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- By AFP
Vilnius Urges Beefed-Up NATO If Prigozhin In Belarus
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda on June 25 warned that if Belarus is to host Wagner mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, then NATO must strengthen its eastern flank. The head of state, whose Baltic country will host next month's NATO summit, spoke after Wagner's aborted revolt against the Kremlin. After Prigozhin called off his troops' advance, Moscow said the Wagner chief would leave Russia for Belarus and wouldn’t face charges. "If Prigozhin or part of the Wagner Group ends up in Belarus with unclear plans and unclear intentions, it will only mean that we need to further strengthen the security of our eastern borders," Nauseda said.
Cyprus, With Help From U.S., Israeli Intelligence, Reportedly Foils Terror Attack; Israel Points At Iran
Authorities in Cyprus, in cooperation with Israeli and U.S. intelligence services, thwarted a terrorist attack on Jewish and Israeli citizens on the island, media in Cyprus and Israel reported on June 25. Without providing specifics, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the foiling of what he called an "Iranian terrorist attack in the territory of Cyprus against Israeli targets." To read the original story by RFE/RL’s Radio Farda, click here. To read the original story by Reuters, click here.
Armenian Foreign Minister Departs For Washington For Talks With Azerbaijani Counterpart
Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan on June 25 departed for Washington, where he will meet with his Azerbaijani counterpart, Jeyhun Bayramo, to discuss bilateral relations that will likely focus on the Armenian-backed breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh. The Foreign Ministry said the talks are scheduled to take place starting on June 27. They originally had been set for June 12 but were delayed because of scheduling matters at Baku’s request, the ministry said. To read the original story by RFE/RL’s Armenian Service, click here.
- By Reuters
China Expresses Support For Russia After Aborted Mutiny
China supports Russia in maintaining its national stability, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on June 25, a day after an aborted mutiny by the Wagner group of heavily armed mercenaries. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko held talks in Beijing on "international" issues following the most serious challenge to President Vladimir Putin's grip on power since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. China's Foreign Ministry said Beijing supports Russia in maintaining its national stability and that the recent escalation in tensions in Russia was Russia's "internal affairs." To read the original story by Reuters, click here.
New Fire Breaks Out At Gebrev Arms Depot In Eastern Bulgaria
A new, powerful fire broke out in a storage room at Bulgarian arms dealer Emilian Gebrev's EMCO arms company in Karnobat, eastern Bulgaria, the manufacturer told RFE/RL on June 25. This is the second recent suspicious incident at the site after a fire led to a munitions explosion on July 31, 2022. At that time, Gebrev said he was "100 percent sure" Russian operatives were behind the fire, though he acknowledged to RFE/RL that he had no direct evidence. It remains unclear whether any of the Karnobat munitions were destined to aid Ukraine’s defense against Russia's invasion. To read the original story by RFE/RL’s Bulgarian Service, click here. To read the results of a special RFE/RL investigation into the previous incident, click here.
At Least Five People Killed In Weekend Russian Shelling Of Ukrainian Capital
At least five people were killed in the latest shelling of the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, late on June 23 and early June 24, Ukrainian officials said. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Telegram that a 25-story residential building was hit in the Solomyanskiy district, a busy rail- and air-transport hub in the city's west. The death toll was raised from three after two bodies were found in the rubble. Officials said at least 20 missiles were fired that night in the Kyiv region. To read the original story by RFE/RL’s Russian Service, click here.
- By AFP
Russian Forces Claim To Have Repelled Multiple Attacks In Eastern Ukraine
Russia said on June 25 that it had repelled new offensives by Ukrainian forces in four areas on the front line, a day after Ukraine claimed "progress" in the east of the country. "Over the past 24 hours, Ukraine's armed forces have continued to attempt offensive action," the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement, adding that 10 attacks had been countered near Bakhmut alone.
- By AP
Russian Diplomat Flies To Beijing For Talks A Day After Mutiny In Russia Ends
A top Russian diplomat flew to Beijing for talks with the Chinese government on June 25, just a day after a rebellion by a Russian mercenary commander fizzled out. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko met with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang to discuss “international and regional issues of common concern,” the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a one-line statement on its website. Russia and China, while not formal allies, have maintained close ties throughout Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, which China has refused to condemn. To read the original story from AP, click here.
- By AFP
Russian Strikes Kill Seven In Rebel-Held Syria, Says Monitor
Russian air strikes on Syria's northwest on June 25 killed at least seven people, including four civilians, in retaliation for deadly drone attacks blamed on rebel forces, a war monitor said. "Four civilians were killed in Jisr al-Shughur and three rebel fighters were killed nearby by Russian air strikes," Rami Abdel Rahman, who heads the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, told AFP. At least 25 civilians were wounded in the strikes on the rebel-held territory in Idlib Province, added Abdel Rahman, whose Britain-based monitor has a wide network of sources inside war-torn Syria.
- By RFE/RL
British Intel: Ukraine Making 'Steady Progress' In Counteroffensive
The British Defense Ministry reported on June 25 that Ukraine's military is making "gradual but steady tactical progress" in Russian-held parts of the country. "Ukraine's forces have re-set and have again been undertaking major offensive operations on three main axes in southern and eastern Ukraine," the ministry said in its daily Twitter update on the conflict. They were using the experience from the first two weeks of the counteroffensive to "refine tactics for assaulting the deep, well prepared Russian defenses," it added.
Zelensky demands more ‘pressure’ on Moscow
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has asked for more pressure on Moscow following his phone call with US President Joe Biden. According to the Ukrainian leader, they spoke about additional deliveries of heavy weapons.
“We discussed the course of hostilities and the processes taking place in Russia,” Zelensky said on Sunday evening. “The world must put pressure on Russia until international order is restored.”
Zelensky added that he and Biden discussed “further expansion of defense cooperation, with an emphasis on long-range weapons.” The Ukrainian leader added later in a video address that “the strengthening” of Kiev’s artillery and multiple rocket launchers were also on the agenda.
The White House released a short statement, saying that Biden “reaffirmed unwavering U.S. support, including through continued security, economic, and humanitarian aid.”
The conversation took place two weeks before the NATO summit in Lithuania, where members of the US-led bloc will focus on further concerted aid for Kiev. Ukraine reportedly has high hopes for the meeting in Vilnius, expecting to receive a roadmap for NATO membership. The US, however, has opposed providing Kiev with a concrete path to join the alliance, according to multiple reports.
“Positive decisions for Ukraine in Vilnius are the only possible positive decisions for our common security in Europe and in the Alliance as a whole,” Zelensky said on Sunday.
Ukraine deployed US-made Patriot air defense missile systems this spring, and lost several German-made Leopard 2 tanks and US-supplied Bradley infantry fighting vehicles during its counteroffensive that was launched this month.
Moscow has repeatedly warned that the deliveries of Western weapons make NATO members de facto direct participants in the conflict. President Vladimir Putin said last week that the US-made F-16 fighter jets would be destroyed if Western countries send them to Ukraine.
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