Key Points
- European leaders discuss 'urgent need' for defences against Oreshnik missiles
- Zelensky: 'An extremely vile Russian strike' struck special territory around Chernobyl
- Russian drone hits nuclear-fuel storage facility near Chornobyl, Ukraine says
- Ukraine targets St Petersburg again after Putin rejects Zelensky's offer for direct talks
- Russian forces attack rescue vessels in Ukrainian waters, causing injuries, deputy PM says
Zelensky says he will freeze the Ukraine war frontline, but that will not end the war
06:10 , Arpan Rai
Volodymyr Zelensky said he can freeze the battlefield frontlines as they exist amid the warfare between the Ukrainian and Russian forces as he explained what a ceasefire can look like.
On being asked if would want the lines to be frozen where they are at the moment if a ceasefire was agreed tomorrow, Zelensky said: “Yes. It’s the quickest way”, he told Sky News in an interview yesterday.
"[But] We want to stop the war in a way where the war will not come back.
"It's not the idea just to freeze, but the quickest way to is to freeze and to move it to a diplomatic setting,” Zelensky said, explaining that freezing alone will not help.
The war-time president denied that it would not entail handing Russia what they want in this moment.
"No, it's not just to give. To stay where we are means to give the people of Ukraine more possibilities to save their children, and for soldiers to come back. I think this is important for us,” he said.
Russian attack kills five and injures 14 in Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia region
05:56 , Arpan Rai
A Russian attack killed has killed five and injured fourteen in Ukraine's southeastern Zaporizhzhia region, the regional governor said this morning.
Ivan Fedorov said Russia attacked the region with air strikes, drones and shelling, damaging infrastructure, residential buildings and cars.
Watch: Zelensky willing to freeze battle for peace talks
05:50 , Arpan Rai
Starmer, Merz and Macron have five conditions for Putin to end Ukraine war
05:35 , Arpan Rai
British PM Keir Starmer, French president Emmanuel Macron and German chancellor Friedrich Merz on Sunday set out five conditions for Russia to meet in any peace deal.
These are: including that Russia must agree to an immediate and complete ceasefire, that the “current line of contact” should be the starting point for negotiations and that there are robust guarantees on Ukraine’s safety. Russian assets will remain frozen until it compensates Ukraine for the war and Europe should get a say in any agreement, the leaders said.
The renewed pressure on Russia comes after it suffered a series of military setbacks in recent months.
Europe to ramp up defence against Putin’s hypersonic missiles after Ukraine strike
05:20 , Arpan Rai
Sir Keir Starmer and the leaders of France and Germany have warned of the “urgent need” to ramp up production of defensive weapons against Russia’s hypersonic Oreshnik missiles, after a late-night summit in Downing Street on Sunday.
Alongside Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky, the leaders also called on Vladimir Putin to agree “an immediate and complete ceasefire” and said the “current line of contact” between the two sides should be the starting point for any negotiations.
Ahead of the talks, President Zelensky had warned his country could maintain its recent attacks deep into Russia if the war continues, as he pledged Ukraine will not “silently die”.
The renewed pressure on Russia comes after it suffered a series of military setbacks in recent months.
But in a sign of the continued havoc the conflict is wreaking on Ukraine, the talks took place hours after a drone strike struck a storage facility for spent nuclear fuel near the Chernobyl power plant.
Europe to ramp up defence against Putin’s hypersonic missiles after Ukraine strike
Zelensky asked Roman Abramovich to send peace talks plea to Putin, report says
05:00 , Arpan Rai
Volodymyr Zelensky invited former Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich to Kyiv in a bid to persuade him to pass pleas for direct peace talks to Vladimir Putin, according to reports.
The Ukrainian president hosted the Russian billionaire last month and asked him to tell Mr Putin he was prepared to meet, multiple sources told the Financial Times. Any direct meeting between the two would be the first since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in 2022.
It comes as Kyiv hopes to capitalise on a pivotal moment in the war, with Ukraine beginning to regain some leverage on the battlefield in part due to improved long-range strike capabilities.
Zelensky asked Roman Abramovich to send peace talks plea to Putin, report says
Starmer says support for Ukraine 'ironclad' after No 10 meeting
04:40 , Arpan Rai
Prime minister Keir Starmer has said Britain would stand with Ukraine as long as needed and support for the war-hit nation is “ironclad”.
"Our support for Ukraine is ironclad," Sir Keir wrote. "Ukraine's security is Europe's security.”
His remarks came after the PM hosted Volodymyr Zelensky, Emmanuel Macron and Friedrich Merz at Downing Street yesterday and said any European security interests must be safeguarded.
Zelensky said on X that the leaders discussed possible ways to reinvigorate diplomacy and Europe’s role in this process.
"For Ukraine, it has always been a priority that Europe’s position and voice in the negotiations be strong," he said.
Ukraine unleashes major overnight attack on Russia-occupied oil depots in Crimea
04:20 , Arpan Rai
Russian officials are reporting early morning attacks in Russia and Russia-occupied regions of Crimea and Mariupol with strikes on oil depots and electrical substations under attack.
Preliminary visuals shared on social media by locals showed thick black smoke billowing from the area of the Grushevaya Balka oil depot in the Russian city of Novorossiysk, reported the Kyiv Independent.
The Russian depot is largest oil storage in the Caucasus region, with a reported capacity of 1.2 million tonnes of fuel.
Another oil depot in Simferopol in Crimea was reported on fire by residents, the report added citing Telegram channels in Russia-occupied territory.
Electrical substation fires were also reported in occupied Mariupol as well as the community of Hvardiiske near Simferopol amid the reported strikes, it added.
European leaders ready to support ceasefire talks between Ukraine and Russia
03:50 , Arpan Rai
The leaders of Britain, Germany and France said they supported a proposal for talks between Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian president Vladimir Putin to try to secure a ceasefire, and Europe would play a role.
In a joint statement, British prime minister Keir Starmer, German chancellor Friedrich Merz and French president Emmanuel Macron commended Zelensky's call for an end to the war and the proposal for direct dialogue between Ukraine and Russia, with active US and European participation.
The three leaders, who head an informal security alliance called the E3 that is one of Ukraine's main sources of international support, were joined on Sunday by Zelensky in Downing Street.
"Leaders commended President Zelensky's call for an end to the war, negotiated by diplomatic means, as set out in his letter to the president," Sunday's joint statement said.
Zelensky said in a post on X that he also told Sir Keir that Ukraine needed more missiles for air defence systems, just days after he published an open letter to Putin proposing face-to-face talks about ending the war, now in its fifth year.
Zelenskiy's proposal was rebuffed by the Russian president.
Armenia's Pashinyan declares victory in parliamentary election, vote counting continues
03:00 , James Reynolds
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan declared victory on Monday in a parliamentary election after results from just over one-fifth of polling sites showed his party with around 54% of the vote.
In a press conference in the early hours of Monday morning, Pashinyan said his Civil Contract party had prevailed, calling it a "historic victory".
Armenia's election commission had released early results from about 21% of polling stations by the time Pashinyan gave his press conference.
Sunday's vote, Armenia's first general election since a crushing military defeat by Azerbaijan in 2023, was viewed as a test of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's push to deepen ties with the West and secure a peace deal with Azerbaijan after years of conflict and political turbulence.
Pashinyan's Civil Contract, which has brought Armenia closer to the West since taking power in 2018, squared off against three main pro-Russian opposition parties.
Zelensky asked Roman Abramovich to send peace talks plea to Putin, report says
03:00 , James Reynolds
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky invited former Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich to Kyiv last month in a bid to encourage Russian president Vladimir Putin to sit down for direct talks to end the war, according to a report.
Four people with knowledge of the matter told the Financial Times that Zelensky asked the Russian businessman, also a former governor, to relay that he was ready to meet for what would have been the first bilateral talks since the invasion.
The sources said Ukraine wanted to show its seriousness in intent to settle the four-year conflict.
Zelensky asked Roman Abramovich to send peace talks plea to Putin, report says
Recap: Zelensky in London for talks with Starmer, Macron and Merz
01:00 , James Reynolds
Britain's Keir Starmer welcomed Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky and the leaders of Germany and France to Downing Street on Sunday for talks on European support for Ukraine and stepping up efforts to bring an end to the war.
“The main focus is our defence in the war, greater cooperation for the security of all of Europe in the area of air defence, and our shared view of diplomatic prospects,” Zelensky wrote on X when he arrived in Britain.
“Europe must be part of the negotiations and must be strong.”
Britain, France and Germany have an informal security alliance called the E3, which has become one of Ukraine's main international supporters.
Macron said on Friday the Europeans could help Ukraine and Russia build both a ceasefire and a peace plan. Both sides, however, have accused the other of refusing to compromise.
Comment: ‘Puffy-looking’ Putin is acting weirder than ever – and that should chill us to the bone
Monday 8 June 2026 00:00 , James Reynolds
The Russian leader’s alarmingly obvious mental and physical decline is what I suspect has triggered the warning from the head of UK armed forces that we are now in greater danger than at any other point in his lifetime, says Robert Fox:
Putin is acting weirder than ever – and that should chill us to the bone
Watch: Zelensky arrives at No. 10 for talks with Starmer, Macron and Merz
Sunday 7 June 2026 23:38 , James Reynolds
Russian drone hits nuclear-fuel storage facility near Chornobyl, Ukraine says
Sunday 7 June 2026 23:00 , James Reynolds
Russian forces deliberately struck a storage facility for spent nuclear fuel near Ukraine's Chornobyl power plant, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday, in an "extremely vile" attack that did not lead to a spike in radiation.
The strike significantly damaged a fuel-reception building metres away from where "large amounts of nuclear material" are stored, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency, which said it had been briefed by Ukraine.
Kyiv's state atomic agency Energoatom said no spent fuel had been stored in the building at the time of the attack. A resulting fire was extinguished, and no injuries were reported.
Russia has not publicly commented on the alleged strike on the facility, which is located around 15 km from the decommissioned Chornobyl plant, the site of the world's worst nuclear disaster.
"An extremely critical infrastructure facility – and an extremely vile Russian strike," Zelensky wrote on X, adding Russia had used a Shahed attack drone.
"As of now, there are no readings exceeding normal background radiation levels. But there is certainly an increase in Russia's brazenness, which long ago went off the charts."
European leaders discuss 'urgent need' for defences against Oreshnik missiles
Sunday 7 June 2026 22:05 , Tom Barnes
The leaders of the UK, Ukraine, France and Germany have discussed the “urgent need” to ramp up production of defensive weapons and deep-strike capabilities after Russia fired Oreshnik missiles at Ukraine, Downing Street said.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer hosted Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky along with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz – some of Kyiv’s staunchest allies – at No 10 on Sunday evening for talks on the war.
The leaders called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to agree “an immediate and complete ceasefire” with the current line of contact as a starting point for any negotiations, Downing Street said.
A readout said: “They condemned Russia’s large-scale missile and drone attacks – including the repeated use of the Oreshnik missiles – on Ukrainian cities with a tragic toll on civilians, as well as irresponsible and dangerous Russian drone incursions into Nato territory.
“They expressed their condolences to all the victims.
“They discussed how to use the upcoming G7 summit at Evian, the next meeting of the coalition of the willing, and the Nato summit at Ankara to best coordinate further support for Ukraine based on its prioritised needs, including further pressure on Russia’s war economy and an increased pledge of military and defence support for Ukraine at the Nato summit.
“The leaders underlined the urgent need to scale up the production of interceptors and co-develop anti-ballistic missile and deep strike capabilities, and to support the future sustainability of the Ukrainian armed forces.”
Zelensky asked Roman Abramovich to send peace talks plea to Putin, report says
Sunday 7 June 2026 22:00 , James Reynolds
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky invited former Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich to Kyiv last month in a bid to encourage Russian president Vladimir Putin to sit down for direct talks to end the war, according to a report.
Four people with knowledge of the matter told the Financial Times that Zelensky asked the Russian businessman, also a former governor, to relay that he was ready to meet for what would have been the first bilateral talks since the invasion.
The sources said Ukraine wanted to show its seriousness in intent to settle the four-year conflict.
Zelensky asked Roman Abramovich to send peace talks plea to Putin, report says
Zelensky, Starmer, Macron and Merz discuss defence from hypersonic missiles
Sunday 7 June 2026 21:50 , Tom Barnes
Leaders of Ukraine, the UK, France and Germany discussed “the urgent need to scale up the production of interceptors and co-develop anti-ballistic missile and deep strike capabilities” after Russia fired Oreshnik weapons at Ukraine, Downing Street said.
Volodymyr Zelensky has left Downing Street.
Sunday 7 June 2026 21:46 , James Reynolds
Keir Starmer and Volodymyr Zelensky shook hands and briefly posed for photographs outside No 10 this evening.
Mr Zelensky left just over half an hour after Macron and Merz.
Leaders leave No10 after meeting
Sunday 7 June 2026 21:24 , James Reynolds
Emmanuel Macron and Friedrich Merz have left Downing Street after a meeting with Sir Keir Starmer and Volodymyr Zelensky.
The four leaders shook hands warmly and posed for a group picture outside No 10.
The leaders smiled to reporters in Downing Street before the French president and German chancellor headed to their cars.
On his way to his car, Mr Macron greeted reporters in French saying “hello gentlemen and ladies”.
The Prime Minister and the Ukrainian leader then re-entered No 10.
Watch: Emergency crews extinguish fires after Russian strikes in Ukraine’s Sumy region
Sunday 7 June 2026 21:00 , James Reynolds
Russian drone hits nuclear-fuel storage facility near Chornobyl, Ukraine says
Sunday 7 June 2026 20:00 , James Reynolds
Russian forces deliberately struck a storage facility for spent nuclear fuel near Ukraine's Chornobyl power plant, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday, in an "extremely vile" attack that did not lead to a spike in radiation.
The strike significantly damaged a fuel-reception building metres away from where "large amounts of nuclear material" are stored, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency, which said it had been briefed by Ukraine.
Kyiv's state atomic agency Energoatom said no spent fuel had been stored in the building at the time of the attack. A resulting fire was extinguished, and no injuries were reported.
Russia has not publicly commented on the alleged strike on the facility, which is located around 15 km from the decommissioned Chornobyl plant, the site of the world's worst nuclear disaster.
"An extremely critical infrastructure facility – and an extremely vile Russian strike," Zelensky wrote on X, adding Russia had used a Shahed attack drone.
"As of now, there are no readings exceeding normal background radiation levels. But there is certainly an increase in Russia's brazenness, which long ago went off the charts."
Pictured: Starmer greets Zelensky at the door
Sunday 7 June 2026 19:20 , James Reynolds
Breaking: Zelensky arrives at No 10 for talks with Starmer
Sunday 7 June 2026 19:19 , James Reynolds
Volodymyr Zelensky has arrived at Downing Street for talks with Keir Starmer, French president Emmanuel Macron and German chancellor Friedrich Merz.
Zelensky said earlier today the focus of the summit would be greater cooperation for the security of “all of Europe” in air defence, and the prospects for diplomatic efforts to end the war with Russia.
“Europe must be part of the negotiations and must be strong. A meeting with His Majesty King Charles III is also scheduled for tomorrow,” he said.
Zelensky said last week he was preparing meetings with key European partners to discuss “air defense for Ukraine, sanctions against Russia for the war, our joint weapons production with partners, political coordination, and real support for Ukrainians who are going through this full-scale war”.
The Ukrainian president has urged the importance of air defences for Ukraine and wider Europe in recent weeks.
Merz arrives at Downing Street
Sunday 7 June 2026 18:46 , James Reynolds
German chancellor Friedrich Merz has also arrived at No10 for the E3 summit with Ukraine.
Macron arrives at No10
Sunday 7 June 2026 18:42 , James Reynolds
French president Emmanuel Macron has just entered Downing Street, greeted at the door by Sir Keir Starmer.
Zelensky in UK for talks with Starmer, Macron and Merz
Sunday 7 June 2026 17:58 , Dan Haygarth
Volodymyr Zelensky is in the UK for bilateral talks with Sir Keir Starmer, as well as an E3-plus-Ukraine format with French president Emmanuel Macron, German chancellor Friedrich Merz and Sir Keir.
"The main focus is our defence in the war, greater cooperation for the security of all of Europe in the area of air defence, and our shared view of diplomatic prospects," he wrote on X.
"Europe must be part of the negotiations and must be strong."
Today I am in Britain. We will have our bilateral talks with Keir and a meeting in the E3 plus Ukraine format: President of France Emmanuel Macron, Chancellor of Germany Friedrich Merz, and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Keir Starmer. Our teams have already done substantive… pic.twitter.com/tZrdxqh4Pp
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) June 7, 2026
Video: Starmer to host Zelensky and leaders of France and Germany for No 10 talks
Sunday 7 June 2026 17:42 , Dan Haygarth
Downing Street prepares to host Volodymyr Zelensky, Emmanuel Macron and Friedrich Merz
Sunday 7 June 2026 17:28 , Dan Haygarth
Full story: Zelensky asked Roman Abramovich to send peace talks plea to Putin, report says
Sunday 7 June 2026 16:50 , Dan Haygarth
Volodymyr Zelensky invited former Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich to Kyiv in a bid to persuade him to pass pleas for direct peace talks to Vladimir Putin, according to reports.
The Ukrainian president hosted the Russian billionaire last month and asked him to tell Mr Putin he was prepared to meet, multiple sources told the Financial Times. Any direct meeting between the two would be the first since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in 2022.
It comes as Kyiv hopes to capitalise on a pivotal moment in the war, with Ukraine beginning to regain some leverage on the battlefield in part due to improved long-range strike capabilities.
Read more:
Zelensky asked Roman Abramovich to send peace talks plea to Putin, report says
Zelensky statement as he arrives in UK
Sunday 7 June 2026 16:17 , Daniel Haygarth
Ukraine’s president wrote on X on Sunday: “Today I am in Britain.
“We will have our bilateral talks with Keir and a meeting in the E3 plus Ukraine format: President of France Emmanuel Macron, Chancellor of Germany Friedrich Merz, and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Keir Starmer.
“Our teams have already done substantive work to prepare all the meetings. Now it is important to discuss everything and agree on the key things at the leaders’ level.
“The main focus is our defense in the war, greater cooperation for the security of all of Europe in the area of air defense, and our shared view of diplomatic prospects – Europe must be part of the negotiations and must be strong.
“A meeting with His Majesty King Charles III is also scheduled for tomorrow.
“I thank the United Kingdom and all our partners who, through real steps, are helping us strengthen the protection of life and increase pressure on Russia for its aggression. Russia must end its war.”
Zelensky invited Abramovich to Kyiv to push for direct talks with Putin: report
Sunday 7 June 2026 16:16 , James Reynolds
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky invited former Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich to Kyiv last month in a bid to encourage Russian president Vladimir Putin to sit down for direct talks to end the war, according to a report.
Four people with knowledge of the matter told the Financial Times that Zelensky asked the Russian businessman, also a former governor, to relay that he was ready to meet for what would have been the first bilateral talks since the invasion.
The sources said Ukraine wanted to show its seriousness in intent to settle the four-year conflict.
Zelensky in UK
Sunday 7 June 2026 16:07 , Dan Haygarth
President Volodymyr Zelensky is in the UK for bilateral talks with Keir Starmer, as well as an E3-plus-Ukraine format with French president Emmanuel Macron, Germany chancellor Friedrich Merz and the prime minister.
"The main focus is our defence in the war, greater cooperation for the security of all of Europe in the area of air defence, and our shared view of diplomatic prospects," he wrote on X.
"Europe must be part of the negotiations and must be strong."
Video: Starmer to host Zelensky and leaders of France and Germany for No 10 talks
Sunday 7 June 2026 15:20 , Dan Haygarth
Government should apologise for delay to defence plan which has damaged Britain’s safety, MPs say
Sunday 7 June 2026 15:03 , Dan Haygarth
The government should apologise for the delay to a long-anticipated defence blueprint which has damaged Britain's safety and emboldened its enemies, an influential cross-party group of MPs has said.
In a scathing assessment they also accuse ministers of offering “excuses” which, they say, “simply do not cut it”.
On Friday, the chief of the defence staff Richard Knighton warned the UK is running out of time to boost its defences in response to the threat posed by Russia, after months of delays to the Defence Investment Plan (Dip).
Read more:
Delay to defence plan which has damaged Britain’s safety, MPs say
Armenians go to the polls under Russian pressure aimed at preventing a drift toward West
Sunday 7 June 2026 14:46 , Dan Haygarth
Armenians are today voting parliamentary elections as the incumbent government, under mounting Russian pressure, seeks to loosen ties with Moscow and deepen cooperation with the West.
Prime minister Nikol Pashinyan and his ruling Civil Contract party are looking for a strong mandate for a new geopolitical course. The opposition they face includes some parties that are vocally pro-Russian.
Russian officials have hit Armenian exports with a barrage of restrictions in recent weeks, while high-ranking officials, including President Vladimir Putin, have made thinly veiled threats comparing Armenia's path to that already taken by Ukraine.
Armenian investigators said they issued six arrest warrants for members of the opposition Strong Armenia party the day before the vote, accusing them of buying votes.
The nation's Central Election Committee confirmed on Saturday that the party could run after a member of another opposition party, Republic, appealed for Strong Armenia to be barred over corruption allegations.
Recap: Ukraine hits St. Petersburg again after Putin rejects Zelensky’s offer for talks
Sunday 7 June 2026 14:30 , Dan Haygarth
A large-scale Ukrainian drone attack targeted St. Petersburg, Russia's second-largest city, on Saturday morning, with residents told to remain indoors .
The strike shows Kyiv's increasing capability to hit deep within Russian territory. St. Petersburg Governor Alexander Beglov specifically warned of potential disruptions to mobile internet services.
The latest attacks came a day after Putin on Friday rejected a proposal by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for a face-to-face meeting on the four-year-old conflict, saying he sees “no point” in it.
Read more below.
Ukraine hits St. Petersburg again after Putin rejects Zelensky’s offer for talks
Russian drone strike kills three
Sunday 7 June 2026 14:15 , Dan Haygarth
A Russian drone strike killed three people waiting at a bus stop in southeastern Ukraine on Sunday, an official said, as Keir Starmer hosts the leaders of Ukraine, France and Germany for talks on ongoing support for Kyiv.
Another person was wounded in the drone attack in Balabyne in Ukraine's southern Zaporizhzhia region, the head of the regional military administration, Ivan Fedorov, wrote on his Telegram channel.
Elsewhere, a Ukrainian attack killed one man and injured a woman in Russia's Kursk region, local Gov. Alexander Khinshtein said.
Zelensky's statement in full after Russian drone hits facilty near Chernobly
Sunday 7 June 2026 14:00 , Dan Haygarth
The Ukrainian president wrote on X on Sunday: “Today, the Russians again struck the special territory around the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant.
“A ‘shahed’ hit one of the buildings of the Centralized Spent Fuel Storage Facility. An extremely critical infrastructure facility – and an extremely vile Russian strike.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, the Ministry of Energy, and all our services are already working to ensure that each of our partners knows what has happened. Russia deliberately struck this particular nuclear infrastructure facility.
“As of now, there are no readings exceeding normal background radiation levels. But there is certainly an increase in Russia’s brazenness, which long ago went off the charts. Ukrainian first responders extinguished the fire at this facility after the strike.
“And real new steps by the world are needed so that the Russians feel that this terrorist war of theirs is a blow to Russia itself.
“Last night, there were also Russian strikes on other civilian facilities in 13 of our regions. In total, over the course of this past week, Russia launched 88 missiles, more than 3,250 attack drones, and around 1,800 guided aerial bombs against Ukraine.
“Pressure on Russia must be increased. Thank you to everyone who’s helping!”
Ex-military chief warns it is going to be ‘difficult’ for Starmer to look Zelensky in the eye amid defence delays
Sunday 7 June 2026 13:47 , Kate Devlin
General Sir Richard Shirreff, who chairs an advisory council for Ukraine's armed forces, has hit out at the PM, accusing him of having "failed to put together" a long-promised defence investment plan.
An influential group of MPs has said the government should apologise for the delay, which has damaged Britain’s safety.
The UK has pledged support for Ukraine in its fight against Russia.
Sir Richard told BBC Radio 4's Broadcasting House "it's going to be very difficult for the prime minister to look President Zelensky in the eye and indeed his other allies, particularly Germany" when he has "failed to put together" the promised defence investment plan.
Starmer, Macron and Merz to meet Zelensky in Downing Street to discuss ramping up pressure on Russia
Sunday 7 June 2026 13:10 , Analysis by Kate Devlin, Whitehall Editor
The PM, alongside the leaders of France and Germany, will hold talks with the Ukrainian President on how to increase pressure on Moscow later.
It comes after Russia suffered a series of military setbacks.
Ukraine has recaptured more territory than it lost to Russian forces in May for two straight months, an analysis by the AFP news agency shows.
Today’s meeting will allow the leaders to “continue their close coordination on our shared agenda of continuing support for Ukraine and increasing pressure on Russia’s war effort", France has said.
Earlier this week President Zelenskyy proposed a face-to-face meeting with Vladimir Putin in an open letter.
But the Russian leader has rejected the idea. Could another push bring him to the negotiating table?
Zelensky: 'An extremely vile Russian strike' struck special territory around Chernobyl
Sunday 7 June 2026 12:48 , Dan Haygarth
Today, the Russians again struck the special territory around the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant. A “shahed” hit one of the buildings of the Centralized Spent Fuel Storage Facility. An extremely critical infrastructure facility – and an extremely vile Russian strike. The Ministry… pic.twitter.com/94I0YncYpD
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) June 7, 2026
Russia says it downed 500 Ukrainian drones in past 24 hours, IFX reports
Sunday 7 June 2026 12:00 , Dan Haygarth
Russia's Defence Ministry said on Sunday its air defences had downed 500 Ukrainian drones in the past 24 hours, Interfax news agency reported.
In full: Armenia arrests six candidates for pro-Russian opposition party day before vote
Sunday 7 June 2026 11:45 , Dan Haygarth
Armenian authorities have arrested six candidates from a pro-Russian opposition party, state media reported, just a day before they were due to stand in general elections. No official reason was given for the Saturday detentions.
The candidates belong to the Strong Armenia party, led by Russian-Armenian billionaire Samvel Karapetyan. Mr Karapetyan is currently under house arrest himself, facing charges of calling for the overthrow of the government – accusations he dismisses as politically motivated.
These arrests occur as Armenia's relationship with its traditional patron, Russia, has become a central electoral issue. Moscow recently imposed restrictions on Armenian exports, widely interpreted as a response to Yerevan's warming ties with Western countries.
Read more:
Armenia arrests six candidates for pro-Russian opposition party day before vote
Russian drone hits nuclear-fuel storage facility near Chernobyl, Ukraine says
Sunday 7 June 2026 11:29 , Dan Haygarth
Russian forces deliberately struck a storage facility for spent nuclear fuel near Ukraine's Chernobyl power plant, president Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday, in an "extremely vile" attack that did not lead to a spike in radiation.
The strike significantly damaged a fuel-reception building metres away from where "large amounts of nuclear material" is stored, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency, which said it had been briefed by Ukraine.
Kyiv's state atomic agency Energoatom said no spent fuel had been stored in the building at the time of the attack. A resulting fire was extinguished, and no injuries were reported.
Russia has not publicly commented on the alleged strike on the facility, which is located around 15 km (9 miles) from the Chernobyl plant, the site of the world's worst nuclear disaster.
"An extremely critical infrastructure facility – and an extremely vile Russian strike," Zelensky wrote on X, adding that Russia had used a Shahed attack drone.
"As of now, there are no readings exceeding normal background radiation levels. But there is certainly an increase in Russia's brazenness, which long ago went off the charts."
In a statement, the IAEA said a team would soon visit the site "to inspect the impact".
In February 2025, a Russian Shahed drone damaged a containment arch over the Chernobyl reactor that was destroyed in the April 1986 explosion and meltdown. Russia, which regularly attacks Ukrainian cities and infrastructure with drones and missiles, denied responsibility.
Kyiv and Moscow have also traded accusations of attacking the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in southeastern Ukraine, Europe's largest.
One killed and three wounded overnight
Sunday 7 June 2026 10:10 , Dan Haygarth
In Ukraine, one person was killed and three wounded overnight into Saturday in the Dnipropetrovsk region, as Russian forces struck three districts nearly 30 times with drones and artillery, regional head Oleksandr Hanzha said.
Vladimir Putin on Friday rejected a proposal by Mr Zelensky for face-to-face talks on the four-year-old war, claiming he saw “no point” in a meeting.
The so-called E3 group of nations meeting the Ukrainian leader are some of Kyiv’s staunchest allies, with the UK and France leading the “coalition of the willing” initiative to provide security guarantees for Ukraine as part of a peace process.
Armenians face choice between East and West in key election
Sunday 7 June 2026 09:30 , Adam Withnall
Armenians are going to the polls today in a key parliamentary election, faced with a choice between an incumbent government seeking to deepen its ties with the West and several opposition parties that are vocally pro-Russian.
Prime minister Nikol Pashinyan and his ruling Civil Contract party have advocated for a balanced foreign policy ensuring Armenia maintains good relations with the United States, Europe and Russia, as well as regional powers such as Turkey and Iran.
Trump has endorsed Pashinyan, while Russian officials have hit Armenian exports with a barrage of restrictions in recent weeks, and high-ranking officials, including Vladimir Putin, have made thinly veiled threats comparing Armenia’s path to that already taken by Ukraine.
Putin also has stressed that Armenia cannot join the EU and remain within the Eurasian Economic Union, a Russian-led customs bloc.
“Being in a customs union with the European Union and the Eurasian Economic Union is impossible,” Putin said. “It’s simply impossible by definition.”
Other potential contenders include former President Robert Kocharyan, who leads the Hayastan bloc and has accused Pashinyan of “seriously undermining” relations with Russia, and the Prosperous Armenia Party led by pro-Russian business owner Gagik Tsarukyan.
Polls opened at 8am local time this morning, with first results expected this evening or early Monday morning.
Cycling-UCI lifts Belarus ban, eases restrictions for junior Russian riders
Sunday 7 June 2026 09:00 , Namita Singh
Cycling's world governing body (UCI) has lifted its blanket ban on Belarus and relaxed some restrictions on Russian junior riders, amending regulations it first adopted in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The UCI said the changes follow updated recommendations from the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which lifted all restrictions on Belarusian athletes.
Belarusian national teams and athletes may enter UCI events, including UCI World Cups and UCI World Championships, with all restrictions on protocol matters, symbols and emblems lifted.
Russian junior riders and their support staff are now exempt from the requirement to apply for Individual Neutral Athlete (AIN) status to enter UCI International Calendar events.
Any reference to Russia is still prohibited on start lists, results sheets and television graphics. Russian national emblems and symbols on jerseys and equipment continue to be prohibited. Riders holding AIN status are now authorised to compete together in team events whose format requires collective participation.
Ukraine targets St Petersburg again after Putin rejects Zelensky's offer for direct talks
Sunday 7 June 2026 08:30 , Namita Singh
Residents of St Petersburg were told not to leave their homes after a large-scale Ukrainian drone attack targeted Russia’s second-largest city yesterday morning, underscoring Kyiv’s growing ability to hit deep inside Russia.
The attack came a day after Russian president Vladimir Putin refused an offer to meet his Ukrainian counterpart.
St Petersburg governor Alexander Beglov said three people sustained minor injuries in the attack. He advised residents not to go outside and warned of possible disruptions to mobile internet service, while regional governor Alexander Drozdenko said 141 drones were shot down over the surrounding Leningrad region in what he called an “unprecedented attack”.
Russia’s defence ministry said its air defences shot down 376 Ukrainian drones.
“Last night, our drones covered a distance of about 1,000 kilometers to the St. Petersburg region – to the enemy navy’s arsenals and a base in Kronstadt,” Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on X, adding that drones also hit an oil depot in Russia's southern Krasnodar region.
The renewed attack on St Petersburg is the latest embarrassing blow to Putin’s efforts to cast the conflict as a distant event that doesn’t affect Russian daily life.
A Ukrainian drone strike set ablaze an oil terminal in the city and hit a nearby naval base on Wednesday, hours before the opening of the St Petersburg International Economic Forum, Putin’s annual showcase for investment.
Russian-run Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant says power supply has been restored
Sunday 7 June 2026 08:00 , Namita Singh
The Russian-installed management of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant said on Saturday that it had restored the Ferrosplavnaya-1 power line, which supplies electricity to the plant."All systems and equipment at the ZNPP are operating normally," the management said via its Telegram channel.
A temporary local ceasefire, brokered by the UN's nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), was declared on Friday to allow repairs to the power line.
A few hours after the incident was reported, the Russian state nuclear energy corporation Rosatom accused Ukraine of deliberately violating the ceasefire through a drone attack that left at least three people injured.
The Zaporizhzhia plant, Europe's largest with six reactors, was seized by Russian troops in the early weeks of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. Each side has since accused the other of undertaking military actions to compromise nuclear safety. The plant generates no electricity, but needs external power to ensure that nuclear fuel at the site does not overheat.
The latest ceasefire was the sixth negotiated since late last year to carry out repairs to the power lines.
Russian forces attack rescue vessels in Ukrainian waters, causing injuries, deputy PM says
Sunday 7 June 2026 07:30 , Namita Singh
Russian forces have attacked two civilian search and rescue vessels in Ukrainian waters, causing injuries, Ukrainian deputy prime minister Oleksiy Kuleba said yesterday.
The Zaporizhzhia plant, Europe's largest with six reactors, was seized by Russian troops in the early weeks of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. Each side has since accused the other of undertaking military actions to compromise nuclear safety. The plant generates no electricity, but needs external power to ensure that nuclear fuel at the site does not overheat.
The latest ceasefire was the sixth negotiated since late last year to carry out repairs to the power lines.
Russian anti-aircraft units intercepted 339 Ukrainian drones over 13-hour period, says defence ministry
Sunday 7 June 2026 07:00 , Namita Singh
Russia's anti-aircraft units intercepted and destroyed 339 Ukrainian drones over a 13-hour period in various Russian regions, including Moscow, claimed its defence ministry.
The ministry, posting on Telegram, listed 13 regions where the interceptions took place, plus areas over the Black Sea, between 7am and 8pm.
Several regions in central Russia were included in the defence ministry list of affected areas, which also extended to Leningrad and Pskov regions in the northwest.
Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin issued a series of announcements on Telegram outlining anti-aircraft action against drones. An unofficial count showed that 14 had been downed throughout the day.
Russia's civil aviation authority periodically announced the suspension of flights to different airports. Russian news agencies said four suspension orders had been issued at different times of the day for the Black Sea city of Sochi.
Russia claims to have captured Shevchenko in Ukraine's Kharkiv region
Sunday 7 June 2026 06:40 , Namita Singh
The Russian defence ministry said on Saturday that it had captured the settlement of Shevchenko in Ukraine's Kharkiv region, Russian state news agency RIA Novosti reported. Reuters could not immediately verify the battlefield report.
Turkish-flagged fishing boat is attacked in the Black Sea, leaving a sailor dead
Sunday 7 June 2026 06:20 , Namita Singh
A Turkish-flagged fishing boat was attacked and sank off the northern Black Sea coast, leaving one sailor dead and four others wounded, the Turkish Coast Guard said late on Friday.
The Duru 67 was attacked west of Sevastopol in Crimea earlier in the day, according to a Coast Guard Command statement. The peninsula was illegally seized from Ukraine by Russia and annexed in March 2014. The statement did not provide further details of the attack.
Five injured sailors were rescued by another trawler, the Burak Kaya, but one died on the way back to Turkey.
A Coast Guard vessel carrying a medical team reached the Burak Kaya 115 nautical miles north of Turkey’s Inebolu port and the casualties were placed on board.
After a 15-hour return voyage, the injured were transferred to a hospital in the provincial capital Kastamonu, state-run Anadolu news agency reported. Provincial health director Fevzi Yavuzyılmaz said they were suffering shrapnel wounds and one had undergone minor surgery aboard the Coast Guard ship.
“Two of our patients have relatively minor injuries and two have slightly more serious injuries,” he said.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack. The waters off Ukraine have seen regular attacks on shipping since Russia launched a war on Ukraine in February 2022.
In November, the Turkish government condemned Ukrainian drone attacks on two oil tankers in the Black Sea as posing “serious risks to navigation, life, property and environmental safety in the region.”
Ukraine's military says it hit oil depot and oil terminal in Russia's Leningrad region
Sunday 7 June 2026 06:00 , Namita Singh
Ukraine's military said on Saturday it had hit an oil depot and an oil terminal in Russia's Leningrad region overnight.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky yesterday said the military had also hit another Russian oil deport in Krasnodar region.
PM to host Zelensky and leaders of France and Germany for No 10 talks
Sunday 7 June 2026 05:41 , Namita Singh
Sir Keir Starmer will host Volodymyr Zelensky, Emmanuel Macron and Friedrich Merz in No 10 to discuss ongoing support for Ukraine.
The Ukrainian leader will visit the UK with the French president and German chancellor on Sunday, Downing Street said.
It comes after a large-scale Ukrainian drone attack targeted St Petersburg, Russia’s second-largest city, on Saturday, underscoring Kyiv’s growing ability to hit deep inside Russia.
No casualties were immediately reported.
In Ukraine, one person was killed and three wounded overnight into Saturday in the Dnipropetrovsk region, as Russian forces struck three districts nearly 30 times with drones and artillery, regional head Oleksandr Hanzha said.
Vladimir Putin on Friday rejected a proposal by Mr Zelensky for face-to-face talks on the four-year-old war, claiming he saw “no point” in a meeting.
The so-called E3 group of nations meeting the Ukrainian leader are some of Kyiv’s staunchest allies, with the UK and France leading the so-called “coalition of the willing” initiative to provide security guarantees for Ukraine as part of a peace process.
Cycling-UCI lifts Belarus ban, eases restrictions for junior Russian riders
Sunday 7 June 2026 05:40 , Namita Singh
Cycling's world governing body (UCI) has lifted its blanket ban on Belarus and relaxed some restrictions on Russian junior riders, amending regulations it first adopted in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The UCI said the changes follow updated recommendations from the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which lifted all restrictions on Belarusian athletes.
Belarusian national teams and athletes may enter UCI events, including UCI World Cups and UCI World Championships, with all restrictions on protocol matters, symbols and emblems lifted.
Russian junior riders and their support staff are now exempt from the requirement to apply for Individual Neutral Athlete (AIN) status to enter UCI International Calendar events.
Any reference to Russia is still prohibited on start lists, results sheets and television graphics. Russian national emblems and symbols on jerseys and equipment continue to be prohibited. Riders holding AIN status are now authorised to compete together in team events whose format requires collective participation.
Fire at oil refinery in Russia's Tyumen region extinguished, RIA reports
Sunday 7 June 2026 05:20 , Namita Singh
A fire that broke out at the Antipinsky oil refinery, Russia's largest independent oil-processing plant, in Tyumen region has been extinguished, the Russian state news agency RIA Novosti reported on Saturday, citing the emergency ministry.
Ukraine targets St Petersburg again after Putin rejects Zelensky's offer for direct talks
Sunday 7 June 2026 05:00 , Namita Singh
Residents of St Petersburg were told not to leave their homes after a large-scale Ukrainian drone attack targeted Russia’s second-largest city yesterday morning, underscoring Kyiv’s growing ability to hit deep inside Russia.
The attack came a day after Russian president Vladimir Putin refused an offer to meet his Ukrainian counterpart.
St Petersburg governor Alexander Beglov said three people sustained minor injuries in the attack. He advised residents not to go outside and warned of possible disruptions to mobile internet service, while regional governor Alexander Drozdenko said 141 drones were shot down over the surrounding Leningrad region in what he called an “unprecedented attack”.
Russia’s defence ministry said its air defences shot down 376 Ukrainian drones.
“Last night, our drones covered a distance of about 1,000 kilometers to the St. Petersburg region – to the enemy navy’s arsenals and a base in Kronstadt,” Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on X, adding that drones also hit an oil depot in Russia's southern Krasnodar region.
The renewed attack on St Petersburg is the latest embarrassing blow to Putin’s efforts to cast the conflict as a distant event that doesn’t affect Russian daily life.
A Ukrainian drone strike set ablaze an oil terminal in the city and hit a nearby naval base on Wednesday, hours before the opening of the St Petersburg International Economic Forum, Putin’s annual showcase for investment.
Russian-run Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant says power supply has been restored
Sunday 7 June 2026 04:40 , Namita Singh
The Russian-installed management of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant said on Saturday that it had restored the Ferrosplavnaya-1 power line, which supplies electricity to the plant."All systems and equipment at the ZNPP are operating normally," the management said via its Telegram channel.
A temporary local ceasefire, brokered by the UN's nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), was declared on Friday to allow repairs to the power line.
A few hours after the incident was reported, the Russian state nuclear energy corporation Rosatom accused Ukraine of deliberately violating the ceasefire through a drone attack that left at least three people injured.
The Zaporizhzhia plant, Europe's largest with six reactors, was seized by Russian troops in the early weeks of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. Each side has since accused the other of undertaking military actions to compromise nuclear safety. The plant generates no electricity, but needs external power to ensure that nuclear fuel at the site does not overheat.
The latest ceasefire was the sixth negotiated since late last year to carry out repairs to the power lines.
Russian forces attack rescue vessels in Ukrainian waters, causing injuries, deputy PM says
Sunday 7 June 2026 04:20 , Namita Singh
Russian forces have attacked two civilian search and rescue vessels in Ukrainian waters, causing injuries, Ukrainian deputy prime minister Oleksiy Kuleba said yesterday.
"The enemy launched strikes on two boats of the maritime search and rescue service which were carrying out a humanitarian mission within the Ukrainian sea corridor," he wrote on Telegram, referring to a Black Sea route used to take vessels to Romanian ports.
"Unfortunately, there are injured. Evacuation by boats of the Ukrainian navy is currently underway."
Russian anti-aircraft units intercepted 339 Ukrainian drones over 13-hour period, says defence ministry
Sunday 7 June 2026 03:57 , Namita Singh
Russia's anti-aircraft units intercepted and destroyed 339 Ukrainian drones over a 13-hour period in various Russian regions, including Moscow, claimed its defence ministry.
The ministry, posting on Telegram, listed 13 regions where the interceptions took place, plus areas over the Black Sea, between 7am and 8pm.
Several regions in central Russia were included in the defence ministry list of affected areas, which also extended to Leningrad and Pskov regions in the northwest.
Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin issued a series of announcements on Telegram outlining anti-aircraft action against drones. An unofficial count showed that 14 had been downed throughout the day.
Russia's civil aviation authority periodically announced the suspension of flights to different airports. Russian news agencies said four suspension orders had been issued at different times of the day for the Black Sea city of Sochi.
EU urged to tighten visa rules as Russians ‘enjoy sunshine while Ukrainians die on the battlefield’
Sunday 7 June 2026 03:00 , James Reynolds
Sweden's migration minister has branded it "insane" that Russian citizens are enjoying European holidays and shopping trips while Ukrainians face death on the battlefield, urging the European Commission to impose stricter rules on tourist visas for Russians.
The call comes after Sweden, alongside ten other nations, sent a letter on Wednesday to EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and migration commissioner Magnus Brunner.
The letter highlighted a concerning rise in the number of tourist visas issued to Russians, despite Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine.
The signatory countries pressed the EU executive body to urgently tighten and harmonise these restrictions, warning that inconsistent regulations risk undermining both security and the sanctions policy implemented against Russia following its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
EU urged to tighten visa rules as Russians ‘enjoy sunshine while Ukrainians die’
