Former Vice President and current presidential hopeful, Mike Pence, emphasized the importance of providing military support to Ukraine in order to counter the Russian invasion. He expressed his belief that the ongoing military operation in Ukraine led by Russia is not only an act of warfare but also an evil endeavor. Pence also highlighted the apparent divisions within Russia itself, particularly regarding its leader, Vladimir Putin. He made a commitment that if he were elected, he would ensure that Ukraine receives the necessary aid to secure victory. Pence stressed that if Ukraine were to be overrun by Russia, it would only be a matter of time before the Russian military poses a direct threat to the United States, potentially necessitating the deployment of American forces. He expressed his support for the Reagan doctrine, which advocates providing assistance to countries willing to defend themselves against common enemies, thus preventing the need for American troops to engage in direct combat.
Developments:
President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko announced that the delivery of Russian tactical nuclear bombs to Belarus has started and would be finished by the end of the year. According to Putin, Russia still has control over the warheads.
Tennis player Elina Svitolina from Ukraine defeated Belgian Elise Mertens, the 28th-seed, on Thursday to advance to the third round of the renowned Wimbledon tournament in London.
5 people are killed as Russian rockets hit an apartment block in Lviv.
A tragic incident occurred in the city of Kyiv, Ukraine, where Russian cruise missiles struck an apartment building. This attack resulted in the loss of five lives, numerous injuries, and highlighted the unsettling reality that no part of the country was secure from such assaults. While the majority of the conflict has taken place in the southern and eastern regions, which are closer to Russia’s border, the city of Lviv had previously provided a haven for many Ukrainians fleeing the relentless bombings . Unfortunately, Lviv, with a population of approximately 750,000, is now facing the repercussions of the conflict, being located less than 50 miles from Poland. The mayor of Lviv, Andriy Sadovyi, has called for a two- day period of mourning and reported significant damage to 60 apartments and 50 cars in the affected area. The city is currently experiencing a power outage, and there may be disruptions in the water supply. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who was in Bulgaria seeking support for Ukraine, took to Twitter to assure the public that a strong response to the enemy’s actions would be forthcoming.
Zelenskyy criticises the president of Bulgaria
During a short visit to Sofia, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy received backing from Bulgarian Prime Minister Nikolai Denkov, who expressed commitment to providing weapons to Ukraine and supporting its NATO membership aspirations. However, President Rumen Radev, whose role is primarily symbolic, advocated for a diplomatic solution rather than escalating the conflict with more firearms.
Zelenskyy criticized Radev’s stance, implying that the president would alter his position if Bulgaria faced an invasion. Zelenskyy also suggested that Bulgaria’s military would be incapable of defending against Russian aggression single-handedly.
Top Russian news agency chief dumped after coup coverage
The head of Russia’s most influential state-owned news agency has been removed from his position and replaced by a former press aide of President Putin. Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin dismissed Sergei Mikhailov, who had served as director of Tass for 11 years. Under Mikhailov’s leadership, Tass had undergone modernization while maintaining its role as a government mouthpiece. However, Tass’s coverage of insurrection leader Yevgeny Prigozhin may have contributed to the growing popularity of the Wagner Group leader within Russia. The newly appointed Tass director, Andrey Kondrashov, previously worked as Putin’s campaign headquarters’ press secretary in 2018 and has produced documentaries that glorify the annexation of Crimea and Putin’s life.
According to the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War, Kondrashov’s appointment may suggest that the Kremlin is dissatisfied with the media’s coverage of the Wagner Group’s armed rebellion. This move underscores the ongoing significance of loyalty to Putin over professional accomplishments.
NBC claims that former US officials spoke to Russians about the Ukraine.
According to a recent report by NBC News, a group of retired high-ranking U.S. national security officials engaged in undisclosed discussions with Russian leaders, including Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, with the goal of laying the groundwork for potential negotiations to resolve the ongoing war. The meetings took place in April in New York and lasted for several hours. While the Biden administration was aware of these discussions, they were not officially authorized by the government. After meeting with Lavrov, the officials who participated in the talks briefed the White House National Security Council. It is important to note that the White House has consistently stated that any peace talks regarding Ukraine should be determined by Ukraine itself.
The individuals involved in these talks include former diplomat Richard Haass, Europe expert Charles Kupchan, and Russia expert Thomas Graham. At the time of reporting, none of them have responded to requests for comment.
The Wagner group’s chief might have returned to Russia
Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the Wagner Group, is currently not in Belarus despite an agreement that called for his deportation to the country after last month’s coup attempt. According to President Lukashenko, Prigozhin is in St. Petersburg or possibly Moscow. Thousands of Wagner fighters have reportedly moved to camps in Belarus following the failed rebellion. Although the exact location of Prigozhin is not confirmed, the agreement for his departure to Belarus is still considered valid, as stated by Dmitry Peskov, the presidential spokesman. The Russian government has stated that they do not have the intention or means to monitor his movements.