Explosions rocked the western Ukrainian city of Lviv early Tuesday, and local officials said a Russian airstrike injured one person and caused a large fire at an industrial warehouse. The mayor of the city Andriy Sadovy reported that the alarms in the region lasted for almost three hours and ended around 6 in the morning. Volodymyr Zelenskyi is in New York for his first personal address at the UN since the invasion began, and the Ukrainian president is due to address the General Assembly later on Tuesday.

Highlights of the war in Ukraine, day 573, LIVETEXT:

07:43 Moscow and Beijing are on the same page regarding the United States and the resolution of the conflict in Ukraine, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Monday.

In a press release published following the exchange of views between the head of Russian diplomacy, Sergei Lavrov, and his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, the ministry recalled the close ties between the two countries. The text emphasizes their “similar” positions in the face of “US actions in the international arena, including those of an anti-Russian and anti-Chinese nature.”

“The parties discussed in detail the current situation in Ukraine, noting the futility of attempts to resolve the crisis without taking into account the interests of Russia and, even more so, without its participation,” the report says. (AFP).

Drone attack on the city of Lviv in western Ukraine

07:35 Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will meet in New York on Wednesday with Zelensky on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, the Brazilian president’s office said on Monday.

Lula has in the past called on a group of countries to mediate an end to the war, but in May said that both Moscow and Kyiv were to blame for the conflict, angering the United States and European powers that support the Ukrainian resistance. Last month, the Brazilian leader said that neither Zelensky nor Vladimir Putin is ready for peace. (Reuters)

06:48 Peter Sijarto: Our cooperation with Russia does not correspond to our political tastes

06:24 Ukraine: Russia attacked the city of Lviv with drones

00:51 China-Germany Diplomatic Tensions: Beijing condemns ‘political provocation’ after German Foreign Minister Annalena Burbock classifies Xi Jinping as ‘dictator’

A quick summary of the latest information:

• Ukrainian troops broke through the Russian defense line near Bakhmut, the commander of the Kyiv Ground Forces, General Oleksandr Syrskyi, said on Monday. According to him, after the liberation of the villages of Andriivka and Klishchiivka in the past day, “the enemy’s defense line was breached.” The Ukrainians conquered the territories in the east and advanced to the south. ISW: “Operationally Reliable Performance” at the Bakhmut front.
• Putin says that the Russian economy is “stable”, although the exchange rate of the ruble contradicts him. In a video speech at a meeting devoted to the draft federal budget for 2024-2026, the President of Russia called the economic situation in the country “stable and balanced” and praised the stability of the Russian economy.
• The Ukrainian government on Monday fired all six deputy defense ministers after appointing a new minister, Rustem Umerov, earlier this month. Hanna Malyar is among the recalled deputies.
• Germany has announced that it will send Ukraine a new aid package worth 400 million euros. It will include additional ammunition, protective vehicles and demining systems, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said.
• On Monday, Pope Francis met with Russia’s new ambassador to the Holy See, according to whom they discussed the sovereign pontiff’s efforts to promote peace in Ukraine.
• The trial at the UN International Court of Justice regarding the war started by Russia in Ukraine. How Moscow defends itself: accusing Kyiv of genocide, simple “statements”.
• The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) expects to invest a similar amount – about 1.5 billion euros per year – in Ukraine over the next two years, the president of the lender said on Monday.

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• Monday’s events related to Russian aggression were broadcast LIVE on HotNews.ro