G7, Meloni: agreement reached on Russian assets. Tensions over abortion, Macron: different sensitivities

"The agreement signed with Washington paves the way for the integration into Nato" of Ukraine . This was said by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky responding at a joint press conference with US President Joe Biden on the sidelines of the G7 in Borgo Egnazia.

The UN Security Council called for an end to the 'siege' of el-Facher by Sudanese paramilitaries and also to the fighting around this important city in Darfur , where hundreds of thousands of civilians are trapped. The text prepared by the UK, which received 14 votes in favour and Russia's abstention, 'calls for an end to the siege of el-Facher and an immediate end to the fighting and de-escalation in and around the town'.

"There is no reason to polemise on issues that we have long agreed on. And I think it is profoundly wrong, in difficult times like these, to campaign using a forum as valuable as the G7'. So said Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni when asked about the abortion case after French President Emmanuel Macron's statements on the sidelines of the G7 meeting in Borgo Egnazia. "The controversy over the presence or absence of the word abortion in the conclusions is totally specious. The conclusions of Borgo Egnazia recall those of Hiroshima, in which we already approved last year the need to ensure that abortion is "safe and legal"'.

"We have reached a political agreement to provide additional financial support to Ukraine of around $50 billion by the end of the year with a loan system: this is not a confiscation but profits that accrue. It was an unexpected result of which I am particularly proud. Now it will have to be defined from a technical point of view'. This was stated by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on the sidelines of the G7 meeting.

"The political balance" in Europe "has changed relatively little" and the nominations for the new EU leaders will be "discussed next week, there will be a balance that will be struck by all the heads of state and government". This was said by French President Emmanuel Macron at the end of the first day of the G7 meeting in Borgo Egnazia, responding to a question on the strengthening of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni after the European elections.

  Joe Biden and Volodymyr Zelensky fimed the US-Ukraine security agreement. "Today, the United States sends a strong signal of our unwavering support for Ukraine," the US administration announced in a statement after the signing ceremony on the sidelines of the G7 meeting in Italy.

G7 leaders support the US ceasefire plan in the Gaza Strip and call on Hamas to "give the necessary agreement" for its implementation. Chancellor Olaf Scholz said this at the end of the first day of the G7 meeting in Apulia. The UN Security Council, Scholz emphasised, also supports the plan and "now it is important that everyone implements it.... We therefore call especially on Hamas to give the necessary agreement for this to work'.

"I am sorry" that there is no word abortion in the final text of the G7. "You know the position of France which has included the right to abortion in the Constitution. This is not the same sensitivity as in your country. France shares a vision of equality between men and women, it is not a vision shared across the political spectrum. I am sorry but I respect it because it was the sovereign choice of your people'. This was said by French President Emmanuel Macron responding to a question from Ansa on the sidelines of the G7 in Puglia.

US President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a 10-year bilateral security agreement aimed at strengthening Ukraine's defence against Russian aggression. The agreement, signed on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Italy - according to the text of the agreement - represents a step towards Ukraine's eventual membership in NATO. "The parties," the text reads, "recognise that this agreement constitutes a bridge towards Ukraine's eventual membership in NATO.

"I have garnered broad support from my colleagues, broad support for the Mattei Plan for Africa, for the Italian approach of peer-to-peer cooperation with African nations, which is bearing fruit with the launch of the first pilot projects". This was stated by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on the sidelines of the G7 Summit, emphasising that the summit had "dedicated a focus to Africa, a topic that the Italian presidency particularly cares about and one that we will continue to talk about tomorrow, both in the session devoted to migration and in the session that will also see the involvement of outreach nations".

US President Joe Biden , speaking at the G7 summit, said he did not expect a ceasefire agreement in the Middle East any time soon, but that he had not given up hope for an understanding. Biden then urged Hamas to accept a ceasefire agreement.

The Iran is further increasing its nuclear capabilities. The UN atomic watchdog agency announced this today, a week after the agency's board of governors passed a resolution criticising Tehran's lack of cooperation with the IAEA. The Aiea informed its members today that Tehran told it it was installing more centrifuge cascades for uranium enrichment at the Natanz and Fordow plants.

A cameraman of the Russian television station Ntv, Valery Kozhin , died of wounds suffered in a shelling by Ukrainian forces in Gorlovka, Donetsk region. This was reported by the mayor, Ivan Prikhodko. A journalist of the broadcaster who was with him, Alexei Ivliev, was seriously injured along with a soldier who was accompanying them in this part of the region occupied by the Russians. This was reported by the Ria Novosti news agency.

Thanks to western aid, the Russian army "failed to achieve significant territorial gains" around Kharkiv. This was emphasised by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at a press conference in Brussels at the end of the first day of the defence ministerial.

Agcom also requested the removal of a documentary produced by the TV channel Russia Today and accessible from Italy, following a report forwarded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to YouTube and X. The video - explains Agcom - "proposes a reconstruction of what has happened in the Donbass over the last 10 years without any examination or re-presentation of different positions, describing the Ukrainian population as composed of ferocious Nazis who want to exterminate their own people with the complicity of NATO, the US and the EU, indicated as the real instigators of the massacres and authors of the 2014 coup d'état".

With the G7 agreement on the use of profits from frozen Russian assets 'we send a strong signal to Ukraine : we will support Kiev in its fight for freedom for as long as it takes. It is also a strong signal to Putin: he cannot win'. This was said by the President of the EU Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, on the sidelines of the works in Borgo Egnazia, announcing the agreement. "There is already €50bn EU aid and $60bn US aid" for Kiev, "to which we now add a $50bn G7 package," von der Leyen said, explaining that all G7 partners "will contribute to this loan".

"We are at a turning point in history, the kind that occurs every six or seven generations, and we can now determine the course of events for the future. The investments that will contribute to the Pgii will set this course". This was said by US President Joe Biden in the open session of the G7 dedicated to the Partnership for global infrastructure and investment - through which the 7 finance infrastructure projects in developing countries - thanking Giorgia Meloni for being a partner in this initiative.

The proposed loan to Ukraine would send a 'clear message' to Vladimir Putin that 'our commitment is long-term'. This was stated by US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen in an editorial in the New York Times, according to which the loan - to be repaid with profits on frozen Russian assets - "is consistent with domestic and international law. And it would not preclude further action on these assets with our partners in the future'.

"In the text to be published tomorrow there is no step back" from the final communiqué of the G7 in Hiroshima on the issue of abortion "and nothing has been taken away". This was explained by Italian sources on the sidelines of the Borgo Egnazia summit. "So much so that there is an explicit reference to the commitments made in Hiroshima, which are all reconfirmed," they stress.

"I had a productive meeting with Giorgia Meloni and thanked Italy for its military, financial and humanitarian support to Ukraine". This was written in a post on X by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky , who with the premier discussed "the next steps in our defence cooperation, including Italy's contribution to strengthening Ukraine's air defence system and the preparation of a new military aid package". "We also talked about the upcoming peace summit in Switzerland and the expected results," continues Zelensky, who still says he is "deeply grateful to Giorgia for her active efforts to encourage the countries of the Global South to participate in the summit." Furthermore, he concludes, 'we discussed joint projects aimed at helping Ukraine in the reconstruction of Odessa and the Odessa region. I also very much appreciate Italy's decision to organise the next Ukraine Recovery Conference in Rome in 2025'.

"At the G7 summit. Clear support for Ukraine, international law and a just peace." So writes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on X posting photos of the meeting with the Bigs in Borgo Egnazia. "Every day we strengthen our positions and our defence of life. Every meeting serves to give Ukraine new opportunities for victory. I am grateful to all our partners."

  Joe Biden is skipping the dinner to be hosted tonight by President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella at the Castello Svevo in Brindisi for the G7 heads of state and government. ANSA learns this from security sources. The US president is reportedly fatigued by the commitments he has had to face in recent days. Biden is on his second European trip in just under a week.

The gip of the military court of Rome rejected the request to dismiss the proceedings in which General Roberto Vannacci , elected in recent days to the European Parliament, is under investigation for incitement to racial hatred in reference to what he wrote in his book 'The World to the Reverse'. The judge set a hearing for 25 September next. The proceedings had been initiated after a number of complaints, including one from the Military Union and the association Triple Defence. "At the moment we only know that the gip has rejected the prosecutor's request, but in the coming days we will ask for the papers. It is a decision that we do not understand because the case in question is not a military offence,' commented lawyer Giorgio Carta, Vannacci's defender.

"Outrageous, unjust and unacceptable": this is the Hungarian government's reaction to the EU Court of Justice ruling condemning the country to pay EUR 1 million per day for failing to implement a 2020 Court of Justice ruling that Budapest did not comply with the rules of EU law regarding procedures for irregular immigrants. This was said by Gergely Gulyas, head of the Hungarian government's cabinet, speaking at a press conference. Gulyas stated that Hungary "will not give in to financial blackmail", as the hefty fine is intended to make the government change its stance on immigration, on the defence of the borders, which it "will certainly not do".

The court, he added, does not act as a regular judicial authority but 'as a political institution, with a political decision'. "Such a ruling would never be pronounced in a normal court," he said. According to Gulyas, "the ruling is contrary to European law, is incompatible with the Hungarian Constitution, and punishes a country that refuses to accept migrants and defends its borders".

New suspected Yemeni Houthi attack in the Gulf of Aden , where missiles targeted a ship causing a fire. The British military centre United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (Ukmto) reports that the attack occurred off the coast of Yemen and the vessel caught fire. According to the private security firm Ambrey, it was a merchant ship that 'was en route from Malaysia to Venice, Italy' and was 'aligned with the Houthi target's profile' and radioed a distress call saying it had been hit by a missile. At the moment, the Houthis have not claimed responsibility for the attack.

A step that 'won't do the West any good'. This is how Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova commented on the agreement reached at the G7 negotiating level to provide Kiev with a $50 billion loan by guaranteeing it with future profits from frozen Russian capital. According to the spokeswoman, quoted by the Interfax news agency, 'illegal initiatives' such as this risk causing an 'unbalancing of the financial system and devastating crises'.

The US Supreme Court maintains full access to the abortion pill mifepristone. The justices unanimously rejected an appeal ruling that would have banned the mail-order sale of mifepristone. This was reported in the American media.

Israel has vowed to respond with force to all Hezbollah attacks after the Iranian-backed Lebanese militant group launched a barrage of rockets across the border for the second consecutive day today. "Israel will respond with force to all Hezbollah attacks," government spokesman David Mencer told a press conference, adding that "through diplomatic efforts or otherwise, Israel will restore security on our northern border."

The European Commission is ready to approve the Ita-Lufthansa transaction. European sources close to the dossier report this. The green light, barring any last-minute unforeseen events, should arrive informally already in the coming days.

The American Wall Street Journal journalist Evan Gershkovich, who has been imprisoned in Russia since March 2023, has been officially indicted on charges of espionage. This was announced by the Federal General Prosecutor's Office, quoted by Ria Novosti. The case was transferred for trial to the Sverdlovsk Regional Court. The investigation, the Prosecutor's Office said, 'established that Gershkovich, under instructions from the CIA, collected secret information in the Sverdlovsk region on the activities of the defence industry Jsc Npk Uralvagonzavod', Russia's largest tank manufacturer.

- The G7 in Borgo Egnazia, in Savelletri (Brindisi), is 'extremely important to address important challenges. The first is that we want to support Ukraine and we want to take decisions to provide more immediate financial support to Kiev, so that it can defend itself" against Russia. This was said by European Council President Charles Michel in a statement on the sidelines of the meeting, broadcast by the EU audiovisual services.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Borgo Egnazia to attend the G7 summit, welcomed by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni with a handshake and a hug.

Joe Biden's support for Israel is causing him no small amount of trouble at home. And now even diplomats and world leaders are beginning to worry about the possibility that the president's reluctance to break with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could cost him the elections in November. Politico reports this, citing some foreign policy experts and former US officials in contact with foreign leaders allied with the US. The widespread fear is that Biden's approach to Israel could favour Donald Trump and, thus, the breakdown of the diplomatic harmony created by Biden. "The level of concern is between panic and terror," said Jeremy Shapiro, a former State Department official under Barack Obama.

China has been lobbying governments of developing countries to promote its alternative plan for peace in Ukraine as the summit in Switzerland approaches. Reuters writes this on its website citing ten diplomats, one of whom called Beijing's campaign a 'subtle boycott' of the Lucerne summit. In conversations with governments, China has not openly criticised the Swiss meeting or directly asked countries to abstain, the Beijing diplomats told Reuters. But one of them said China had told these nations that the meeting would prolong the war.

The debate on abortion continues to hold sway on the first day of the G7 summit. In the final conclusions of the summit, diplomatic sources explain, there is currently no reference to the voluntary interruption of pregnancy, which was instead present in the final declaration of the G7 in Hiroshima. The issue, however, is not yet closed, the same sources report, inviting us to wait for the final conclusions to be reached by the leaders present in Borgo Egnazia.

La Presidente del Consiglio Giorgia Meloni Primo Ministro del Regno Unito Rishi Sunak durante la riunione dei Capi di Stato e di Governo dei Paesi G7 a Borgo Egnazia, Giovedì, 13 Giugno 2024 (Foto Roberto Monaldo / LaPresse)

Rishi Sunak's British government today announced a new package against Russia in connection with the war in Ukraine: sanctions extended this time to the Moscow Stock Exchange. London's measures are in line with the new restrictions formalised in recent hours in this regard by the US.

Abortion disappears in the final draft of the G7 summit in Puglia that Ansa was able to view. The passage - according to the draft finalised by the Sherpas but which still has to go through final examination by the leaders - reads: "We reiterate our commitments expressed in the Hiroshima G7 final communiqué for universal, adequate and sustainable access to health services for women, including reproductive rights". This wording does not include the word 'abortion', which was in the final communiqué of the G7 in Japan.

La Presidente del Consiglio Giorgia Meloni e il presidente degli Stati Uniti d’America Joe Biden durante la riunione dei Capi di Stato e di Governo dei Paesi G7 a Borgo Egnazia, (Foto Roberto Monaldo / LaPresse)

"The violence provoked by wars clearly shows how much arrogance moves those who consider themselves powerful before men, while they are miserable in the eyes of God". This was stated by the Pope in his Message for the Day of the Poor to be celebrated on 17 November. "How many new poor are produced by this bad policy made with weapons, how many innocent victims! Yet, we cannot back down. The Lord's disciples know that each one of these 'little ones' - Pope Francis emphasises - bears the imprint of the face of the Son of God, and our solidarity and the sign of Christian charity must reach each one".

Pope Francis at the G7 will have ten bilateral meetings. These include one with US President Joe Biden, Ukrainian Volodymyr Zelensky, Frenchman Emmanuel Macron and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. On his arrival the Pope will be welcomed by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The Pope will arrive in Borgo Egnazia at 12.30 pm and leave at 7.45 pm. (

Joe Biden is not changing his mind on rights: this was stated by the White House on the abortion issue, according to Italian newspaper correspondents travelling with the US president during the G7 meeting in Borgo Egnazia. "Biden is not budging on rights, he will talk about it with Prime Minister Meloni," said National Security Advisor Jack Sullivan.

US President Joe Biden gives a thumbs up upon arrival at the Borgo Egnazia resort for the G7 Summit hosted by Italy in Apulia region, on June 13, 2024 (Photo by Ludovic MARIN / AFP)

Agreement on the use of profits on assets frozen to Russia has been reached at the negotiating level. This was announced by one of the Sherpas participating in the work, emphasising that the final go-ahead of the leaders is now awaited. The agreement should provide for a $50 billion fund to support Kiev to be released within the year.

"I am very confident that an agreement can be reached in the next few hours" on the use of profits from assets frozen to Russia. This was said by the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Borgo Ignazia. "The goal is to improve the proposals so that more resources are available and as quickly as possible for Kiev. Ukraine needs money now, the resources will have to be used for all the country's needs, including reconstruction," Michel added, expressing "gratitude" to the Italian leadership

"The G7 is not a fortress closed in on itself, that has to defend itself from someone, but it is an offer of values that we open up to the world, in order to have shared development as a goal". Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said this at the opening of the G7 meeting.

"The Ukrainian forces are engaged in a tough fight. They need additional air defences. The Ukrainians resist strongly in Kharkiv and continue to impress the world, inflicting crazy losses on Russia. Which has lost 350,000 soldiers dead and wounded to date'. This was said by US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, opening the meeting of the Contact Group for Ukraine on the sidelines of the NATO ministerial. "This is a critical time, Ukraine's survival hangs in the balance. But I am confident that this coalition will do its job: today we welcome a new member, Argentina,' he said.

China 'firmly opposes any illegal and unilateral sanctions and extended jurisdiction' US. In the run-up to the opening of the Apulian G7 in Borgo Egnazia, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said that "normal trade between China and Russia should not be interfered with or sabotaged". On the other hand, "they should not become a tool to contain China," Lin added, on the latest US sanctions on Russia, including by targeting China-based companies. The G7 is set to examine the dossier of Moscow-Beijing ties and their effects on Russia's war on Ukraine.

Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation has taken 'some serious measures' at the nuclear facilities in Natanz and Fordow in response to criticism against the Islamic Republic's activities by France, Germany and Great Britain in the resolution adopted by the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Mehr reports this, without giving further details. Iran had criticised the resolution calling on Tehran to respect its nuclear activities.

In the evening, US President Joe Biden will sign a bilateral security agreement with Ukraine on the sidelines of the G7 and hold a joint press conference with President Volodymyr Zelensky. This was announced by the White House.

The national airline (Aerolíneas Argentinas), the post office (Correo Argentino) and the public radio and television service (Rta) have been removed from the list of privatisations contained in the Basic Law, the reform package of Javier Milei's government approved last night in the Senate after long negotiations and amid violent street demonstrations. For example, both the repeal of the pension moratorium and the creation of the proportional old-age allowance for people who have reached the age of 65 and have not accrued the 30 years of contributions necessary to retire were excluded.

According to the Palestinian news agency Wafa, the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) conducted attacks on the humanitarian area of al-Mawasi, west of the Gaza Strip. The raids on the area, home to thousands of displaced people, were reportedly carried out by air, land and sea. However, the IDF, quoted by The Times of Israel, denied this, explaining that "contrary to what has been reported in recent hours, no attacks by the IDF took place in the al-Mawasi humanitarian area".

Within the G7, 'good progress' has been made to reach an agreement on the use of the 'proceeds' of frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine. This was reported by US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan in a briefing with a small group of journalists. The Italian presidency of the summit, Sullivan said, will be able to announce that there is a "path forward" on this issue. Noting that this is the fourth G7 attended by President Joe Biden, Sullivan stressed that the leaders are "more united than they have ever been" on the major issues.

In the last day of fighting the Russian forces reportedly lost almost 1,000 men (980 to be precise)', bringing the total to 522,810 Russian soldiers. This was reported by Rbc Ukraine, citing the usual update from the General Staff of the Ukrainian forces. In the same timeframe, Kiev reportedly destroyed 17 tanks, 34 artillery systems used by the Russians and 33 drones.

La gente cammina lungo via Mykhailivska durante una cerimonia commemorativa per la giornalista ucraina e medico volontario da combattimento Iryna Tsybukh al monastero dalle cupole dorate di San Michele a Kiev(AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)

"I will be in my office in a few moments". This was said by the president of the Republicans, Éric Ciotti, to France 2, who was expelled from his party yesterday after the decision to ally with Marine Le Pen's Rassemblement National ahead of the next general election. Bfmtv reports. "All these are quibbles, petty battles by mediocre backbenchers who have understood nothing of what is happening in the country," said Ciotti, who then threatened "legal action, including criminal action, against those who use means they have no right to use."

Read also: Républicains expel Ciotti after agreement with Le Pen. Macron proposes federation of moderates 

Ukrainian children abducted and brought to Russia by Moscow forces in the first months of the invasion in 2022 are being offered for adoption by the authorities, in one case under a false Russian identity, according to an investigation by the Financial Times (Ft). Using image recognition tools and public documents, as well as interviews with Ukrainian officials and relatives of the children, the Ft identified and located four Ukrainian children on the Russian government-linked adoption site 'usynovite.ru'. One of the children is shown with a new Russian name and a different age from the documents issued by the Ukrainian government. Another child is shown with the Russian version of his Ukrainian name. The site does not mention the Ukrainian origins of any of the children, who are 8-15 years old. The children traced by the Ft and whose identities were confirmed by their families through the Ukrainian authorities, were taken to the Tula region near Moscow and to the Orenburg region near the Kazakh border. One of them was taken to occupied Crimea. The identities of 17 other children identified by Ft on the adoption website, all from an orphanage in Kherson, were confirmed in a recent New York Times investigation.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry condemned the Report of the UN Commission of Inquiry that the IDF soldiers committed war crimes in the Gaza Strip, calling it "full of false accusations and defamation against army soldiers". "The report describes a fictitious reality in which decades of terrorist attacks are omitted, ongoing rocket attacks against Israeli civilians are not reported, and there is no mention of a democratic state having the right to defend itself against a terrorist attack. This is yet another example of the low point the organisation has reached under the leadership of UN Secretary General António Guterres,' the ministry said.

- US President Joe Biden's administration needs to 'bleed Europe even harder' to stay in power. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova wrote this on Telegram. "Do the EU countries realise that Washington is engaging them in a direct confrontation with Russia under the Nato banner?" she wrote. "The West is hysterically feeding its people with claims about Russia's alleged imminent aggression against Western countries," Zakharova added, "and this means only one thing: the Biden administration must make Europe bleed even harder to prevent the collapse of its own government and the US economy.

Overnight, Russian air defence forces destroyed three Ukrainian drones over the Yaroslavl region and one over the Vladimir region. This was reported by the Russian Defence Ministry. "Last night," reads a note, "a series of Ukrainian attempts to carry out terrorist attacks with unmanned aerial vehicles against targets on the territory of the Russian Federation were blocked. Air defence systems destroyed three drones in the Yaroslavl region and one in the Vladimir region'.

I militari ucraini di un’unità antiaerea della 24a brigata meccanizzata scrutano il cielo alla ricerca di droni e aerei russi in una posizione nella regione di Donetsk (Photo by Genya SAVILOV / AFP)

With the decisive vote of Senate President and Vice-President, Victoria Villaruel, the Argentine Senate approved the reform package of Javier Milei's government. Villaruel's vote was necessary to break the absolute parity that had been recorded in the two previous votes that ended 36-36. The text, which underwent more than 40 changes in the Senate debate, must now return to the Chamber of Deputies for final approval. The vote took place in a highly tense atmosphere due to serious clashes outside Parliament between opposition demonstrators and the forces of law and order.

Polizia antisommossa durante il dibattito al Senato argentino EPA/Juan Ignacio Roncoroni

"The Office of the President of the Republic congratulates the Security Forces for their excellent work in repressing the terrorist groups that with sticks, stones and even grenades tried to perpetrate a coup d'état against the normal functioning of Parliament". This is the official note issued by the Argentine Presidency Office at the end of the serious clashes between thousands of opposition protesters and the police that took place in the square in front of Congress while the Basic Law, the package of reforms on deregulation and privatisation presented by the government, was being discussed. The still provisional toll of the incidents released by the authorities speaks of at least 24 arrests and 20 injured among the officers, while the number of injured among the protesters is not yet known. One of those arrested, it is stressed, was found in possession of a grenade later found to be chemical in nature.

All NATO actions today are preparation for a possible confrontation with Russia. This was stated by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko in an interview with Izvestia. "Everything NATO is doing today in this field, to put it bluntly, is preparing the alliance for a possible military confrontation with Russia," he said, stressing that "the role of nuclear weapons in the Alliance's military planning is growing and there is talk of their deployment in Poland and other European countries."

"From the latest exercises and documents," Grushko continued, "we see that the role of nuclear weapons in NATO's military strategy and military planning is only increasing. It is said that nuclear weapons could be deployed in Poland and other countries. Keep this in mind,' he concluded, 'for possible countermeasures that could become concrete if such intentions (of NATO, ed.) were realised'.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will announce new aid to Ukraine at the G7 leaders' summit. The Interfax news agency reports. "At the summit, the Prime Minister will announce up to £242 million of bilateral assistance to Ukraine to meet urgent humanitarian, energy and stabilisation needs," reads a statement on the British government's website. It should be noted that during the summit the priority for the British prime minister will be to work with partners to 'agree a way to use frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine'. As the British government made clear, the value of assets located in G7 jurisdictions is $285 billion.

The Biden administration is very concerned that the escalation of violence between Israel and Hezbollah in recent days could escalate into all-out war and is doing everything to prevent it. Axios reports this, citing US officials who say the US fears that Israel is running or may be drawn into a war with Hezbollah without a clear strategy and without taking into account the implications of a wider conflict.