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📌🇷🇺Russian lawmakers approve an increase in income taxes for the wealthy Russia’s parliament approved a bill that would raise income taxes for the rich, in a move to help fill government coffers as the fighting in Ukraine drags on. The bill was endorsed in the final third reading by the lower house, the State Duma, and hours later by the upper house, the Federation Council. It must be signed by President Vladimir Putin to become law. The bill would impose a 13% tax for incomes of up to 2.4 million rubles ($27,500) a year. For incomes over that amount, a steadily higher tax rate would apply, with the maximum rate of 22% for incomes exceeding 50 million rubles ($573,000). The legislation, which envisages a progressive tax on personal income, is a major change from the flat-rate tax that was widely credited with improving revenue collections after it was introduced in 2001.

📌🇺🇦F-16 jets being sent to Ukraine from Denmark and the Netherlands, Blinken says "I'm also pleased to announce that as we speak, the transfer of F-16 jets is underway, coming from Denmark, coming from the Netherlands," Blinken said at an event on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Washington. "And those jets... will be flying in the skies of Ukraine this summer to make sure that Ukraine can continue to effectively defend itself against the Russian aggression."

📌🇺🇦🇵🇱Zelensky announces creation of new Ukrainian volunteer legion in Poland A new security agreement between Ukraine and Poland stipulates the creation of the Ukrainian Legion, a volunteer unit on Polish territory, announced Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at a conference with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk “In our security agreement, we have formalized the formation and training of the Ukrainian Legion, a new volunteer unit, on Polish territory. We have had a very positive experience with the Ukrainian-Polish-Lithuanian brigade, and based on this experience, we will offer Ukrainian citizens currently in Poland, Lithuania, and other EU countries the opportunity to voluntarily join the defense of Ukraine. The Ukrainian Legion will train in Poland and be equipped by our partners,” Zelensky stated

📌🇺🇦🇵🇱Ukraine strikes security deal with Poland, planning to develop mechanism to intercept Russian missiles over Polish skies Poland has pledged further training for Ukrainian forces and to continue to function as Kyiv’s logistics hub, facilitating deliveries of Western weapons through its territory. Ukraine promised to reform, to share intelligence and lessons it has learned on the battlefield with Warsaw, and to contribute to modernizing the Polish military, the Ukrainian president’s office said in a statement. After signing the security cooperation agreement, Zelensky thanked Poland for the "special arrangements" reflected in the document. "The security agreement includes provisions for developing a mechanism to intercept Russian missiles and drones launched towards Poland within Ukraine's airspace," the president said. "Here, I am confident that our teams, the teams of the defence ministries, will collaborate closely with our military to swiftly implement this aspect of our agreement," Zelensky added.

📌🇮🇷Moderate Masoud Pezeshkian wins Iran presidential vote Reformist candidate Masoud Pezeshkian has won Iran’s presidential election, the country’s electoral authority said, defeating his hardline rival. Pezeshkian calls for "constructive relations" with Western nations, and to revive the nuclear deal to "get Iran out of its isolation". He has said that Iran’s economy cannot function with the crippling sanctions currently placed on it. “Let’s come together, let’s stick together, let’s get united and work together,” Pezeshkian said in his victory speech. “We would be able to deal with every aspect and area of the government: economic, financial, military and social challenges.” While the Iranian president does enjoy some powers, the ultimate authority lies with the Supreme Leader, who has the final say on all matter

📌🇫🇷Exit poll for the 2nd round of the French parliamentary elections. The left-wing New Popular Front in the lead, National Rally of Marine Le-Pen on a 3rd place, contrary to pre-election polls.

📌🇺🇦🇷🇺Zelensky confirms Ukraine will invite Russian representatives for its 2nd peace summit At the last peace summit in Switzerland, Russia was not invited. The entire event was limited to the trimmed-down topics of food security, nuclear power plant security and prisoner exchanges. The goal of the first summit was to bring together as many countries as possible, especially those of the so-called Global South.

📌🇭🇺🇷🇺Hungary’s Orbán meets Putin in Moscow, days after Kyiv visit Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban met Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss possible peace in Ukraine, defying EU & NATO leaders. In Kyiv, Orban urged Zelensky to work towards a “time-limited” ceasefire with Russia to speed up peace talks. The Ukrainian leader instead called on Orban to back Kyiv’s steps to work for peace in conjunction with international partners. Hungary took over the rotating EU presidency this month, with Orban saying he wants to use it to advocate for an end to the fighting in Ukraine European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned that “appeasement will not stop” Putin. “Only unity and determination will pave the path to a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine."

📌🏳️🇷🇺Vladimir Putin says Taliban Russia's "allies" in fighting terrorism Russian President Vladimir Putin referred to the Taliban movement, which governs Afghanistan, as an "ally" in the fight against terrorism. "Generally, we have to proceed from the fact that the Taliban control power in the country. In this sense, the Taliban are certainly our allies in the fight against terrorism, because any acting government is concerned with the stability of its administration and the state it governs," Putin said at a press briefing in Astana, Kazakhstan In March, IS-K fighters killed more than 140 people in an assault on a Moscow concert hall, the deadliest terror attack in Russia for almost two decades. Putin said that the Taliban have "taken on some responsibilities" but that there are still "issues that need constant attention inside the country and from the international community".