Russia

• The Biden administration on Tuesday announced a new $500 million military aid package for Ukraine that includes new Bradley and Stryker armored vehicles and munitions for various weapons systems. AWC
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told BBC last week that there will be no Ukrainian presidential election in 2024 if martial law is still in effect, The New Voice of Ukraine reported. AWC
• The Kremlin’s top diplomat said Moscow can no longer trust Washington and the potential for nuclear war has escalated. The Russian foreign minister suggested talks with American officials were possible, but Washington has not made an effort to engage. The Institute
• The State Department announced it authorized selling $15 billion in advanced air defense systems to Poland. The deal comes as Washington wants to increase NATO’s military presence in Eastern Europe. The Institute 
• In a move which will surely garner censures from Bern’s European allies, Switzerland has vetoed a plan to send roughly 100 mothballed German-made Leopard 1 battle tanks to Kiev, citing its neutrality laws. This decision comes as Ukraine’s long awaited counteroffensive has netted substantial losses in armored vehicles. The Institute 
• US officials speaking to The New York Times said Wednesday that a senior Russian general knew Yevgeny Prigozhin was planning an uprising, a claim dismissed by the Kremlin. AWC
• NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Wednesday that the alliance is prepared to defend itself from any threat posed by Wagner fighters who go to Belarus. AWC
• The Swedish government permitted a Quran-burning protest that took place in Sweden on Wednesday, a move that angered Turkey and made it less likely that Ankara will approve Stockholm’s NATO membership before the Vilnius summit in July. AWC

China

• The Taiwanese military has reaffirmed that it will fire on Chinese warplanes and naval vessels if they come within 12 nautical miles of Taiwan’s coast, which marks the beginning of the island’s territorial waters and airspace. AWC
• US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti said Wednesday that Washington and New Delhi can jointly deploy warships and warplanes in the Indian and Pacific Oceans as the two nations are increasing military ties. AWC

Iran

• Axios reported on Wednesday that White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan expressed concern to his Israeli counterpart about Israel leaking information to the press about the US and Iran holding indirect talks to reach an interim agreement on Tehran’s nuclear program. AWC