🇳🇱 NATO is working to secure a spot for President Zelensky at the upcoming summit in The Hague, says Dutch Defense Minister Brekelmans. While Zelensky likely won’t join the main meeting of 32 NATO leaders, NATO aims to find him a place during the two-day event. The US reportedly has reservations.

Russia is overwhelming Ukraine’s air defenses with massive drone & missile attacks. On May 25, nearly 300 drones and 69 missiles targeted Ukrainian cities—a new record. If ceasefire talks fail, Ukraine may soon have to ration interceptors as more attacks get through.

Russians trying to reach Ukrainian positions in a simple vehicle, drove onto a mine in the Pokrovsk direction.

Ukraine’s air defenses repelled a massive overnight Russian attack: all 9 Kh-101 cruise missiles were shot down, along with 288 out of 355 Shahed-type and other drones. The attack involved 364 aerial threats launched from multiple directions.

🇩🇪 German Chancellor Friedrich Merz says Germany, France, the UK, and the US have lifted all restrictions on Ukraine striking deep into Russian territory with Western-supplied weapons.

"This is a decisive shift—Ukraine can now hit military targets in Russia’s rear," he stated on the air of the German public television WDR Europaforum

🇺🇸 The U.S. does not plan to provide Patriot systems to Ukraine free of charge but is prepared to sell them, according to The Washington Post. Discussions are ongoing as Ukraine seeks to strengthen its air defenses.

🇩🇪 President Zelensky will visit Berlin this Wednesday, Spiegel reports. He is set to meet Chancellor Merz to discuss next steps toward potential Ukraine-Russia talks and receive updates on a new EU sanctions package. A meeting with President Steinmeier is also planned.

🇫🇷 French President Macron believes that Trump has come to realize Putin lied to him, according to BFMTV. Macron also proposed setting a firm deadline for achieving a ceasefire, after which increased pressure should be applied to the Kremlin.

Again? Followed by doing nothing?

🇺🇦 Ukrainian MiG-29s continue precision strikes across all fronts, eliminating Russian positions — including FSB officers — near Hlotove, Belgorod region

Putin now says Russia was "pushed" into launching the so-called special military operation and is unfairly blamed: “We didn’t stage a coup in Ukraine.”

Another desperate attempt by the Kremlin leader to excuse his ongoing war of aggression.

🇩🇪🇸🇰 Germany may push to suspend EU funding to Slovakia if it continues drifting from the bloc’s common course, Chancellor Friedrich Merz warns. Countries undermining the rule of law, like Hungary, risk financial consequences — and the EU must be ready for tougher confrontations.

🇩🇰 Russia’s record drone strikes prove Putin isn’t serious about peace, says Danish PM Mette Frederiksen: “He talks negotiations by day, bombs Ukraine by night.”

Well. If he’s not interested and we know it — ramp up support for Ukraine, fast.

🇸🇪 Sweden allocates an additional €443M in military aid to Ukraine, the government announces. The funds will support various coalitions and initiatives, including €92 million for Ukraine’s defense industry under the “Danish model.”

Kremlin says the continuation of large-scale prisoner exchanges between Russia and Ukraine will depend on the outcome of ongoing negotiations.

May 23–24: 🇷🇺 forces launched repeated assaults on positions held by Ukraine’s 31st Mechanized Brigade near Staromaiorske–Rivnopil–Zelene Pole.

All Russian armor and vehicles—incl. cage-armored trucks—were spotted early and destroyed. The footage shows total wipeout.

Disruption of Russian logistics and communication on the Lyman axis. Battalion "SIGNUM" carried out precision strikes, destroying two trucks (Ural and KamAZ), two communication antennas, a "Bukhanka" van, and a vehicle equipped with an electronic warfare system

Zelensky: "Russian strikes grow more brazen and massive every night — over 900 attack drones in three days, plus ballistic and cruise missiles. There is no military sense in this, only Putin’s political choice to keep destroying lives. Diplomacy cannot succeed amid constant attacks. Russia must face full pressure — strong sanctions from the US, Europe, and allies — to force a ceasefire and respect for peace. Putin must stop playing with diplomacy."

🇱🇻🇺🇦 Latvia's Defence Minister, Andris Sprūds, announced that Latvia is sending an additional 1,500 combat drones to Ukraine. This is part of a broader commitment, with two Latvian companies set to deliver a total of 12,000 drones in the first half of 2025 under the international Drone Coalition initiative.