- At a two-day summit in Brussels, the European Union will offer Ukraine candidacy in a historic manner.
- Russia claims to have hit a Ukrainian army fuel depot and military equipment near the southern Ukrainian city of Nikolayev.
- The governor of Luhansk said that the Russian army occupied two more villages near Severo Donetsk.
- Russia claims to have surrounded Ukrainian troops in southern Lisichansk.
Which forces control the different regions of Ukraine?
Russian shelling in Kharkiv on Tuesday and Wednesday killed 25 people, officials said, as the European Union made a historic decision to grant Ukraine candidate status at a summit on Thursday (Al Jazeera)
Here are the latest developments since the war entered today:
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Putin worries about ‘selfish actions of individual countries’
Speaking at the 14th BRICS summit, which included Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, President Vladimir Putin said a worrying issue was “botched and selfish actions by individual countries”.
The event was held online and was chaired by Chinese President Xi Jinping.
RIA Novosti quoted Putin as saying, “Only on the basis of honest and mutually beneficial cooperation can we find a way out of crisis situations. These crisis situations have developed due to the clumsy and selfish actions of individual countries. In fact, These countries are using financial mechanisms to spread their macroeconomic policy mistakes to the world.”
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Governor: Ukrainian troops may need to withdraw from Lisichansk
Ukrainian troops may need to retreat from the front lines in Lisichansk to avoid being surrounded by Russian forces after the Russian army seized two settlements in southern Lisichansk, the governor of Ukraine’s region said.
“In order to avoid being surrounded, our command can order troops to retreat to new positions,” Haidai told Ukrainian state television. “The whole of Lisichansk is within their fire range at the moment. The city is very dangerous.”
He also said that it is still possible to reach Lisichansk by road, which allows the evacuation of civilians to continue. Russia’s TASS news agency earlier quoted Russia-backed separatists as saying the city had been besieged and supplies had been cut off.
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Ukrainian defense minister welcomes arrival of U.S. rocket system
The Ukrainian Defense Minister said that the high-mobility artillery rocket system “HIMARS” from the United States has arrived in Ukraine.
He tweeted, “Thanks to our American friend, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, for providing us with these powerful tools! Summer will be hot for Russian occupiers. And for some of them It will be their last summer as well.”
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Reuters: Nike to pull out of Russia entirely, scale back in coming months
U.S. sportswear maker Nike said in an emailed statement to Reuters that it would fully withdraw from Russia after suspending operations in Russia for three months.
“Nike has decided to leave the Russian market. Our priority is to ensure that we are fully supporting our employees while also responsibly scaling back our operations in the coming months.”
Nike said on March 3 that it would suspend all of its Russian-owned and operated stores in response to Russia’s military action in Ukraine, adding that the stores that were still open were run by independent partners.
Nike joins other major Western brands such as McDonald’s and Google in confirming that it will leave Russia entirely.
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Zelensky slams Israel for refusing to sanction Russia
Speaking to the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized Israel’s refusal to sanction Russia.
Zelensky is Jewish, and some of his family members are also in Israel. “How can you not help the victims of this aggression?” he said.
Zelensky also said, “I am often asked what Israel has helped and what else it can do, but I really don’t know how to answer those questions.”
Tel Aviv has provided humanitarian and medical aid to Ukraine, but arms supplies and sanctions remain outside its discussions.
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EU Parliament votes for Ukraine as candidate country
The European Parliament passed a resolution with 529 votes in favour, 45 against and 14 abstentions, calling on the heads of state who will attend the EU summit on the 23rd and 24th to grant Ukraine and Moldova the status of EU candidate states “without delay”.
The European Parliament said in a statement that “once the Georgian government has fulfilled” the priorities set out by the European Commission, they should do the same with Georgia.
“Ukrainians, Moldovans and Georgians deserve to live in free, democratic and prosperous countries that are also proud and loyal members of the European family,” the statement added.
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Kremlin says Russia is Europe’s reliable energy supplier
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia was a very reliable energy supplier to Europe and “strictly fulfilled all its obligations”.
Peskov told reporters on a daily conference call that Germany has been informed of the “service cycle” of the Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline – which will be undergoing maintenance from July 11 to 21.
The flow of natural gas in the Nord Stream 1 submarine pipeline from Russia to Germany has been declining. Russia said technical problems stemming from the sanctions forced state-owned Gazprom to reduce gas flows, while Italy and Germany said it was an excuse for Russia to reduce its gas deliveries.
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Russia says it attacked Nikolaev with high-precision weapons
According to the Interfax news agency, the Russian Ministry of Defense said that Russia used high-precision weapons to attack the Ukrainian army fuel depot and military equipment near the southern Ukrainian city of Nikolayev.
Nikolayev Mayor Oleksandr Senkovic wrote earlier on Telegram that there were huge explosions in the city, and he called on residents to seek shelter.
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Finance Ministry: Russia pays coupon interest on Eurobonds in rubles
Russia’s finance ministry said it had “fully” fulfilled its repayment obligations on two dollar-denominated Eurobonds by paying 12.51 billion rubles ($234.5 million) in coupons to the State Settlement Depository.
The Russian Finance Ministry said the payments will be used to pay Eurobonds due in 2027 and 2047.
“As a result, the Ministry of Finance has fully fulfilled its obligations to serve the national security of the Russian Federation,” the Russian Ministry of Finance said in a statement.
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Germany calls Russian gas cuts an ‘economic attack’
German Economy Minister Robert Habeck said in a statement, “We must not deceive ourselves: cuts in gas supplies are (Russian President) Vladimir Putin’s economic attack on us.”
The drop in gas flows has sparked warnings that Germany could slip into recession if Russia shuts down supplies entirely.
“This is clearly Putin’s strategy to create insecurity, drive up prices, and divide our society,” Harbeck said. “That’s what we’re against.”
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UK announces new round of trade sanctions on Russia
The UK has imposed a new round of trade sanctions on Russia, according to an announcement posted on the UK government website.
The announcement lists a number of new measures, including a ban on exports of a range of goods and technologies to Russia, jet fuel exports and exports of the pound or the EU’s mainstream currency.
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Why did some countries remain neutral in the Russian-Ukrainian war?
Despite EU lobbying, countries in Asia, Africa and the Middle East refuse to isolate Moscow.
India’s balancing act to appease Russia and the West caught the EU off guard. The African Union also does not accept EU efforts to isolate Russia.
Click here to learn more.
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Mayor of Nikolayev in southern Ukraine: There was an explosion in the local area
The mayor of the southern Ukrainian city of Nikolayev, Oleksandr Senkovic, said there were explosions in the city.
“Go to the shelter! Be careful!” Chankovic chanted on the messaging app Telegram: “Be careful!” He could not specify where the explosion occurred, but said the city was under fire.
A Russian missile strike on Sunday killed at least one person in Nikolayev and destroyed many buildings, including a school, according to the local government.
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EU president calls candidacy of Ukraine and Moldova a ‘defining moment’
EU leaders are expected to make a “historic” decision on Tuesday to grant candidate status to war-torn Ukraine and its neighbor Moldova, EU President Michel said.
“This will be a defining moment for the EU and the geopolitical choice we have to make today. I am confident that today we will grant Ukraine and Moldova candidate status,” he told reporters ahead of the EU summit.
The European Commission recommended that Moldova and Ukraine join the EU, but chose not to recommend Georgia.
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Turkey says it is investigating allegations of Ukrainian grain theft
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Turkey was taking seriously allegations that Ukrainian grain was stolen by Russia and was investigating them.
Cavusoglu told a joint news conference in Ankara with British Foreign Secretary Truss that Turkey would not allow food stolen by Russia or any other country to be shipped to Turkey.
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Europe’s ‘winds of change’: Opening the way for Ukraine to the EU
European leaders are expected to formally accept Ukraine as a candidate for EU membership, a bold geopolitical move sparked by Russia’s war with Ukraine.
EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said before the two-day Brussels summit that “history is moving forward” and that “the winds of change are blowing across our continent once again. Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia through their accession The application tells us they want a change.”
The 27-member bloc will undergo major reforms as it seeks to expand again. Although it takes years or even more than 10 years for countries applying to join the EU to qualify for formal membership, the decision is a symbolic step that shows the EU’s intention to penetrate the sphere of influence of the former Soviet Union.
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EU hopeful Albania calls Bulgaria’s veto ‘a disgrace’
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said it was a “disgrace” for Bulgaria to block North Macedonia from joining the bloc, as he arrived at a Balkan summit to meet with EU leaders.
“As a NATO country, it is a shame that Bulgaria has kidnapped two other NATO countries, Albania and North Macedonia, at a time when the European backyard was at war, while the other 26 EU countries Standing by and doing nothing shows horrific incompetence.”
EU member Bulgaria blocked accession talks with North Macedonia in 2020, citing disputes over history and language. Albania’s accession process has also been hampered, as the EU has linked its accession progress to North Macedonia.
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EU climate commissioner: Russia’s gas cuts have affected 12 countries
EU climate policy chief Frans Timmermans said more than a dozen EU countries had already been affected by cuts in Russian gas supplies.
Timmermans said 10 of the EU’s 27 member states had issued “early warnings” on gas supplies, the first of three crisis levels identified by EU energy supply security regulations, but the least Serious level.
EU countries are being asked to develop plans to deal with supply disruptions at all three levels.
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Two Britons and a Moroccan facing death penalty in Donetsk prepare to appeal
Two Britons and a Moroccan were arrested while fighting for Ukraine and sentenced to death by a court in the proclaimed independent “Donetsk People’s Republic”, according to Russia’s TASS news agency, and the three are preparing to appeal.
Britons Aiden Aslin, Shaun Pinner and Moroccan Brahim Saadoun have been convicted of “mercenary activities and activities aimed at seizing power and Acts to overthrow the constitutional order of the Donetsk People’s Republic”.
“My colleagues and I are currently preparing the full text of an appeal against the verdict to safeguard the interests of the accused,” TASS quoted Sean Pinner’s lawyer Yulia Tzerkovnikova as saying.
She added, “There is no doubt that if the appeal is dismissed and the judgment comes into force, then we will file a request for a pardon, as this is an inherent right of the accused under the law of the Donetsk People’s Republic.”
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Reuters: Germany to enter second phase of emergency gas plan
Germany will enter the second phase of its three-phase emergency gas plan on Tuesday, a person familiar with the matter told Reuters.
When the government sees a long-term supply shortage of natural gas at high risk, this early warning phase will help reduce demand by allowing utilities to pass on high prices to customers.
However, Germany’s internet regulator has yet to activate a clause that would allow companies to pass on gas price increases, people familiar with the matter told Reuters.
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BBC: Briton arrested in Ukraine told to go ahead with execution
The family of a British man sentenced to death by a court in the “Donetsk People’s Republic” said the man was told that the execution would go ahead, according to the BBC. Aiden Aslin and Sean Pinner sentenced for fighting in Ukraine.
According to the BBC, Aslin’s family said they had spoken to him on the phone, saying he was told by his captors that “time is running out”. Aslin also reportedly told his family that his arrestors said British officials had not attempted to negotiate on his behalf.
British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said she spoke with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba about “efforts to secure the release of prisoners of war held by Russian agents” and said the death sentence was “completely illegitimate” invalid judgment”.
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Governor: 4 civilians killed in Donetsk on the 22nd
Local Governor Pavlo Kirilenko said that Russian troops killed four civilians in the Donetsk region on the 22nd.
Pavlo Kirilenko wrote on Telegram that two people were killed in the village of Prechystivka, another in the town of Krasnohorivka and one in Zalizne settlement killed.
He also said the exact number of victims in Mariupol and Volnovaka could not be determined.
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UK: Russia exerts increasing pressure on Ukrainian troops in Severo Donetsk region
The British Ministry of Defence said Russian forces were putting “increasing pressure” on Ukrainian forces in the Lysichansk-Severo-Donetsk region.
The British Ministry of Defence said in its latest intelligence briefing that Russian forces had advanced more than 5 kilometers south of Lisichansk, adding that some Ukrainian troops had withdrawn, possibly to avoid being surrounded.
“The Lisichansk-Severo-Donetsk region is under increasing pressure as Russian troops slowly advance on the edge of the built-up area. However, its efforts to further encircle the Donetsk region remain stalled. “
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Advisor: War in Severo-Donetsk and Lisichansk has reached ‘terrible climax’
Zelensky’s adviser Oleksi Arestovich said the battle for the two cities of Severo-Donetsk and Lisichansk had “entered a terrible climax” and that Russian troops were stepping up to capture the Donbas region.
The governor of Lugansk said that the Russian army occupied two more villages on the 22nd – the village of Loskutivka, about 25 kilometers south of Lisichansk, and Rai-Oleksan, about 60 kilometers southwest of Lisichansk. The village of Drivka (near Slavyansk and Kramatorsk).
“On June 22, Lisichansk was shelled several times. A school in the city was destroyed,” the state’s governor, Haidai, said on Telegram.
Ukrainian troops are still holding their positions in Severo Donetsk, where Russian shelling caused a fire at a fiberglass factory there, Khadai said. He also said that the “liberation operation” of the Russian army had left “no life and work in Severo Donetsk”.
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Chinese state leader: Russia-Ukraine war “sounds the alarm for mankind”
Chinese state leaders pointed out that the crisis in Ukraine has once again sounded the alarm for mankind. But no solution to the crisis has been proposed.
Instead of condemning Moscow’s February 24 military action against Ukraine, China has criticized Western-led sanctions against Russia, but it has also sought to maintain ties with Ukraine.
“The Ukrainian crisis has once again sounded the alarm for mankind. Those countries that blindly believe in their own power status and expand their military alliances at the expense of other countries’ security will eventually fall into a security dilemma.”
The Chinese state leaders made the remarks at the opening ceremony of a video-based business forum ahead of the 14th BRICS summit in Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
Click here to learn more.
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Reuters: Kaliningrad residents split on Lithuania’s ban
Sandwiched between Poland and Lithuania, two EU and NATO members, Kaliningrad has mixed views on whether Lithuania’s transit ban on EU-sanctioned goods will affect the region.
“In terms of food retail, the situation is calm and our turnover has not increased compared to the data of a week or a month ago,” Alexei Elayev, deputy chief executive of the “SPAR Kaliningrad” supermarket chain, told Reuters. .”
He also added that the sanctions do not apply to food and a large number of household non-food products. The EU sanctions list mainly includes coal, metals, construction materials and advanced technologies, and the ban will cover about 50% of Kaliningrad’s imports.
Local resident Olga said she did not expect any major deficits. “Our area is huge, we grow food, we make milk and everything,” she noted.
But another resident, Georgia, said Lithuania’s claim that the ban, which went into effect on June 18, caused some psychological distress. “Our authorities must end this special operation and enter the negotiating phase and gradually improve its relations with Ukraine and the EU.”
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Russia says it has surrounded Ukrainian troops in southern Lisichansk
Russian troops have surrounded Ukrainian troops south of Lisichansk, according to the Moscow-backed Luhansk People’s Republic militia, according to Russian state news agency TASS.
According to the TASS news agency, the militia said on the 22nd that nearly 1,300 Ukrainian soldiers and foreign mercenaries were trapped in a “tight siege” by the Russian army in the Hersk and Zolot regions south of Lisichansk.
TASS also quoted a source in the militia group as saying its forces had captured the village of Volcheyarovka, located nearly 12 kilometers southwest of Lisichansk.
If this news is true, then Lisichansk will face a greater risk of being cut off.
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Zelensky demands heavy weapons
Zelensky said Moscow’s massive airstrikes and shelling were aimed at destroying the entire Donbas region. He urged Ukraine’s allies to speed up shipments of heavy weapons so the country could rival Russia on the battlefield.
Zelensky said, “There have been massive air strikes and artillery shelling in the Donbass area. The occupiers’ goal in this regard remains the same, they want to gradually destroy the entire Donbass. Lisichansk, Slavyansk, Kra Matorsk – their goal is to turn any city into Mariupol. Destroy it completely.”
“That’s why we’ve repeatedly emphasized the need to expedite the delivery of weapons to Ukraine. What is urgently needed now is a level of strength on the battlefield to stop this evil fleet and push it beyond Ukraine’s borders.”
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Diary of 12-year-old Ukrainian refugee to be released soon
In the fall (October 25), the diary of a 12-year-old Ukrainian refugee will be published. The refugee, Eva Skaletska, titled her book You Don’t Know What War Is: The Diary of a Ukrainian Girl.
In a statement issued on the 22nd, Skaletska pointed out that “everyone knows the meaning of the word ‘war’, but no one actually knows what the word really means”, “I want the world to know that we what happened.”
Skalietzka’s book began on her 12th birthday, shortly before the Russian offensive on February 24 of this year. She and her grandmother lived in Kharkiv until the bombing began. (Yeva’s parents separated when she was very young, and her grandmother raised her).
“She described how they endured bombings while hiding underground, and their desperate trip to western Ukraine,” the joint announcement said. “She was also baffled as to why the Russians attacked them, as she speaks Russian and follows the Russians. Many customs.”
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Governor: 25 dead in Russian attack on Kharkiv
According to the governor of Kharkiv, at least 25 people have been killed in Russia’s attacks on Kharkiv on the 21st and 22nd.
The governor of the Kharkiv region, Ole Shinnehubov, said the Russians continued to shell residential areas in Ukraine’s second-largest city, Kharkiv, as well as other towns in the Kharkiv region.
“The shelling of civilians by the Russian occupiers has not stopped,” he wrote on Telegram. “This shows that we cannot expect a Chernihav or Kyiv situation where Russian troops will retreat under pressure.”
Ukraine’s presidential adviser Oleksi Arestovich said in a video address that Russian forces attacked Kharkiv to intimidate the population and force Ukraine to transfer its troops.
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Zelensky talks to 11 leaders ahead of EU summit
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke with 11 European leaders on the 22nd, which he said was aimed at increasing the likelihood that the European Parliament would approve Kyiv’s application to join the European Union.
In the second day of what Zelensky called a “marathon” of negotiations, he listed his prime ministers with Bulgaria, Latvia, Greece, Sweden, Estonia, Czech Republic, Belgium, Austria, Slovenia, as well as the presidents of Moldova and Lithuania discussions that took place.
Zelensky refused to accept the ground. “Tomorrow I will continue this marathon negotiation. We must provide our country with maximum support.”
He also added, “We expect a key decision in Europe tomorrow night.”
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Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov visits Iran to discuss nuclear deal, cooperation
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov arrived in Iran on Tuesday amid efforts by world powers and Iran to revive the stalled 2015 nuclear deal, according to Iranian state television.
“During Lavrov’s visit, the two sides will discuss the 2015 nuclear deal, strengthening bilateral and energy cooperation, and important international and regional issues,” Iranian state media reported.
Iranian state television broadcast footage of Lavrov meeting with Iran’s hardline President Ibrahim Rahi, but gave no further details. Iran’s foreign ministry said on the 20th that Lavrov’s visit was aimed at “expanding cooperation with the Eurasian region and the Caucasus.”
Moscow had said last month that Russia and Iran had discussed exchanging oil and gas for supplies and building a logistics center. It should be noted that both countries are under Western sanctions and have one of the largest oil and gas reserves in the world.
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The United States hopes that the issue of Sweden and Finland joining NATO will be actively resolved as soon as possible
The U.S. State Department’s top diplomat for European affairs said the U.S. hopes that Turkey, Finland and Sweden will soon be able to actively resolve the latter two’s application to join NATO.
U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Karen Donfried told a U.S. Senate foreign relations hearing that the U.S. was “certainly pushing” to reach a consensus ahead of next week’s NATO summit in Madrid.
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U.S. official: G7, NATO leaders will increase pressure on Russia and pay close attention to China
At next week’s meeting, G7 and NATO leaders will seek to pressure Russia over Russia’s war in Ukraine, Reuters reported, citing senior U.S. government officials, while making it clear that they will closely Follow China.
Officials said NATO would announce new commitments to support European security, while the participation of the leaders of Australia, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand would show that the war in Ukraine has not diverted their attention from China.
Leaders of the Group of Seven nations will also discuss China’s “economic approach,” which they believe has become very tough in recent years, according to Reuters.
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Russia celebrates anniversary of Hitler’s invasion of Soviet Union
Russian President Vladimir Putin laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in the Kremlin on June 22 as Russia held a mourning event for the 81st anniversary of Nazi Germany’s invasion of the Soviet Union.
On June 22 of that year, Hitler’s troops launched surprise attacks on Kyiv, Moscow, and Brest in Belarus, a day that marked the beginning of Russia’s “Patriotic War,” and today is known in Russia as the Days of Remembrance and Mourning.
According to the “Moscow Times” report, after the early hours of the day, the Russian Armed Forces Cathedral held a holy liturgy and commemorated the 27 million Soviet soldiers and civilians who died in the war. Since then, 1,418 candles have been lit outside the cathedral on each day the war lasted.
In the occupied Ukrainian port city of Mariupol, pro-Russian activists lit 10,000 candles and spelled out the words “Remember 22.06.1941.”
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Zelensky: Russia did the same thing in Ukraine as Germany did in the Soviet Union
Zelensky said on World War II Remembrance Day that when Russia launched its military operation against Ukraine on February 24 this year, it did the same as Nazi Germany invaded the Soviet Union on June 22, 1941.
In his morning speech that day, Zelensky said, “Today, June 22, is a day of mourning for the victims of the war. This war will forever remain in the history of the 20th century and should never be repeated. But it But it happened again.”
“Today, it is often said that what Russia did on February 24 of this year was like what the Nazis did on June 22 of that year…I just want to add. From the morning of the invasion to the defeat of the invaders, A total of 1418 days have passed. We must liberate our lands and win, but faster. Much faster.”
“This is our national goal, and we must strive to achieve it every day. Not just for the country, but for every citizen – at the best possible level.”
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Ukraine wants EU-wide support to become EU membership candidate
A Ukrainian official charged with pushing Ukraine to join the European Union said she was “100 percent” certain that the bloc’s 27 member states would approve Ukraine’s candidacy at this week’s summit.
Deputy Prime Minister Stephen Nishner, who is in charge of European affairs and Euro-Atlantic integration, said in an interview with The Associated Press that the decision could be made as early as the start of the summit on the 23rd.
The Netherlands, Sweden and Denmark were skeptical about starting accession talks with Ukraine in the early days of Ukraine’s fight against Russian aggression, but are now backing it, Stephanishner said. Asked how confident she was in Ukraine being accepted as an EU candidate, she stressed, “Just the day before the summit, I can say I have 100 percent confidence in that.”
Only with the unanimous consent of the existing member states can Ukraine obtain EU candidate status, which is also its first step in joining the bloc. But this would not provide security, nor the right to automatically join the EU. Ukraine’s membership application will be at the top of the EU leaders’ meeting in Brussels.
Click here to see all the important developments for Wednesday, June 22.