Ukraine: realities | «The Weekly Five»: 12.06 – 18.06
British Intelligence: Russia is now suffering its highest losses since the start of the battle for Bakhmut
British intelligence has reported that fierce fighting has been going on in recent days, with Russia suffering significant losses.
According to the agency, the most intense fighting is now taking place in the Zaporizhzhia region, in the western Donetsk region, and around Bakhmut.
In all these areas, Ukraine continues to conduct offensive operations and has achieved small successes, the ministry added.
«Both sides are suffering heavy losses, with Russian casualties likely the highest since the height of the battle for Bakhmut in March,» the statement said.
The first meeting of the new NATO-Ukraine Council may be held in Vilnius – Stoltenberg
NATO is seeking to hold the first meeting of the new NATO-Ukraine Council at the Vilnius Summit in July.
This was stated by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg following a two-day meeting of NATO defense ministers.
«We are also working on the establishment of a new NATO-Ukraine Council, where Ukraine will be equal to NATO Allies, consulted and made decisions of common interest. Our ambition is to have the first meeting of the new Council in Vilnius together with President Zelenskyy,» he said.
«We have agreed that NATO's door is open and Ukraine will become a member of the Alliance and that this is a decision of the Allies and Ukraine. Russia has no veto power,» Stoltenberg added.
After the meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Commission on Thursday, Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov said that Ukraine and NATO will replace their current format of official meetings in the form of a Commission with a new Council format at the summit in Vilnius in July or after it.
«The next meeting of the defense ministers from Ukraine and NATO, I hope, will start in Vilnius or immediately after Vilnius, and will be the NATO-Ukraine Council,» the minister said.
Scholz: Putin wants to seize neighboring territories, we need to talk about security guarantees for Ukraine
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has stated the need to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine.
He emphasized that it is out of the question to «somehow freeze the war and legalize the Russian invasion,» as some parties are calling for.
«The Russian president clearly wants to absorb some neighboring territories: he has such a plan for Ukraine, and it is quite obvious that this is also his plan for Belarus,» Scholz said.
That is why, as Scholz emphasized, it is important to support Ukraine and have a «concrete conversation about security guarantees.»
Ukrainian pilots will fly F-16 in four months of training – Reznikov
Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov believes that Ukrainian pilots will be able to master the F-16 much faster than the standard 6 months. He believes that in 4 months Ukrainians will be able to master Western fighters.
«Everyone is publicly discussing how long it will take Ukrainian pilots to master the F-16. The period is already known to everyone: after testing our two pilots in the United States, it is believed that up to six months will be enough.
I'm optimistic that our experienced pilots, with their desire and drive, will probably fly faster. I mean not just fly, but fly freely: with maneuvers, at night, in pairs. I think it's realistic in four months. I think so because we can surprise. We are really like that, we can learn.»
US plans to give Ukraine depleted uranium tank shells – WSJ
The administration of US President Joe Biden plans to approve the transfer of depleted uranium shells for Abrams tanks to Ukraine.
A senior official from the presidential administration told The Wall Street Journal.
The Biden administration is expected to provide depleted uranium shells after weeks of internal debate over how to equip the Abrams tanks the United States is transferring to Ukraine.
The project «Ukraine: realities» is implemented by the News agency «Konkurent» together with the Civic Movement «SVIDOMI» and the charity organization Global Empowerment Mission in English for readers from other countries to tell the stories of people who survived the horrors of the Russian occupation.
Проєкт «Ukraine: realities» реалізовується Інформаційним агентством «Конкурент» спільно з Громадянським Рухом «СВІДОМІ» та благодійною організацією Global Empowerment Mission на англійській мові для читачів з інших країн аби розповісти історії людей, які пережили жахи російської окупації.
