Putin is aiming to "intentionally instigate confusion" in the Baltic Sea region.

Putin aims to "intentionally generate uncertainty" in the Baltic Sea region.

There's a proposed law from Russia's Ministry of Defense that has sparked concern among defense policy stakeholders in the Baltic Sea region. Based on reports in the Moscow Times, it appears that the Kremlin is considering extending Russia's territorial waters in the inland sea. Security expert Gerhard Mangott weighs in on this development.

At 10:55, it was reported that Russian forces fired two Iskander missiles at the city of Kharkiv overnight. Iskander-M is a system whose missiles have a range of 500 kilometers and can also carry nuclear warheads. These missiles are difficult to intercept due to their flexible trajectory. The missiles hit a school and a residential building.

At 10:04, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg joined the ongoing debate about the use of Western weapons against military targets in Russia. In an interview with "The Economist" on the previous day, he advocated for considering "lifting some of the restrictions on the use of weapons that [NATO] allies have made available to Ukraine, especially now that there is a lot of fighting going on in Kharkiv near the border". Stoltenberg emphasized that self-defense is a right enshrined in the UN Charter, legal and legitimate. "We are helping Ukraine to uphold this right, and that should include the possibility of attacking targets on Russian territory."

At 09:24, Ukrainian drones reportedly hit an important radar station in the Russian region of Krasnodar. This station is part of Russia's early warning system for ballistic missile launches and launches of missiles equipped with nuclear weapons. Independent military experts attribute this radar station with controlling an area up to a distance of 6000 kilometers.

At 08:42, US experts cautioned against a ceasefire in the ongoing conflict. Russia's President Putin seems open to the idea of a ceasefire, but this would be incredibly risky for Ukraine, according to the US think tank Institute for the Study of War (ISW). A ceasefire could give Russia "the opportunity to prepare forces better suited to carry out the next series of offensive operations aimed at regime change, the demilitarization of Ukraine, and the conquest of the country." The Kremlin might also speculate that a frozen front would make support for Ukraine less urgent and vital for the West.

At 08:11, CDU foreign policy expert Roderich Kiesewetter called for the German government to declare a budget emergency due to the war in Ukraine. He argued that the war can only be won with debt, and that Ukraine is in desperate need of support. The German government has classified the coronavirus pandemic as an emergency situation to finance 200 billion euros for an electricity and gas price freeze, but the war doesn't meet the criteria for an emergency situation. Declaring an emergency would allow the government to suspend the strict requirements of the debt brake in the German constitution. However, the FDP has so far strongly opposed such a move in the coalition government.

At 07:56, Zelensky praised the success of Ukrainian troops near Kharkiv, while the US provided Ukraine with another military aid package worth millions. Additionally, an air defense system arrived in the country from Germany. Zelensky himself celebrated the success of his army in a video.

At 07:23, the Ukrainian General Staff estimated that the Russian side has lost 500,080 soldiers since the start of the full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022, with an additional 1140 losses in the past 24 hours. Russia is exerting intense pressure on the Ukrainian defenders, leading to heavy losses on its own side. The Ukrainians have destroyed 15 Russian tanks, 27 artillery systems, an air defense system, and two multiple rocket launchers in recent days.

At 07:07, it was announced that the first group of Ukrainian F-16 pilots have completed their training in the US and are traveling to Europe for further training. The US Air Force has been training pilots and ground personnel for almost a year, and they should be ready to fly combat missions against Russian air forces in the summer. Ukraine is scheduled to receive over 60 F-16s from Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Belgium, with these countries, as well as the US, UK, Romania, France, and Bulgaria, providing personnel, aircraft, and ground facilities to train the Ukrainians in flying and maintaining the fighter jets.

At 6:33 AM, the effectiveness of certain American weapons, such as Excalibur shells and HIMARS systems, employed by Ukraine has taken a hit due to Russian interference. A Washington Post report indicated that these GPS-controlled weapons have failed to reach their targets to almost 10% precision. As a result, the US has stopped exporting Excalibur shells entirely. To combat Russia's attempt to jam HIMARS systems, Ukraine must first clear out enemy jammers by using cluster munitions.

At 4:34 AM, NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg, perceives China's assistance to Russia in the war against Ukraine as a critical contribution. Despite stating their desire to maintain harmonious relationships with the West, Beijing is aiding the conflict by selling machine parts, microelectronics, and other technologies essential in the production of weapons. These resources are used by Russia to manufacture rockets, tanks, and planes against Ukraine.

Anton Hofreiter, a Green Party foreign policy expert, advocates for allowing Ukraine to utilize Western armaments not only in its own territory but also in attacking Russian targets. This, in his opinion, would help protect the Ukrainian population. In response to Russian fighter jets operating in Ukrainian airspace, the supplied weapons could be used to counteract these enemies. His claim is that international law grants an attacked state the right to retaliate against military targets within the aggressor's territory.

According to a 3:06 AM statement by the Ukrainian General Staff, Russian forces have bombarded the city of Vovchansk once more with eight guided missiles. The Ukrainian military successfully withstood ten additional Russian attacks on the city and its environs. The enemy troops attained "partial successes" near Kupiansk in the region of Kharkiv, as well as in the Pokrovsk sector in Donetsk.

Evacuations remain a pressing issue in the Kharkiv region. Over 123 children, including orphans, will be relocated to Kharkiv city, followed by a transfer to the Volhynia region to the northwest. Already, more than 11,000 civilians have been evacuated from the region since the current offensive commenced.

President Volodymyr Zelensky stated in his evening video address on 23:23 that the Ukrainian Army had regained combat control in the border region in the eastern Kharkiv region. Zelensky noted that the soldiers had successfully reoccupied the area seized by the Russian occupiers. Two weeks ago, Russian forces initiated a ground assault in the border region and occupied several Ukrainian villages.

Reports indicate that Russia is currently holding approximately 403 Ukrainian women as prisoners. Many of these detained persons are innocent civilians. The Ukrainian Coordination Center for Prisoners of War said that these women had gone missing since 2014, with their fates unclear. The Russian government has disregarded appeals to free these captured women.

According to a 22:22 admission by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, Russian President Vladimir Putin is determined to strain success from the June 15-16 Ukraine peace summit in Switzerland. Rejecting the notion that Putin has a thirst for peace, Kuleba insists that the Russian leader is determined to hinder and ultimately fail the planned negotiations.

05:21 World leaders convene Istanbul summit to address global food crisis
About 80 participants, including the UN chief, attended the two-day World Food Summit in Istanbul to discuss how to tackle the global food crisis in a world marked by conflict and climate change. Climate change, geopolitical tensions, and the COVID-19 pandemic have drastically affected global production, transportation, and distribution of food.

22:05 Sweden imposes sanctions on North Korea
Sweden, aiming to eliminate human rights violations and nuclear proliferation, has announced sanctions against North Korea. The Swedish government is restricting trade with North Korea and freezing assets of individuals and entities associated with the rogue regime.

21:46 Hague Tribunal indicts Muhammad Khairi Rebato for war crimes
The Hague Tribunal has agreed to begin prosecuting former al-Qaeda leader Muhammad Khairi Rebato for his involvement in war crimes during his tenure as the group's chief. Rebato is suspected of imposing slave labour on Malaysians, murdering over 200 Indonesians, and an assortment of other heinous acts.

05:06 Tokyo and Seoul hold Annual Foreign Ministers Conference
Tokyo and Seoul convened for the 18th Annual Foreign Ministers Conference, demonstrating steadfast cooperation and shared commitment to regional and global peace. Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa is in Seoul, discussing ways to counter the threat Russia poses to stability in the Indo-Pacific amid Russia's war in Ukraine.

9:40 PM: Six NATO member countries bordering Russia plan to establish a "drone wall" to prevent provocation

Lithuania's Interior Minister, Agne Bilotaite, announced that six NATO member countries sharing a border with Russia - Norway, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Poland, and her own country - are contemplating the construction of a "drone wall" for the purpose of safeguarding their boundaries. The wall's primary objective is to employ drones and other modern technologies to secure their borders, she explained to the BNS news agency following discussions with her counterparts from these countries. Bilotaite specified that the project is not only intended to thwart mischievous acts by unfriendly nations but also aims to combat illegal trafficking. In addition to drone surveillance systems, anti-drone measures will be deployed. The Minister described the plan as "something completely new." She did not mention a timeline for the project commencement. The outburst of security concerns can be traced back to the Russian military's aggressive actions in Ukraine.

9:18 PM: US authorizes additional military support for Ukraine

The US government is providing Ukraine with additional military aid to counter the ongoing Russian aggression. This freshly approved package, estimated at $275 million (approximately €253 million), will supplement the Himars multiple rocket launchers with ammunition as well as 155 and 105 millimeter caliber artillery ammunition, as per the US State Department. Since April 2022, when the US Congress allocated around $61 billion (€56.2 billion) for Ukraine, this marks the fifth package distributed under this authorization. As reported, the equipment from previous deliveries has already arrived at the front lines. The new set of provisions will be dispatched "as hurriedly as possible," so the Ukrainian military can safeguard its nation and safeguard its people, the announcement added. Since the initiation of Russia's attack on Ukraine more than two years ago, the US has already supplied over $50 billion in military support to Kiev, according to the Pentagon.

8:30 PM: Soviet-style curriculum: Russian teens obligated to undergo basic military training

Beginning this academic year, Russian students will be compelled to study a new obligatory subject called "Fundamentals of Life Safety," which teaches them military skills such as target shooting and wound dressing.

7:55 PM: "In-the-moment realities": Putin lays out terms for Ukraine negotiations

Over two years after launching his war of aggression against Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin reiterated his desire to negotiate - albeit not on the return of annexed territories acquired in contravention of international law. Speaking at a visit to his ally, Belarus, Interfax agency reported Putin's words, "Peace talks are being discussed once more. Let's resume them. Not on the foundation that one party demands, but (...) on the grounds of the existing realities that have emerged" (see also noon entry). Russia has waged open war against Ukraine since February 2022 and presently occupies about 20% of its neighboring country. Ukraine repeatedly emphasizes that the withdrawal of Russian troops from its territory is a precondition for lasting peace.

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