Putin on Armenia:

An increase in energy prices for Armenia would result in the loss of at least 14% of its GDP.

German police drew guns on unarmed pro-Palestinian activists attempting to block a Rheinmetall munitions facility in Berlin today.

Putin on Ukraine:

Naming specific timeframes while the combat is ongoing would be a mistake.

I am not going to do that.

Putin on Ukraine:

Hitting Russian territory, since the West is supplying Ukraine with drones, is made so much easier.

We must strengthen our systems, and that is something we will continue to do.

Putin on Ukraine:

Our troops are advancing every single day in every direction.

Putin rants about Western media:

I watch foreign TV channels from time to time... It's a disgrace!

They are openly deceiving their citizens.

Putin on Ukraine:

I think what we are seeing right now on the battlefield allows us to say that the situation is coming to an end.

Putin:

European politicians pretend that Russia is harboring aggressive plans against Western European states. That is just a crude, blatant lie.

As Joseph Goebbels said in his time: "The more incredible a lie, the easier it is for people to believe."

And these are the same standards Western politicians and media are implementing in their information and daily operations.

Putin:

Every place from where the direct military threat has emanated towards Russia, it’s a lawful, legal target for us.

Putin on Ukraine:

We are open for talks. We have never refused to have talks; we were not the ones who stopped them.

We are ready to go on with them.

Putin:

Russia has all the means necessary to raze to the ground anyone who attempts to destroy Russian air defense bases.

Putin on Gerhard Schröder:

I believe the European Union should appoint its own negotiator. We cannot appoint a negotiator for them.

And when I spoke about Schröder, I meant him as someone who could be trusted. Many labels have been attached to him—that he is a friend of mine, and so on. Yes, we are friends. I am not hiding that.

Is that a bad thing?

Putin:

When we started the construction of Nord Stream, was that a bad thing for the German state, for the German economy?

And now, when they refuse to buy our energy, is this better for them?

Zelensky:

Ukraine is ready to support Romania's security, which has been consistently helping us defend ourselves against Russian attacks for the fifth year in a row.

BIG: The UAE secretly carried out dozens of airstrikes against Iran during the war, coordinating with the US and Israel.

The attacks targeted military and energy-related sites and continued until after the ceasefire was announced.

The UAE took a much more aggressive approach than Saudi Arabia, creating tensions between MBZ and MBS, with both leaders clashing over how to respond to Iran and the wider regional conflict.

Source: WSJ

Bulgaria will only allow U.S. military aircraft to remain in the country until the end of June after Washington failed to approve visa-free travel for Bulgarian citizens, Prime Minister Rumen Radev said.

Radev said Bulgaria had urged the U.S. to lift visa requirements, including during a recent conversation with Trump, but received no positive response.

As a result, Sofia will not approve longer-term deployments of U.S. aircraft and military equipment at Sofia Airport.

Bulgaria currently hosts U.S. military aircraft under an agreement that expires at the end of May. The government will extend it only through June, giving Washington additional time to reconsider its position on visas.

Source: Reuters

Zelensky:

Russia is preparing a new large-scale attack.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry:

None of the Western parties, when speaking about the Islamic Republic of Iran, can use the language of 'must.'

We make our decisions based on the interests and rights of the Iranian nation.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry:

The exchange of messages continues, but no final understanding has yet been reached.

The Pentagon is recruiting hundreds of junior troops to attend Trump’s June 14 UFC event on the White House lawn.

Internal memos show attendees must pay their own travel costs, wear dress uniforms, and meet current fitness standards, including height-to-waist requirements.

Source: WaPo

Trump met for about two hours in the Situation Room but made no decision on a new Iran deal.

Source: NYT