For today, links to reports from the Associated Press, Reuters, Agence France-Presse, Tass, and the Moscow Times; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA entry for this date is HERE.) — MCM
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Belgium commits $1 billion to Ukraine as Zelenskyy continues his whistlestop European tour, by Raf Casert | AP BRUSSELS — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy today received a second $1 billion promise of military aid in as many days for his war with Russia during a whirlwind tour through the European Union. The pledge for 2024 came from Belgium, which . . . READ MORE . . .
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Zelenskiy: Biden missing Ukraine talks would be ‘applauded’ by Putin. From Reuters. BRUSSELS — Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskiy said today that if U.S. President Joe Biden missed a peace summit organised by Kyiv in Switzerland next month, Russian President Vladimir Putin would applaud his absence. Ukraine hopes to host . . . READ MORE . . .
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EU top diplomat says Ukraine has right to strike Russian territory. From AFP. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell today urged countries to balance fear of escalation against Ukraine’s need to defend itself, saying Kyiv had the right to use Western arms to strike in Russia. “According with the law of war, it is . . . READ MORE . . .
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Conference in Switzerland not to settle situation in Ukraine — Kremlin. From Tass. TASHKENT, Uzbekistan — The Kremlin thinks a conference on Ukraine slated to take place in Switzerland in June is futile, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. “So far, we’ve seen an attempt to prepare a conference in Switzerland. A conference which, from our point of view, is . . . READ MORE . . .
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Western companies U-turn on Russia exit plans – FT. From the Moscow Times. Western companies are reconsidering leaving Russia amid increasing Kremlin-imposed exit costs, difficulty finding suitable buyers and rebounding consumer activity, the Financial Times reported today. Some remaining companies are increasingly open about their plans. READ MORE . . .
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FROM MAY 27 Ukraine’s Zelenskyy gets more air defense missiles from Spain to fight deadly Russian glide bombs. From AP. MADRID — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday secured from Spain a pledge of additional air defense missiles to help fight the about 3,000 bombs that he says Russia launches every month at Ukraine in the third year of the war. However, Ukraine . . . READ MORE . . .