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☆ EU moves high-level meetings out of Budapest to protest Orbán’s Ukraine war stance
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-22 | by ( Caitlin Danaher | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

“I can say that all member states, with one single exception, were very much critical about this behavior,” he added. “European Union policy is not a pro-war policy. Borrell’s decision comes after European Council President Charles Michel firmly hit back at Orbán’s claim that the EU has led a “pro-war policy” in a letter published last week. “Russia is the aggressor and Ukraine is the victim exercising its legitimate right to self-defense. Russia is leading a war of aggression in blatant violation of international law, Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty in accordance with the UN Charter,” Michel wrote.

Persons: Viktor Orbán, ” Borrell, “, ’, ” Borrel, Putin, Borrell’s, Charles Michel, ” Michel, Orbán, Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, Donald Trump, Orban, Ursula von der Leyen, ” Orban, Niamh Kennedy, James Frater, Amy Cassidy, Jennifer Hansler Organizations: London CNN, European Union, Union, European, EU, UN, Ukraine “, CNN Locations: Budapest, Brussels, Hungary, Ukraine, Hungary’s, Hungarian, Russia, Moscow, Beijing, Florida

☆ Russia pulled military aircraft from service because of poor quality parts: report
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-22 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Russia grounded five Il-76MD-90A aircraft due to poor-quality parts. The Russian air force's fleet of Il-76MD-90A aircraft has suffered significant attrition since 2022. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementRussia was forced to take five military aircraft out of service due to key parts being swapped out for poor-quality ones, according to local media reports. The issue affects the landing gear of Russia's Il-76MD-90A, a large modernized strategic aircraft designed for ferrying troops and military equipment.

Persons: — Organizations: Service, Business Locations: Russia, Moscow

☆ The war in Ukraine has 'opened Pandora's box' in Europe, and now new strike weapons are on the way, nuclear weapons expert says
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-22 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

The impact of these deep strikes has been eye-opening for Europe and the US, opening "Pandora's box" for more of these capabilities, a nuclear weapons and arms control expert told Business Insider. The conventional weapons include SM-6, Tomahawk, and developmental hypersonic weapons, "which have significantly longer range than current land-based fires in Europe." "The war in Ukraine shows that long-range strikes are a key issue for the defense of Europe," Lecornu posted on X. "These countries knew that long-range weapons were important even before Russia invaded Ukraine, but Russia's war in Ukraine has opened Pandora's Box to more and more military steps," explained Hans Director of the Nuclear Information Project at the Federation of American Scientists. US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Jonathan WordPoland, Germany, France, and Italy's new long-range missile plans follow work in the US to quickly develop new long-range strike systems.

Persons: —, Andrew Dickson, Sebastien Lecornu, Lecornu, Hans, Thierry Wurtz, " Kristensen, Jonathan, Zachary Anderson There's, it's, Kristensen, Trump, he'd Organizations: Service, Business, NATO, Army, Artillery, U.S, French, Russia, Federation of American Scientists, Rafale, US, Attack Missiles, US Navy, Jonathan Word, Trump Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Europe, Germany, Australia, Poland, Italy, Moscow, Jonathan Word Poland, France

☆ Russia says it scrambled fighter jets to intercept 2 US B-52H Stratofortress bombers approaching the Russian border
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-21 | by ( Rebecca Rommen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Moscow says it scrambled fighter jets to intercept two US bombers approaching the Russian border. Russia's Defense Ministry said two B-52H bombers " withdrew" as the jets approached. AdvertisementRussian fighter jets scrambled to intercept two US Air Force B-52H bombers approaching its border, the Russian Ministry of Defense said in a post on Telegram. "Russian airspace control systems located a group aerial target over the Barents Sea waters approaching the State border of the Russian Federation," the post said. MiG-29 and MiG-31 jets were called into action to intercept the bombers and "prevent a violation of the State border."

Persons: — Organizations: Russia's Defense Ministry, Service, US Air Force, Russian Ministry of Defense, Russian Federation, Business Locations: Russian, State

☆ Ukraine war: European nations turn to conscription as threat of wider war with Russia grows
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-21 | by ( Radina Gigova | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

Several European nations have reintroduced or expanded compulsory military service amid Moscow’s mounting threat, part of a range of policies aimed at boosting defenses that are likely to be scaled up even further. Compulsory military service was reintroduced on January 1 this year, after being abolished in 2006. In the UK, the Conservatives floated the idea of military service in their ill-fated election campaign. In Lithuania, for instance, opinions about military service among students vary, said Paulius Vaitiekus, president of Lithuania’s National Students’ Union. However as an alliance we do not prescribe mandatory military service,” Dakhlallah said.

Persons: ”, Robert Hamilton, Vladimir Putin “, Wesley Clark, we’ve, Clark, “, Arturs Pīlācis, Ints Kalnins, Jonas Gahr Støre, Jens Bartnes, ” Bartnes, Max Henrik Arvidson, Boris Pistorius, Thomas Frey, Sean Monaghan, Paulius Vaitiekus, Vaitiekus, Monaghan, Hamilton, it’s, ” Radebo, Mikael Sjoberg, Russia’s, Farah Dakhlallah, Dakhlallah, ” Dakhlallah, ” Monaghan, Donald Trump –, ” Clark Organizations: CNN, Foreign Policy Research Institute, US Army, Allied, Europe, NATO, ” Latvian, Reuters, European Union, Conservatives, Federal, of Defense, Eurasia Program, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Lithuania’s, ’ Union, Finnish Defence Forces, Swedish Armed Forces, Marinette, Ministry of Defense, Bloomberg, Getty Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Kyiv, Europe, Eurasia, Kosovo, Scandinavia, Latvia, ”, Riga, Norway, Norwegian, Germany, B'chel, Lithuania, Ukrainian, NATO, Finland, Soviet Union, Sweden, NATO’s, Swedish, Gotland, Visby, Moscow, Crimea

Former US President Donald Trump told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky “not to believe the ‘fake news’” that his possible reelection would help Russia, the Ukrainian president’s press secretary said Saturday. The two also talked about the latest Russian attacks on Ukraine and “agreed in principle” to hold a joint meeting, he said. The phone call between Trump and Zelensky marked their first conversation since the former president left the White House, and came the day after Trump formally accepted the Republican Party’s nomination for president. Trump’s newly minted running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, is a staunch critic of sending support to Ukraine. Trump on Friday said he “had a very good phone call” with Zelensky, while the Ukrainian president said he wished Trump “strength and absolute safety in the future,” and “noted the vital bipartisan and bicameral” US support for Ukraine.

Persons: Donald Trump, Volodymyr Zelensky “, Serhiy Nikiforov, ”, Trump, —, ” Nikiforov, “, Ohio Sen, JD Vance, Zelensky, Germany — Organizations: Ukrainian, Trump, White, Republican, Ukraine Locations: Russia, Ukrainian, Ukraine, Moscow, Ukraine’s, United States, Germany, Kyiv

☆ Facing difficult frontline reality and the prospect of Trump in the White House, Zelensky hints at negotiations with Russia
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-20 | by ( Ivana Kottasová | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

Zelensky suggested Moscow should send a delegation to the next peace summit that he hopes to hold in November. Kyiv is currently facing the double whammy of a difficult frontline situation and political uncertainty over the level of future support from Ukraine’s closest allies. Trump and Zelensky spoke on Friday in what Trump called a “had a very good phone call”. Putin said Russia would end its war in Ukraine if Kyiv surrendered the entirety of four regions claimed by Moscow: Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. Despite being considerably bigger and stronger than Ukraine, Russia has not managed to fulfil its territorial goals – even when Kyiv was receiving only limited help from the West.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelensky, Zelensky, –, Germany –, Ukraine John Herbst, Donald Trump, JD Vance, Herbst, Trump, ”, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Orysia Lutsevych, Russia … Putin, Lutsevych, Riley Bailey, Bailey, “, ” Bailey, hasn’t, Vance, Libkos, Ukraine wasn’t, doesn’t, ” Herbst, Ukraine doesn’t, you’re Organizations: CNN, NATO, Monday, Aspen Security, –, Chatham House, Kyiv, Trump, Democrats, ” Locations: Russia, Moscow, Switzerland, Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine’s, United States, Germany, Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Eurasia, Chatham, Kharkiv, Europe, Afghanistan, Crimea, Kerch, Russian

☆ Russia may arm Houthi rebels with advanced anti-ship missiles, report says
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-20 | by ( Cameron Manley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Russia is debating arming Yemen's Houthi rebels with anti-ship missiles, US intelligence has said. It likely comes in response to Biden approving Ukraine's use of US weapons on Russian soil. AdvertisementRussia is weighing arming Yemen's Houthi rebels with advanced anti-ship missiles, US intelligence agencies have warned, according to The Wall Street Journal. The move is likely in response to Biden quietly green-lighting Ukraine's use of US-supplied weapons on Russian territory, per the report. Last month, Middle East Eye reported that Saudi Arabia had already talked Russia out of providing anti-ship cruise missiles to the Houthis.

Persons: Yemen's, Biden, — Organizations: Service, Wall Street, Eye, Business Locations: Russia, Saudi Arabia, Moscow

☆ Russia is spending millions to create a new generation of militant Putin clones
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-20 | by ( Cameron Manley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Read previewFor years, Russia's youth has been fed hardline nationalistic ideology as the Kremlin has sought to engineer a new generation of Putin clones. AdvertisementState-run youth groups have also dramatically increased in size since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The group's head said it had opened around 40,000 offices across Russia as of December 2023, per Russia's state-run TASS news agency. DMITRY KOSTYUKOV/AFP via Getty ImagesThe various Academics fraternity cells are largely similar in style, though some display more extreme behavior than others. It's all part of "a much bigger campaign to target the next generation of Russian youth."

Persons: —, Putin, Sergei Novikov, Vladimir Putin, Ian Garner, Garner, Mikhail Komin, frat, Nikita Izyumov, Konstantin Malofeyev, Izyumov, Komin, DMITRY KOSTYUKOV, David Lewis, Izymov, Lewis, ALEXANDER NEMENOV, Young Organizations: Service, Kremlin, Business, RBC, Russia, European Council, Foreign Relations, Fraternity, West, Academics, Getty, University of Exeter, Ministry of Defence, UK's MoD, Fraternity of Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Russian, Rome, Moscow, Constantinople, AFP, Chelyabinsk

After Russian forces took control of his village in 2022, Volodymyr Vakulenko, a well-known Ukrainian author, sensed he might soon be arrested. So he buried his new handwritten manuscript in his backyard, under a cherry tree. Best known in Ukraine for his cheerful and lyrical children’s books, Mr. Vakulenko was seething with anger at Moscow’s occupying forces. Soon enough, Russian soldiers indeed arrested Mr. Vakulenko, and his body later turned up in a mass grave. Six months later, a fellow Ukrainian author, Viktoria Amelina, learned of the buried book, dug it up, wrote a foreword and sent it to a publisher.

Persons: Volodymyr Vakulenko, Vakulenko, Viktoria Amelina Organizations: Russian Locations: Ukraine, Ukrainian

☆ Brittney Griner and wife Cherelle welcome a son: ‘That’s my man’
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-19 | by ( Sydney Bishop | Jacob Lev | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Brittney Griner will have one more fan cheering her on this Olympic season. The WNBA star and her wife, Cherelle, welcomed their first child on July 8, the 33-year-old Griner revealed Friday on the “She Knows Sports” podcast. “That’s my man,” Griner revealed when asked about her son. And that’s literally what happens.”The two-time gold medalist will be heading to the 2024 Paris Olympics in the coming week. In December, alongside President Joe Biden, Cherelle Griner thanked the administration for helping secure her wife’s release and said she was “overwhelmed with emotions.”

Persons: Brittney, Cherelle, Griner, “, ” Griner, ”, Viktor Bout, Joe Biden, Cherelle Griner Organizations: CNN, WNBA, Team USA, Phoenix Mercury, Russian Locations: Russia, Russian, Moscow, Mordovia

☆ ‘Chariots of Fire’ immortalized the 1924 Paris Olympics. Decades later, the film finds a way of ‘really speaking to people’
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-19 | by ( George Ramsay | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

So begins the 1981 Oscar-winning film “Chariots of Fire,” introducing a group of British athletes as they train for the Olympic Games. Based on the lives and gold-medal-winning performances of sprinters Eric Liddell and Harold Abrahams ahead of the 1924 Paris Olympics, “Chariots of Fire” won four Oscars – including Best Picture. Athletes and officials process during the Opening Ceremony of the 1924 Paris Olympics. “The film has got a way of really, really speaking to people … something much more than we envisaged or probably had been put into it. He went on to become an influential journalist, broadcaster and athletics administrator, and he remains one of only three British men to win the Olympic 100m title.

Persons: St Andrews, ” David Puttnam, ”, Eric Liddell, Harold Abrahams, Ronald Reagan, Joe Biden, “, It’s, Liddell, Abrahams –, –, Ian Charleson, Allan Wells, ” Eric Liddell, Firmin, Wells, Abrahams, Liddell’s, ‘, ’, I’ve, they’ll, ” Sue Caton, He’d, ” John MacMillan, MacMillan, “ He’s, Robin Hood, ” Abrahams, ” Harold Abrahams, Ben Cross, Sam Mussabini, “ Harold Abrahams, Mark Ryan, ” Liddell’s, Ryan, Puttnam, Oscar, Tom McNab, Nigel Havers –, Andrew Lindsey –, we’d, … I’ve, ” Courage Organizations: CNN, Olympic Games, CNN Sport, Keystone, Hulton, Scottish, international, University of Edinburgh, Olympics, Topical Press Agency, Getty, Eric Liddell Community, Cambridge, AAA, Central Press, BBC, “, Paris, ABC, Disney, Entertainment Locations: Scottish, St, Paris, Scotland, China, Asia, Moscow, Edinburgh, “, St Andrews, England

☆ Paul Whelan tells CNN he has ‘sympathy and empathy’ for Evan Gershkovich but expresses hope following sentencing
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-19 | by ( Jennifer Hansler | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Paul Whelan, an American detained in Russia, told CNN he has “sympathy and empathy” for Evan Gershkovich following the conviction and sentencing of the Wall Street Journal reporter, but expressed hope that the development could open the door for a deal to secure both of their release. Whelan, who called CNN from his remote prison camp in Mordovia Friday, said he was able to watch a news broadcast about the sentencing. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said earlier Friday that the US government is working “quite literally every day” to bring Gershkovich and Whelan home. “Look, any effort to bring any American home is going to be part of a process of back-and-forth discussion, potentially negotiation. And I don’t think that’s dependent on an election in the United States or anywhere else,” he said.

Persons: CNN — Paul Whelan, ”, Evan Gershkovich, Whelan, “, Evan, Trevor Reed, Brittney Griner, Gershkovich, ” Whelan, Antony Blinken, we’re, Paul Whelan, ” Blinken, Blinken Organizations: CNN, Wall Street Journal, US State Department, US, Aspen Security, they’ll Locations: Russia, Mordovia, Moscow, United States

☆ Zelensky Becomes First Foreign Leader to Visit U.K. Cabinet Since Clinton
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-19 | by ( Stephen Castle | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky became the first foreign leader to attend Britain’s cabinet meeting in person since former U.S. president Bill Clinton in 1997, in a public display of Britain’s staunch support for Ukraine as doubts grow about future U.S. military aid if Donald J. Trump wins a second presidential term. Mr. Zelensky briefed the British government’s top ministers on Friday on his country’s military conflict with Russia, while discussing moves to prevent oil tankers from breaching international sanctions against Moscow. The Ukrainian president, who was greeted with a standing ovation, was the first foreign leader to be invited into Downing Street by Keir Starmer, the new British prime minister, following his general election victory earlier this month. The two leaders also discussed a new defense export support treaty designed to boost production of military hardware and weaponry in both countries. Mr. Zelensky’s visit to Downing Street followed his attendance on Thursday at a summit of more than 45 European leaders at Blenheim Palace, near Oxford, where Ukraine was high on the agenda, and where he won renewed pledges of support for his battle against the forces of Russia’s president, Vladimir V. Putin.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelensky, Bill Clinton, Donald J, Zelensky, Keir Starmer, Zelensky’s, Vladimir V, Putin Organizations: Trump, British, Moscow, Downing Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Blenheim, Oxford

However, Russia and Belarus are exceptions due to the invasion of Ukraine,” a Hiroshima city government spokesperson told CNN. Envoys from Russia and Belarus haven’t attended since Hiroshima excluded them in 2022 following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in February that year. Russia used Belarus as one of the launch pads for its assault and later moved some of its tactical nuclear weapons there. “As a city of international peace, Hiroshima city needs to invite all nations, regardless of whether they are at war or not,” said Kunihiko Sakuma, president of Hiroshima Hidankyo, an atomic bomb survivors’ advocacy group. Hiroshima authorities said they only send invitations to countries with embassies in Japan and have never invited Palestinian representatives to the ceremony.

Persons: haven’t, Israel, ”, Hiroshima’s, Belarus haven’t, Tetsuji Kumada, Khan Younis, Mohammed Salem, Fumio Kishida, Volodymyr Zelensky, Naoya Azuma, Kunihiko Sakuma, Yoko Kamikawa, Junko Ogura Organizations: Tokyo CNN —, CNN, “, ”, European Union, Hiroshima’s, Russia, Hamas, Reuters, AP Japan, Kyodo, ” Kyodo, Mission of Locations: Tokyo CNN — Hiroshima, Gaza, Hiroshima, Israel, Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, ”, “ Russia, Nagasaki, Palestine, Japan, Israeli, Al, Khan, Reuters Japanese, Hiroshima Peace, Kyiv, Tokyo, Mission of Palestine

☆ SHE provides school uniforms to girls in Africa while also helping local women
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-19 | by ( Kathleen Toner | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

This simple solution took root in McGriff’s mind and started her journey helping women and girls transform their lives. Tasked with creating a business or nonprofit for a class project, she remembered the notion of the school uniform and developed an idea. The ‘uniform that grows’That first year, the group hired local seamstresses and provided uniforms and school fees to 65 girls. “It’s all (done) with this tone of empowering girls and helping girls to understand their rights and their opportunities in society,” she said. Eventually, McGriff hopes SHE can become self-sustaining so her role can be further reduced, which has been her goal from the beginning.

Persons: Payton McGriff, McGriff, ”, “ It’s, CNN Hero Payton McGriff, Kathleen Toner, ” McGriff, “, Romuald Afatchao, Elolo, streetlight, didn’t, ’ ” McGriff, –, SHE’s, ” CNN McGriff, seamstresses, she’s Organizations: Idaho CNN, University of Idaho, “, CNN, SHE, afterschool, ” Locations: Moscow, Idaho, Togo, Nôtse

☆ This couple’s hobby? Illegally scaling the world’s tallest buildings together
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-19 | by ( Jacqui Palumbo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Nikolau was the first major female rooftopper and caught the eye of Beerkus, who was looking to partner for social media content. In 2022, when Beerkus and Nikolau made their plans, the “supertall” skyscraper had topped out but was still under construction. With the urban “sport” emerging as one more of the more extreme ways to get likes on social media, several harrowing deaths have followed. For “Skywalkers” the film crew followed Beerkus and Nikolau to document their stunts, but only to a point. “With any activity that’s dangerous, social media tends to disguise the difficulty,” he said.

Persons: —, Ivan Beerkus, Angela Nikolau didn’t, Beerkus, Nikolau, ”, Jeff Zimbalist, Maria Bukhonina, Skywalkers ”, It’s, ” Zimbalist, “ Angela, Zimbalist, Ivan, Angela, don’t, ’ ” Zimbalist, rooftopping, ” Nikolau, she's, Chai Vasarhelyi, Jimmy Chin, Alex Honnold, Carolina Amell, Félicité Carrel, Miriam O’Brien Organizations: CNN, Familia, Eiffel, Goldin Finance, Netflix, Sundance Film, Kuala Lumpur’s, Merdeka Locations: Paris, Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur’s Merdeka, Moscow, ”, El Capitan, Félicité

☆ Ukraine Loses Hard-Won Position Near Dnipro River in the South
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-18 | by ( Constant Méheut | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Ukrainian troops have lost a hard-won position on the eastern bank of the Dnipro River, near the southern city of Kherson, after months of bloody fighting to hold on to a piece of land in what some Ukrainian soldiers and military analysts have described as a futile operation. The operation to establish a bridgehead on the Russian-controlled eastern bank of the Dnipro had been controversial from the start. Launched last fall, it was seen as an attempt to open a new front in the south that would disrupt Moscow’s logistics and tie down its troops in the area. But military analysts warned that the operation, which consisted of dangerous river crossings, was vulnerable in its logistics and unlikely to lead to rapid breakthroughs. Ukrainian gains were limited to small pieces of land near the river, of which Krynky was the most notable.

Persons: Krynky Locations: Dnipro, Kherson, Krynky, Russian

☆ Ursula von der Leyen elected to second term as European Commission president
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-18 | by ( Christian Edwards | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Ursula von der Leyen has been reelected to a second five-year term as president of the European Commission after a vote by EU lawmakers, as the continent’s mainstream seeks to reassert itself in the face of a resurgent far right. After a secret ballot, von der Leyen was reelected with 401 votes in favor and 284 against. Addressing the parliament before the lunchtime vote, von der Leyen said the next five years of her term “will define Europe’s place in the world for the next five decades. Von der Leyen was reelected after 401 EU lawmakers voted in favor of her presidency. Johannes Simon/Getty ImagesEarlier Thursday, von der Leyen published a 31-page policy proposal, setting out her priorities if she won a second term.

Persons: Ursula von der Leyen, von der Leyen, Von der Leyen, ” Von der, Angela Merkel, Emmanuel Macron –, Von der, Johannes Simon, Getty, ” Von der Leyen, Donald Trump, Viktor Orban’s, Vladimir Putin, ” Organizations: CNN, European Commission, EU, European Defense Union ”, European People’s Party, EPP, Socialist, Green, European Defense Union, Ukraine, Covid Locations: Strasbourg, France, Ukraine, Brussels, Europe, United States, Hungarian, Moscow

☆ Europe faces a hostile Russia and the prospect of an isolationist US. Unity is more crucial than ever
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-18 | by ( Clare Sebastian | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

“Together we will make our allies share in the burden of securing world peace,” he said at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. “I think whoever wins the US race… it will be more America first,” Belgium’s Prime Minister Alexander De Croo told CNN. Europe needs to take care of its defense more.”Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen argues Europe stepping up its commitment to its own security has nothing to do with the US. “We have to be more capable of defending ourselves, with a more and more aggressive Russia, not only when it comes to Ukraine,” she told CNN. Preserving European unity is critical to a long-lasting peace, he said.

Persons: JD Vance, ”, Vance, Donald Trump, Alexander De Croo, ” Finland’s, Alexander Stubb, “, Sen, Will Lanzoni, Mette Frederiksen, Keir Starmer, Viktor Orban, Vladimir Putin, ” Orban, Ursula von der Leyen, Volodymyr Zelensky, … Organizations: CNN, Republican, Republican National Convention, Munich, NATO, Trump, European Commission, EU, Ukraine Locations: Blenheim, Milwaukee, Ohio, Ukraine, Oxfordshire, Europe, States, Danish, Russia, Hungarian, Moscow, Ukrainian

☆ Ukraine's Zelenskyy gets personal with self-appointed 'peace' negotiator Orban
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-18 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

OXFORD, England — Ukraine's President Volodymr Zelenskyy on Thursday hit out at European leaders who "betray" Kyiv's interests in a thinly veiled attack against Hungarian President Viktor Orban and his shadow peace talks. Zelenskyy told European leaders that Russia's President Vladimir Putin had so far failed to sow disunity within the region, but noted that EU member states — and one weak link in particular — could yet bow to temptation or blackmail. "He [Putin] may try to approach you or go to some of your partners individually, trying to tempt or pressure you, to blackmail you so that one of you betrays the rest, weakening our unity," he said in opening remarks at the European Political Community summit at Blenheim Palace, England. The Ukrainian leader said that it was down to individual leaders to decide how to act and "what legacy to leave." But, in an apparent reference to Orban's recent meeting with Putin in Moscow, he noted that those who act against the continents' interests should not be considered part of group matters.

Persons: Volodymr Zelenskyy, Viktor Orban, Zelenskyy, Vladimir Putin, —, Putin Organizations: OXFORD, Putin Locations: England, Blenheim, Moscow, Europe, Ukraine

☆ EU Commission head von der Leyen elected for second term
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-18 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Ursula von der Leyen reacts after being chosen President of the European Commission for a second term, at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, July 18, 2024. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was elected for a second term on Thursday after pledging to create a continental "defence union" and stay the course on Europe's green transition while cushioning its burden on industry. It will decide whether we shape our own future or let it be shaped by events or by others," von der Leyen said ahead of a secret ballot on her candidacy. Von der Leyen, a centre-right former German defence minister, pledged to create "a true European Defence Union", with flagship projects on air and cyber defence. Von der Leyen also promised a raft of climate policies including a legally-binding EU target to cut emissions 90% by 2040, compared to 1990 levels.

Persons: Ursula von der Leyen, von der, von der Leyen, Von der, Von der Leyen, Viktor Orban's, Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump Organizations: European Commission, Green, Russia, European Defence Union, Hungarian, Defence, NATO, U.S Locations: Strasbourg, France, Ukraine, Moscow, Europe, United States

☆ Putin’s summer residence gets new air defenses as Ukraine steps up drone attacks
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-18 | by ( Ivana Kottasová | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Satellite images have revealed that several Pantsir-S1 air defense systems have been installed in the vicinity of the presidential residence on Lake Valdai in Novgorod region. The Valdai residence could be a high-profile target, as Putin is known to be spending time there during the summer. CNN has reached out to the Russian Defense Ministry for comment but has not received a response. Satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies shows an air defense system near the summer residence of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Ukrainian military has also managed to destroy fuel depots, military targets and energy infrastructure much further afield.

Persons: Vladmir, Putin, Vladimir Putin, Sukhoi Su, Joseph Stalin, –, Nikita Khrushchev, Boris Yeltsin Organizations: CNN, Radio Liberty, Maxar Technologies, Russian Defense Ministry, Technologies, Kyiv, Ukrainian, Institute for, Russian Presidential Property Management Department, Ria Novosti Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Moscow, Valdai, Novgorod region, Russian, Ukrainian Kharkiv, Ukraine’s, Kerch, Ukraine’s Crimea, Russia –, Tatarstan, Ukrainian, Washington

☆ Travis Leake: US rock band manager sentenced to 13 years in Russian penal colony over drug charges
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-18 | by ( Sergey Gudkov | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —American citizen Travis Leake has been sentenced to 13 years in a penal colony in Russia, state media RIA Novosti reported Thursday, after he was detained on drug charges last year. A Moscow court had accused the “former paratrooper and musician” of engaging in a narcotics business, according to RIA. Leake pleaded not guilty to the charges, Russian state media TASS said. From January to June 2023, Leake allegedly purchased narcotic drugs from an accomplice in another criminal case, Russian state media reported, citing Moscow’s prosecutor’s office. A second person involved in the case was also found guilty and sentenced to time in a penal colony, Russian state media reported Thursday.

Persons: Travis Leake, ”, Leake, “, ” Leake, Evan Gershkovich, Anthony Bourdain, Moscow’s Organizations: CNN, Novosti, RIA, TASS Locations: Russia, Moscow, Washington, Ukraine, American, Lovi, St . Petersburg

☆ The 'humiliating' retreat of Russia's fleet from Crimea proves its threats don't mean anything, expert says
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-18 | by ( Thibault Spirlet | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Russia has pulled its last Black Sea Fleet warship from Crimea, per a Ukrainian navy spokesperson. The retreat exposes the emptiness of Russia's red lines and nuclear threats, a Ukraine expert said. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementThe Russian Black Sea Fleet's "humiliating" retreat from Crimea has exposed the emptiness of the country's red lines, according to a military observer. Peter Dickinson, the editor of the Atlantic Council's UkraineAlert online publication and chief editor of Business Ukraine Magazine, made the analysis in an Atlantic Council blog post on Tuesday.

Persons: Peter Dickinson, Putin, — Organizations: Service, Business Ukraine Magazine, Atlantic Council, Business Locations: Russia, Crimea, Ukrainian, Ukraine

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