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Scholz continues to reject the supply of Taurus missiles to Ukraine.

Latest updates on the conflict in Ukraine

Putin (right) is received by Lukashenko at the airport in Minsk.
Putin (right) is received by Lukashenko at the airport in Minsk.

Scholz continues to reject the supply of Taurus missiles to Ukraine.

Olaf Scholz continues to oppose the delivery of Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine. The German Chancellor is wary of taking risks that could lead to a broader conflict between Russia and NATO. Germany has already supplied or pledged €28 billion in weapons to Ukraine, making it the second largest supporter of the country after the US. Scholz views it as necessary for other nations to aid Ukraine as well, and believes giving the country two Patriot systems is a requirement. “We’ve gone as far as we can,” says Scholz at the German democracy festival in Berlin. “The responsibility is: we're supporting Ukraine's defense efforts, but preventing the war from escalating into a conflict between Russia and NATO.”

Russia has interfered with Elon Musk's Starlink satellite service just before launching an offensive in the Kharkiv region. According to the New York Times, Ukraine's military reports this interference, which has been critical to Ukraine since the start of Russia's war of aggression. The armed forces use the platform for communication, reconnaissance, and drone strikes. Russia reportedly disrupted the service just before crossing the Ukrainian border, forcing the Ukrainians to switch to text messages.

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern's former Minister President, Erwin Sellering (SPD), has resigned as Chairman of the Board of the state's climate protection foundation. This foundation has been controversial due to its connection to Nord Stream II. The Board successfully defended the foundation against all attacks, but Sellering says it's a good time for him to leave since the opposition to the foundation will likely subside. The state government of Prime Minister Manuela Schwesig attempted to dissolve the foundation after the start of the Russian war against Ukraine but was unsuccessful. Nord Stream 2 has financed the foundation with €20 million, and it was created with the purpose of supporting the completion of the Baltic Sea pipeline while avoiding US sanctions on companies involved in its construction.

Germany is open to legally secure steps to use frozen Russian central bank assets for Ukraine’s aid. Finance Minister Christian Lindner says Germany is willing to take more steps to use the interest income from the frozen assets for Ukraine but wants to avoid any legally or economically risky consequences. The G7 finance ministers are discussing this proposal, and the US is pushing for more concrete measures. It's unclear who would provide what guarantees and bear what risks in this situation, and negotiations are ongoing. The goal is to reach an agreement for the G7 heads of state and government meeting in Apulia in mid-June.

United States Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said on Monday that American officials discussed using some of the $300 billion in frozen Russian central bank assets to lend to Ukraine, arguing that the move would significantly increase the aid it could receive. “That is the most important thing that needs to be resolved, and it is being discussed actively,” she said while in Berlin.

“We have some shared resources, we have a shared threat that needs to be dealt with,” Yellen continued. “We are trying to support Ukraine not only with humanitarian aid, but with longer-term assistance. We are hoping that all our allies will agree on a way to release or… use assets that are stuck in these frozen accounts to support Ukraine,” she added.

The funding idea was raised by Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio during a meeting last week, according to people involved in the talks. Under this plan, the Biden administration would guarantee the loans made to Ukraine against the risk that Russia eventually regains control of the assets. The U.S. Treasury Department believes it could secure debt that would raise more money for Kyiv than the explicitly allocated $3 billion the European Union agreed to provide. Portman has been one of the more vocal U.S. lawmakers in arguing that the West should do more to help the country.

3:20 PM: Ukraine Successfully Halts Russian Ground Offensive in Kharkiv

The Ukrainian military claims to have stopped a Russian ground offensive in the eastern region of Kharkiv. Their official statement reads, "Ukraine's defense forces have halted the Russian troops in the Kharkiv area and are retaliating." A representative from the General Staff described the situation as "challenging," yet "stable and under control." Army General Oleksandr Syrskyi previously stated that the Russian army's progress in the region in northeastern Ukraine had hit a barrier. Moscow's troops fighting around the border town of Vovchansk, as per Syrskyi, had "become entangled and suffered substantial losses among the attack units." Currently, Russia is attempting to reinforce its forces by deploying reserves from different locations to take over the city, but have been unsuccessful so far.

3:02 PM: Germany Sends More Leopard Tanks to Ukraine

Germany delivered more Leopard 1 A5 main battle tanks, Marder armored infantry fighting vehicles with ammunition and spare parts from the Bundeswehr and industrial stockpiles, and 18 Leopard 2 A6 main battle tanks with ammunition and spare parts to Ukraine. Additionally, various Dingo transport vehicles, multifunction vehicles, and armored transporters have been provided. According to the German government's report on military support services, Germany plans to provide military aid worth approximately 28 billion euros to assist Ukraine in the coming years. Below is a comparison of the recent shipment to the one sent the previous week:

2:15 PM: Estonia Summons Russian Chargé d'Affaires over Border Incident

Estonia summoned the chargé d'affaires of the Russian embassy in Tallinn due to the removal of buoys marking the fairway in the border river Narva. Estonia's Foreign Minister, Margus Tsahkna, stated that such actions were "provocative and unacceptable." Estonia demands an explanation for the removal of border markers and their immediate return. On Thursday night, Russian border guards pulled out 24 buoys from the Narva River, which Estonia had placed to mark the shipping route. This river serves as the borderline between Estonia and Russia and defines the eastern external border of the EU and NATO.

1:49 PM: Russian Advance Near Vovchansk Stalls, Says Ukrainian Army Chief

Ukrainian army chief Oleksandr Syrskyi stated that Russia's advances in the Kharkiv region of north-eastern Ukraine are at a standstill. In street fights around the border town of Vovchansk, Russian troops have "become bogged down and suffered very high losses among the attack units," claimed Syrskyi in online networks. Russia is now trying to recapture the city by sending reinforcements from diverse areas, yet without any success. Vovchansk, located about five kilometers from the Russian border, is the focus of the ongoing ground offensive that Moscow started approximately two weeks ago in northeastern Ukraine. Since the end of 2022, this is the Russian army's most significant land acquisition.

1:17 PM: Baerbock Warns Russia Against Aggression on European Union's Western Borders

Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock issued a warning to Russia against provoking incidents on the western borders of the European Union. In a message on the Platform X, Baerbock wrote, "Russia is setting the European Union on fire." She continued, "We stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our friends in Estonia, Finland, and Lithuania, and refuse to accept this aggressive behavior." From Estonia, Finland, and Lithuania, the minister expressed her solidarity. On Thursday, there were allegations that navigation buoys had vanished from the Narva River, the boundary between Estonia and Russia.

12:52 PM: Suspected Russian Spy Arrested in Romania

A Romanian citizen has been detained on charges of spying for Russia. The Bucharest Public Prosecutor's Office made this announcement. The man had been photographing and surveilling military facilities and transports of troops and military equipment belonging to the Romanian Army and other NATO countries at the Romanian-Hungarian border near Tulcea since 2022 and forwarding this data to the Russian Embassy in Bucharest. An investigating judge already authorized a 30-day detention for the Romanian citizen. The probe is being led by DIICOT, the Romanian public prosecutor's office's special unit for organized crime and terrorism, alongside the domestic intelligence service SRI and the Army's intelligence service. One of their raids at the suspect's residence revealed a wide range of incriminating evidence.

12:22 Putin reportedly considering ceasefire with current frontlinesSources close to Russian President Vladimir Putin claim he's considering a ceasefire that acknowledges the current battle lines. "Putin is capable of fighting for as long as necessary," one of the four individuals familiar with the conversations happening within Putin's circle told Reuters. "But Putin is also open to a ceasefire - to pause the war." Three of these insiders reported things Putin has said to a small group of advisors. The president allegedly expressed frustration over what he sees as Western attempts to block negotiations. Previously, Putin has claimed his eagerness to talk, then qualified it shortly before his re-election, stating: "We are in no way prepared for negotiations driven by wishful thinking stemming from substance abuse, but we are open to negotiations based on the realities on the ground."

11:51 Artillery ammunition worth nearly €300 million ordered from Rheinmetall by NATO member stateGerman arms manufacturer Rheinmetall has received a significant order for artillery ammunition totaling nearly €300 million from a NATO member state. The order consists of tens of thousands of artillery rounds and hundreds of thousands of propellant charge modules. The ammunition will be supplied between 2024 and 2028. Rheinmetall shared that increased demand to replenish armed forces' ammunition stockpiles due to the Ukraine war drives these large requests.

11:20 ISW: Moscow's Ministry of Defense corruption allegations likely a cover-up for real reasonsInvestigates for the Study of Wars (ISW) believe corruption charges against senior Russian Ministry of Defense officials are likely serving as a cover for other reasons behind their termination. They speculate the Kremlin could be using accusations of corruption within the organization as a pretense to conceal the actual motives behind these dismissals. Currently, six other ministry officials are reportedly considering resigning due to the dismissal of their superior, Sergei Shoigu. Additionally, many military bloggers attribute these purges to the new Defense Minister Andrei Belousov's attempts to crack down on corruption within the military. The Kremlin may be allowing this criticism of corrupt officials given it directly targets specific individuals. This portrays Belousov as someone who tackles issues within the ministry, unlike Shoigu. "The Kremlin, incidentally, may be using the military bloggers' calls for justice to give credence to its claims about the government's commitment to rooting out corrupt officials," writes ISW.

10:45 Orban unconvinced: No Russian invasion of NATO country anticipatedHungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban doesn't believe the fear of a Russian invasion of a NATO country is plausible. "The Russian military is engaged in a serious and difficult struggle against the Ukrainians," Orban stated on a public broadcaster. "If the Russians were strong enough to beat the Ukrainians quickly, they would already have done so." NATO's military superiority makes an attack against the alliance improbable. "It's illogical to imagine that Russia, incapable of crushing the Ukrainians, would suddenly devour the entire Western world," said Orban. The chances of such an event are "extremely low."

10:16 FSB accuses IS of orchestrating Moscow concert hall attackFor the first time, Russian authorities have referenced Islamic State (IS) in connection to a deadly attack on a concert hall near Moscow. The state news agency RIA Novosti reported Alexander Bortnikov, director of the Russian domestic intelligence service FSB, stating: "During the investigation, it was determined that the preparations, financing, attack, and exit of the terrorists were coordinated via the internet by members of the Khorasan Province group," the Afghan branch of IS. Since the March 22 assault that resulted in the deaths of over 140 people and injured 360, IS has claimed responsibility, however, Moscow has linked Ukraine to the attack, raising sufficient resistance from Kiev. Even now, Bortnikov states: "The investigation is still ongoing, but we can already confirm that Ukrainian military intelligence was directly involved in the attack." He doesn't clarify how IS is implicated.

09:55 "There is no moving forward or backward in Vovchansk"For weeks, Kharkiv has been under heavy fire and again has its sirens wailing. Russian assaults still threaten the city. According to ntv correspondent Stephan Richter, Vovchansk is going through its worst period. [No more text provided]

09:30 Over 498,000 Russian troop casualties in Ukraine since February 24
The Ukrainian military reports that Russia will soon have over half a million soldiers killed in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, with over 498,940 troops reported killed since the start of the full-scale invasion on February 24th, 2022. Just in the previous day, Russia's armed forces suffered 1,240 losses.

The Ukrainian General Staff also notes that over the course of the conflict, Russia has lost 7,635 tanks, 14,775 armored combat vehicles, 17,569 trucks and fuel tanks, 12,902 artillery systems, 1,080 multiple launch rocket systems, 813 air defense systems, 356 aircraft, 326 helicopters, 10,401 drones, 27 ships and boats, and one submarine.

08:58 More Glide Bomb Attacks on Kharkiv
Kharkiv, a city that has been under constant Russian bombardment, was the target of glide bomb attacks again during the night. The city's mayor, Ihor Terekhov, reported on Telegram that although there were no casualties, several residential buildings and an abandoned building were slightly damaged. The day prior, seven people were killed by Russian fire in Kharkiv and approximately 15 converted S-300 or S-400 anti-aircraft missiles rained down upon the area, including one of the largest printing houses for literature in Ukraine.

Ukrainian author Serhij Zhadan commented on Facebook "[t]he Ukrainian book is the Ukrainian strength. That's why the enemy wants to destroy it."

08:32 FSB Claims Ukrainian Intelligence Involved in Moscow Concert Hall Attack
According to Alexander Bortnikov, the chief of the Russian federal security service (FSB), Ukraine's military intelligence agency is directly responsible for the deadly March attack on a concert hall near Moscow that killed over 140 people. The investigation is ongoing and Bortnikov has not yet provided any evidence for his claims. Additionally, he accuses NATO of assisting "mercenaries and members of international terrorist organizations" from the Middle East, North Africa, and Afghanistan in fighting against Russia's forces in Ukraine.

08:05 Major Damage at Russian Communications Centre in Crimea
Ukrainian sources claim that the Russian communications centre in the city of Alushta in occupied Crimea sustained "significant damage" after being hit by at least six US-supplied ATACMS missiles. The structure housed high-ranking military personnel and was hit by the missiles, which also destroyed the antenna and several other buildings.

07:31 Russian Publicist: "Russians are Condemned to Live and Die as Idiots for Generations"
Alexander Nevzorov, a former Russian Duma deputy and now a vocal critic of the Kremlin, harshly criticizes his fellow Russians. According to Nevzorov, people "retain the skills they have been taught until they die." He asserts that "the lust for war, the signs of decay, patriotism, and other deviations that have been instilled in them by Russian propaganda will not simply disappear" and that "the Russians are condemned to live and die as idiots for at least a few generations." Even the death of Vladimir Putin, the Russian leader, would not change their minds.

07:04 Scholz: "No EU Nuclear Weapons"
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz reiterated his support for strengthening European defense capabilities in an article for The Economist. These capabilities include nuclear deterrence, strong conventional military, air and missile defense, cyber, space, and precision strike capabilities. He hopes to improve the European defense industry through investment but was clear in stating that "there will be no 'EU nuclear weapons'." He classifies it as "simply unrealistic."

Scholz emphasized the need to find "[t]he right mix of capabilities to defend Europe and deter any aggressor."

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06:38 Contentious agency legislation: Washington steps up the pressure on TbilisiAfter the enactment of a contested law on "foreign influence activities" in Georgia, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken alerts new visa restrictions and a review of ties with the country. The new visa regulations would encompass individuals "accountable for or engaged in undermining democracy in Georgia, along with their family members," Blinken detailed. Additionally, the United States will initiate a "comprehensive examination of bilateral cooperation between the United States and Georgia," he surmises. The United States continues to hold out hope that the Georgian leadership will reconsider the statute and make strides toward advancing the country's "democratic and Euro-Atlantic ambitions."

06:29 Estonia offers relief to children in combat-stricken areasThe Estonian Foreign Ministry is set to deliver more than 650,000 euros in humanitarian assistance to Ukraine, primarily to boost education in combat-affected areas and aid kids impacted by the war. As per Kyiv Independent, part of the aid will be channeled via the Estonian charity association Eesti Pagulasabi, focusing on upgrading living situations in susceptible regions and accommodating Ukrainian refugees in Georgia. In addition, the organization Mondo will apply part of the funds towards the organization of summer camps and mental health support for children in Zaporizhzhya.

05:57 Russian MP identifies future goalsRussian forces are slated to control over half the territory of the border town of Vovchansk in the Ukrainian region of Kharkiv, according to Russian news agency TASS, citing a comment from Russian parliamentarian Viktor Vodolatsky. Upon capturing Vovchansk, Russia's major targets would be the cities of Slavyansk, Kramatorsk, and Pokrovsk, Vodolatsky specified to TASS.

05:29 Putin convenes in Belarus for discussions with LukashenkoRussian news agencies report that Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived in Belarus and initiated informal conversations. "We have much to talk about. Everything proceeds steadily and prosperously for us," Putin is cited as remarking. On the docket today are additional dialogues with his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko on safety topics and military exercises with tactical nuclear weapons. Minsk will take part in the exercises, at which simulations for the deployment of small nuclear missiles will be conducted.

04:33 South Korea enforces sanctions on North Koreans and Russian vesselsSouth Korea imposes sanctions on seven North Koreans and two Russian ships in conjunction to the arms trade between Pyongyang and Moscow. This was disclosed by the South Korean Foreign Ministry.

03:39 USA plans $275 million in extra aid for UkraineThe USA mulls over $275 million worth of military support to Ukraine. An assortment of artillery shells, guided rockets, and vehicles will be secured, elucidated by three US government sources. This support will be provided under the Presidential Drawdown Authority, which authorizes President Joe Biden to act in crises without the endorsement of Congress.

02:34 China and Brazil disassociate from Ukraine peace assemblyBrazil and China are gradually distancing themselves from the international peace conference on Ukraine slated in Switzerland, where Russia hasn't been invited. A joint statement from Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's special advisor Celso Amorim and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi urges Russia and Ukraine to negotiate. However, both countries advocate for an international peace conference equally featuring all parties, which Russia and Ukraine recognize.

01:15 Russian court condemns Kremlin critic to 25 years for sabotageA military court in Moscow has sentenced a 36-year-old man to 25 years in prison for sabotage and membership in a group aiding Ukraine. The unusually severe prison sentence was meted out to Vladimir Malina for terrorism, high treason, and sabotage. According to the prosecution, the bartender from Moscow was associated with the "Legion for Russia's Freedom," a faction of Russians supporting Ukraine. The previous year, Malina set fire to a railroad control box and designed sabotage operations. Malina was apprehended in June.

00:00 Moscow court sentences Kremlin opponent to 25 years for sabotageA military court in Moscow has sentenced a 36-year-old man to 25 years' imprisonment for sabotage and involvement with a group of Russians battling for Ukraine. As per the prosecutor's office, the high prison term was given to Vladimir Malina for terrorism, high treason, and sabotage. In the indictment, Malina, a Moscow bartender, was identified as a member of the "Legion for Russia's Freedom," a band of Russians supporting Ukraine. Last year, he started a railroad control box fire and crafted devious tactics. Malina was detained in June.

23:55 Poland and Greece urge EU to establish air defense barrierGiven the Russian conflict, Poland and Greece are petitioning the EU to institute an air defense barrier to safeguard European nations. "Europe will be secure as long as the skies above it are safe," Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Greek counterpart Kyriakos Mitsotakis affirmed in a collective letter to EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Such an air defense barrier ought to serve as a venture that addresses the "grave vulnerability of our security," the two states' leaders clarify.

At 22:26, an alleged assault on Crimea took place. There seem to be explosions occurring in the Russian-controlled Crimea, with suspicions arising that Ukraine is assaulting targets on the island with the ATACMS missiles supplied by the U.S. recently. A video from the Crimean coast in Alushta captures what seems to be at least one explosion. Nevertheless, there's no official confirmation. The Russian anti-aircraft system is seen in action, too. Governor of Crimea, Sergei Aksyonov, who was appointed by the Russian occupiers, has alleged missile attacks on Simferopol and Alushta. Two deaths are reported, as well as a commercial building being hit. Though Russia often underplays Ukrainian attacks or claims to have shot down all missiles and drones, Kiev has been increasingly targeting Russian air defense systems and radars. Some speculate this might also be the case now.

Meanwhile, at 22:00, there are rumors of another arrest. Pro-Russian media claim that Vladimir Verteletsky, the head of the Russian Ministry of Defense's department for ensuring the state defense order, has been detained. He's under accusations of large-scale fraud. Shortly before this incident, Vadim Shamarin, the Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, was also detained. Shamarin was the fourth senior military officer to be arrested since April.

Check out previous developments here. ATACMS is a Family of missiles attributed to the United States, which have been in service since 1990.

Putin (right) is received by Lukashenko at the airport in Minsk.

Read also:

  1. Despite Germany's continued opposition to supplying Taurus missiles to Ukraine, United States Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen suggests using frozen Russian central bank assets to lend to Ukraine, arguing it could significantly increase aid.
  2. In the Ukraine conflict, Russia has reportedly interfered with Elon Musk's Starlink satellite service in the Kharkiv region, disrupting communication and reconnaissance for the Ukrainian military.
  3. Volodymyr Selensky, the President of Ukraine, has praised the military efforts of his country while at the same time calling for international support to prevent the war from escalating into a conflict between Russia and NATO.
  4. As Russia continues its aggressive actions against Ukraine, NATO members like Germany are increasing their military support, delivering more Leopard tanks and other equipment to aid Ukraine's defense efforts.

Source: www.ntv.de

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