Zelensky: Air defense is the solution to all issues.
Ukraine requires a minimum of seven Patriot air defense systems to protect their country from Russian assaults, as stated by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a reconstruction conference in Berlin. He praises Germany for providing three of these systems, emphasizing the importance of not letting Russia continue to attack Ukraine. Zelenskyy mentions that Russia is targeting Ukraine's energy supply, with half of the country's power capacity destroyed due to Russian strikes. Chancellor Olaf Scholz also addressed this conference and called for increased air defense for Ukraine. He urged allies to support a German initiative, pledging substantial and long-term support for the country's reconstruction. He will advocate for this at the upcoming G7 summit in Italy, inviting private companies to contribute as well. Many German companies with significant employment in the automotive sector are still operating in Ukraine, and despite the ongoing war, there have been no exits or shifts in trade volume.
11:15 Scholz requests increased air defense for Ukraine
Chancellor Olaf Scholz advocated for bolstered air defense against Russian attacks during the Ukrainian reconstruction conference in Berlin. During his opening speech, he encouraged allies to back the German initiative wholeheartedly. Besides, Scholz presented a comprehensive and long-term state commitment to Ukrainian reconstruction. He will promote these endeavors at the G7 gathering of leading Western economic powers in Italy, happening on Thursday. He also encourages private businesses to get involved in the rebuilding process. Hundreds of German companies operate in Ukraine, including those with a sizable workforce in the automotive industry with 35,000 employees. Despite the current conflict, Germany experiences no significant investment reductions, and trade volume remains significantly higher than pre-war levels. "The economy acknowledges Ukraine's potential," Scholz states.
10:59 Sorrow and determination: The bitterness of necessitating reconstruction surface in Isjum
In Berlin, the international reconstruction conference for Ukraine is taking place, including a visit from President Zelenskyy. In Isjum, ntv reporter Kavita Sharma meets with a homeowner and a power plant manager seeking aid.
10:41 Baerbock highlights the European standpoint on Ukraine
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock emphasizes Ukraine's European viewpoint. "We express in this reconstruction conference that we're not just countering Russia's brutal assault together, but we're also paving the way for Ukraine's entry into our European Union," says the Green politician upon arriving at the Ukrainian reconstruction conference in Berlin. Russian President Vladimir Putin seeks to annihilate the lifeblood of Ukraine with his brutal war of aggression, she remarks. "So we stand strong and united — not only defending and rebuilding economically, but more importantly, for Ukraine's inclusion into a united Europe," Baerbock notes. Citizens in Ukraine need electricity, water, and heat, especially when their essential services are compromised during Russian attacks, the minister adds. This is why it's crucial for the conference to convene politicians, mayors, companies, and organizations that can sustain life in Ukraine. The ultimate goal is for Ukraine to be safe and self-sufficient economically in the context of a united Europe.
10:35 Steinmeier hosts Zelenskyj at Schloss Bellevue
Ahead of the Ukraine reconstruction conference, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited Germany, where he was welcomed by President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at the Schloss Bellevue residence in Berlin. Steinmeier will participate in the conference and listen to Zelenskyi's speech in Germany's parliament. No information was provided about the conversation's contents. The two presidents met previously at Schloss Bellevue in a much more strained political climate in May of the previous year, when Steinmeier was set to journey with his Polish and Baltic counterparts to Kiev. However, he ultimately attended alone. Since then, the relationship between the two leaders has improved.
10:29 Zelenskyj's Berlin visit: S-Bahn operations temporarily halted
As President Zelenskyj arrived in Berlin for the reconstruction conference, S-Bahn (Berlin's local commuter train system) operations were temporarily suspended due to a visit by the Ukrainian leader. Train services resumed after his departure.
The Ukraine restoration gathering in Berlin is instigating significant disturbances in public transit. The Bahn indicates that the S-Bahn has suspended operations between Friedrichstraße and Tiergarten following a request from the police. Afflicted are several lines, as expressed in a proclamation from the S-Bahn. Railway trains are also prohibited from functioning and are being redirected. Through the two-day reconstruction conference, the German administration aspires to furnish Ukraine with a long-term growth viewpoint. The conference was inaugurated by Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the City Cube congress center in the Berlin district of Charlottenburg.
09:51 Russia and Belarus initiate second phase of nuclear exercise.
Russia and Belarus are initiating the second phase of their tactical nuclear exercise. The Russian Defense Ministry envisions the exercise in Russia is aimed to ensure that the military forces and equipment are prepared to safeguard the sovereignty and territorial integrity of both countries. This also entails the joint training of units from both sides for the employment of non-strategic nuclear weapons. Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the nuclear exercise last month in response to threats from France, Britain, and the United States in conjunction with the Ukraine conflict. These western allies have recently permitted Ukraine to utilize weapons furnished by them against military targets in Russia.
09:31 Sharma on "Race Against Time": What do the Ukrainians anticipate from reconstruction conference?
At the Ukraine restoration conference in Berlin, supposed to draw roughly 2,000 attendees from 60 countries, the emphasis is on connecting pertinent actors. NTV journalist Kavita Sharma enumerates the ambitions of Ukrainians and "allegations at an inconvenient period."
09:05 Hofreiter urges superior air defense of Ukraine.
The head of the European Affairs Committee in the German parliament, Anton Hofreiter, is advocating for improved air defense of Ukraine in relation to the Ukraine reconstruction conference. "A basic prerequisite for the restoration in Ukraine is extensive air defense. Only then can the Ukrainian energy infrastructure be protected, which was significantly harmed by Russian air raids," Hofreiter told the Rheinische Post. "Prompt European initiatives in the field of air defense are needed. It is essential that they can effectively counter Russian air raids." Hofreiter also advocates for more robust arms deliveries. "I anticipate that the Federal Chancellor will make explicit German support promises to the Ukrainian president," he says. "And he will articulate his support for the wishes of the president." FDP defense expert Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann also encourages the German administration to provide additional extensive weapons deliveries. "I anticipate that the Federal Chancellor will make explicit German support promises to the Ukrainian president," she says. "And he will openly validate the objectives of the president." Union faction vice-chairman Johann Wadephul also encourages the German government to supply more support to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during his trip to Berlin and to send Taurus missile launchers to Ukraine.
08:27 Former CDU Secretary General Czaja: German administration could expand battle in Ukraine further
Due to a lack of eastern individuals in the CDU echelon, viewpoints less predominantly championed by many East Germans exist, such as those regarding Russia and weapon delivery to Ukraine. This is what former CDU Secretary General Mario Czaja divulged in an interview with the Tagesspiegel. "I believe that we East Germans bring different experiences in dealing with Russia that West Germans have not gathered." In his perception, the present affirmation of the federal government to attack Russian objectives with Western weapons could potentially extend the war. "This is being obsessively followed with great apprehension and criticism by many people in East Germany," states the Berlin Bundestag member. "I cannot fathom German attack weapons touching Moscow's doors and striking civilians."
The target remains that Russian President Vladimir Putin, who commenced this violent war of intrusion, returns to the negotiation table, asserts Czaja. Nevertheless, caution should be exercised. The war should not expand further, "with more and more civilians perishing." The stance of Czaja and Michael Kretschmer, refusing to deliver Taurus missile launchers to Ukraine, signifies a minoritarian perspective in the CDU and is articulated with less frequency than it should be, says Czaja concerning the article (see also section 7:18 am).
08:08 Former US Secretary of State Pompeo urges more European support for Ukraine.
Former US Secretary of State and CIA Director Mike Pompeo advises more European support for Ukraine - primarily in the form of copious private sector investments. Reminiscent of the reconstruction of Germany after World War II, this should be conducted in Ukraine. "Today, as the war in Ukraine enters its third year, America and Europe must revert to this well-established method. They need to endeavor to revivify and expedite Ukraine with sizable foreign direct investments," writes Pompeo in a guest column for the Tagesspiegel. The Ukraine must be equipped to sustain its domestic infrastructure and economy. To heal from this war, the country requires an investment climate that facilitates a greater number of private investors investing in the restoration. "If this doesn't transpire, Putin has accomplished his objective of annihilating Ukraine - even if he fails to seize Kiev," analyzes the former American Secretary of State.
Ukraine has lost 520,850 Russian military personnel since the conflict began. This figure was recently announced by the Ukrainian Armed Forces General Staff through a Facebook update. The report also mentions that 1,100 Russian soldiers were injured in the past few days. The Ukrainian forces have documented the following Russian losses since February 24, 2022: 7,902 tanks, 15,176 armored vehicles, 18,676 vehicles and fuel tanks, 13,690 artillery systems, 1,099 multiple rocket launchers, 842 air defense systems, 359 aircraft, 326 helicopters, 11,023 drones, 28 ships and boats, and a submarine.
The Kyiv School of Economics (KSE) has conducted a study, which estimated the damage to Ukraine's energy infrastructure due to Russian airstrikes at $56.2 billion (~52 billion euros). The study includes financial losses sustained by energy companies due to lost revenue. The restoration of the damaged or destroyed infrastructure would require approximately $50.5 billion. Direct losses from the destruction of energy infrastructure by May stood at $16.1 billion. Power plants, power lines, and facilities in the oil and gas sector were among the worst hit. The loss incurred by energy companies due to the destruction totaled around $40 billion.
Johann Wadephul, a vice-president of the Union faction, has urged the supply of Taurus missiles to Kyiv during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's visit to Berlin. Wadephul stated, "I hope that President Zelensky doesn't have to make a supplication speech in the German Bundestag again, yet return home empty-handed." He emphasized the necessity of providing Ukraine with "the appropriate long-range weapons," especially the Taurus missiles. Zelensky is in Berlin to attend a two-day Ukraine reconstruction conference (read more at 07:18 and 06:37 am). Wadephul asserted that Ukraine needs all the support possible during this critical stage of the war with Russia. If Germany continues to withhold such support, it will have deadly consequences for both the war and European security.
A Russian SU-34 bomber suffered a crash during a training flight in the Caucasus, as per official statements. The deaths of the crew members have been confirmed. Government sources suggest that a technical malfunction might be the cause of the tragedy. The incident happened in the Russian republic of North Ossetia-Alania. The exact number of people onboard is still unknown.
Jürgen Hardt, a CDU Foreign Policy Expert, hailed the international Ukraine Rebuilding Conference as a "remarkable political and economic emblem of solidarity." He added that, "This conference instills hope among Ukrainians," as reported by the German Press Agency (de). He explained that the conference indicates "the free world's capacity to transform Ukraine into a modern and free nation." Hardt believes that a prosperous Ukraine would benefit Germany as well. The conference sets the path for Ukraine's entry into NATO and the EU, he added.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz is set to open the conference at 10:00 am. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will also be present (read more at 06:37 am).
Svenja Schulze, Germany's development minister, anticipates that the Ukraine Rebuilding Conference beginning in the morning in Berlin will send a powerful message of collaboration. She expressed to the German Press Agency that for two days, individuals from various locations around the world will convene in Berlin who not only envisage a more promising future for Ukraine but are actively working towards it. This conference demonstrates that there is a solid coalition backing Ukraine, including 60 countries, hundreds of organizations, municipalities, and representatives from civil society, Schulze elaborates. Russia has illegally invaded Ukraine, and the country requires "our undaunting support." She goes on to assert, "Ukraine is safeguarding our security and freedom." It is essential to address rebuilding processes under wartime circumstances. Schulze notes that Ukraine has no alternative but to begin reconstruction now. The people require housing, electricity, water, and hospitals in the present. Moreover, Ukraine requires the civilian support to endure the war. "It requires doctors, electricians, and craftsmen just as much as tanks," the minister maintains. Up to 2,000 attendees are projected to participate in the Rebuilding Conference until Wednesday, with participants stemming from political, commercial, and international realms. The conference doesn't serve as a donation event but focuses on expediting communication among the relevant actors.
05:24 USA removes training and weapons ban on Ukrainian Azov Regiment
The US government has supposedly lifted a ten-year training and weapons ban on the Ukrainian Azov Brigade. The "Washington Post" suggests: "Following a comprehensive review, the 12th Special Unit of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the Azov Brigade, has passed the Leahy Amendment examination conducted by the US State Department." The Leahy Law prevents the provision of military assistance to foreign units perpetrating human rights violations. Azov Brigade, which has right-wing and ultranationalist roots, has now integrated into the Ukrainian National Guard. Gathered in 2014, the regiment initially formed as a battalion that combatted the Russian-backed separatists who had declared independence in the eastern part of Ukraine.
02:34 Russian destroyer "Admiral Levchenko" experiences fire in Barents Sea
A Ukrainian Navy spokesperson reportedly commented on a fire aboard a Russian destroyer, "Admiral Levchenko," in the Barents Sea. As of now, the details of the situation remain unverified. The ship, packed with over 300 individuals, is seemingly battling for survival, writes Dmytro Pletenchuk on Facebook. It seems that an overheated engine caused the fire. "This transpires when the Russian regime encounters sanctions from Ukraine," Pletenchuk added. The "Admiral Levchenko" was commissioned by the Soviet Navy in 1988. Its engines were made in Ukraine's city of Mykolajiw, necessitating Ukrainian maintenance.
00:37 Rheinmetall and Ukraine inaugurate tank repair facility
German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall and Ukraine have reportedly inaugurated their first joint tank repair facility and manufacturing site. Per the Ukrainian Ministry of Strategic Industries, they have transferred the keys for repairing and maintaining the infantry fighting vehicle Marder. The first joint service center will enable prompt repair and maintenance of German equipment directly in Ukraine, according to the Ukrainian Defense Ministry in Kiev. Reports state that this will significantly boost the efficiency of the armed forces. In the joint production facility, Ukrainian specialists will operate while Rheinmetall representatives will offer technical guidance.
23:46 Zelensky arrives in Berlin
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has reportedly arrived in Berlin. He disclosed his plans on X in the evening. During his stay in Germany's capital, he will participate in the reconstruction conference for his country. He said, "I'll be conversing with Chancellor Scholz about additional defense aid, the expansion of the Ukrainian air defense system, and joint arm production." Tuesday afternoon, he is slated to address the German Parliament.
22:15 Russian ministry dismisses Austrian journalist
The Russian Foreign Ministry allegedly dismissed an Austrian journalist and ordered her to depart Russia. The ministry relayed this information. It is a reaction to the withdrawal of permanent accreditation for a Russian correspondent for Austrian state agency Tass in Austria, as it states. The Tass officer had to depart Vienna on June 7, after his accreditation expired on April 30. The Austrian government hasn't yet expounded upon its discriminatory decision.
21:44 Poland readies buffer zone on border with Belarus
Poland has decided to establish a buffer zone along its border with Belarus. The government gathered in Bialystok, eastern Poland, and ordered the Interior Ministry to produce a corresponding policy. The goal is to obstruct illegal migration smuggling across the Polish-Belarusian border and enhance working conditions for border guards, the military, and the police. The buffer zone will stretch 200 meters, yet in some places, it will encompass approximately two kilometers. Poland shares a 400-kilometer-long border with Belarus. Poland and the EU allege that Belarusian legislator Alexander Lukashenko implemented the migration smuggling to pressure the West.
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21:14 German Chamber of Commerce Supports Ukrainian Reconstruction Efforts
The German Industry and Commerce Chamber (DIHK) has urged for the expansion of certain security measures to facilitate German companies' involvement in the ongoing reconstruction process in Ukraine. DIHK's Managing Director, Martin Wansleben, stated their support for the German government's decision to maintain its foreign economic support for Ukraine in spite of the ongoing conflict. Wansleben emphasized the need for broadening the coverage of German investment guarantees, suggesting the use of reinsurance mechanisms to offset high costs and risks. This would facilitate financing for companies keen on investing in Ukraine.
Wansleben highlighted the importance of transparent information about available instruments for investments, export guarantees, and other forms of insurance, especially for German firms. In 2022 and 2023, German investment guarantees were provided for over 40 initiatives, he added.
20:41 32 Ukrainians Escaped to Hungary Using a Truck
Thirty-two Ukrainian men of military age (18-60) fled from western Ukraine to Hungary using a truck, as revealed by the Ukrainian border guard spokesperson, Andrij Demtschenko, on Ukrajinska Prawda. Border crossings are usually restricted for men of military age but they often resort to escaping across the green border to European Union countries or Moldova. Tragically, the bodies of several escaping men have been discovered in the Tissa (Theiss) river and in the Carpathians.
20:09 Germany & EU Boost Funding for Ukraine Support Fund
In preparation for the upcoming international reconstruction conference in Berlin, Germany and the European Union will increase their contributions to a GIZ project that assists Ukraine by a total of 75 million euros. Germany will increase its contribution from the current 27 million euros to 39 million euros while the EU Commission's contribution will rise from 18 million euros to 36 million euros. This project forms part of the Foreign Office's stabilization platform, aiming to provide practical assistance to build-up state and civil society actors in the war-torn regions.
Read also:
- President Zelenskyy calls for seven Patriot air defense systems to protect Ukraine from Russian attacks during a reconstruction conference in Berlin.
- Chancellor Scholz urges allies, including NATO members, to support increased air defense for Ukraine at the conference, citing Russian attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure.
- Russian military operations, including cyberwarfare, are targeted at Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, as highlighted by German Foreign Minister Baerbock and the German government's advocacy for Ukraine's European Union membership.
- Despite ongoing military operations, German companies continue to operate in Ukraine and have not experienced significant investment reductions or changes in trade volume.
