Drone assaults result in harm in the Black Sea area surrounding Odessa
10:31 Stoltenberg Speaks on Pre-War Negotiations: Russians Presented Misleading NATO MapsIn an interview, the departing NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg discusses the diplomatic attempts to prevent Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which occurred in February 2022. At the final NATO-Russia Council meeting in January, led by Stoltenberg, the Russians requested the removal of all NATO troops from their eastern territories, a demand he deemed unacceptable but chose to engage in dialogue over. During the meeting, Russia's deputy foreign and defense ministers argued that Ukraine posed a threat and presented distorted maps, falsely depicting NATO encirclement. Intriguingly, these maps failed to label Denmark as NATO territory, which Stoltenberg found perplexing. It remains unclear whether this was due to incompetence or deliberate manipulation. Looking back, Stoltenberg wishes NATO and its allies had taken stronger action to bolster Ukraine's military capabilities earlier, as such a move could have raised the threshold for Russia's hostilities.
10:03 Wiegold on Stationing Agreement: "Lithuania Views German Combat Brigade as Assistance"Germany and Lithuania execute a government agreement, securing Lithuania's understanding that a German combat brigade will be deployed within its borders. Military analyst Thomas Wiegold offers insights into the agreement's background and significance in an interview with ntv.
09:28 Kim Seeks Further Collaboration with MoscowNorth Korean leader Kim Jong Un is reported to have expressed a desire to enhance cooperation with Russia, according to state media. Following talks with Russian Security Council Chairman Sergei Shoigu in North Korea, the North Korean press reported a comprehensive discussion on intensifying strategic dialogue between the two nations, reinforcing cooperation to safeguard their mutual security interests, and addressing regional and international concerns. Ukraine, the US, and South Korea reproach North Korea for arming Russia during the Ukraine conflict. North Korea vehemently denies these allegations as baseless.
08:59 Extended Firepower Against Russia? Starmer and Biden to Discuss Once More at UN General AssemblyA revisitation of the question of whether Ukraine is permitted to employ expanded Western weapons against Russian targets is impending. British Prime Minister Starmer has announced this following a meeting with US President Biden, during which a decision on the matter was postponed. Starmer hinted at a discussion at the UN General Assembly in New York the following week involving a larger group of individuals. Reports in British media suggest that Biden is open to enabling Ukraine to use British and French rockets with US technology, but not US-manufactured rockets themselves.
08:23 Zelensky on Trump's Supposed Strategy: "Campaign Messages are Campaign Messages"American Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has consistently declared that he could terminate the Ukraine conflict within a day without disclosing a specific plan. When asked to clarify his statement during a CNN interview, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky responded, "I cannot grasp it presently since I have no information about the specifics of his intentions." Zelensky maintains that a U.S. election campaign is underway. "And campaign messages are campaign messages," he added. "Sometimes they're not entirely factual." However, Zelensky did mention that he had conversed with Trump two months prior, and that Trump had expressed support for Ukraine. He described the conversation as constructive.
07:27 ISW: Russia Needs Additional Soldiers in Kursk to Displace UkrainiansRussia persists in its counterattacks in the Kursk area, but the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) does not perceive a large-scale operation to completely eliminate the Ukrainians. The ISW, based in Washington D.C., indicates that the Russian authorities have primarily relied on inexperienced and under-equipped conscripts, along with small units from the regular Russian military and other security forces in the border region. According to the think tank's assessment, a Russian offensive to drive out the Ukrainians from the Kursk region would likely necessitate more personnel and resources than those currently deployed in the area, particularly if many of the units present lack combat experience.
06:49 Ukraine Suffers Drone AttacksIn accordance with the Ukrainian armed forces, Russia bombarded Ukraine with Shahed drones throughout the night. The Russian army launched several drone attack squadrons, reported the Ukrainian air force. Alerts were triggered in virtually every region of the country, including the Odessa region. The navy claimed to have shot down nine drones in the Odessa region. Explosions were audible in the city of Odessa, but no casualties have been reported as of yet.
06:13 International Peace Initiative Suggested by Mützenich SPD parliamentary group leader Rolf Mützenich proposes forming an international contact group to initiate a peace initiative in the Ukraine conflict. In his view, it's now time for the Western allies to establish a contact group to commence a process, he tells the "Rheinische Post". "The Federal Chancellor and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky agree that now is a suitable time to intensify peace talk efforts, and that Russia should also be involved in the upcoming peace summit." Asked about potential members of such a contact group, Mützenich suggests countries like China, India, Turkey, and Brazil as responsible entities. "In these nations, the conviction is growing that the Russian aggression could become a burden." Therefore, the role of a contact group "could indeed be promising," and it could play a significant mediating role.
05:41 Potential Changes in EU Sanctions Extension Strategy According to diplomats, the EU Commission is examining three potential strategies for how the sanctions extension against Russia could proceed in the future. These strategies were presented to European diplomats on Friday, several insiders confirm. The cause is the frozen assets of the Russian central bank, which are essential for granting a $50 billion mega-credit from the G7 states to Ukraine. These assets have been frozen since the Russian attack on Ukraine.
03:40 Kyiv City Building Hit by Drone Fragments Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reports through the Telegram messaging app that drone fragments struck a city building in Ukrainian capital. The fragments landed on a municipal building in the Obolon district north of the city center early in the morning. Klitschko further stated that emergency services were heading to the scene. Previously, the mayor had explained that air defense units were operational in the capital.
01:35 Closer Cooperation Pledged by Kim Jong Un and Shoigu North Korean leader Kim Jong Un promises Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu closer cooperation. As the state-run news agency KCNA reports, the two men had an in-depth conversation during Shoigu's visit to Pyongyang, leading to a satisfactory consensus on issues such as more extensive "cooperation to defend mutual security interests." Shoigu, who was still Russian defense minister until May, had initiated closer relations between North Korea and Russia with a visit to Pyongyang in July last year.
23:36 "Victory Plan" to be Presented by Zelensky to Biden in September Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced a September meeting with US President Joe Biden. "I will present the plan for victory," the head of state said during an appearance in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv. It involves a system of interdependent decisions that will provide Ukraine with sufficient forces to steer the war towards peace. "Such conflict victories can be justly ended in several ways: either the occupying army is driven out by force or by negotiation," Zelensky explained. This will ensure the real independence of the country. However, Kyiv relies on US support for the necessary strong position.
22:59 Shift in Attack Direction by Russian Troops Heavy fighting continues in the east of the country, according to the Ukrainian military. There were 115 engagements, the General Staff in Kyiv reported in its evening situation report. "The fiercest situation today was in the direction of Kurachove, besides, the enemy was also active in the direction of Lyman and Pokrovsk," it said. Kurachove is a small town south of Pokrovsk. Pokrovsk had long been considered the main attack direction of the Russian troops. Recently, however, the Russians have only been able to achieve limited territorial gains in that area. Instead, they have widened their attack axis southwards to capture the mining town of Hirnyk near Kurachove.
22:18 Relief Reported by Zelensky in Kursk Advance The Ukrainian advance into the Russian region of Kursk is yielding the hoped-for success, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky. In the Charkiv region, the enemy has been stopped, and in Donetsk, the Russian advance has slowed down, he says. Russia has not yet achieved any significant successes in its counterattack in Kursk. Experts had previously doubted the redeployment of larger Russian troop formations from Donetsk and other regions to Kursk. Russia claims to have recaptured ten of the 100 occupied villages.
21:46 "West is Afraid" - Zelensky's Straightforward Remarks on Allies Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accuses the West of having "fear" about discussing help for Ukraine in shooting down Russian missiles. "If the allies together shoot down missiles and drones in the regions of the Middle East, why is there still no similar decision to shoot down Russian missiles and (Iranian) Shaheds in the sky of Ukraine?" Zelensky said at a conference in Kyiv. "They are afraid to even say: 'We are working on it'. And this happens even when missiles and drones are literally heading towards the territory of our neighbors," the Ukrainian head of state said. "This is shameful for the democratic world."
21:30 Estimated Deployment of Iraquan Drones by Russia Russia has deployed 8060 Iranian Shahed drones on Ukraine since the beginning of the war, according to the Ukrainian government. No statements from Iran or Russia are available yet. Ukraine first accused the Iranian government of providing the kamikaze drones to Russia in autumn 2022.
20:43 On Long-Range Weapons for Ukraine: USA Evades ResponsesIn Washington, Prime Minister Keir Starmer from the UK and President Joe Biden from the USA are scheduled to hold discussions. There's a buzz surrounding the possibility of announcements concerning the authorization of long-range weapons for Ukraine. According to reports from the 'Guardian' UK, the UK has given Ukraine permission to utilize Storm-Shadow missiles. However, it's suggested that neither side will reveal any details regarding this matter during today's meeting. John Kirby, the National Security Council's communication director, comments, "I wouldn't anticipate a declaration today about the employment of long-range weapons within Russia – definitively not from the US." He merely confirms that they're still discussing "the sort of capabilities that will be offered to Ukraine" with the UK, France, and other allies. Kirby remains tight-lipped when inquired about potential changes in the US government's stance, stating, "I won't engage in a hypothetical dialogue about what we might or might not comment on at a particular moment."
You can delve into all the previous occurrences here.)
The President of the NATO Council, Jens Stoltenberg, found it perplexing that Russia's deputy foreign and defense ministers presented distorted NATO maps during the final NATO-Russia Council meeting in January, failing to label Denmark as NATO territory.
During his tenure as NATO Secretary-General, Jens Stoltenberg, as the President of the Council, encouraged dialogue with Russia despite finding their demands unacceptable, such as the removal of all NATO troops from their eastern territories.
