Ukraine: Putin’s statements on invasion show the need to discuss Russia’s “immediate de-imperialization”
Ukrainian Presidential Adviser Mykhailo Podolyak has responded to Putin’s statements that the Russian leader seemed to be hinting at new invasions and compared himself to Tsar Peter the Great in the 18th century.
Podolyak said via Twitter that Putin’s comments show why it is ineffective to discuss how Russia is “saving face” over its invasion of Ukraine, and should instead provoke a discussion about the “immediate de-imperialization” of Russia.
“Sam Meredith.”
“Impossible”: Hungarian Foreign Minister rules out Russian gas ban in next round of EU sanctions
Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said: “When we impose sanctions, we must make sure that they do more harm to those against whom we impose sanctions than to ourselves.”
Anadolu Agency | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images
Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto says it is not possible for the European Union to impose a gas embargo on Russia in its next sanctions package.
Speaking to CNBC’s Charlotte Reed on the sidelines of the OECD Ministerial Council meeting in Paris, Szijjarto said: “When we impose sanctions, we need to make sure that these sanctions do more harm to those against whom we impose sanctions. than ourselves. “
“We must have a very clear position on the war, which we do have, we condemn Russia for this military aggression. We are with Ukraine. But we must also take reality into account,” he added.
Szijjarto said that Russia currently supplies 65% of Hungary’s oil demand and 85% of its gas supplies, adding that the lack of available infrastructure means that it is not possible for the landlocked European country to reduce. rapidly its dependence on Russian hydrocarbons.
The EU agreed late last month to impose a partial embargo on Russian crude with the aim of stopping President Vladimir Putin’s war machine. The reduced agreement covers Russian oil introduced into the block by sea, with an exemption for imports delivered by pipeline.
Szijjarto spoke of his frustration that Hungary had presented itself as a country reluctant to punish Russia’s war in Ukraine after the country opposed the total ban on Russian oil.
When asked about the possibility of the EU targeting Russian gas exports in its next round of sanctions, Szijjarto said, “No, it’s impossible.”
“If you can’t import gas from Russia, the country stops, the economy stops, we can’t heat the houses, we can’t run the economy. Our question is who can offer a solution?” added.
“Sam Meredith.”
“We are exhausting the enemy”: Luhansk governor says fierce street fights in Severodonetsk continue
Serhiy Haidai, governor of the eastern Luhansk province, has said fierce street fighting continues in Severodonetsk as Russian forces fight for control of the city.
“The whole free region of Luhansk was heavily bombed,” Haidai told Telegram, according to a translation.
“Fierce street fights continue in Severodonetsk. We are exhausting the enemy,” he added.
“Sam Meredith.”
The Kremlin is struggling to provide basic services in the Russian-occupied territories, says the United Kingdom
The ruined coastal city of Mariupol is at risk of a major cholera outbreak, according to the UK Ministry of Defense.
Stringer | Afp | Getty Images
Russia is struggling to provide basic public services to the population of Russian-occupied territories, with the ruined coastal city of Mariupol at risk of a major cholera outbreak, according to the UK Ministry of Defense.
“Access to drinking water has been inconsistent, while major disruptions to telephone and Internet services continue. There is likely to be a critical shortage of medicines in Kherson, while Mariupol is at risk of a major cholera outbreak, “the ministry said on Twitter.
“Isolated cases of cholera have been reported since May. Ukraine suffered a major cholera epidemic in 1995 and has since experienced minor outbreaks, especially around the coast of the Sea of Azov, which includes Mariupol,” he said. add. “Mariupol’s medical services are likely to be close to collapse: a major cholera outbreak in Mariupol will make it even worse.”
“Sam Meredith.”
Zelenskyy says the strategically important cities of the Donbas are holding up
The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, visits the positions of Ukrainian troops in the city of Bakhmut and Lysychansk district, Ukraine, on June 5, 2022.
Presidency of Ukraine / Brochure / Anadolu Agency | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images
The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has said that the country’s forces are holding on to the cities of the Donbas region despite sustained pressure from Russian troops.
The Donbas region refers to the Donetsk and Luhansk provinces in the easternmost part of Ukraine. It is an important strategic, political and economic goal for the Kremlin.
“The situation on the front lines today has not changed significantly. Sievierodonetsk, Lysychansk and other Donbas cities, which the occupiers now consider key targets, are holding up,” Zelenskyy said in an evening speech to the nation. , according to a translation.
“It simply came to our notice then [development] in the Zaporizhia region, where it is possible to thwart the occupiers’ plans. We are slowly advancing in the Kharkiv region, liberating our land. We keep the defense in the direction of Mykolaiv. “
“Sam Meredith.”
Putin seems to be hinting at new invasions, compared to Peter the Great
Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with young entrepreneurs in Moscow on June 9, 2022.
Mikhail Metzel | Afp | Getty Images
Russian President Vladimir Putin has seemed to be hinting at further territorial expansion, in statements that could sound the alarm.
“It’s impossible, you know? It’s impossible to build a fence around a country like Russia. And we don’t intend to build that fence,” Putin said at a meeting with young businessmen in Moscow, according to Sky News.
It came when the Russian leader was compared to Peter the Great on the 350th anniversary of the Tsar’s birth. Putin tried to draw a parallel between the Kremlin’s furious attack on Ukraine and the former Russian monarch’s conquest of the Baltic coast during a war against Sweden in the 18th century.
“When he [Peter the Great] founded the new capital, none of the European countries recognized the territory as Russian. Everyone recognized it as Swedish territory. The Slavs along with the Finno-Ugric peoples had always lived there, and this territory had been under the control of the Russian state. The same goes for the west: Narva and his first expeditions, “Putin said.
“Why did he go there? He went there to recover and strengthen it, that’s what he did. Well, it seems that we also have to recover and strengthen. [territories]and if we take these basic values as fundamental to our existence, we will prevail when it comes to solving the problems we encounter, “he added.
“Sam Meredith.”
Zelenskyy discusses EU membership with Macron
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is addressing the South Korean parliament via a video link as Russia continues its attack on Ukraine in Kyiv, Ukraine, on April 11, 2022.
Presidential Press Service of Ukraine Reuters
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron and talked about Kyiv’s entry into the European Union amid Russia’s war in Ukraine.
In April, Zelenskyy completed the first step in gaining accession to the European Union from Ukraine by submitting a lengthy questionnaire.
The two leaders also discussed the latest developments on the ground and additional French security assistance for Ukraine, according to a reading of the Elysee Palace call.
– Amanda Macias
A look at NATO air power and patrols near Ukraine
A 2000-5F Mirage Fighter took off from Luxeuil-Saint Sauveur 116 Air Base in Saint-Sauveur, eastern France on March 13, 2022.
Sebastien Bozon | AFP | Getty Images
Since the invasion of Russia in late February, the NATO alliance has deployed approximately 30 military aircraft patrolling the skies near Ukraine at all times.
“Spanish planes are protecting Lithuania’s airspace and French surveillance planes are scanning the sky while US bombers are training with Allied air forces,” wrote NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu.
“In order to deter any potential aggression against the Allies, NATO is deploying an unprecedented combination of fighter jets, reconnaissance aircraft and support aircraft,” he added.
Here’s a look at the air power the alliance deployed in the region:
Zoom in on the Arrows icon pointing out
NATO’s eastern flank air domain
NATO
Ukrainian troops maintain the front line in the Donetsk region
Ukrainian soldiers maintain the line in New York, east of the Donetsk region.
A member of the Ukrainian service sitting in a trench in a position on the front line, in the middle of the Russian attack on Ukraine, near the city of New York, Donetsk region, Ukraine, on June 9, 2022.
Gleb Garanich | Reuters
A member of the Ukrainian service fires a machine gun at a front-line machine gun in the middle of Russia’s attack on Ukraine near New York City, Donetsk region, Ukraine, on June 9, 2022.
Gleb Garanich | Reuters
Members of the Ukrainian service are seen in a position on the front line, in the middle of the Russian attack on Ukraine, near New York City, Donetsk region, Ukraine, on June 9, 2022.
Gleb Garanich | Reuters
A member of the Ukrainian service walks in a position on the front line, in the middle of the Russian attack on Ukraine, near the city of New York, Donetsk region, Ukraine, on June 9, 2022.
Gleb Garanich | Reuters
– Gleb Garanich | Reuters