June 15, 2022 21:57
USA: “We cannot confirm the arrest of two Americans”
The White House is unable to confirm news of the Russians’ capture of two Americans in Ukraine, but if it’s true, it will do everything it can to bring them home, said John Kirby, strategic intelligence coordinator Security Council national team communications, and reiterated the call for all Americans to leave Ukraine.
June 15, 2022 21:56
USA: “It’s up to Zelensky to decide how the war should end”
“It is Volodymyr Zelenskyy, as the leader of a sovereign and democratic country, who must decide how this war should end,” said John Kirby at the White House briefing (who was making his public debut in his new role as strategic communications coordinator for the National Security Council), in response to a question about French President Emmanuel Macron’s words that Ukraine must negotiate at some point.
June 15, 2022 20:32
Ikea reduces its activities in Russia: it will sell 4 factories
Ikea will sell four Russian factories and reduce its activities in Russia. Sales in stores and online remain stable for the time being. “In recent months,” the Swedish company wrote in a statement, “the situation in business processes and supply chains worldwide has deteriorated significantly. Against this background, we see no possibility of resuming sales in the near future. As a result, the Inter Ikea Group and the Ingka Group decided to reduce the scope of business in Russia. This is a difficult decision, but we believe it is necessary. “Ikea’s retail store in Russia remains standing, which will lead to optimizations that will affect many employees, among other things. The company will reduce the number of employees in its factories and start looking for new owners for all four factories in Russia, in the Leningrad, Kirov, Moscow and Novgorod regions. The ‘mega’ shopping centers, on the other hand, will continue to operate”.
June 15, 2022 20:08
Germany will send three Mars II multiple rocket launchers to Ukraine
Germany will send three Mars II multiple rocket launchers to Ukraine. This was announced by German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht, stressing that three was the “limit” that the Bundeswehr could not cross without jeopardizing its military missions and those of NATO allies. After a meeting of the Contact Group on Defense of Ukraine, which coordinates the arms shipments, Lambrecht added that the US and Britain would each supply three more of these missile launchers. Berlin will also deliver the rockets to be launched, take care of the training of Ukrainian soldiers and supply spare parts.
June 15, 2022 20:01
Slovakia will deliver attack helicopters to Kyiv
Slovakia has decided to supply combat helicopters to Ukraine. Canada, Poland and the Netherlands have agreed to supply new artillery units. This was announced by the head of the Pentagon Lloyd Austin. “I would like to thank Slovakia – he said – for announcing a sizeable donation of Mi-series helicopters and much-needed rocket ammunition.” With Brussels, he added: “We also discussed important new artillery donations from many countries, including Canada, Poland and the Netherlands. These are key investments in Ukraine’s long-range fire capabilities and will be critical in repelling the Russian offensive in Donbass.” The Pentagon chief also confirmed that Germany decided to supply Ukraine with three powered grenade launchers.
June 15, 2022 7:39 p.m
Turkey: “The dossiers of Sweden and Finland are unsatisfactory”
The documents sent by Sweden and Finland for their candidacy in NATO “do not meet Turkey’s expectations”. This was stated by Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, as reported by Anadolu, reiterating that Ankara will continue to resist entry from Scandinavian countries until they take concrete action to lift the embargo on arms sales to Turkey and sever ties with groups Kurds classified as terrorists by the Turkish state.
June 15, 2022 6:55 p.m
Macron: “EU enlargement cannot be the only solution for the stability of the neighbors”
French President Emmanuel Macron said that EU membership “cannot be the only answer to stability” from neighboring countries like Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia. “First of all, because it is a rightly demanding process – he added – and because we also need to keep simplifying our Europe to make it more efficient”. At a joint press conference with Moldovan President Maia Sandu, Macron stressed the importance of building a larger political community in Europe to work together on key issues such as defense and security, which would definitely not ignore the issue of membership.
June 15, 2022 6:53 p.m
Washington is sending another billion in supplies to Kyiv: even artillery
Joe Biden spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and informed him that the United States will provide another billion dollars in security aid, including artillery and other defense weapons, but also ammunition and advanced missile systems that Kyiv needs. The White House confirms it.
June 15, 2022 6:08 p.m
Media: “Another billion US aid for Ukraine is ready”
The Biden administration is preparing to announce $1 billion in new aid to Ukraine. This was reported by the Bloomberg news agency, citing the Associated Press.
June 15, 2022 6:08 p.m
The Russians captured two American volunteers
Two American volunteers were captured in Ukraine by Russian forces near Kharkiv. The Daily Mail, citing the Daily Telegraph, reported that Robert Druerke and Andy Huynh – veterans of the US Army and from Alabama – were captured last week. Druerke and Huynh had traveled to Ukraine as volunteers to help the Kiev Armed Forces.