While Finland and Sweden have started the the process of joining NATO, Russia has begun withdrawing heavy military equipment and personnel from the unit stationed near the Finnish border in the Murmansk region, reports the Russian news outlet Agenstvo.

According to satellite images, which were reviewed by journalists of the Finnish news agency YLE, over the past month, more than 100 units of equipment, including dozens of armored personnel carriers, have been withdrawn from the Finnish border. …

Russian President Vladimir Putin will not congratulate American President Joe Biden on the U.S. Independence Day, said Putin’s spokesperson Dmitry Peskov during a press briefing.

"No, there will be no congratulatory letter this year. This is because this year has been the culmination of an unfriendly policy towards our country on the part of the United States. Therefore, in these conditions, it can hardly be considered expedient to send such a congratulatory message," Putin's press secretary …

Lithuania will continue to implement the terms of the EU’s 4th package of sanctions and halt the transit of other goods to Kaliningrad from July 10, when the sanctions come into force, said the Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytėfi.

"Yes, as we are now implementing the sanctions that come into force on June 17," Šimonytė said, answering the question whether other sanctions will be implemented.

According to her, the customers of Lithuanian Railways have already been informed about this. …