Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the Kursk region for the first time since the Russian Defense Ministry announced it was free from the Ukrainian armed forces, the Kremlin press service reported on Wednesday, May 21. The Kremlin clarified that the visit took place "the day before." During his trip, Putin met with "representatives of volunteer organizations" and the acting governor of Kursk region, Alexander Khinshtein, according to the Kremlin.

In addition, Putin held a meeting with …

Bloomberg reported that Russia aims to capture four Ukrainian regions by the end of the year. Speaking with the Ukrainian broadcaster Suspilne, Ukrainian Armed Forces reserve colonel and military expert Serhiy Hrabskiy expressed skepticism about Russia's ability to achieve this plan within the stated timeline.

On May 19, Bloomberg reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin believes he has the upper hand on the front lines and thinks he can fully capture four Ukrainian regions by the year's …

Belgium is planning to expedite the delivery of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, moving up the timeline originally set, Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken announced ahead of a ministers' meeting in Brussels on May 20, according to Radio Svoboda.

“Regarding the F-16s, we are part of the F-16 coalition and will remain so, and we're trying to deliver the aircraft even earlier than the set deadline. I think this is good news," he stated, though he provided no further details.

Earlier, in March, …

Ukrainian state-owned defense conglomerate Ukroboronprom has inked a Memorandum of Cooperation with Belgian NATO supplier KNDS Belgium SA. This new collaboration seeks to jointly produce medium-caliber ammunition for automatic guns that target enemy troops, light armored vehicles, and low-flying aerial threats, as announced by the Ukrainian corporation.

"We are gradually expanding the geography of our international partnerships, actively seeking and establishing new avenues of cooperation. …

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of using "negotiations" to bide time to prolong the war and occupation. Zelensky noted that leaders discussed yesterday's conversation between him and U.S. President Donald Trump.

He stressed the importance of coordinating diplomatic efforts to achieve real results, saying, "We're working with our partners to ensure pressure forces Russia into changing its behavior. Sanctions matter, and I'm grateful to everyone making them more impactful …

In the coming months, European sanctions against Russia are set to further impact its economy, said EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas, as reported by Radio Free Europe.

"Today, at the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting, we also have an intelligence report about the real state of the Russian economy. According to this report, they are reaching a stage where they have to rely on supply chains heavily. Therefore, the impact of the sanctions will be even stronger in the coming …

Russian troops continue their relentless attacks on border towns in the Sumy region, causing injuries to local residents. On Tuesday morning, May 20, drones launched by Russian troops targeted the village of Velyka Pysarivka just as residents were receiving humanitarian aid, according to a statement by the Sumy Regional Prosecutor's Office on their Telegram channel.

The drone strike on the humanitarian aid distribution site resulted in injuries to two men, aged 51 and 57. The latter was …

In a geopolitical chessboard reshaped by global conflict and shifting alliances, Russia's touted "sovereignty" narrative seems increasingly hollow as Moscow grows more reliant on Beijing. With China in the driver's seat, forcing unfavorably one-sided deals, Russian propaganda’s independence rhetoric faces a harsh reality check. Neue Zürcher Zeitung reports that experts have long warned about Moscow’s growing dependency on Beijing, as China’s influence transforms Russia into a geopolitical …