European Intelligence Collective

🟨🟤 • 🇺🇸 🇺🇦 🇺🇦 The U.S. has lifted a ban on providing weapons and training to a controversial Ukrainian military unit that was key to the defense of the port city of Mariupol, the State Department said on Tuesday. The Azov Brigade is among Ukraine's most effective and popular fighting units but it has been dogged by its origins as a volunteer battalion that drew fighters from far-right circles. The U.S. had banned the regiment from using American weapons, citing the neo-Nazi ideology of some of its founders. The current members of the Azov Brigade, which has been absorbed into Ukraine's National Guard as the 12th Special Forces Brigade, reject accusations of extremism and any ties with far-right movements. But the Kremlin has seized on the regiment's origins in its efforts to cast Russia's invasion as a battle against Nazi influence in Ukraine. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow took an "extremely negative" view of Washington's decision. He described Azov as an "ultranationalist armed formation" and accused U.S. authorities of being "ready to flirt with neo-Nazis." • Global Defense News

🟨🟠 • 🇧🇪 🇪🇺 Belgian prime-minister Alexander de Croo has resigned following the defeat of his party, Open-VLD by two right-wing parties, Vlaams Belang and Nieuw-Vlaamse Alliantie (N-VA). • CIG

🟨🟠 • 🇫🇷 🇪🇺 Following the Far-Right victory in France's section of European Elections, President Emmanuel Macron has dissolved the National Assembly. Legislative elections will be held on June 30 and July 7. • CIG

🟨🟠 • 🇫🇷 🇪🇺 This is the electoral map of France after the National Rally (RN) led by Marine Le Pen won an overwhelming number of districts across France and most of its overseas territories. RN is represented by the color brown. • CIG

🟨🟠 • 🇦🇹 🇪🇺 In Austria, the far-right Freedom Party (FPO) has come out on top with about 27% of the votes, according to the first national estimates. • CIG

🟨🟠 • 🇫🇷 🇪🇺 Marine Le Pen’s anti-immigration nationalist party has beaten Emmanuel Macron’s party in the French EU Elections, winning 32% of the vote. • CIG

🟨🟤 • 🇫🇷 🇺🇦 France plans to supply Mirage 2000-5 jets to Ukraine and begin training pilots this summer, with the first training completed by the end of the year, French President Emmanuel Macron said Thursday. • Global Defense News

🟨🟣 • 🇩🇰 Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen was assaulted in Copenhagen today. The suspect is in custody and an investigation is underway. • BNO News

🟨🟣 • 🇩🇰 Denmark Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen was assaulted in Copenhagen today. The suspect is in custody and an investigation is underway. • BNO News

🟨🟤 • 🇩🇪 German citizens should prepare basement rooms and seek shelter there in case of war, according to "experts" in Germany. • Spiegel