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Ukraine Invasion
Defense Policy / Programs
Foreign Policy
News Reports

Ukraine Invasion

• The total combat losses of the enemy from 24.02.2022 to 17.05.2023 Ukraine MOD 17 May 2023
• Ukraine, Russia Agree To Two-Month Extension Of Black Sea Grain Deal RFE/RL 17 May 2023 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced a two-month extension of the Black Sea Grain Initiative allowing for the export of Ukrainian grain through the country's Black Sea ports.
• Latest in Ukraine: Russia, Ukraine Agree to 60-Day Extension to Black Sea Grain Shipments VOA 17 May 2023 -- Russia and Ukraine agreed Wednesday to a two-month extension until July 18 of their pact allowing grain shipments from Ukrainian ports through the Russian-controlled Black Sea to global markets to ease world food shortages.
• Lavrov Slams West's Regrets Over Peace Talks as Ukraine Refuses to Negotiate Sputnik 17 May 2023 -- Kiev has adopted a special law that prevents any peace talks with the Kremlin, whilst carrying out terror attacks on Russian territory and sacrificing countless lives of Ukrainians. Yet Western political rhetoric alleges that it is Moscow which is avoiding diplomacy.
• Russia rejects Kiev's claim of downing hypersonic missiles Press TV 17 May 2023 -- Russian defense minister has dismissed Ukraine's claim of shooting down six Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, saying Russia had not fired such number of missiles that were in fact used to crush a US-supplied Patriot air system.
• Kinzhal Missile Strike Destroyed Five Patriot Launchers in Kiev - Russia Sputnik 17 May 2023 -- While Kiev claimed it had intercepted six Kinzhals, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu told Sputnik in an interview that Ukrainian reports are mistaken in every regard, noting that only a couple of Russian missiles were enough to penetrate Kiev's defenses.
• Moscow Confirms Grain Deal Extension for Two Months Sputnik 17 May 2023 -- Over the past weeks, tensions around the accord have been rising, with Russia stressing that crucial parts of the deal are ignored by the West.
• Russia confirms participation in grain deal for at least 60 more days UN News 17 May 2023 -- Russia has confirmed that it will continue to take part in the UN-brokered Black Sea Initiative for a further 60 days, the UN Secretary-General said on Wednesday.
• "It has been decided to extend the Black Sea Grain Corridor Agreement for another two months" Presidency Of The Republic Of Turkey 17 May 2023 -- Speaking at a gathering with AK Party provincial heads, President Erdoğan said: "It has been decided to extend the Black Sea Grain Corridor Agreement for another two months with the efforts of our country, our Russian friends' support and our Ukrainian friends' contributions."
• Russia agrees to extend grain deal with Ukraine by 2 months, says Turkey's Erdogan Press TV 17 May 2023 -- Russia has extended a grain deal with Ukraine for another two months in a bid to boost global food security, says Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Meeting with Government members President of Russia 17 May 2023 -- Vladimir Putin held a videoconference meeting with Government members.
• US Military Intercepts Russian Military Aircraft Near Alaska for Second Time in a Week VOA 17 May 2023 -- The U.S. military has confirmed another Russian military aircraft was tracked while operating near the U.S. state of Alaska on Monday, the second such incident in less than a week.
• Representatives of the Russian and South African armed forces hold talks in Moscow Russia MoD 17 May 2023 -- A military delegation of the South African Armed Forces led by Lieutenant General Lawrence Mbatha, Chief of the South African Army, has arrived in Moscow to discuss bilateral military cooperation.

Foreign Policy

• Briefing by Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, Moscow, May 17, 2023 Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 17 May 2023
• Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's interview with Tsargrad TV, Moscow, May 17, 2023 Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 17 May 2023
• Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's opening remarks at talks with Foreign Minister of Belarus Sergey Aleinik, Moscow, May 17, 2023 Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 17 May 2023
• Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's remarks and answhers to media questions during a joint news conference with Foreign Minister of Belarus Sergey Aleinik following their talks, Moscow, May 17, 2023 Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 17 May 2023
• Iran, Russia sign $1.6bn contract to build Rasht-Astara railway IRNA 17 May 2023 -- Islamic Republic of Iran and Russia have signed an agreement worth $1.6 billion to build the Rasht-Astara railway, a project in northern Iran which will be key to transit of cargo through the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC).
• Putin, Raisi Sign Agreement on Construction of $1.6Bln Rasht-Astara Railway Sputnik 17 May 2023 -- The launch of the Rasht-Astara railway in Iran will allow diversifying global traffic flows, and such transportation will have competitive advantages, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday.
• Iran, Russia sign deal on construction of strategic Rasht-Astara railway Press TV 17 May 2023 -- Iran and Russia have signed an agreement on the construction of the Rasht-Astara railway, a strategic transport corridor that connects the existing railways of the two countries and Azerbaijan.
• Iran, Russia ink contracts, MoUs on oil and gas projects IRNA 17 May 2023 -- Iranian and Russian companies have signed two conytacts and eight memoranda of understanding (MoUs) to expand cooperation on oil and gas projects.
• Iran, Russia ink agreement for construction of Rasht-Astara railway ISNA 17 May 2023 -- An agreement for the construction of the Rasht-Astara railway between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Russia was signed in a video conference with the presence of Ebrahim Raisi and Vladimir Putin.
• Russia invests in construction of Rasht-Astara railway ISNA 17 May 2023 -- An agreement for financing construction of Rasht-Astara railway was signed between Iran and Russia on Wednesday.
• Ceremony for signing an intergovernmental agreement with Iran on cooperation in the construction of the Rasht-Astara railway line in Iran to boost transportation via the international North-South transport corridor President of Russia 17 May 2023 -- Vladimir Putin and President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ebrahim Raisi took part, via videoconference, in a ceremony for signing an agreement between the Government of Russia and the Government of Iran on cooperation in financing the design, construction and supply of goods and services for the Rasht-Astara railway line in Iran, aimed at boosting transportation via the International North-South Transport Corridor.
• With raft of deals, Iran, Russia pledge to expand ties Press TV 17 May 2023 -- Iran and Russia have signed scores of economic and energy deals as the two countries seek to replicate their successful security and military cooperation in efforts that could offset the impacts of Western sanctions on their economies.
• USAID Chief to Congress: Foreign Aid Key in Countering Chinese, Russian Influence VOA 17 May 2023 -- A top Republican lawmaker said Wednesday the funding priorities for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) do not go far enough in addressing the threat posed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
• Allies 'Don't Go To Russia,' EU's Enlargement Commissioner Says After Forum In Sarajevo RFE/RL 17 May 2023 -- The European Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi on May 17 warned aspiring member Bosnia-Herzegovina that EU allies do not visit Russia, another show of disappointment in the country after Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik's trip to Moscow last year.

News Reports

• Atlantic Council Confirms Herbst Fell Ill Amid Possible Russian-Linked Poisonings RFE/RL 17 May 2023 -- The Atlantic Council has confirmed that John Herbst, one of its senior staffers and a former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, experienced symptoms consistent with poisoning two years ago.
• Russia's second largest bank inaugurates representative office in Tehran Press TV 17 May 2023 -- Russia's second-largest and majority state-owned VTB Bank has opened up a representative office in Iran as the two neighboring countries seek to further connect their interbank communication and transfer systems in the face of Western sanctions.