Global Courant
Strengthening Ukraine’s air defenses and artillery on the agenda as allies meet
Ukraine and its allies are meeting on Thursday to discuss Kyiv’s ongoing military needs and requirements, with Kyiv’s military command saying strengthening air defences, artillery and counter-battery capabilities are “key objectives”.
The meeting of the so-called Ukraine Defense Support Group in Brussels, Belgium, will “focus on strengthening Ukraine’s air defense and other near-term capability priorities, as well as training and support to strengthen Ukraine’s long-term staying power.” , according to one read out of a telephone conversation between US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov earlier this week.
The Ukraine Defense Support Group includes 54 countries ranging from countries that are part of NATO’s military alliance to non-members such as Australia, Japan, South Korea and Ireland.
Ukrainian soldiers at their artillery position on the frontline of Donetsk in Ukraine on April 24, 2023.
Diego Herrera Carcedo | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images
Ahead of Thursday’s meeting, Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valerii Zaluzhnyi said he had spoken with US Army General Mark Milley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and briefed him on the counter-offensive that Ukraine had launched last week. week to recapture Russian-occupied territory.
“Heavy defensive and offensive fighting is currently taking place in the east and south of our country. Although we have achieved certain successes and are executing our plans, we will continue to move forward.” he said on Telegram.
“Priorities for the Ukrainian military were discussed in preparation for the upcoming regular meeting of the contact group on defense issues, which follows the “Ramstein” format. Strengthening air defenses, artillery and counter-battery capabilities were identified as key objectives.”
— Holly Ellyatt
Photos show devastating Russian missile strike in eastern Ukraine
At least three people were killed on Wednesday after shelling destroyed seven homes and damaged dozens more in the eastern Ukrainian cities of Kramatorsk and Kostiantynivka, according to a Telegram message from Pavlo Kyrylenko, governor of Donetsk province.
The associated press reported that the Ukrainian presidential office said a missile hit the Ukrainian-controlled city of Kramatorsk, where Kiev’s armed forces are headquartered. The office said the strike killed two civilians and injured two others, while 29 homes were damaged.
Meanwhile, Russian shelling in Ukraine’s eastern town of Kostiantynivka killed one civilian and damaged 57 houses.
This aerial photo shows municipal workers using a mechanical excavator to clear debris from a residential area in the aftermath of a Russian attack on Kramatorsk, June 14, 2023.
Ihor Tkachov | Afp | Getty Images
Residents stand in the remains of their homes as municipal workers clear debris in the aftermath of a Russian attack on Kramatorsk, June 14, 2023.
Anatolii Stepanov | Afp | Getty Images
Residents stand in the remains of their homes in the aftermath of a Russian attack on Kramatorsk, June 14, 2023.
Anatolii Stepanov | Afp | Getty Images
A resident rescues belongings from the remains of her home in the aftermath of a Russian attack on Kramatorsk, June 14, 2023.
Anatolii Stepanov | Afp | Getty Images
Residents rescue belongings from the remains of their home in the aftermath of a Russian attack on Kramatorsk, June 14, 2023.
Anatolii Stepanov | Afp | Getty Images
— The Associated Press and Anatolii Stepanov | AFP | Getty Images
Blinken planned to boost allies in London while Ukraine plans to rebuild
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken boards his plane for a trip to Berlin at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, on June 22, 2021.
Andreas Harnik | Swimming Pool | Reuters
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken travels to London to meet his counterparts from the UK and Ukraine during the Restoration Conference Ukraine.
He will also meet several allies on the sidelines of the conference and is expected to push allies and the private sector to support Ukraine’s reconstruction.
— Amanda Macias
Turkey says Sweden has not done enough to join the NATO alliance
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Murat Cetinmuhurdar | Reuters
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told reporters who traveled with him that Sweden has not done enough to be accepted into the NATO military alliance. according to a report from Reuters.
Ankara has previously accused Stockholm of harboring terrorists. The latest revelation comes when NATO members meet in Lithuania next month.
Finland and Sweden began the formal application process for NATO last May as Russia’s war in Ukraine entered its third month.
At the time, Ankara demanded certain concessions from both Finland and Sweden before approving NATO membership. Earlier this year, Turkey formalized Finland’s ratification to join the NATO alliance.
— Amanda Macias
The Belarusian president says he would not hesitate to use Russian nuclear weapons to fight aggression
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko talks with Russian TV presenter Olga Skabeyeva during his visit to the missile production company in the Minsk region of Belarus, June 13, 2023.
Belarusian Presidential Press Service via AP
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said the country has received some of Russia’s tactical nuclear weapons and warned he would not hesitate to use them if Belarus faced an act of aggression, the That reports the Associated Press.
Lukashenko’s comments contradict previous statements by President Vladimir Putin, who has said Russia will retain control of the weapons and station them in Belarus, similar to US agreements to deploy weapons in their allied countries. according to Reuters.
The deployment is Moscow’s first move of such warheads outside of Russia since the fall of the Soviet Union, and is closely monitored by the US, its allies and China. Reuters reported that.
Lukashenko, who has allowed his country to be used by Russian forces attacking Ukraine, said the nuclear deployment will deter would-be aggressors, the AP reported. Belarus borders NATO member states Lithuania, Latvia and Poland.
— Melody Warner
Kremlin says “goodwill” over grain deal won’t last long
The Kremlin said it could withdraw from the grain export deal with Ukraine when the current deal expires in mid-July.
The agreement, formally known as the Black Sea grain Initiative, has expired 31 million tons of essential agricultural exports to leave three of Ukraine’s ports amid the ongoing war.
Russia has reluctantly extended the deal brokered by the UN and Turkey several times, but has complained that its own grain and fertilizer exports are constantly hampered by restrictions on payments and access to insurance.
An aerial view of a dry cargo ship carrying grain from Ukraine under the UN-brokered Black Sea Agreement.
Anadolu Agency | Getty Images
Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov was asked by reporters to comment on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s comment yesterday that Russia was considering the possibility of withdrawing from the deal, and was asked if this could happen when it expires or sooner.
“At the end,” the Kremlin spokesman replied, according to the Interfax news agency.
Peskov was also asked why Moscow was considering pulling out of the deal now, despite longstanding grievances about it.
“Russia has repeatedly made such gestures of goodwill (by extending participation in the deal), showing a very responsible approach, but unfortunately in the absence of reciprocity and lack of the collective West’s desire to the agreements regarding Russia, this is of course a sign of goodwill and the political will cannot be endless,” Peskov said. Interfax reported that.
On Tuesday, President Putin said that “we are now thinking about how to get out of this grain deal. Especially since these corridors through which the ships go are constantly used by the enemy to launch drones, naval drones,” he said, without making any presentations. evidence. Ukraine says Russia has repeatedly tried to undermine and hinder the grain export deal.
— Holly Ellyatt
Ukraine faces ‘extremely fierce’ fighting and ‘partial success’ in counter-offensive
Ukrainian servicemen of the 10th Mountain Assault Brigade “Edelweiss” fire a missile from a BM-21 Grad multiple rocket launcher towards Russian positions, near Bakhmut in the Donetsk region, during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, June 13, 2023.
Anatolii Stepanov | Afp | Getty Images
Ukraine’s armed forces are facing “extremely fierce” fighting as their counter-offensive is experiencing “partial success”, according to Ukraine’s deputy defense minister.
Reply to TelegramHanna Maliar said Ukrainian fighters had advanced up to 500 meters in the Bakhmut area and up to 350 meters in the Zaporizhzhia area of southern Ukraine in the past 24 hours.
“Our forces are moving despite extremely fierce fighting, the superiority of the enemy’s aviation and artillery,” Maliar said on Wednesday.
She said fighting continued near the village of Makarivka towards the southern port city of Berdiansk, as well as in the Novodanylivka and Novopokrovsk areas towards Mariupol. CNBC was unable to immediately verify the information.
— Holly Ellyatt
