Europe

NATO chief dismisses Pope’s ‘white flag’ appeal to Ukraine

Ukraine needs more military aid before it can start negotiating a peace agreement with Russia, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has stated. This follows comments by Pope Francis that Kiev should have “the courage of the white flag” and begin talks with Moscow.

Russia producing three times more artillery shells than NATO: Report

Moscow is producing three times more artillery shells than Kiev’s military backers, CNN has reported, citing Western intelligence estimates.

Ukraine rejects Pope’s appeal for negotiations with Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has sharply rejected an appeal by Pope Francis for peace negotiations with Moscow.

Britain pressures Germany on long-range missile for Ukraine

Western nations should enhance their military support to Ukraine and “invest” more in NATO, British Foreign Secretary David Cameron told Germany’s Sueddeutsche Zeitung daily in an interview. London is ready to work with Berlin on “solving the issues” preventing Germany from providing Kiev with its long-range Taurus missiles, he added.

France gathering alliance of countries capable to dispatching forces to Ukraine: Report

France is gathering an alliance of countries that may send troops to Ukraine in theory, the Politico has reported, commenting on a visit of French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne to Lithuania.

Diplomats say NATO should prepare for US to leave amid Ukraine war

NATO could face a serious risk of the US leaving the alliance if Donald Trump is re-elected as the US president in November, the Telegraph has reported, citing several diplomats from the bloc’s member states. Europe’s NATO countries should develop some strategy to deal with the consequences of such an eventuality and reconsider the bloc’s defense capabilities, they warned.

Ukraine rejects proposed peace summit with Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has dismissed Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's idea to hold a peace summit with Russia's participation.

Germany says nobody wants to send military servicemen to Ukraine

Discussions about NATO boots on the ground in Ukraine need to end, because nobody actually wants that to happen, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has stated.

Zelensky thinking about firing Ukrainian FM amid war: Report

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is thinking about dismissing his Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba, the outlet Strana has reported, citing a source in the presidential office.

Sending combat forces to Ukraine ‘not on table’: France

The deployment of Western combat troops to fight against Russia on the ground in Ukraine is not on the table but new ways need to be found to battle the Russian invasion, France's defense minister has stated.

Russia summons US envoy, threatens to expel diplomats over “meddlesome” remarks

US diplomats working in Russia who would seek to work with certain non-governmental organizations (NGOs) designated by Moscow as undesirable may be expelled from the country, the Russian Foreign Ministry warned US Ambassador Lynne Tracy on Thursday.

Russian missile struck 500 meters from Ukraine, Greek leaders convoy: Report

A Russian missile exploded just 500 meters from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis during a deadly raid on the Black Sea port city of Odesa on Wednesday, a source familiar with the situation told CNN.

Ukraine says plans new counteroffensive against Russia

Kiev plans to reorganize its troops and launch a new counteroffensive against Russia this year, the commander of Ukraine’s ground forces has claimed.

Survey shows Zelensky would lose election

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky would not win if an election were held right now, according to a poll made public on Tuesday. Kiev has postponed all elections for the prolongation of the conflict with Moscow.

Russia claims West conducted mass election cyberattacks

Many Western states have already launched mass cyber attacks against Russian infrastructure ahead of the upcoming presidential election, Ambassador-at-Large Gennady Askaldovich has claimed.

White House says US forces not to fight in Ukraine

The US will not send troops to fight in Ukraine, US National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby stressed in  comments on French President Emmanuel Macron's call on allies "not to be cowardly."

ICC issues arrest warrants for top Russian military commanders over Ukraine war

The Hague-based International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for two top Russian military commanders, accusing them of committing war crimes in the Ukrainian conflict.

Ex-Russian president says EU envoys should be ‘kicked out’

Ambassadors from the European Union member states must be expelled from Russia, former President Dmitry Medvedev has stated, citing their refusal to discuss "election meddling" with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

Zelensky says west’s ‘political games’ stalling aid to Ukraine amid war

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has criticized Kiev’s Western supporters for the delays in allocating funds to help Ukraine’s war push against Russia.

Scholz, Macron ‘don’t get along’ amid rift over Ukraine war: Report

The relationship between German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron has long been strained, but Macron’s recent refusal to rule out sending troops to Ukraine has driven tensions to boiling point, Bloomberg has reported.

Several killed, wounded in Russian drone attacks on Ukraine’s Odessa

At least seven people have been killed and eight injured in Russia's drone strike on the Ukrainian Black Sea city of Odessa, the authorities announced.

Russia says has received no ‘serious’ proposals for talks with Ukraine

Moscow has not abandoned the idea of peace negotiations with Kiev but has seen no genuine desire for this on the part of Ukraine or its Western backers, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has stated.

Inequality increased in Russia: Report

Income disparity among the Russian population raised last year, a report on the social and economic situation in the country by Rosstat, the official statistics agency, has suggested.

Nicaragua sues Germany for aiding Israel amid Gaza war

Nicaragua has filed a case at the International Court of Justice against Germany for giving financial and military aid to Israel and for defunding the UN Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA), the UN's top court announced on Friday.

Paris considering placing French Special Forces in Ukraine: Report

The French government is mulling sending a small military force directly into Ukraine to serve as instructors for Kiev’s Armed Forces and as a “deterrent” to Russia, Le Monde reported on Friday, citing its sources.

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