TOP NEWS

Russian invasion  The fighting
Diplomatic slump – promises to escalate attacks

Ukraine’s commander-in-chief promises to increase the “scale and depth” of attacks on Russia, AFP reports.

There is currently a slump in diplomatic efforts between the two countries after the latest failed peace talks in Istanbul, AFP writes. In that vacuum, military intensity is now growing.

– We will not just take a defensive position. Because that does nothing and ultimately leads to us retreating and losing people and land, says Oleksandr Syrskyj.

He also tells Reuters that Ukraine is currently fighting 10,000 soldiers in the Russian Kursk region. Russia has previously claimed that they have retaken the region, but according to Syrskyj, Ukraine still controls 90 square kilometers of the area.

Peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia – what has happened

• The US, Russia and Ukraine have been conducting intensive negotiations on ceasefires and peace agreements in the spring of 2025, often with Europe and Turkey as mediators.
• The US has proposed a 30-day ceasefire and pressured Ukraine to accept frozen front lines and recognition of the Crimean peninsula as Russian.
• Ukraine has demanded an immediate, unconditional ceasefire and opposed giving up territory, but has opened up for direct talks with Russia if a ceasefire can be reached.
• Russia has demanded international recognition of the annexed territories and opposed temporary ceasefires, but has opened up for talks in Turkey.
• Despite some progress, Russia has continued military attacks during the negotiations, and Ukraine accuses Moscow of delaying the process and avoiding concrete results. 

NATO's future
NATO countries reportedly agree on five percent target

NATO member countries reportedly agree that each country should spend five percent of GDP on its own defense. Diplomatic sources told AFP.

The data comes ahead of this week's NATO summit in The Hague. Previously, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez opposed the proposal, but he now announces that he agrees with it but that Spain will be exempt from the requirement.

- In our case, five percent of GDP would have been a disproportionate and unnecessary amount to spend, he says according to Reuters. 

New law: God's Ten Commandments in all classrooms

A new law in Texas, USA, requires God's Ten Commandments to be visible in all public school classrooms, reports Politico.

The law was signed yesterday but is expected to be criticized for violating the separation of church and state. A similar law in the state of Louisiana has been blocked by a federal judge.

“The purpose of the law is to highlight what is historically important to our country, both from an educational and legal perspective,” says Republican state representative Candy Noble.