PMs of Ukraine and Ireland discuss confiscation of Russian assets

"Prime Ministers of Ukraine and Ireland Denis Shmyhal and Simon Harris discussed the confiscation of Russian assets. According to Shmyhal, he received assurances that Ireland will support Ukraine as long as it is needed." Ukrin

ISIS Resurgence: Four Assad Troops Killed in Syria Ambush

"ISIS jihadists killed four of dictator Bashar Assad’s soldiers in an attack intentionally targeting the military, the latest in what experts fear is an accelerating escalation of ISIS activity in the country. The incident reportedly occurred in the province of Raqqa, whose eponymous largest city was once the capital of the Islamic State “caliphate” established over significant portions of both Iraq and Syria. It occurred in the context of growing concern that, after the eradication of ISIS from Raqqa in 2017, the Sunni jihadist terror group has found a way to regroup in the Middle East, in addition to increasing its activity throughout Africa and South Asia." Breitbart

Biden Looks To Prevent Future President From Ending Ukraine War With 10-Year Agreement

"Soon on the heels of President Biden last week signing into law a $61 billion aid package for Ukraine's defense, President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday indicated that he's working with Washington on a bilateral security agreement which would last ten years.
"We are already working on a specific text," Zelensky said in his nightly video address. "Our goal is to make this agreement the strongest of all."

"We are discussing the specific foundations of our security and cooperation. We are also working on fixing specific levels of support for this year and the next 10 years."
He indicated it will likely include agreements on long-term support centering on military hardware and joint arms production, as well as continuing reconstruction aid. "The agreement should be truly exemplary and reflect the strength of American leadership," Zelensky added.
But ultimately a key purpose in locking such a long-term deal in would be to keep it immune from potential interference by a future Trump administration.
Below is what The Wall Street Journal spelled out last year:

"The goal is to make sure Ukraine will be strong enough in the future to deter Russia from attacking it again. More immediately, Ukraine’s Western allies hope to discourage the Kremlin from thinking it can wait out the Biden administration for a potentially more sympathetic successor in the White House. Western officials are looking for ways to lock in pledges of support and limit future governments’ abilities to backtrack, amid fears in European capitals that Donald Trump, if he recaptures the White House, would seek to scale back aid."

We and others have previously underscored that NATO and G7 countries are desperately trying to "Trump-proof" future aid to Ukraine and the effort to counter Russia.
As for its first new weapons package in the wake of the $61 billion being authorized, the Biden administration has announced new arms packages totaling $7 billion. The US has vowed to rush the weapons to Kiev, given that by all indicators its forces are not doing well on the frontlines.
"We are still waiting for the supplies promised to Ukraine – we expect exactly the volume and content of supplies that can change the situation on the battlefield in the interests of Ukraine," Zelensky had said over the weekend. "And it is important that every agreement we have reached is implemented – everything that will yield practical results on the battlefield and boost the morale of everyone on the frontline. In a conversation with Mr. Jeffries, I emphasized the need for Patriot systems, they are needed as soon as possible." But all of this means the war will be prolonged, and this puts negotiations much further away on the horizon, despite what are now daily acknowledgements of Ukraine forces being beaten back." ZeroHedge

Drones Target Two Oil Depots in Smolensk Region, Resulting in Loss of 26,000 Cubic Meters of Russian Fuel

"According to sources within Ukrainian special services, two fuel storage facilities in Russia’s Smolensk region were hit by drones allegedly operated by the SBU.

The attacks destroyed 26,000 cubic meters of Russian fuel and triggered large-scale fires, prompting evacuations. The SBU confirmed the attacks, stating that such facilities are legitimate targets as they support the Russian army in Ukraine.
Locals reported hearing explosions and seeing a glow and smoke from the oil depot near the village of Razdorovo, 10 kilometers from Smolensk." MS

Russian man arrested over murder of Ukrainian soldiers in Germany

"Two citizens of Ukraine were killed in a knife attack at a shopping center in Bavaria,

Germany on Saturday, according to local police. The victims were military personnel on medical leave, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said in a press release on Sunday.
Bavarian police responded to a report of “two seriously injured men” at the mall in Murnau, Burggraben shortly after 5pm local time on Saturday.
One of the victims died from his injuries before the emergency services arrived at the scene. The second later succumbed to his wounds at a nearby hospital. The authorities identified them only as “Ukrainian citizens aged 23 and 36,” both living locally.
Police quickly tracked down the main suspect, named as a 57-year-old Russian national. He was detained later that evening at his residence nearby, and served a warrant for his arrest for murder. The motive was not immediately clear." RT

Harvard anti-Israel protesters fly Palestinian flag in spot reserved for Stars & Stripes as demonstrations ramp up across country

"Anti-Israel protesters at Harvard University flew a Palestinian flag at the Ivy League school in a spot usually reserved for the American flag as campus demonstrations continue to spiral out of control.

The shocking display came as radical students continued to occupy the campus, with video circulating online showing three students raising the Palestinian flag over the iconic statue of John Harvard — where the Stars & Stripes is intended to fly." NYP

131 combat clashes

"Over past 24 hours, 131 combat engagements have taken place along the frontlines. Russian airstrikes hit Velyka Pysarivka of Kharkiv region; Serebrianske Forestry and Bilohorivka of Luhansk region; Spirne, Verkhniokamianske, Siversk, Hryhorivka, Oleksandropil, Ocheretyne, Novokalynove, Paraskoviivka, Novomykhailivka, Vuhledar, Vodiane, Kostiantynivka, Urozhaine, and Staromaiorske of Donetsk region; Robotyne of Zaporizhzhia region; Krynky, Kostyrka, Beryslav, Novoberyslav, Prydniprovske, Veletenske, and Kizomys of Kherson region.

Volyn and Polissia axes: the operational situation saw no significant changes.
Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna axes: the enemy maintains its military presence across the border, conducting sabotage missions in order to prevent the transfer of Ukrainian troops to other areas.
Kupiansk axis: Ukrainian soldiers repelled six attacks in the areas of Berestove in Kharkiv region and Stelmakhivka in Luhansk region.
Lyman axis: the enemy executed 18 attacks near Kopanka and Novoserhiivka of Kharkiv region; Makiivka, Nevske, and Serebrianske Forestry of Luhansk region; and Terny of Donetsk region.
Bakhmut axis: Ukraine’s soldiers repelled 29 assaults in the areas of Verkhnokamianske, Vyimka, Hryhorivka, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, Nove, and Andriivka of Donetsk region.
Avdiivka axis: Ukraine repelled 55 attacks in the areas of Novokalynove, Keramik, Arkhanhelske, Umanske, Sokil, Ocheretyne, Kalynove, Soloviove, Novopokrovske, Novoselivka Persha, and west of Semenivka in Donetsk region.
Novopavlivka axis: Ukraine’s Defense Forces continue to hold back the enemy in the areas of Krasnohorivka, Heorhiivka, Vodiane, Novomykhailivka, and Urozhaine settlements of Donetsk region, where the enemy, with air support, tried 15 times to break through Ukrainian defense lines.
Orikhiv axis: the invaders attacked Ukrainian positions four times in the vicinity of Staromaiorske of Donetsk region.
Kherson axis: the enemy does not give up the intention to knock Ukrainian units out of their bridgeheads on the left bank of the Dnipro, where they attacked five times in the area of Krynky of Kherson region." Ukrin