-
Russian Security Council Secretary Sergey Shoigu visits North Korea for high-stakes talks
In a strategic move directed by President Vladimir Putin, Sergey Shoigu, the Secretary of Russia's Security Council, touched down in North Korea on Tuesday, June 17. According to the Russian state agency Interfax, Shoigu is set to conduct negotiations with the North Korean leadership, including Kim Jong Un. The dialogue, which stems from an understanding forged during a previous visit on June 4, will pursue the goals outlined in the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement signed on June 19 …
-
Former Ukrainian Foreign Minister predicts imminent collapse of Russia
Volodymyr Ohryzko, Ukraine's former Foreign Minister, has expressed a stark view regarding the future of Russia, suggesting that the nation is nearing the final chapter of its existence. In a candid discussion, he emphasized that the collapse of Russia can occur spontaneously, regardless of Western influence, due to existing internal factors.
During an appearance on the Espreso TV channel, where Ohryzko boldly stated, "Russia has reached the final line of its development. It will not hold …
-
Germany allocates €400 million to boost Ukrainian drone programs
Germany is allocating €400 million to bolster three established Ukrainian drone manufacturing programs, rather than initiating new projects. This move aims to take these current projects to a higher level of efficiency, said Nikolas Lange, an analyst from the Munich Security Conference, in a comment to Ukrinform.
"We're not talking about new drones or copies of rockets like the Taurus. These are three proven projects set to receive an additional €400 million in funding, which will …
-
Hungary and Slovakia challenge EU's plan to phase out Russian energy imports
In a high-stakes meeting of EU energy ministers, Hungary and Slovakia threw a wrench into the European Commission's (EC) plan to phase out Russian oil, gas, and nuclear fuel. Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó announced this development during a press briefing streamed live on Facebook.
Szijjártó dubbed the proposed strategy the "von der Leyen–Zelensky plan," emphasizing that it jeopardizes Hungary's energy supply. He warned it could halt electricity exports to Ukraine, which receives …
-
Zelensky condemns Russian proposal to swap POWs for abducted Ukrainian children
In a statement highlighting the complex nature of diplomatic negotiations, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of suggesting a prisoner swap—Ukrainian children abducted by Russia in exchange for Russian POWs. Speaking at a joint press conference with Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen in Vienna on Monday, June 16, Zelensky emphasized that such an exchange is "absolutely unjust." "Frankly, it's madness, the idea that was, by the way, proposed by the Russians: we give …
-
Interior Minister Klymenko: Russia returns bodies of soldiers to Ukraine mixed and mutilated
Russia has reportedly returned to Ukraine the bodies of Russian soldiers mixed with Ukrainian ones, a move believed to be aimed at complicating identification processes, said Ukraine's Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko, emphasizing the painstaking and emotionally challenging nature of repatriating fallen servicemen.
The return of deceased military personnel, according to Klymenko, is an arduous yet crucial task. He accused Russia of deliberately impeding the identification process by sending …
-
Russia: U.S. abruptly cancels bilateral talks
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova has announced that the United States has withdrawn from the latest round of talks aimed at “resolving irritants” in bilateral relations. Despite this setback, Moscow remains hopeful about a future dialogue, the Foreign Ministry stated on its website.
"The upcoming session of bilateral consultations intended to address 'irritants' and normalize the operations of diplomatic missions of both countries has been canceled at the behest of the …
-
Ukraine's unending drone arsenal: production of 36,000 long-range drones annually ensures endless supply
Ukraine's significant leap in manufacturing long-range drones means its arsenal will never be depleted, said military analyst Ivan Kyrychevsky of Defence Express during a broadcast on Radio NV, Kyrychevsky highlighted the remarkable overnight attack on a facility in Russia's Oryol City, emphasizing, "There are targets worth destroying there."
"Perhaps we didn't believe as a nation that we would reach an annual production benchmark of approximately 36,000 deep strike drones. However, it appears …
-
Ukrainian HIMARS strike hits Russian military convoy in Makiivka, causing multiple casualties
Ukrainian Armed Forces launched a HIMARS strike on a Russian military convoy in Makiivka, within the occupied Donetsk region. The assault, executed on June 13, resulted in the deaths of eight Russian servicemen and injuries to 12 others, according to the Russian news outlet ASTRA. The targeted area was near an abandoned gas station on Avtotransportnaya Street.
The hit reportedly impacted personnel from military unit 71443, and Russian media suggest that "two civilians" also perished. This …
-
Russia demands Ukraine dispose of all western-supplied weapons
Moscow is upping the ante in its ongoing conflict with Ukraine, insisting that Kyiv dismantle and dispose of all weaponry received from Western allies. According to Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko, Ukraine must significantly reduce and safely dispose of such arms, as reported by Russian state media.
"Naturally, all these excesses must be destroyed. All international algorithms are well-known. They (the weapons) must be reduced, disposed of, and this must be guaranteed," …