For today, links to seven reports from Reuters, Agence France-Presse, Tass, and Middle East Monitor, and to commentary from Indian Punchline; others are accessible by clicking on its their names or initials below. (GAZA entry for this date and a BIKES, ETC. entry are HERE and HERE.) — MCM
– – –
Kremlin says Swiss summit on Ukraine is waste of time without Russia. From Reuters. The Kremlin said today it was understandable that some countries were declining to take part in a Swiss-hosted peace summit on Ukraine this month because the gathering lacked clear goals and it was absurd to hold it without Russia. READ MORE . . .
– – –
FROM JUNE 3 Russia intercepts 20 Ukrainian drones in Kursk, governor says. From Reuters. Russian air defence units intercepted 20 Ukrainian drones on Monday in southern Russia’s Kursk region bordering Ukraine, regional Governor Alexei Smironov said. He said Ukrainian forces had attacked four villages in his region using attack drones and helicopters, but . . . READ MORE . . .
– – –
Western army trainers in Ukraine not immune from strikes, Kremlin says. From AFP. Western army instructors training Ukrainian soldiers in the country would have no “immunity” from Russian strikes, the Kremlin said today. Ukraine’s army chief Oleksandr Syrsky had said that French military instructors would soon arrive in the country, but Kyiv’s Defense Ministry later . . . READ MORE . . .
– – –
Zelensky personally calls CIS leaders, asks them to come to Switzerland, all refused — MFA. From Tass. MOSCOW — Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky and his Western “friends” personally called all the leaders of the Commonwealth of Independent States and asked them to come to the so-called peace summit in Switzerland, but they all refused, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin said. READ MORE . . .
– – –
FROM JUNE 3 Zelenskyy: Ukraine is ready to help Gaza. From Middle East Monitor. Ukraine’s President has insisted that Kyiv recognises both Israel and Palestine, calling to an end to the Israeli offensive on Gaza and urging for a two-state solution. In Singapore on Sunday, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, was asked . . . READ MORE . . .
– – –
Sanctioned VTB Bank to open branches in occupied Ukraine. From the Moscow Times. Russia’s second-largest lender VTB Bank announced today it plans to open new offices in occupied Ukraine this year — two in Luhansk in July and, by the end of the year . . . READ MORE . . .
– – –
Ukraine says Italy will supply another air defense battery. From AFP. Kyiv said today Italy would supply Ukraine with another air defense system, weapons that senior Ukrainian officials have been urging their allies to send to fend off Russian aerial . . . READ MORE . . .
– – –
FROM MAY 31 Russia won’t escalate, U.S. will, by M.K. Bhadrakumar | Indian Punchline The United States’ proxy war with Russia is at another inflection point. The battleground is shifting dramatically to Russian territory. How this pans out will be a momentous event in 21st century politics. There are three defining issues here. One, the. . . READ MORE . . .