For weeks, meetings between US, EU and British leaders have been held "regularly" to discuss a possible framework for the ceasefire in Ukraine through negotiations , and among the topics under discussion is the four-point plan proposed last month from Italy and bluntly rejected by Moscow.
CNN reports on these talks, specifying that Kiev is not directly involved, despite the commitment of the US to " decide nothing on Ukraine without Ukraine ".
In fact, the US specifies that it is not putting pressure on Kiev to accept a plan and according to the CNN there is still confusion about what type of framework Washington considers appropriate to bring Ukraine to the negotiating table.
US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas Greenfield told reporters earlier this week that the Italian proposal is "one of the initiatives that we certainly would like to bring to an end this horrible war". But two US officials told CNN that the United States does not actually support the Rome plan.
The Italian proposal provides for Kiev to commit to neutrality with respect to NATO in exchange for some security guarantees. In addition to negotiations between Ukraine and Russia on the future of Crimea and Donbass, which should remain under Ukrainian sovereignty but autonomous . And it is precisely this last point that Moscow does not accept.
On the war front, fighting rages in the Donbass, where Kiev launched a counter-offensive recapturing 20% of Severodonetsk , a city now half controlled by the Russians, who had come to control 70%.
In these hours Kiev announced that the Ukrainian army has "almost entirely destroyed the 35th army of Moscow ", while the Russian leader Vladimir Putin, in an interview, assured that Russia is not afraid of the weapons sent by the US in support of the 'Ukraine: “ We crush them like nuts,” he commented.
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US weapons in Kiev, Putin: "We crush them like nuts"
Russia is not worried about sending new American weapons to Ukraine because it "crushes them like nuts". This was stated by President Vladimir Putin, in an interview with the Rossiya 1 television channel, quoted by Ria Novosti, underlining that "dozens of units have been destroyed".
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Moscow: "In Italy the rights of Russian citizens are violated"
Russia denounces "violations of the rights of Russian citizens" living in Italy and "an open anti-Russian campaign by the Italian media". The Russian embassy in Rome writes this on its Facebook profile by publishing excerpts from a report by the Moscow Ministry of Foreign Affairs "on the violations of the rights of Russian citizens and compatriots abroad" in which it is noted, among others
things, "the growth of russophobic sentiments in Italian society".
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Medvedev, sanctions against families worthy of the Cosa Nostra
The vice president of the Russian Security Council Medvedev criticizes the "illegitimate" sanctions against the family members of Russian politicians, comparing them to mafia methods and citing 'Ndrangheta and Cosa Nostra. "They are doubly illegal - he says -. Not only statesmen or deputies but also families, who are in no way able to influence their relatives, would be responsible for the mythical violations invented by them". Medvedev then adds sarcastically that the West could embrace "other progressive family rules too: for example, there are many useful things in the ways of the Italian 'Ndrangheta and Cosa Nostra".
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Withdrawal from Severodonetsk
Ukrainian forces are withdrawing from Severodonetsk. This was stated by the Russian Defense Ministry, quoted by Interfax.
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Kiev: "Russian army destroyed"
The Armed Forces of Ukraine almost entirely destroyed the 35th Army of the Russian Federation in Izyum, in the north-eastern region of Kharkiv. The head of the Ukrainian President's Office Andriy Yermak says this, according to Ukrinform. "Almost the entire 35th Army was destroyed in Izyum," he said.
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16th century church bombed in Donetsk
The historic church of All Saints of the Lavra in Svyatohirsk, Donetsk, built in 1526, was hit by Russian bombing and caught fire. Ukrainian media made it known by posting the images on social media. There would be no casualties. The church belongs to the Moscow Patriarchate.
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Pope: "I would like to go to Ukraine, but the time is not right"
"I would like to go to Ukraine but I have to wait for the right moment". The Pope said this when answering the question of a Ukrainian child during a meeting with a group of young people that was held in the courtyard of San Damaso. The Pope added that he will soon see Ukrainian authorities to see if this is possible.
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The Russians blow up the bridges to isolate Severodonetsk
Russian forces are blowing up bridges over the Seversky Donets River to prevent Ukrainians from bringing military reinforcements and providing aid to civilians in the city of Severdonetsk, regional military administration chief Sergiy Gaidai said. the Ukrinform agency. Gaidai further stated that Ukrainian troops hold positions inside Severdonetsk.
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Kiev: "31,050 Russian soldiers killed"
About 31,050 Russian soldiers have been killed in Ukraine since the invasion began, according to the Kiev army. In its update on Moscow's losses so far, the Ukrainian army indicates that 210 fighters, 175 helicopters and 540 drones have also been shot down after 101 days of conflict.
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Kiev: "Negotiations only after strengthening on the ground"
Ukrainian negotiator David Arakhamia said Kiev wants to strengthen its positions on the ground with the help of new arms supplies from the West before resuming peace talks with Russia. He reports it in the Guardian. "Our armed forces are ready to use the new weapons, and then I think we can start a new round of talks from a strengthened position," said Arakhamia speaking on national television.
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007 Gb: "Russian air offensive elevated in the Donbass"
The Russian air offensive remains high in the disputed Donbass territories with guided and unguided ammunition: together with artillery fire, air strikes have been a determining factor in recent tactical successes in the eastern Ukraine region: British intelligence writes in his daily update on the situation in the country.
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Russians issue passports in Kherson and Melitopol
Russia has started issuing passports to Ukrainians living in the occupied cities of Kherson and Melitopol. This was stated by the US defense think tank Institute for the Study of War, adding however that the occupation authorities "continue to face problems in social control and in containing the actions of the resistance". Furthermore, it is claimed, Russian forces failed to regain lost positions in Kherson Oblast and continued to defend previously occupied positions.
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Bombs on Lugansk, including a child among the victims
Three civilians, including a child, have been killed in Russian bombing in Ukraine's Lugansk (east) region in the past 24 hours, the head of the regional military administration, Sergiy Gaidai, said on Facebook, according to reports. Ukrinform agency.
"On June 3, 2022, a woman and her son were killed in the Russian bombing of Hirske. Another person was fatally wounded in Zolote," Haidai wrote. In addition, regional authorities received information on another local resident who was killed in Hirske three days ago. Some people were injured in a bombing of the city of Severdonetsk.
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Gentiloni: "Russian gas block is not on the table"
"The official position of the European Commission is that no sanctions are off the table. But as of today we are not talking about a gas blockade. The issue is to hit Russia, but without harming ourselves too much." EU Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni said this in an interview at the Turin Economy Festival.
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Russians prepare attack on Sloviansk
The Russian army is strengthening its positions around Sloviansk in view of a new offensive against this strategic city in eastern Ukraine: the general staff of Kiev has made it known, according to reports from the CNN. The Russians, who had already launched an unsuccessful attack on two cities north and northwest of Sloviansk (Barvinkove and Sviatohirsk), are now deploying up to 20 battle groups in the area.
