The G7 finance director criticized Russia’s characterization of the conflict in Ukraine as a “continuous brutal war,” stating that if a ceasefire isn’t achievable, further sanctions could be on the table. The language used to describe the war has softened compared to a G7 statement from October, which labeled it as an “illegal, unjust, unprovoked war.” Former President Trump has suggested he would reduce U.S. support for Ukraine, implying blame on Ukraine if peace talks with Russia become a reality.
In Ukraine, a former military commander expressed on Thursday the need to let go of the idea of restoring borders from the Soviet era or those established during the invasion that began in 2022. Valerii Zaluzhnyi, who is now the ambassador to London after being replaced as the military leader in February 2024 due to reported tensions with President Zelenskyy, remarked, “I hope no one is still expecting some miraculous sign of peace regarding the borders of 1991 or 2022.” He added that the enemy still possesses ample resources to conduct operations against Ukraine.
Prime Minister Friedrich Merz issued a warning on Thursday, emphasizing Russia’s recent visit to Lithuania aimed at reinforcing NATO’s eastern edge. This visit coincided with the formal establishment of Germany’s first permanent overseas military unit since World War II. The planned development of a 5,000-member armored brigade in Lithuania in the coming years is a direct response to the extensive Russian invasion of Ukraine that began in 2022.
Russia officially appointed General Andrei Mordovicev, the commander of its significant siege operations, as head of the ground forces, according to reports from a military newspaper. The Red Star newspaper noted that Defense Minister Andrei Belusov praised the 49-year-old general for showcasing his capabilities during a “special military operation.”
On Thursday, Russia claimed to have intercepted 159 Ukrainian drones within its territory, including around 20 aimed at Moscow during the day. The previous day, Russia stated it had downed over 300 drones. Flights at three Moscow airports—Domodedovo, Vnukovo, and Zukovsky—have faced intermittent suspensions due to these developments.
The EU initiated temporary import measures for Ukrainian agricultural products on Thursday due to disagreements with the Ukrainian government. While the EU had previously facilitated most agricultural imports to bolster Ukraine’s economy post-invasion, European farmers argue that Ukrainian produce is unfairly impacting their own markets. The current agreement with Ukraine is set to lapse on June 5, and it seems unlikely both sides will reach a consensus in time.
On Thursday, EU lawmakers approved tariffs on fertilizer imports from Russia, despite concerns that this might lead to increased prices for European farmers. The European Parliament’s vote of 411-100 passed a bill that intends to implement duties in July, incrementally making imports less feasible. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov commented that this decision underscores how Europeans “tend to shoot themselves in the foot, as always.”
