Russia Ukraine War: Ukrainian Governor calls Severodonetsk 'hottest point' in Luhansk

Vladimir Medinsky, head of the Russian delegation at the talks, said that the talks between Moscow and Kyiv have been "frozen" by the Ukrainian side. He claimed that 75% of the text was agreed upon by Russia and Ukraine in mid-April and submitted to Kyiv for approval. Vladimir Medinsky stated that Russia has received no response from Ukraine, RT reported citing RT Arabic. He stressed that the Ukrainian government does not work for their national interests, however, it operates "from the position of other countries." 

The regional administration official said that the situation in Luhansk remains "difficult". Luhansk Governor Serhiy Haidai in a post on Telegram said that the street fight continues in Severodonetsk and called it the "hottest point" in Luhansk. According to Haidai, Russian forces have not been able to take complete control of the city. However, troops of Moscow continue to destroy homes and kill civilians in Ukraine despite having casualties.

"The hottest point of the region is Severodonetsk, where street fights continue, the occupiers do NOT control the city completely," Luhansk Governor Serhiy Haidai said in the post. 

Luhansk Governor Serhiy Haidai said that Russian forces have been attempting to cut off the Lysychansk-Bakhmut route. He claimed that Ukrainian forces continue to fight against Russian troops and they have been able to shoot down Russian plane.

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The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has said that 7,703,857 people have fled Ukraine and moved to other nations since the beginning of the conflict with Russia on February 24. The latest figures revealed by UNHCR include over 5,137,900 people from Ukraine who have been living in Europe. 

The European Commission on Saturday, 18 June, launched the Grainlane trading platform “Grain Paths” in order to help optimise grain exports from Ukraine. The project was launched in cooperation with V_labs and Rail Cargo Group, according to the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine. The platform will help foster the sale and purchase of agricultural products, the unification and strengthening of ties between European logistics companies and Ukrainian farmers, as well as grain traders.

Representatives of European logistics will be able to resolve organisational issues with Ukrainian partners as there is a looming food shortage that has hit the globe. Ukraine will be able to find partners in a few clicks to export their products, as well as new logistics solutions.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday, 18 June, visited the Mykolaiv region. He held a meeting with officials of regional administration regarding the ongoing situation in the Mykolaiv region. During the meeting, they discussed the economy of the region and measures needed to address the infrastructural issues, according to the statement released by the Ukrainian government. They talked about the restoration of water supply to the regional centre which was complicated because of damages to water supply networks due to enemy attacks. Furthermore, they discussed the threats from land and sea, as well as the situation on Zmiinyi Island. During his visit to Mykolaiv, Zelenskyy visited an ambulance hospital where he spoke with civilians and service personnel who were undergoing treatment.
 

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that EU leaders will try to obtain 27 votes in favour of Ukraine for candidate status in the bloc, The Kyiv Independent reported. He stressed that granting EU candidate status to Ukraine would demonstrate solidarity for a country that continues to fight for freedom and democracy. The European Council will make the decision on Ukraine’s application on June 23.
 

Amid the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, the Ukrainian General Staff has claimed to have destroyed 30 units of Russian equipment in the past 24 hours, The Kyiv Independent reported. Ukraine has said that 33,350 Russian troops have lost their lives since the invasion began on February 24. 

The High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, in a blog post has said that the Russian military offensive in Ukraine "threatens to create a global wave of hunger." He further said, "The unjustified and unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine puts the world in danger of a famine affecting hundreds of millions of people, Borrell stressed that the EU's sanctions against Russia do not target Ukrainian exports and expressed willingness to work with Ukraine and other partners to stop the impact on global food security.

David Arakhamia, Ukraine’s chief negotiator with Russia, has said that Ukraine might resume talks with Ukraine at the end of August, Kyiv Independent reported citing Voice of America. Arakhamia stressed that the Ukrainian government might hold talks with Russia after carrying out several counterattacks. 
 

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday said that Moscow anticipates restoring relations with Ukraine after its ongoing “special military operation” concludes. At the 25th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) -- Russia's business summit - Putin during a question-and-answer session with Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Putin said: “Sooner or later, the situation will return to normal", as per CGTN.

Moreover, while the West has continued to impose sanctions on Russia over its "unjustified" invasion of Ukraine, Putin claimed that his decision to launch a "military operation" was "forced and necessary" given the security situation at Russian borders. He vehemently defended his war, which claims to be aimed at the "liberation" of Russian-speaking communities. 

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Oleg Sinegubov, head of OVA, said that three civilians have been injured due to Russian shelling in Kharkiv on 17 June, Interfax reported. Two people were injured in Pervomaisky and one person was wounded in Russkaya Lozova and they are undergoing treatment in hospital. 
 

Alexei Danilov, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, said that the supply of weapons from US to Ukraine under the lend-lease act has not started yet, Interfax reported citing Liga newspaper. Danilov stated that the delivery of weapons to Ukraine is expected to arrive in "July-August, maybe September." 

The spokesperson of the Odesa Regional Military Administration, Serhiy Bratchuk, said that Ukrainian forces have shot down a Russian SU-25 aircraft in the Donetsk region, Interfax reported. Bratchuk has made the claim citing information from the 72nd Motorized Rifle Brigade. 

"The 72md Motorized Rifle Brigade reports that in the Donetsk region, where their unit is located, they managed to shoot down a Russian Su-25 from the Igla Manpads. We continue to tirelessly destroy various Colorado evil spirits," Serhiy Bratchuk said on Telegram. 

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s steadfast ally Belarus' President Alexander Lukashenko, on Saturday, cautioned the West against supplying long-range weaponry to Ukraine that can hit Russian territories. Lukashenko wielded threats of using “brand-new weapons” in a retaliatory offensive on Kyiv, should these long-range missiles pledged by the Western countries be launched into the Russian or Belarusian territories, BelTA news agency reported. 

In its 12th aid package, President of the United States, Joe Biden, pledged 18 155mm howitzers, 36,000 rounds of 155mm ammunition,18 tactical vehicles to tow howitzers, ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HMARS) and four tactical vehicles, with a total value of $350 million, according to Pentagon.

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Peter Andryushchenko, the adviser to the mayor of Mariupol, has claimed that civilians in Russian occupied region of Mariupol have been forced civilians to draw water from puddles, Nexta reported. 

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has said that fighting continues in Severodonetsk. According to Ukraine, Russian armed forces have been "unsuccessful" in their attempts to conduct assault operations on the outskirts of the city. In the Facebook post, the Ukrainian General Staff of the Armed Forces has accused Russian troops of firing artilleries at the civilian infrastructure in Zolote, Spirne, Berestove, Soledar, Klynove, and Troitske. According to Ukraine, the focus of Russian forces remains on Severodonetsk and Bakhmut in Donetsk. 

The Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Office said that 323 children have lost their lives, while another 583 have been wounded in the war-torn nation since the onset of the conflict on February 24. The Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s Office in a Facebook post stated, "As of the morning of June 18, 2022, more than 906 children were injured in Ukraine as a result of a full-scale armed aggression of the Russian Federation." It further added, "These figures are not final as work is underway to install them in active combat areas, temporarily occupied and liberated territories."

The Ukrainian navy claimed it destroyed a Russian boat carrying air defence systems to a strategic island in the Black Sea. The navy said on social media that the Vasily Bekh was used to transport ammunition, weapons and personnel to Snake Island, which is vital for protecting sea lanes out of the key port of Odesa.

(AP)

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday stated that Moscow's "special military operation" in Ukraine is not the reason behind the global economic turbulence. Addressing the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), Putin claimed that worldwide inflation is the outcome of the West's systematic mistakes in economic policies and bureaucracy, which they are trying to cover up now. He slammed the Western nations for pinning the blame of their "failures" on Moscow.  

Putin, citing his assessment report on the current geopolitical situation, stressed that the high energy prices were observed since the third quarter of 2021, "which was long before our operation in Donbass." He added the hike in fuel prices was also a result of a "failed energy policy" formulated by European Union countries.

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Lithuania has decided to suspend the import and export of some goods to Russia's Kaliningrad, The Kyiv Independent reported on Telegram. The development has been confirmed by Kaliningrad Governor Anton Alikhanov. Alikhanov said that Lithuania has informed that it will block the transit of several goods by railway to Kaliningrad, as per the report. The goods that will be affected due to the suspension of transit include building materials, cement and metal products. 

The Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, said that Ukrainian forces will no longer be able to return to their previous positions at the border, TASS reported citing Sky News Arabia. She claimed that those borders "no longer exist" and will "never exist again." 
 

Russian forces launched six missiles at a non-operational oil refinery in Kremenchuk city of Poltava region on June 18, Nexta reported citing the head of the regional administration Dmytro Lunin. In addition, two rockets have been launched at the thermal power plant. No casualty has been reported in the attack. 

Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the war-torn nation has done all possible things to access the position of a candidate for European Union membership. In a video message, the President said that they are currently one step away from the completion of full integration with the EU. According to a statement from the Ukrainian President’s office, Zelenskyy said, “The only thing left is to wait for the decision of the European Council next week. And I believe that Ukraine has done everything possible for this step to be positive as well – the decision of the European Council, i.e., the leaders of the EU states.” 

According to Zelenskyy, all those who worked for Ukraine, have accomplished something historical. He also noted that the European Commission has issued a favourable judgment on Ukraine's candidacy. Asserting that Ukraine deserves the candidacy, he said, “Ukrainian values are European values.”

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The Ukrainian Armed Forces have claimed that 33,350 Russian soldiers have been killed in Ukraine since the onset of the conflict. Apart from these, Russian forces have lost 1,465 tanks, 3,573 armoured combat vehicles, 739 artillery systems, 216 aircraft, 129 cruise missiles, 180 helicopters among other war weapons.

Victoria Apanasenko will represent Ukraine in the Miss Universe 2022 amid the ongoing war which has entered day 115."Due to the full-scale war in Ukraine, the Miss Ukraine Universe Organizing Committee abandoned the traditional festive show this year. After consulting the partners from Miss Universe, it was decided to hand over the title of "Miss Ukraine Universe" to Victoria Apanasenko, "I Vice-Miss Ukraine Universe" 2021. Victoria will represent Ukraine in the Miss Universe-2022," according to an official statement by the organisation released on Facebook.

[IMAGE: @MissUniverseUkraine/Facebook]

In the latest development, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Russia has freed a Ukrainian medic whose footage was smuggled out of the besieged city of Mariupol.

Yuliia Paievska, known in Ukraine as Taira, used a camera to capture visuals of her team’s efforts over two weeks to save the injured, including both Russian and Ukrainian soldiers.

[IMAGE: AP]

As war rages unabated in Europe with representatives of global nations voicing concerns over an impending food crisis time and again, the Executive Director of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), David Beasley said on Thursday at Ethiopia's Addis Ababa, that the world confronts"frightening" shortages of food commodities that might destabilise nations that rely on wheat shipments from warring Ukraine and Russia. As the prices of the food commodities surged across the world in recent months, the head of UNWFP warned that dozens of nations have risked facing agitations, riots, and political bloodshed this year, The Guardian reported.  

It is worth noting that every year, Ukraine produces a sufficient amount of food to feed around 400 million people. As per The Guardian report, Ukraine yields 42% of the world's sunflower oil, 16% of the world's maize and 9% of the world's wheat. Somalia obtains all of its wheat from Ukraine and Russia while Egypt receives 80% of its grain from the two nations.  

Furthermore, the World Food Programme (WFP) imports 40% of wheat for its emergency food-aid initiatives from Ukraine, and it has been compelled to decrease rations in some countries after its running expenses soared by $70 million every month. 

Apart from this, Beasley noted, “Even before the Ukraine crisis, we were facing an unprecedented global food crisis because of COVID and fuel price increases”. He added, “Then, we thought it couldn’t get any worse, but this war has been devastating,” The Guardian reported.  

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The UK Defence Ministry in the latest intelligence update has said that Russian armed forces in the past 48 hours have started making efforts to advance towards the south of Izium. According to British intelligence, the Russian forces aim to advance "deeper" into Donetsk and envelop Severodonetsk from the north. It further said, "Since 14 June, Russian and separatist officials have claimed they are attempting to establish humanitarian corridors to allow civilians to evacuate Sieverodonetsk." Furthermore, the UK Defence Ministry said, "Ukrainian civilians trapped in Sieverodonetsk are likely to be suspicious of using the proposed corridor."

While Russia is deploying more forces to back its offensive in the Severodonetsk and Lysychansk area, Ukraine’s defences remain “strong”, as per the latest update from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

“The Russian military has concentrated the vast majority of its available combat power to capture Severodonetsk and Lysychansk at the expense of other axes of advance and is suffering heavy casualties to do so,” the US-based think tank said.

Belarusian President Alexandr Lukashenko on Friday claimed that Poland poses a "dangerous" threat to Ukraine. As reported by NEXTA, he vowed to protect the western part of Ukraine from the Poles. 

"Belarus will protect western #Ukraine from #Poland: "We cannot allow the Poles to encircle us at all. That is a dangerous option. And I once said: if the #Ukrainians will ask us with the #Russians to help them to keep their integrity, we will do so", Lukashenko said. 

UK PM Boris Johnson during his unannounced visit to Kyiv proposed to begin a training programme for Ukrainian troops. According to NEXTA, Johnson said at least 10,000 Ukrainian soldiers will be trained under this for 120 days. 

The Institute for Study of War (ISW) on Friday released its latest war update. In its briefing, the ISW claimed that Moscow on Thursday dismissed colonel-commander Andrei Serdyukov of Russian Airborne Forces after the paratroopers unit faced heavy losses near Kyiv. 

"Serdyukov has been blamed for low efficiency and heavy losses among Russian airborne units, especially during operations in the first weeks after the large-scale invasion near Kyiv," the ISW statement said.

Serdyukov reportedly led the operation to seize Crimea in 2014. Later, he also commanded a Russian military group in Syria. In January this year, he led a CSTO contingent deployed in Kazakhstan to quell protests. On the other hand, ISW also claimed that further dismissal and possible internal purges of senior Russian officers are likely to further exacerbate the poor capabilities of the Russian command, as well as the management and trust of Russian officers.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with United Kingdom PM Boris Johnson on Friday. This is the second visit since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation. Johnson handed him a copy of Robert Hardman's book Queen Of Our Times: The Life Of Elizabeth II. 

[Images: President.gov.ua]

Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics during his work visit to Washinton from June 15-16 discussed the upcoming NATO Summit with US State Department Deputy Secretary Wendy Sherman, Ukrinform reported. He praised US' steadfast stance on Russia's war against Ukraine. He also stressed that the end of the war at the expense of Ukraine is "unacceptable." 

At the St. Petersberg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday reaffirmed Moscow's commitment to complete the "liberation" of Donetsk and Luhansk. He declared that Russian forces will attack Ukrainian positions near Donetsk City but reiterated that the new tactic will require additional time, further implying that Moscow-occupied settlements will hold referendums to join Russia in the coming days, the Institute for Study of War (ISW) reported. 

Ukrainian Interior Minister Denys Monastryskiy on Friday informed that Kyiv is in talks with the UK, Italy, and France to receive demining equipment worth millions of dollars. The equipment will be used to demine at least 2,70,000 sq. kilometers, including occupied territories- an area slightly larger than entire New Zealand. 

Russian President Vladimir Putin, on Friday, called the European and Western sanctions on Moscow a "mad" step as he believed this could lead the European Union to lose nearly $400 billion. While speaking at 25th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum-- an annual Russian business event for the economic sector-- which is also popularly known as "Russian Davos", Putin said the country’s economy will overcome sanctions in the coming months. He emphasised that Russia has been focusing on minimising the effect of sanctions in a composed and professional manner. "We’re normalizing the economic situation. We stabilized the financial markets, the baking system, and the trading system," he added. Making fun of the EU sanctions, the Russian head affirmed that those who imposed sanctions on Moscow are itself facing its consequences. 

Russian President Vladimir Putin's address at the St. Petersberg International Economic Forum was delayed due to a "large-scale" cyber attack alleged by the "Ukrainian IT Army", CNN reported, citing Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov. The speech was delayed by at least 90 minutes due to the commotion amid Moscow officials over the news.

[IMAGE: AP]

Russian President Vladimir Putin, on Friday, vehemently defended his country’s actions in Ukraine. While speaking at a business event, he said that Russia has contended its neighbour posed a threat because of its desire to join the NATO military alliance. “In the current situation, against a backdrop of soaring risks and threats, Russia’s decision to conduct a special military operation was a forced one,” the Russian leader said. “It was very hard to make it, but it was forced and necessary. It was a decision by a sovereign country that has an unconditional right, based on the UN Charter, to defend its security.”

Soon after Netherlands' Prime Minister swiftly announced his support for Ukraine in obtaining the 27-nation bloc membership, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy took to the microblogging platform and thanked the Dutch government for supporting Ukraine's EU membership bid. "A busy & productive day ended with a conversation with Mark Rutte. Thanked for the support in granting Ukraine candidate status for EU membership. Informed of the situation on the front. Discussed security support for Ukraine. Thanked for Netherland's substantial aid. We hope it'll be continued," he wrote on Twitter. 

A Russian-owned superyacht seized by the United States arrived in Honolulu Harbor on Thursday flying an American flag. The US last week won a legal battle in Fiji to take the $325 million vessels and immediately sailed it to Hawaii. The FBI has linked the Amadea to the Russian oligarch Suleiman Kerimov. The US said Kerimov secretly bought the Cayman Islands-flagged vessel last year through various shell companies. The ship became a target of Task Force KleptoCapture, launched in March to seize the assets of Russian oligarchs to put pressure on Russia to end the war in Ukraine.

As Russia's attack continues in Ukraine's Donetsk Oblast. it claimed the lives of at least four people and injured six people on Friday. According to Donetsk Oblast Governor Pavlo Kyrylenko, four civilians were killed by Russian shelling include-- two in Panteleimonivka, one in Bakhmut, and one in Krasnohorivka. 

Chinese President, Xi Jinping during a Russia-sponsored business event on Friday, said he wants to boost the bilateral trade relation with Moscow, despite learning about Russia's unlawful action against Ukraine. Notably, he was speaking at St. Petersburg International Economic Forum-- an annual Russian business event for the economic sector-- which is also popularly known as "Russian Davos". According to an official English translation carried by Russian state broadcaster RT, the Chinese President affirmed that the trade with Moscow was expected to hit new records in the next few months.
"Today our cooperation between Russia and China is rising. Trade over the first half of this year has been in the tens of billions of US dollars. And we can expect new records in upcoming months," said Xi Jinping.

Russian state television showed a video Friday of two U.S. military veterans who went missing last week while fighting in Ukraine, confirming that the men were taken captive and raising fears about their fate.

Alex Drueke and Andy Huynh, both from Alabama, were believed to be the first Americans captured by Russian forces since the war began on Feb. 24.

Drueke, speaking into the camera from what appeared to be an office, sent a message to his mother, concluding with a quick wink.

“Mom, I just want to let you know that I’m alive and I hope to be back home as soon as I can be. So, love Diesel for me. Love you.” Diesel is his dog, a mastiff.

His aunt, Dianna Shaw, said the video included both a keyword and a gesture that Drueke and his mother had set up during one of his two tours in Iraq so she would know that it was indeed him and that he was OK.

Drueke, who served in the U.S. Army, and Huynh, who served in the U.S. Marines, went missing after their group came under heavy fire in the northeastern Kharkiv region on June 9.

AP

Despite Russia's strong lobby in forcing countries to recognise the Donetsk People's Republic, Kazakhstan, on Friday, refused to acknowledge it as an independent region. According to the microblogging post of Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's advisor and negotiator, Mykhailo Podoliak, Kazakhstan President Qasym-Jomart Toqayev refused to recognise the LDNR "quasi-enclaves". He said that none of the countries wants to take part in Russian crimes, except Syria. As per Podoliak, Damascus remained the Kremlin's only ally on the political map.

In a major development, hours after the European Commission on Friday recommended that Ukraine be designated as a candidate for European Union (EU) membership, Netherlands' Prime Minister swiftly announced his support for Ukraine in obtaining the 27-nation bloc membership. Calling the European Commission’s recommendation a "reasonable compromise", Dutch Premier Mark Rutte said both proponents and contenders of Ukraine’s candidacy can agree with this conclusion. Meanwhile, Wopke Hoekstra, Foreign Affairs Minister, said that the cabinet has found Ukraine's candidature both "balanced" and "sensible" and added Netherland will support the already war-ravaged nation for the sake of unity in Europe.  

As the Russian offensive against its neighbouring country continues even after the completion of 114 days, the Ukrainian military, in its daily war update on Friday evening, claimed that their forces liberated the village of Dmytrivka near Izyum in the Kharkiv region. However, it acknowledged that Russian troops continue to prevent Ukrainian forces from advancing to the border with Russia. "Units of the defence forces of Ukraine forced the enemy (Russian soldiers) to leave the village of Dmytrivka, Izium district, Kharkiv region," according to the latest update. 

Russian President Vladimir Putin met the Armenian leader, Vahagn Khachaturyan, at the annual economic international forum in St. Petersburg on Friday. The two presidents expressed their hope for stability and economic development in Armenia. Earlier Putin had said that Russia will overcome the “reckless and insane” international sanctions it is under, while condemning the United States for acting like “God’s own messengers on planet Earth.”

Nearly 48 hours after three US military veterans from Alabama went missing from Ukraine, US President Joe Biden confirmed that he was briefed about the duo but added he does not know about their whereabouts. While speaking to reporters on Friday, President Biden said initially, he was briefed about the missing case of the two US military veterans. However, later, the officials informed him about the third person who also went to Ukraine as a volunteer. "I have been briefed. We don't know where they are. Further, apprehending the current situation in the war-torn country, he appealed to Americans to refrain from visiting Ukraine.

"I want to reiterate, Americans should not be going to Ukraine now. I'll say it again, Americans should not be going to Ukraine now," he added.

The rebel-held city of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine was hit with more shelling on Friday. Residential buildings, cars and car parks were damaged, according to local media. Russia-backed separatists reported that there were ten peopled injured in the shelling. Russian forces in the last few weeks have pressed hard to capture Ukraine's eastern Donbas area, which borders Russia and is made up of the regions of Luhansk and Donetsk. It is the industrial heartland of the country.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy took to Twitter to express gratitude towards the European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen for lending their support in granting EU membership to the war-torn country.  "Together with @eucopresident we've coordinated steps on the eve of the historic European Council session to be held on June 23-24. I'm grateful to the EU leaders for the faith in Ukraine's European future!," he said.

President Vladimir Putin on Friday said Russia would accept "any of the choices” the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine make about their futures. He made the promise during a discussion at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Russia's showpiece investment gathering. There’s been consistent speculation that the separatist territories will hold votes on joining Russia, similar to when Russia annexed Crimea in 2014. Separatist leaders of the two areas have expressed the desire for such a referendum.

Denmark's military says a Russian warship has violated its territorial waters. The Defense Command of the Danish armed forces says a Russian corvette entered Danish waters twice in the early hours of Friday near the island of Christiansoe in the Baltic Sea. In a statement, the Defense Command said the Russian vessel left after it was contacted on marine two-way radio by the Danish navy. Danish Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod said Denmark summoned the Russian ambassador to protest the incident.

“It has been communicated in very clear terms to the Russian ambassador that this type of action is completely inadmissible,” Kofod said in a statement. "We will not accept this type of Russian provocation."

Both Sweden and Denmark have reported airspace violations by Russian aircraft following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday his country would "never take the path of self-isolation and autarky" as the nation's special military operation in Ukraine continues. Speaking at Russia's showpiece investment conference, the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Putin said Russia  was focusing on "expanding interactions" with nations who "want to work with us."

United States on Friday hosted the third meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in Brussels which included at least 50 countries including Ecuador, Georgia, and Moldova. The leaders discussed how to fortify support for Ukraine as they defended territorial inteegrity against Russia’s unprovoked invasion. 

Credit: Telegram/Anton Gerashchenko

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in an interview with the BBC said that 'NATO is a threat' and that Russia "has the right to decide for itself" what threatens its national security and what does not. Lavrov stressed that Moscow is told not to worry about the Ukraine’s accession to NATO, which according to West wouldn’t pose a threat to the Russian Federation, but it is Western weapons that Ukrainian regime is killing Russian soldiers and civilians with.

President Vladimir Zelenskyy said in September 2021 (you didn’t tell your viewers about it, did you?) that, if someone in Ukraine feels Russian, they should leave for Russia. His military according to Russian foreign minister has been committing atrocitires on the Russian speaking population for over eight years. 

"We announced a special military operation after being left with no other means to make it clear to the West that it is engaging in criminal activity by dragging Ukraine into NATO," said Lavrov. 

Credit: RussianMFA

World is seeing “emergence and increasing prominence of new power centres” and the old world order based on geopolitical hegemony by one superpower is now an “unstable” idea, Putin asserted. Russia's leader said that it's no longer possible to neglect the "tectonic shifts" in global politics, global economy, technology and international relations which will have “fundamental, unequivocally inexorable changes”.

"It would be a mistake to think that during these tumultuous changes, you can simply sit it out [...] and that everything is going to be as it was," said Putin. "It seems as if the ruling elites of certain western countries are labouring under precisely these very illusions of choosing to ignore the obvious, consistently playing into the ghosts of the past. They think that the domination of the west and global politics and economics is a constant – but nothing is eternal."

Putin on Friday denied that Russia has blockaded key ports in Black Sea that has hindered the shipment of the grain exports to the global market. "Russia did not block Ukraine's food exports," said Putin, adding that US is "printing money and snapping up food on global markets." 

Starvation and famine in the poorest countries "will be on the conscience of the US administration and the Eurocrats," said president of the Russian Federation. 

Credit: Telegram/RussianMFA

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson during his surprise visit to Kyiv offered a major training operation for Ukraine's military in order to defeat the invading Russian troops. Britain will train 10,000 soldiers every 120 days, 10 Downing Street said in a statement.

"My visit today, in the depths of this war, is to send a clear and simple message to the Ukrainian people: the UK is with you, and we will be with you until you ultimately prevail," UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson was quoted saying by ministrial office, UK.

"The new military training programme “could change the equation of this war - harnessing that most powerful of forces, the Ukrainian determination to win”, he continued. 

"Russia will never take control of Ukraine," UK Chief of the Defence Staff Tony Radakin said.  "In order to retake a tiny piece of territory, Putin has already had to use about 25% of the power of his army, getting 50,000 men killed or wounded in the process," the BBC's Russian service quoted Radakin as saying on Friday. UK's Royal Navy admiral also informed that Russia's military is incurring heavy losses and is "reinforcing NATO" due to its belligerent actions. Moscow has already "strategically lost" the war with Ukraine, said UK's Chief of the Defence Staff. 

Credit: Anton Gerashchenko/telegram

Russian president Putin accused West of assuming that the rest of the world “is their own backyard” as they try to isolate or cancel “wrong” states that fall against their own global hegemony agendas. Western countries are treating those countries “as their colonies” and as “second rate” Russian leader said, slamming the Western dominance culture that has given rise to Russophobia in the West. 

Russia's president Vladimir Putin warned that the West will impose sanction “not just on Russia, but on any country that falls out of favour”. By imposing the barrage of sanctions on Russia, European leaders have caused a “serious blow” on own economies, Putin said. 

"We see an aggravation of social and economic issues in Europe. In the US, we see increases and the prices of goods, foods and electricity as well as car fuel. The standards of living of Europeans are going down and their enterprises are losing competitiveness," said Putin. 

 Russia will “expand its engagement with everyone who is interested” in spite of the West's attempts of pushing the federation to “choose the path of self-isolation”. Putin iterated that he is willing to work with the countries who aim to strengthen cooperation with Russia, although stressed that he won't name them. According to Putin there's “overwhelming number of people on Earth” who desire to work with Russia. 

Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday promised to "defeat the empire" as he addressed participants of the annual VivaTech conference. "It is unusual for presidents to use a hologram to address people, but this is not the only aspect of Star Wars we will put into practice. We will also defeat the empire," Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, indirectly hinting at Russian Federation. 

Credit: Anton Gerashchenko/telegram

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson's visit to Ukraine’s capital. On his official Telegram channel, Zelenskyy wrote: "Many days of this war have proved that Great Britain’s support for Ukraine is firm and resolute. Glad to see our country’s great friend Boris Johnson in Kyiv again."

"This is Boris Johnson’s second visit to Kyiv since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of our land. We have a common view of the movement towards Ukraine’s victory. I’m grateful for a powerful support!"

Russian president Vladimir Putin on Friday stressed that the era of "unipolar world" dominated by the West has ended despite attempts to preserve it at any cost. "Our partners in the West have deliberately undermined international foundations due to their geopolitical illusions," said Russia's leader. He added, that the business reputation and trust in international currencies such as Dollar have been thoroughly undermined and that basic economic principles "are under attack." Russia's president was referring to the looming global inflation highest in 40 years and US Federal Reserve unable to prevent crashing of the stock markets, while the top economists predict a recession by late 2024. 

"Gloomy forecasts for the Russian economy, sounded in early spring, did not materialise," said Putin. 

Russian rouble recently hit three-week highs against the US Dollar and Euros despite the volatile trading as it soared despite recent interest rate cuts and a economic crisis as well as sanctions. Rouble spiked by 1.8% against the euros, becoming best performing currency in the world.

"We need to be extremely honest in assessing the situation in the economy and believe in our strength, we can cope with any challenges and solve any problem," warned Russian president. The economic "Blitzkrieg" against Russia initially had no chance of success, he reiterated, adding that inflation in some eurozone countries is already above 20%. 

Credit: RussiaMFA/Ruptly

Russian president Vladimir Putin during his speech at the SPIEF 2022 plenary session said that Russia will never follow the path of self-isolation, and that the "economic blitzkrieg" against Russia will have "no chance of success."

Russia, he said, is able to significantly increase the export of food and fertilizers, the volume of grain supplies may increase next season to 50 million tons. "It is necessary to ensure the development of the economy based on private business, and continue to relieve administrative burdens," said Putin.

"The Russian economy will keep the principles of openness in its development," said Russian president. 

Credit: RussianMFA/kremlin

Sovereignty in the 21st century cannot be partial or fragmentary, said Russian president Vladimir Putin. All its elements are equally important, they reinforce, complement each other. "Therefore, it is important for us not only to defend our political sovereignty and national identity, but also to strengthen everything that determines the economic independence of the country [Russia].  Moscow's financial, personnel, technological independence is integral, the President of Russia said during the plenary session of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. 

Russia's president Vladimir Putin on Friday said that his armed forces' "special military operation" in Ukraine "will certainly be completed." He slammed the Western sanctions imposed on Russia which he described are "built around the false thesis that the Russian economy is not sovereign." 

Credit: RussiaMFA

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, in an interview with the NTV network, accused the West of attempting to attain its strategic goal and "ready to hurt its own citizens for the sake of its geopolitical ambitions." He slammed the barrage of sanctions imposed on the Russian Federation. West is "forcing all others to act likewise through open blackmail, threats, ultimatums and other lowbrow methods and moves," Lavrov said. 

"I hope that along with politicians who irresponsibly demand to supply Ukraine with whatever it wants, there are military people who realise what is at stake and understand the risks involved," Russia's foreign minister told NTV network. 

According to Lavrov, Moscow has a goal to become one of the poles of a multipolar world unlike the West's agenda to assert the global hegemony. "We are just stating an objective reality. This world is developing objectively, all by itself. All the current “labours” of the West are aimed at 'containing' this objective historical process," said Russian foreign minister. 

Credit: telegram/RussianMFA

Russia's President Putin accused the United States, that he said declared victory in the Cold War, has assumed itself as "messenger of God ". "Colleagues in the West try to counteract the course of history, think in categories of the last century, remain in illusions and do not want to notice the changes. It will not be the same as before," said president of the Russian Federation. 

"The United States can steal other people's money any time they don't like something; this is an objective analysis," Russia's President Vladimir Putin said while addressing St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. 

"The EU has lost political sovereignty and its leaders have long been dancing to someone else's tune" Russia's president Vladimir Putin said on Friday as he addressed plenary session of the 25th St Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF). 

Credit; Telegram/Anton Gerashchenko

Russia's president Vladimir Putin during an address at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum accused the United States' Cold war mentality. Whilst US declared a victory in the Cold War, it declared itself "messenger of God " Putin slammed.  He then went on to add that the confidence of the countries worldwide in Dollar as "currency of the globe" has been undermined and West's outdated geopolitical illusions have been exposed. 

"Colleagues in the West try to counteract the course of history, think in categories of the last century, remain in illusions and do not want to notice the changes. It will not be the same as before," asserted Putin. "The sanctions against the Russian Federation are insane and thoughtless. Their purpose is to crush the Russian economy," he added. 

Ukraine is scrapping the visa free travel for the Russians, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal reportedly said. On his Telegram channel, Presiden Zelenskyy stated that the change is being introduced  “in order to counteract the unprecedented threats to the national security, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of our state.” The new rule will be effective July 1.

Official advisor and a former deputy minister at the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, Anton Gerashchenko, on Friday shared the footage of International Legion fighters carry out combat missions in Ukraine's hottest war zone city of Sievierodonetsk. 

Credit: telegram/Anton Gerashchenko

Russia's President Vladimir Putin addresses the International Economic Forum (SPIEF). The annual forum brings together the heads of international organisations, well-known public figures, leading academics, experts, and the media. It has been held since 1997. President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and President of Egypt Abdel Fattah el-Sisi will also attend the session. President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping will participate with a video message. 

2023 Eurovision song contest cannot be held in Ukraine due to the war, the European Broadcasting Union has announced. The event will instead be hosted in the UK instead, it said.

Ukraine's security service (SBU)  has claimed that it has "neutralised extensive [Russian] FSB intelligence network" that had allegedly been spying on Ukrainian troops and passing onto the Russian military. Ukraine's SBU arrested 19 Russian agents that collected critical information such as electronic maps, crowd locations, critical infrastructure and Ukrainian military units,across Kyiv, Kharkiv, Odesa, and Zaporizhia, said the intelligence agency. 

Russia's Ambassador Anatoly Antonov on June 17 slammed the United States for fabricating accusations "that have nothing to do with reality" against Russia, blaming it for global food crisis. "Our country is imputed with trying to take steps aimed at deliberately degrading global food security, preventing Ukrainian agricultural exports by sea, and blocking the sowing campaign in that country," said Antonov in a piece published in National Interest. "It’s time to put an end to these speculations," he asserted. "If Washington really wants to improve the situation in the global agricultural market, let us cooperate," Russian ambassador urged. 

Russia cited United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), saying that there is currently no physical shortage of food but only distribution. Russia has been asking Ukrainian forces ti demine the maritime routes in the Black Sea. Prices started to increase and then skyrocketed by 50 percent by this February, said Antonov. This was worsened by coronavirus pandemic and a lack of investment. 

"Western states made mistakes and miscalculations in their economic and energy policies," Russia's Ambassador Anatoly Antonov asserted. 

According to Russian ambassador, the situation has been complicated by the "Western-led campaign to forcefully accelerate the transition by the international community from traditional energy sources to renewable energy." Russia has absolutely nothing to do with the price hikes, asserted Antonov. 

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in an interview with Tass news agency in St Petersburg said that Russian troops are defending the eastern region of Donbass in Ukraine. "We had to recognise the independence of the Donetsk People’s Republic and the Lugansk People’s Republic. We will uphold their independence within the borders where they held the referendum in 2014," said Lavrov, condemning the atrocities wreaked by Ukrainian forces on Russian speaking population. 

"You see the people’s response in the DPR, the LPR, the Kherson region and Zaporozhye region, and a number of other Ukrainian regions. They want to build a peaceful life without constantly experiencing fear of the neo-Nazis who have been abusing them all these long years," said Russia's foreign minister. 

He iterated that Moscow has been key initiators of the statements of resilution that were made at the Russian-US summits in the past, as well as those made on behalf of the leaders of the five UN Security Council permanent member countries. There can be no winners in a nuclear war and so it must never be unleashed, Lavrov warned. "That is our position. We are strongly committed to it. "

Credit: RussianMFA/telegram

Moldova’s president, Maia Sandu, on Friday welcomed the European Commission’s recommendation for approval of its EU candidancy. In a tweet Sandu said: "The recommendation is based on the understanding that our country would put more efforts in such key areas as justice reform, fight against corruption, public administration and human rights."

Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy on June 17 welcomed the European Commission’s recommendation to approve Kyiv's membership bid saying that the decision will 'bring victory closer' for his country. In a tweet, Zelesnkyy said that the move marks “the first step on the EU membership path that’ll certainly bring our Victory closer," hailing European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, for the “historic decision."

Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin's speech has been delayed by an hour due to the cyberattack, the Kremlin said in a statement. The president of the Russian Federation was expected to deliver a speech St Petersburg Economic Forum when his address was interrupted due to alleged service cyberattacks. Kremlin spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, told state affiliated news agency reporters that Russian cyber specialists were looking into the issue. 

Kremlin on Friday, June 17 reacted to European Union’s executive commission's recommendation of approving Ukraine and Moldova's membership. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, at a press breifing said that Russia is "closely following" and  "observing in careful way" Ukraine’s efforts to become an EU member. The issue “requires our heightened attention, because we are all aware of the intensification of discussions in Europe on the subject of strengthening the defence component of the EU," Peskov said. 

"There are various transformations that we are observing in the most careful way," said Kremlin's spokesperson. 

 

Russian-occupied port city of Mariupol is now “medieval,” an advisor to the city’s Ukrainian mayor said on national television.  “Mariupol is now in the medieval,” Petro Andriushchenko said. "Water supply is only available in 2-3% of the city’s households. People wash their clothes in puddles on the streets.”

“The risk of disease spreading is rising day by day. There is information that people come to doctors with symptoms similar to dysentery or cholera,” he said.

Smoke rise after shelling by Russian forces in Mariupol. Credit: Associated Press

EU has recommended that Ukraine and its neighbour, Moldova, should have the candidancy for membership of the bloc, president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, announced just a day after the European leaders' visit to Kyiv. 

EU Commission on Friday proposed that Ukraine becomes EU member. European Commission head, Ursula von der Leyen said that it is the first step towards the membership of Ukraine as recommendation will further be discussed by 27 EU member states. EU also appealed to Georgia to come together politically to design a clear path towards structural reform and the EU.  

A Ukrainian guardsman is being lauded for saving lives of his collegaues in the battlefield. The guard that is known by call sign "Beard" was awarded with Order for Courage for saving the lives of his comrades. Despite that he was wounded with the shrapnel wounds, Oleksandr evacuated his colleagues, the National Guard of Ukraine said in a post. 

Credit: National Guard of Ukraine

Luhansk region of eastern Ukraine that is majorly under the control of Russian or pro-Russian forces, witnessing heavy shellling in Lysychanskm and Severodonetsk where Russian troops are trying to gain stronghold. The two ciites are the last bastions of Ukrainian defence in the region. Luhansk police on Telegram shared the image of the school destroyed by Russian strike where civilians were taking shelter, causing deaths. 

Credit: Luhansk Police/Telegram

Ukraine’s ministry of defence have issued a tweet suggesting that they have sunk the Spasatel Vasily Bekh and that the Moskva will not be the only war vessel of Russian black sea fleet on Black Sea bed. 

French President Emmanuel Macron has said that a deal with Russia's president Vladimir Putin to export grain from Ukraine’s Odesa port is unlikely. In a statement to BFM TV, Macron said that there is a need to talk with Russia on food security, but by liaising directly with the UN secretary general. France's leader iterated that Putin "didn’t want to accept a UN resolution." 

"We have to talk with Russia on food security and it can be justified by liaising directly with the UN secretary general to get grains out of Odesa. But I don’t believe a lot in this path, because I already had talks a few weeks ago with President Putin, but he didn’t want to accept a UN resolution on this subject," France's Macron said. 

A Ukraine Supreme Court Judge, Oleksandr Mamaluy, was seen on the frontlines fighting the invading Russian troops. Several people that worked at the stores and normal jobs have taken up arms against the Russian soldiers. A Ukrainian investigative journalist Danylo Mokryk tweeted the image of the judge, saying, "Supreme Court Judge on the frontlines, Oleksandr Mamaluy. Sniper. Call sign: "Lawyer".

Russian ambassador to the US, Anatoly Antonov on Thursday claimed that it is Ukraine and not Moscow that is hampering grains export from Ukraine's Black Sea ports.

"Russia is not trying to impede Ukrainian food exports. We understand very well the importance of resuming supplies to the countries in need. But the departure of merchant's vessels from the Black Sea ports is hampered by the Kyiv authorities’ actions," Antonov stated in his article published by The National Interest magazine.

He went on to claim that Russia is interested in fostering civilian shipping and hence has cleared Mariupol port for operations to resume. "Since March, the Russian Navy has been organizing daily humanitarian corridors from the territorial waters of Ukraine to the Bosporus Strait. The detailed coordinates have been made public," he said.

French President Emmanuel Macron has said that France and Germany will not demand any concessions from Ukraine for talks with the Russian Federation and it will never be negotiators behind Kyiv's back. As Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, the French leader said that although European countries have maintained an open channel of communication with the Russian Federation, the terms and format of the talks are determined by Kyiv. Notably, Macron’s comments came while speaking in the Ukrainian capital alongside Italian PM Mario Draghi, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Romanian President Klaus Iohannis on Thursday.   

Macron said, “At the same time, we did not go to war with the Russian people, that is, collectively we are not waging such a war. That is why we, absolutely transparently, each time informing President Zelenskyy, continued negotiations with the Russian president [...] in particular, in the current issues that arise - now it is a question of food security. And it is in this context that we maintain a channel of dialogue [with Russia].”

Macron, who also visited Irpin, labelled his visit as a symbol of European Unity. He said that neither Germany nor France “will ever be negotiators behind Ukraine's back”. And they will never demand any concessions from Ukraine - this has never been and never will be the case. It is pertinent to note that Zelenskyy has many times slammed the EU for softening its stance against the Kremlin.

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The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) in its latest update about the Russia-Ukraine conflict on Thursday claimed that there is a "particularly strong scepticism" about the ongoing war against Kyiv. "Migration applications suggest that 15,000 Russian millionaires (in US dollars) are likely already attempting to leave the country," the statement said. 

Ukraine's First Lady Olena Zelenska on Thursday urged the European Union to step up its efforts in order to grant candidate status to Kyiv. Virtually addressing the international conference Women NOW being held in Spain, she made an impassioned appeal to the representatives of the 27-nation bloc, saying that the Ukrainians are "awaiting in every trench and every bomb shelter" to hear the acceptance so that they can be "invited into Europe as like-minded people." On the 113th day of the war, Zelenska also hailed Spain for welcoming Ukrainian asylum seekers amid the four-month-long running war waged by Russia.

In its latest war briefing, Ukrainian Armed Forces on Friday claimed to have eliminated 33,150 Russian troops since the beginning of the war on February 24. The defenders also bogged down over 1100 Russian choppers and 215 aircraft. 

French President Emmanuel Macron, on Thursday, said that the European Union (EU) is working on an alternate export route for food grains stuck at Ukrainian ports. Speaking to French media outlet TF1, he detailed that the new channel is being carved out through Romania, which he said was just a  “few tens of kilometres” from Odesa. Soon after the war started, invading troops imposed a blockade on Ukrainian ports-particularly Odesa and Mariupol- leading to tonnes of grains and other agrarian products getting stuck there.

Macron called on Moscow “to accept that the United Nations organise the export of cereals, which requires the lifting of the Russian blockade on Ukrainian ports and provide all security guarantees for Ukraine to allow the exit of these cereals.”

At least one person was killed on the morning of June 17 after Russian shelling hit four residential high-rise buildings in the southern city, Mykolaiv Oblast Governor Vitaly Kim said. Another six were injured, including a child, Kyiv Independent reported. 

The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) is planning to formulate a new way to "strengthen its position" in eastern Europe, Jens Stoltenberg, General-Secretary of the military alliance said at the pre-ministerial meeting for the 'transformative' NATO Summit. He added the plans will include “more NATO forward-deployed combat formations to strengthen battlegroups in the eastern part of the alliance." 

NATO summit scheduled to be held in Madrid, Spain on June 29-30, Stoltenberg said the ministers had discussed the organization's future posture and how it can step up practical support for the allies by substantially strengthening its presence, capabilities and readiness.

French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and Italian PM Mario Draghi on Thursday urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to resume talks with Russia during a "closed-door meeting." NEXTA reported. 

As Russian troops continue their brutal invasion of the Ukrainian cities, a record 91% of Ukrainians have expressed the desire to join the European Union, according to a survey conducted by the Rating Sociological Group. The willingness among Ukraine's citizens to join the EU increased from 68 to 86%, eventually hitting 91% since Moscow invaded the sovereign territory. 

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In Kherson Oblast, Russian troops are reportedly dismantling concrete irrigation structures to conceal heavy artillery from Ukrainian strikes in anticipation of a counteroffensive, the Institute for Study of War (ISW) claimed in its latest war briefing. 

Russia has “strategically lost” in war with Ukraine and is now a “more diminished power”, said the head of the UK’s head of armed forces. Admiral Tony Radakin told PA Media in an interview published Friday that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s forces are suffering significant losses and are also running oui6t of soldiers, and advanced missiles. UK armed forces chief also emphasised that Russia would never be able to take control of all of Ukraine. 

“This is a dreadful mistake by Russia. Russia will never take control of Ukraine,” Tony Radakin told PA Media.
 

As European leaders visited Kyiv and met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday said that he will not go to Russia without “preconditions”, including “gestures” from Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin. In an exclusive interview with French TV channel TF1 from the Ukrainian capital, Macron said, “I will not just go like this”. The French President, however, said that he would continue engaging with his Russian counterpart on humanitarian issues such as food security. 

“And so I do not exclude anything, but I will always do it in transparency with the Ukrainian president,” Macron said.

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Australia’s new Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Friday he would take advice on whether to accept President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's invitation to visit Ukraine during an upcoming European trip.

Albanese will attend a NATO meeting in Spain at the end of this month.

Albanese said he only became aware of the invitation to visit Ukraine when he read a newspaper report Friday.

“I’ll take appropriate advice, and obviously there are security issues as well in terms of such a visit,” Albanese told reporters.

“I appreciate the spirit in which it’s been offered and one of the reasons why Australia has been invited to NATO is that Australia is the largest non-NATO contributor to give support to Ukraine in its defense of its national sovereignty against Russia’s illegal, immoral invasion. And we’ll continue to stand with the people of Ukraine,” Albanese added.

Zelenskyy gave the invitation when he wrote to congratulate Albanese on his center-left Labor Party’s win at elections on May 21, said Ukraine Embassy in Australia’s deputy head of mission Volodymyr Shalkivski.

The invitation was for Albanese to “visit Ukraine at his convenience,” Shalkivski said, and the embassy handed the invitation over to the new administration June 7.

European leaders are increasingly visiting Ukraine’s capital Kyiv by rail from Poland.

Zelenskyy addressed the Australian Parliament by video in late March when then-Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s conservative coalition was in power. The president appealed for armored vehicles and tougher sanctions against Russia.

Australia responded by promising 14 M113 fully tracked armored personnel carriers and 40 Bushmaster four-wheel-drive armored vehicles. The vehicles brought the cost of Australia’s contribution to Ukraine’s defense to 285 million Australian dollars ($200 million) by late May.

(AP)

Institute for the Study of War has said that fighting continued in eastern and southern Ukraine. According to the United States think tank, Russian forces have continued to engage in assaults on Sievierodonetsk and Lysychansk, as well as unsuccessful offensives near Sloviansk, Izium, and Kharkiv.
 

French President Emmanuel Macron said at the joint press conference in Kyiv with the Chancellor of Germany, the Prime Minister of Italy, the President of Romania and the President of Ukraine that France is ready to supply Ukraine with additional self-propelled artillery systems “Caesar”. Macron said, "We are ready to decide on further Caesar systems in the coming weeks".

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday expressed readiness to work to attain full member status of the European Union (EU). This comes as Zelenskyy met with President of France Emmanuel Macron, Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz, President of Romania Klaus Iohannis and Prime Minister of Italy Mario Draghi, who arrived in Ukraine on a visit. During a joint press briefing alongside French, German, and Italian leaders, the embattled President reiterated his calls to expedite the process of ensuring Kyiv's access to the European Union.

Noting the Russian atrocities committed in the war, Zelenskyy stressed, "Ukrainians have already earned the right to embark on this path." "Granting Ukraine the status of a candidate for membership in the European Union can significantly strengthen freedom in Europe and become an important successful decision on its historical path," he said.

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Ukraine's Deputy Minister of Defense Hanna Malyar in a briefing said that Russia's main strategic goal remains complete destruction of Ukrainian statehood, destroying its military and economic potential. Malyar also said that Moscow's forces are mainly focused on full control of the Luhansk and Donetsk regions. 

The Kremlin will try to use its military capabilities as a key lever in negotiations with Ukrainian authorities, according to Ukraine's Deputy Minister of Defense.

According to Kyiv Independent, Ukraine's Cultural Ministry said that 3D printers document, aim to preserve Ukraine’s cultural heritage sites. With Latvia’s Culture Ministry and Riga Technical University, Ukrainian specialists scanned two heritage sites in Chernihiv Oblast damaged by Russian shelling this week. Two sacred monuments in Lviv and Kyiv oblasts were also scanned. The intention is to work towards preserving and restoring damaged sites. Since February 24, around 400 instances of damage or destruction of Ukrainian cultural heritage sites have been recorded, as per the outlet.

Liu Pengyu, a spokesman for the Chinese Embassy in the US told Russian news agency TASS that Beijing opposes all measures aimed at fueling tensions regarding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Liu was quoted as saying, "What China provides to Ukraine are much-needed humanitarian supplies such as food, baby formula, sleeping bags, quilts and damp-proof mats".

"In contrast, what the US provides to Ukraine are lethal weapons," the spokesperson for China's embassy in US stated.

"China supports all efforts that are conducive to easing the situation and political settlement. And China opposes actions like fanning the flame or adding fuel to the fire that may escalate the situation and are counterproductive to political resolution," the diplomat continued.

Oleksiy Hromov, deputy head of the operational management department of the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, said at a briefing that almost 330,000 Russian soldiers are deployed in the large-scale armed aggression against Ukraine, according to Ukrinform. He added that mobilized reserves and private military companies are taking part in the combat operations.

Russia intends to withstand the sanctions imposed by the West and achieve its aim in eastern Ukraine's Donbas area, said the spokesperson of the Kremlin, Dmitry Peskov amid the ongoing Moscow-Kyiv war. On being asked about Russia's intention to occupy Ukrainian territory in Odessa, Kharkiv, and Kherson, Peskov told CNN that the decision will be made based on local people's will. “The number one goal is to protect the people of Donbas and Luhansk from those who are shelling Donetsk, for example, right now, and killing civilians there. And have been doing that for the last eight to nine years," he added.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday asked his government to come up with steps to support the country’s car industry which has suffered one of the most significant blows of the sanctions imposed by the West. The Kremlin leader discussed Russia’s auto industry and a slump in sales with several members of the government and noted that the situation “is not easy” after “partners of Russian car factories, despite their long-term commitments, either suspended deliveries or announced their withdrawal from our market”.

According to Kremlin, Putin said, “I ask the government to tell us in more detail what prompt measures are being proposed to support the auto industry and stabilize the domestic market”.

Russian President also noted that the volume of the output of the automobile industry is already impacted and has witnessed a steep drop compared to 2021. It is to mention here that car sales in Russia have collapsed since the Kremlin leader announced the “special” military operation in Ukraine in late February. Putin said that he now views “two tasks as the most important now: The first is to ensure the work of automobile plants in Russia, their supply with the necessary components, to maintain employment, teams of qualified specialists”.

“The second task, the Russian auto industry must ensure a sufficient supply of cars, primarily passenger vehicles, prices for which have risen sharply this year,” the Kremlin leader said.

“I would like to recall that about a million and a half cars were sold in Russia during each of the past two years,” he emphasised.
 

NATO makes decisions by consensus, and all NATO allies have to agree to Sweden and Finland’s Alliance membership bid, NATO chief said on June 16. Stoltenberg said that while he waits to address Turkey’s legitimate concerns on terrorism and weapons supply to extremist factions like PKK, he cannot give the exact date on when the two Baltic states will be formally incorporated into the Alliance when those terms are reached. 

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has said that the alliance is committed to providing the equipment to Ukraine which maintains the war-torn nation's right to self-defence against Russia's military aggression. NATO chief condemned “a relentless war of attrition against Ukraine” by Russia, and said NATO continued to offer “unprecedented support so it can defend itself against Moscow’s aggression”.

The UK will welcome representatives and business leaders from Ukraine to discuss how British companies can help rebuild key infrastructure in Kyiv. It has been 114 days since Russia started invasion of Ukraine and since then Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin's troops have obliterated over 200 heritage sites, annihilated multiple cities and killed hundreds of civilians. On Thursday, British trade secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan said that she will seek to promote collaboration between British companies dealing with energy, infrastructure, transportation and Ukrainian organisations in order to help repair and reconstruct destroyed infrastructure. 

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In one of the most direct remarks by Russia since the war in Ukraine began in late February, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov admitted that “Russia is not squeaky clean”. In a sit-down interview with BBC, Lavrov categorically denied Russia ‘invading’ Ukraine and instead, he stressed that Moscow “declared a special military  because we had absolutely no other way of explaining to the West that dragging Ukraine into NATO was a criminal act."

“Russia is not squeaky clean. Russia is what it is. And we are not ashamed of showing who we are,” the Russian Foreign Minister also told the media outlet.

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US Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on Thursday suggested that temporary silos on Ukraine's border would prevent Russia from stealing Ukrainian grain  and ensure the winter harvest is not lost due to a lack of storage, according to The Guardian. Vilsack said, "We know of circumstances and situations where that has occurred - Russians having taken grain from Ukrainian farmers. So to the extent that we can get it out of the country, that is a plus that reduces the risk of loss."

"We would like to see the ports open because that’s the most efficient, most effective way to transport that grain, but it’s still going to take time even if the port is open. So you still have to have a place to put the grain," he also said. 

Amid souring relations between Russia and the European Union, the Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation to the EU believes although both parties prefer not to slam the door shut, their relations reached the lowest point ever. While speaking at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum-2022, Russia’s envoy to the EU, Vladimir Chizhov acknowledged that the relationship between Russia and the EU deteriorated ever since President Vladimir Putin started a "special military operation" against Ukraine. 

Citing the EU as the most preferred partner for business, he said neither Russia nor the 27-bloc union would shut their doors despite several disparities among both parties. "Of course, we don’t slam the door shut, and they also are too cautious to slam the door shut, because, whatever one may say, the European Union remains our largest trade and economic partner," he said.

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Ukraine’s Operational Command “East” reported on June 16 that it destroyed 26 Russian troops, destroyed equipment in eastern Ukraine. It also destroyed one unmanned aerial vehicle, one armoured personnel carrier, and one fuel depot.

Luhansk governor Serhiy Haidai told CNN 568 people, including 38 children, are taking refuge in the Azot plant and they are unable to evacuate because of the sustained Russian shelling. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday told European leaders that only a unified effort could force Russia to stop the war.

Instead, "only collectively, only together, only united" could leaders force President Vladimir Putin to end the military operation, he said during a joint news conference in Kyiv.

Amid Ukrainian fears that Western resolve could wane, the visit by the European leaders carried heavy symbolism.

France, Germany and Italy have all faced criticism for continuing to engage with Putin - and failing to give Kyiv the amount of weaponry it says its needs.

(AP)

According to the UN OHCHR, 4,481 civilians have been killed and 5,565 injured. The most casualties are reported in Donbas, with 2,611 killed and 3,103 injured. Even though the total figure is likely higher, the UN has said that the total civilian casualties due to the Russia-Ukraine war has exceeded 10,000. The report states that most casualties were reportedly the result of “explosive weapons with a wide impact area, including shelling from heavy artillery and multiple launch rocket systems, and missile and air strikes.”

French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday said that the European Union (EU) is trying to come up with a plan to export Ukrainian grain and cereals through Romania. In an exclusive interview from Kyiv to French TV channel TF1, Macron said, "Odesa is a few tens of kilometres from Romania". French President said that grain would be exported from Romania through the Danube River and into the railway system.

Slovenia’s Defense Minister Marjan Sarec on June 16 following a meeting of NATO defence ministers in Brussels, said his country sent Ukraine 35 infantry fighting vehicles, according to RTVSLO. He did not specify what types of vehicles were donated. Sarec reportedly said that, while the supply of weapons to Ukraine is currently underway, Slovenia has exhausted its available arsenal.

Ukraine's Deputy Energy Minister said that Kyiv has received 300 generators from Europe. Farid Safarov said 33 energy companies have received equipment from European counterparts to restore electricity supply. He also asked companies to assist in rebuilding Ukraine's power infrastructure, according to Kyiv Independent. 

The leaders of France, Italy, and Germany visited war-torn Ukraine on Thursday and took a "first-hand glimpse" of Russia's brutal aggression against its neighbouring country. At first, the three leaders chose to visit Irpin-- one of the suburbs of Kyiv devastated at the start of the war-- after completing 10 hours long train journey via Poland. Though the other European and Western countries, on several occasions, criticised French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz for not visiting the EU aspiring nation, the leaders grabbed this opportunity to calm down the soaring chaos.

While speaking at a press conference following their visit to the war zone, all the leaders-- Draghi, Scholz and Macron-- vowed their support to Ukraine in getting the membership of the European Union. In a joint statement, the leaders expressed their support for Ukraine and also pledged to push more lethal weapons to the war-torn country. French President Emmanuel Macron promised Ukraine six more truck-mounted artillery guns. 

French President Emmanuel Macron quoted the anthem of Ukraine after a visit to Kyiv alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.