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Russia link suspected in Eiffel Tower coffin mystery

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French intelligence officials believe Russia orchestrated a stunt involving five coffins draped in French flags, labeled “French soldiers of Ukraine,” placed near the Eiffel Tower. Three men, seen arriving in a van on Saturday morning, left the coffins, which contained plaster sacks. Police quickly apprehended the driver, a Bulgarian who claimed he was paid €40 by two others to transport the coffins. These two, a Ukrainian and a German, were later caught at Bercy coach station while attempting to board a bus to Berlin. They admitted to being paid €400 to deposit the coffins. All three were presented before a judge on Sunday as a judicial investigation began for “violence with premeditation.”

This incident is being investigated to determine if it was orchestrated from abroad, recalling two recent events where French police suspect Russian involvement. In October, Stars of David resembling the Israeli flag were stenciled in Paris after a Hamas attack on Israel. A Moldovan couple, believed to have been paid by Russian intelligence, was arrested. Last month, red hands were painted on a Holocaust memorial in Paris, with suspects fleeing abroad. One individual involved in the coffins incident had contact with a Bulgarian suspect linked to the red-hands affair, identified as Georgi F. by Le Monde.

Tensions between France and Russia have risen, partly due to President Emmanuel Macron’s stance on potentially sending French soldiers to Ukraine. Recently, discussions about sending French military instructors to Ukraine have intensified, which investigators think might have prompted Russian intelligence to stage the coffins stunt to demonstrate opposition to deeper French involvement in the Ukraine war. Previous incidents included teams with photographers whose images appeared on Russian propaganda websites.

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Zelensky accuses Russia and China of undermining summit

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Ukrainian President Zelensky has accused Russia and China of trying to sabotage his upcoming global peace summit in Switzerland. He claims Russia is pressuring countries not to attend and alleges China is assisting in this effort. Zelensky made these statements at an Asian security forum, where he urged delegates to attend his summit focused on nuclear security, food security, and the release of prisoners of war and Ukrainian children held in Russia.

Despite 106 countries confirming attendance, Russia has not been invited and China is not participating. Zelensky criticized China for being an instrument in Putin’s hands and accused China of supplying elements for Russia’s weaponry. However, China denies supplying weapons to either side of the Ukraine conflict and asserts its commitment to peace.

Zelensky also discussed with US Secretary of Defense Austin the US decision to allow Ukraine to use American weapons on Russian territory, albeit with restrictions. This move by the US and other Western states has drawn warnings from Russia about serious consequences.

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Biden Authorizes Ukraine to Target Certain Sites in Russia Using US Arms

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US President Joe Biden has reportedly authorized Ukraine to utilize American-supplied weaponry to target specific sites within Russia, particularly in the vicinity of the Kharkiv region. This directive aims to enable Ukraine to retaliate against Russian forces attacking or preparing to attack them.

Recent advances by Russian forces in the Kharkiv region, close to the Russian border, have prompted this decision. Despite this, the United States maintains its stance against allowing the use of long-range strikes or the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) within Russian territory.

Regarding the possibility of targeting Russian aircraft, US officials stated that Ukraine has not been prohibited from defending itself against Russian planes flying over Russian soil. While the UK and some European leaders have expressed openness to relaxing restrictions on the use of Western-supplied weapons by Ukraine, the US has previously been hesitant due to concerns about escalation.

However, recent events have prompted a shift in this approach, as indicated by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken during a visit to Moldova. Russian forces have taken advantage of opportunities to advance further into Ukrainian territory, particularly in Kharkiv, amid delays in the arrival of additional Western weapons to Ukraine.

Recent attacks, including the bombing of a supermarket and a residential building, have resulted in civilian casualties and extensive damage, with Ukrainian officials accusing Russian forces of targeting civilian infrastructure.

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Baltic worries about Russia’s proposal to redraw sea borders

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Calls for calm have been issued in Finland and the Baltic states following a draft Russian decree proposing border revisions in the Baltic Sea. Latvia is seeking clarification, while Lithuania accuses the Kremlin of using the decree as an intimidation tactic. Finnish President Alexander Stubb stated that political leaders are monitoring the situation and Finland will respond calmly and factually.

The draft, issued by Russia’s defense ministry, suggested altering sea borders around Russian islands in the Gulf of Finland and the exclave of Kaliningrad. Initially reported by Russia’s Tass news agency, the draft aimed to redraw Soviet-era borders from January 1985. It was unclear if Finnish or Lithuanian waters near Kaliningrad would be affected, but the proposal included the eastern Gulf of Finland, islands near the Finnish coast, and areas around Baltiysk and Zelenogradsk in Kaliningrad.

As members of the EU and NATO, Finland and the Baltic states have the alliance’s commitment to defend their borders. Finland’s defense and foreign committees convened emergency meetings, with Prime Minister Petteri Orpo stating there is no immediate cause for alarm.

The Russian proposals were subsequently removed from public view with a “draft deleted” notice. A Russian source later confirmed no plans to alter territorial waters in the Baltic. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov directed questions to the defense ministry, noting the political landscape had changed since the 1980s and emphasizing the heightened confrontation in the Baltic region.

Charly Salonius-Pasternak from the Finnish Institute of International Affairs suggested Russia’s approach was typical: probing reactions and retreating if met with resistance. Lithuania’s Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis described the draft as an escalation against NATO and the EU, advocating a strong response.

Simultaneously, Sweden’s armed forces chief, Gen Micael Byden, warned of Putin’s ambitions to control the Baltic Sea. Byden stressed the importance of keeping the Baltic Sea out of Putin’s control to maintain peace and stability. Sweden, a NATO member since March, has reinforced its military presence on the Baltic island of Gotland, which Gen Byden believes Russia has targeted.

In response to potential migration issues, Finland, which joined NATO last year, plans to prevent large-scale asylum seeker crossings from Russia. Helsinki fears Russia might exploit migration, but the UN refugee agency warns the draft law could lead to harmful pushbacks of legitimate asylum seekers, risking severe injuries, family separations, and deaths, according to UNHCR’s Philippe Leclerc.

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German far right in disarray after AfD Nazi remark

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Maximilian Krah, a prominent far-right German politician from the Alternative for Germany (AfD), announced he would scale back his campaign efforts for the upcoming EU elections while remaining the party’s lead candidate. This decision followed a controversial interview with the Italian newspaper La Repubblica, where Krah remarked that not all SS members were automatically “criminals” and emphasized assessing individual culpability. He referenced Günter Grass, the German novelist who served in the Waffen SS, to support his point.

The SS, or Schutzstaffel, was a Nazi paramilitary group notorious for its central role in the Holocaust and other war crimes. Krah’s comments provoked a strong reaction, leading France’s far-right National Rally (RN) to sever ties with the AfD in the European Parliament. RN leader Marine Le Pen called for a “cordon sanitaire” to distance her party from the AfD, stating the urgency of this separation due to the extremity of Krah’s views.

The relationship between RN and AfD had already been strained following a secret meeting involving AfD members discussing the mass deportations of non-ethnic Germans. Marine Le Pen had previously condemned such ideas.

Facing mounting pressures ahead of the EU elections in June, Krah declared on social media that he would step back from public campaign appearances and resign from the federal executive board to preserve party unity. This decision comes amid various scandals, including the arrest of one of his staffers for alleged espionage for China and an ongoing investigation into Krah over purported payments from Russia and China, which he denies. Despite these controversies, the AfD remains a significant political force, polling second or third nationally and leading in some states set for local elections later this year.

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G7 leaders to discuss €30bn loan for Ukraine using Russian assets

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The G7 finance ministers are set to discuss whether Ukraine can receive an additional €30 billion loan from seized Russian assets totaling €270 billion. This proposal has sparked division within the G7, particularly between the US and Germany. While some advocate for full asset seizure, others, including Christine Lagarde, ECB president, raise legal and economic concerns.

The US and UK propose mobilizing the frozen assets to provide a substantial loan to Ukraine, with interest paid from the profits of the seized Russian assets. They argue this approach avoids the need for asset confiscation, which could disrupt the international legal order and financial stability.

Belgium, holding the largest share of Russia’s frozen assets within the G7, has already generated significant investment income from these assets. It has agreed to allocate a portion of this profit to a joint G7 fund for Ukraine.

Critics argue that using the assets as collateral for a loan effectively amounts to confiscation. However, some legal scholars suggest that under the doctrine of state countermeasures, seizure may be justified.

Overall, there is contention over whether to provide Ukraine with a substantial loan using the seized assets, with concerns about legal implications and potential repercussions for financial stability and international relations.

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Georgia to vote on controversial law that sparked mass protests

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Georgia’s parliament is on the verge of passing a highly controversial “foreign agent” law, despite facing significant opposition from both within and outside the ruling Georgian Dream party. Critics of the proposed legislation, often referred to as the “Russia law,” argue that it poses a severe threat to civil liberties within the country.

The bill has sparked weeks of mass protests, with thousands of people gathering near the parliament building to voice their opposition. Protesters fear that if the law is enacted, it could be exploited by the government to suppress dissenting voices and undermine Georgia’s aspirations to join the European Union.

Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has remained steadfast in his support for the bill, vowing that it will pass despite the ongoing protests. He has issued warnings about the consequences of not implementing the law, drawing parallels to the situation in Ukraine without providing specific details.

President Salome Zurabishvili, although an opponent of Kobakhidze, has expressed her intention to veto the law. However, Georgian Dream holds sufficient parliamentary support to override her veto, indicating that the bill is likely to be approved.

The proposed legislation would require NGOs and independent media outlets that receive more than 20% of their funding from foreign sources to register as organizations with foreign interests. They would be subject to government monitoring and could face significant fines if they fail to comply with the regulations outlined in the law. Critics argue that this would create a chilling effect on freedom of expression and civil society in Georgia.

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Seven dead after bus falls into river in St Petersburg

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A tragic incident unfolded in St. Petersburg, where a bus careened off the Potseluev Bridge into the Moika River, resulting in the loss of seven lives. The accident, which occurred in the city center on Friday afternoon, was captured on footage showing the bus swerving into oncoming traffic, colliding with two cars, and then plunging into the waterway, sinking within moments.

Authorities swiftly responded to the scene, detaining the bus driver and launching a criminal investigation to determine the cause of the crash. Initial reports indicated several critical injuries and two individuals in serious condition among the estimated 20 passengers onboard. Tragically, despite rescue efforts, three individuals lost their lives shortly after being retrieved from the submerged bus.

The heroic actions of bystanders, including Idris Gadzhiev, Shahban Jabrailov, and Muhammad Hasanov, who courageously leaped into the river to assist in rescue efforts, underscored the community’s solidarity in the face of tragedy. Meanwhile, emergency services deployed heavy machinery to lift the sunken bus from the river, bringing an end to the rescue operation.

The incident serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of road safety measures, occurring as the bus turned onto the bridge from Bolshaya Morskaya Street, a bustling area approximately 1.5 kilometers from the renowned Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg’s historic center.

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Zelensky fires head of bodyguard after failed plot

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Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelensky, has removed the head of his personal security unit following the detention of two high-ranking officials in connection with an alleged assassination plot. Serhiy Rud, who has overseen the president’s security since 2019, was dismissed without explanation, according to a presidential decree.

The state guard administration (UDO), responsible for safeguarding not just the president but also other key figures and their families in Ukraine, saw two colonels detained over suspicions of ties to a Russian FSB-run agent network. Despite Zelensky’s previous claims of Russian assassination plots against him, this recent revelation implicates members of his own circle, including military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov and SBU head Vasyl Malyuk.

Reports indicate that the plot aimed to target Zelensky through kidnapping and assassination, while Budanov was to be attacked with various weapons including rockets, drones, and anti-tank grenades.

Though Serhiy Rud’s dismissal was announced, there’s no indication of his involvement in the alleged plot. However, one of the detained colonels, Andriy Huk, was reportedly a close acquaintance from their time studying together.

Maj Gen Rud, who has a long military career focused on state security, has seen numerous attempts on Zelensky’s life, notably during the early stages of the Russian invasion in 2022.

Zelensky’s frequent replacements of key security figures have been noted, with the recent removal of special forces commander Col Serhiy Lupanchuk being another example. Additionally, Gen Valerii Zaluzhnyi, who previously led Ukraine’s defense during the invasion, was replaced and subsequently appointed as Ukraine’s ambassador to the UK, receiving the title “Hero of Ukraine.”

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Putin hails army ‘heroes’ and warns off West in WW2 parade

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The annual Red Square military parade had a different feel this time, not just because of the spring snowstorm. While 9,000 people marched across the square, the numbers were lower compared to previous years before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. There was less military hardware on display, with only one T-34 tank present.

References to Russia’s war in Ukraine were abundant, with soldiers who had been fighting there participating in the parade. President Putin emphasized this in his address, highlighting the ongoing “Special Military Operation” in Ukraine and praising the frontline soldiers as heroes.

Recent tensions with Western nations, including accusations from Russia and warnings from President Putin, added to the atmosphere. Putin issued a warning to the West, accompanied by nuclear sabre-rattling, stating Russia’s readiness to defend itself.

Victory Day in Russia has become a significant holiday, commemorating the Soviet defeat of Nazi Germany and the immense human cost of that victory. However, it’s also used to justify present actions, framing the war in Ukraine as a continuation of World War Two against enemies like Ukraine and the West.

The normalization of war in Russia is evident, as reflected in the unveiling of a war memorial outside Moscow, dedicated to soldiers who died in various conflicts, including Afghanistan, Chechnya, and Ukraine. An official’s speech at the unveiling conveyed the message that wars are part of human nature, marking a shift from the previous sentiment of “No more war” that was prevalent in post-World War Two Russia.

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