By 3:46 p.m., Italy's banks need to exit Russia.

Italians banks need to disengage from Russia.

The Italian central bank governor, Fabio Panetta, urges local banks to end their ties with Russia, acknowledging possible challenges. He spoke after the G7 finance summit in Stresa, asserting the importance of reputation management. The Austrian Raiffeisen Bank International and Italy's UniCredit have the largest Russian connections among European banks; Intesa Sanpaolo is in the process of divesting its Russian business.

15:22 Updated: Russian forces progress in DonetskRussian troops have allegedly seized the village Archangelske in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine, per Interfax news agency. They've also advanced toward the northeastern region of Kharkiv and fought back two Ukrainian counterattacks, reports the Russian Defense Ministry. No official government response is given.

14:59 Siluanov warns of retaliation for sanctionsRussian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov suggests retaliation if G7 countries utilize frozen Russian assets to aid Ukraine. TASS news agency revealed this comment on journalist Pavel Zarubin's Telegram channel of Rossija-1. Siluanov warned, "we'll respond with mirror measures" if their funds are misused.

14:31 G7 commits to continue Ukraine financial supportThe G7 countries plan to support Ukraine with financing in the long term. German Finance Minister Christian Lindner stated at the closure of the G7 meeting in Stresa, "We support Ukraine staunchly." Assured funds are available for this year; ambitions extend to 2025, he claimed.

14:06 Paris to rename street after NavalnyParis will rename a street after Alexei Navalny, the prominent Kremlin critic. "Navalny has become a symbol of freedom, not just in Russia but worldwide," a senator shared. The city council unanimously approved the change. Navalny Street will be in Paris' 16th administrative district, close to the Russian embassy.

13:47 Ukraine probes 125th Brigade over Kharkiv defensive failureUkrainian authorities are investigating the 125th Brigade, which defended the Kharkiv region in May, after Russia's northward invasion. A preliminary review indicated inadequate defense organization, accusing the brigade of "negligent attitude towards military service." The case concerns 30 commanders and commanders, but no explicit consequences have been disclosed.

12:51 Lindner pushes for careful aid financingAs a contentious matter of Ukraine aid, there's much work in store for the G7, German Finance Minister Lindner said at a gathering of G7 finance ministers in Italy. They're examining how to use money from frozen Russian bank assets for Ukraine. The US proposed a massive loan with security from interests on Russian funds, potentially worth $50 billion. A mid-June agreement could come when G7 leaders converge in Apulia.

12:17 Rogozin blames US for radar system damageUkraine is said to have damaged a Russian early warning system for nuclear missiles with a drone attack. Ex-Russian ambassador to NATO, Dmitri Rogozin, contends this radar is essential for managing strategic nuclear forces. Rogozin, now a senator in the Russian Parliament, blames the US for either planning or knowing about the attack, fearing atomic war.

11:48 Budanov maps the future of Ukraine's fleet: unmanned shipsHead of the Ukrainian military intelligence service, Kyrylo Budanov, asserts Ukraine is improving its fleet of unmanned ships for future material attacks on coasts and aerial targets. He believes unmanned vessels may eventually replace regular combat ships altogether, particularly in enclosed or semi-enclosed seas, like the Black Sea and the Mediterranean.

11:17 Mangott expresses concern over potential Russian territorial water expansionThe proposal from the Russian Defense Ministry's new law is troubling for Baltic Sea defense experts. The "Moscow Times" suggests Russia may extend its territorial waters in the Baltic Sea. Security specialist Gerhard Mangott evaluates the situation.

Reports indicate that Russian forces attacked the Kharkiv city in the night using two Iskander missiles. The Iskander-M system has a range of 500 kilometers, can carry nuclear warheads, and is difficult to intercept due to its flexible flight path. The two missiles are believed to have damaged a school and a residential building.

10:04 Stoltenberg Speaks on the Debate about Utilizing Western Weapons Against Russia

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has joined the discussion regarding the possibility of utilizing Western weapons on Russian military targets. In an interview with "The Economist," he asserted that it's time for allies to reconsider the restrictions on using weapons provided to Ukraine, particularly in light of the intense battles occurring near the border in Kharkiv. Stoltenberg emphasized that self-defense, as per the UN Charter, is legal and legitimate. "We are aiding Ukraine in upholding this right, which should include the option of attacking targets on Russian territory," he said.

09:24 Unverified Reports: Ukrainian Drones Damage Critical Russian Radar Station in Krasnodar

Allegedly, Ukrainian drones have hit a vital radar station located in the Russian region of Krasnodar. This station forms part of Russia's early warning system for ballistic missile launches and launches of missiles fitted with nuclear warheads. Military specialists from the Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) attribute the station to controlling an area of up to 6,000 kilometers.

08:42 Think Tank Warns Against Ceasefire

Russian President Putin has expressed his thoughts about a ceasefire, provided it is based on the existing territorial gains. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) - a US think tank - warns that this could bring significant risks for Ukraine. A ceasefire might allow Russia to enhance its forces better suited for future offensives aimed at a regime change, the demilitarization of Ukraine, and the seizure of the country. Moreover, the ceasefire could indicate to the Kremlin that support from the West for Ukraine is not so crucial and necessary.

08:11 Kiesewetter Calls for Debt Brake Suspension Due to Ukraine War

Foreign policy expert Roderich Kiesewetter of the CDU has urged the German government to declare a state of emergency as a result of the Ukraine conflict. In an interview with "Spiegel," he stated that Ukraine's victory depends on debt. Kiesewetter questions why the federal government has recognized the coronavirus pandemic as a state of emergency to finance the power and gas price cap for 200 billion euros, but not the war. With the state of emergency declaration, the restrictions enforced by the debt brake in the Basic Law might be suspended. However, the FDP in Germany's traffic light coalition opposes this move adamantly.

07:56 Ukrainian Victory Praise from Zelensky

The United States is supplying Ukraine with a military package worth millions. In addition, Germany has delivered an air defense system to the country. Zelensky has commended his army's successes in a video. Ukrainians have also gained 500,080 Russian losses since the invasion began on February 24, 2022, with 1,140 losses reported in the previous 24 hours. Russia's continued pressure on Ukrainian defenders has resulted in significant casualties on their side. Ukrainian troops claim 15 destroyed Russian tanks, 27 artillery systems, one anti-aircraft system, and two multiple rocket launchers since the previous day.

Zum Schutz vorm russischen Vormarsch werden Kinder aus der Region Charkiw in Sicherheit gebracht.

07:23 First Ukrainian F-16 Pilots Soon Ready for Combat

A group of Ukrainian F-16 pilots has completed their training in the United States and will undergo additional training in Europe. The training, which has taken almost a year, is expected to result in pilots prepared for combat missions against Russian air forces during the summer. The Ukrainian Air Force stands to receive more than 60 F-16s from Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Belgium. These countries, including the United States, Great Britain, Romania, France, and Bulgaria, have mobilized personnel, aircraft, and ground equipment to train the Ukrainians in flying and maintaining combat aircraft.

06:33 US Excalibur Shells Hindered by Russian Jamming Devices

Ukrainian forces have ceased using certain American weapons due to a decrease in accuracy. The Washington Post reports that this affects several GPS-guided weapons, in particular, Excalibur artillery shells and HIMARS systems, which face Russian jamming devices. The success rate of the US-made Excalibur shells has reportedly fallen to under 10 percent, making them ineffective. As such, the US has halted the delivery of Excalibur to Ukraine. Neutralizing the enemy's jamming devices, like using smoke munitions in HIMARS attacks, is necessary to ensure the accuracy of missile strikes.

The NATO chief regards China's support for Russia in the ongoing conflict as "crucial." Jens Stoltenberg noted during an interview with "Welt am Sonntag" that China claims to maintain positive ties with the western world while simultaneously escalating the European war. China does not appear to have provided arms or ammunition to its ally Russia. However, there has been an observable rise in the purchases of machine components, microelectronics, and other technologies utilized by Russia to manufacture rockets, tanks, and aircraft for use against Ukraine.

03:06 Hofreiter supports Ukraine's right to employ Western weapons in Russian territory.Anton Hofreiter, the foreign policy expert for the Greens, believes that Ukraine should be permitted to fire back against Russian fighter jets in Russian airspace utilizing given weapons. The head of the European Affairs Committee in the German Bundestag states that the primary goal is to safeguard the Ukrainian populace. International law permits a country under attack to target military objectives within the aggressor's land.

02:01 Ukraine announces Russian air assaults and "slight success" in Kupiansk.The Ukrainian General Staff claims that the Russian army has once again targeted the city of Wowtschansk through air strikes. Eight guided bombs were launched onto the city, and the Ukrainian military successfully repelled ten Russian assaults on the city and its jurisdiction. The Russian military achieved "partial success" in Kupiansk within the Kharkiv area and in the District of Pokrowsk in the Donetsk area.

01:30 Plans for additional evacuations in the Kharkiv region.A total of 123 children from the northeastern part of the Kharkiv region are slated to be evacuated. The local authorities first plan to move the children to Charkiv and subsequently to the northwestern region of Volhynia. Since the inception of the most recent Russian offensive, more than 11,000 civilians have been relocated.

23:23 Zelenskyy: The Ukrainian military restores "combat control" in the Charkiv area.The Ukrainian army has reclaimed control of the border region's combat status in the eastern Charkiv area, as per President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. "Our troops have now managed to regain control over the combat management in the border territory where the Russian invaders had infiltrated," stated Zelenskyy in his daily video address. The Russian military had initiated a ground offensive two weeks ago in the border region and occupied several Ukrainian villages.

22:22 403 Ukrainian women reportedly held in Russian custody.Currently, 403 Ukrainian women are being held captive in Russia. Several of these women are allegedly illegally detained civilians. The Ukrainian committee handling the treatment of prisoners of war issued a report. Authorities have also acknowledged several cases of missing women from 2014, whose fates are undetermined. The Russian side has disregarded numerous demands for the returning of the captured females, according to the report.

22:02 Kuleba: Putin aims to derail the upcoming Ukraine peace summit.Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba responded to news of putative Russian contentment for peace talks by asserting that Putin seeks to obstruct the Switzerland-based peace summit's success. Putin is determined to avoid fully ending the war launched by Moscow. "Putin is anxious to impede the peace summit in Switzerland from failing. He is wary of its effectiveness."

21:40 "Drone Wall": NATO members aim to build a protective barrier against "provocation."The six NATO member countries bordering Russia are expected to construct a "drone wall" to bypass potential threats. Lithuanian Interior Minister Agne Bilotaite announced this prospect to the news agency BNS following discussions with Estonia, Latvia, Finland, Norway, and Poland. The "drone wall" aims to implement drones and other technologies for the protection of borders. The project encompasses preventing "provocations by antagonistic nations" and combating illegal activities. Anti-drone systems will also be implemented. The minister did not specify a timetable for the project. The heightened concern for border safety arises from the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

8:48pm: The United States Announces More Assistance to Ukraine

The United States is sending additional military assistance to Ukraine in an effort to counter Russia's aggressive actions. This new package, valued at $275 million (approximately €253 million), includes ammunition for HIMARS multiple rocket launchers as well as artillery shells with 155 and 105 millimeter calibers, as per the U.S. State Department. This marks the fifth package of aid approved by President Joe Biden since Congress allocated funds for Ukraine in late April. The previous packages have already reached the frontlines, and this most recent support will be delivered "as quickly as possible" to help the Ukrainian military defend their nation and protect their people. Since the beginning of the Russian war against Ukraine, which started more than two years ago, the U.S. has provided military support totaling over $50 billion, according to Pentagon data.

7:10pm: An Old Soviet Model: Russian Youth Now obligated for Military Training

For the current school year, Russian children and teenagers have an extra required subject: "Basics of Life Safety". This subject educates them in military skills such as shooting and bandaging injuries.

6:35pm: Putin Sets the Ground Rules for Negotiations with Ukraine

Almost two and a half years since the beginning of his confrontation with Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed his eagerness to resume talks with Ukraine - but not with a focus on returning seized and annexed territories. "We'll likely return to negotiations at some point," Putin mentions during a visit to the allied nation of Belarus, as reported by Interfax news agency. Yet, he quickly clarifies, "But not from where one side wants, but (...) from the realities that have developed on the ground." Russia has been openly waging war on Ukraine since February of this year and currently occupies around 20% of the neighboring country. Ukraine has repeatedly emphasized that the withdrawal of Russian troops from their land is a prerequisite for lasting peace.

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