Donald Trump has told Vladimir Putin that ending the conflict in Ukraine was vital and he is ready to help, a Kremlin foreign policy adviser said.
Yuri Ushakov said the two leaders spoke for just under an hour, as the US president said he was ready to act with European partners and Kyiv.
He also quoted Trump as saying that a rapid resolution would allow "perspectives to open for a new quality of US-Russian relations”.
Ushakov said Putin told the Trump that intensified Ukrainian strikes on Russian targets would not change the situation on the battlefield.
Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky also said he had a “wonderful conversation” with Trump.
Beyond congratulating Trump on his birthday, Zelensky said he thanked the US president for supporting Ukraine, and they discussed “what could help bring peace closer now,” without providing details.
Zelensky also informed Trump about how Ukraine’s position along the eastern front line has improved and strengthened.
“We agreed to discuss more during our meeting at the G7 summit,” he said.
Key Points
- Trump tells Putin he is prepared to help end war in Ukraine
- No bilateral talks planned between Trump and Zelensky at G7, official says
- UK's Starmer says armed forces intercepted Russian shadow fleet oil tanker
- Conflict will determine future of Europe, Zelensky warns
- Ukraine turns key bridge to Crimea into 'highway of death' with relentless drone strikes
- Ukraine claims Russian losses reach more than 1.3m since start of war
- Ukraine says 50 Russian military vehicles destroyed in attack on Crimean bridge
Rescuers killed in Russia's attack on Kharkiv
04:11 , Arpan Rai
A large-scale Russian attack on Ukraine killed five rescuers in Kharkiv and wounded at least 20 people in the capital Kyiv as Russia continued aerial assault on its smaller neighbour.
The rescuers were killed in Kharkiv by a second Russian strike as they fought a blaze caused by an earlier attack, interior minister Ihor Klymenko said. At least five other emergency workers were wounded.
A series of powerful explosions echoed across Kyiv, with a wave of ballistic missiles followed by Shahed drones as many people sought shelter underground and officials urged residents to take cover.
“Kyiv is under the main strike. There is significant destruction of civilian infrastructure,” Klymenko said.
Twenty people, including a child, sought medical help in the capital, said Tymur Tkachenko, head of the Kyiv city military administration.
Five strikes hit civilian sites in the city’s Shevchenkivskyi district in less than 30 minutes, he said, including a 25-story apartment building, while a market and a grocery store caught fire. In the Obolonskyi district, a nine-story residential building took a direct hit.
Russian attack sets fire to centuries-old religious site in Kyiv
03:57 , Arpan Rai
A large-scale Russian attack on Ukraine has sparked a fire at one of the country’s most significant religious landmarks.
Damage at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, a monastic complex, was substantial and a serious fire had broken out, said Kyiv military administration head Tymur Tkachenko, who accused Russia of deliberately striking “the heart of one of the largest Christian shrines.”
The roof of the Dormition Cathedral caught fire during the overnight attack, said Metropolitan Epiphanius, head of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.
He condemned the strike as another Russian crime “against humanity, against history, against Christianity” and appealed for prayers to save the site.
The Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, also known as the Monastery of the Caves, is a sprawling complex of monasteries and churches, including some underground, built from the 11th to the 19th century. Some of the churches at the UNESCO-listed World Heritage site are connected by a labyrinthine complex of caves spanning more than 600 metres (2,000 feet).
The cathedral, churches and other buildings overlook the right bank of the Dnipro River and have been a pilgrimage site for centuries.
What is a Flamingo cruise missile? Ukraine uses weapon to attack Russian arms factory
03:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that his military has used domestically-produced FP-5 Flamingo cruise missiles to strike targets deep within Russia.
These strikes targeted a military plant in Cheboksary, over 900km from the frontline, and an oil refinery in Russia's Samara region.
The FP-5 Flamingo missile, which entered service in 2025, has a 3,000km range and can carry a tonne of explosives, designed for low-altitude flight to avoid detection.
Zelensky also highlighted Kyiv's expanding drone campaign, stating it has disrupted Russian military logistics throughout the temporarily occupied territory.
Recent incidents include a large fire at Russia's Afipsky refinery in Krasnodar following drone strikes, and explosions reported at military sites in Russian-occupied Crimea.
World chess body suspends Russia after legal challenge by Ukraine
02:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
The governing body of world chess has suspended Russia - for decades the dominant force in the game - after a successful legal challenge by Ukraine.
An international tribunal, the Court of Arbitration for Sport, in March upheld a complaint by Ukraine that Russia's chess federation had usurped control of the game in areas of Ukraine captured by Russian forces since 2022. It gave Russia 90 days to relinquish control of chess bodies in five regions of Ukraine and stop holding tournaments there.
But on Wednesday the International Chess Federation (FIDE) - which is headed by Russia's former deputy prime minister Arkady Dvorkovich - said Russia had not complied with the deadline and it had therefore decided to "impose the sanction of temporary suspension of (Russia's) membership... with immediate effect".
World chess body suspends Russia after legal challenge by Ukraine
Russia will be ready to attack Nato in three years, says German army chief
01:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
Russia will be ready to “invade a Nato partner” by 2029, a German army chief has warned.
Lieutenant General Christian Freuding said all 32 Nato members agree that Vladimir Putin could have the capability to launch a large-scale assault on allied territory before the end of the decade.
In an interview with Politico, he said “speed is of the essence” as he urged German leaders to increase investment in the country’s military.
Read more here:
Russia will be ready to attack Nato in three years, says German army chief
Watch: Zelensky hails Trump conversation and calls for joint push for peace
00:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
Trump tells Putin he is prepared to help end war in Ukraine
23:06 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
Donald Trump has told Vladimir Putin that ending the conflict in Ukraine was vital and he is ready to help, a Kremlin foreign policy adviser said.
Yuri Ushakov said the two leaders spoke for just under an hour, as the US president said he was ready to act with European partners and Kyiv.
He also quoted Trump as saying that a rapid resolution would allow "perspectives to open for a new quality of US-Russian relations”.
Ushakov said Putin told the Trump that intensified Ukrainian strikes on Russian targets would not change the situation on the battlefield.
Protestors set fire to Tesla car ahead of G7 summit
22:35 , Rebecca Thomas
Protesters set fire to a Tesla and smashed the windows of a bank in Geneva on Sunday as they vented their anger at a Group of Seven summit about to take place just across the border in France.
Wars in the Middle East and Ukraine are set to dominate the G7 agenda, while leaders will seek to avoid a clash with Trump as he seeks to finalise a framework peace deal with Iran.
According to Reuters, the march was otherwise largely peaceful, with up to 7,000 people attending, according to police, who said they confiscated some knives and pyrotechnic devices. Demonstrators said they came to protest against the G7 as a symbol of concentrated political and economic power.
Russia will be ready to attack Nato in three years, says German army chief
21:35 , Rebecca Thomas
Russia will be ready to “invade a Nato partner” by 2029, a German army chief has warned.
Lieutenant General Christian Freuding said all 32 Nato members agree that Vladimir Putin could have the capability to launch a large-scale assault on allied territory before the end of the decade.
In an interview with Politico, he said “speed is of the essence” as he urged German leaders to increase investment in the country’s military.
It comes amid a string of warnings from Europe’s defence chiefs, including the UK’s chief of defence staff.
In pictures: Ukrainian drone attack in Oryol, southern Russia
20:35 , Rebecca Thomas
A Ukrainian drone attack killed one person in Russia’s southwestern Oryol region, local officials said Sunday, while a separate strike hit an oil facility as part of Kyiv’s campaign of strikes on military and energy targets deep inside Russia.
Oryol regional Governor Andrei Klychkov said Sunday that one person died and nine were wounded when a Ukrainian drone struck a residential building overnight in the regional capital, also called Oryol.
Ukraine president thanks UK government for Russian tanker interception
19:29 , Rebecca Thomas
Following news that UK armed forces intercepted a Russian shadow fleet tanker on Sunday Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged Europe to take steps to restrict oil shipments.
Posting on social media site x, the president Zelenskyy said: “I thank @Keir_Starmer and all Britons for such principled resolve. And Europe urgently needs to take legislative steps to enable not only the detention of tankers and restrictions on oil shipments, but also the confiscation of the oil they carry.”
I am grateful to the UK for taking this important step against Russia’s oil fleet – a shadow fleet tanker has been detained off the UK's southern coast.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) June 14, 2026
It was Russia’s hubris, fueled by high oil and gas revenues, that paved the way for this war, and every decision by partners… https://t.co/ej16vDOF0E
Watch: UK armed forces intercept Russian shadow fleet vessel in the Channel
18:23 , Rebecca Thomas
Video footage of the moment UK forces intercepted Russian shadow fleet oil tanker in English Channel in the early hours of Sunday morning.
In pictures: The Russian shadow fleet tanker intercepted by UK armed forces
17:19 , Rebecca Thomas
Pictures of Russian shadow fleet tanker in English Channel that was intercepted by UK armed forces on Sunday
Ukraine's Zelenskyy discussed war and diplomacy in call with Trump
16:15 , Rebecca Thomas
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy discussed the war, diplomacy and peace negotiations in a call on Sunday with U.S. President Donald Trump, a presidential adviser said.
Zelenskyy also conveyed birthday greetings to Trump, who turned 80 on Sunday, in the call that lasted roughly 30 to 35 minutes, presidential communications adviser Dmytro Lytvyn said.
Pictured: Black smoke rises from the Russian city of Rybinsk after strike
14:30 , Daniel Keane
Ukraine hits oil facility behind enemy lines
13:35 , Daniel Keane
Ukraine hit an oil facility overnight in Russia's Yaroslavl region, and the Azot chemical plant in the Tula region, President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on X.
Zelensky said the Azot plant was critical for Russia's explosives production, and that strikes on Russian military logistics had also been conducted in occupied parts of Ukraine.
"Ukraine is carrying out its plan of long-range sanctions against Russia and the assigned tasks regarding mid-range strikes in response to Russia’s refusal to end this war," Zelensky said, using the term he frequently uses to describe Ukrainian strikes on Russia.
No small achievement, minister says after interception of a Russian shadow fleet vessel by UK
12:30 , Shweta Sharma
The UK has dealt a "significant blow" to Vladimir Putin's war effort after intercepting a Russian shadow fleet vessel in the English Channel, a senior minister has said, adding that it was no small acheivement.
In the early hours of Sunday, Royal Marine commandos and specially trained officers from the National Crime Agency boarded a sanctioned oil tanker during a six-hour operation, marking the first UK-led mission of its kind.
The operation targeted Russia's so-called "shadow fleet" vessels used to transport oil and other goods while circumventing international sanctions.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said the action was aimed at disrupting a key source of funding for Russia's war in Ukraine.
"One of the ways that Putin is funding the war in Ukraine is through a shadow fleet that is able to transport goods, particularly oil, through waters they would otherwise be barred from sailing in," she told Sky News.
"Today, we've intercepted one of those vessels and detained it in order to disrupt the funding source of that unlawful war."
Nandy said the operation reflected the government's commitment to taking decisive action against threats posed by Russia, adding that prime minister Keir Starmer had instructed ministers to remain proactive in protecting national security.
Paying tribute to those involved, she described the mission as "no small achievement" and praised the naval personnel and law enforcement officers who carried it out.
"It is also a significant blow to the Russians," she added.
Russian MP warns ' country is approaching a social crisis'
12:00 , Shweta Sharma
A Russian lawmaker has called on Vladimir Putin to present a clear strategy for ending the war in Ukraine, while sharply criticising the Kremlin's leadership as ineffective.
In a scathing statement, Vyacheslav Markhayev, a Communist Party deputy in the State Duma, highlighted a range of problems facing wartime Russia, including corruption, oligarchic influence, heavy losses among the country's young and working-age population, and the growing impact of Ukrainian drone attacks.
“The era of illusions has ended. The country is approaching a social crisis, and responsibility for this lies squarely with the entrenched ruling elite,” Markhayev said.
He warned that if current conditions continue, Russia could face increasing social unrest and instability.
“Should the situation persist, the risk of chaos and public disorder will only grow. The West will inevitably seek to exploit these vulnerabilities to further weaken what remains of Russian statehood,” he added.
UK armed forces board Russian shadow fleet tanker in English Channel
11:30 , Shweta Sharma
The British armed forces intercepted a Russian shadow fleet vessel in the Channel in the early hours of Sunday, Sir Keir Starmer said.
In the first UK-led operation of its kind, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said Royal Marine commandos and specially trained law enforcement officers from the National Crime Agency boarded a sanctioned oil tanker during a six-hour operation.
The vessel Smyrtos will be provisionally moved to an anchorage off the south coast of England and be monitored for any environmental or safety concerns.
UK armed forces board Russian shadow fleet tanker in English Channel
Massive Ukrainian drone attack hit industrial fuel storage facility near Moscow
11:00 , Shweta Sharma
A massive Ukrainian drone attack on Russia's Yaroslav region north of Moscow hit an industrial fuel storage facility on Sunday, sparking a fire, the regional governor said.
There were no casualties and special services were working at the scene to extinguish the blaze, Mikhail Yevrayev wrote on Telegram.
May becomes deadliest month for Ukrainian civilians in more than four years, UN says
10:30 , Shweta Sharma
More than 2,000 civilians were killed or wounded in Ukraine in May, making it the deadliest month for non-combatants since April 2022, according to the United Nations.
The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine recorded at least 274 deaths and 1,763 injuries during the month, blaming intensified fighting and an increase in attacks using powerful weapons in populated areas.
"The intensification of hostilities and the increasingly frequent use of powerful weapons in urban areas led to high numbers of civilians killed and injured across the country," Danielle Bell, head of the HRMMU, said in a statement.
The UN said casualties were reported across the country, including far from the front lines, with missile, aerial bomb and drone strikes causing widespread harm.
Short-range drone attacks alone killed 64 civilians and injured 539 others in May – the highest monthly toll from that weapon since Russia's full-scale invasion began.
Russians are finding ways to skirt Putin’s digital iron curtain – one phone at a time
10:00 , Shweta Sharma
In a quiet cafe popular for its free Wi-Fi and good coffee, a Russian interior designer logs onto a virtual private network so she can chat with friends abroad using the U.S. messaging service WhatsApp, which is blocked inside Russia.
Later, she toggles off the VPN to buy a ticket on the Russian Railways website, which bars anyone using the tools to obscure their location. She then picks up a second phone to check for messages from clients on the state-controlled app MAX.
Since the Kremlin ratcheted up control over the internet this year, Russians have been turning to increasingly convoluted technical solutions to circumvent state monitoring and restrictions on popular foreign apps like Meta Platforms' WhatsApp and the Telegram messenger. The biggest crackdown of its kind under President Vladimir Putin has at times disrupted banking, transport and e-commerce, irritating people ahead of a September parliamentary election, according to statements from Kremlin-friendly opposition parties, prominent bloggers and business leaders. Even some social media influencers, who usually stay clear of politics, criticized the restrictions.
Russians are finding ways to skirt Putin’s digital iron curtain – one phone at a time
Zelensky holds meeting with Latvia minister of defence
09:30 , Shweta Sharma
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, had a meeting this week with Latvian minister of defence minister Raivis Melni.
Posting on the social media site X, President Zelensky said they’d discussed the implementation of their “Drone Deal” signed between the two countries this week.
He did not give details of what the deal entails but said, “We will be able to share expertise in air defence with Latvia”
No bilateral talks planned between Trump and Zelensky at G7, official says
09:29 , Shweta Sharma
US president Donald Trump will participate in a G7 working session alongside Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky in France on Tuesday.
However no separate bilateral meeting between the two leaders is currently planned, according to a senior US administration official.
The G7 summit, taking place in Evian in France's Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region from 15-17 June, will see Trump hold a series of bilateral meetings on the sidelines with French president Emmanuel Macron and the leaders of Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and India.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a senior US official briefing reporters on Trump's trip said Russian battlefield advances in Ukraine have "more or less stopped", while reiterating Washington's desire to bring the conflict to an end.
"We want the war to end as quickly as possible," the official said.
The interception of a Russian shadow fleet vessel is 'a significant blow' to Putin, minister says
09:18 , Shweta Sharma
The Independent's political correspondent Millie Cooke reports:
The interception of a Russian shadow fleet vessel in the Channel is a "significant blow" to Vladimir Putin, a government minister has said, insisting that it is "no small achievement".
In the early hours of Sunday, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said Royal Marine commandos and specially trained law enforcement officers from the National Crime Agency boarded a sanctioned oil tanker during a six-hour operation – the first UK-led operation of its kind.
Asked about the operation, culture secretary Lisa Nandy told Sky News: "Yes, so one of the ways that Putin is funding the war in Ukraine is to operate what is called a shadow fleet, which is able to transport goods, particularly oil, through waters that they would otherwise be barred from sailing in.
"And this morning what we've done is intercept one of those shadow fleet vessels and detained that in order to disrupt the funding source of that unlawful war.
“It's one of the instructions that the prime minister gave quite early on was that he wanted us to be on the front foot taking that sort of decisive action in order to keep the country safe and to deal with the threat posed by Russia, and this morning we've been able to successfully do that."
She added: "I want to pay tribute to all of the naval navy officers and others who've been involved in doing that. That is no, no small achievement, but it is also a significant blow to the Russians."
British forces intercept Russian shadow fleet oil tanker attempting to cross English Channel
09:00 , Shweta Sharma
British armed forces on Sunday intercepted a Russian shadow fleet oil tanker attempting to pass through the English Channel.
The vessel SMYRTOS was boarded by Royal Marine Commandos and specially trained law enforcement officers from the National Crime Agency, Britain's Ministry of Defence said in a statement.
The vessel will be held and monitored off the south coast as investigations continue, the statement said, adding that enforcement action in Britain's territorial waters was carried out in accordance with domestic and international law.
British prime minister Kier Starmer said that he had directed the interception.
"This successful operation delivers yet another blow to Russia and reminds those fueling Putin's war in Ukraine that we will not let them hide," Starmer said in a post on X.
Fire at Russian port extinguished a day after Ukrainian drone strike
08:41 , Shweta Sharma
A fire sparked by a Ukrainian drone attack on a sea terminal in the southern Russian port of Temryuk has been extinguished, regional authorities were cited by Russian state media as saying on Sunday.
Ukraine's military and the SBU security service said on Saturday that Ukrainian drones hit several targets in Russia during overnight attacks - the oil and gas terminal in the Russian Krasnodar region and also an oil processing and pumping facility in the Volgograd region.
May becomes deadliest month for Ukrainian civilians in more than four years, UN says
08:30 , Shweta Sharma
More than 2,000 civilians were killed or wounded in Ukraine in May, making it the deadliest month for non-combatants since April 2022, according to the United Nations.
The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine recorded at least 274 deaths and 1,763 injuries during the month, blaming intensified fighting and an increase in attacks using powerful weapons in populated areas.
"The intensification of hostilities and the increasingly frequent use of powerful weapons in urban areas led to high numbers of civilians killed and injured across the country," Danielle Bell, head of the HRMMU, said in a statement.
The UN said casualties were reported across the country, including far from the front lines, with missile, aerial bomb and drone strikes causing widespread harm.
Short-range drone attacks alone killed 64 civilians and injured 539 others in May – the highest monthly toll from that weapon since Russia's full-scale invasion began.
Massive Ukrainian drone attack hit industrial fuel storage facility near Moscow
08:12 , Shweta Sharma
A massive Ukrainian drone attack on Russia's Yaroslav region north of Moscow hit an industrial fuel storage facility on Sunday, sparking a fire, the regional governor said.
There were no casualties and special services were working at the scene to extinguish the blaze, Mikhail Yevrayev wrote on Telegram.
ICYMI: Sweden scrambled fighter jets twice to monitor Russian military aircraft near Baltic airspace
08:00 , Shweta Sharma
Sweden deployed fighter jets on two occasions on Friday after Russian military aircraft were detected operating close to Swedish airspace over the Baltic Sea, according to the Swedish Armed Forces.
The interceptions involved Russian Su-24 and Su-34 aircraft flying in international airspace near Sweden.
Military officials said the Russian planes did not enter Swedish territory, but Swedish JAS 39 Gripen fighters were dispatched to identify and monitor them.
Prime minister Ulf Kristersson described the incidents as another example of persistent Russian military activity in the Baltic region, warning that the security environment can change rapidly.
While stressing that no airspace violation took place, Kristersson said the interceptions highlighted the need for constant vigilance and close coordination with allies. He praised the Air Force's rapid response, saying it demonstrated the importance of maintaining a high state of readiness.
Zelensky says Ukraine's fight will determine Europe's future
07:30 , Shweta Sharma
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has said the outcome of the war with Russia will shape the future security of the entire European continent, arguing that Ukraine is making greater sacrifices for Europe than any other country seeking EU membership.
In remarks ahead of a series of international summits, Zelensky said Ukraine's struggle goes beyond domestic reforms or political transformation, describing it as a fight for independence, freedom and the right to choose a European future.
He argued that Ukraine's battle is also being fought on behalf of other countries in the region, including the Baltic states, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Romania, Moldova and nations in the Caucasus.
"The fate of Europe is being decided in Ukraine," Zelensky said, adding that the way the war ends will determine whether Russia retains the ability to threaten its neighbours and broader European security.
The Ukrainian leader said securing a dignified end to the conflict and obtaining long-term security guarantees would be central topics in upcoming discussions with allies at the G7 summit in France, as well as meetings of the European Council and Nato.
Among all the European nations that have already joined the European Union or see such a prospect for themselves, Ukraine is the one making the greatest sacrifices for Europe. We are not simply carrying out internal reforms, nor are we simply going through a transformation. We… pic.twitter.com/ZEuqmwcHW2
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) June 13, 2026
UK's Starmer says armed forces intercepted Russian shadow fleet oil tanker
07:28 , Shweta Sharma
British prime minister Keir Starmer said on Sunday that he had directed the country's armed forces earlier in the day to intercept a shadow fleet oil tanker attempting to pass through the English Channel.
"This successful operation delivers yet another blow to Russia and reminds those fueling Putin's war in Ukraine that we will not let them hide," Starmer said in a post on X.
In the early hours of this morning, I directed our Armed Forces to intercept a shadow fleet oil tanker attempting to pass through the English Channel.
— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) June 14, 2026
This successful operation delivers yet another blow to Russia and reminds those fueling Putin's war in Ukraine that we will not…
Russia attacks Ukraine with nearly 100 drones
07:15 , Shweta Sharma
Russian forces launched nearly 98 drones overnight.
Ukrainian air force said its air defence forces shot down or jammed 91 of the drones.
Seven drone attacks hit six locations and debris from downed drones fell at four locations.
Ukraine's Zaporizhzhya nuclear plant reconnected to grid after IAEA-brokered ceasefire
07:00 , Shweta Sharma
Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant was reconnected to the grid following repairs carried out under an IAEA-brokered localised ceasefire after the facility lost all off-site power for nearly three days, the International Atomic Energy Agency said on Saturday.
The outage marked the 19th time the plant has lost off-site power since the start of the war, after an attack on an electrical substation across the Dnipro River disconnected the Ferosplavna back-up power line late on Wednesday.
Lasting almost three days, it was one of the site's longest power loss events, forcing the facility to rely on emergency diesel generators for the electricity it needs to cool its six shutdown reactors.
Trump and Macron will meet over dinner at Versailles palace after G7 summit in France
06:39 , Shweta Sharma
Donald Trump and French president Emmanuel Macron will meet over dinner at the glittering Palace of Versailles near Paris after the G7 summit of leading industrialised nations next week in France, their governments announced Saturday.
The wars in Ukraine and Iran are also expected to be front and center.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky will also be at the summit. A formal meeting between Trump and Zelensky is not currently scheduled, officials told reporters, though they could meet on the sidelines.
Trump, who is trying to make progress on finalising an Iran war deal in the coming days, is expected to have a busy schedule of one-on-one meetings with foreign leaders on the sidelines of the summit in the French lakeside town of Evian-les-Bains, according to senior administration officials who briefed reporters on the condition of anonymity under ground rules set by the White House.
Trump also plans individual meetings on the sidelines of the summit, which opens Monday, with the leaders of Egypt, Qatar and United Arab Emirates to discuss efforts to wind down the Iran war.
Macron's office said the French president will host Trump for a dinner Wednesday to mark the occasion of the 250th anniversary of the independence of the United States, at the Palace of Versailles, "a historic symbol of Franco-American friendship."
One killed in Russia's Krasnodar after Ukrainian strike
06:23 , Shweta Sharma
A person was killed and three were injured in Russia’s southern Krasnodar region in a Ukrainian drone attack, local officials said.
Drone debris sparked a fire at a sea terminal, local governor Veniamin Kondratyev said.
He did not give details, but Russian news outlets reported that a Black Sea export terminal transporting terminal crude oil, petroleum products and liquefied gas in the village of Volna was damaged.
Ukraine's General Staff did not comment on the Krasnodar strike Saturday, but said that its forces had hit an oil preparation and pumping station overnight in Russia's Volgograd region, as well as Russian-occupied areas in Ukraine's Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions.
The attack comes after Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said his country's forces had struck several military and energy infrastructure sites deep inside Russia, including a military factory that he said supplied components for Russian drones and missiles.
Russia will be ready to attack Nato in three years, says German army chief
06:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
Russia will be ready to “invade a Nato partner” by 2029, a German army chief has warned.
Lieutenant General Christian Freuding said all 32 Nato members agree that Vladimir Putin could have the capability to launch a large-scale assault on allied territory before the end of the decade.
In an interview with Politico, he said “speed is of the essence” as he urged German leaders to increase investment in the country’s military.
Russia will be ready to attack Nato in three years, says German army chief
Hungary’s missing €3.5 billion – and the move to investigate Orban’s inner circle
05:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
Senior officials in Viktor Orban’s inner circle must be investigated over €3.5bn of missing EU funds, the chief of Hungary’s anti-corruption watchdog has told The Independent.
Central to the latest allegations are claims that several communications companies were awarded contracts from the Hungarian government to the tune of €10bn over the past four years – roughly €3.5bn of which the Hungarian Integrity Authority (HIA) believes may be the result of artificially inflated pricing.
Alex Croft reports:
Hungary’s missing €3.5 billion – and the move to investigate Orban’s inner circle
Russians are finding ways to skirt Putin’s digital iron curtain – one phone at a time
04:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
In a quiet cafe popular for its free Wi-Fi and good coffee, a Russian interior designer logs onto a virtual private network so she can chat with friends abroad using the U.S. messaging service WhatsApp, which is blocked inside Russia.
Later, she toggles off the VPN to buy a ticket on the Russian Railways website, which bars anyone using the tools to obscure their location. She then picks up a second phone to check for messages from clients on the state-controlled app MAX.
Russians are finding ways to skirt Putin’s digital iron curtain – one phone at a time
Trump to meet with Mideast leaders, attend Ukraine session at G7, US officials say
03:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
Donald Trump will meet with Middle Eastern leaders and attend a working session with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during the G7 summit in France next week, senior U.S. administration officials said on Saturday.
Trump is scheduled to travel to Evian, France, for the G7 summit early on Monday after attending Sunday's mixed martial arts event at the White House. He will speak to a number of European leaders with whom he has squabbled over trade, tariffs, Ukraine and NATO since his return to the White House early in 2025.
Trump will participate in a working session on Tuesday with Zelensky and G7 leaders. The meeting comes at a time when Russian advances in Ukraine have slowed and Ukraine seeks more military funding from its allies.
One of the senior U.S. officials, who briefed reporters on condition of anonymity about Trump's trip, said Russian gains have "more or less stopped."
"We want the war to end as quickly as possible," the official said. Trump has had up-and-down relations with Zelensky. No bilateral meeting was planned with Zelensky but the two leaders could meet on the sidelines of the summit, the officials added.
They said Trump would meet separately with the leaders of Egypt, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, France and India. Trump planned to raise issues of shared importance with leaders at the summit, including economic growth and development, supply chain resilience, illegal migration and AI, one of the officials said. He also planned to work on boosting resilience in the supply chain for critical minerals needed for advanced technologies.
Ukrainian drone strike kills 1 in southern Russia and triggers fire at sea terminal
02:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
A Ukrainian drone attack killed one person and injured three in Russia’s southern Krasnodar region, local officials said Saturday, as part of Kyiv's campaign of strikes on military and energy targets deep inside Russia.
Drone debris sparked a fire at a sea terminal, local Gov. Veniamin Kondratyev said.
He did not give details, but Russian news outlets reported that a Black Sea export terminal transporting terminal crude oil, petroleum products and liquefied gas in the village of Volna was damaged.
Ukraine’s General Staff did not comment on the Krasnodar strike Saturday, but said that its forces had hit an oil preparation and pumping station overnight in Russia’s Volgograd region, as well as Russian-occupied areas in Ukraine's Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions.
The attack comes after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his country’s forces had struck several military and energy infrastructure sites deep inside Russia, including a military factory that he said supplied components for Russian drones and missiles.
He said Wednesday that Ukrainian FP-5 Flamingo long-range missiles had hit the facility in Cheboksary, in the Chuvashiya region, more than 900 kilometers (560 miles) from the front line.
01:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
Conflict will determine future of Europe, Zelensky warns
Saturday 13 June 2026 23:41 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
Volodymyr Zelensky has said the Russia-Ukraine conflict will “determine the future of Europe” in comments ahead of anticipated G7 summit next week.
In a post online, the Ukrainian president said his country is making “the greatest sacrifices for Europe” as it fights for its independence.
He wrote: “We are not simply carrying out internal reforms, nor are we simply going through a transformation. We are fighting for our state, for our independence, and for our right to choose our own path and to be Europe.
“That is why the fate of Europe is being decided here – it is being decided in Ukraine, in this war, and in how this war ends – and whether Russia will still have the strength and the desire after this war to threaten the existence of Ukraine and its other neighbors, and the entirety of Europe.”
What would Ukraine's EU membership mean?
Saturday 13 June 2026 22:00 , Rebecca Thomas
At a meeting in Brussels, ambassadors from the 27 EU nations decided to officially open negotiations with Ukraine as well as with Moldova, which Russia has also tried to drag back into its orbit.
Ukraine sees EU membership as an important “security guarantee” for a stable future once war with Russia ends.
Its best guarantee would be NATO membership, but the Trump administration insists that cannot happen.
Last month, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz urged his EU partners to consider offering “associate membership” to Ukraine and breathe new life into talks aimed at ending more than four years of war with Russia.
Under Merz’s proposals, Ukraine would take part in EU meetings, but without voting rights, and would also have non-voting “associate members” of the bloc’s powerful executive branch, the European Commission, and the European Parliament.
Trump to meet with Middle East leaders, attend Ukraine session at G7, US officials say
Saturday 13 June 2026 21:00 , Rebecca Thomas
U.S. President Donald Trump will meet with Middle Eastern leaders and attend a working session with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy during the G7 summit in France next week, senior U.S. administration officials said on Saturday.
Officials said Trump would meet separately with the leaders of Egypt, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, France and India. No bilateral meeting was planned with Zelenskiy, but the two leaders could meet on the sidelines of the summit, they added.
Trump planned to raise issues of shared importance with leaders at the summit, including economic growth and development, supply chain resilience, illegal migration and AI, one of the officials said. He also planned to work on boosting resilience in the supply chain for critical minerals needed for advanced technologies.
Fuel shortages hit Russian-occupied Crimea as Kyiv steps up drone attacks
Saturday 13 June 2026 20:00 , Rebecca Thomas
Petrol stations are running out of fuel in Russian-occupied Crimea as Ukraine steps up drone attacks on energy infrastructure.
Witnesses in the region reported on Thursday that most petrol stations had run dry or were fielding long queues as the region experiences its worst fuel crisis since Russia’s illegal annexation in 2014.
It comes after Ukraine intensified drone strikes on supply lines to the peninsula in recent months. Attacks on the Russian-held territories to the north, where fuel is transported via roads and rail links, as well as to an oil terminal in Feodosia, have largely cut off supply routes to the region.
On Friday, Robert Brovdi, commander of Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces, has said that Ukraine is capable of fully cutting off Russia’s access to Crimea in the “near future”.
In a rare public admission, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov acknowledged the Crimean fuel shortages earlier this week and promised that "measures were being taken" to deal with them.
Watch Kyiv claims devastating strike on Crimea bridge destroyed 50 military vehicles
Saturday 13 June 2026 19:00 , Rebecca Thomas
Watch Kyiv claims devastating strike on Crimea bridge destroyed 50 military vehicles
Saturday 13 June 2026 19:00 , Rebecca Thomas
Kyiv claims devastating strike on Crimea bridge destroyed 50 military vehicles
Images of Ukrainan strike on Armiansk bridge
Saturday 13 June 2026 18:00 , Rebecca Thomas
Ukrainian forces struck and destroyed 50 military vehicles on the Russian-occupied Armiansk bridge linking Crimea with mainland Ukraine, on June 11.
UN records highest civilian casualty toll in four years
Saturday 13 June 2026 17:00 , Rebecca Thomas
More civilians were killed and injured in Ukraine in May than in any other month in the last four years, according to the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU).
In an update on Friday, the HRMMU said that conflict-related violence in Ukraine in May killed at least 274 civilians and injured 1,763.
It said: “With more than 2,000 civilian casualties, the month of May saw more civilian casualties than any other month since April 2022,” said Danielle Bell, head of HRMMU. “
“The intensification of hostilities and increased use of powerful weapons in urban areas led to high numbers of civilians killed and injured across the country.”
Ukraine nuclear power plan back online
Saturday 13 June 2026 16:00 , Rebecca Thomas
Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant was reconnected to the grid following repairs carried out under an IAEA-brokered localised ceasefire after the facility lost all off-site power for nearly three days, the International Atomic Energy Agency said on Saturday.
The outage marked the 19th time the plant has lost off-site power since the start of the war, after an attack on an electrical substation across the Dnipro River disconnected the Ferosplavna back-up power line late on Wednesday.
Lasting almost three days, it was one of the site's longest power loss events, forcing the facility to rely on emergency diesel generators for the electricity it needs to cool its six shutdown reactors.
Zelensky holds meeting with Latvia minister of defence
Saturday 13 June 2026 15:00 , Rebecca Thomas
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, had a meeting this week with Latvian minister of defence Minister Raivis Melni.
Posting on the social media site X, President Zelensky said they’d discussed the implementation of their “Drone Deal” signed between the two countries this week.
He did not give details of what the deal entails but said, “We will be able to share expertise in air defence with Latvia”
I held a meeting with Latvian Defense Minister Raivis Melnis, who is visiting Ukraine on his first trip abroad since taking office.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) June 12, 2026
We discussed the implementation of the Drone Deal signed between our countries this week. Through this format, in particular, we will be able to… pic.twitter.com/m3XOCUHD7I
Ukrainian mourners gather for volunteer solider
Saturday 13 June 2026 14:00 , Rebecca Thomas
Ukrainian service members and mourners gather for the funeral of Jhan Sebastian Restrepo Mazo, a volunteer soldier from Colombia in Ukraine's 413th Unmanned Systems Regiment, "Raid", who was recently killed in fights against Russian troop, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine
Ukraine drone strikes kills one, sparks fire at Russian port
Saturday 13 June 2026 13:00 , Rebecca Thomas
A Ukrainian drone attack killed one person and sparked a fire at a sea terminal in the southern Russian port of Temryuk, in the Krasnodar region, governor Veniamin Kondratiev said on Saturday on the Telegram messaging app.
According to reports from Reuters, Ukraine's military and the SBU security service said that Ukrainian drones hit several targets in Russia during overnight attacks - the oil and gas terminal in the Russian Krasnodar region and also an oil processing and pumping facility in the Volgograd region.
Ukrainian drones hit the Tamanneftegaz oil and gas terminal in the Russian Krasnodar region, striking five fuel tanks and also two oil loading stands, the SBU security service said.
A separate strike on Saturday sparked a fire in an industrial area of the Kotovo district in the Volgograd region, regional authorities said, citing governor Andrei Bocharov.
Russian attacks kill at least eight, injure dozens across Ukraine
Saturday 13 June 2026 12:00 , Shweta Sharma
Russian attacks across Ukraine killed at least eight civilians and injured 62 others over the past day, regional authorities said today.
Overnight, Russia launched 118 drones, including Shahed-type attack drones, with Ukraine's air force reporting that 110 were intercepted. Three drones hit targets at three locations.
In Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, one person was killed and 12 injured in separate attacks, while Sumy Oblast reported three deaths and 17 injuries after more than 70 strikes on settlements near the border.
In Donetsk Oblast, one person was killed and seven wounded as Russian forces attacked communities including Druzhkivka, Kramatorsk and Kostiantynivka.
Zaporizhzhia Oblast recorded one death and eight injuries after hundreds of strikes across the region, while in Kherson Oblast one person was killed and 15 wounded in attacks that damaged homes, businesses and civilian infrastructure.
Regional authorities said residential areas and civilian facilities were among the targets hit.
Lithuania says airspace incident was cause by weather balloon, not drone
Saturday 13 June 2026 11:30 , Shweta Sharma
Lithuania on Saturday briefly warned residents in its capital of a potential military drone incursion into its airspace, but later said the alert had been triggered by a weather balloon.
The Baltic region remains on high alert after a series of recent airspace violations, in which Ukrainian long-range drones missed targets in Russia and strayed into neighbouring nations.
Lithuania's National Crisis Management Centre said Nato aircraft were briefly summoned on Saturday to intercept the suspect drone, and visually identified it as a weather balloon
Ukraine turns key bridge to Crimea into 'highway of death' with relentless drone strikes
Saturday 13 June 2026 11:06 , Shweta Sharma
Ukraine has intensified attacks on Russia's supply routes to Crimea, turning the R-280 highway – Moscow's last reliable overland route to the annexed peninsula – into what Russian troops reportedly call the "highway of death".
The campaign has left Russia with increasingly limited options for supplying Crimea. The Kerch Bridge, Moscow's alternative route into the peninsula, has been repeatedly targeted by Ukrainian strikes and is considered too vulnerable for the transport of fuel and military cargo.
That has placed greater importance on the R-280 highway, which is now under constant threat from Ukrainian drone attacks.
On 27 May, Ukrainian defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov formally launched a $113m (£84m) campaign to disrupt Russian logistics along the R-280 highway, turning weeks of escalating drone attacks into an official strategy aimed at cutting a key supply route to Crimea.
Military analysts have told The Telegraph the strategy reflects a classic focus on logistics rather than direct battlefield confrontation. Convoys travelling along the exposed highway in southern Ukraine have few places to hide from aerial surveillance and drone strikes.
The pressure on the route is forcing Moscow to confront growing challenges in keeping Crimea supplied after more than four years of war.
Ukrane drone strikes kills one in Russia's Temryuk port
Saturday 13 June 2026 11:00 , Shweta Sharma
A Ukrainian drone attack killed one person and sparked a fire at a sea terminal in the southern Russian port of Temryuk, in the Krasnodar region, governor Veniamin Kondratiev said on the Telegram messaging app.
Ukraine continues to pummel Russia's energy infrastructure as peace talks to resolve the Ukraine war have stalled.
Temryuk was previously targeted by Ukrainian drones in late May, when Kyiv's security service said it had struck a gas terminal there.
A separate strike on Saturday sparked a fire in an industrial area of the Kotovo district in the Volgograd region, regional authorities said, citing governor Andrei Bocharov.
Bocharov did not disclose details of the damage or identify the facilities affected.
On 1 June, Reuters reported that the Lukoil-owned Volgograd oil refinery in Russia's south, has suspended oil processing since 29 May following a Ukrainian drone attack.
Putin says Russia developing satellite-based drone control system, Ifax says
Saturday 13 June 2026 10:30 , Shweta Sharma
Russia is developing a satellite-based system for controlling combat drones, president Vladimir Putin said on Friday during a meeting with military officials, the Interfax news agency reported.
Russian news agencies later said Putin issued a decree setting the size of the Russian military at 2,399,130 individuals, including 1,510,000 service members.
Recap: Ukrainian attack on Crimea bridge ‘destroys 50 Russian military vehicles’
Saturday 13 June 2026 10:00 , Shweta Sharma
The Ukrainian military claims to have destroyed 50 Russian military vehicles in a strike on the Armiansk bridge, which connects occupied Crimea to mainland Ukraine.
Ukraine's 1st Separate Assault Regiment Da Vinci stated the attack "completely paralysed" this crucial logistical route, rendering it unusable for Russian forces.
Kyiv reported that the targeted Russian vehicles were laden with ammunition and fuel, intended for use near the Zaporizhzhia oblast.
Robert Brovdi, commander of Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces, asserted that Ukraine possesses the capability to fully sever Russia’s access to Crimea in the "near future".
In photos: Fuel crisis hits Crimea
Saturday 13 June 2026 09:30 , Shweta Sharma
Crimea is seeing lines for fuel and gas rationing after Ukrainian strikes.
It's not immediately clear how the fuel disruptions will affect Russian military operations, but residents of Crimea and other occupied territories are keenly feeling the blow.
The peninsula has had periodic fuel shortages from Ukrainian strikes before, but this crisis is the worst since its 2014 annexation.
At the end of May, authorities restricted the sale of gasoline to 20 liters (5 1/3 gallons) per vehicle owner per week using prepaid coupons. Those were snapped up immediately following their release on an official messaging app channel, and motorists lined up for hours, waiting to refuel.
Social networks have been abuzz with requests and advice on where to find fuel, and authorities launched a hotline for tourists who have found themselves trapped.
While fuel shipments over the Kerch Bridge long have been suspended for security reasons since the Ukrainian attacks, fuel also has been carried by ferries. Those shipments are expected to increase.
Some motorists bring their own gas over the bridge from the mainland, but they are restricted to carrying 100 liters (about 26 1/2 gallons) per vehicle. Some speculators are selling gas at double the market price.
Crimea attracted nearly seven million tourists last year, and it had hoped to top that number this year.
Zelensky signs law to remove Russian as protected language
Saturday 13 June 2026 09:00 , Shweta Sharma
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has signed a law removing Russian from the list of languages protected under Ukraine's implementation of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages.
Parliament Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk said the move was aimed at protecting Ukraine's linguistic space and preventing what he described as continued Russian imperial influence.
"The language of the aggressor state cannot benefit from protection mechanisms created to support the languages of indigenous peoples and national communities," Stefanchuk said.
The law, which had been awaiting Zelensky's signature for more than six months, also removes the non-existent "Moldovan" language from the list of protected languages.
Ukraine says it remains committed to linguistic and cultural diversity while strengthening its linguistic security amid the war with Russia.
Trump pushes for Europe to pay more as US plans major Nato force reduction: report
Saturday 13 June 2026 08:30 , Shweta Sharma
The Trump administration is reportedly planning a significant reduction in the aircraft and warships it allocates to Nato operations in Europe, according to a New York Times report citing two senior European officials.
This decision could severely curtail Nao’s capacity for long-range strikes and surveillance.
The proposed cuts include reducing the number of F-16 and F-15E fighter jets from approximately 150 to 100, scaling back maritime reconnaissance aircraft from 26 to 15, and withdrawing all eight aerial refueling tanker jets previously available to Europe.
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Trump Push for Europe to Pay More as US Plans Major NATO Force Reduction
Ukrane drone strikes kills one in Russia's Temryuk port
Saturday 13 June 2026 08:08 , Shweta Sharma
A Ukrainian drone attack killed one person and sparked a fire at a sea terminal in the southern Russian port of Temryuk, in the Krasnodar region, governor Veniamin Kondratiev said on the Telegram messaging app.
Ukraine continues to pummel Russia's energy infrastructure as peace talks to resolve the Ukraine war have stalled.
Temryuk was previously targeted by Ukrainian drones in late May, when Kyiv's security service said it had struck a gas terminal there.
A separate strike on Saturday sparked a fire in an industrial area of the Kotovo district in the Volgograd region, regional authorities said, citing governor Andrei Bocharov.
Bocharov did not disclose details of the damage or identify the facilities affected.
On 1 June, Reuters reported that the Lukoil-owned Volgograd oil refinery in Russia's south, has suspended oil processing since 29 May following a Ukrainian drone attack.
Russia launches over 100 drones overnight
Saturday 13 June 2026 08:00 , Shweta Sharma
Russia launched 118 drones at Ukraine overnight, according to Ukraine's Air Force.
Ukrainian air defences said they destroyed or jammed 110 of the drones across the country's north, south and east. However, strikes by three UAVs were recorded at three locations, while debris from downed drones fell at six sites.
The attack was still ongoing this morning, with several Russian drones reportedly remaining in Ukrainian airspace.
Separately, Ukraine's military said Russia lost 1,310 troops killed or wounded and 88 artillery systems over the previous day.
