The UK has announced it will provide an additional 650 short-range Lightweight Multirole Missiles (LMMs) to Ukraine, aimed at bolstering the country’s air defences in its ongoing conflict with Russia. The £162 million aid package was unveiled by UK Defence Secretary John Healey during a defence summit at the Ramstein air base in Germany, where Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also made a fervent appeal for further support. Zelensky expressed gratitude for the aid received but stressed the urgent need for Western-supplied long-range missiles to target Russian positions.

The new missile supply, which is expected to offer a crucial boost to Ukraine’s defensive capabilities, has been met with mixed reactions. Professor Michael Clark, former director-general of the Royal United Services Institute, warned that the missiles might be quickly depleted given the current intensity of the conflict. The UK has committed £12.7 billion in total support to Ukraine since the start of the invasion in February 2022, including £7.6 billion in military aid.

President Zelensky’s plea for long-range missile capabilities was reiterated at the summit, where he urged allies to reconsider restrictions on using Western-supplied weapons against targets within Russia. Despite the support, Western allies have so far restricted the use of long-range missiles to Ukrainian territory, a policy that Zelensky and others argue hinders Ukraine’s ability to end the conflict decisively.

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Ukraine’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba has resigned as part of a sweeping cabinet reshuffle announced this week. The move, which includes the resignation of several high-ranking officials such as the strategic industries minister and justice minister, reflects a significant overhaul of the government’s top positions. President Volodymyr Zelensky has emphasized the need for new perspectives and efficiency within the government as the country continues to face substantial challenges.

The reshuffle, confirmed by David Arakhamiya, parliamentary leader of the ruling Servant of the People party, will see more than half of the Cabinet of Ministers’ positions filled with new appointees. This strategic reset aims to enhance the government’s effectiveness amid ongoing martial law and a critical period of conflict with Russia. President Zelensky has indicated that these changes are necessary to align state institutions with the country’s urgent needs.

Opposition figures have criticized the move, arguing that it exacerbates the existing political and intellectual crises in Ukraine. With President Zelensky’s first term extended under martial law and several key ministerial roles still unfilled, the reshuffle coincides with continued Russian attacks, including recent strikes in Poltava and Lviv that have resulted in numerous casualties.

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In a significant breakthrough, Argentine police have apprehended Leonardo Bertulazzi, a fugitive wanted in Italy for nearly 44 years. Bertulazzi, now 72, was sentenced in absentia in Italy in the 1970s for his involvement in the kidnapping of Pietro Costa, a naval engineer from Genoa. The arrest follows Bertulazzi’s previous detention in 2002, when he was briefly held but later released due to complications in extradition. His refugee status, granted in 2004, was recently revoked by Argentina’s new right-wing administration under President Javier Milei.

The Red Brigades, a Marxist militant group active during the “Years of Lead,” was behind a series of high-profile kidnappings and murders, including the notorious abduction and killing of former Italian Prime Minister Aldo Moro in 1978. Bertulazzi’s involvement in the group’s Genoa section played a crucial role in financing the Red Brigades’ subsequent criminal activities, including the Moro case.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni lauded the Argentine authorities for their role in Bertulazzi’s arrest, highlighting the successful international collaboration with Interpol and other agencies. Bertulazzi’s legal team is currently challenging his extradition through Argentina’s national commission for refugees, amidst ongoing efforts by Italian authorities to secure the return of other Red Brigades members from France.

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