RUSSIA WITHDRAWS TROOPS FROM SNAKE ISLAND
RUSSIA SAYS ITS FORCES HAVE RELINQUISHED CONTROL OF SNAKE ISLAND IN THE NORTH-WESTERN BLACK SEA, WHICH HAS BEEN BATTLED OVER SINCE THE START OF THE WAR.
MOSCOW SAYS ITS WITHDRAWAL IS A “GOODWILL GESTURE” MEANT TO HELP FACILITATE GRAIN EXPORTS FROM UKRAINE
BUT UKRAINIAN FORCES, WHICH HAVE BEEN ATTACKING RUSSIAN POSITIONS WITH AIR STRIKES, CLAIM A MAJOR VICTORY
LEADERS OF NATO COUNTRIES ARE MEANWHILE MEETING FOR THE FINAL DAY OF THEIR MADRID SUMMIT, AFTER DECLARING RUSSIA A MAJOR THREAT
UKRAINE’S MILITARY HAS WELCOMED FRESH NATO PLEDGES BUT OFFICIALS SAY SHELLS ARE CONTINUING TO RAIN DOWN IN EASTERN UKRAINE
REGIONAL OFFICIALS SAY RUSSIA IS THROWING NEARLY EVERYTHING AT CAPTURING LYSYCHANSK, A KEY CITY, AFTER TAKING NEARBY SEVERODONETSK,
VLADIMIR PUTIN MEANWHILE ACCUSES NATO OF HAVING IMPERIAL AMBITIONS