Russian trial begins against American basketball player Brittney Griner
American basketball player Brittney Greener (pictured here at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics) was accused by Russian authorities of having cannabis oil in her luggage and smuggling the drug, a crime that could carry a 10-year prison sentence.
Jean Catouf | Getty Images
American basketball player Brittney Greener, who has been detained in Russia since February 17, arrived at a Moscow court for her trial. The Olympic gold medalist was accused by Russian authorities of having cannabis oil in her luggage and smuggling the drug, a crime that could carry a 10-year prison sentence.
US officials say Greener was wrongfully detained. US national security adviser Jake Sullivan said this week that the athlete was “wrongfully detained, unfairly detained and we have made that clear as an official decision of the US government”.
— Natasha Turak
The Iron Curtain is ‘already coming down’ between Russia and the West, Russia says
The Iron Curtain between Russia and the West is essentially already here, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said, describing the political and economic wall that has formed since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“As for the Iron Curtain, it is essentially already coming down,” Lavrov said after talks with the Belarusian foreign minister, according to an AFP translation.
He added that the EU has made no effort to understand Russia’s interests, saying it “is interested in what is decided in Brussels. And what is decided in Washington is decided in Brussels.”
Since the beginning of March and the imposition of numerous sanctions on Russia by the West, which cut off many travel, financial and business links, many historians have referred to the so-called “Iron Curtain” in describing international relations.
The term was first popularized by former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill in 1946 to describe the political, military and ideological barrier erected by the Soviet Union under Joseph Stalin to isolate itself from the West.
— Natasha Turak
Biden says US will stick with Ukraine ‘as long as necessary’
US President Joe Biden promised to support Ukraine as long as necessary. He was speaking at the end of a NATO summit in Madrid at which the alliance agreed to massively increase its troop presence in Eastern Europe.
Asked at a new conference on Thursday if there was any limit on US aid spending to Kyiv, Biden replied: “We will stick with Ukraine and all allies will stick with Ukraine as necessary, and in fact make sure , that they are not defeated.”
Biden also announced a new $800 million military aid package for the country as the war enters its fifth month.
— Natasha Turak
Zelensky thanked Ukrainian troops after Russia’s withdrawal from Snake Island
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky attends a working meeting of G7 leaders via video link as Russia’s attack on Ukraine continues, in Kyiv, Ukraine, June 27, 2022.
Press Office of the Ukrainian President | via Reuters
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked Ukrainian forces after liberating Snake Island, a remote island off southern Ukraine.
“Undoubtedly the key word today is ‘Snake.’ Apparently, there was so much talk about Zmiyni (Zmiyski) Island only on the day the Russian ship arrived there. After that, the ship left for good and now the island is free again,” Zelensky said via the Telegram messaging platform, according to an NBC News translation.
Ukrainian officials said earlier that Russian troops had evacuated Snake Island, which was captured by Russian forces on the first day of the invasion. Russia’s Defense Ministry also confirmed the withdrawal.
— Amanda Macias
Trudeau says Canada will increase military presence in Latvia
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau gives a news conference after the NATO summit at the IFEMA Convention Center in Madrid, Spain on June 30, 2022.
Dursun Aydemir | Anatolian Agency | Getty Images
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his government will increase the presence of Canadian troops in Latvia as part of NATO’s commitment to strengthen its deterrence measures along the border with Russia.
Trudeau made the announcement at the close of the three-day NATO summit in Madrid. He did not give specific numbers.
Canada leads the NATO battle group in Latvia of about 2,000 troops in total. Albania, the Czech Republic, Italy, Montenegro, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain also contribute troops to the group.
“We will strengthen our military deployment in Latvia and work with other allies to be able to rapidly increase our current strength to our combat-ready brigade when needed,” Trudeau said.
Trudeau said his government also wants to send up to 39 armored fighting vehicles to support Ukraine along with six additional drone cameras to help fight the Russian invasion.
— Associated Press
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