1. Smoke over Moscow
When Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently visited Finland, he dismissed speculation that his country was responsible for the drone attack on the Kremlin in early May: "We are not attacking Putin or Moscow. We are fighting on our own territory. We defend our villages and towns." Almost four weeks ago, a fireball was seen very close to the Russian president's office, caused by a flying object of which it is still not clear how it got there. Some suspected the Ukrainian secret service behind the action, others believed that the Kremlin itself was behind the action.
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An apartment building in Moscow that was damaged by a drone.
Photo: Uncredited / dpa
On Tuesday night, there were renewed attacks with unmanned aerial vehicles in the Russian capital. According to a high-ranking Russian politician, three drones were shot down over parts of the posh suburb of Rublyovka. "No one was seriously injured," said Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin. The Russian Defense Ministry blamed Ukraine for the attack, and the word "terror" was used. An adviser to Zelensky denied any involvement of his country, but was pleased with the attacks.
Initial reactions say that the war has now arrived in Moscow. I think such conclusions are excessive. It almost seems to be forgotten that Russia apparently carried out one of the heaviest drone strikes against Ukraine in months on the same night. "In total, the launch of a record number of kamikaze drones was recorded: 54!", the press service of the Ukrainian Air Force said.
The attack was therefore mainly aimed at Kyiv. According to the military administration there, 40 drones were shot down over Kyiv. It was already the 14th attack since the beginning of May, military governor Serhiy Popko said on Telegram. According to Mayor Vitali Klitschko, a 35-year-old woman was injured by debris from a falling drone, and a 41-year-old was killed. Several buildings were damaged, fires broke out.
Whoever is responsible for the drone attacks on Moscow, one thing seems clear: the day Russia ceases its belligerent actions, peace is likely to reign in Moscow as well.
Read the full story here: Apparently drone attack on Moscow – slight damage
Read also: What Russia's missiles are aimed at in Kyiv - and what they achieve
And here are more news and background information on the war in Ukraine:
"There was a deafening bang": Amateur footage shows explosions and clouds of smoke over the Russian capital, Moscow's mayor speaks of a drone attack. Russia accuses Kiev – and calls it terror. Watch the video here.
High-rise building in Kiev in flames after attack, Ukraine wants Eurofighter: After heavy shelling in the Ukrainian capital, a block of flats is on fire. And: Kiev is pushing for more fighter jets from Europe.
NATO exercise over Germany – Air Force inspector speaks of "credible deterrence": In a few days, the largest NATO air exercise in history will take place over Germany – with possible restrictions on civil air traffic. The Air Force demands understanding and praises the maneuvers.
Here you will find all the latest developments on the war in Ukraine: The news update
2. Who, how, what, why, why, why?
Due to fundamental concerns, the FDP had prevented the draft law on heating replacement, which had already been passed by the cabinet, from being dealt with for the first time in the Bundestag. The next part-session will begin on 12 June. If possible, the heating law should be passed through parliament before the summer break. In order for this to succeed, the traffic light coalition is struggling to find a compromise in the dispute over the planned heating law. Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) had shown willingness for improvements.
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FDP leader Christian Lindner (left), party deputy Wolfgang Kubicki
Photo: Britta Pedersen / picture alliance/dpa
The Greens called on the FDP to clear the way for the parliamentary procedure. Green Group Vice-President Andreas Audretsch said it was now important that everyone worked pragmatically on the best solutions.
FDP deputy Wolfgang Kubicki has his very own interpretation of pragmatism. The FDP parliamentary group's catalogue of 101 questions must first be answered in writing, then the entire parliamentary group must evaluate the answers. "Only on this basis can we seriously assess how quickly further negotiations on the Building Energy Act can proceed."
It is still unclear whether these 101 questions actually existed at all. A week ago, the Ministry of Economics was still ignorant that such a list of questions from the Liberals had not been received. Even the FDP itself admitted to Die Zeit that it had only asked a few questions, and that more would be added later. But the PR of an extensive bundle had long since caught up, with which the FDP wants to show that it is driving the Greens in front of it. The coalition had already sent a joint questionnaire to the Ministry of Economics weeks ago – this was also answered on 9 May. Kubicki expects the presentation of a temporal perspective when the extensive changes announced by Habeck "to his own legal text will be presented." Habeck, meanwhile, is trying to become Habeck again, as my colleague Gerald Traufetter writes.
Read more here:
Kubicki insists on a complete answer to the FDP questionnaire
Habeck blows to counterattack
3. No peace in Europe
The Russian war of aggression against Ukraine sometimes obscures the fact that there are currently violent and sometimes violent clashes in other regions of Europe. Kosovo and Serbia, for example, are regions where conflicts have been smouldering for a long time and hardly make it onto the evening news. On Monday, Italian and Hungarian KFOR soldiers confronted Serbian demonstrators who wanted to storm the city administration during protests in Zvecan. The Serbs in the north are protesting against the inauguration of new mayors who come from the Albanian ethnic group.
The soldiers were attacked with stones, bottles and incendiary devices. The Kosovo police used tear gas. A total of 30 soldiers were injured, they suffered broken bones and burns. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic spoke of 52 injured demonstrators.
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Kfor-Troppen in Zvecan
Photo: OGNEN TEOFILOVSKI / REUTERS
In April, the Kosovar authorities held local elections in four Serb-majority towns. However, the Serbs largely boycotted the elections, so that the Albanian minority took control of the local councils despite an overall turnout of less than 3.5 percent.
Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti blamed neighboring Serbia for the riots. My colleague Walter Mayr, who as a correspondent in Vienna is also responsible for the Balkan region, has been observing the conflicts for years, he reports: "The outbreak of violence on Whit Monday was only the preliminary final chapter in the chronicle of an impending catastrophe."
The latest conflict is based on a very banal reason. Serbian officials in the municipalities resigned last November in protest against the government in Pristina for trying to get Serbs in the north to equip their vehicles with Kosovar license plates instead of Serbian ones.
In the dangerous cat-and-mouse game about the future of Kosovo, which the gamblers in Belgrade are forcing the West to do, there is unfortunately a threat of further episodes, Walter sums up.
Read the full story here: What's behind the excess of violence in Kosovo
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Erdoğan's election victory causes the value of the Turkish lira to fall: Many Turks hope that Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's term in office will lead to their country's rise to new greatness. The financial markets are much more sober in their assessment of the situation.
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Photo: MARIO ANZUONI / REUTERS
The Quark Side Of The Moon: Accompanied by protests and under strict security precautions, Pink Floyd founder Roger Waters appeared in Frankfurt am Main. For half a century, the musician has not turned his political heart into a murder pit, as my colleague Arno Frank, who attended the concert, writes. You could also say that Water has been talking a lot of for half a century. It doesn't matter much anymore whether he can play the guitar well. "Anyone who has followed the press in the last few days may have gotten the impression that I am an anti-Semite," Waters said on stage: "I'm not. I'm not. It's not me."
Mini concave mirror
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And tonight?
Could you plan a trip to Hamburg and secure tickets for the Elbjazz Festival, which takes place the weekend after next. The concerts are spread all over the city centre, from the Grand Hall of the Elbphilharmonie to the intimate basement of the Mojo Club. Traditionally, however, the main stage is on the railing of Blohm+Voss, the atmospheric shipyard site south of the Elbe. There is hardly a more beautiful festival in Europe – as long as the weather cooperates, which can sometimes go wrong in Hamburg. I've seen it all there: atmospheric sunsets between ship's propellers and containers and stormy downpours where concerts had to be cancelled due to hurricane-like gusts. At the moment, however, things look quite stable in the north.
Photo: Markus Scholz / picture alliance/dpa
In any case, this year's line-up sounds promising. From Jose James to Michael Wollny to the wonderful singer Cécile McLorin Salvant, who presents her new album »Mélusine« in Hamburg. To get in the mood, you could listen to the first song of the new record »Est-ce ainsi que les hommes vivent« .
Have a nice evening. Heartily
Yours, Janko Tietz, Head of Department Germany/Panorama