Ukrainian forces are working hard to slow down the advance of Russian troops in northeast Ukraine, with defense forces preventing Russian units from moving deep into Ukrainian territory. The fate of the border town of Vovchansk remains uncertain, with conflicting reports on who has control over different parts of the town. Ukrainian military is withdrawing troops in some areas to avoid losses, while Russian forces are establishing positions within the town.
The Kremlin has reiterated its stance that a peace summit in Switzerland in June is useless without Russia’s participation, even if China were to attend. China has been lukewarm about the conference, stating that it should include Russia. Moscow has not been invited to the summit, but Switzerland has emphasized that Russia must be involved in the peace process. The relationship between Russia and China is complex, with shared interests like trade but also differences such as Russia’s unpredictability on the global stage and the ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin praised his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping during a state visit to China, highlighting the warm and comradely discussions between the two leaders. They discussed various topics including trade, investment, energy cooperation, and the situation in Ukraine. The leaders signed a joint statement on deepening their strategic partnership of cooperation for a new era, and other officials are set to sign additional bilateral agreements during the visit.
Russian forces are advancing in all directions in Ukraine, according to Sergei Shoigu, the new secretary of Russia’s Security Council. The offensive is ongoing and is progressing well, with Russian forces taking control of two more settlements in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region. Shoigu’s main focus in his new role remains the special military operation, highlighting the production of ammunition, weapons, and military equipment. He is part of the Russian delegation to China, led by President Putin.
Estonia has approved the use of frozen Russian assets for Ukraine reparations, with the country taking a pioneering role in creating a legal framework for this purpose. Under the act, a foreign state like Ukraine that has sustained damage could submit a compensation claim in Estonia, with conditions on the use of assets agreed upon. The move comes after EU ambassadors struck an agreement to use frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine, with the details yet to be released and the law not yet approved by EU leaders.
The U.S. is providing Ukraine with an additional $2 billion worth of military funding, with a defense-enterprise fund aimed at providing weapons, boosting Ukraine’s defense-industrial base, and helping the country purchase military equipment from elsewhere. A security agreement between the U.S. and Ukraine is expected to be signed within weeks, as the heavy lifting has been done. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy has postponed his foreign visits to focus on developments in the Kharkiv region, where Russia has launched a fresh offensive.
