The Kremlin has expressed approval of Washington’s decision to pause some weapons shipments to Ukraine, with spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stating that reduced military support would expedite the end of the special military operation. This statement follows the White House’s announcement to halt deliveries of key weapons previously promised to Ukraine. In response, Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry warned that delaying military aid would embolden Russia, summoning the deputy chief of mission at the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv to express their concerns.
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In April 2024, Slovakian politician Ľuboš Blaha met with Russian officials in Moscow, echoing Kremlin narratives and criticizing NATO’s role in Ukraine. This meeting, along with others, signaled a troubling alignment with Russia, amplified by Blaha’s platform within an EU member state. Concerns are growing about the influence of Moscow-aligned actors within the Slovak government, particularly through informal channels like Prime Minister Fico’s advisor, David Lindtner. This normalization of contacts allows Russia to weaponize internal politics and turn EU member states into vectors for Kremlin narratives, making Slovakia a potential Trojan horse. This case study warns of Russia’s broader strategy to co-opt democratic institutions across Europe.
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Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov asserted that the Ukraine conflict necessitates NATO’s withdrawal from the Baltics for resolution, marking a shift in the Kremlin’s stance. He contends NATO’s eastward expansion is a fundamental cause of the war, echoing previous Kremlin demands for a halt to Ukraine’s NATO aspirations. Ryabkov’s statement suggests a condition for de-escalation, impacting ongoing negotiations and the future of the conflict. The Kremlin’s position underscores the complex geopolitical dynamics influencing the war’s trajectory.
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Despite President Putin’s public pronouncements of an unshakeable friendship with China, an internal FSB document reveals significant concerns about Chinese espionage targeting Russia’s military secrets, scientific expertise, and even territorial claims. This document details a clandestine intelligence battle, with China actively recruiting Russian scientists, military personnel, and officials, and seeking to exploit Russia’s vulnerability due to the war in Ukraine. The FSB’s counterintelligence efforts focus on mitigating these threats while carefully avoiding public confrontation to maintain the facade of a strong bilateral relationship. The document highlights the delicate balancing act Russia faces, navigating its dependence on China while simultaneously countering its increasingly assertive intelligence operations.
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A Ukrainian drone strike, codenamed “Spiderweb,” targeted four Russian air bases on June 1, reportedly damaging or destroying a significant number of Russian nuclear-capable bombers, including Tu-95 and Tu-22 aircraft. While the SBU claimed damage exceeding $7 billion and the destruction of one-third of Russia’s cruise missile bombers, Kremlin sources suggested a lower figure of around 10 aircraft affected. Satellite imagery supports some of the damage claims, showing destroyed bombers at the Belaya air base. Despite the attack, the impact on Russia’s bombing campaign against Ukraine is expected to be minimal.
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Following Donald Trump’s condemnation of Vladimir Putin’s actions in Ukraine, nearly 1,000 derogatory posts targeting Trump appeared on the Russian social media platform VKontakte. These posts, originating from pro-Kremlin bots, accuse Trump of dementia and other failings, suggesting a Kremlin displeasure with his recent criticism. This marks a shift from previously neutral or carefully worded commentary from these bots. The Kremlin, however, publicly downplayed Trump’s remarks.
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Following President Trump’s harsh criticism of Vladimir Putin on social media, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov attributed Trump’s remarks to “emotional overstrain.” This statement contrasts sharply with Peskov’s earlier expression of gratitude for Trump’s role in facilitating negotiations. The shift in tone occurred just one week after Trump reported a positive phone call with Putin. Peskov acknowledged the high-stakes nature of the current situation as a contributing factor to heightened emotions.
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An international investigation, involving 30 news outlets, uncovered that Russia’s Kremlin-backed Pravfond foundation secretly funneled millions of dollars to pro-Russian activists and lawyers in Western countries, including Lithuania, between 2012 and 2024. This funding supported the legal defense of individuals linked to the Kremlin, notably those involved in the January 13, 1991 events in Lithuania. Several Lithuanian lawyers, including Ryšardas Burda, received payments from Pravfond, often transferring funds through sanctioned Russian banks even after sanctions were imposed. This activity, revealed through a cache of Pravfond emails, may constitute sanctions violations.
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Russia rejected Western demands for a 30-day Ukraine ceasefire, deeming the ultimatum unacceptable and its tone unproductive. This rejection came despite warnings from Germany of impending sanctions if a response wasn’t given by the end of May 12th, a deadline coordinated with European partners. The demand for a ceasefire was part of a strategy, agreed upon at a Kyiv summit, to leverage sanctions for a negotiated truce. While Russia proposed resuming peace talks on May 15th, Western leaders insisted a complete and unconditional ceasefire was a prerequisite to negotiations.
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Zelenskyy’s proposal for a May 15th summit in Istanbul with Putin was swiftly rejected by the Kremlin. High-ranking Russian officials denounced the suggestion as a publicity stunt and insisted that Moscow would not negotiate under pressure. They accused Zelenskyy of insincerity and attempting to deflect blame, citing a lack of proper diplomatic groundwork and questioning Zelenskyy’s suitability for direct talks. While not entirely dismissing the possibility of future talks, Russia reiterated its preference for negotiations through designated representatives.
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John Q. Hosedrinker