The EU has launched a new Black Sea strategy to boost defense readiness amid growing Russian threats. The plan includes €75B in infrastructure upgrades for military mobility, a new maritime security hub, and deeper ties with Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, and others.

🇩🇪🇺🇦 Chancellor Merz announces Germany will co-finance long-range Ukrainian-made missile systems without range limits.

"This marks a new phase of defense-industrial cooperation," Merz said alongside Zelensky.

Germany will also fund a significant share of Starlink in Ukraine.

⚡️ President Zelensky after meeting with Chancellor Merz: "We have new agreements on providing air defense systems and missiles for them."

🇺🇦 Zelensky: "If Ukraine is not present at the NATO summit, it will be a victory not over Ukraine, but over NATO — a victory for Putin."

The General Staff of Ukraine confirms: Defense Forces struck key Russian military-industrial targets.

In Dubna (Moscow Oblast), SSO & SBU hit “Kronstadt” — producer of combat drones like Orion & Sirius — and the “Raduga” missile plant, manufacturer of Kh-101/555 & Kh-59. Additional hits were confirmed on “Angstrem” microelectronics facility and the Dmitrovsky plant (Ivanovo Oblast), which supplies explosives & rocket fuel additives.

TIVAZ artillery group destroys a BM-21 Grad MLRS and its nearby ammunition depot with a precision strike using cluster-equipped HIMARS.

🇷🇺 Kremlin mouthpiece Simonyan: "In Moscow’s offices, it’s being discussed that if German troops strike Moscow with German weapons — and a green light for Taurus missiles can only mean that, since Ukraine can neither maintain them nor program their flight paths — then we have no choice but to strike Berlin."

Russia has threatened NATO capitals for 3 years and done nothing.

🚨 Massive security breach: Russian nuclear weapons infrastructure exposed online

Danwatch & Der Spiegel uncovered blueprints, layouts, and internal systems of Russia’s most sensitive nuclear missile sites—including Avangard-equipped silos—via leaked procurement docs.

https://danwatch.dk/en/serious-security-breach-russian-nuclear-facilities-exposed/

🇺🇦🇺🇸 Ukraine will start importing American LNG via a new route through the EU. The gas will flow in reverse from Greece through Bulgaria, Romania, and Moldova. First deliveries are expected in June, with up to 3 million cubic meters per day. If continued past October, total imports could reach 700–800 million cubic meters by year’s end, RBC-Ukraine reports.

🇩🇪 Germany agrees to provide €5 billion in fresh military aid to Ukraine, the Defense Ministry announced according to Bloomberg.

Zelensky: Germany is a global leader in supporting Ukraine and the rules-based world order. Today, we discussed our joint diplomacy, security, and projects. Thank you, Mr. Chancellor, for today’s important talks. Together, we work to bring peace closer and ensure greater safety for our people.

Germany will provide around €5 billion to support Ukraine’s defense, including financing production of long-range Ukrainian-made weapons, delivering air defense systems, weapons, ammunition, and funding military communication and medical equipment, the German MoD confirms.

🇭🇺🇸🇰 Hungary and Slovakia refused to sign an EU Council document on strengthening democratic resilience, countering disinformation, and supporting independent media. As a result, Poland released it as Presidency conclusions, backed by 25 member states — 🇵🇱 Europe Minister Adam Szłapka.

🇺🇦 Ukrainian aviation continues to strike across all fronts — a Russian command post and infantry positions were destroyed near Bakhmut. AASM Hammer guided bombs were used in the operation.

🇩🇪🇺🇦 Germany has signed a €2.2B contract with Diehl Defence to supply Ukraine with IRIS-T air defense systems and missiles. The deal, announced during President Zelenskyy’s Berlin visit, is part of a wider €5B German military aid package.

🇷🇺 Russia has proposed a date and venue for talks with Ukraine in the coming days to exchange memorandums on a settlement, per Russian delegation leader Vladimir Medinsky. He claims Ukraine "went to consult" and that Moscow is awaiting a prompt response.

This again appears to be a stalling tactic aimed at keeping memorandum details out of the public eye.

🇺🇸 “I’ll let you know in 2 weeks whether Putin is playing us. If so, we’ll respond differently.”

Trump says his envoy is doing “phenomenal work” with Russia, but no deal is signed yet. He’s also “very disappointed” by mass strikes on Ukraine.

And after that, another two weeks, and after that...

🇫🇮🇺🇦 Finland launches a Shelter Coalition to support Ukraine. During a meeting in Kyiv, PMs Denys Shmyhal and Petteri Orpo signed documents formalizing the initiative.

Ukraine aims to build 2,300 civil protection shelters by 2027 and 3,000 more by 2030. Kyiv calls on the international community to join and contribute.

The Drone Coalition grows stronger: Turkey and Belgium are joining the international initiative co-led by Latvia and the UK. In 2025, coalition members will allocate €2.75B to support Ukraine, bringing total aid to €4.5B since 2024.

‼️ The first batch of long-range weapons funded by Germany and produced in Ukraine could be ready within weeks, according to the German Defense Ministry.

The systems are domestically made, already in service with the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and require no additional training. Mass production is expected to begin in 2025.