The first batch of Ukrainian pilots have graduated from F-16 training at an #Arizona military base, a crucial step toward putting modern, American-made fighter jets in Ukraine’s skies, Capt. ERIN HANNIGAN, a spokesperson with the Air National Guard, told.
The pilots are now headed to Europe for additional training, according to a person with knowledge of their movements.
Viktor #Orbán’s #Hungary is holding up legislation that would enable #Ukraine to receive up to €2bn for weapons from the #EU, in a blow to efforts to mobilise profits from Russian assets frozen under sanctions.
“For the time being they are blocking everything connected to the military support to Ukraine,” said one of the people, suggesting #Budapest’s reservations would remain until at least next month’s European elections.
Former president Donald #Trump again invoked authoritarian leaders at a rally Thursday, a reminder of a vision he has been outlining for a potential second term.
Trump referenced Russian President Vladimir #Putin, North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un, Chinese leader #Xi Jinping and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor #Orban.
Trump said the leaders were “at the top of their game, whether you like it or not.”
#G7 finance ministers will lay the groundwork for using the profits from frozen #Russia assets to help #Ukraine, according to a draft of the communique that they’re set to sign off on Saturday.
The move comes after the #US pushed for the G-7 to leverage future revenue generated from about $280 billion in Russian central bank funds, most of which lies immobilized in Europe. The plan could unlock an aid package of as much as $50 billion for Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir #Putin said on Friday that Ukrainian President Volodymyr #Zelenskiy had no legitimacy following the expiry of his five-year term and this would raise a legal obstacle if #Russia and #Ukraine were to hold peace talks.
With Ukraine under martial law in the third year of Russia's full-scale invasion, Zelenskiy has not faced elections despite the expiry of his five-year term this week.
"A Romanian citizen was detained by prosecutors from the Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT) on charges of treason. He allegedly monitored military sites in #Romania and then sent the information to the Russian Embassy in #Bucharest
" Zelenskyy calls for NATO nations to shoot down Russian missiles over Ukraine
A key Finnish lawmaker previously told Breaking Defense that he would "embrace" such an idea. "
🤡 "Russia will take countermeasures in the event of 🇯🇵Japan's repeal of the ninth article of the constitution, which presupposes the renunciation of the armed forces", - Director of the Third Asia Department of Russian MFA Vorobyeva
@MAKS23 I mean, if they HAD anything to actually get kinetic... or fuel... or ordnance that isn't likely to fizzle out in flight... #russia#UkraineWillWin
Ukrainian forces halted Russian troops in the #Kharkiv sector and are conducting counterattacks, Ihor #Prokhorenko, a representative of the Main Operational Directorate of #Ukraine's General Staff, said at a briefing in #Kyiv on May 24.
"At the moment, (Russian forces) have been halted, the situation is under control, we are carrying out counterattacks," Prokhorenko said.
Donald #Trump again claimed #Russia would not have launched its full-scale invasion of #Ukraine if he had won a second term in office.
Speaking during his first rally in New York in eight years on May 23, the former president also said he would have prevented #Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack on #Israel and the ensuing war in #Gaza that followed.
"Trump seems to be saying pretty clearly that he has an understanding with Putin that Gershkovich will under no circumstances be released until after he is elected and if he’s not elected, well, sucks to be him. Could this have anything to do w Manafort again working with Trump’s campaign?" #trump#russia
Russia admits Islamic State behind Crocus Hall terrorist attack, still tries to blame Ukraine.
Russia has for the first time said Islamic State (IS) was behind the deadly terrorist attack on Moscow's Crocus City Hall, but still claims Ukraine played a role in assisting the attackers, Russian media reported on May 24. #AureFreePress#News#press#headline#Ukraine#Russia