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Ukraine Invasion
Defense Policy / Programs
Foreign Policy
News Reports

Ukraine Invasion

• Russia Retreats from Ukraine's Snake Island VOA 30 Jun 2022 -- Russia's defense ministry said Thursday it had retreated from Ukraine's Snake Island, which had become a symbol of Ukrainian resistance since Moscow's invasion four months ago.
• Ukraine Takes Control Of Snake Island, Fighting Rages In Lysychansk RFE/RL 30 Jun 2022 -- Ukraine says its forces have forced Russian troops off Snake Island in the Black Sea, a claim Russia denied with Moscow calling it a withdrawal of its forces as a "gesture of goodwill" to show the country isn't impeding efforts to allow the export of agricultural products.
• Ukraine Says It Has Retaken Infamous Snake Island; Russia Says It Withdrew For 'Goodwill' RFE/RL 30 Jun 2022 -- Ukraine says its forces have forced Russian troops off Snake Island in the Black Sea, a claim Russia denied, with Moscow saying it withdrew its forces as a "gesture of goodwill" to show the country isn't impeding efforts to allow the export of agricultural products.
• 144 Ukraine Fighters Freed from Russian Captivity in Prisoner Exchange VOA 30 Jun 2022 -- The Ukrainian Defense Ministry announced on Wednesday that 144 of the country's fighters were freed from Russian captivity via "an exchange mechanism" and that nearly 100 of the freed fighters had participated in the defense of the Ukrainian coastal city of Mariupol.
• Ukraine, Russia carry out largest prisoner exchange since conflict start People's Daily 30 Jun 2022 -- Ukraine and Russia carried out their largest prisoner exchange since the start of the conflict on Feb. 24, the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine's Defense Ministry said Wednesday in a statement on Telegram.
• Russia-Appointed Official Says Grain Shipment Left Ukraine's Berdyansk For 'Friendly Countries' RFE/RL 30 Jun 2022 -- A merchant ship with 7,000 tons of grain has left the Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Berdyansk, the first such shipment from the port since Moscow launched its invasion of Ukraine in late February.
• MoD: Russian Military Withdraws Forces From Zmeiniy Island as Gesture of Good Will Sputnik 30 Jun 2022 -- Ostrov Zmeiniy, or Snake Island, located about 140 km south of Odessa, was seized by Russian forces during the first stage of the special operation, as Ukrainian troops stationed there promptly surrendered.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Vladimir Putin congratulated current staff and veterans of the Foreign Intelligence Service on the centenary of illegal intelligence President of Russia 30 Jun 2022 -- The President laid flowers at the Fatherland, Valour Honour monument at the Foreign Intelligence Service headquarters in Moscow and congratulated the Service's current staff and veterans on the centenary of illegal intelligence.
• Address to participants of 10th St Petersburg International Legal Forum President of Russia 30 Jun 2022 -- Vladimir Putin gave a video address to greet the participants of a plenary session of the 10th St Petersburg International Legal Forum. This year's plenary session was themed Law in a Multipolar World. The video address was recorded during the President's recent visit to St Petersburg.
• Russia to respond if NATO deploys troops, sets up infrastructure in Finland, Sweden: Putin Press TV 30 Jun 2022 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has slammed NATO's decision to approve the applications of Sweden and Finland, saying his country would respond in kind if the US-led military alliance deployed troops and infrastructure in the two Nordic countries after they join the 30-member bloc.
• Putin: If NATO Infrastructure is Deployed to Finland & Sweden, Russia Will Respond in 'Mirror Way' Sputnik 30 Jun 2022 -- Amid the ongoing events in Ukraine, on May 18, Finland and Sweden submitted applications to join NATO. Although Turkey initially blocked the initiatives, the three nations signed a memorandum on Tuesday addressing Ankara's concerns, paving the way for the two Northern European countries to join the military bloc.

Foreign Policy

• Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's statement and answers to media questions at a joint news conference with Foreign Minister of Belarus Vladimir Makei following talks, Minsk, June 30, 2022 Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 30 Jun 2022
• Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's opening remarks during talks with Foreign Minister of the Republic of Belarus Vladimir Makei, Minsk, June 30, 2022 Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 30 Jun 2022
• Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's comment for the Belarusian media following talks with President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, Minsk, June 30, 2022 Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 30 Jun 2022
• Beginning of Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's meeting with President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, Minsk, June 30, 2022 Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 30 Jun 2022
• Russian FM says new 'iron curtain' descending between Russia, West following Ukraine war Press TV 30 Jun 2022 -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has warned that a new "iron curtain" is descending between Russia and the West, just a day after NATO branded Russia as the US-led bloc's "most significant and direct threat" to the security of its members.
• Meeting with President of Indonesia Joko Widodo President of Russia 30 Jun 2022 -- Vladimir Putin is holding talks in the Kremlin with President of Indonesia Joko Widodo, who is on a visit to Russia.
• Press statements following Russian-Indonesian talks President of Russia 30 Jun 2022 -- Vladimir Putin and Joko Widodo made statements for the press following Russian-Indonesian talks.
• With 70 Russian Diplomats Leaving Bulgaria, Moscow's Controversial Ambassador Is Staying RFE/RL 30 Jun 2022 -- If ambassadors are tasked with fostering warm ties between their home country and host nation, then Eleonora Mitrofanova is not doing her job.
• Press release on UK ambassador to Russia Deborah Bronnert being summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 30 Jun 2022
• Russia Deeply Offended By Johnson's 'Toxic Masculinity' Comment On Putin's Decision To Invade Ukraine RFE/RL 30 Jun 2022 -- Russia summoned Britain's ambassador to Moscow to protest Prime Minister Boris Johnson's remarks about President Vladimir Putin and the remarks of another British official about top Russian government figures.
• Iran says pushing 'strategic ties' with Russia as presidents meet Press TV 30 Jun 2022 -- Iranian President Ebrahim Raeisi has told his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin that Tehran pursues engagement with Moscow within the framework of a strategic relationship.
• Iranian President Wants Increased Trade With Russia To Bypass Western Financial Systems RFE/RL 30 Jun 2022 -- Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said in a meeting with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin that he wants to expand bilateral trade with Moscow and make it independent of the Western financial exchange system.
• Iran, Russia, China censure US over impasse after Doha talks Press TV 30 Jun 2022 -- Iran has censured the United States for refusing to abandon its wrong path after two-day negotiations in the Qatari capital to discuss how to remove sanctions on the Islamic Republic ended Wednesday.

News Reports

• NATO Ends Summit with Strengthened Posture Against Russia, China VOA 30 Jun 2022 -- NATO leaders concluded their three-day meeting in Madrid Thursday with the Western security alliance strengthening its defense against Russian aggression, warning of global challenges posed by China and inviting neutral countries Finland and Sweden into the group.
• NATO steeply downgrades Russia from 'strategic partner' to 'most direct threat' Press TV 30 Jun 2022 -- NATO has officially declared Russia the "most significant and direct threat" to the security of its members, marking a radical strategic shift spurred by the Russian military offensive against Ukraine.
• International Court Issues Warrants For Three War Crimes Suspects Linked To Russia-Georgia War RFE/RL 30 Jun 2022 -- The International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague has issued arrest warrants for three people wanted on suspicion of committing war crimes during the 2008 Russia-Georgia War.