Suspect admits to killing Ukrainian politician

The suspect in the shooting death of former Ukrainian parliament speaker Andry Parubi has confessed. He spoke in court of"personal revenge" against the state, without elaborating.

The man also said he wants to be part of a prisoner exchange with Russia to find the body of his son, a fallen Ukrainian soldier. He added that he had not been recruited by Russia. The court ordered him to remain in custody for an additional 60 days pending further investigation. Ukrainian police said Monday they suspect Russian involvement.

The 54-year-old Parubi was killed on Saturday in the street of Liev and was buried on Tuesday. He led the 2014 demonstrations that led to the ouster of pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych and subsequently held various top positions, including that of parliament speaker between 2016 and 2019. He was a member of parliament at the time of his death.

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Ukraine will never agree to Russia's occupation of the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, the Foreign Ministry says. It also states that safety there can only be guaranteed with the immediate withdrawal of Russian troops.

The nuclear power plant, the largest in Europe, was seized in 2022 during the first weeks of the Russian invasion and has been under Russian control ever since. Ukraine and Russia have repeatedly accused each other of attacks on the complex.

The Ukrainian ministry made no direct reference in its statement to statements made by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who said during his visit to China that Russia is ready to cooperate with the United States on the

Ukraine

Today 4:20 PM

Moved to Paris summit on Ukraine security guarantees

Prime Minister Dick Schoof will travel to Paris on Thursday for a summit where Ukraine's allies will discuss security guarantees for the country. They hope to formulate concrete plans there to protect Ukraine after a future ceasefire or peace agreement with Russia.

The so-called coalition of willing countries has been in intensive talks again in recent weeks since US President Donald Trump pushed Russia and Ukraine to the negotiating table. To enter into peace talks with Russia, Ukraine needs security guarantees, allies noted, and the US is indispensable in this regard. Trump then promised to contribute to these guarantees, provided Europe does the heavy lifting in Ukraine.

Since then, European countries have been discussing who could provide air support or training, or perhaps even troops to deter Russia. The cabinet has not yet revealed what the Netherlands would be willing to contribute.

At least the leaders of France, the UK, and Ukraine are expected at the summit. Other leaders will be calling in.

Today 10:59

Ukraine: Thursday's summit will focus on security guarantees for Europe

The new summit of Ukraine's allies on security guarantees is not so much about Ukraine's security, but about Europe's, says a Ukrainian government official. He expects President Zelenskyy to meet with the leaders of at least France, the UK, Germany, NATO chief Mark Rutte, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Thursday in Paris.

The leaders of the so-called coalition of willing countries are"synchronizing their watches" on Thursday regarding the work on security guarantees, says Zelensky's closest adviser, Mykhaylo Podoliak. Ukraine's allies are discussing the matter with renewed urgency now that the US is pushing Ukraine and Russia to the negotiating table.

Essentially, it's about"security guarantees for Europe along its eastern border," Podoljak argues. The war must stop, but he also believes a"post-war security structure" must be built for Europe.

It is not yet clear who exactly will be joining us on Thursday.

Today 10:43

NATO chief Rutte takes GPS disruption by Russia 'very seriously'

NATO takes Russia's jamming of GPS signals used by aircraft, for example, very seriously, says NATO chief Mark Rutte."We are working day and night to ensure they don't do this again," Rutte assured during a visit to Luxembourg.

EU leader Ursula von der Leyen's plane was forced to land in Bulgaria on Sunday afternoon without GPS navigation. The satellite signal was disrupted, and Russia is the main suspect, Bulgarian authorities later announced.

NATO takes such jamming"very seriously," Rutte said Tuesday. Such disruptions have"potentially disastrous consequences." "That is precisely why NATO is doing more to combat cyber and 'hybrid' attacks," the disruption of other people's societies without the use of force."We have agreed on a policy to be more effective in this area."

Today 09:25

Vladimir Putin praises Xi Jinping during talks in Beijing: 'Russia-China relations at an unprecedented level'

Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin began talks in Beijing on Tuesday. Putin said that relations between the countries have reached"an unprecedented level." He also called Xi "a dear friend."

Xi and Putin reportedly agreed on more than twenty partnerships in Beijing, including in the fields of energy, aviation, artificial intelligence, and agriculture, according to the Chinese state news agency Xinhua. Russians will also be able to travel to China visa-free for 30 days for a year starting September 15, according to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It is unclear whether the situation in Ukraine was also discussed. According to China,"regional issues" were discussed based on "shared interests."

Putin will attend a large military parade in Beijing on Wednesday, marking the end of World War II in China. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will also be a guest. Kim departed Pyongyang by train on Monday. The armored train crossed the border into China overnight. Kim had not been abroad since visiting Russia in September 2023.

Close ties between China and Russia

Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, China has maintained close ties with Russia. The two leaders have met repeatedly since then. Beijing has also never publicly spoken out against the war and has supplied Russia with products that could be used for both civilian and military purposes. In May, Xi was in Moscow for the annual celebration of Russia's victory over Nazi Germany, which also included a large military parade. Today 06:13

South Korea: Some 2,000 North Korean soldiers who fought against Ukraine were killed

An estimated 2,000 North Korean soldiers have died fighting alongside Russia against Ukraine, according to a South Korean parliamentarian who was briefed by his country's intelligence service.

In April, intelligence officials estimated the death toll at around 600, but have now revised that figure upward. Nevertheless, North Korea reportedly plans to send another 6,000 troops to Russia, 1,000 of whom have already arrived.

North Korea, led by dictator Kim Jong-un, has strengthened ties with neighboring Russia since the start of the Ukrainian War. Last year, North Korea reportedly sent more than 10,000 troops to support the Russian military.

Those troops were reportedly deployed primarily in the western Russian region of Kursk, where Ukraine invaded in 2024. The Ukrainians were later repelled.

North Korean involvement in the war is a concern for democratically governed South Korea. South Korean authorities are monitoring what the Kim regime receives from Russia in return. For example, there are fears that the North Koreans are receiving drone technology, South Korean media reported earlier this year. Their troops may also have learned on the battlefield about tactics that can be employed in drone warfare.