The summit calls for respect for Ukraine’s borders and 15 countries do not sign. Mattarella from today in Moldova and Romania. SIPRI: Nuclear powers will continue to increase their warheads. The Russian Invasion, Day 845

Volodymyr Zelensky: Thanks to those who do not forget Ukraine
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked all those who since the beginning of the war with Russia have not forgotten Ukraine and the Ukrainians. “All those who have defended their freedom, rights, independence and dignity also strengthen the freedom of those around them,” writes Zelensky on Telegram, reports Ukrinform. The Ukrainian president stressed that “freedom always has the capacity to strengthen itself, spreading from one person to another, and the only way it can move forward is through the courage of the people.” “I thank all those who are fighting for Ukraine, who are resisting Russian pressure, all those who are working and helping and who, in these days and throughout the war, do not forget Ukraine and the Ukrainians, our struggle and the importance of protecting people’s lives,” he added.

Marine Le Pen: Ukraine cannot win, rethink sanctions and talk to Russia
“We will have to talk to Russia to try to find a positive way out for Ukraine from this conflict, which clearly cannot win. I hope that France will play a role in this reasonable solution, for the good of Ukraine under attack and for a rapid return to lasting peace.” The leader of the Rassemblement national, Marine Le Pen, said this in an interview with the Periodico de España. Le Pen, when asked whether more or less aid should be sent to Ukraine to defend itself against Russia, said that it “condemns Russian aggression” and supports “initiatives aimed at providing military or civilian support to Ukraine” but “the red line we draw for ourselves is to think carefully about sanctions so that they do not backfire on us.” “I think, for example, of the energy war we have waged, which has been devastating to our economies,” he said, saying that “the second red line is not to become co-belligerents.” “For France, World War I meant 1,000 deaths a day for four years – 1.5 million of our bravest kids. A century later, we have not yet fully recovered. We no longer want to be carried away by these horrors which, if they were to happen, would mean the end of Europe forever,” said Le Pen.

Ukrainian Chief of Staff Oleksandr Syrsky: Russia intensifies attacks ahead of F-16 arrivals

Ukraine’s Chief of Staff, Oleksandr Syrsky, says Moscow is stepping up attacks on the eastern front to “maximum exhaust Ukrainian troops,” in view of the arrival of Western military aid, in particular F-16 fighter jets. In recent months, Russian forces have gained ground in the Donetsk and Kharkiv border regions, thanks to the shortage of men and ammunition in Ukraine. “The command of the Russian troops is currently doing everything possible to increase and extend the intensity of hostilities in order to maximize the depletion of our troops,” Syrsky wrote on his Telegram channel. Moscow, he continues, is aware that “time will play” in favor of Kiev, which will receive a “large amount of weapons and equipment” from its allies, including F-16 aircraft, which are expected to strengthen Ukraine’s air defense. The Ukrainian commander added that Russian forces are focusing their efforts in the vicinity of “Kupiansk, Pokorvsk, Kurakhove and Vremivka” on the eastern front, while “ferocious combat” continues in thUkrenergo: forced blackouts on the rise in the coming weeks
A senior Ukrainian energy official has warned that planned power outages and emergency blackouts will intensify in the coming weeks, after a wave of Russian attacks paralyzed electricity production in the country. “In the coming weeks, the situation will be much tougher than today,” said Volodymyr Kydrytsky, head of the body that runs the Ukrenergo national network, in an interview broadcast by state media, writes the Guardian. Periods during which Ukrainians may not have electricity could be prolonged by up to 12 hours a day and that interruptions could become more “strict.” “This situation will continue until the end of July,” said Kydrytsky, adding that planned outages could be imposed even during peak consumption periods and be “pretty serious.” Russia renewed in March a campaign of airstrikes against Ukrainian power plants, which Kiev says has destroyed half of its power generation capacity and forced Ukraine to introduce continuous blackouts in the capital and across the country. Long summer power outages, as well as domestic price increases, are already plaguing Ukraine, with state agencies forced to cut energy consumption.e east and south.

China: over 100 countries on our position on peace in Ukraine
China claims its “sensible position” on the peace conference to be held on the war in Ukraine, which is based on the “recognition of initiative by both sides” in conflict, the “equality of participation of all parties” involved and the “fair discussion of all available peace plans.” It is Beijing’s position, in a post on X by Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying, that the position – expressed jointly with Brazil last month – is “supported by over 100 countries,” representing the “global majority view of how to end the crisis.”

Kremlin: in contact with US for a possible exchange of journalist Evan Gershkovich
The Kremlin reports that there have been contacts with the United States about a possible prisoner exchange involving Wall Street Journal journalist Evan Gershkovich, but that they must stay away from the media. Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov quoted statements by Vladimir Putin earlier this month during a meeting with the directors of international news agencies. Putin had said that Russia and the United States were in contact on the issue. “I want to recall once again the president’s conversation with the heads of news agencies in St. Petersburg, he confirmed that there are these contacts,” Peskov said. “They go on, but they must continue to be led into complete silence… Therefore, it is not possible to provide announcements, statements or information on this subject.” When asked why the spying trial against Gershkovich would take place behind closed doors, Peskov replied that he could not comment on these issues as it was a court decision. “This is a court decision. We cannot comment on it,” said Peskov. Gershkovich, 32, was arrested by the Federal Security Service (FSB) on March 29, 2023 at a steak shop in the Uralic city of Yekaterinburg, 1,400 km east of Moscow, and charged him with espionage for up to 20 years in prison. The first American journalist to be detained on charges of spying in Russia since the Cold War, more than three decades ago, Gershkovich has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.