West Can't Alone Modify Russia's Perspective: Nehammer
Austria's Chancellor Karl Nehammer views the Switzerland conference regarding Ukraine as a potential escape from a stalemate. "We're stuck in a western bubble of agreement. That's not sufficient," Nehammer commented. The EU and US are seeking additional allies to intensify pressure on Moscow during the Ukraine conflict. "Without parts of Asia, Africa, and South America, it won't work for us to persuade the Russian Federation to change its stance," Nehammer pointed out. The attendance of India and Brazil – although not at a ministerial level – at the gathering is a "slight glimmer of hope," he said.
16:30 Zelenskyy predicts a historical peace summitUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy anticipates a significant event in Switzerland. "History will be crafted here," Zelenskyy stated. The summit is anticipated to address initial steps toward peace in Ukraine. However, experts and critics believe there will be minimal progress since Russia is absent from the conference. The conference organizers have planned three themes: nuclear security, food security, and humanitarian issues. The list of topics to discuss is substantially shorter than the contents of a ten-point plan that Zelenskyy suggested. In it, he demanded the withdrawal of Russian soldiers from occupied territories and the cessation of hostilities.
16:03 Weichert on peace conference: "The presence of Moscow's allies confounds"A peace conference in Switzerland aims to stop Russia's aggression against Ukraine. What can be anticipated from the conference without Russian representation? NTV reporter Weichert: "The guest list should grab Moscow's attention," he declared.
15:27 Zelenskyy sees pressure on Moscow escalatingUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy views the Switzerland peace conference as an opportunity to intensify pressure on Moscow. The two-day gathering of 92 countries and eight international organizations could reignite the idea that collective efforts can halt a war and foster trust and peace, Zelenskyy said before the delegations' deliberations began. "We've granted diplomacy a chance," he added. Meanwhile, the host moderates expectations for the conference. "Our objectives are modest," Swiss Federal President Viola Amherd stated. The objective is to initiate a process aimed at sustainable and just peace. Central to this is the significance of international law as the foundation of international order. "Russia's attack flagrantly violates this," Amherd said.
14:59 Helicopter carries US Vice President Harris to BürgenstockUS Vice President Kamala Harris arrived in Switzerland during the afternoon for the Ukraine peace conference. The Swiss news agency Keystone-sda reported this. Harris arrived by helicopter from Zurich Airport to the conference venue on Bürgenstock. She represents US President Joe Biden, who is currently campaigning in California. It's unclear whether there will be a joint declaration at the end. Several contentious issues persist among the delegations, and it's possible that there will be a declaration without consensus.
14:34 Russians display "Admiral Gorshkov"Moscow sends four Russian Navy ships to Cuba. Among them is an atomic-powered submarine and the warship "Admiral Gorshkov." The frigate will be the center of attention, as Russia invites viewers for a tour of the ship.
14:01 Does Germany block new Russia sanctions? Scholz denies accusationGerman Chancellor Olaf Scholz refutes allegations that Germany is hindering new EU sanctions against Russia within the EU. "It's not being blocked. We're discussing the practical implementation," Scholz tells Welt TV and other media outlets owned by the Axel Springer Group. "It's about ensuring that the German economy can keep functioning. Meanwhile, it's crucial to prevent goods, which would be destined for South America, Asia, or Africa, from finding their way to Russia by indirect routes," Scholz asserts. He remains hopeful that an agreement will soon be reached. "This is a matter of practicality, not a fundamental issue." The new sanctions proposal includes a series of measures against sanctions circumvention. In addition, for the first time, restrictions on Russian liquefied gas are being considered, but there's no import ban, as the European Parliament desires.
13:38 US announces additional aid packages for UkraineUS Vice President Kamala Harris announces a $1.5 billion aid package to support Ukraine's energy sector. The money is intended to help restore the energy infrastructure damaged by the war, according to Harris's office, which is participating in the Ukraine peace conference in Switzerland. Moreover, over $379 million in humanitarian aid for Ukraine was planned.
13:18 Hunter clarifies questions about the summit: Will there be a conference with Putin after Switzerland?After the G7 summit, Ukraine's supporting countries will meet for a peace conference in Switzerland. What can be anticipated from this meeting, and what further steps does a peace plan for Ukraine necessitate? NTV speaks about this with political scientist Thomas Hunter:
12:43 Swedish fighter jets intercept Russian military aircraftA Russian military aircraft allegedly breached Swedish airspace on Friday, according to Swedish military reports. The aircraft entered Swedish airspace east of the Baltic Sea island of Gotland and disregarded warnings, the Swedish military reports. Two Swedish fighter jets then intercepted the SU-24. Previously, the Finnish border guard had expressed doubts that as many as four Russian military aircraft had entered Finnish airspace on the previous Monday. Sweden has repeatedly expressed concerns about a possible Russian attack, particularly regarding the strategically vital island of Gotland.
12:07 Brigade: No nation at peace will ever grasp the realities of modern warfare.
The 47th Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian military frequently engages in intense battles, utilizing US Bradley combat tanks of the M1A1 model among other equipment. This foreign military hardware is claimed to be highly maintenance-intensive by the brigade, as they strive to maintain and enhance every piece of equipment, particularly foreign ones, to better understand the realities of modern warfare. The Bradley's notable features include impressive accuracy, outstanding stability, and remarkable maneuverability, despite its considerable weight. The tank is highly versatile, capable of day and night combat thanks to its advanced thermal imaging cameras.
11:35: Reports indicate several fatalities and injures in Russian city Schebekino, following Ukrainian attacks on its border. Four bodies were recovered from a destroyed house, and a woman died in the hospital. Six civilians were reportedly injured during the attacks on Friday evening. Schebekino, a city with 40,000 residents, lies in the south of the Russian region Belgorod, which borders the Ukrainian region of Kharkiv. Russian troops have been conducting a ground offensive in the area since May 10.
10:56: Confirmation arrives that a drone swarm attack took place on the Morosovsk airfield in Russia, according to the Ukrainian military intelligence head, Kirillo Budanov. Approximately 70 drones were involved in the attack, and Su-34 fighter jets were allegedly stationed on the base. The exact number of jets hit, Russian losses, and the assessment's completion are yet to be determined.
10:15: Recent Ukrainian military operations focus on targeting Russian air defense systems in preparation for employing their own Sukhoi Su-24 aircraft equipped with British and French cruise missiles, as well as F-16 combat jets. Ukrainian officials aim to achieve air superiority over the Russian forces. The first F-16s are expected to carry out combat missions this summer, signifying the beginning of a new phase. However, the initial deployment of combat jets may be limited due to a shortage of pilots. These F-16s could potentially intercept aircraft launching bombs from Russian territory onto Ukraine.
09:33: Olaf Scholz, the German Chancellor, has stated that Putin's peace proposals for initiating peace talks were not discussed at the G7 summit, as they were not considered sincere but rather related to the conference in Switzerland. Putin had presented conditions for peace talks with the Ukrainian government, including the abandonment of Ukraine's intentions to join NATO and the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from regions annexed by Russia.
09:01: According to Ntv-Reporter Holger Schmidt-Denker, the G7 summit in Italy has concluded, and the peace conference in Switzerland is about to begin. Not all G7 participants will be attending the peace conference.
08:35: Christoph Heusgen, the chief of the Munich Security Conference, expects no political progress from the Ukraine peace conference in Switzerland this weekend. The summit is primarily aimed at demonstrating solidarity, with representatives from countries across the globe attending to show support for Ukraine and challenge Russia's defiance of the international rule-based order.
07:47: Military expert Nico Lange believes the peace conference in Switzerland could set a process in motion that might eventually involve Russia. Addressing concerns about Ukraine's preparedness, Lange highlighted generally accepted principles such as no blockade of food supplies, no nuclear weapons, and exchange of prisoners of war. However, he added that Russia will only be open to serious weapons peace negotiations under military pressure in Ukraine. Putin continues to harbor hope that the Americans and Europeans will relent in their support for Ukraine.
The head honcho of defense conglomerate KNDS fails to grasp that the contemporary German administration is beefing up Germany's defensive infrastructure. From contracts, he observes no turnaround. In a conversation with FAZ, Frank Haun, who manufacturers the Leopard 2 battle tank among other things, stated, "The majority of our orders for 2023 didn't originate from Germany, but from other NATO countries." Yet, he emphasized, "We only hold approximately 300 combat-ready battle tanks in Germany. Thus, I often say: Augsburg can still be defended, but Munich and Berlin, not so much."
In an interview with La Tribune, French EU Commissioner Thierry Breton revealed that the European Union will become capable of manufacturing 1.7 million significant 155mm artillery shells by the year's end, with 2 million projected for the following year. "Our aim is to reach 2.5 million. I believe we should reach that by the end of 2025," Breton stated. The EU has launched a program of 500 million Euros to fund a series of factories for the production of munitions. The Ukraine has suffered a significant lack of 155mm artillery shells in comparison to the Russian side for quite some time.
According to the Belgian EU presidency, the EU nations have consented, in principle, to launch accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova. The first government meetings are scheduled for June 25th. The decision needs formal confirmation at an EU Council meeting on June 21st, and the approval of the Netherlands Parliament is also necessary. The President of the European Council of Heads of State and Government, Charles Michel, announced in the X online service about the primary decision, stating that the EU will stick to its promises and aid Ukraine and Moldova "on the path to membership." In June, the European Commission had already certified that Ukraine and Moldova had met all the conditions for the start of accession talks.
Deadly and injurious incidents occurred in attacks in Russia and Ukraine. Six individuals were killed in the Russian region of Belgorod, according to Russian authorities. Four of them were found in the wreckage of a multi-story building in Schebekino. A man was struck by a Ukrainian drone in his car, and a woman was slain by rocket fire in the further west located settlement of Oktjabrski in her house, reported the governor of the region, Wjatscheslaw Gladkow. On the Ukrainian side, a person was slain in Schostka in the Sumy region, according to Ukrainian military reports. The people of the Sumy region continue to endure daily Russian attacks.
Russia is allegedly making preparations for the possible transportation of cultural heritage and historical artifacts from the annexed Crimea. Ukrainian news portal Ukrajinska Prawda reported this based on a letter from the Russian-led "Culture Ministry" of Crimea to museum directors about potential "evacuations." The Russians are reportedly expediting the categorization and evaluation of exhibits with electronic registers. The Ukrainian Center for National Resistance fears that the most valuable artifacts from Crimea could be relocated to internationally recognized Russian territory.
Twelve Ukrainian children, held in Russian-controlled areas, have returned to areas under Kiev control according to Ukrainian authorities. The children, consisting of three boys and nine girls aged between 2 and 17, were brought back from the southern region of Kherson to the Ukrainian-controlled side, as announced by the region's governor, Oleksandr Prokudin, on Telegram. Ukraine accuses Moscow of having abducted nearly 20,000 Ukrainian children from eastern and southern parts of the country since the invasion began in February 2022. Many more children live under Moscow's control. The return of the children is among the diplomatic priorities of the Ukrainian government.
According to Russian reports, Ukraine is shelling a gas transshipment terminal for Russian gas exports in Russia. The governor of the region Kursk, Alexei Smirnov, announced on Telegram that Ukraine had attacked several settlements, including the city of Sudja. The last functioning distribution center for Russian gas exports to Europe via Ukraine is located there. Smirnov mentions no damage to the gas infrastructure but reports that two people were injured and a house was destroyed. The responsible Ukrainian operating company states that the Russian gas transit was not affected by the attacks.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin cannot dictate terms for peace to Ukraine. "Putin has illegally seized sovereign Ukrainian territory," Austin said after a NATO Defense Ministers meeting in Brussels. "We don't want a leader of a country to wake up one day and decide to erase the borders of his neighbor and annex its territory. That's not the world we all want to live in." Putin cannot impose his will on Ukraine for peace. Putin could conclude this war today. Putin previously demanded the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from areas he had officially annexed as a prerequisite for a possible peace settlement, including areas that Russia had annexed but not yet controlled. At the same time, he repeated all the demands he had made at the beginning of the war he ordered in February 2022. He called for a neutral, non-aligned, and nuclear-free Ukraine. Ukraine must also "de-Nazify" - a term that Russia understands to mean a government in Kiev that is favorable to Moscow.
Here's a less formal rephrasing of the text maintained in the same format as the original:
9:45 PM Germany ain't down with new sanctions against Russia, yoOriginally, the EU gang was planning to discuss a 14th round of sanctions against Russia during their usual powwow with the bigwigs. But Germany had some misgivings about the plan, and those weren't squared away yet. The kickoff of negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova is a significant move - especially for Kiev. An Ukraine peace summit goes down in Switzerland this Saturday.
9:34 PM EU-mates give Ukraine and Moldova a thumbs-up for negotiationsThe EU crowd pretty much agreed to start talks with Ukraine and Moldova. The Belgian EU Presidency made the announcement in Brussels.
9:07 PM Finland claims four Russian jets invaded their airspaceThe Finnish Border Guard says they've got their suspicions that four Russian military jets buzzed the airspace of that Northern European country last Monday. At first, they only thought one aircraft was at fault. As the investigation unfolded, it seemed like three more aircraft also crossed the line. They reckon it was probably two bombers and two fighter jets.
8:36 PM Putin pitches a global security system, and he invites NATO to the partyRussian leader Vladimir Putin thinks the "Western model" for worldwide security is bust, he said. The European-transatlantic system is unraveling, Putin told his pals from the Russian Foreign Ministry. The world is at a point where there's no turning back. He accuses the USA of screwing up global security by backing out of arms control agreements. Putin wants a new global security system. It'll be open to everyone, even NATO.
8:09 PM Putin claims 700,000 Russian soldiers are fighting in UkraineAccording to Russian President Vladimir Putin, 700,000 Russian soldiers are battle-hardened in Ukraine. He said there were 617,000 soldiers in December. In May, the British intel people estimated around 500,000 Russian soldiers were KIA or wounded since the start of the invasion. Mediazona and the Russian BBC branch say 136,500 Russian soldiers have been killed. Based on public info, around 50,000 Russian soldiers' deaths have been verified. The Kremlin only officially acknowledged around 6,000 deaths in September 2022.
Read also:
- Nehammer emphasizes the importance of including countries beyond the EU and US in efforts to change Russia's stance during the Ukraine conflict, suggesting that the attendance of India and Brazil at the Switzerland conference is a "slight glimmer of hope."
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Selenskyy sees the Switzerland peace conference as an opportunity to intensify pressure on Russia and believes that collective efforts can halt a war and foster trust and peace. He had proposed a ten-point plan demanding the withdrawal of Russian soldiers from occupied territories and the cessation of hostilities, but the conference's list of topics is substantially shorter.
- Russia is reportedly preparing for the potential transportation of cultural heritage and historical artifacts from the annexed Crimea, fearing that valuable artifacts could be relocated to internationally recognized Russian territory.
- According to Nato sources, Russian military operations in Ukraine have focused on targeting Nato air defense systems in preparation for employing their own Sukhoi Su-24 aircraft equipped with British and French cruise missiles, aiming to achieve air superiority over Russian forces in Ukraine.
