Ukraine war live ticker: +++ 21:31 Medvedev reacts to Trump's threat to Putin +++

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev promptly responded to US President Donald Trump's sharp criticism of Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin with a counter-threat. He said he knew of only one truly bad thing that could happen—World War III. "I hope Trump understands that," he wrote in English on X. Trump had previously doubled down on his sharp criticism of Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin. "What Vladimir Putin doesn't understand is that without me, many really bad things would have already happened to Russia—and I mean really bad," Trump wrote on his online service Truth Social. He added: "He's playing with fire" (see entry at 6:44 p.m.). As deputy head of the Russian Security Council, Medvedev continues to wield considerable influence in Russia. Since the beginning of the war, the once liberal Putin confidant has repeatedly made sharp threats, including the use of nuclear weapons. He is rumored to have an alcohol problem.

+++ 8:55 PM Kyiv denies attack on Putin's helicopter during Kursk visit +++ The Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security at the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine has rejected claims that Russian President Vladimir Putin's helicopter was attacked by the Ukrainian armed forces in the Kursk region . Previously, the Russian commander of the air defense division, Yuri Dashkin, stated on state television that Putin's helicopter was involved in an "unprecedented Ukrainian drone attack" during a visit to the Kursk region last week and was forced to shoot down drones, as the Telegraph reports. "This is a lie," the center now writes in a statement. While Putin did indeed travel to the region on May 20, it was the first time the Russians had spoken of an attack on Putin. Furthermore, media close to the Kremlin reported that Putin traveled through the region exclusively by car. The statement also said that neither the Ministry of Defense nor the Kursk media and Telegram channels had reported drone attacks on the scale described by Dashkin at that time.

+++ 8:36 p.m. Report: Russia has ordered over 300,000 death certificates for soldiers' families since the start of the war +++ The Russian Ministry of Labor and Social Protection is said to have ordered more than 307,900 death certificates for the families of soldiers killed since the start of the invasion of Ukraine. This is reported by the independent Russian news outlet Verstka, citing official procurement data. According to the report, the volume of death certificates issued has far exceeded pre-war levels. Before 2022, the number of certificates for the relatives of deceased soldiers steadily declined. The records do not distinguish between operations in Ukraine and other conflicts, although the increase in procurement coincides with Russia's massive losses in the war, it is said. Russia does not publish official casualty figures, but independent estimates indicate significant losses. According to the levies, the ministry has so far commissioned 357,700 certificates this year - 317,500 for veterans and 40,200 for the families of soldiers killed in action or who died from war injuries.

+++ 8:16 p.m. Wadephul calls for solidarity with the US against Putin +++ In light of ongoing Russian attacks on Ukraine, Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul is calling for solidarity with the US in dealing with Russian President Vladimir Putin. "We must maintain the pressure so that Putin finally comes to the negotiating table, so that Russia finally enters into serious negotiations," the CDU politician declared before departing for his inaugural visit to the US. He added: "We Europeans will continue to tighten the sanctions screws, and the US Congress is also prepared for more sanctions." Wadephul plans to meet with his US counterpart Marco Rubio in the capital Washington this Wednesday to discuss a joint approach to the current international crises.

+++ 7:57 PM USA: Geneva is a possible venue for new Ukraine talks +++ The US government assumes that further negotiations on an end to Russia's war of aggression could take place in Geneva. The US would have preferred the Vatican, but Russia did not want that, said US Special Representative for Ukraine Keith Kellogg on US television. "So I think Geneva could be the next stop." After that, a location must be found where Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy could meet. Kellogg further stated that the meeting in Geneva could take place as soon as Russia has provided it. They have received the conditions for peace from the Ukrainian side, now they need them from the Russian side, says Kellogg.

+++ 7:15 PM Commentary on the range: "Merz wants to retain air supremacy" +++ Professor Klemens Fischer doesn't see any real news in Friedrich Merz's comment on the range of German weapons in Ukraine. Rather, he believes it's about demonstrating power and readiness.

+++ 6:44 PM Trump warns Putin: "He's playing with fire" +++ US President Donald Trump has again criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin for the continued attacks on Ukraine. Putin is "playing with fire," Trump wrote on his online platform Truth Social. On Sunday, he accused the Kremlin chief of having "gone completely crazy." Now Trump doubled down. "Putin doesn't understand that without me, a lot of really bad things would have already happened to Russia," he wrote on Truth Social. And he meant "really bad" things, Trump added in capital letters. Whether Trump intends to tighten US sanctions against Russia or is considering other means remains unclear.

+++ 6:22 p.m. Expert: Merz sends a signal in Lithuania - "has arrived" in the USA +++ Chancellor Merz participates in the roll call of the new Bundeswehr brigade in Lithuania and emphasizes the determination of Germany and its NATO partners to defend the alliance territory "against any aggression." A signal that is also being perceived in the USA, explains USA expert Andrew B. Denison.

+++ 6:01 PM Kremlin: Release of weapons for Ukraine would be an escalation +++ Russia reiterates its criticism of Chancellor Friedrich Merz's proposal to limit the range of Western weapons in the Ukraine war. "If this is true, then this is an escalation, a serious escalation, which seriously contradicts the efforts currently being made toward a peaceful solution," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, according to Russian news agencies. However, Merz's comments on this matter were very unclear from Moscow's perspective. The Kremlin had already described the announcement as dangerous on Monday. "Merz is squirming quite a bit now," Peskov said. The day before, he said that a decision had been made. However, a cabinet member later denied this. Now Merz has insisted that this decision was made several months ago. Overall, Europe is not contributing to a peaceful solution, Peskov criticized. However, he stated that the US must also be involved in the decision to lift the range limitation for weapons.

+++ 5:41 PM Wadephul considers ceasefire in Ukraine "achievable" +++ Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul does not want to rule out the possibility of a ceasefire in Ukraine. "We are continuing to talk about a ceasefire, and I also consider it achievable," he told WDR. Wadephul will meet with his US counterpart Marco Rubio in Washington on Wednesday and plans to raise the issue of a ceasefire there as well. "Despite all the differences we have with the American president, (...) we agree that this terrible war must end as quickly as possible," said the German chief diplomat. Friedrich Merz had previously described the chances of a ceasefire in Ukraine as poor. Russian President Vladimir Putin has shown little interest in reaching a ceasefire, the chancellor said. According to the Federal Foreign Office, bilateral relations, continued support for Ukraine in the face of Russia's war of aggression, and transatlantic security and defense policy will be the focus of the talks Wadephul will hold in the US capital.

+++ 5:00 PM Ukrainians film attacks with AASM-converted bombs on Russian bases +++ French AASM kits can be used to convert unguided bombs. The manufacturer will adapt its system to the MiG-29 used by Ukraine within months. Videos of Ukrainian military attacks on military bases in Russia are said to demonstrate the power this unleashes in action.

+++ 4:44 p.m. USA reportedly blocking G7 push to tighten Russian oil price cap +++ The United States reportedly opposed a joint G7 effort to lower the $60-per-barrel price cap on Russian oil exports during last week's finance ministers' meeting. The Financial Times reported this, citing three officials familiar with the talks who wished to remain anonymous. The price cap, introduced in December 2022 by the G7 countries and the EU, prohibits Western companies from transporting, insuring, or otherwise handling Russian oil sold for more than $60 per barrel. The mechanism was intended to limit the Kremlin's ability to finance its war against Ukraine. The Canadian G7 presidency proposed including language in the meeting's final communiqué calling for a tightening of the existing price cap, the report said. This move received support from the European Union and G7 members France, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom. However, the proposal was dropped after US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent refused to support it, according to insiders. The European Commission was said to have planned to propose lowering the threshold to $50 per barrel before the meeting.

+++ 4:21 PM Drone attacks cause restrictions at Russian airports +++ The airports in the Russian cities of Nizhny Novgorod, Saratov, and Tambov are introducing flight restrictions due to the threat of drone attacks, according to Artyom Korenyako, a spokesperson for the Russian state aviation authority Rosaviatsia. "To ensure the safety of civilian flights, temporary restrictions on their entry and exit have been introduced," Korenyako said in a Telegram post. He did not explain what this meant. The Russian aviation authority had previously imposed flight restrictions on Kaluga airport. Air defense "detected and destroyed" several drones there, according to Alexander Gusev, governor of the Voronezh region. Russian authorities were already forced to close the airports in Moscow four days ago after they were attacked by Ukrainian drones overnight. In response to the Russian invasion, Ukraine has repeatedly launched drone attacks on targets within Russia. These are usually military installations, airports, or oil refineries.

+++ 3:45 PM Dutch intelligence services uncover Russian cyberattacks on European authorities +++ Dutch intelligence services have identified a hacker group supported by the Russian government as the perpetrator of cyberattacks on several institutions in Europe. The targets of the "Laundry Bear" group attacked last year included the Dutch police, NATO, and several European authorities, according to domestic and foreign intelligence services and military intelligence. According to the report, the group was most likely supported by the Russian government. It operated undetected until it was tracked down in a hacker attack in September 2024. The hackers were particularly interested in information on Western arms deliveries to Ukraine. Data on the procurement and production of military equipment were also targeted in the attacks.

+++ 3:25 PM Lavrov criticizes Merz for remarks on weapons range +++ Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov criticized German Chancellor Friedrich Merz for his remarks on Ukraine's far-reaching attacks on Russia using Western weapons. The decision to allow such attacks on Russia was made long ago, Lavrov said. These remarks are indicative of the caliber of people who came to power in leading European countries. They indicate that the decision to allow long-range attacks on Russia was made some time ago but kept secret. Merz stated on Monday that Western allies would no longer impose range restrictions on weapons supplied to Ukraine. On Tuesday, Merz qualified his statement: The issue of range restrictions "played a role a few months and a few years ago." Western countries have long since abandoned these requirements. "In this respect, I described something yesterday in Berlin that has been happening for months." Ukraine must also have the right to use weapons against military targets on Russian territory, Merz said.

+++ 3:10 PM Governor confirms setback by Ukrainian troops in Sumy region +++ According to the local governor, Russian troops have captured four villages in the Sumy region in northeastern Ukraine. "The enemy continues to attempt to advance to establish a so-called 'buffer zone,'" Oleh Hryhorov writes on Facebook. The villages of Novenke, Basivka, Veselivka, and Zhuravka are occupied. However, the villages were evacuated long ago. Hryhorov thus confirms a setback by Ukrainian troops. Last year, Ukrainian forces used the Sumy region as a base to capture part of the neighboring Russian Kursk Oblast. They have since been largely expelled from Kursk. While Russian attacks are concentrated on the eastern Donetsk region, Russian advances into northeastern Ukraine demonstrate the pressure Ukrainian troops are under.

+++ 2:48 PM Vatican urges speedy Ukraine negotiations +++ The Vatican, under the new Pope Leo XIV, is pushing for speedy peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. The Catholic Papal States has once again declared their willingness to hold the talks on their soil. Its number two, Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, reiterated an offer from the new head of the Catholic Church. Above all, however, it is important that the negotiations "finally begin." In a roundtable discussion, Parolin referred to the Pope's offer from the US for meetings in a "neutral, protected location" such as the Vatican. At the same time, according to a report by the Italian news agency Ansa, the cardinal made it clear that the Vatican does not necessarily see itself as a mediator. The offer, he said, "is not mediation. Mediation must be requested by the parties." The Italian pointed out that other locations, such as Geneva, were also being discussed. Parolin added: "It is not important where the negotiations between Russians and Ukrainians, for which we all hope, will take place. What matters is only that these negotiations can finally begin." So far, there has been no date set for new talks. In the meantime, there was talk of a meeting in mid-June at the Vatican.

+++ 2:27 p.m. Wadephul remains tight-lipped on the Taurus issue +++ Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul remains tight-lipped on the question of a possible delivery of Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine. The German government is acting in a way that makes it unpredictable for Russian President Vladimir Putin, Wadephul said at the WDR Europaforum. Ukraine is being equipped to enable the country to defend itself, but Germany is acting responsibly. The coalition of the CDU/CSU and SPD is also very united on this issue.

+++ 2:00 PM With 3,000 soldiers in the Baltic Sea: Russia launches major naval maneuvers +++ Russia is beginning a comprehensive naval maneuver in the Baltic Sea. Twenty warships and 3,000 soldiers, along with air support, are participating in the exercise, the Russian state news agency Interfax reports, citing the Russian Baltic Fleet.

+++ 13:37 Dual strategy continues: Kremlin reportedly still working on memorandum +++ According to its Foreign Ministry, Russia is continuing to work on a draft memorandum in advance of a possible peace agreement. The draft will set out the principles of an agreement and the conditions of a possible ceasefire, said Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova in Moscow. The document will be handed over to the government in Kyiv as soon as it is ready. However, Moscow's delaying tactics to date and statements by US President Donald Trump cast doubt on Russia's serious interest in a ceasefire. At the beginning of last week, in a telephone call with European heads of state and government, Trump stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin does not currently want to end the war. On the battlefield, Russia currently has the initiative and is occupying more and more areas of Ukraine at a very slow pace. Military experts also say that Putin is seeking a decision on the front lines and not through negotiations.

+++ 1:20 p.m. Suspicion of support for Russian militias in Donbass - Raid in Brandenburg +++ The Federal Prosecutor's Office searched a house in Brandenburg this morning on suspicion of supporting a Russian militia in eastern Ukraine. A spokesperson for the authority in Karlsruhe said one suspect is accused of having organized the transport of goods to the Donetsk and Luhansk regions for several years. He is being investigated on suspicion of supporting a terrorist organization abroad. The property searched is reportedly located in the Dahme-Spreewald district. The suspect has not been arrested, the spokesperson said. He did not specify which goods were allegedly transported. However, he emphasized that a militia can also be supported with goods other than weapons.

+++ 12:38 Supplying Russia with arms? China counters Kyiv's accusation +++ China rejects Ukrainian accusations that it supplies the Russian arms industry. The People's Republic has never supplied weapons to conflicting parties in Ukraine and strictly controls so-called dual-use goods, which could also be used for military purposes, says a spokeswoman for the Foreign Ministry in Beijing. "The Ukrainian side is well aware of this, and China firmly rejects unfounded accusations and political manipulation," she says. The Ukrainian foreign intelligence service announced on Monday that it had evidence that machinery, chemical products, gunpowder, and other components had been deliberately supplied from China to 20 Russian arms factories.

+++ 11:59 Kyiv's intelligence chief: War economy massively shrinks Russian sovereign wealth fund +++ The head of Ukraine's foreign intelligence service, Oleh Ivashchenko, estimates that Russia's transition to a war economy is leading to significant economic losses. The country is suffering from a labor shortage as a result of many men fleeing forced mobilization. Hundreds of thousands are not working because they are on the front lines. Many are being lured with financial incentives, according to Ivashchenko. However, the authorities are trying not to pay these. Russia's gold and foreign exchange reserves have already shrunk considerably since the start of the invasion. In addition, the Russian sovereign wealth fund has dwindled to around $38 billion (€33.35 billion). Before the outbreak of war, according to Ivashchenko, it was around $150 billion (€131.65 billion). Even then, it was well below its peak in November 2021 . At the time, it was valued at $197.75 billion (€173.56 billion). Currently, only about a fifth of this amount remains.

+++ 11:31 Range restriction: "Ukraine can destroy supplies" +++ Merz announces the lifting of the range restriction on German weapons in Ukraine. This guarantees the country a decisive advantage in the war: The military can attack trains, airports, and logistics centers, explains ntv reporter Nadja Kriewald. Meanwhile, the Ukrainians are hoping for the Taurus.

+++ 10:59 Chechen leader Kadyrov wants to correct "gossip" about his health with video +++ How is Chechnya's ruler, Ramzam Kadyrov, really doing? About a year ago, "Novaya Gazjeta Europe" published an analysis stating that he is seriously ill and has been suffering from pancreatic necrosis since 2019. According to the report, there is no prospect of recovery. Now Kadyrov has published a video of himself. In the nearly 45-second clip, he can be seen walking along a path – apparently with people at his side. The slow-motion clip barely gives any indication of the location. A tower is visible in the background. Kadyrov looks forward, but not into the camera. He is wearing a black hoodie. In the voiceover, he says he wants to comment on the "gossip" about his health. He keeps hearing rumors about his illness and his impending end. But both are part of life. Furthermore, he added that only God decides how long he may stay on earth. He will live as long as he has been prescribed. Kadyrov has not denied the reports, which he describes as rumors.

+++ 10:33 Experts see heavy Russian airstrikes primarily as a psychological aim +++ According to US military experts, the massive Russian airstrikes on Ukraine in recent days also had a psychological aim. They were intended to weaken Ukraine's resilience and deter further support from the West. The Institute for War Studies (ISW) writes in its situation report that Russia wants to suggest with such attacks that it can win the war. According to Kyiv figures, a record number of 355 combat drones and dummy drones were used in the attack on Monday night. In terms of the combination of missiles and drones, the attacks on the nights of Sunday and Monday were among the heaviest in more than three years of war, the institute writes. The attacks followed inconclusive talks between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul, which had been initiated by the USA.

+++ 10:08 Kursk Governor bases Sumy claim on his grandfather +++ Chancellor Merz lifts the range restriction on weapons delivered to Ukraine. The Kremlin is responding in a variety of ways, reports ntv reporter Rainer Munz. Meanwhile, Russia continues to advance in Ukraine. A new offensive could be imminent in the northeast of the country.

+++ 09:49 Kyiv says "thank you" - Netherlands hands over remaining F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine +++ As the Ukrainian Air Force announced, among other things, on X, the remaining F-16 fighter jets have left the Netherlands for Ukraine. The Netherlands is handing over a total of 24 combat aircraft to invaded Ukraine. The USA and Denmark have also already provided the country with jets of this type. At least three of them have already been destroyed in fighting, according to the independent portal Oryx.

+++ 09:16 "German weapons don't shoot very far" +++ Moscow repeatedly speaks of red lines, the crossing of which would lead to escalation. The now-repeated German range restriction also falls under this category. Political scientist Thomas Jäger, however, is certain: Russia only has two escalation options left, neither of which are really feasible.

+++ 08:48 Russians advance in Sumy – or not? +++ Russian forces have occupied the villages of Novenke, Basivka, Veselivka, and Zhuravka in the northeastern Ukrainian region of Sumy to create a so-called "buffer zone," as the region's governor, Oleh Hryhorov, announced on Facebook . The civilian population is not in danger, as residents were evacuated in advance. Fighting continues on the outskirts of surrounding villages. The situation is "under control." Previously, the Ukrainian military bloggers from DeepState reported that Russian forces have occupied 62.6 square kilometers of the Sumy region. Other military bloggers on social media doubt that this information is new. One user writes that there have been dozens of reports of Russian soldiers in the aforementioned villages since March .

+++ 08:01 Report: Trump could impose sanctions on Russia this week +++ According to people close to him, US President Donald Trump is flirting with the idea of ​​imposing sanctions on Russia this week. He is increasingly frustrated by the increased attacks on Ukraine and the slow progress of talks, people familiar with the matter told the Wall Street Journal (WSJ). The new restrictions are unlikely to include new banking sanctions, one of the people said. But other options are being discussed to put pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin and bring him to the negotiating table. At the same time, it is said that Trump could also decide against sanctions. Trump spoke out on the issue on Sunday. He is "absolutely" considering sanctions, he said. "He's killing a lot of people," he said, referring to Putin. "I don't know what's wrong with him. What the hell happened to him?" Trump is also considering abandoning peace talks altogether if a final attempt fails, people familiar with the matter said. It would be a remarkable about-face for a president who campaigned on the campaign trail that he would end the war in Ukraine on his first day in office. It is unclear what would happen if the US withdrew from the peace process and whether Trump would continue to provide military support to Ukraine.

+++ 07:31 Ukrainian Intelligence Chief: Russian weapons systems mostly outdated, production sluggish +++ 80 percent of Russian weapons systems date back to the Soviet era, only 20 percent are new. This is what the head of the Ukrainian foreign intelligence service, Oleh Ivashchenko, told the Ukrinform news agency . "Today, 80 percent of weapons systems are outdated... They were taken out of storage, repaired, and sent to the front. Only 20 percent are the latest generation systems," he explains. The independent portal Oryx lists Russian losses of military equipment. It becomes clear that the majority is indeed of Soviet origin . When asked about weapons production in Russia, Ivashchenko says that the Russians are trying to achieve the maximum, but are finding it difficult. "Investments, machinery, and components are needed, and that poses problems. The situation is difficult with electronics and specialty chemicals." Russian production of artillery shells alone is insufficient. According to Ivashchenko, Russia produces approximately three million 122mm and 152mm shells annually. The Russians receive another 2.5 to 3 million from North Korea. "Since the beginning of the war, they have already received six million shells." According to Ivashchenko, North Korea also supplied the M1989 Koksan self-propelled gun-howitzers in 170mm caliber and the M1991 240mm multiple launch rocket systems – 120 of one type and 120 of the other.

+++ 06:46 CDU/SPD: Wadephul should dissuade the US from its seemingly neutral role +++ Politicians from the CDU/CSU and SPD are calling on Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, ahead of his trip to the US, to lobby Washington for stronger support for Ukraine. "Johann Wadephul will signal to the US that we Europeans want and will assume more responsibility for security. We combine this with the expectation that the US will commit to its transatlantic orientation, standing side by side with Ukraine," CDU foreign policy expert Roderich Kiesewetter told the "Tagesspiegel": "The US must abandon its apparent role as a neutral mediator between Ukraine and Putin. Europe and the US must make it clear that Ukraine has a future in the Euro-Atlantic security structure." The foreign policy spokesman for the SPD parliamentary group, Adis Ahmetovic, told the newspaper that Wadephul's inaugural visit to his US counterpart Rubio "must primarily be about keeping the US on board in supporting Ukraine and tightening sanctions against Russia."

+++ 06:18 Merz in Finland: Will Trump supporter Stubb give him golf tips before US trip? +++ At the end of his two-day visit to Finland, Merz will meet with Finnish President Alexander Stubb at his summer residence on an island near Turku. This conversation could be particularly interesting for the Chancellor. Stubb is one of the few European heads of state and government who gets along really well with US President Donald Trump. He has even played golf with him at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida and could give Merz tips for his upcoming visit to Trump at the White House.

+++ 05:41 Kyiv General Staff counts 141 battles on the front line +++ According to the Ukrainian General Staff, Ukraine remains under pressure on the front line. The evening situation report mentions 141 Russian advances during the day. More than a third – 53, in fact – were launched by Russian troops in the Pokrovsk area. The city, which had a population of around 60,000 before the war, is considered strategically important due to its location and has been under attack by Russian forces for months. Pokrovsk is now almost completely destroyed. Nevertheless, the Russians are making little progress here.

+++ 4:51 a.m. Air raid warning in eastern and southern Ukraine +++ Following the record number of Russian drone attacks on Ukraine, air raid warnings were issued again overnight in the eastern and southern parts of the country. The Ukrainian Air Force warned on Telegram of attacks in the regions of Sumy, Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv, and over the Black Sea toward the port city of Odessa. According to reports, Shahed drones, among others, were used. Ukrainian media reported explosions in Sumy, which is located near the border with Russia.

+++ 03:44 "Peak of Arrogance": North Korea Attacks "Golden Dome" +++ The North Korean Foreign Ministry views the "Golden Dome" missile defense system planned by US President Donald Trump as a "dangerous threat." In a statement, it called the "Golden Dome" plan "a typical product of 'America First,' the height of self-righteousness, arrogance, arbitrariness, and self-importance, and a scenario for nuclear war in space." This was reported by the North Korean state news agency KCNA. China and Russia also expressed serious concerns about the project last week. China called on Washington to abandon its development.

+++ 02:54 Hofreiter demands Taurus delivery from Merz +++ Following Chancellor Friedrich Merz's announcement that the range limit for Western weapons to Ukraine would be lifted, Green Party member of the Bundestag Anton Hofreiter has called for the delivery of Taurus cruise missiles. "If Mr. Merz seriously wants to support Ukraine, then he should now consistently deliver the Taurus cruise missiles – just as he himself has repeatedly demanded as opposition leader," he told the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland (RND). "Because after the attacks of the past few days, it should be clear to everyone that Putin has no serious interest in peace negotiations. The only thing that helps is putting pressure on Putin. The Taurus would be one component of this, along with tougher sanctions."

+++ 01:44 Ukraine: Russian forces have captured four villages in Sumy +++ Russian forces have captured four evacuated villages in the Ukrainian region of Sumy. Sumy Governor Oleh Grigorov announced this on Facebook. "The enemy continues its attempts to advance to establish a so-called buffer zone," Grigorov wrote. Ukrainian forces have brought the situation under control with targeted shelling. Fighting continued around other villages in the region. According to Russian reports, Russian forces have captured several villages in the Sumy region in recent days.

+++ 00:55 Netherlands delivers final tranche of promised F-16 fighter jets +++ The last Dutch F-16 fighter jets destined for Ukraine have left the Netherlands. The aircraft will initially make a stopover in Belgium and be prepared for delivery there, according to the Ministry of Defense in The Hague. In total, the Netherlands has thus provided Ukraine with 24 fighter jets. Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans calls this an important milestone. "Due to the daily Russian airstrikes, the F-16s are vital for Ukraine."

+++ 11:29 PM Spain and Portugal remain reserved about higher NATO budget +++ During Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul's visit, Spain and Portugal reaffirmed their unconditional support for Ukraine, which has been attacked by Russia. However, differences are emerging in the debate over increased defense spending. When asked by a journalist whether Spain was prepared to increase its defense budget to five percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in the future – as US President Donald Trump had demanded for all NATO countries – Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares was evasive. Spain is making greater efforts in the defense sector than ever before, Albares emphasized at a press conference with Wadephul in Madrid. The existing NATO target of two percent of GDP is "realistic." With military spending of around 1.3 percent of GDP, Spain – like Portugal with 1.7 percent – ​​is one of the biggest laggards in NATO.

+++ 10:15 PM: New fiber optic drones pose problems for Ukraine +++ In Konstantinivka, a new type of drone is causing problems for Ukrainian troops. It is controlled via a thin fiber optic cable, making it less susceptible to interference. The soldiers see only one way to shoot it down.

+++ 9:58 PM Zelensky: Russia preparing new offensive +++ Ukrainian President Zelensky has accused Russia of planning a new offensive. There are no signs that Kremlin chief Putin and his entourage are preparing to end the war or seriously consider a diplomatic solution, Zelensky said in his evening video address. "On the contrary, there are many signs that they are preparing new offensive operations." According to him, the Russian leadership is thereby demonstrating its contempt for all those striving for peace. This statement likely refers to US President Donald Trump, who has presented himself as a mediator for a peace solution since taking office in January. He also clearly distanced himself from his predecessor Joe Biden's support for Ukraine.

You can follow all previous developments here.