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Reconstruction Conference in London

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj sees the reconstruction conference that starts in London on Wednesday as a new impetus for his country, which has been marked by the Russian war of aggression. “A rebuilt Ukraine, a transformed Ukraine, a stronger Ukraine is (…) a guarantee of security, a protection against any form of Russian terror,” Zelenskyj said in his evening video message released in Kiev on Tuesday. At the meeting, which lasts until Thursday, states and big companies want to announce support for the reconstruction of Ukraine.

“The first meetings have already started in London,” said Zelenskyj. Talks have already taken place in Germany, Switzerland, France and Italy about reconstruction aid. It is not only about construction projects, but also about protecting Ukraine, the president said. He himself wants to present his philosophy of a Ukrainian transformation via video on Wednesday, and the “complete vision” will be presented in the country itself at the end of this month.

Kiev: Ukrainian army active against enemy in the south and east

In his video message, Zelensky reiterated that the Ukrainian fighters were actively fighting against the Russian occupiers. “Now our fighters are very actively destroying the enemy in the south and east and physically clearing Ukraine,” Zelensky said. “This will continue in the future.”

Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maljar announced in the evening that Russian troops put up strong resistance and mined areas. In the south, the offensive is proceeding according to plan, she said. Progress is made without big but confident steps. Recently, Ukraine had conquered territory and liberated several villages. Maljar said some Ukrainian troops are also on the defensive, while the Russians are on the offensive. She reiterated that the biggest blow of the offensive was yet to come.

Stoltenberg: NATO supports Ukraine in modernizing the army

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg promised Ukraine further assistance to modernize the country’s military. “At the summit, the Allies will adopt a multi-year aid package that will bring Ukraine up to NATO standards,” Stoltenberg told the “Tagesspiegel” (Wednesday) ahead of the meeting of the heads of state and government of the 31 member states in July Lithuanian capital Vilnius. “With our help, the Ukrainian army should make the transition from an army based on the old Soviet model to a modern military force operating according to NATO standards.”

US government overestimates costs: 6.2 billion more for Ukraine

Due to miscalculated costs of military aid to Ukraine, the US government has more than $ 6 billion in additional aid to Kiev. “In a significant number of cases, services were based on replacement cost rather than book value, overestimating the value of equipment taken from U.S. inventories and shipped to Ukraine,” Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said Tuesday. As a result, Washington now has 6.2 billion dollars (about 5.7 billion euros) extra at its disposal. The Defense Ministry has said it has the authority to use the money for military aid and stressed there would be no impact on further aid packages.

UN Secretary-General disappointed with the implementation of the Grains Agreement

Meanwhile, Ukraine is threatened with a halt to its grain exports across the Black Sea. UN Secretary-General António Guterres was “disappointed” with the current state of implementation of the grain agreement between Russia and Ukraine. Among other things, the ships are now inspected more slowly, meaning fewer cargo ships are entering and leaving Ukrainian ports and therefore less grain is arriving at the recipients, Guterres said Tuesday, according to a spokesperson in New York. Food exports enabled by the agreement fell by about three-quarters in May compared to October last year.

The grain deal between Russia and Ukraine was brokered last summer by the UN and Turkey, ending Moscow’s naval blockade of Ukrainian ports. The agreement has already been extended several times, but the last time each time for only two months. The current extension is valid until about mid-July.

What will be important on Wednesday

In addition to the reconstruction conference, the Ukrainian offensive to liberate the territories occupied by Russia continues. So far, there is no breakthrough for Kiev in sight. The Russian defense lines on the 815-kilometer front are considered to be firmly secured. (sda/dpa)