Newsletter 28/05/2024
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Zelensky, Belgian PM sign security agreement
In Brussels, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo have signed a bilateral agreement on security and long-term support, which includes EUR 977 million in Belgian military aid to Ukraine this year and its commitment to provide Ukraine with 30 F-16 fighter jets.
Read full text of the deal here
Ukraine, Portugal sign bilateral security agreement
In Lisbon, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and Prime Minister of Portugal Luís Montenegro signed a bilateral Agreement on Security Cooperation.
Netherlands in cooperation with partners planning to assemble Patriot system for Ukraine
The Netherlands, together with its partners, is trying to expedite the assembly of a complete Patriot air defense system and send it to Ukraine.
Stoltenberg: Ukraine's right of self-defense includes striking military targets inside Russia
"We have to remember what this is. This is a war of aggression. Russia has attacked another country, invaded another country. And Ukraine has, according to international law, the right to self-defense, to defend themselves. And the right of self-defense includes also striking targets outside Ukraine, legitimate military targets inside Russia. And this is in particular, relevant now. Because the most heavy fighting is now taking place in the Kharkiv region, close to the Ukrainian Russian border. And part of the border is actually the front line," NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said, commenting on lifting restrictions on Ukraine's use of Western weapons to strike targets inside Russia.
Russia planning to deploy another 300,000 troops near border with Ukraine - Umerov
"Their objective is to open a new front in the north to start using all their manpower, firing power, against us, they are continuing with their objective to destroy the nation," said Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov.
At the same time, Umerov stressed that only half of the promised military aid and weapons supplied by its partners arrived on time.
Zelensky: Putin is trying to disrupt Peace Summit and create parallel platform
Russian leader Vladimir Putin is afraid of the Global Peace Summit and is trying to disrupt it and arrange a parallel platform. That is why some world leaders have not yet spoken out about the summit.
Zelensky visits Melsbroek military base where Ukrainian pilots undergoing training on F-16s
During his working visit to Belgium, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky visited the Melsbroek military base where servicemen are being trained.
President Zelensky was informed in detail about the combat characteristics and technical specifications of the aircraft, as well as about the training of Ukrainian pilots on the F-16s. The Belgian pilot instructors noted the high motivation of their Ukrainian colleagues.
Source: Official channel of the President of Ukraine - Volodymyr Zelenskyi
War
About 20,000 people already evacuated from dangerous districts in Kharkiv and Sumy regions
Three districts in the Kharkiv region and five districts in the Sumy region, from which mandatory evacuation has been announced. As of today, about 20,000 people have already been evacuated.
Threat coming from Belarus now only in information space – CCD
Russian troops currently do not have the forces and means to attack Ukraine from the territory of Belarus. However, Russia will continue to promote this topic in the media.
Enemy attacks Chernihiv region’s border area: 50 explosions, two injured in past day
Over the past day, Russian troops attacked the border area of the Chernihiv region with various types of weapons. Fifty explosions were recorded.
The Novhorod-Siversk community: four explosions (presumably cannon artillery and FPV drones) in the direction of Hremyach and Krasnyi Khutir.
The Semenivka community: 38 explosions (probably FPV drones and cannon artillery) in the direction of Kostobobriv, Khotiivka and Uhly.
The Snovsk community: eight explosions (probably 120-mm mortars) in the direction of Yeline and Khrinivka.
At night, the border guards destroyed the "Ural" of the occupiers and the "Kamaz" with ammunition in the direction of Bakhmut
Source: Facebook page of the State Border Service of Ukraine
Defense
Shmyhal: EUR 1.6B raised for Czech-led initiative to purchase artillery shells for Ukraine
Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal and a group of EU leaders met in Prague to discuss the implementation of the artillery initiative, which has already raised more than EUR 1.6 billion.
Belgium to provide Ukraine with 30 F-16 jets by 2028
Belgium is committed to provide Ukraine with 30 F-16 fighter jets, according to Belgian Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib.
Politics
Zelensky: Ukraine may receive EUR 1.7 billion in profits from frozen Russian assets this year
"Today we discussed that this year Ukraine may receive EUR 1.7 billion from the proceeds of frozen Russian assets. There is also a solution for reconstruction - Belgium will allocate funds for the reconstruction of Chernihiv region. We are also working to open an office of the Belgian State Development Agency in Ukraine," said President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky
Publilcation
U.S. ban on Ukraine’s use of its donated weapons against targets inside Russia. Does such a ban exist, actually?
Reputable experts have shared with Ukrinform their views on that matter. These views replicate each other in some aspects, differ in others, but are definitely surprising