Five foreigners who fought alongside Ukraine against the Russian army are being tried in absentia in Russia. The military court in Rostov-on-Don has announced that the trial should begin on May 31. Meanwhile, Russia has reported a Ukrainian drone attack on a warship in the Black Sea, and NATO countries are at odds over Ukraine’s entry – which, incidentally, according to Putin, “never existed” (see video above).
Three Britons, a Swede and a Croat will be tried in absentia in Russia for “mercenaries”. All five were released in September 2022 as part of a prisoner exchange.
According to Moscow, the five men were captured in Ukraine, where they fought on the side of Ukrainian troops against the Russian army. They are accused of fighting for the Ukrainian Azov regiment. The regiment is classified as a terrorist organization in Russia.
Putin: “Ukraine never existed!”
On May 23, President Vladimir Putin received Valery Zorkin, President of the Russian Constitutional Court. He showed him a map from the 17th century (see video above). “Why did I bring you the map? Because there is no Ukraine!” said Zorkin. Putin studies them and then says: “The Soviet Union invented the Soviet Republic of Ukraine. Everyone knows that. Ukraine didn’t even exist before that!”
According to Stoltenberg, the NATO countries disagree about Ukraine’s accession
Meanwhile, war-torn Ukraine is pushing for swift NATO entry – as are Finland and Sweden – but alliance members are divided just weeks before a summit in Lithuania. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said in Brussels on Wednesday that there were “different views within the alliance” on the issue. He recalled that a decision on admission must be unanimous.
According to diplomats in Brussels, the United States and many other member states have reservations. Poland and the Baltic states are the main proponents of integration.
Drone attack on Russian warship
Russia reported a Ukrainian drone strike on a warship in the Black Sea on Wednesday. Unmanned speedboats attacked the Ivan Churs, not far from the Bosphorus. The Russian warship protected the TurkStream and Blue Stream pipelines, which carry natural gas from Russia to Turkey. The information cannot be independently verified. Ukraine did not comment.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
