The leaders of France, Germany, Italy and Romania on Thursday made a historic visit to Kyiv to meet with Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky and announced their support for granting Ukraine “immediate EU candidate status”. Read about the day's events as they unfolded on our liveblog. All times Paris time (GMT+2).
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10:02pm: France’s Macron leaves Ukraine after historic one-day visit
France’s President Emmanuel Macron capped an intense day in Ukraine by giving an interview to French broadcaster TF1 on the rooftop of the French embassy in Kyiv.
In the interview, Macron said Russia was trying to destabilise the European economy by drastically reducing its oil and gas deliveries, leading to higher energy prices, and by preventing grain exports from leaving Ukrainian ports, which is now threatening a global food crisis. To remedy that, Macron said France is working with Bucharest to set up an alternative transit hub in Romania.
Odesa is just “a few dozen kilometres” from the Ukrainian-Romanian border, he said, noting such a hub would “allow access to the Danube river and railways” to bring the cereal to the international market.
After the interview, which was pre-recorded, Macron left Ukraine.
8:16pm: Macron urges French howitzer maker to go into ‘wartime’ production mode
French President Emmanuel Macron has asked French arms manufacturer Nexter “to review its organisation to be able to work in a ‘wartime’ mode to be able to produce Caesars much faster for the French army”, a source close to France’s defence ministry said.
Macron on Thursday pledged to send six more Caesar howitzers out of French army stocks to Ukraine, adding to the 12 previously delivered. The French army currently holds fewer than 80 such artillery weapon systems.
8:02pm: Russian-flagged ships are transporting Ukraine’s grain to Syria, Maxar says
Russian-flagged ships have been carrying grain harvested in Ukraine last season and transporting it to Syria, US satellite imagery company Maxar said on Thursday.
Maxar’s images showed two Russian-flagged bulk carrier ships docked in the Russian-controlled Crimean port of Sevastopol in May and being loaded with grain, the company said.
Days later, Maxar satellites collected images of the same ships docked in Syria, with their hatches open and semi-trucks lined up ready to haul the grain away, Maxar said. Syria and Russia are staunch allies. It also said an image from June showed a different ship being loaded with grain in Sevastopol.
On June 8, the deputy head of Ukrainian agriculture producers union UAC said that Russia has stolen about 600,000 tonnes of grain from occupied territory and exported some of it.
6:39pm: Italy’s Draghi accuses Russia of lying over gas supply problems
Russia was lying when it blamed a recent decrease in gas exports on technical problems, Italian Prime Mario Draghi said on Thursday, accusing Moscow of using its gas supplies for political reasons.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said earlier that reductions in supply over the past two days were not premeditated but were related to maintenance issues.
Draghi dismissed this explanation. “Both Germany and us, and others, believe these are lies. In reality they are making a political use of gas like they are using grain for political use,” he said.
5:57pm: UN rights chief says civilian deaths in Mariupol ‘likely thousands higher’ than official toll
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet on Thursday said her staff have been able to verify 1,348 civilian deaths in Mariupol, including 70 children, but that “the actual death toll of hostilities on civilians is likely thousands higher”.
“Between February and the end of April, Mariupol was likely the deadliest place in Ukraine,” she told the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva in an update on the situation in the strategic port city now held by Moscow.
“The intensity and extent of hostilities, destruction and death and injury strongly suggest that serious violations of international... law have occurred,” she said.
5:45pm: Pro-Russian separatists say grain, metals shipments could leave Mariupol soon
Ships loaded with grain and metals will leave the Azov Sea port of Mariupol soon, with shipments potentially headed to the Middle East, a pro-Russian separatist leader told the Interfax news agency Thursday.
Mariupol, on Ukraine’s southern coast, fell under the control of Russian and separatist forces in May after a months-long siege.
Denis Pushilin, leader of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), said plans were for the port to handle around 1 million tonnes of freight by the end of the year. “Concerning exports, it will be metals, and a little later grain,” Interfax quoted Pushilin as saying.
READ MORE>> Shipping movement continues in the Black Sea despite Ukraine war, sanctions
5:28pm: Ukraine EU candidate status subject to conditions
Should EU member states approve Ukraine’s candidate status, it is expected to be subject to strict conditions.
“This status will be accompanied by a roadmap and will also involve taking into account the situation in the Balkans and the neighbouring area, notably Moldova,” French President Emmanuel Macron, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency of the EU until the end of this month, said while in Kyiv on Thursday.
On June 11, EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said the commission would give a clear signal this week on Ukraine’s bid to become a candidate. Although many key European nations view Ukraine’s aspirations as favourable, they have warned that membership could take years or even decades.
4:38pm: France to send ‘6 more’ Caesar howitzers to Ukraine, Macron says
France will deliver “six additional Caesar” long-range self-propelled howitzers to Ukraine to help it counter the Russian invasion, President Emmanuel Macron said during a news conference in Kyiv.
“On top of the 12 Caesars already delivered, I took the decision (to deliver) in the coming weeks six additional Caesars,” he said.
4:30pm: EU leaders in Kyiv back immediately granting Ukraine official EU candidate status
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday that all four European Union leaders present in Kyiv supported the idea of granting an “immediate” EU candidate status to Ukraine.
“We all four support the immediate EU candidate status”, said Macron.
4:27pm: Leaders of France, Germany, Italy and Romania hold press conference with Ukraine’s Zelensky
The leaders of France, Germany, Italy and Romania on Thursday held a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodmyr Zelensky in Kyiv. Watch the news conference by clicking on the player above.
2:49pm : Zelensky accepts invitation to take part in G7 summit
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has accepted an invitation to take part in this month’s Group of Seven (G7) summit, Germany’s Chacellor Olaf Scholz tweeted after meeting with the Ukrainian leader in Kyiv on Thursday.
Zelensky, who is not believed to have left Ukraine since the start of the war on February 24, was expected to join the June 26-28 summit by video link.
2:57pm: Ukraine hands over Russia sanctions proposals at talks in Kyiv
Ukraine handed over sanctions proposals against Russia at a meeting in Kyiv between President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and the leaders of France, Germany, Italy and Romania on Thursday, the head of the Ukrainian president’s office said.
“We must increase pressure on the aggressor, work on a seventh package of sanctions with a gas embargo,” Andriy Yermak, the official, wrote on Telegram.
He said the leaders had finished their meeting.
12:48pm: Macron and Zelensky meet in Kyiv after French leader’s visit to Irpin
French President Emmanuel Macron met with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv on Thursday, Macron's office said, after Macron visited the war-scarred town of Irpin with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi.
Macron and Zelensky's meeting in Kyiv was the first time the two leaders met physically since Russia invaded Ukraine in February.
11:38am: Macron praises ‘heroism’ of Ukrainians in visit to Irpin
French President Emmanuel Macron praised Ukrainian "heroism" in the face of Russia's invasion on a visit Thursday to the Kyiv suburb of Irpin, the closest Moscow's army got to the capital at the start of its invasion.
"It's here, among other places, that the Ukrainians stopped the Russian army descending onto Kyiv," Macron said. "It represents the heroism of the army, but also of the Ukrainian population. And alongside that, you have traces of barbarism."
Macron said that massacres and war crimes have been committed in Irpin, according to Reuters.
10:40am: Macron, Scholz and Draghi visit town of Irpin
French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi visited Irpin on Thursday, a battle-damaged suburb of Ukraine's capital, in a show of support for the country at war with Russia.
The European leaders arrived in the town north of Kyiv, AFP reports, where residential buildings and civilian infrastructure remain damaged following Russian troops' attempts early in the invasion to capture the capital.
10:05am: Macron, Scholz and Draghi visit Kyiv in show of support for Ukraine
French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi arrived in Kyiv on Thursday in a show of European support for Ukraine. The three heads of state are due to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. FRANCE 24's Catherine Norris Trent reports from Kyiv:
9:30am: Kyiv visit 'a message of European unity', Macron says
French President Emmanuel Macron said he and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi will meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and go to "a war site where massacres have been committed" during the European leaders' visit to Kyiv.
"This is a message of European unity addressed to Ukrainian men and women, of support," Macron said as he descended from the train that he, Scholz and Draghi had boarded in Poland on Thursday morning.
Macron said he came to Ukraine "to talk about both the present and the future since the coming weeks, we know, will be very difficult".
8:41am: Macron, Scholz and Draghi arrive in Kyiv
French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi have arrived in Kyiv, Macron's office said on Thursday.
Macron told reporters in Kyiv that he will pass on a message of “European solidarity” to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Reuters reports.
The visit by the three European leaders has taken weeks to organise with the heads of state looking to overcome criticism within Ukraine over their response to the war.
Kyiv has criticised France, Germany and to a lesser extent Italy for alleged foot-dragging in their support for Ukraine, accusing them of being slow to deliver weapons.
7:52am: Ukraine pleads for more weapons as European leaders head to Kyiv
Ukrainian officials have been saying they urgently need more weapons to fend off Russian advances in the south and the east, an appeal aimed at the West as French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi travel to Kyiv on Thursday. FRANCE 24's Catherine Norris Trent reports from Ukraine's capital.
7:37am: Macron, Scholz and Draghi leave Poland on Kyiv-bound train, AFP reports
French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi left Poland Thursday on board a train bound for Kyiv, an AFP reporter said.
The three leaders left in the morning, according an AFP video, which showed the trio sitting together in a train compartment.
It is the first time that the leaders of the three European Union countries have visited Kyiv since Russia's February 24 invasion of Ukraine.
They are due to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and the visit comes as Kyiv is pushing for membership in the EU.
7:10am: Macron, Scholz and Draghi expected to visit Kyiv today
The leaders of France, Germany and Italy are expected to visit Kyiv on Thursday, a day after the United States announced $1 billion worth of new arms for embattled Ukrainian forces. Kyiv's troops are resisting a fierce onslaught in the Donbas region by Russian forces, which are pushing to seize a swathe of eastern and southern Ukraine.
In a show of support, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi are expected in Kyiv. While there has been no official announcement about the trip, Macron is already in the region, having visited Ukraine’s neighbours Romania and Moldova in recent days.
6:55am: Russia, US must discuss nuclear treaty extension, says Kremlin
Russia and the United States must discuss the extension of the START nuclear arms reduction treaty, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the RIA news agency in an interview on Thursday.
The matter was important for global security and Russia's military operation in Ukraine was no reason to avoid its discussion, Peskov added.
6:07am: Ukraine's troops boosted by fresh Western arms shipments, pledges
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Wednesday that he was “grateful” for the latest $1 billion arms package promised by US President Joe Biden, even as troops showed off freshly delivered French artillery on the battlefield in the fierce fight for the eastern Donbas region.
Russian forces continued to pressure Kyiv’s troops in Donbas, but Ukrainian forces pushed back, shelling Russian targets in Donbas with newly arrived French Caesar howitzers.
Ukrainian officials also met in Brussels Wednesday with Western allies, hoping to obtain more ammunition and more lethal weapons to turn the tables on the invaders.
The newest US arms package features 18 more 155mm howitzers and 36,000 rounds of ammunition; two land-based Harpoon anti-ship missile systems; and additional rockets for four Himars precision rocket artillery systems that Ukraine is soon to put in the field.
Zelensky said later in his evening address to the people of Ukraine that he was grateful for the package.
“The United States announced new strengthening of our defence, a new $1 billion support package,” Zelensky said. “I am grateful for this support, it is especially important for our defence in Donbas.”
5:10am: Deepening food crisis will push global displacement to new records, UN says
Russia’s war in Ukraine has pushed the number of people who are displaced around the world above 100 million for the first time, and the UN warns a deepening food crisis could force many more to flee their homes.
Efforts to address global food insecurity, which has been dramatically aggravated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, is “of paramount importance ... to prevent a larger number of people moving”, UN refugee chief Filippo Grandi told reporters.
“If you ask me how many ... I don’t know, but it will be pretty big numbers.”
1:15am: Two US citizens missing, feared captured, in eastern Ukraine
Two US citizens who travelled to Ukraine as volunteer fighters against Russian forces have been missing for a week and are feared captured, family members said on Wednesday.
Alexander Drueke, 39, of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and Andy Huynh, 27, of Hartselle, Alabama, were last in contact with their families on June 8 and did not return from a mission around the Kharkiv region of eastern Ukraine.
Reports that the two men have been taken prisoners of war by Russia are unconfirmed, the families and a US State Department spokesperson said.
“What we know officially at this point from the State Department is that Andy and Alex are missing,” Joy Black, Andy’s fiancée, said by phone.
“We do not have confirmation for anything beyond that. Obviously the longer the search goes the more we start to consider other scenarios,” she added.
Russia’s defence ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
If the pair have been captured, they would be the first confirmed US citizens to have been taken as prisoners of war in the conflict.
White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said that if the reports are true, the United States “will do everything we can” to get them back.
(FRANCE 24 with REUTERS and AFP)
