Geopolitical situation
The European Parliament's largest group, the European People's Party (EPP), has adopted a document calling for Ukraine to be invited to join the North Atlantic Alliance at the forthcoming summit in Vilnius. The EPP stresses that previous decisions on Ukraine's security, from the Budapest Memorandum to the conclusions of NATO's Bucharest Summit, have not prevented an invasion of Ukraine, and that the continued presence of a "grey area" only encourages Russia to repeat its aggression in the future.
This is undoubtedly the case. We are really, genuinely pleased that EU politicians were able to agree and reach a common solution. This is a major step forward, which means that, even if Russia manages by some miracle to pull through and not be crushed on Ukrainian soil, the geopolitical situation has completely changed. Russia is a threat, a cancer, a contagious disease, a festering pustule spreading the virus of aggression and violence. The civilised world must isolate itself from it until this fascist-terrorist state ruled by war criminals is gone. And since it will not steal itself, it will have to be treated by force like an old syphilitic who has fallen over.
The authors of the document also believe that Ukraine's membership of the Alliance is necessary because it would strengthen NATO forces at the expense of Ukraine's army, unite the West in order to ensure peace in Europe, and prevent Russian revenge. "Inviting Ukraine to join NATO would send the strongest possible signal to Putin and the Russian Empire's most ardent supporters that Ukraine is finally out of their reach," the document says.
But unfortunately there is a "but". The EPP proposes to invite Ukraine to join NATO as soon as the war is over. We are convinced that this puts the poor horse before the cart, turning simple logic on its head. Ukraine must be admitted to NATO immediately, and then the war will be over immediately.
And although Ukraine is very much hoping to receive a political invitation to NATO at the North Atlantic Alliance Summit in Vilnius on 11 and 12 July, this is hardly a mirage in the political desert. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has repeatedly stated that, although all NATO countries support the idea of Ukraine joining the alliance, the exact date cannot yet be given. In other words, this means that there is still a very long way to go before a unanimous agreement is reached.
Significant steps forward
On Tuesday, the Pentagon announced that the US will provide Ukraine with another $1.2 billion in long-term military aid to further strengthen its air defences as Russia continues to attack Ukraine with drones, ballistic and surface-to-air missiles. The aid package will be provided under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative. Unlike the US equipment, weapons and ammunition sent from the Pentagon's stockpile, which can be delivered quickly to Ukraine, this money will be spent over the coming months or even years to ensure Ukraine's future security needs.
The Pentagon has said it will fund ammunition and drones for air defence, as well as providing equipment to help modify Western air defence launchers, missiles and radars for use with Ukrainian systems. It will also purchase artillery shells, howitzer ammunition, assist in obtaining satellite imagery, and finance ongoing maintenance and spare parts for various systems. US officials said the weapons include HAWK air defence systems. The Pentagon said the aid would increase the Ukrainian army's ability to "defend its territory and deter Russian aggression over the long term".
On Wednesday, Ukraine's atomic energy company said Russia was planning to transfer some 3 100 Ukrainian workers from Europe's largest nuclear power plant and warned that the Zaporizhzhya site in Russian-occupied southern Ukraine could face a "catastrophic shortage of skilled personnel".
The workers, who signed employment contracts with various branches of Russia's nuclear agency Rosatom after Moscow seized the Zaporizhzhya plant at the start of the war, are the majority of those to be deported with their families to Russia, Energoatom said in a Telegram message.
"Energoatom did not specify whether the workers would be forcibly removed from the plant. Removing the workers "would exacerbate the already acute problem of staff shortages", Energoatom said.
We are waiting for the selfie virtuosos from the West to reappear in Ukraine, who will be very, very, very worried and will regret such an irresponsible step organised by war criminals in Russia.
Briefly
Yesterday, a Ukrainian unit reported that it had smashed a Russian brigade near Bakhmut, the remnants of which fled the battlefield, and the occupiers were forced to withdraw their forces some 2 kilometres to the east. Soon afterwards, statements came from the Kremlin, which indicated that the task at hand was a "very complex military operation".
And so, what the hell, what else is a military operation? What war? It's just a cakewalk, a "special operation", isn't it?
Prigozhin, the so-called Russian owner of the Marodirs, apartment thief and recidivist, complained again yesterday that his mercenaries from the Ministry of Defence are still not getting enough shells to continue the attack on Bakhmut.
Yesterday, the Kremlin burst into tears and called Poland's decision to rename the Russian city of Kaliningrad as "Krolewiec" in official documents a "hostile act". Führer Putin's mouthpiece Peskov poured out that such an action "borders on madness".
And yes, such "hostile acts bordering on madness" will only increase. To our delight and to the delight of the inhabitants of the annexed and seized territories.
The crisis in Palestine is deepening. Yesterday, Palestinian militants fired hundreds of rockets into Israel from the Gaza Strip, and Israel continued its air strikes, killing 23 Palestinians, including three senior militants, and at least 10 civilians.
The administration of US President Joe Biden has no intention of following the example of the UK, which is about to transfer to Ukraine long-range missiles capable of hitting targets 300 km away. The US considers that this problem is solved by the planned delivery from the UK.
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said yesterday that Ukraine's Black Sea grain deal could be extended for at least two more months. Russia has said it will not extend the pact beyond 18 May unless a list of requirements is met to remove obstacles to its grain and fertiliser exports.
Lithuania
Thank God, no cataclysms happened in our village yesterday. It was a series of squabbles over posts and positions, statements and non-appointments, political grievances and grievances.
As the warm little Friday dawned, people in the half-empty buses on their way to the looms in the offices dreamed of cold beer, Eurovision first prize and four working days a week.
An elderly man in Russian was annoyed that someone had denied him something yesterday.
We wish you not to overheat, to breathe deeply, to take it easy and smile.
Everything will pass. Definitely.
Pictured here, the Kub anti-aircraft missile system, two batteries and the necessary missiles will be handed over to Ukraine by the Czech Republic, Czech President Petr Pavel said.
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