An independent US agency recommends that the US allow Ukraine to attack Russian military targets. Ukrainian troops are under pressure in the fight against Russia’s war of aggression, especially in the Kharkiv region. Meanwhile, warlord and Kremlin boss Putin arrives in China for talks. What happened that night in the Ukraine war.

USA restricts Ukraine and thus creates Russian “refuge” – US authorities make drastic demands

The Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, an independent US agency also known as the Helsinki Commission, says the US should allow Ukraine to attack military targets in Russian border areas. This is what the “Institute of the Study of War” (ISW) reports in its daily report on the Ukraine war. The U.S. should “not only allow, but encourage” Ukrainian forces to attack Russian forces shooting and residing in Russian border areas as part of the Russian offensive in the Kharkiv region.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken previously said the US did not “encourage or enable” Ukrainian attacks on Russian territory, but noted that Ukraine must decide how to wage that war. US military aid to Ukraine is intended for defense and not for offensive operations on Russian territory, Politico reported, citing two US officials.

The ISW had previously determined that US restrictions on Ukraine had created a safe haven for Russian forces from which missile attacks could be carried out on Ukrainian positions and settlements. US policy is significantly affecting Ukraine’s ability to defend itself against Russian offensives in the Kharkiv region, ISW said.

Zelenskyj: Situation in Kharkiv region partially stabilized

According to President Volodymyr Zelensky, the situation in the Kharkiv region in eastern Ukraine, which was heavily attacked by Russian troops, has partially stabilized. “The occupier who has invaded the Kharkiv region will be destroyed by all available means,” Zelensky said in his evening video message broadcast in Kiev on Wednesday. “Artillery, drones and our infantry work quite accurately.” The situation has been partially stabilized.

The situation in the Kharkiv region is extremely tense due to Russia’s territorial gains in recent weeks. The Ukrainian General Staff spoke of intense fighting. Nevertheless, Western military experts had now also noticed a slowdown in Russian attacks.

Zelensky canceled all trips abroad because of the difficult situation – and described in his video message that the defensive activities of the Ukrainian troops were continuing, especially in the city of Vovchansk near the Russian border. At the same time, the armed forces also concentrated in other directions, including the city of Kupiansk in the Kharkiv region and in the Donetsk region around the city of Pokrovsk.

The Ukrainian President once again emphasized that his country must be equipped with all means to repel the enemy. “The world has the strength, it has the weapons, it has the ability to force Russia to peace – a just peace,” Zelensky said. Everything must be done to ensure that the Russian offensive and Moscow’s attempt to expand the war fail.

Ukraine conference: More than 50 commitments – but not yet from China

Ukraine is also pinning its hopes on a first high-level conference in Switzerland at which a path to peace will be explored. A month before the conference, more than 50 countries have already confirmed their participation, but one particularly important thing is missing: “China has not yet registered,” admitted Swiss President Viola Amherd on Wednesday after a meeting with Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin . But she added: “We assume that there will be changes to this list of participants until the last moment.”

Switzerland has invited around 160 countries to talk about possible paths to lasting peace in Ukraine on June 15th and 16th. Russia, which attacked Ukraine over two years ago, did not receive an invitation. The initiative for the conference comes from President Zelensky, who insists on implementing his peace plan. His core demand is a Russian troop withdrawal from all occupied areas of Ukraine. Moscow rejected the plan as unrealistic.

For the conference to be successful, it is now seen as crucial that not only Ukraine’s Western allies are there, but also influential states that are friends of Russia – above all China, Moscow’s most important ally. But the G20 countries India, Brazil and South Africa also continue to have close ties with Moscow. Around half of the commitments come from non-European countries, according to Switzerland.

Scholz has already announced his participation and also promoted the conference during his visit to Beijing in April. However, he only agreed to remain in discussion with Chinese President Xi Jinping about the meeting near Lucerne.

Russian President Putin travels to China

Putin is in Beijing on Thursday and Friday to meet Xi. “Of course, this is a meeting that we are following closely,” said Scholz. He would like the talks to bring Putin closer to realizing “that he has to move, that he has to withdraw troops and open up the possibility of a just peace that is not a dictated peace.”

Xi Jinping invited the Kremlin chief to visit Beijing and the northern Chinese industrial city of Harbin. It is Putin’s first trip abroad since he began his fifth term in office just over a week ago. The 71-year-old was received with military honors in Beijing on Thursday night.

The talks will also focus on the war in Ukraine. Putin will be accompanied, among others, by the newly appointed Defense Minister Andrei Beloussov and his predecessor Sergei Shoigu, who will also be responsible for arms issues as Secretary of the National Security Council.

The two nuclear powers are closely linked economically. Russia is affected by far-reaching sanctions from the West due to its war of aggression in Ukraine and needs China as a trading partner. Although Beijing appears to be externally neutral in the conflict, it actually provides Moscow with support. Previous suggestions from China to resolve the war in Ukraine have not yet borne fruit. The Chinese government has not yet condemned the attack.

Kremlin chief: Russia’s General Staff has proven itself in war

Before his departure, Putin had emphasized that there would be no structural changes in the General Staff under its chief Valery Gerasimov, who is responsible for combat operations in Ukraine. “This block of combat work has proven itself, it works rhythmically, is running successfully, and no changes are planned here.”

Putin had explained that he had appointed the economic expert and civilian official Beloussov as minister because the country’s defense spending had risen dramatically. An economist is needed to ensure their proper distribution and use. Beloussov should also enforce innovations and modernization in the military. Putin called for efforts in the defense industry to be doubled and tripled in order to maintain a lasting superiority over Ukraine in the war.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico was shot and taken to a hospital. He is said to be in a life-threatening condition. The suspected attacker was arrested.

AfD man Björn Höcke is to pay a fine of 13,000 euros for using a banned SA slogan. When you look at Höcke’s finances, it becomes clear: the amount should not hurt the AfD man much. Something else, however, does.