re: Latest Updates: Russia-Ukraine Conflict

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In an about face, German officials are ready to support a US plan to leverage the future revenue generated from frozen Russian assets — mostly stranded in Europe — to back $50 billion in aid to Ukraine, according to people familiar with the discussions.

Germany’s assent could be a crucial step that brings Washington and its allies closer to securing a substantial new aid package for Kyiv and ensuring US engagement regardless of the outcome of the November election.

US and EU officials say momentum is gathering behind the US proposal, which is expected to dominate talks between finance ministers and central bank governors from Group of Seven nations gathering in Stresa, Italy, for their annual meeting starting Thursday.

But German officials don’t expect any final agreement until G-7 leaders meet June 13-15, nor implementation to take place until next year, said the people, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

At stake is whether Ukraine’s government can remain financially viable — funding its defense and servicing its debt — through 2025. With the war showing no signs of abating and Russia’s military offensive gaining ground, Ukraine’s staunchest backers are keen to secure medium-term financing for the embattled country and send a signal to Moscow that support for Kyiv among G-7 allies is not faltering.

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EU approved the using of revenues from Russia's central bank's frozen assets to help Ukraine.

Up to €3B only this year, 90% goes for Ukraine's military.
Russia will pay for its war damages.

What Putin destroyed Russia must pay to rebuild.

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Germany has raised almost €1 billion to strengthen Ukraine's air defense, - German Foreign Minister Berbock has said

She also emphasized that Germany was "literally looking under every rock" for new Patriot systems and was working to hand over even more funds to Ukraine.

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Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles revealed a new military aid package for Ukraine, which includes:

- Leopard-2A4 MBTs
- 155mm munition
- Patriot missiles
- Anti drone systems
- RCWSs
- Video surveillance systems

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Defense forces managed to stabilize the situation in Vovchansk.

This was stated by the spokesman of the "Khortytsia" OSGT, Nazar Voloshyn.

Voloshyn added that the russians do not stop trying to break through the defenses of our units near Lyptsi, Vovchansk, and Starytsia.

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US offers Georgia support in exchange for democracy and is going to impose sanctions against pro-Kremlin politicians

The U.S. is going to offer #Georgia support in exchange for changing its anti-Western rhetoric and abandoning its "anti-democratic course," Politico quoted Republican Joe Wilson's bill as saying.

The proposal discusses the possibility of visa liberalization for Georgians, as well as economic and military aid, provided Georgia makes "significant progress in strengthening democracy."

The same bill provides for the imposition of sanctions against Georgian politicians associated with the adoption of the "foreign agents" law.

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Over the past three months, Russian military aviation has dropped 53 FABs (high-explosive aerial bombs) on Russian regions and the occupied territories of Ukraine, ASTRA has calculated.

The last such incident, according to the publication, occurred on May 20, when Russian air force aircraft dropped three bombs on the villages of Krutoy Log and Shebekino in Belgorod Region.

According to The Insider's calculations, in 2024 alone, there were at least 39 cases of accidental drops of Russian aerial munitions on the territory of the Belgorod region. At least twice FABs fell in #Belgorod

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The UN continues to recognize Volodymyr Zelenskyy's legitimacy as Ukraine's president

"President Zelenskyy remains for us the head of state of Ukraine and the person the secretary-general speaks to when he needs to contact the Ukrainian leader," UN chief's spokesman Stéphane Dujarric told a daily briefing.

The five-year presidential term expired on May 20. Under Ukrainian law, presidential elections are not held during martial law, the country's CEC explained that Zelenskyy's powers will continue until the next head of state is elected.

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Nine people have been detained in Poland on charges of sabotage ordered by Russian security services

"This concerns beatings, arson and attempted arson," said the country's Prime Minister Donald Tusk. Among those arrested are citizens of Ukraine, Belarus and Poland. According to the Polish Prime Minister, they are hired people, sometimes "from the criminal world".

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Brussels officials are pushing to start formal EU accession talks with Ukraine as early as next month, — Politico.

Behind the scenes, diplomats from the EU and Kyiv are working intensively to persuade the Hungarian government to agree to start negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the EU.

According to diplomats, the goal is to start official talks as early as June 25.

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The UN Security Council did not adopt the Russian draft resolution on non-deployment of weapons in space

Seven of the fifteen member states of the Security Council, including the United States, voted against it. The draft resolution was supported by seven states, including Russia and China, while Switzerland abstained.

Russia's Permanent Representative to the UN Nebenzya accused the US of seeking to militarize space.

In April, Russia vetoed a U.S.-Japanese draft resolution on the non-deployment of nuclear weapons in space - then all countries except Russia and China voted in favor of the resolution.

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Bottom Line: The United States has reaffirmed its position that Ukraine may only use US supplied weapons within Ukraine. Despite a myriad of excuses, it has become clear that this is a political limitation and is unrelated to the realities of warfighting.

More info: On May 20, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin reaffirmed the White House's stance against allowing Ukraine to use US-provided weapons to strike military targets in Russia. Following a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, Austin emphasized that the US expects Ukraine to use these weapons only within its own borders. He hinted at different considerations for aerial dynamics but didn't elaborate further.

A variety of countries, military consultant groups and Ukraine have all noted that these restrictions have effectively created safe zones in Russia's border areas, from which Russian forces can launch attacks on Ukraine and assemble equipment and troops without interference. These policies provide Russia with a strategic advantage that they are now using to their benefit

In contrast, UK Foreign Minister David Cameron recently stated that Ukrainian forces could use UK-provided weapons to target Russian territory, and other European countries might follow suit. The lack of retaliation by Russia towards the UK raises the question of why the US and other allies have placed these restrictions on Ukraine.

On May 19, French National Assembly Foreign Affairs Committee Chairperson Jean-Louis Bourlanges argued that France should allow Ukraine to use French weapons to strike inside Russia, stating that self-defense rights do not extend to protecting the aggressor's territory. He suggested that lifting these restrictions would remove an unjustifiable limitation on Ukraine's right to defend itself.

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Until Russia withdraws its troops, the United States will supply Ukraine with the weapons it needs to defend itself.

This statement was made by Deputy US Ambassador to the UN Robert Wood during a meeting of the Security Council convened by russia over the supply of Western weapons to Ukraine.

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How can you say that with a straight face?

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I’d wager it definitely happened

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Defense forces managed to stabilize the situation in Vovchansk.

This was stated by the spokesman of the "Khortytsia" OSGT, Nazar Voloshyn.

Voloshyn added that the russians do not stop trying to break through the defenses of our units near Lyptsi, Vovchansk, and Starytsia.

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Letting Russia have safe havens just across the border reminds me of the Vietnam War when we let the Cong and NVA take sanctuary in Laos and Cambodia. It’s stupid.

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