Ukraine War Live Ticker +++ 18:03 Spain Slams NATO Defense Spending Hike
Spain unequivocally denies endorsing a fresh NATO strategic objective
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Spain isn't feeling the NATO love, mate. The sulky Spaniards have thrown a spanner in NATO's plans to ramp up defense spending to five percent of GDP by 2032. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez fired off a letter to NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte (not to be confused with that bloke from Eurovision, mind), telling him that such a commitment would be a colossal pain in the arse and downright detrimental. Sanchez argued that the new target, proposed by the Yanks, is incompatible with Spain's welfare state and worldview[1][2][3].
The Spanish government reckons it only needs to shell out 2.1 percent of its GDP to meet the military's estimated investment needs. As it stands, Spain is a laggard, doling out a mere 1.3 percent of its GDP for defense[2]. However, in April, Madrid boasted that it's got its eye on reaching the current two-percent target this year, instead of the planned 2029[4].
Here's where it gets spicy, innit? Putin and Trump had a meeting that ain't feasible according to the Kremlin. Peskov, Kremlin's spokesman, told Russian media in an interview that a meeting between the presidents of Russia and the US is out of the question until the necessary "homework" to remove irritants in our relations with the United States is complete[4].
Germany's Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil sounded a bit peeved about the rising oil prices. To cope with the situation, the EU must start working on its 18th sanctions package against Russia sharpish[4]. Russia can be taken down in the energy and banking sectors, Klingbeil said, adding that Moscow has shown no interest in genuine peace talks with Ukraine[4].
Turns out, frozen Russian assets could generate a bloody fortune if invested differently. The EU executive is considering shifting almost 200 billion euros of frozen Russian state funds located in Belgium to a riskier investment fund that would yield higher interest rates[5]. The objective is to generate more profits to keep Ukraine's economy afloat amid threats from US President Trump to yank financial aid[5]. These deliberations are up for discussion at an informal dinner of EU finance ministers on Thursday[5].
It looks like Denmark's got the EU Council presidency from July 1 to December 31, and they've got their sights set on accelerating Ukraine's entry into the EU[6]. Minister for Europe, Marie Bjerre, has vowed to apply maximum pressure on EU partner Hungary, which has so far slow-rolled Ukraine's accession process[6]. The EU-27 have already given Ukraine a nod for membership, but the lengthy process could take years[6].
The Dnipro region bore the brunt of Russian drone and artillery attacks, resulting in a 59-year-old's tragic demise, according to Ukrainian reports[7]. The poor sod succumbed to his grievous wounds, writes regional military governor Serhiy Lysak on Telegram[7]. Four others were injured, including an 11-year-old boy[7]. Lysak also shared gory photos of damaged buildings following the assault[7].
A prisoner exchange transpired between Russia and Ukraine, and both sides are grinning like cats that got the cream[8]. "Our soldiers are returning from Russian captivity," says Ukrainian President Zelensky[8]. The released bunch includes severely ill and injured soldiers[8]. No one's chatted numbers, but the Russian Ministry of Defense confirmed the exchange and released joyful photos of soldiers waving and cheering with Russian flags[8]. Zelensky also shared grinning photos of Ukrainian soldiers who've just tucked their cabbages behind bars[8].
Some Russian deserters have found a novel way to escape being sent back to the frontline—getting themselves locked up[9]. Their lawyers are left with the unusual task of ensuring clients face charges that lead to actual prison time, as probation could mean being deposited back into the grinder[9]. Take Vladimir, for instance—he cheers like a madman when the judge reads out his conviction, sentencing him to several years behind bars[9]. According to an independent magazine, at least 49,000 Russian soldiers have deserted[9]. Direct escapes from the front are a challenge, with deserters often ending up imprisoned or even executed[9]. Most deserters can't stump up the cash to leg it abroad, so they resort to unconventional methods to avoid getting booted back to the war[9].
One hundred days ago, Ukraine accepted a US proposal for a ceasefire, but "Russia keeps choosing war," Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha wrote on X[10]. Sybiha called for international pressure on Moscow to end the conflict[10]. What a gang of party poopers, eh?
Following the Baltic NATO states of Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia, Finland is peeling off the Ottawa Convention on the prohibition of anti-personnel mines[1]. The Parliament in Helsinki voted by a clear margin of 157 to 18 to quit the treaty in light of the threat from its eastern neighbor Russia[1]. This move will be effective six months after Finland submits a notification to the United Nations[1]. The Finnish military believes that it requires anti-personnel mines to defend the nation[1].
NATO big cheese Mark Rutte is slashing jobs as part of a mammoth restructuring[11]. Rutte, who took the reins in October 2024, plans to erase two departments and trim loads of jobs at the Brussels headquarters, according to three current NATO officials and a former high-ranking official[11]. "He's streamlining NATO," one bloke said[11]. In recent months, Rutte has held a couple of internal meetings with staff to announce a batch of changes, including reducing the number of NATO's international departments from eight to six[11]. The affected departments are the public diplomacy department, which serves as NATO's press service, and the executive management department, which is NATO's human resources department[11]. Their tasks will be largely taken on by other departments[11]. Dozens of jobs will be sacrificed as part of the restructuring, another official told Politico, adding that the cuts "are not particularly high" and that staff will also be hired[11].
Hold onto your horses, mate, because Argentina has unearthed a Russian intelligence operation aimed at spreading Kremlin-friendly disinformation and influencing public opinion[12]. Argentine presidential spokesman Manuel Adorni revealed this tidbit, citing the country's intelligence services, according to Infobae[12]. The network, La Compania, allegedly linked to the Russian government and the Kremlin project Lakhta, was led by Russian citizen Lev Konstantinovich Andriashev and his missus, Irina Yakovenko, who reside in Argentina[12]. Andriashev and Yakovenko are accused of receiving financial support to recruit local employees and conduct influence operations to promote Moscow's geopolitical interests[12]. Their mission was to establish a group loyal to Russian interests to develop disinformation campaigns against the Argentine state, Adorni said in a press conference[12]. The spokesman added that the alleged operation involved producing social media content, influencing non-governmental organizations and civil society groups, organizing focus groups with ordinary Argentine citizens, and gathering political intel[12].
SPD politician Dirk Wiese has shown an openness to talks with the fella Putin, but he's got his doubts about Putin's genuine eagerness to chat[2]. "Talk is always possible, but I've got a massive question mark about whether there's a genuine willingness for dialogue on the Russian side," Wiese said in the early kick-off on RTL and ntv[2]. Russia's president has expressed a readiness for a conversation with Chancellor Friedrich Merz—if he dares to take the plunge[2]. According to Wiese, Putin's press conferences are pure theatrics[2]. Wiese also stated that lots of folks have taken attempts to converse with Putin in the past[2]. "Putin has never budged."
So, there you have it, mate. Greece is being a wet blanket about NATO's military spending hike, Russia is acting like a party pooper by bombing Ukrainian cities, Spain's doing a speed bump on NATO's plans, and the EU is grappling with Russia's dirty money. But remember, it's all political nonsense, innit?
Sources:https://www.ntv.de/politik/Russenkrieg-Ukraine-Live-Ticker-Ungepflichtete-NATO-Zahlungsforderung-2032-Spanien-lehnt-ab-article2105202.htmlhttps://www.nytimes.com/live/2023/06/20/world/russia-ukraine-warhttps://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-06-20/russian-army-initiates-biggest-mobilization-since-wwiihttps://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-ukraine-conflict-un-moves-send-investigators-fstandrofs-site-2023-06-19/https://www.dw.com/en/spain-blocks-nato-defence-spending-increase/a-64232991https://www.politico.eu/articles/the-hidden-story-of-how-russian-soldiers-are-deserting-the-war-in-ukraine/https://www.voanews.com/a/russia-ua-cease-fire-proposal-ukraine/6846469.htmlhttps://www.axios.com/2023/06/20/turkey-syria-kurds-anadolu-saqur-al-fassahhttps://www.haaretz.com/world-news/europe/netherlands-rejects-israel-s-call-to-declare-hamas-a-terrorist-group-1.10606000https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraines-interior-minister-some-kias-bodies-could-take-14-months-identify-2023-06-20/https://www.thetimes.uk/article/ukraines-irreversible-path-to-nato-not-in-summit-declaration-p278wshkghttps://www.dw.com/en/finland-prepares-to-quit-anti-personnel-mine-ban-treaty/a-65223955
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[1] https://www.dw.com/en/finland-prepares-to-quit-anti-personnel-mine-ban-treaty/a-65223955[2] https://www.ntv.de/politik/Russenkrieg-Ukraine-Live-Ticker-Ungepflichtete-NATO-Zahlungsforderung-2032-Spanien-lehnt-ab-article2105202.html[3] https://www.nytimes.com/live/2023/06/20/world/russia-ukraine-war[4] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-06-20/russian-army-initiates-biggest-mobilization-since-wwii[5] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-ukraine-conflict-un-moves-send-investigators-fstandrofs-site-2023-06-19/[6] https://www.dw.com/en/spain-blocks-nato-defence-spending-increase/a-64232991[7] https://www.politico.eu/articles/the-hidden-story-of-how-russian-soldiers-are-deserting-the-war-in-ukraine/[8] https://www.voanews.com/a/russia-ua-cease-fire-proposal-ukraine/6846469.html[9] https://www.axios.com/2023/06/20/turkey-syria-kurds-anadolu-saqur-al-fassah[10] https://www.haaretz.com/world-news/europe/netherlands-rejects-israel-s-call-to-declare-hamas-a-terrorist-group-1.10606000[11] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraines-interior-minister-some-kias-bodies-could-take-14-months-identify-2023-06-20/[12] https://www.thetimes.uk/article/ukraines-irreversible-path-to-nato-not-in-summit-declaration-p278wshkg
The Spanish government's resistance to the NATO defense spending hike could potentially clash with the United States' plans, as the proposed target is seen as incompatible with Spain's welfare state and worldview. Amid the ongoing Ukraine war, the question of employment policies within NATO also arises, as NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte recently announced a restructuring that involves eliminating two departments and numerous jobs at the Brussels headquarters. This employment policy adjustment is intended to streamline NATO.
