Peter Szijjarto's announcement came after Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) allegedly dismantled a Hungarian military intelligence network operating in Zakarpattia Oblast.
Moscow and Washington discuss the potential resumption of Russian gas supplies to Europe, among other issues related to the peaceful settlement of Russia's war in Ukraine, Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov confirmed to the Russian state-run Interfax news agency.
"This is a historic decision, as weapons for Ukraine will be purchased at the expense of the proceeds from frozen Russian assets through the European Peace Fund," Denys Shmyhal said.
The approval marks a key step in international efforts to hold Moscow accountable for what is considered the gravest violation of international law committed against Ukraine.
Although Moscow declared on April 28 that it would halt all military actions from May 8 to midnight on May 11 to mark Victory Day, strikes on civilian areas have continued.
Under Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin's rule, millions of Ukrainians died during the Holodomor, a man-made famine in 1932–1933. The dictator also oversaw mass deportations, purges of Ukrainian intellectuals and leaders, and the suppression of the Ukrainian language and culture.
According to the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), this marks the first time Ukrainian authorities have exposed a Hungarian military intelligence network conducting activities harmful to Ukraine.
Delegations from 35 countries and the Council of Europe gathered in Lviv as EU officials prepare to approve both new defense aid and steps toward establishing a tribunal for Russian leadership.
The ruling marks a significant victory for RFE/RL amid growing concerns about U.S. funding cuts to independent media countering Russian disinformation.
U.S. Cardinal Robert Prevost was elected the new pope and leader of the Roman Catholic Church on Thursday, taking the name Pope Leo XIV, a senior cardinal announced on May 8 to crowds gathered in St. Peter’s Square, according to Vatican News.
George Simion, leader of Romania's far-right AUR party, who won the first round of the presidential election with nearly 40% of the vote, reiterated that if elected, he would oppose any further assistance to Ukraine and shift Romania’s focus inward.
Flags promoting the upcoming second Russia-Africa summit are pictured outside St Isaac's Cathedral in Saint Petersburg on July 25, 2023. (Photo credit: OLGA MALTSEVA/AFP via Getty Images)
African leaders have started to arrive in St. Petersburg ahead of the two-day Africa-Russia summit set to start on July 27, the Russian Embassy in South Africa announced on July 26.
According to Yurii Ushakov, an advisor to Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, the goal of the summit is to promote Russian-African cooperation in all areas. The event's slogan is "For Peace, Security, and Development."
The Moscow Times commented that the Kremlin is likely seeking to tighten economic cooperation with African countries amid deepening isolation from the West.
Ushakov said that 49 out of 54 invited countries have confirmed participation. Only 17 of them will be represented by their heads of state, however. This is significantly less than during the inaugural Sochi summit in 2019, where 43 heads of state took part in the event.
Putin met Etihopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on July 26 ahead of the summit. The Russian dictator said that Moscow appreciates "the long-standing friendly ties between Russia and Ethiopia, based on the principles of mutual respect and consideration for each other's interests."
The Independent reported that Putin will also meet the leadership of Egypt for bilateral talks on the same day.
The main part of the event will be held on July 28. At the end of the summit, the participants will adopt a joint declaration and approve an action plan of the Russia-Africa Forum for the period 2023-2026.
Moscow has long sought to nurture close relations with states in Africa.
Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov toured Africa in July 2022 and February 2023 to ramp up support for his country and blame Ukraine for a lack of food supplies amid Russia's naval blockade of Ukraine's Black Sea ports, vital for the export of Ukrainian grain.
Russia broke off the Black Sea Grain Initiative on July 17, blocking Ukrainian grain exports and threatening spikes in food prices worldwide. According to the Financial Times, Putin hopes to reach a deal with Turkey and Qatar to instead distribute Russian grain to Africa.
A delegation of African leaders visited St. Petersburg in June to discuss their proposed peace plan between Ukraine and Russia.
Martin Fornusek is a news editor at the Kyiv Independent. He has previously worked as a news content editor at the media company Newsmatics and is a contributor to Euromaidan Press. He was also volunteering as an editor and translator at the Czech-language version of Ukraïner. Martin studied at Masaryk University in Brno, Czechia, holding a bachelor's degree in security studies and history and a master's degree in conflict and democracy studies.
Anna Romandash
