16:07: Russia and Iran boost collaboration

At 16:07, Russia and Iran deepen their partnership.

Russian and Iranian foreign ministers have confirmed the significant relationship between the two nations following the passing of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi. This was revealed by the Russian Foreign Ministry upon a phone call between Minister Sergei Lavrov and interim Iranian counterpart Ali Bagheri-Kani. The path mapped out by Presidents Vladimir Putin and Raisi for a strategic partnership will persist, as per the ministers, and all prior agreements and initiatives in various sectors should proceed.

3:46 PM: Italian Banks Must Exit RussiaItalian central bank governor Fabio Panetta has persuaded the nation's banks to back out of Russia. While this could lead to complexities, the ECB banker remarked in the wake of the G7 finance meeting in Stresa, "You have to leave due to the reputation issue." UniCredit has the most extensive connection to Russia among European banks, followed by Intesa Sanpaolo, which is currently working on selling its business in the country.

3:22 PM: Media Report: Russian Troops Advance Deeper in DonetskRussian troops have reportedly captured the village of Archangelske in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk, as per a report by Interfax, quoting the Russian Defense Ministry. They also progressed in the northeastern region of Kharkiv and fended off two Ukrainian counterattacks, the ministry claimed. At this point, the Ukrainian government has not issued a statement.

3:09 PM: Russian Finance Minister Warns of Retaliation for SanctionsRussian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov has indicated a response if G7 countries intend to use seized Russian assets to aid Ukraine. This was noted by the Russian news agency TASS, citing Siluanov's comment on the Telegram channel of Rossija-1 journalist Pavel Zarubin on Saturday, "We will respond with mirror measures if our assets are misused by Western countries."

2:41 PM: G7 Countries Plan to Continue Financially Backing UkraineG7 countries intend to persist in providing financial support for Ukraine. "We are behind Ukraine," said German Finance Minister Christian Lindner on Saturday at the conclusion of the G7 meeting in northern Italy's Stresa (see entry 12:51). For the current year, financing has already been secured. "We want to go further." This involves exploring new avenues in 2025.

2:06 PM: Paris Wants to Renaming a Street After NavalnyParis intends to designate a street in honor of Alexei Navalny, the well-known Kremlin antagonist. A senator shared this yesterday, declaring, "Navalny has become a symbol of freedom, not only in Russia but also beyond Russia." The city council unanimously approved the rechristening. The future Navalny Street is anticipated to be situated in the upmarket 16th arrondissement of Paris - near the Russian embassy. In February, Navalny died in custody, having repeatedly condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

1:47 PM: Ukraine Probes Own Brigade Over Charkiv Region DefenseUkrainian investigators have launched a criminal inquiry into the 125th Brigade, which was stationed to defend the Charkiv region in early May. On May 10, Russia initiated a new offensive in the northeastern Ukrainian area, advancing up to 10 kilometers into the region. An interim investigation disclosed that the brigade had not adequately coordinated the defense of their positions and accused it of a careless attitude toward military service. Twenty-nine commanders are targeted for inquiries, although no penalty has been specified.

12:51 PM: Lindner: Ukraine Aid Doesn't Come at Taxpayers' ExpenseIn the campaign for further financial assistance for Ukraine, German Finance Minister Christian Lindner anticipates an ongoing effort by the G7. "The risks for taxpayers must be nullified," he told a gathering of G7 finance ministers in northern Italy. The principal Western industrialized countries aspire to use the frozen billions of Russia's central bank to bolster Ukraine. Despite the controversy regarding the execution of this plan, there is a plan for a comprehensive agreement when the G7 heads of state assemble in Apulia mid-June.

12:17 PM: Ex-Russian Ambassador to NATO Threatens Due to Ukrainian Radar System AttackUkraine is purported to have inflicted damage on a Russian system for early-warning radar of nuclear missiles via a drone assault. Former Russian ambassador to NATO, Dmitri Rogosin, responds to this system: "This is a crucial factor in the military control of strategic nuclear forces." Rogosin, now a senator in the Federation Council, blames the United States for perpetrating or having knowledge of this attack. Such actions relocate the world closer to the brink of a nuclear war.

11:48 AM: Ukrainian Intelligence Chief Budanov: Unmanned Ships Define the FutureAccording to Kyrylo Budanov, head of the Ukrainian military intelligence service, Ukraine is now developing its fleet of unmanned ships. The aim is to allow these unmanned ships to attack shores and target airborne objectives. Budanov foresees unmanned ships completely dominating conventional warships in the future. This applies to partially enclosed or enclosed waters like the Black Sea or Mediterranean Sea, where these unmanned ships are "the course for the future."

11:17 AM GMT: Putin Intends to "Purposefully Spark Doubt" in the Baltic Sea

A planned law of Russia's Defense Ministry is causing unease among defense policy specialists around the Baltic region. As reported by "The Moscow Times," Russia implies extending its territorial waters in the Baltic Sea. Security analyst Gerhard Mangott examines the development.

10:55 AM GMT: Russian Iskander Missiles Strike Targets in Kharkiv at Night

Reports from the Kharkiv prosecutor's office state that Russian forces assailed the city overnight with two Iskander missiles. Iskander-M is a system whose missiles can fly 500 kilometers and also bear nuclear warheads. This weapon's trajectory is quite adaptable, which makes Iskander challenging to intercept. The missiles reportedly damaged a school and a residential building.

10:04 AM GMT: Stoltenberg Promotes Lifting Restrictions on Western Weapons Deployment

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has entered the discussion on utilizing Western weaponry against Russian military objectives. yesteryear he intimated to "The Economist," it's time for allies to reconsider enforcing some of the limitations on weapons they have allocated to Ukraine, primarily now that conflicts are escalating near the Kharkiv border. Stoltenberg highlighted self-defense as "foundational in the UN Charter" and legal and appropriate. "We're aiding Ukraine uphold this right, and that includes the chance of obliterating targets on Russian territory."

09:24 AM GMT: Ukraine Allegedly Strikes Russian Radar Station with Drones

There are unofficial accounts indicating that Ukrainian drones took out a significant radar station in the Russian area of Krasnodar. The station is part of Russia's early warning system for ballistic missile launches and launches of missiles bearing nuclear warheads. Independent strategic analysts from OSINT (Open-Source Intelligence) attribute the radar station to covering a zone of up to 6,000 kilometers.

08:42 AM GMT: US Analysts Prospect Ceasefire Risky for Ukraine

Russian President Putin openly discusses a ceasefire - but subject to present territorial gains. This could be perilous for Ukraine, according to the US think tank Institute for the Study of War (ISW). A ceasefire could enable Russia to refine forces tailored for the subsequent sequence of offensive operations, aiming for a regime shift, the demilitarization of Ukraine, and the appropriation of the state. The Kremlin might speculate that a frozen battlefield would lessen Western backing for Ukraine, rendering it less crucial.

08:11 AM GMT: CDU Politician Kiesewetter Urges Financial Aid Suspension due to Ukraine War

CDU foreign policy expert Roderich Kiesewetter has entreatied the government to announce a national state of emergency due to the Ukraine war. "The war can only be won with debt," declares Kiesewetter to "Spiegel." Ukraine critically needs assistance. It's mind-boggling why the government has declared the Corona pandemic a state of emergency to finance a price cap on power and gas bill of 200 billion euros, but the war fails to reach the criteria for a state of emergency. By declaring a state of emergency, the stringent limitations of the debt brake enshrined in the Basic Law could be circumvented. Nevertheless, the FDP resists such a move as part of the traffic light coalition.

07:56 AM GMT: Zelensky Commends Successful Kharkiv Ukrainian Troops

The US is organizing another military bundle worth millions for the beleaguered Ukraine. As well, another air defense system has arrived from Germany. Zelensky himself broadcasts the success of his troops in a video.

07:23 AM GMT: Ukrainian General Staff Notifies 500,000 Russian Losses

The Ukrainian General Staff confirms 500,080 casualties for the Russian side since Russia initiated the full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022. In the preceding 24 hours, 1140 losses were accumulated. Russia is currently exerting tremendous pressure against Ukrainian defenders on various front lines and at the detriment of a great many lives on their own side. The Ukrainians have also identified 15 destroyed Russian tanks, 27 artillery systems, one air defense system, and two multiple rocket launchers since the day before.

07:07 AM GMT: First Ukrainian F-16 Pilots Nearly Ready for Combat

The first group of Ukrainian F-16 pilots has concluded their training in the United States and will shortly journey to Europe for further training. It took almost a year for pilots and ground personnel to complete their education. They are supposed to be prepared to undertake airborne missions against Russian airpower in the summer. The Ukrainian Air Force anticipates receiving more than 60 F-16s from Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Belgium. These countries, together with the United States, Britain, Romania, France, and Bulgaria, have mobilized members, aircraft, and ground installations to instruct the Ukrainians in operating and sustaining the combat plane.

The Ukrainians have ceased utilizing several US-made weapons due to a significant reduction in their accuracy. The "Washington Post" reported that this includes GPS-guided weapons such as Excalibur artillery shells and HIMARS systems, whose guidance is impeded by Russian jamming devices. The effectiveness of the US-developed Excalibur shells has reportedly plummeted to less than 10%, with only a select few managing to hit their intended targets. As a result, the US has reportedly stopped providing Excalibur to Ukraine. To carry out HIMARS attacks, it is first necessary to disable the enemy's jamming devices, for instance, through smoke munitions assaults.

04:34 Stoltenberg: China's assistance for Russia critical to Ukraine conflict

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg claims that China's support for Moscow in the European war of aggression is "decisive." Stoltenberg asserted to the "Welt am Sonntag" that China is attempting to maintain friendly relations with the West while simultaneously escalating the conflict in Europe. China has not been observed supplying weapons or ammunition to its ally Russia. Nevertheless, there has been a clear upswing in the sale of machine parts, microelectronics, and other technologies that Moscow uses to manufacture tanks, armored vehicles, and aircraft for use against Ukraine, according to Stoltenberg.

03:06 Hofreiter: Ukraine should be permitted to employ Western weapons against Russian targets on Russian territory

The Green foreign policy spokesman Anton Hofreiter advocates for the lifting of prohibitions on Ukraine using Western weapons to defend against Russian aircraft in Russian airspace. "This is about safeguarding the Ukrainian community. Therefore, Western nations should not obstruct Ukraine from deploying the supplied weapons to counter Russian fighter jets in Russian airspace," states the chairman of the European Affairs Committee in the German Bundestag to the newspapers of the Funke Media Group. "International law permits a state that is attacked to retaliate against military targets in the aggressor's territory."

02:01 Ukraine reports Russian air raids and "some success" in Kupiansk

As per a statement from the Ukrainian General Staff, the Russian military has once more unleashed aerial attacks on the city of Wowtschansk. Eight guided bombs rained down on the city. The Ukrainian military has thwarted ten Russian assaults on the city and its environs. Russian troops have gained "some success" in the vicinity of Kupiansk in the Kharkiv region and in the Pokrovsk sector of the Donetsk region.

01:30 Intended evacuations in the Kharkiv area

123 children from the northeastern part of the Kharkiv region are scheduled for evacuation. This is reported by the "Kyiv Independent." The local authorities plan to initially transfer the children to the city of Kharkiv and subsequently to the northwestern region of Volhynia. Since the inception of the latest Russian offensive, more than 11,000 civilians have been removed.

23:23 Zelenskyy: "Combat control" reestablished in the Charkiv area

The Ukrainian army has regained control over the border district in the eastern portion of the Charkiv area, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. "Our warriors have now managed to recover control of the combat control in the border area where Russian invaders had infiltrated," said Zelenskyy in his evening video address. He had previously visited Charkov. The Russian military had begun a ground offensive two weeks ago in the border area and had captured several Ukrainian villages.

22:22 Russia allegedly detains more than 400 Ukrainian women

Approximately 403 Ukrainian women are being held in Russian captivity, according to "Ukrinform" quoting a report from the Ukrainian Coordination Center for the Treatment of Prisoners of War. It is stated that numerous illegally detained civilians are part of this group. The Russian side has disregarded numerous calls for the return of the imprisoned women, it is alleged.

22:02 Kuleba: Putin aims to hinder the success of the Ukraine peace summit

Russian President Vladimir Putin seeks to thwart the upcoming peace summit of Ukraine in Switzerland from succeeding, says Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba in response to claims of Putin's readiness for peace talks (see entries at 19:55 and 12:22 p.m.). Putin is not interested in ending the war orchestrated by Russia in its entirety, claims Kuleba. "Putin is frantically trying to hinder the peace summit in Switzerland from failing. He is terrified of its success."

At 21:40, NATO countries bordering Russia plan to construct a "drone wall" aimed at combating "provocations," as stated by Lithuania's Interior Minister Agne Bilotaite following discussions with Estonian, Latvian, Finnish, Norwegian, and Polish counterparts. The project, spanning from Norway to Poland, will incorporate drone technology and other innovative methods to safeguard borders. This initiative targets not just countering acts from "unfriendly nations" but also curbing smuggling activities. In addition to surveillance drones, anti-drone devices will be employed. Bilotaite alluded to a "brand-new venture" without specifying a timeline. The impetus for such border reinforcement stems from security apprehensions ignited by Russia's ongoing aggression in Ukraine.

At 21:18, the US State Department unveiled plans for additional military assistance to Ukraine, worth $275 million (approximately 253 million euros), to counter Russian hostilities. This package encompasses ammunition for the HIMARS multiple rocket launcher system and artillery ammunition of 155mm and 105mm calibers. This marks the fifth round of financial assistance spearheaded by US President Joe Biden since the release of approximately $61 billion (56.2 billion euros) for Ukraine in late April. The Pentagon disclosed that previously approved aid has already reached the battlefield. This fresh support will be expedited to enable the Ukrainian military to defend their land and safeguard Ukrainian people. Since the inception of the Russian conflict with Ukraine over two years ago, the US has provided over $50 billion in military aid.

At 20:30, in a throwback to the Soviet era, Russian students must now consider an extra mandatory subject: "Basics of Life Safety," which encompasses learning military skills, such as marksmanship and treating injuries.

At 19:55, Putin reiterated his openness to resuming peace talks but undermined the effectiveness of these negotiations by conditioning them on Ukraine's acceptance of the current situation on the ground. Nearly two-and-a-half years into his war of aggression against Ukraine, Putin said in Belarus, "We will return to the negotiations again... But not starting from one side's demands, but (...) starting from the realities that have developed on the ground." The controversial Russian leader expects Ukraine to negotiate from a position that accommodates its current annexation of Ukraine's territory, seemingly creating an impasse in resolving the ongoing crisis. Past negotiations have been contingent upon a Russian withdrawal from their unlawful occupation of Ukrainian land.