White House: Russian advance on Kharkiv 'stalled' after Ukraine's strikes inside Russia

According to White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan, the progress of Russia towards Kharkiv has come to a halt. This happened after the United States authorized Ukraine to use some of the weapons they had supplied to them to attack designated areas within Russia.

According to Sullivan, during an interview with CBS’ “Face the Nation,” the city of Kharkiv is still at risk. However, in recent days, there has been no significant advancement from the Russian side in that particular region.

Sullivan stated that Ukraine was permitted by the United States to utilize certain American weapons to safeguard its Kharkiv province, which is bordering Russia. This was authorized even though there were worries in the past that such actions might prompt the NATO military alliance to engage in direct confrontation with Russia.

According to Sullivan, the president believed it was logical for Ukrainians to have the ability to attack Russian camps and retaliate when under attack by Russian weapons.

Countries in NATO, including France and Germany, have supported the United States' decision to permit Ukraine to utilize some of the weapons given to them by western nations for offensive purposes against Russia. This has taken place along the border in the Kharkiv region.

The authorities at the Kremlin have cautioned that making such a choice might result in an increase of the battling across Europe, which could draw Western partners into conflict with Russia.

Russian President Vladimir Putin cautioned the United States and its NATO partners that taking such an action could provoke him to deploy comparable Russian arms in nations that can target the US or its European allies.

While on an official visit to France, President Biden of the United States stated on Sunday that he and the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, came to an agreement that will allocate the profits from roughly $280 billion in frozen Russian assets towards helping Ukraine battle against Russian aggression.

The funds of the Russian central bank have been put on hold all over the world, with a big part of it being in the European Union.

The plan, set forth by the United States, aims to generate a consistent flow of funds that will be used to pay off a significant $50 billion loan for both the defense and infrastructure of Ukraine.

Certain nations have shown concern over accessing earnings from the ice-cold Russian possessions, however, a representative from the Treasury Department in the United States stated on Tuesday that advancement was being made with the cooperation of the G7, which consists of the leading seven industrialized countries.

Russia has indicated that if any profits from its frozen funds are redirected, this decision would be considered as theft.

The EU has stated that the profits generated by the Russian frozen funds, which amount to around $2.7 billion to $3.8 billion per year, are not legally owed to Russia and, as a result, can be seen as a bonus.

According to two individuals with knowledge of the situation, U.S. authorities anticipate that the wealthy democratic nations that comprise the G7 will issue a stern new signal to less significant Chinese banking institutions next week. The warning will be against their provision of assistance to Russia in circumventing economic sanctions imposed by Western powers.

Unnamed sources who were discussing ongoing diplomatic matters revealed that negotiations were still taking place to determine the actual layout and information in the caution. The G7 agenda to discuss the subject had not been reported before.

Daleep Singh, who is the deputy national security adviser for international economics, shared his prediction with the Center for a New American Security recently. He said that during the upcoming G7 summit in Italy from June 13-15, the leaders would most likely focus on China's assistance to Russia's economy.

We are worried that China is becoming the primary source of production for Russia's military equipment. It can be defined as the weaponry depot of authoritarianism since Russia's desire for military strength endangers not just Ukraine's survival, but also the safety of Europe, NATO, and transatlantic security as a whole," he expressed.

Biden assured reporters that he will not allow Russia to pose any danger to Europe, while standing beside French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace in Paris.

On Sunday, administrators, who were appointed by Moscow, claimed that Ukrainian assaults on regions in eastern and southern Ukraine that are controlled by Russia resulted in the deaths of two non-military individuals.

According to a message on Telegram by Vladimir Saldo, the pro-Russian governor, artillery fire struck the town of Nova Maiachka in the southern Kherson region, resulting in the death of one man and an injury to a woman.

There has been a report of another individual losing their life due to an explosive that was released from a drone in Donetsk, which is located in the eastern region of Ukraine. This information was given by Alexei Kulemzin, who acts as the mayor in Donetsk and has an affiliation to Russia.

The events couldn't be confirmed separately by Reuters news agency.

On Friday, two distinct attacks occurred in the Kherson region and city of Luhansk, which are under Russian control. According to the officials appointed by Russia, these attacks were carried out by Ukrainian forces and resulted in the deaths of at least 25 civilians.

The defense intelligence agency of Kyiv, GUR, stated on Sunday that Ukrainian forces successfully targeted a recent model of a Russian fighter jet, the Sukhoi Su-57, inside Russian airspace. This marks the first known incident of its kind. GUR provided satellite imagery to support their claim.

The GUR did not provide any specific information on the cause or the source of the attack on the Su-57 in their Telegram post.

A well-known Russian blogger who is pro-war and specializes in aviation under the name Fighterbomber confirmed that the news regarding the attack on the Su-57 was accurate. He also mentioned that a drone had been responsible for the hit.

According to the GUR, the plane was stationed at the Akhtubinsk airfield, which is located 589 kilometers away from the conflict in Ukraine where Russian and Ukrainian military forces are clashing.

On Saturday, there was a military exchange between Ukraine and Russia involving airstrikes. Ukraine used drones to attack regions in Kherson and Luhansk that are currently occupied by Russia, resulting in the deaths of 28 people and injuring 60 others. Meanwhile, Russia conducted airstrikes in eastern Ukraine which caused damage to buildings and power lines, but no reports of casualties.

According to both Ukrainian authorities and Russian state news outlet Tass, the assaults were documented.

The report was aided by information gathered from various sources including The Associated Press, Reuters, and Agence France-Presse.