The essentials in brief:
- US pledges assistance to NATO partner Lithuania
- Zelenskyj calls for further sanctions against Russia
- Scholz defends German arms shipments
- Michel proposes EU candidate status for Ukraine
In the dispute over the restriction of freight traffic to the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad, the USA has taken a protective stance against Lithuania. After Moscow’s threat that Russia would “react to such hostile actions,” US State Department spokesman Ned Price made it clear that Washington stands by its NATO allies and therefore also by Lithuania.
Price expressly referred to Article 5 of the NATO treaty, according to which an attack on an allied country is regarded as an attack on all. He stressed that the United States’ commitment to this article was “inevitable.”
Kaliningrad is located on the Baltic Sea between Lithuania and Poland and has no direct land connection to Russia. EU member Lithuania announced last week that it would ban the rail transit of goods that are on Western sanctions lists. These include above all metals, building materials, technology goods and coal.
“Russia must feel increasing pressure”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy calls for further EU sanctions against Russia. A seventh package of sanctions is needed as soon as possible, Zelenskyj said in a new video message. He emphasized this in his recent talks with various European heads of government. “Russia must feel the growing pressure as a result of the war and its aggressive anti-European policy,” said the head of state.
Reports daily via video: Volodymyr Zelenskyj
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At the same time, Zelenskyi again emphasized the urgency of further arms deliveries. “The lives of thousands of people directly depend on the speed of our partners.” On the front in the east of the country, the Ukrainian army was able to strengthen the defense in the heavily contested Luhansk region. In the Kharkiv region there is still heavy shelling by Russian troops. The occupied area around the city of Cherson is gradually being recaptured, Zelenskyj reported. His statements could not be independently verified.
Selenskyj consultant is confident of victory
According to the Ukrainian President’s economic adviser, Alexander Rodnyansky, he believes his country will win against Russia. “We can win the war,” Rodnyansky said on First German Television. He hopes that the counteroffensive can begin in August. Aid from abroad would help a lot, would also arrive, but it would take a while before the weapons could be used.
In any case, a lasting peace cannot be concluded with Russia, said the Zelenskyj adviser. “One must not indulge in this illusion.” Russia under President Vladimir Putin is not interested in peace with Europe, it is about revanchism, about imperialism – “and it will stay that way.”
Guest on the ARD program “Maischberger”: Alexander Rodnyansky
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Russia reports fighter jet crash
A Russian warplane has crashed near the border with Ukraine in the Rostov region. A “technical malfunction” could have been the cause, Russian news agencies reported. The pilot of the Sukhoi Su-25 machine died during the practice flight.
German arms deliveries “necessary”
Chancellor Olaf Scholz described the decision to supply German arms to Ukraine as far-reaching but correct. “It’s necessary now,” Scholz said at an event for his SPD parliamentary group. Shortly before, the first heavy weapons from Germany had arrived in the Ukraine in the form of seven self-propelled howitzers – almost four months after the start of the war. It is the most modern artillery piece of the Bundeswehr.
Powerful: a Panzerhaubitze 2000 (archive photo)
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Russia must end the war and Ukraine must remain free, stressed the Chancellor. “Everything we do is aimed at that,” says Scholz.
Poland’s leadership supports Ukraine massively
According to President Andrzej Duda, Poland has so far delivered more than 240 tanks and 100 armored vehicles to Ukraine. The neighboring country to the east also received missile systems, machine guns and ammunition, Duda reported. Poland’s military support to Ukraine exceeds $1.6 billion. The aim of this aid is to stop Russian aggression and to fend it off while still on Ukrainian territory so that it does not spread to Poland.
Ukraine can count on EU candidate status
EU Council President Charles Michel proposes making Ukraine and Moldova candidates for accession to the European Union. The latest draft of the final declaration of the forthcoming EU summit reads: “The European Council has decided to grant the status of candidate country to Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova.” The 27 heads of state and government meeting in Brussels on Thursday and Friday would thus follow the recommendation of the EU Commission.
Decision in Brussels: This is where the EU heads of state and government are being discussed
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Many ships are stuck in Ukrainian ports
According to Russian information, 70 ships from 16 countries are currently blocked in six ports in Ukraine. The Russian Defense Ministry accused Ukraine of not being able to put ships out to sea unhindered because of Ukrainian attacks and a major threat from sea mines. Ukraine, on the other hand, criticizes the fact that Russia itself is preventing the export of grain by blocking Ukrainian ports, thereby causing a food crisis.
The international community has been demanding that Russia allow the export of Ukrainian grain for weeks. Ukraine is one of the world’s largest grain producers. Millions of people in poorer countries are threatened with starvation because of the export ban.
The port of Mariupol (picture from mid-June)
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Dismay at statement by Kremlin spokesman
The White House has slammed Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov’s suggestions about a possible death penalty for two US militants captured in Ukraine. That a Russian official would even mention this was “appalling,” said White House foreign policy spokesman John Kirby.
In an interview with the American television channel NBC, Peskow described the two former US soldiers Alexander Drueke and Andy Huynh as mercenaries who were not protected by the Geneva Convention on prisoners of war. When asked if they were facing the death penalty, he said “that depends on the investigation.”
Sheep as advocates of war
The Ministry of Agriculture in the Russian republic of Dagestan in the Caucasus has drawn attention to itself with a questionable PR video. The film shows a flock of sheep being transferred from one pasture to another. All animals have a black Z – the pro-war symbol – painted on their fur. According to press reports, the video appeared on the ministry’s Telegram channel, but has since been deleted.
wa/mak (dpa, afp, rtr)
This article will be continuously updated on the day of its publication. Reports from the combat zones cannot be independently verified.
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