Russia-Ukraine war: EU approves 9 billion euros in additional aid to Ukraine

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki stated that European Union (EU) has approved a new package of 9 billion euros in aid to Ukraine. "Ukraine is a state at war, it has no funds to pay for many public services," he said, as per Kyiv Independent. 

Amid the ongoing ravaging war in Eastern Europe, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has expressed its concerns about the well-being of the Ukrainian employees at the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP)-- one of the world's largest nuclear power plants located in southeastern Ukraine. The UN nuclear watchdog has repeatedly stated that sending a mission to Zaporizhzhia is necessary because the situation there puts the safety of the workers at risk. "The agency is increasingly concerned about the difficult conditions in which the personnel of the Zaporizhzhia NPP work in Ukraine," the IAEA wrote in a Twitter post. 

A senior US defence official claimed that the newly announced batch of four High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) will be delivered to Ukraine by mid-July. The official also stated that the first batch of four HIMARS has already been delivered to the war-torn country. 

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that Moscow has no illusions that the European Union would soon change its stance towards Russia and abandon its Russophobic policies. His remarks came after he met his Azerbaijani counterpart Jeyhun Bayramov in Baku and held a discussion on Friday. "We have no illusion that the EU’s current Russophobic mindset will somehow dissipate or change in the foreseeable future, and to be honest, in the long term, too. But this is the path that the Europeans have chosen," Lavrov states, the TASS news agency reported. 

Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu met his Belarusian counterpart Viktor Khrenin and underscored the need to strengthen their military capabilities in the wake of an "undeclared war" by the West. After the meeting in Moscow, Shoigu also termed Belarus as Russia's "most important strategic partner, closest friend and ally." He further claimed that bilateral collaboration between two Union State members is developing despite the undeclared war by the West. 

"Circumstances dictate the necessity of urgent measures to fortify the defence capabilities of the Union State, including the reinforcement of an integrated air defence system," Shoigu stated, adding that Russia is ready to provide any support Belarus might need, RT News reported. 

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov claimed that the European Union (EU) and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) are mulling forming a "coalition" to essentially prepare for a war with Russia. Speaking about the accession of Ukraine and Moldova to the EU, Lavrov stated that it is not a military-political bloc, therefore, unlike NATO, the expansion of its relations with other nations does not pose any threats to Russia. "The European Union, together with NATO, is gathering a sort of modern coalition to fight, essentially, a war with the Russian Federation,” Lavrov said, adding Russia will "monitor this very closely," CNN reported. 

Poland is getting a loan of 450 million euros ($474 million) from a European human rights group to help it cope with the influx of refugees fleeing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Poland and the Council of Europe Development Bank signed the loan agreement Friday.

Some 4.3 million refugees crossed into Poland after Russia invaded Ukraine in February. Poland is providing them with free shelter, social and medical care, education and job opportunities. Many have moved on to other countries and some have decided to go back home, but an estimated half of the number remains in Poland.

Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki singled out the European Union earlier this month, saying it’s decision-making procedures are “sometimes too slow.” The Council of Europe includes 46 countries, including EU members, and aims to protect human rights, democracy and the rule of law.

(AP)

As the Moscow-Kyiv war has reached its 121st day, Moldova and war-torn Ukraine are planning to restart the railway services which include the freight train operations, in autumn of this year. According to a Ukrinform report, this statement has been made by the Moldovan Ministry of Infrastructure and Regional Development.  

“The freight railway route in the Berezino (Ukraine)-Basarabeasca (Moldova) railway section will be opened this autumn in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding between the Moldovan Infrastructure and Regional Development Ministry and the Ukrainian Infrastructure Ministry,” citing the statement, Ukrinform reported.  

Read more.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson asserted that North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and Group of Seven (G7) ministers should not pressure Ukraine into concessions to Russia. "I think that would be a disaster. It would be a trigger for further escalation by Russian President Vladimir Putin whenever he wanted," he claimed. 
 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that his nation is “grateful” to US President Biden for the latest package of $450 million in military assistance. According to the Biden administration, the United States will provide the war-torn nation with four more multiple launch rocket systems and artillery ammunition for other systems. 
We're grateful to USPresident @POTUS  and the American people for the decision to provide another $450 million defense aid package to Ukraine. This support, including additional HIMARS, is now more important than ever. By joint efforts, we will free Ukrainian land from the Russian aggressor!" Zelenskyy wrote in a Twitter post. 

Amid the ongoing ravaging war with Ukraine which continues unabated, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov claimed that the collective West is afraid of honest competition and, as a result, behaves deceitfully by cancelling the culture of any nation with a strong national identity. "The West is scared of honest competition, this is widely known. This is why they ‘cancel’ the culture of any country speaking from its own nationally oriented positions, prohibit TV channels from broadcasting, ban unwanted politicians on social networks and remove everything from the public space that disagrees with the neo-liberal concept of the world order," he told the national broadcaster of Belarus, the TASS news agency reported. 

During an address to the Hebrew University of Jerusalem on June 23, embattled Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stepped up his criticism of Israel's failure to sanction Russia. Four months into Russia's assault on Ukraine, Zelenskyy's address comes amid a new political crisis in Israel, with Foreign Minister Yair Lapid set to replace Naftali Bennett as prime minister of the country within days.

Bennett has refrained from criticising Russia's incursion and has emphasised Israel's close relations with Moscow and Kyiv, despite the fact that his administration has not sanctioned Russian President Vladimir Putin's government. Notably, Lapid condemned Russia's actions as a "violation of the world order" a few days after the onset of the invasion on February 24.

Read more. 

The Prosecutor General of Ukraine alleged that the Russian occupiers have killed as many as 338 children in Ukraine and wounded more than 610 since the onset of the war. "More than 948 children were injured in Ukraine during 4 months of full-scale armed aggression of the Russian Federation in our country. According to official information from juvenile prosecutors, 338 children died and more than 610 were injured. The most affected children in Donetsk region – 335, Kharkiv – 177, Kyiv – 116, Chernihiv – 68, Luhansk – 55, Kherson – 52, Mykolaiv – 48, Zaporizhia – 31, Sumy – 17," it wrote on its Telegram Channel. 

At least 3 killed, 2 injured in Donetsk Oblast due to Russian shelling on the morning of June 24, stated the Governor, according to Kyiv Independent.

The British Defense Intelligence claimed that Russians are compelled to employ retired pilots to fly warplanes due to the high death toll in the air force amid the ongoing war. "The use of retired personnel, now working as Wagner contractors, to conduct close air support missions indicates that the Russian air force likely is struggling to support the invasion of Ukraine with sufficient aircrew. This is likely due to a combination of Russia’s insufficient numbers of suitably trained personnel and its combat losses," the UK Defence Ministry tweeted. 

During the European Union (EU) summit in Brussels, leaders of the bloc alleged that Russia is solely responsible for the global food security crisis. The EU leaders also blamed Russia for attempting to "weaponize food" in its war against Ukraine. During the meeting, the European Council also called on Russia to unblock the Black Sea in order to allow the export of grain and commercial shipping operations. In addition, the Council also stated that Russia must immediately stop targeting agricultural facilities. 

United States Senate committee has adopted a resolution recognizing Russia as State Sponsor of Terrorism. If approved by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Russia would become the fifth country on the US State Department list, which already includes Cuba, North Korea, Iran, and Syria.

A recently declassified US intelligence report revealed that the Russian Navy has been instructed to mine the ports of Odesa and Ochakiv as part of a blockade of Ukrainian grain shipments. It also stated that the Russian Navy has already mined the Dnieper River -- the longest river in Ukraine and Belarus. According to satellite photographs released by US officials, the second-largest grain facility in Ukraine, located close to Mykolaiv, was damaged by Russian missile attacks earlier in June.

In addition, storage tanks for sunflower oil were also attacked in Mykolaiv on June 22. This came at a time when the suspension of food exports is posing a threat of global famine. Meanwhile, Russia has refuted accusations that it planted mines around Black Sea ports and has shifted the blame to Kyiv, asserting that Ukraine has mined its own ports. According to US intelligence, Russia has been laying a coordinated plan to cut off the stretch of the coastline that is still under Ukrainian control. 

Read more here

In a key development, US National Security Council coordinator John Kirby said on Friday that India has been invited to G7 because the agenda is “deep and diverse" and it is not about trying to splinter them off from Russia.

“It is not about trying to splinter them off or coax them away from any other association or partnership that they might have with another country. That’s not the goal here. The goal is to unify around a set of common principles and initiatives,” Kirby said, adding, “G7 wants to advance in terms of climate change, energy, and food security.”

Read more here

Serhiy Haidai, chief of the Luhansk Regional Military Administration said on Facebook that Ukrainian defenders of Siverodonetsk will move out of the city to take up more fortified positions. He said, "The Armed Forces will have to move away from Siverodonetsk. Our defenders have already received such an order. The rucists have almost destroyed Siverodonetsk, all critical infrastructure was wiped out, 90% of the city was damaged, 80% of residential buildings will have to be demolished as they can’t be restored. Russian troops are advancing in the direction of Lysychansk from Toshkivka-Zolote. Enemy reconnaissance and subversive groups have already entered the suburbs, while attacks to penetrate farther into the city have been repulsed".

Ukraine's armed forces on Friday posted the latest casualties of the Russian army including other inflicted losses. 

Ukraine's Air Force Command said on Telegram that “On June 23, 2022, Su-25 attack aircraft and Su-24m bombers launched powerful air strikes on [Russian] occupation troops and logistics centres", according to Ukrinform.

General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook said in its latest update that the Ukrainian military successfully stifled Russia’s offensive operations near Borivske. It said, "In the Siverodonetsk direction, the enemy fired from tanks, mortars, artillery and jet artillery near Lysychansk, Siverodonetsk, Bila Hora, Vovchoyarivka, Spirne and Berestove. It struck air strikes on the settlements of Lysychansk and Borivske. Fighting continues for the city of Siverodonetsk. The occupiers launched an offensive near the settlement of Myrna Dolyna, and hostilities continue. Our soldiers successfully stopped the enemy's offensive near Borivske."

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reports that Belarus might provide assistance to the Russian army in the form of military equipment, which is currently being put out of service.
 

 Moldova’s Ministry of Infrastructure and Regional Development has said Ukraine and Moldova are planning to resume railway services, namely freight railway operations, as soon as this autumn, according to Ukrinform. 

“The freight railway route in the Berezyno (Ukraine)-Basarabeasca (Moldova) railway section will be opened this autumn in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding between the Moldovan Infrastructure and Regional Development Ministry and the Ukrainian Infrastructure Ministry,” the ministry stated.

In the wee hours of Friday, Russian troops opened fire on Zaporizhzhia Region with multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS). Reportedly, some infrastructure facilities were damaged, said Zaporizhzhia Regional State Administration on Facebook. “Last night the enemy insidiously fired at Zaporizhzhia Region with MLRS. According to the preliminary data, infrastructure facilities were hit in a settlement located close to the regional centre,” it stated.

On Thursday, Russian Finance Ministry fulfilled its Eurobonds obligations using a new mechanism enabling it to transfer payments in rubles for the first time, according to TASS. Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said on Thursday, the termination of Eurobond payouts in foreign currency and the transition to payment in rubles does not translate to international debt default, stated the report.

US think tank, Institute for the Study of War has suggested that Russian offensive operations are likely to stall in Donbas in the coming weeks. It said that Russian forces have made substantial gains in the Sievierodonetsk-Lysychansk area over the last several days and Ukrainian troops continue to suffer high casualties.

United States embassy in Russia pressured Kremlin this week to reveal the whereabouts of the two Americans captured in Ukraine while fighting against Russian forces, revealed the mother of one of the two Alabama men who are declared as “mercenaries” by the authorities in so-called Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR). Alexander Drueke and Andy Tai Ngoc Huynh were captured in DPR after being captured in Kharkiv while fighting in the Ukrainian forces. Even though both Americans were a part of the Ukrainian army for several years, the DPR court handed them death penalities for putting the “endangering” lives of Russian forces. 

Drueke's mother, Lois “Bunny” Drueke said late Wednesday that her son and Huynh were not mercenaries but volunteers in the Ukrainian army as she pushed back on the claims made by Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov in an NBC News interview earlier this week.  Lois also stressed that both Americans deserve humane mandated by the treaties collectively known as Geneva Conventions after Peskov declared that Drueke and Huynh were not applicable for the same, according to The Guardian.
 

United States will send another US$450 million in military aid to Ukraine in addition to several additional medium-range rocket systems in its latest bid to bolster the war-hit country’s resistance against Russians. The Biden administration has bankrolled millions of dollars in defence and humanitarian aid to Ukraine while also slapping unprecedented sanctions on Russia and its top leaders. Notably, the latest package announced on Thursday encompasses not only funds and artillery rocket systems but also tactical vehicles that are used to tow away howitzers.

In a statement, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken said: “Pursuant to a delegation of authority from the President, I am authorizing our thirteenth drawdown of arms and equipment from U.S. Department of Defense inventories for Ukraine’s defense since August 2021, of up to $450 million." It is to mention that the authorisation will take the total US security aid to Ukraine to over USD 6.1 billion since Moscow launched its “unprovoked” invasion of Ukraine on February 24.

Read more here

Ukraine's Operational Command "South" had reported on June 23 that they inflicted five strikes on the Russian positions on the southern frontlines over the past 24 hours and destroyed military equipment, including howitzers and several armoured vehicles. Additionally, Ukraine’s military killed 44 Russian troops and destroyed equipment in southern Ukraine.

French Minister of Energy Agnès Pannier-Runacher has said, "We can do without Russian gas, this assumes that all LNG tankers arrive on time and that we can comfortably fill our strategic storage facility", according to Le Figarо.

Hours after the European Union agreed to put Ukraine and Moldova on a path toward EU membership, German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, congratulated both countries and termed it "good cooperation in the European family." Taking to Twitter, he wrote, "27 times yes!" - Olaf Scholz congratulated #Ukraine and #Moldova. "The European Council welcomes two new candidates for #EU membership," wrote the #German chancellor and wished the two countries "good joint work in the #European family."

Russian President Vladimir Putin, on Thursday, asserted that the global economy was suffering due to the “ill-conceived and selfish actions of certain states.” As Russia's war on Ukraine lingers on, the West has retaliated by slapping gruelling sanctions on the Russian Federation. Addressing BRICS leaders, Putin accused the West of shifting their own policy mistakes onto the rest of the world and asked them to ensure cooperation. Notably, BRICS is a collaborative group of five emerging economies of the world vis-a-vis Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. 

French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday called the EU's decision to grant Ukraine candidate status for the bloc "a very strong message". Meeting at a summit in Brussels, leaders of the EU's 27 nations mustered the required unanimous approval to grant Ukraine candidate status. That sets in motion a membership process that could take years or even decades.
"From day one of this conflict Europe has been reacting in a quick, historic and united way. Firstly with the sanctions, then macroeconomic, military and financial support and now by this political gesture," Macron said.

Nike will fully shut down operations in Russia, joining other international companies that have withdrawn from the country after its brutal invasion of Ukraine. Nike Inc. suspended operations three months ago at all of its company-owned and operated stores in Russia but like other major corporations, has attempted to avoid exposing employees to hardship during a complete withdrawal. The Russian newspaper Vedomosti reported last month that Nike had ended its relationship with Inventive Retail Group, its largest franchisee in the country.

While addressing the BRICS summit virtually with the member countries-- Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa-- Russian President Vladimir Putin said, "The countries of our bloc are deepening cooperation on the entire range of issues on the global and regional agenda. And every year the authority of the BRICS and its influence on the global stage is steadily increasing." Further, criticising the West for imposing sanctions on Moscow, the President urged the members to cooperate in the face of "selfish actions". He underscored that "only an honest" and mutually beneficial cooperation can fix the critical situation tailored by the Western sanctions. 

Leaders from the Western Balkans expressed frustration Thursday that they are still waiting in the European Union’s wings even as candidacy bids by Ukraine and Moldova were swiftly embraced by EU leaders.

A Bulgarian government crisis tarnished an EU summit that was intended to bolster the EU membership hopes of Balkan countries and to show Western resolve in the face of Russia’s war in Ukraine but instead ended in a frustration for the Balkans.

Bulgaria’s parliament passed a no-confidence vote Wednesday in the coalition government of Prime Minister Kiril Petkov, putting up a new obstacle to the long-delayed start of the EU’s accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania.

The Ministry of Justice of Ukraine announces that it has filed the first part of Ukraine’s substantive submissions in its application before the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, France, concerning the violations of the European Convention on Human Rights committed by the Russian Federation in the conduct of its illegal invasion of the sovereign territory of Ukraine.
According to the statement released by the ministry, the filing made by Ukraine addresses Russia’s egregious human rights violations during the initial phase of the war, from the onset of Russia's invasion in the early hours of 24 February 2022 until the effective withdrawal of its ground forces from around Kyiv and other cities in northern Ukraine on 7 April 2022 (Russia’s violations in the period thereafter will be addressed by Ukraine in subsequent filings).
 

Poland's Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said it was "an absolutely historic moment for the European Union nations" after they agreed Thursday to put Ukraine on a path toward EU membership. Meeting at a summit in Brussels, leaders of the EU's 27 nations mustered the required unanimous approval to grant Ukraine candidate status. That sets in motion a membership process that could take years or even decades. The EU also gave candidate status to the tiny country of Moldova, another former Soviet republic that borders Ukraine.

The West should not underestimate Russia’s military capabilities in Ukraine, Estonia’s leader told The Associated Press, saying that as the war enters its fifth month, Moscow’s forces are in it for the long haul.

Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said in an interview Wednesday that Europe should ensure that those committing war crimes and attempted genocide are prosecuted, noting that Russian President Vladimir Putin escaped punishment for annexing the Crimean Peninsula in 2014 and supporting an insurgency in eastern Ukraine’s Donbas region that killed over 14,000 people even before this year’s war began.

“I’ve heard talks that, you know, there is no threat anymore because they have exhausted themselves. No, they haven’t,” she said of the Russian military, which failed to take Kyiv in the early stages of the war and is now concentrating its firepower in the east.

“They have plenty of troops still who can come (to fight) — They are not counting the lives that they are losing. They are not counting the artillery that they are losing there. So I don’t think that we should underestimate them in the longer term to still keep this up,” Kallas said, despite the low morale and corruption troubling Moscow’s forces.

AP

The Russian military extended its grip on territory in eastern Ukraine as it seeks to cut supply lines and encircle frontline Ukrainian forces, while the Ukrainian military announced Thursday the arrival of powerful U.S. multiple-launch rocket systems it hopes will offer a battlefield advantage.  Ukrainian forces withdrew from some areas near the city of Lysychansk to avoid being surrounded as Russians sent in reinforcements and concentrated their firepower in the area, Britain’s Defense Ministry said. The city is located in Luhansk province, a major battlefield in Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war against Ukraine.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday said the decision of the European Union (EU) to give his country candidate status is a victory that Ukraine has been waiting for during 120 days of the war and the 30 years of its independence.

“It’s a victory. We have been waiting for 120 days and 30 years,” he said on Instagram, referring to the duration of the war and the decades since Ukraine became independent upon the breakup of the Soviet Union. “And now we will defeat the enemy.”

The European Union agreed Thursday to put Ukraine on a path toward EU membership, acting with uncharacteristic speed and unity to pull the embattled country further away from Russia’s influence and bind it more closely to the West. Meeting at a summit in Brussels, leaders of the EU’s 27 nations mustered the required unanimous approval to grant Ukraine candidate status. That sets in motion a membership process that could take years or even decades. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy tweeted his gratitude and declared: “Ukraine’s future is within the EU.”

Expressing grave concerns over the alleged recruitment of mercenaries by the Ukrainian Embassy in the United States, Russia has urged the Biden administration to intercept such "open activities" by Kyiv. In a commentary published by Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on Thursday, she warned both US and Ukraine that alleged unlawful activities may trigger unpredictable international consequences as it contradicts the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. According to Zakharova, the open recruitment of mercenaries not only create a direct threat to the safety of the US citizens but also openly contradicts its diplomatic status. She reiterated that the Biden administration must acknowledge the alleged "unlawful activities" and demanded strong action against those involved in the recruitment procedure.

As the ravaging war between Russia and Ukraine continues unabated, a senior Russian senator has blamed the  G7 leadership's 'irresponsibility and geopolitical selfishness' for the prevailing situation in Kyiv. "G7 leaders are directly responsible for the tragedy in Ukraine, or should I say it is because of their irresponsibility and geopolitical egoism, to be precise," Konstantin Kosachev, deputy speaker of the Russian Federation Council, wrote on his Telegram channel, the TASS news agency reported. 

He also condemned a high-ranking US official for his recent comments on the vision of the inter-governmental political forum. 

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has called Russia's military offensive against Ukraine "the most urgent threat" faced by them and asserted that it has "shattered peace" in Europe. In an interview with Politico, Stoltenberg stated that NATO will continue to support their partners "that are vulnerable to Russian threats", including Georgia, Bosnia and Herzegovina. He announced that they will "step up political and practical support" for the partners that face threats from Russia and help them in bolstering their resilience and stop any future aggression. 

The US will send another $450 million in military aid to Ukraine, including some additional medium-range rocket systems, U.S. officials said Thursday. The latest package will include a number of High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, or HIMARS. The initial four that the US sent have already gone into Ukraine and are in the hand of troops there. The package will also include ammunition and other supplies. The new aid comes just a week after the U.S. announced it will send an additional $1 billion in military aid to Ukraine, as America and its allies send Ukraine the longer-range systems that they believe will allow forces to better fight back against Russia. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity to provide details ahead of an announcement.

AP

Germany has decided to enter Phase 2 of its three-stage emergency gas plan. On Thursday, Economy Minister Robert Habeck announced that the country would enter this phase of the initiative formed to tackle the gas crisis. Notably, this development comes at a time Russia, Germany's top gas supplier, has reduced fuel supply over tensions with the West on the invasion of Ukraine. Read full story. 

Emine Dzheppar, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, tweeted that Russian shelling in the Mykolaiv region destroyed 80 hectares of wheat crop in one day. She claimed that Ukrainian emergency services prevented the shelling-induced fire to spread further to 215 hectares and accused Russia of continuing to play the hunger games. Notably, the Russia-Ukraine conflict which is at its 120th day has triggered a global food crisis.

Ukraine will start the trial of a Russian soldier who has been accused of rape, The Kyiv Independent reported. Mikhail Romanov, a 32-year-old Russian soldier has been accused of murdering a man in the Kyiv region of Ukraine on March 9 and repeatedly raping the man's wife. 
 

UNESCO has said that 152 cultural sites have been partially or totally 'destroyed' in Ukraine since the onset of the Russian invasion. The sites that have been damaged include 70 religious sites, 12 museums, 30 historic buildings, 18 buildings dedicated to cultural activities, 15 monuments, and 7 libraries. UNESCO called for respecting international law and continues to make efforts for supporting cultural professionals. 

The Czech government has adopted a proposal by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to stop the issuance of visas to Russian and Belarusian nationals with an exception for "humanitarian cases," The Kyiv Independent reported. The rule will not be applicable to people of Belarus and Russia who have a residence permit in the Czech Republic and those having family members who are Czech or citizens of the European Union, as per the news report. In addition, the rule will not apply to people whose stay is in the "interest of the Czech Republic."  

Nike on Thursday, June 23, announced that it will exit the Russian market, Nexta reported. In its statement released on the website, the US sportswear giant announced its decision to leave the Russian market. Earlier, Nike had temporarily closed its stories in Russia after Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

A grain elevator has been destroyed due to Russian shelling in Rubizne and Luhansk regions, Nexta reported. 

The UK government has introduced a new tranche of trade sanctions against Russia. The new measures include a prohibition on the export, supply and delivery of internal repression goods and technology. According to the statement issued by the UK government, Britain has imposed a ban on goods and technology related to chemical and biological weapons, maritime goods and technology as well as additional critical industry goods and technology. 
 

Ukrainian Armed Forces have said that one person has been injured as Russia launched three missiles at Mykolaiv industrial and civilian infrastructure, The Kyiv Independent reported. The Ukrainian Forces said that details regarding casualties are being determined. 
 

Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov has announced that High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) from the United States have arrived in Ukraine. Reznikov expressed gratitude to US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin for providing powerful tools to Ukraine. 

UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of "weaponising hunger." Truss, in a tweet, said that Putin has been making use of food security as a "callous tool of war." The statement of Truss comes as EU leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy have been accusing Russia of blocking Ukrainian grain export. 

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov claimed that Western nations 'lie' on behalf of Ukraine's administration, TASS news agency reported on June 23. "What surprises me more is not the lies that we hear from Kyiv every hour of every day, but how Kyiv’s backers have started to play this game of lies," he added.

"They (Western nations) are covering up for it whenever they feel like it. Not just these days," the minister stated in an interview with Belarusian state television, an excerpt of which was posted on the website of the Foreign Ministry on June 23. 

He claimed the illegitimate coup was about the opposition simply spitting in the face of the European Union, which supplied its guarantees for the accord between Yanukovich and the three opposition leaders in the person of France, Germany, and Poland. "The next morning, they tore it all up, declared the need to cancel the regional status of the Russian language as a priority, sent armed bandits to the Crimea. That's how it all started," Lavrov claimed.

Read more here

Australia's envoy to Kyiv announced that the first shipment of 14 Australian M113AS4 armoured personnel carriers is s already on its way to the war-torn country. "Australia has committed over $285 million in military assistance to Ukraine to support @DefenceU counter Russia's illegal invasion. The first batch of M113AS4 armoured personnel carriers departed Australia last week on Ukrainian @AirlinesAntonov AN124 [sic]," Ambassador Bruce Edwards tweeted on Thursday. 

European Union vice-president Frans Timmermans accused Russia of weaponising energy as it moved to cut gas supplies in recent days, affecting several EU countries.

"All this is part of Russia's strategy to undermine our unity," Timmermans told the European Parliament on Thursday.

"In total, 12 member states are now affected by Russian unilateral supply cuts," he added.

"Ten member states have issued an early warning under the gas security of supply regulation, So the risk of full gas disruption is now more real than ever before."

Timmermans spoke as Germany activated the second phase of its three-stage emergency plan for natural gas supplies Thursday, saying the country faces a “crisis” and warning that storage targets for the winter are at risk due to dwindling deliveries from Russia.

Timmermans urged the adoption of a gas storage regulation, together with other preparedness measures to combat the shortages.

Associated Press

European Union leaders on Thursday are set to grant Ukraine candidate status to join the 27-nation bloc, a first step in a long and unpredictable journey toward full membership that could take many years to achieve.

Making the war-torn country a contender now seems to be a done deal after leaders were initially divided on how fast they could move to embrace the war-torn country's bid that was launched only a few days after Russia launched its invasion on Feb. 24.

According to several EU diplomats who spoke on condition of anonymity before the summit in Brussels, Ukraine will receive the unanimous approval that is required for the launch of discussions.

The EU's 27 nations have been united in backing Ukraine’s resistance to Russia’s invasion, adopting unprecedented economic sanctions against Moscow. However, leaders were initially divided on how quickly the EU should move to accept Ukraine as a member, with the Netherlands, Sweden and Denmark among the most skeptical.

But Ukraine's bid got a boost last week when the EU's executive arm, the European Commission, gave its seal of approval based on Ukraine’s answers to a questionnaire received in April and early May.

Ukraine received another shot in the arm when the leaders of France, Germany, Italy and Romania visited the country and vowed to back its candidacy.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he spoke with a total of 11 EU leaders on Wednesday, following calls with nine the day before, in another indication of how important EU candidacy is for Ukraine. He said the meeting in Brussels will be an “historic session of the European Council."

EU candidate status doesn't give an automatic right to join the bloc, though, and doesn't provide any security guarantees.

For Ukraine, the start of accession discussions will depend on how the war-torn country will be able to meet essential political and economic conditions.

To be admitted, potential newcomers need to demonstrate that they meet standards on democratic principles, and they must absorb about 80,000 pages of rules covering everything from trade and immigration to fertilizers and the rule of law.

To help countries with candidate status, the bloc can provide technical and financial assistance throughout negotiations, but can also decide to revoke the status if the required reforms aren't implemented.

European officials have said that Ukraine has already implemented about 70% of the EU rules, norms and standards, but has also repeatedly pointed out corruption and the need for deep political and economic reforms.

It’s unlikely that accession talks could start before next year, with the prospect that the war could drag on for a very long time adding to the uncertainty.

“Considerable efforts will be needed, especially in the fight against corruption and the establishment of an effective rule of law,” Belgian Prime minister Alexander De Croo said. “But I am convinced that it is precisely the (post-war) reconstruction of Ukraine that will provide opportunities to take important steps forward.”

Leaders will also debate Thursday a recommendation for the European Commission to grant Moldova — a tiny, non-NATO country that borders Ukraine — EU candidate status. The stalled enlargement process to include Western Balkans countries in the bloc is also on their agenda.

Associated Press

Kharkiv Governor Oleh Synehubov on Thursday informed that at least seven people, including two children, were killed after Russia renewed shelling in Pechneihy village. 

European Council president Charles Michel on Thursday said he was "confident" that the European Union would offer candidate status to Ukraine and Moldova.

Associated Press

The US Army has agreed to send its Robotic Dog- Spot- to Ukraine to help remove mortar shells, and cluster munitions in formerly Russian-controlled regions. According to Foreign Policy reports, a demining enterprise HALO Trust will use Spot for demining operations, said Chirs Whatley,  the executive director of the trust. 

The Boston Dynamics-made robotic dog uses its armed to push the undetonated mines into pits, without endangering anyone's lives. The movement is done in batches of 50-100shells.

 "In general, Spot is an effective tool for keeping people out of harm's way, and the robot is often used to inspect potentially hazardous materials from a safe distance," said Nikolas Noel, the company's director of marketing and communications was quoted by Foreign Policy. 

In an op-ed for The Guardian, former Chief of Staff to Tony Blair, Jonathan Powell, claimed that Russian President Vladimir Putin is not yet ready to pull off his troops from Ukraine. He flagged that Kyiv will only attain long-standing security provided it attains membership status in the European Union. This will offer a "clear track" and prevent Russia from invading again, he said.

Further highlighting the significance of the EU bid, he added that it will also allow the Ukraine govt. to reform systems dominated by "corrupt" Soviet-era practices.

He added, that the negotiations agenda must be expanded beyond Russia's pressure and Ukraine's neutrality. "A new agenda needs to be balanced with Ukraine’s priorities: justice for the crimes committed, rebuilding the country and recognition of Ukraine’s territorial integrity," he wrote for The Guardian.

Powell also floated the idea of "new relationship" between Russia and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. 

In meeting with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Russian FM Sergey Lavrov took a swipe at the US and its bid to reach a deal on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). 

"All countries experiencing the negative influence of the egotistical policies of the United States and its satellites have an objective need to “reconfigure” their economic ties in such a way as not to depend on the whims and vagaries of our western partners," Lavrov said, as quoted by The Guardian. 

Britishers Sean Pinner and Aiden Aslin, and Moroccan Saadoun Brahim, are preparing a plea against their death sentences, Russia's Tass News Agency quoted. “My colleagues and I are preparing the full text of the appeal against the verdict in the interests of our clients," Pinner’s lawyer Yulia Tserkovnikova told the agency. The boys were convicted of committing acts of "terrorism". Russia labelled them as "mercenaries"  who carried out "actions aimed at seizing power and overthrowing the constitutional order."

Britain, supported by the US, has slammed the trials as a "sham," adding that the Pinner and Aslin were already in Ukraine when the war began.

A former Ukrainian MP and alleged Russian collaborator Oleskii Kovalyov was killed in a car explosion on Wednesday in the Moscow-occupied city of Kherson. 

Chief of the Main Intelligence Directorate at the Ukrainian Defense Ministry Kyrylo Budanov said during a nationwide telethon. “I can confirm that a certain action has been taken. The car was definitely blown up. The collaborator’s condition is yet to be checked,” he said, as quoted by Ukrinfrom.

Kovalyov reportedly went to Kherson Region and later expressed support for Russia’s occupation, according to Ukrinform. 

Ukrainian Armed Forces in its latest military briefing claimed that the defending troops have eliminated at least 34,430 Russian soldiers since the war began on February 24. In addition, they have also destroyed over 1,500 Russian tanks and 756 artillery systems and 240 MLRS.

As Russia’s war in Ukraine becomes a quagmire of attrition, Western leaders are slowly coming to two realisations about Vladimir Putin’s intentions.

First, Russia’s war against Ukraine won’t be over soon and is likely to grind on for the foreseeable future.

Second, it’s pointless to try to imagine a future in which relations with Moscow are characterised by anything other than mutual mistrust and hostility.

In spite of this, there is still the chance that Russia’s invasion falls off the international radar through a Western inability to deal with hard realities.

Putin’s war of expansion In an interview with a German newspaper, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg estimated the war could take years, rather than months.

Patrick Sanders, the incoming chief of the British Army, has claimed the UK’s armed forces need to be oriented around fighting a ground war with Russia.

And after an awkwardly frosty hug with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, even French President Emmanuel Macron, whose calls to Putin have annoyed Kyiv and who previously warned Putin must not be humiliated, has voiced his unequivocal support for Ukraine.

These epiphanies are long overdue. There’s no point in dreaming up elaborate diplomatic “off-ramps” for Putin when it’s abundantly clear he sees no need for them.

Doing so also denies Ukraine agency in determining how the war ends, and presupposes a post-conflict European security order can meet both Russian and Western requirements. As witnessed prior to Russia’s invasion on February 24, the Kremlin isn’t content with anything short of regaining something close to the geostrategic footprint of the USSR.

Obsessed with territorial aggrandizement, and having cynically cultivated a fetish for militarism in Russian society, Vladimir Putin recently admitted as much when he compared himself to Peter the Great, noting “now it’s our turn to get our lands back”.

At the very least, Putin’s words should put to bed the vastly overstated claim that the enlargement of Western security structures somehow forced Putin to invade Ukraine. This is clearly a war of Russian expansion, not NATO expansion.

PTI

With steady advancement, Russian forces are putting fringes of Lysychansk-Sieverodonetsk under immense pressure, said the UK intelligence report on war. 

Some Ukrainian units have withdrawn, probably to avoid being encircled. The briefing added that Russia’s improved performance in this sector is likely a result of recent unit reinforcement and heavy concentration of fire.

"Russian forces are putting the Lysychansk-Sieverodonetsk pocket under increasing pressure with this creeping advance around the fringes of the built-up area. However, its efforts to achieve a deeper encirclement to take western Donetsk Oblast remain stalled.”

"The city suffers from heavy fire from Russian invaders. In this direction, the racists concentrated more than a hundred multiple launch rocket system units. And there are so many artillery and mortars here that the Russians are simply covering entire neighbourhoods with heavy fire. Numerous casualties among civilians. Despite the total fire, the city is at the forefront of Ukrainian resistance to the occupiers. Lysychansk is defending itself," said governor of Luhansk Oblast Serhiy Haidai in a Telegram post. 

Apart from its physical invasion of Ukraine, Russia has also waged a digital war against Kyiv. According to a report released by Microsoft on June 22, Russia's majority of cyber activity was focused on Kyiv. As per the analysis by the software firm, Russian hackers attempted at least 128 network intrusions in 42 countries. However, only 37 of the detected attacks were successful; and only 9 penetrations resulted in data loss, Microsoft said. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday engaged in a series of phone calls with state heads of Bulgaria, Latvia, Sweden, Estonia, Belgium, Czech Republic, Austria, and more as the European Union is due to deliver its verdict on Ukraine's candidacy for membership. "From the very morning, I continued the telephone marathon for a positive decision on the candidacy for Ukraine. 11 leaders today," Zelenskyy said in a statement quoted by his presidential press. 

Here is what Zelenskyy said: 

• Bulgaria. I thanked Prime Minister of Bulgaria Petkov for supporting Ukraine and the development of the whole of Europe with our participation.
• Latvia. We discussed with Mr. Prime Minister Kariņš the cooperation between our countries, between Ukraine and the European Union, as well as our joint opportunities to protect Europe from the crises that Russia organizes, including the food crisis.
• Greece. I was glad to hear the words of sincere support for Ukraine. Mr. Prime Minister and I have the same vision of the historical significance of the decision that is expected from the European Council.
• Sweden. Prospects for bilateral cooperation and cooperation at the level of European structures were discussed with Prime Minister Andersson.
• Estonia. Thanked Mrs. Prime Minister Kallas for her continued support of Ukraine. The priorities of our cooperation and the agenda in the context of the NATO Summit in Madrid next week were discussed.
• Czech Republic. Fruitful conversation with Mr. Prime Minister Fiala. The priorities of the Czech presidency of the Council of the European Union in the next six months were discussed. And now I am sure that the voice of the Czech Republic is in favor of Ukraine.
• Belgium. I thanked Mr. Prime Minister De Croo for supporting our European perspective and invited him to visit Ukraine. I hope that Belgium will take a significant part in the post-war reconstruction of our country.
• Austria. I am grateful to Chancellor Nehammer for the political and humanitarian support, for understanding the needs of Ukraine. We can do a lot to develop relations between our states.
• Slovenia. We agreed with Mr. Prime Minister Golob that we can strengthen cooperation between our countries. I thanked him for the consistent support of the candidacy for Ukraine.
• Moldova. I spoke with President Sandu. We supported each other on the eve of an important meeting of the European Council. And we will help each other to complete this path to the European Union faster.

During the conversation with the students of the student community of major Canadian universities, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized that after the victory the country will be in great need of young Ukrainian specialists who have studied or gained new experience abroad. For them to return to Ukraine, the state must ensure a reliable security situation and create favorable conditions for business development and personal development.

"We do not have time for any bureaucratic chains, because we are a state at war, and the country will have to be rebuilt very quickly," he said.

Zelenskyy noted that despite the full-scale war, many state institutions withstood in the country, and the financial and digital sectors function stably because Ukraine managed to resist cyberattacks by Russia.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is convinced that the member states of the European Union will support granting Ukraine the status of a candidate for EU membership, which will be a historic event and a great motivation for the Ukrainian army and society in the struggle for independence and territorial integrity, Verkhovna Rada said in a statement. 

"I strongly believe that in these crucial days Ukraine will receive the status of a candidate for membership in the European Union. We have come a long way for it… Our people, our revolutions, our war… And this status is such an important moment. This is a transition to another page of our history. A very positive transition. I believe that all these 27 European countries will endorse this status for us," the Head of State said during a conversation with the student community of major Canadian universities.

Ukrainian Armed Forces claimed that Russian troops carried out sabotage and intelligence activities on the 119th of the war in Ukraine. In Kharkiv, the "enemy forces" regrouped to prevent a fierce counterattack from Ukrainian defenders, the update statement mentioned. In addition, Russian forces carried out air reconnaissance in areas of Bayrak and Rubizne. Occupiers also plan to use fire-throwing systems in the Slavic direction, the briefing said. 

Russia has asked fellow G20 members to keep politics out of a global gathering on health issues, after envoys from the United States and some of its allies raised the Ukraine conflict during the health summit in Indonesia on June 20. During the G20 health meeting in Yogyakarta, American, British, Australian, and Canadian officials accused Russia of bombing Ukrainian hospitals.

"Far from promoting global health, Russia has disrupted health services, destroyed health facilities, and continues to strike buildings where innocent civilians including children are sheltering," claimed Andrea Palm, US deputy secretary of Health and Human Services, RT News reported. 

Read full story here

Ahead of the much-awaited BRICS Summit, Kremlin confirmed that the Russian President Vladimir Putin will attend the conference virtually and said the leader will discuss both regional and international issues. Notably, this year, the 14th Summit will be hosted by China in a virtual mode on 23-24 June. According to the statement released by the Kremlin, the Russian boss will touch on five major issues including--  political, economic, cultural and humanitarian areas. Besides, it said that Putin will also exchange his views on some international issues. However, the statement did not mention whether the Russian boss would discuss the ongoing "special military operation" or not.

"The leaders of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa will be focusing on the state of affairs and prospects of multifaceted cooperation within the [group of] ‘five’ in the political, economic, cultural and humanitarian areas," read the statement.
"They are also expected to touch upon pressing international and regional issues. The key agreements will be reflected in the summit’s final declaration," added the statement. Subsequently, on June 24, Kremlin said Putin will also speak at a meeting in the BRICS Plus format with the participation of the leaders of a number of invited states.

Notably, the BRICS summit is due to be held on June 23-24 with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and leaders of Brazil and South Africa. Though the Indian PM and Putin had held several telephonic conversations after the onset of the war, this would be the first time when the trio -- India, China, and Russian leaders-- would meet on a common platform along with other BRICS leaders.

Read more here

Ukraine has the right to decide how far it will go to defend its territorial boundary from Russia. said US deputy state secretary Wendy Sherman, adding that Washington and its allies will help Kyiv in the process to a "prosperous future."

"What matters here is not our judgment, it is Ukraine's view of what it wants for itself and for its own future," Sherman said when asked to comment on President Volodymyr Zelenskyy 's statement on the Ukrainian Armed Forces' intentions to liberate not only Russian-occupied territories. and lands occupied since 2014, including Crimea and ORDLO, as quoted by Ukrinform. 

She also held Russian President Vladimir Putin guilty of waging "unprovoked" war against Ukraine. "So what Ukraine wants for its own future is to be able to decide what it will be like, and every country wants that for itself. Both we and the European Union, more than 40 countries around the world, have supported sanctions and other actions, calling for an end to Putin's unprovoked, unjust and truly terrible war," Sherman said.

Polish shipbuilding industry on Wednesday proposed a plan to organise cooperation with Ukrainian colleagues to restore the merchant fleet of Ukraine. "Poland's shipbuilding industry proposes to create permanent Polish-Ukrainian working groups, in which we would discuss the construction of ships for Ukraine, the restoration of the merchant fleet, cooperation between design bureaus of the two countries," said the director of the shipbuilding company Crist, Tadeusz Kopovsk, as reported by Ukrinform. He added that Polish shipbuilding companies are ready to conduct an audit of Ukrainian shipbuilding companies and ascertain the required help required for restoration of shipbuilding yards. 

Ukraine has traversed through 'fire and water' to prove its worth in gaining a candidate status for European Union membership, said EU President Ursula von der Leyen. Addressing a plenary session of the European Parliament, von der Leyen said that Ukraine has bravely resisted Russian aggression. 

"She went through repression and uprisings. She went through the annexation of territories and has now won the war. It is the only country where people have been shot for wrapping themselves in the European flag. Ukraine has gone through fire and water for one simple reason: its own desire to join the European Union," the EU chief said, according to her statement published on EU website. 

She added that the recommendation to consider Kyiv's candidacy for EU membership is based on a careful and thorough assessment of reality. "And this evidence tells us that Ukraine deserves a European perspective, as well as candidate status, realizing that the country will implement a number of important reforms, "von der Leyen said.

As the unabated war continues even after 119 days and the dramatic fall of diplomatic relations, Russia seems to maintain "healthy" relations with the United States. According to a report by the Russian news agency, TASS, US actor Steven Seagal will continue his role as Russian envoy for humanitarian ties with the US. The major clarification came despite the Vladimir Putin-led administration had approved a proposal by the country’s Foreign Ministry to cease a memorandum of understanding with the US in the field of culture, humanitarian and social sciences, as well as education and mass media.

While speaking to the Russian news agency,  Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov confirmed that Seagal will continue with his incumbent role and added the administration has no mood to change him despite the souring of bilateral relations.
"Naturally, Steven Seagal has maintained his status as a special envoy. He is in charge of a number of issues, and we are not planning to change anything here, despite the general climate in bilateral relations," said Ryabkov.
Further, he maintained, "Everything is still valid here, and we have already generated certain experience in how he positions himself."

Read more here

On the 120th day of the ravaging Moscow-Kyiv conflict in Eastern Europe, a Ukrainian official who is supervising embattled Ukraine's efforts to join the European Union said on Wednesday that she is "100%" convinced that all 27 EU countries would support the war-torn nation's EU candidacy at a summit this week. During an interview with The Associated Press, Olha Stefanishyna, the deputy prime minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, stated that the decision may be made as early as Thursday, June 23, when the leaders' summit would begin. 

Stefanishyna further noted that the Netherlands, Sweden, as well as Denmark were sceptical about starting EU accession talks with Ukraine, however, they are now in favour. When questioned how certain she is that Ukraine will be recognised as an EU candidate, she responded, “The day before the summit starts, I can say 100%.”  

Apart from the Ukrainian official, similar confidence has been shown by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who described it as a "crucial moment" for his country. According to the Associated Press report, the main priority for EU leaders gathering in Brussels is Ukraine's application for membership. 

Read more here

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday night stated that Ukraine wants to defeat Russian troops in less than 1,418 days - that is the time it took to end World War II. He added that liberating our land as quickly as possible is the national goal. 

According to a survey conducted by Pew Research Center, consistent with trends for Russian favorability, majorities in almost every country surveyed express little confidence in Russian President Vladimir Putin. Across 18 nations, a median of 90% say they do not have confidence in Putin to do the right thing in world affairs, and nearly eight-in-ten (78%) express no confidence at all in Putin. Over the last two decades, ratings for Putin have been on a downward trend in many countries, but in 2022, these numbers reached record lows in every nation where trends are available, with double-digit declines in most since the last survey year.      

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Wednesday that he wants to discuss the outlines of a “Marshall plan for Ukraine” with the leaders of the Group of Seven countries at their upcoming summit in Germany.

Scholz hopes for a united front on long-term support for Ukraine when he hosts the annual G-7 summit in Bavaria next week. The group of the world’s leading economic powers is made up of the U.S., France, Germany, Italy, the U.K., Canada and Japan.

The chancellor told Germany’s parliament that “rebuilding Ukraine will be a task for generations.” Recalling his visit last week to Irpin, a Kyiv suburb that saw intense fighting, he said that “some things there remind not just me of the pictures of German cities after World War II.”

In a stalemate between Lithuania and Russia over Kaliningrad Transit, a top Russian official advised the West on June 22 to avoid talking about using NATO's "Article 5" mutual defence clause. After the Baltic state prevented the transit of products subject to EU sanctions from Russia to its Baltic exclave, Moscow has pledged practical retaliation that will damage Lithuania's population. "I would like to warn Europeans against dangerous rhetorical games on the topic of conflict," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on June 22, according to Interfax news agency.

UK PM Boris Johnson on Wednesday claimed that the Russian onslaught in Ukraine will douse in the coming months due to largely exhausted resources. Citing British intelligence, he added Russia could come to a point at which there is no longer any forward momentum, The Guardian reported. 

This comes after Johnson last Friday arrived in Kyiv for a surprise visit. It was the British PM's second visit in two months. He promised to provide Ukraine with "strategic endurance" and work on strengthening sanctions against Russian Federation.