UK to provide Ukraine with 100,000 drones by April 2026
The UK pledged on June 4 to supply Ukraine with 100,000 drones by the end of April 2026, marking a tenfold increase from the previous year.
Lucy Pakhnyuk
Articles
Trump official who shut down counter-disinformation agency has Kremlin ties, Telegraph reports
A Trump State Department official who shut down a U.S. counter-disinformation office has Kremlin ties, the Telegraph reported on June 3. The official, Darren Beattie, is married to the niece of a former Russian official linked to Putin and has echoed pro-Kremlin narratives.
Latvia joins UN Security Council for first time
Latvia was elected on June 3 to the UN Security Council for the first time in its history. Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže called it a “historic day" for the Baltic nation, pledging the country’s commitment to upholding the rules-based international order.
Lavrov, Rubio discuss peace settlement ahead of Ukraine-Russia talks in Istanbul
The State Department confirmed that Russia requested the call and that Rubio reiterated President Trump's call for direct talks between Russia and Ukraine to achieve "a lasting peace."
Conservative candidate Nawrocki wins Polish presidential election by narrow margin
Right-wing historian Karol Nawrocki garnered 50.89% of the vote in the run-off election on June 1, narrowly defeating his liberal rival, Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski.
Russian attacks on Zaporizhzhia Oblast injure 7 people, damage critical infrastructure
Russia launched a series of attacks on Zaporizhzhia Oblast overnight on May 31-June 1, injuring 7 people and damaging homes and critical infrastructure, regional governor Ivan Fedorov reported.
Pro-Ukraine partisans sabotage railway in Russia-occupied Donetsk Oblast, group claims
The Atesh partisan group allegedly sabotaged the recently-constructed Volnovakha-Mariupol railway in occupied Donetsk Oblast, disrupting Russian logistics, the group claimed in a Telegram post on June 1.
Using Russian assets for Ukraine aid needs 'closer look,' German official says
Top German official Thorsten Frei said in an interview with German media on May 31 that the EU should reconsider using frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine, urging a tougher stance against the Kremlin.
'Serious setback' for democracy — EU condemns Russia-style foreign agents law in Georgia
The EU condemned Georgia's foreign agents law, which officially came into effect, and called on authorities to reverse the country's democratic backsliding in a statement published on May 31.
Kellogg criticizes Medvedev's 'reckless' threats, demands Russian peace memorandum
"President (Donald) Trump... is working to stop this war and end the killing. We await receipt of (the Russian) Memorandum... that you promised a week ago. Cease fire now," U.S. Special Envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg said.
Russia should think less about Trump's statements, more about stopping war, State Department says
U.S. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce on May 27 urged Russia to focus less on President Donald Trump’s social media posts and more on ending its war in Ukraine, saying that if Moscow truly cared about peace efforts, it would prioritize stopping “the carnage and the slaughter that’s happening right now.”
Ukrainian drones hit Russian cruise missile factory, SBU source says, in one of largest reported strikes of full-scale war
Dozens of Ukrainian drones were shot down by Russian air defenses as they approached Moscow, Mayor Sergey Sobyanin claimed on May 28.
US rolls back Assad-era sanctions on Syria
The United States granted immediate sanctions relief to Syria after President Donald Trump called for a complete end to sanctions on the country. The sanctions relief was announced by the U.S. Treasury Department and State Department on May 23.
Russia will reveal peace terms to Ukraine after prisoner exchange, Lavrov says
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced on May 23 that Moscow will convey its peace terms to Kyiv immediately after the completion of the ongoing prisoner exchange between the two countries.
'Putin remains confident in Russia’s ultimate victory in Ukraine,' US intelligence reports
According to a recent report from the US Defense Intelligence Agency, Russian President Vladimir Putin remains "committed to victory in Ukraine, and his objectives remain mostly unchanged since the beginning of the war: Ukrainian neutrality and a further partition of the Ukrainian state."
G7 leaders pledge to freeze Russian assets until war ends, support Ukraine's recovery
The G7 issued a joint statement on May 22, pledging to keep Russian assets frozen until the end of the war and to support Ukraine's recovery. "We reaffirm that... Russia’s sovereign assets... will remain immobilized until Russia ends its aggression and pays for the damage it has caused to Ukraine," the statement read.
Russia shuts down Moscow airports amid 3rd night of Ukrainian drone strikes
Russian authorities have been forced to shut down airports in Moscow amid a barrage of Ukrainian drone strikes overnight, Russian officials and state media reported on May 23. Operations have been suspended at Moscow's Vnukovo, Domodedovo, and Zhukovsky airports.
EU to downsize diplomatic service, prioritize Russia sanctions enforcement, POLITICO reports
The European Union is preparing to downsize its diplomatic service – the European External Action Service (EEAS) – and redirect funds toward strategic interests such as enforcing sanctions against Russia, POLITICO reported on May 20.
EU to lift economic sanctions on Syria
Top European Union diplomat Kaja Kallas announced on May 20 that the EU has "agreed to lift all economic sanctions" on Syria, adding that "there can be no peace without the path to economic recovery."
Suspect in alleged Russian plot to assassinate Zelensky to be tried by Poland
Polish prosecutors have indicted a man charged with allegedly planning to assist Russian foreign intelligence in a possible assassination attempt on President Volodymyr Zelensky, authorities announced on May 20.
Australian PM confirms Abrams tanks for Ukraine when meeting Zelensky in Rome
President Volodymyr Zelensky and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met in Rome on May 18 to discuss defense support for Ukraine, cooperation within the Coalition of the Willing, and increased pressure on Russia.
Russian drone strike in Kyiv Oblast kills 1, injures 3
An overnight Russian drone strike in Kyiv Oblast killed one person and injured three more, Governor Mykola Kalashnyk reported on May 18.
Russia kills 1, injures 8 people in Donetsk Oblast
The Russian military attacked Donetsk Oblast on May 17, killing one person and injuring an additional eight. The attack occurred in the morning and impacted the Yablunivka settlement, as well as Pokrovsk, Myrnohrad, and Andriivka.
Ukraine takes 9th place in Eurovision 2025
Ukrainian band Ziferblat took ninth place at the Eurovision 2025 Grand Final on May 17 in Basel, Switzerland. Their song "Bird of Pray" received 218 points – 60 from the jury and 158 from the audience.
Canadian PM Carney reaffirms support for Ukraine in first meeting with Zelensky
Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney and President Volodymyr Zelensky met for the first time on May 17 in Rome, where Carney reaffirmed his country's "steadfast and unwavering support" for Ukraine.
Russian drone strike on civilian bus in Sumy kills 9, injures 7
Russia launched a drone strike on Sumy Oblast in the early morning of May 17, killing nine people and injuring four more. The drone targeted a shuttle bus that was transporting civilians near the city of Bilopillia at 6:17 a.m. local time.
Russia's economic growth slowing down, Rosstat reports
Russia's economy is experiencing a sharp slowdown in growth, according to a report released by the governmental statistics agency Rosstat on May 16. GDP only grew by 1.4% in the first quarter of 2025 – a notable decline from 4.5% growth in the previous quarter and 5.4% in the same period last year.
Macron promises new Russia sanctions, discusses French nuclear deterrent for Europe
In an interview with French broadcaster TF1 on May 13, Macron discussed new Russia sanctions and stationing French nuclear weapons in other European countries as a deterrent against Russia.
Ukraine's Ziferblat progresses to Eurovision 2025 grand finals
Performing their song "Bird of Pray," Ukrainian band Ziferblat passed the Eurovision semi-finals on May 13, qualifying Ukraine for the grand final on May 17.
Kremlin confirms delegation will attend Istanbul peace talks — Lavrov, Ushakov will likely represent Russia
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that a Russian delegation will be in Istanbul on May 15 for direct peace talks with Ukraine. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Putin’s foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov will likely represent Russia.
In 2022 interview, pope condemns Russia's 'imperialist' invasion of Ukraine
While serving as a bishop in Peru, Robert Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, called the full-scale war "a true invasion, imperialist in nature, where Russia seeks to conquer territory for reasons of power."
CNN: Russia to 'think about' ceasefire, 'resistant' to pressure, Peskov says
Speaking to CNN on May 10, Peskov commented on the latest ceasefire proposal from Ukraine and Europe, responding that Russia needs to "think about" it, but is "resistant" to pressure.
Editors' Picks
Despite Russia’s claims, sanctions are working — Ukraine just needs Trump to impose more
'It’s okay, Mom, I’m home' —Ukraine, Russia hold largest prisoner swap of the war
‘No one saw surrender as an option’ – Mariupol defender on historic Azovstal fight and brutal Russian captivity
