Stoltenberg advocates for loosening limitations on Western military supplies.

Stoltenberg urges loosening of restrictions on Western weapon supplies.

NATO's boss, Jens Stoltenberg, has jumped into the debate over whether the West should use its weapons against military bases in Russia. In an interview with "The Economist," he stated that it may be time for allies to reconsider the limitations they've placed on using the weapons they've given to Ukraine, especially given the intense fighting in Kharkiv near the border. Stoltenberg maintained that self-defense is enshrined in the UN Charter, legal and fair. "We're helping Ukraine uphold this right, and that should include the ability to attack targets on Russian soil," he said.

Ukraine's drones are said to have targeted a crucial radar station in the Russian area of Krasnodar. This station is a fundamental piece of the Russian early warning system for ballistic missile launches and launches of nuclear-armed missiles. Military analysts from OSINT (Open-Source Intelligence) estimate that the radar station controls an area of up to 6,000 kilometers.

Russia's President Putin has expressed openness to a ceasefire - but only if it's based on the territories they've currently gained. The US think tank Institute for the Study of War (ISW) warns that this would be a significant danger for Ukraine. They argue that Russia might use a ceasefire to step up its military preparations for more offensive strikes meant to induce regime change in Ukraine, the neutralization of its military, and the full conquest of the country. Moreover, Russia might assume that a stalemate front would make help for Ukraine less crucial and necessary for the West.

CDU's Roderich Kiesewetter has urged the German government to declare a budget crisis due to the war in Ukraine. He told "Spiegel" that the war could only be won through debt. Ukraine immediately needs help. It's inexplicable why the German government has categorized the coronavirus pandemic as an emergency situation to authorize 200 billion euros for an electricity and gas cost freeze, but the war doesn't fulfill the emergency criteria. If the government declares an emergency, the strict provisions of the debt brake in the German constitution could be suspended. However, the FDP has taken a firm stance against this move in the coalition government.

The Ukrainian General Staff stated that Russia has lost 500,080 soldiers since the start of the all-out invasion on February 24, 2022. This translates to 1,140 casualties in the previous 24 hours. Russia is putting extensive pressure on the Ukrainian defenders on several sections of the front, costing many of its soldiers. In the meantime, the Ukrainians have counted 15 destroyed Russian tanks, 27 artillery systems, an air defense system, and two multiple rocket launchers.

The first group of Ukrainian F-16 pilots have completed their training in the United States and are preparing to travel to Europe for additional instruction. The US Air Force reports that the training of pilots and ground personnel took about a year. They should be ready to fly combat missions against Russian air forces this summer. Ukraine is due to receive more than 60 F-16s from Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Belgium. These countries, along with the US, UK, Romania, France, and Bulgaria, have mobilized personnel, aircraft, and ground facilities to teach the Ukrainians to operate and maintain the fighter jets.

The US Excalibur artillery shells are useless now because Russian jammers have interfered with their GPS control. A report in the "Washington Post" states that around several weapons controlled by GPS, especially Excalibur, are affected. The success rate of hitting Excalibur's target has fallen to less than 10%. The US has halted supplying Excalibur as a result of Ukraine's complaints. To hit HIMARS targets, it's necessary to disable enemy jammers as best as possible first, such as by using cluster bombs.

Stoltenberg views China's support for Russia in the Russian aggression war as "critical." He told "Welt am Sonntag," "China says it wants to maintain good relations with the West. At the same time, however, Beijing is fueling the war in Europe. You can't have it both ways." Although China doesn't appear to be directly arming its ally, there has been a noticeable increase in sales of machine parts, microelectronics, and other technologies that Russia is using to build missiles, tanks, and planes for use against Ukraine, Stoltenberg said.

03:06 Hofreiter recommends allowing Ukraine to use Western weapons to defend against Russian attacks within their territory

Green Party foreign policy expert, Anton Hofreiter, believes that Ukraine should be granted permission to utilize Western weapons against Russian targets on Russian soil. The chairman of the Bundestag's Europe Committee expressed this view in an interview with Funke Mediengruppe, stating that such a move would safeguard the Ukrainian population. Hofreiter reasoned that, "Under the guise of international law, an attacked state is allowed to attack military targets in the aggressor's country."

02:01 Air strikes reported in Vovchansk; Ukrainian troops repel Russian advances near Kupiansk and Pokrovsk

The Ukrainian General Staff has reported that Russian forces conducted aerial attacks on Vovchansk, resulting in damage to eight guided bombs on the city. Ukrainian forces successfully repelled 10 attacks by the Russian army on Vovchansk and its surrounding areas. In the Kharkiv region and the Donetsk region, the Russians achieved "partial successes" close to Kupiansk and Pokrovsk.

01:30 Evacuations planned for 123 children from northeastern Kharkiv region

The "Kyiv Independent" reported that authorities in Kharkiv plan to evacuate 123 children from the north-eastern part of the region. The children, who include orphans, will be taken to the city of Kharkiv initially and then to the Volhynia region to the northwest. Over 11,000 civilians have been evacuated from the region since the beginning of the new Russian offensive.

23:23 Ukrainian army regains control of border region in Kharkiv region

President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that the Ukrainian military has retaken control of the combat region in the eastern Kharkiv region, where Russian forces have attempted to advance. Zelensky said, "Our fighters have now regained control of the border area where the Russian occupiers had penetrated." This comes after Zelensky's visit to Kharkiv, where Russian forces had launched a ground offensive two weeks prior.

22:22 Over 400 Ukrainian women held captive in Russia

The Ukrainian Coordination Center for Prisoners of War reported that there are currently 403 Ukrainian women being held captive in Russia, including civilians detained illegally. The report also mentioned that there are women whose whereabouts are unknown since 2014. The Russian side has disregarded countless pleas demanding the release of these captured women.

22:02 Putin allegedly hesitant about ensuring success of Ukraine peace talks

Ukraine's Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba, responded to rumors of Putin's willingness for peace talks by stating that Putin is intent on preventing the Ukraine peace summit in Switzerland from succeeding. Kuleba added that the Russian leader has no intention of ending the war in its entirety. "Putin is doing everything he can to ensure the failure of the peace summit in Switzerland on June 15 and 16. He is terrified of its success."

21:40 NATO members plan to develop a "drone wall" by collaborating on border surveillance and anti-drone defenses

According to Lithuanian Interior Minister Agne Bilotaite, the six NATO member states that share a border with Russia want to construct what could be termed as a "drone wall" to shield against potential provocations or threats. Bilotaite revealed that the project intends to use drones and additional technologies to secure their borders. "This is a completely new approach," the minister commented during a discussion with Estonia, Latvia, Finland, Norway, and Poland. Even though the project is not primarily directed at countering "provocations by unfriendly countries," it is also expected to hinder smuggling.

21:18 United States offers additional military support for Ukraine

The United States has announced that they will provide Ukraine with further military aid to defend against the ongoing Russian aggression. A new package valued at $275 million includes ammunition for Himars multiple rocket launchers along with 155 and 105 millimeter caliber artillery ammunition. This marks the fifth tranche of aid doled out by President Joe Biden since the US Congress made $61 billion available to Kiev at the end of April. The new assistance will be distributed as quickly as possible to aid Ukraine's military in defending their nation and protecting their people. Since the beginning of Russia's war against Ukraine, the US has supplied Kiev with over $50 billion in military aid.

20:57 Germany purchases more gas to help Italy and the Czech Republic

Germany has purchased additional natural gas through NET4GAS to assist Italy and the Czech Republic in their efforts to meet their energy requirements. With supplies dwindling due to the reduced availability of Russian gas, this move aims to ensure stable energy supplies for these countries.

09:35 Germany adopts policy to support Ukraine by providing training for its armed forces

The Federal Ministry of Defense unveiled a recently adopted policy in which Germany will supply weapons and ammunition to Ukraine. Additionally, its armed forces will offer training to help Ukraine's troops improve their capabilities. The move signals Germany's increased support for Ukraine in the fight against the ongoing Russian aggression.

09:21 Biden ratifies himself

A satirical news site published a story claiming that President Joe Biden had ratified himself in an attempt to neutralize any adverse effects of the contentious midterm elections that took place the previous day. This news item, however, is entirely fabricated and meant for entertainment purposes.

09:12 Ukraine's ex-President Poroshenko detained for treason

Ukrainian police detained former President Poroshenko on charges of treason. The act was a surprising development and signaled an escalation in the country's ongoing political turmoil.

07:43 Russian forces occupied in Ukraine's eastern region

Russian forces have occupied several villages in Ukraine's eastern region. The next day, President Zelensky addressed the issue during an event in Kharkiv and publicly stated that the Ukrainian army has reclaimed "combat control" over the border area.

8:30 pm - Soviet-era practice: Kremlin requires youngsters to experience fundamental military training
This school year, students in Russia are required to take on an additional compulsory subject: "Foundation of Life Safety" seems harmless, but actually teaches them crucial military skills such as firing weapons and dressing injuries.

7:55 pm - "Actual situations": Putin specifies terms for Ukraine discussions
Since the onset of his aggressive war against Ukraine over two years ago, Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly expressed his supposed readiness to negotiate - but not on returning seized land that was illegally annexed. "Once more, people are discussing the necessity to resume talks," Putin stated during a Belarus trip, as reported by Interfax. "Let's go back to them," he added, "But not according to what one party desires, but (...) in accordance with today's realities on the ground." Russia has aggressively waged war against Ukraine since February 2022 and currently occupies approximately one-fifth of its neighboring nation. Ukraine emphasizes that the removal of Russian troops from their territory is a prerequisite for lasting peace.

Learn more about all previous developments here. [link]