Russian invasion

SCO meeting in China
Putin and Modi hand in hand: “Friendship and trust”

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi showed a strong bond of friendship in connection with the SCO meeting in China, reports NBC News. The leaders hugged and drove together.

“It is always rewarding to talk to him,” Modi writes on X with a picture from the car trip.

Putin and Modi were also seen holding hands shortly before the meeting with Xi Jinping. The Russian president calls Modi “a close friend” and says that the countries’ relationship is based on “friendship and trust.”

According to Keir Giles at the think tank Chatham House, it is unclear whether the leaders’ actions in China were spontaneous or carefully planned.

– The close relationship that Trump wants with Putin is now seen between Putin and others, he tells the channel.

Negotiations
Germany criticizes von der Leyen for statement on Europe's troop plan

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius criticizes EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen who said yesterday that Europe has a plan for troops in Ukraine as part of security guarantees. Several European countries could send a total of tens of thousands of soldiers, according to von der Leyen.

- These are things you don't discuss until you sit down at the negotiating table with many parties who have a say in them, he says according to Sky News.

Pistorius also says that the EU lacks the authority to decide on troops abroad. On Thursday, European countries will meet in Paris to talk about security guarantees for Ukraine after the end of the war. Zelensky is expected to attend, according to information to AFP.