U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on Monday welcomed more than 40 countries to the second Ukraine Contact Group meeting, held virtually, on May 23, almost three months to the day since the war in Ukraine began.
Almost all combat-ready units of the Russian army are involved in the war with Ukraine. They come from 52 regions of Russia, as well as the occupied Crimea. The remaining units cover the border with NATO.
Russia is using a scorched-earth policy in eastern Ukraine, destroying the areas with aviation and artillery before Russian troops are entering them, but the Armed Forces of Ukraine are successfully repulsing enemy attacks.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has invited foreign countries to take part in Ukraine’s reconstruction, as the war unleashed by Russia has already caused over $0.5 billion worth of losses to Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said he is convinced that Ukraine has long been part of Europe and looks forward to gaining the status of a candidate for membership in the European Union in June.
Commander of the Russian army’s assault company Adam Khamkhoev, who is the nephew of the Deputy Chief of the Russian Defense Ministry, Yunus-Bek Yevkurov, was killed in a battle in Ukraine on the night of May 21.