability to deter and achieve other goals in the future." More details can be found here.

Sweden finally participates in the air surveillance under the NATO command after announcing its NATO membership three months earlier. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson declared that their fighter jets will be employed in the "NATO Air Policing" primarily over the Baltic Sea. He emphasized that Sweden has always been determined to be an "active NATO member," and "the journey can really begin" now.

A French political expert in Russia, Laurent Vinatier, has been placed in pre-trial detention a day after being arrested in Moscow. He faces charges of collecting military information and not registering as a "foreign agent." The Russian authorities employ this 'foreign agent' law to target critics and track them. Vinatier potentially faces up to five years in prison if convicted.

In Ukraine, severe power cut issues have occurred because Russia has been continuously targeting the energy infrastructure for months. The state electricity provider Ukrenergo states that " consumption restrictions will be in place throughout the day." This step is necessary to ensure crucial infrastructure facilities and companies can operate. The Kiev city administration reported that only 75 percent of the power consumption of the capital will be covered today. Already the day before, power was cut off for three hours in certain regions.

After the French announcement of delivering Mirage jet fighters to Ukraine, the Kremlin expresses their criticism. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov remarks that these statements are highly "provocative," and that " President Macron is demonstrating total support for the Kiev regime and readiness for direct involvement in the armed conflict." French President Macron had disclosed during a televised interview that he would transfer a few Mirage fighter planes to the Ukraine. He skirted around the topic of whether or not France would send military instructors to the Ukraine, suggesting that the Ukraine authorities were requesting instructors in their country and that this would not constitute an escalation.

The Kremlin's leader Putin warns he might provide weapons to adversaries of the West if Ukraine utilizes Western arms against Russia. Putin's speech at the International Economic Forum in St. Petersburg fails to name any specific countries or entities involved. He ponders, "If they send weapons to the conflict zone and request these weapons be used against our land, why shouldn't we have similar rights?" Meanwhile, Moscow claims not to supply arms to nations against the West presently.

17:30 Berlin: Answers Regarding Russian Assets Still Pending at G7 Summit.

Germany anticipates advancement on utilizing frozen Russian assets for Ukraine during the impending G7 summit in Italy yet has not decided on the matter. A German representative notes they'll discuss transforming a solitary digit billion euro interest in a twofold digit sum for Ukraine. Additionally, G7 finance ministers have come to a similar conclusion. Nonetheless, the EU states within the G7, such as Germany, France, and Italy, must likewise concur. "I suspect there won't be a definitive arrangement," he says.

17:00 Zelensky Grateful for French Fighter Jets

Ukrainian President Zelensky thanks France for planning the transfer of Mirage fighter jets, used to counter the Russian hostile offensive action. "Your jets, your extraordinary jets, will be flown by Ukrainian pilots to demonstrate that Europe is more grounded, that Europe is more grounded than the Malice that dared to fear it," stated Zelensky at the French parliament. The day preceding, French President Macron declared the handover of Mirage 2000-5 warrior jets to Ukraine. These fighters are additionally viable for the French-British rockets of the type Scalp/Storm Shadow.

16:26 Ukrainian Governor Challenges Moscow: Luhansk Attack Aimed at Military Sites.

There are conflicting reports with respect to a greater Ukrainian attack on the Russian-occupied city of Luhansk. The Ukrainian representative of Luhansk, Artem Lyssohor, effectuates the attack targeted military offices and stores at the site of the previous aviation training school in the city's eastern region as well as a gas store. None of this can be affirmed at the present time. The Russian military asserts it intercepted four of the five rockets utilized. This cannot be authenticated freely. The Russian Protection Service guarantees the Ukrainian armed force intentionally assaulted common zones in Luhansk.

16:00 Putin: Decrease Russian Dependence on the West

Russian President Putin desires to diminish his nation's reliance on the West. Russia will decrease its imports, expand the usage of non-Western monetary forms in exchange, and drastically develop residential money markets, he told the International Economic Forum in St. Petersburg. Russia is as of now building up exchange with Asia, and almost 40% of Russian remote exchange is currently managed in rubles. Be that as it may, exchange in US dollars, euros, and different Western monetary forms is declining. Russia plans to expand the share of exchanges in the monetary forms of the BRICS nations. The gathering of creating economies includes nations like Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS). "Last year, the share of exchanges for Russian fares in these 'poisonous' monetary forms from discourteous nations was cut in half," Putin said, alluding primarily to predominantly Western nations which leveled sanctions against Russia due to its ambush in Ukraine.

15:45 Russians Reveal Capture of Another Village.

The Russian armed force has purportedly caught another town in the eastern Ukrainian locale of Donetsk. "Elements of the southern military gathering have upgraded their positions along the front line and freed the settlement of Paraskoviyiwka," the Russian Protection Service said in Moscow. The settlement is found around 25 kilometers southwest of the city of Donetsk, which Moscow effectively caught in 2022. After a protracted interruption, the Russian powers have recently asserted catching loads of settlements this year.

15:31 Stoltenberg: Ukraine Can Assault Military Targets in Russia.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg says Ukraine has the right to assault military focuses in Russia under global law for self-protection. "Ukraine has the right to self-assurance." This incorporates focusing on legitimate military focuses on the area of the aggressor, Russia.

15:00 Paris Meeting: Biden Proposes Million-Dollar Military Help to Ukraine

US President Joe Biden has reported a new military help bundle for Ukraine worth $225 million (€207 million). During a meeting in Paris, he illuminated Ukrainian Chief Volodymyr Zelenskyy regarding this. They're both on multi-day visits to France right now. As indicated by the US Defense Department, the new arrangement incorporates rockets for Hostile to Aircraft Rockets frameworks, projectile HIMARS launcher ammunition, Stinger hostile to air defense rockets, and artillery ammunition with calibers of 155 and 105 millimeters. The United States are just worried about solidifying Ukraine's air safeguard and giving it ammunition after a more extended supply break.

Moscow Blames Ukraine for Deadly Air Attack on Luhansk

Russia claims that Ukraine launched an air strike on the eastern Ukrainian city of Luhansk from Kiev, resulting in the deaths of four people and injuring over 40, including four children. The Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations reports that a residential building was partially destroyed. According to Russian-occupied authorities, "Ukrainian nationalists" were responsible for the "massive rocket attack on the civilian infrastructure of Luhansk." Six rockets were fired, says Leonid Pasetschnik, the head of the region. Russian forces intercepted four of the missiles, while the fifth struck two residential buildings. More information can be found here.

14:24: Germany Needs More Troops for NATO Plans

"Spiegel" magazine reveals that Germany requires an additional 75,000 soldiers due to overworked NATO plans. The alliance agreed to these plans during the Vilnius summit last year, outlining their potential response to a possible Russian attack. The German Defense Ministry had not issued a statement at the time of publication. Currently, the Bundeswehr consists of 180,000 soldiers and 80,000 civilian employees.

13:50: Ukraine Meets Requirements for EU Membership Talks

Both Ukraine and Moldova are considered to have met the requirements for negotiations on joining the European Union, according to a preliminary assessment by the EU Commission. Diplomats say the assessment was shared with EU member state representatives. Ukraine resolved all remaining issues in March, including measures to protect national minorities and limit the political influence of oligarchs. Germany had already stated that Ukraine had met the conditions for beginning EU accession talks. Read more here.

13:20: Biden Apologizes to Zelensky for Delay in US Arms Shipments

During a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Paris, US President Joe Biden apologizes for the months-long delay in US arms shipments to Ukraine. He also asks for forgiveness for the uncertainty surrounding further support. Biden acknowledges that some conservative lawmakers in the US had held up the bill in parliament but claims the problem has now been resolved. The US President affirms that the US will not abandon Ukraine, which is considered a barrier against Russian aggression, and the US has a responsibility to support Kiev.

12:50: Russia Points Finger at US for Deaths of Russian Civilians

Russia holds the US responsible for the deaths of women and children in Russia due to arms shipments to Ukraine. The Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Maria Zakharova, accuses the US of giving "permission" for Ukraine to attack military targets in Russia with US-provided weapons. The spokeswoman refers to fragments of HIMARS rockets used in these attacks as evidence. President Putin had previously warned that the West was risking a global conflict by allowing Ukraine to fire weapons supplied by them on Russian territory.

12:11: Mölling: Instruction Allows Immediate Success for Ukraine

Security expert Christian Mölling sees immediate success in the decision that Ukraine can now target military targets in Russia with Western weapons. Ukraine has had success in pushing back Russian forces, securing the region of Kharkiv, and regaining positions. Mölling suggests that the question of who bears responsibility for the casualties and infrastructure damage should be considered, as allowing attacks on military targets could halt the aggressor's ability to prepare and launch attacks in safer locations.

11:44: Zelensky: "Hitler Crossed Border After Border. Putin Is Doing the Same"

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says Russian President Vladimir Putin is repeating the actions of Hitler, who also crossed borders. Zelensky warns that Putin is continuing the trend of invasion and aggression, emphasizing the risk of a global conflict. Putin has escalated the conflict in Ukraine by launching attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure. The conflict is now a test for the international community, which must choose whether to stand by and watch or take decisive action. Read more here.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy issued a warning about the growing Russian war. In a speech to the French National Assembly, he compared it to how Adolf Hitler expanded his conquests in the 1930s. "Putin is doing the same," Zelenskyy said. "We can already see how aggression is spreading to the Baltic States, Poland, and the Balkans." He added that the Russian leadership would "find a way to destabilize Europe."

Russian President Vladimir Putin is using outdated weapons like sea blockades and mass kidnappings to re-educate children, Zelenskyy explained. The Ukrainian leader also suggested that Russia is trying to scare the entire world.

A US soldier is on trial in Russia. Gordon Black, 34, traveled to Vladivostok to visit his partner but was subsequently arrested for stealing from her. If convicted, he faces up to five years in prison. This case adds more tension to the already strained relations between the US and Russia, as Russia holds several Americans including Paul Whelan, who is accused of spying, and Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich. The US claims these men are being held illegally.

Russian authorities are accusing Ukraine of shooting US rockets at civilian targets on Russian territory. Maria Zakharova, a Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, claims responsibility for the deaths of women and children in the Belgorod region. Remnants of the HIMARS rockets will be used as evidence.

Ukraine is suing the former Russian General Oleg Makarevich for premeditated murder and violations of the laws of war. He was once the commander of the Dnipro Group and is accused of ordering the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam on June 6, 2023, causing a massive humanitarian and ecological disaster. The general could face a life sentence if arrested and convicted.

In many areas of Ukraine, air raid alarms have been activated. Russian air raids are targeting Odessa and Kiev, with the situation in Donetsk being particularly tense. The training of pilots for the promised combat aircraft is stalling.

Ukrainian authorities claim to have intercepted all five rockets fired by Russia overnight. They have also shot down 48 of the 53 drones launched. The rockets were fired in the Kiev region, and the drones attacked the regions of Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, South Odessa, and Kherson. No one was injured.

Historian Heinrich August Winkler believes that Germany's strict adherence to the debt brake is a security threat. "If there were a worsening in Ukraine, it would be disastrous if we had to say: We saved the debt brake and lost Ukraine. This would be dangerous for European peace and the freedom of European democracies," he warned in the "Sueddeutsche Zeitung." Winkler suggests that despite not being invited, Russia could potentially be present in a future conference.

Swiss President Viola Amherd expects the Ukraine peace conference being organized by Switzerland in mid-June to be a starting point for further negotiations. She doesn't think they'll sign a peace agreement at the end of the conference due to Russia's non-participation. "In a possible follow-up conference, Russia could then also be present," Amherd told the "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung." She also mentioned that more than 80 countries have confirmed their participation, including Germany with Chancellor Olaf Scholz. However, Russia has rejected any invitations to participate.

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Many German firms in Ukraine want to persist with their investments in the East European nation, ignoring the ongoing war. A poll by the German-Ukrainian Industry and Trade Chamber (AHK Ukraine) revealed that 43% of companies plan to keep their engagement, while only 8% are considering divestment. 142 firms were surveyed by KPMG. For these organizations to expand their business activities, they need political and economic stability, public funding, and guarantees. About 42% anticipate an improving economic situation in Ukraine in the following twelve months, while 48% envision no change, and 10% predict a decline.

07:02 Haunting the Criminals - Human Rights Groups Plead with the International Criminal Court

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 instigating hate crimes against Ukrainians. The human rights organizations have targeted five renowned Russian propagandists, Vladimir Solovyov, Margarita Simonyan, Dmitry Kiselyov, Sergiy Mardar, Dmitry Medvedev, and Alexei Gromov, the first deputy head of the Russian Presidential Administration. All of them have "definitely incite violence," said the Center for Civil Liberties. The International Criminal Court formerly issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova for the abduction of Ukrainian children to Russia.

06:31 Putin Swears to Construct Russia's War Economy for Ages

Russian President Vladimir Putin has vowed to nurture Russia's war economy for decades following over two years of his war against Ukraine. Putin has sanctioned a list of instructions for the development of the defense industry to produce more weapons and ammunition, according to the first deputy prime minister Denis Manturov at the 27th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF). During an event devoted to defense concerns, attendees emphasized that Russia manufactures weapons and ammunition faster and at a fourth of the price in the West. The nation is gearing up for a long-term war economy, they mentioned. The number of companies - even in the private sector - has escalated in the past two years of hostilities. "There are now more than 850 of them," said Manturov. "Today, the military-industrial complex is the engine of the economy," comments economist Pyotr Fradkov, chairman of Promsvyazbank, amidst major corporate deals.

05:59 NATO Allies Disappointed with Germany

The German government is sparking frustration within NATO because it does not want to classify a new aid project for Ukraine as a mission. As diplomatic sources report, German arguments against the use of the term "NATO Mission Ukraine" (NMU) are considered consideration for Russia and baffling by almost all other allies. The German government claims that the name "NATO Mission Ukraine" could be erroneously interpreted as if the alliance were deploying soldiers to Ukraine. Therefore, it seeks to avoid the term to prevent it from being employed by Russia for anti-alliance propaganda. However, supporters of using the term mission contend that Russia would denounce the initiative as aggression and utilize it for misinformation campaigns. The bewilderment over Germany's stance is exacerbated as they support the project in essence, according to their assertions.

05:10 Russia Expert on Ukraine Conference: "Quite Puzzling" that Biden doesn't come

Russia expert Gerhard Mangott perceives the upcoming Ukraine conference in Switzerland as devalued due to the absence of influential nations. The expected absence of countries like China, Brazil, or South Africa signifies a blemish, says the political scientist at the University of Innsbruck. It is momentous that even prior to the anticipated meeting, talks of a follow-up conference are being mooted as the major target. "Typically, announcements of a follow-up conference are made before the commencement of the scheduled conference, implying that little is expected of the present one." Ukraine experiences immense frustration over the anticipated absence of countries like the US, which will only be represented by Vice President Kamala Harris and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. "It's quite puzzling why US President Joe Biden has opted against participating," states Mangott.

03:02 Russia bombs with drones and cruise missiles

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Throughout most of Ukraine, an air alert is activated at night, with exceptions being regions in the west of the country. The air force reports that drones have been dispatched from the Black Sea towards Odessa. Furthermore, cruise missiles have been shot down.

01:55 America Preparing Additional Military Aid Package for Ukraine

The USA will supply Ukraine with an additional military aid bundle costing approximately $225 million. The new package encompasses ammunition that can be used against targets beyond the country's border to safeguard the city of Kharkiv from a fierce Russian attack. It is projected to encompass ammunition for the HIMARS system, mortar systems, and a range of artillery shells. US President Joe Biden is expected to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Paris today.

00:54 Intermittent power outages in various localities

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Despite the ongoing seizure of Ukrainian territory by Russian troops, some lights continue to flicker across the nation. In various regions, power outages have occurred.

The Ukrainian power grid operator, Ukrenergo, has announced power outages in 12 different regions of the country. Places like Lviv and Zakarpattia in the west, Kiev and its area, Odessa in the south, Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia further east are some of the regions that have been affected. The cause of these power outages is said to be the consumption limits being exceeded. Additionally, critical infrastructure facilities could potentially be impacted too. Due to Russian attacks on power supply facilities, the overall power generation capacity of Ukraine has been decreased significantly.

At 10:30pm, the USA announces visa restrictions on some Georgians following the passage of the "foreign influence law" in the country. People like members of the powerful Georgian Dream party, politicians, and security service members, along with their relatives will no longer be allowed to enter the States. The news was previously announced by the State Department. The US-Georgia relations are also under review. Protests against the law have been going on in Georgia for weeks, trying to prevent its implementation. This law has similarities to the 2012 Russian law on "foreign agents," which gives Russian authorities immense power to suppress government-critical media and organizations.

At 9:13pm, a Russian governor, Yevhen Balizkyi, indicates that occupied territories in Ukraine might soon become a federal district. The state Russian media outlet, RIA Novosti, is the source of this information. In 2014, Russia illegally annexed Crimea and seized parts of the Ukrainian Donbass region. With the start of full-scale war in February 2022, Russia occupied regions such as Kherson, Donetsk, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia as well.

At 8:22pm, Ukrenergo, the power grid operator, has decided to cut power in Kyiv and other parts of Ukraine in the evening. This information was shared on Facebook by Ukrenergo. The power outage affects personal homes and industrial organizations in the regions of Volhynia, Donetsk, Zhytomyr, Transcarpathia, Zaporizhzhia, Lviv, Mykolaiv, Kirovohrad, Odessa, Rivne, Kharkiv, and the area of Kyiv.

At 7:47pm, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to speak in the Bundestag on Tuesday. He might be travelling to Berlin on the same day for the reconstruction conference for Ukraine that is being organized by the German Foreign Office. This will not be his first visit to Berlin since the start of the war, but it will be his first time addressing the Bundestag in person. To make this possible, the German parliamentarians would have to convene for a special session.

At 7:36pm, French President Emmanuel Macron shares that France is transferring Mirage-2000 fighter jets to Ukraine. "These jets enable Ukraine to defend its land and airspace," says the French leader in an interview with French TV broadcasters. He also announces the training of 4,500 Ukrainian soldiers.

At 6:47pm, Zelenskyy reflects on the anniversary of the dam collapse in southern Ukraine. "A year ago, Russian invaders destroyed the dam and buildings of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant," the Ukrainian head of state shares on social media. According to him, this act constitutes one of the largest environmental crimes committed by Russia. The disaster caused by the dam burst left thousands of people affected, with immediate consequences felt by the neighboring countries of the Black Sea region.

All previous events can be found here.