The majority resolution on the communications of the Prime Minister in the Senate room was approved with 219 in favor, 20 against and 22 abstentions, in view of the European Council on 23 and 24 June.
"The sanctions work," Prime Minister Mario Draghi said. "Our channels of dialogue - he added - remain open, we will not stop supporting diplomacy and seeking peace." "In the terms - he specified - that Ukraine will choose".
"The ongoing conflict", he stressed, has triggered " a humanitarian crisis of extraordinary size , the supplies of grain to the poorest countries are at risk" and "millions of tons of the previous harvest" are blocked in Ukrainian ports. the stocks that are in stock to unlock supplies and make room for the new harvest that will arrive in September ".
Meanwhile, the Sarmat intercontinental ballistic supermissile will be operational in Russia by the end of the year , according to Vladimir Putin. The missile had been tested in April and according to the Moscow Defense Ministry is capable of "penetrating any existing or future missile defense system". Putin himself had announced that he will give Russia security guarantees "against current threats" and " will make those who are threatening us think ".
Meanwhile, tension is growing over Kaliningrad , the Russian exclave between Lithuania and Poland. The Vilnius authorities have blocked goods bound for Kaliningrad , "in application of European sanctions", Lithuania defends. But Moscow says it "will react very soon" and that the response "will have a very negative impact on the citizens of Lithuania".
Kiev has now lost the city of Severodonetsk, where only a few hundred people remain barricaded in the Azot chemical plant. The Russians claim other conquests while violent fighting is underway in Lisychansk. Moscow wants to claim the conquest of the whole Lugansk by Sunday .
For its part, Ukraine announces the start of the counter-offensive in the occupied region of Kherson , to the south, where Russian TV started broadcasting this morning. And he asked all Ukrainians to leave the region, including to go to Russia in the event, so as not to hinder the Kiev counter-offensive.
( HERE all the articles on the war)
( HERE all the videos)
The day by the hour:
Ok to the majority resolution
The majority resolution on the communications of the Prime Minister in the Senate room was approved with 219 in favor, 20 against and 22 abstentions, in view of the European Council on 23 and 24 June. Immediately afterwards, there was applause in the courtroom. Resolutions presented by Cal, Senator Elena Fattori of the Mixed Group, the Senator of Italexit, Gianluigi Paragone and the Brothers of Italy (on which a split vote was requested) were rejected. Above all, the government had expressed the opposite opinion.
***
Resolution pro Kiev, agreed by the majority
There is agreement in the majority on a resolution of support in Kiev, with the ok of the 5 Star Movement.
"Continue to ensure, in accordance with the provisions of decree law 14/2022, the necessary and wide involvement of the Chambers, in the manner provided therein, on the occasion of the most important international summits concerning the war in Ukraine and the support measures for Ukrainian institutions, including the sales of military supplies ", reads the text.
The government undertakes to "demand, together with its European partners, from the Russian authorities the immediate cessation of war operations and the withdrawal of all military forces that illegally occupy Ukrainian soil, with multilateral or bilateral initiatives useful for a military de-escalation that it brings about a change of phase in the conflict, while increasing diplomatic efforts aimed at finding a peaceful solution based on respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine and the principles of international law ".
LeU also joined.
***
Moscow-Ankara talks on Ukrainian grain corridors
The Russian Defense Ministry will hold talks with Turkey in the coming days on the creation of naval corridors for Ukrainian grain exports. This was announced by the Kremlin, quoted by TASS, underlining that the participation of President Vladimir Putin is not expected. The meeting should be preparatory to the negotiations between Moscow and Kiev next week in Istanbul, mediated by Ankara and the UN.
***
Media: "Kaliningrad restrictions also on road transport"
The restrictions imposed by Lithuania on the transit of freight trains in the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad also apply to trucks. Ria Novosti writes it, specifying that "these loads, like railway ones, can only be transported by sea at the moment".
***
Estonia: "A Russian helicopter has violated the airspace"
A Russian helicopter responsible for border protection has violated Estonian airspace. This was announced today by the army of the Baltic country, a member of the EU and NATO. The Dpa writes, specifying that the helicopter in question is of the Mi-8 type and entered Estonian airspace without authorization on 18 June. The Tallinn Foreign Ministry has summoned the Russian ambassador. "Estonia sees this as an extremely serious and regrettable incident, which undoubtedly causes further tension and is totally unacceptable," he said.
***
Draghi: "The mandate for the search for peace received from Parliament"
"Seeking peace, overcoming the crisis: this is the mandate received from Parliament, from you. This is the guide for our action". Prime Minister Mario Draghi said this in the Senate for communications ahead of the European Council, adding that "Italy will continue to work with the EU and the G7 partners to support Ukraine".
***
Putin: "Proud of our hero soldiers in Ukraine"
Russian President Vladimir Putin said he was "proud" of the action of his soldiers in Ukraine. "We are proud that during the special military operation our fighters act with courage, professionalism, like real heroes," Putin said during a meeting in the Kremlin with graduates of the military academy. Referring to Western sanctions imposed on Russia for intervention in Ukraine, he said "they will be overcome". And "in the face of new threats and risks, we will further develop and strengthen our armed forces", he later promised.
***
Putin: "Sarmat super-missile operational by the end of the year"
The Sarmat super ICBM will be operational in Russia by the end of the year. This was stated by Russian President Vladimir Putin while meeting young graduates of the military academy in the Kremlin. The missile had been tested in April. The carrier, according to the ministry of
Defense, it is capable of "penetrating any existing or future missile defense system" and Putin himself had announced that he will give security guarantees to Russia "against current threats" and "make those who are threatening us think".
***
Berlin publishes the list of armaments supplied to Kiev online
From today, 21 June, a list of the armaments that Germany has supplied or will supply to Ukraine is available on the official website of the German government. Berlin thus decided to follow the "practice of its closest allies, such as the United States". This was announced by the executive himself in a press release.
The list includes both materials and weapons from Bundeswehr stocks and supplies from the German war industry made possible by German funding. The list indicates both armaments already shipped and those not yet supplied. The list will be updated regularly.
***
Kremlin: "After the visit of EU leaders, Kiev did not open dialogue"
There has been no attempt by Ukraine "to propose the resumption of talks with Russia after the visit of Scholz, Macron and Draghi to Kiev". This is what Kremlin spokesman Dmitrij Peskov underlined in a meeting with journalists after the mission of the EU leaders last week in Ukraine. Tass reports it.
***
Moscow's wrath over Kaliningrad: "Serious consequences for Lithuanians"
Russia will react very soon against the blockade of goods to Kaliningrad and the answer will be "serious and will have a very negative impact on the citizens of Lithuania". This was stated by the secretary of the Russian Security Council Nikolai Patrushev, on a visit to the area, according to reports from Russian agencies.
***
An American veteran who died in Zaporizhzhia
A 52-year-old US soldier, Stephen Zabelsky, was killed in fighting in Ukraine. This was confirmed by a source from the US State Department to the Washington Post. The veteran leaves behind his wife and five children. According to the obituaries, Zabelsky died near Dorozhnyanka, in the southern region of Zaporizhzhia on 15 May following a mine explosion. Previously it was known of the death of only one American who fought in Ukraine, 22-year-old soldier Joseph Cancel, who worked for a private military company.
***
Metsola: "The EU has a historic chance, it won't close the door on Ukraine"
"Ukraine is fighting for our values. For democracy, for sovereignty, for freedom. This week we have a historic opportunity to strengthen Ukraine and strengthen Europe by granting Ukraine candidate status for the 'EU. We must not close the door. " This was stated by the president of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, during a press point in Helsinki with the Finnish president Sauli Niinisto.
***
Bombing reported in Mykolaiv
Explosions were reported earlier today in the southern Ukrainian city of Mykolaiv, where the Russian military yesterday fired four Kh-31A and Oniks missiles at agricultural land on the outskirts of Ochakiv. This was reported by the Ukrainian army quoted by Ukrinform. According to the Southern Operational Command there would be no casualties.
***
Italian Ambassador to Russia summoned to Moscow
The Italian ambassador to Russia, Giorgio Starace, has been summoned by the Russian foreign ministry. Ria Novosti reports it. The ambassador, accompanied by members of the diplomatic mission, entered the building.
***
Kremlin: "In Ukraine it will be a long-lasting crisis"
"That in Ukraine will be a long-lasting crisis," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in an interview with the US television channel MSNBC, reported by the Russian agency Interfax. During this crisis, the West has shown its true attitude towards Russia, "we will never trust the West again," he added.
***
Zelensky, "attention on Ukraine should not fade"
"The longer the war lasts, the harder it is to compete for the attention of hundreds of millions of people in different countries. But I will do everything possible so that attention on Ukraine does not fade." President Volodymyr Zelensky said yesterday quoted by Ukrinform. "The Russian invasion forces continue to bomb Ukrainian cities, which shows that Russia is an evil that can only be stopped on the battlefield," he added.
] ***
"1,500 civilians held in Russian prisons"
Over 1,500 Ukrainian civilians are detained in Russian prisons: Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said yesterday during a press conference, according to the Kyiv Independent. "They are in Rostov, in Kursk, they are in prison, they are held as prisoners of war, even if they should not be", Vereshchuk underlined, adding that among the civilians there are priests, volunteers, activists, journalists and leaders of local authorities Ukrainians.
(Unioneonline)