Russia arrests several journalists. The USA announces a new billion-dollar package for Ukraine. More information in the news blog.
The most important things at a glance
Zelenskyj: Security agreement with the USA soon
3:22 a.m.: According to President Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine and the USA are preparing a bilateral security agreement. “We are already working on a concrete text,” said Zelenskyj in his evening video address on Sunday. The aim is to make this the strongest of all security agreements. Kiev has already concluded a number of security agreements with various European states in recent months. Zelensky did not specify when the security agreement between Kiev and Washington would be signed.
“We are also working on setting specific support levels for this year and for the next ten years,” said Zelensky, outlining the agreement planned with Washington. This included armed support, financial support, political support and support for joint arms production. “The agreement should truly be exemplary and reflect the strength of American leadership.”
The USA is Ukraine’s strongest supporter so far in its defensive war against Russia. The US Senate recently approved an aid package worth 57 billion euros to help the Ukrainian army, which is already in dire straits.
Insider: Half of Russian China payments via middlemen
2:33 a.m.: As Chinese banks fear US sanctions over Russian payments, insiders say the market for intermediaries is flourishing. Up to half of all Russian transactions in China now go through intermediaries, said four people familiar with the matter, including trade consultants, bankers and importers and exporters. The reason for this is bottlenecks because Russian companies tried to open accounts with VTB Shanghai, the only Russian bank with a branch in China. Therefore, despite high fees and the risk of their transfers being confiscated, businessmen resorted to intermediaries. These are based in Hong Kong, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and the United Arab Emirates, among others.
Klitschko: Bad relationship with Zelenskyj
2:10 a.m.: With regard to his relationship with President Volodymyr Zelensky, Kiev Mayor Vitali Klitschko criticizes a lack of cohesion among leading politicians in Ukraine. “Unfortunately, there is no unity between the political forces in this time of war,” Klitschko told the newspapers of the Funke media group.
When asked whether Klitschko had now met with Zelensky to reduce tensions between the two, he said: He had tried to do so dozens of times since the beginning of the war, because a lot depends on the capital. “But unfortunately I didn’t have the opportunity to meet Zelenskyj in person. He probably has other things to do.”
When asked whether he wanted to become president himself, Klitschko referred to the period after the war. “Today is not about dreams, now it must be about the desire to win the war, end the war and have peace again. After that we can talk about political ambitions.”
There are far too many politicians, including those in the central government, for whom personal ambitions are more important than the interests of the country. The mayor of Kiev also accused the central government of not doing enough to combat corruption in the country.
Russia arrests several journalists
1:08 a.m.: Two journalists have been arrested in Russia on charges of subversive activities. Both Russians, who also worked for foreign media, are accused of collaborating on a YouTube video channel by the late opposition figure Alexei Navalny. A court in Moscow said it ordered journalist Konstantin Gabow to be remanded in custody until June 27 on Saturday. According to the AP news agency, journalist Sergei Karelin, who previously worked for Deutsche Welle, among others, was arrested in Murmansk on Friday. Karelin also has Israeli citizenship.
Gabow also used to occasionally work as a freelancer for Reuters, the news agency said. Reuters said journalists must be able to report freely in the public interest without being harassed or disadvantaged. AP said it was very concerned about Karelin’s arrest and was trying to get more information. Navalny, once the most prominent opposition figure in Russia, died in custody in a Siberian camp in mid-February. The anti-corruption foundation he founded and continued by his followers is classified by Russian authorities as “extremist” and a “foreign agent.” Both journalists face up to six years in prison.
