Russian Security Council asks Putin to recognize occupied territories of eastern Ukraine as independent states.

2:46 PM

Ukraine, Russia carry out another POW exchange under Istanbul deal.

Ukraine has brought home another group of soldiers released from Russian captivity, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on June 19.

1:26 PM  (Updated:  June 19, 2025 2:44 pm)

Russian losses

Russia just accidentally admitted to its staggering troop losses in Ukraine

2:26 PM

EU reportedly eyes riskier investments for frozen Russian assets to boost Ukraine aid.

According to Politico, the proposed plan would redirect the frozen Russian assets into a special investment fund under EU control, allowing for higher returns without confiscating the principal.

2:03 PM

Putin, Xi to agree to meet in China as they sneer at G7 summit fractures.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed their upcoming meeting and noted the supposed "rough edges" that emerged among G7 leaders during the recent summit, said Putin's aide, Yuri Ushakov, on June 19.

1:14 PM

Finland votes to withdraw from landmine treaty, citing Russian threat.

The vote aligns Finland with its Baltic allies, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, whose parliaments have already approved similar exits from the treaty.

12:39 PM

Trump & Ukraine

Diplomacy in crisis: G7 letdowns reveal limits to Western solidarity on Ukraine

12:33 PM

Ukraine must accept Moscow's demands or 'surrender,' Russia’s ambassador to UK says.

Russia's ambassador to the United Kingdom, Andrei Kelin, said Russia is continuing its offensive and sees no need to stop hostilities, publicly acknowledging Moscow's disregard for U.S.-backed ceasefire efforts.

12:32 PM

Russia 'on the verge' of recession, Kremlin economy minister warns.

"According to current business perceptions, we are already, it seems, on the verge of a transition to a recession," Russian Economy Minister Maxim Reshetnikov said at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.

11:40 AM

Argentina says it uncovered Russian spy network linked to late Prigozhin's group.

The La Compania network, which is allegedly linked to the Russian government and the Kremlin's Project Lakhta, was led by Russian nationals Lev Konstantinovich Andriashvili and his wife Irina Yakovenko, who are both residents of Argentina, according to Argentine authorities.

10:58 AM

'100 days of Russian manipulations' — Ukraine blasts Moscow over disregarding US ceasefire effort.

A hundred days since the U.S. and Ukraine agreed on a ceasefire, "Russia continues to choose war," Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on June 19, urging international pressure to push Moscow toward peace.

10:39 AM

'If we don't help Ukraine further, we should start learning Russian,' EU diplomacy chief says.

Top EU diplomat Kaja Kallas cited a sharp increase in Russia's military spending, noting that Moscow is now allocating more money to defense than the EU combined, and more than its own health care, education, and social policies put together.

9:03 AM  (Updated:  June 19, 2025 9:56 am)

Russia kills 1, injures at least 27 across Ukraine over past day.

Ukrainian air defenses shot down 40 drones, while 48 disappeared from radars or were intercepted by electronic warfare.

8:23 AM

General Staff: Russia has lost 1,008,240 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022.

The number includes 1,080 casualties that Russian forces suffered just over the past day.

3:13 AM

9 people injured in Russian strikes on Kherson Oblast.

Russian attacks on Kherson Oblast injured nine people and damaged residential infrastructure on June 18-19, according to local authorities. The strikes targeted 34 settlements with artillery and drones.

1:22 AM

Putin says he's ready to meet Zelensky if West 'stops pushing' Ukraine to fight.

Russia wants to end the war in Ukraine "as soon as possible," preferably through peaceful means, and is ready to continue negotiations — provided that Kyiv and its Western allies are willing to engage, Vladimir Putin said.

12:35 AM

Senate reportedly delays Russia sanctions as Middle East crisis, Trump’s tax bill take priority.

The U.S. Senate is postponing action on a bipartisan Russia sanctions bill until at least July, as other legislative and foreign policy priorities dominate the agenda, Semafor reported on June 18.

10:46 PM

Opinion

Russia turns sound into weapon

10:09 PM

War update

Ukraine war latest: 'Do me a favor Vladimir, mediate Russia first' — Trump roasts Putin over Israel, Iran offer

9:55 PM

Video

Russia’s deadliest attack on Kyiv this year shatters homes and lives

6:19 PM  (Updated:  June 18, 2025 9:19 pm)

'Do me a favor Vladimir, mediate Russia first' — Trump roasts Putin over Israel, Iran offer.

"I said, Vladimir, let's mediate Russia first. You can worry about this later," U.S. President Donald Trump said.

9:14 PM

After speaking out against Trump, former US Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink launches congressional bid.

"My next mission: fighting for what's right here at home," Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink wrote.

1:35 AM  (Updated:  June 18, 2025 8:10 pm)

'A brutal strike' — Massive Russian missile and drone attack hits Kyiv, killing 28, injuring at least 140.

At least 28 people have been killed and 134 others injured after a mass Russian missile and drone attack on Kyiv overnight on June 17.

7:52 PM

Ukraine kills collaborator tied to POW torture in occupied Berdiansk, intelligence source claims.

Mykhailo Hrytsai, a senior collaborator with the Russian occupation authorities, was shot dead in the city with a silenced PM pistol, according to a source.

5:41 PM

All NATO members to hit 2% defense spending in 2025, Rutte says.

"This is really great news," NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said.

4:58 PM

Ukraine preparing to evacuate citizens from Israel, Iran as Middle East conflict escalates.

As of the morning of June 18, 293 Ukrainians in Israel and 85 in Iran have requested evacuation, Ukraine's Foreign Ministry said.