Fred Grandy, a 62-year-old American artist and volunteer who was killed in Russia's mass missile attack against Kyiv on June 17, appears to be the first U.S. civilian killed by a Russian strike on Ukraine, the New York Times (NYT) reported on June 19.
"Until the necessary 'homework' is done to remove the irritants in our relations with the United States, it makes no sense to organize a meeting," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said.
KANANASKIS, Canada — The Group of Seven (G7) Leaders' Summit ended on June 17 with no joint statement in support of Ukraine, no commitments to provide desperately needed U.S. weapons, and no meeting between President Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. President Donald Trump. The Ukrainian delegation headed into the summit,
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.
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.
Key developments on June 18: * 'Do me a favor Vladimir, mediate Russia first' — Trump roasts Putin over Israel, Iran offer * Ukraine kills collaborator tied to POW torture in occupied Berdiansk, intelligence source claims * Zelensky may reportedly skip NATO summit over uncertainty about Trump's attendance * Ukraine dismisses Russia's 'absurd' ceasefire condition
"My next mission: fighting for what's right here at home," Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink wrote.
"We extend deepest condolences to the victims' families. This senseless attack runs counter to President Trump's call to stop the killing and end the war," the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine said in a statement.
U.S. Special Envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg will meet Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in the coming days, Reuters reported on June 17, citing four sources familiar with the matter.
Trump said that "we know exactly where the so-called 'Supreme Leader' is hiding." "He is an easy target, but is safe there - We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now," he continued.
On June 16, the Ukrainian government reportedly agreed to begin drafting recommendations for a bidding process to develop the Dobra lithium field in central Ukraine.
According to Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova, the upcoming round was intended to "eliminate irritants" and help normalize the operations of both nations' diplomatic missions.
The anticipated third meeting, scheduled for June 17, will focus on sanctions, peace talks, weapons purchases, and economic relations — and may shed light on the future of U.S. support for Ukraine.
“This is not just an attack against Ukraine, but also an attack where American business is being hit,” said Andy Hunder, President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine.
The U.S. has not announced any military aid packages for Ukraine in almost five months, pushing Kyiv to seek new alternatives. But time is running out quickly as Russian troops slowly advance on the eastern front line and gear up for a new summer offensive. "While Ukraine's dependence on
As world leaders prepare to gather in the remote community of Kananaskis in Alberta, Canada for the Group of Seven (G7) Leaders' Summit on June 15-17, Russia's war in Ukraine once again holds center stage — but views on how to address the three-year conflict diverge sharply. In the five months
The request comes as Israel continues its assault on Iranian targets and warns that it lacks the capability to destroy Fordow uranium enrichment site alone.
U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a phone call on June 14 in which the two leaders discussed Ukraine and the conflict between Israel and Iran.
The United States is opposing a push by other G7 members to lower the price cap on Russian oil from $60 to $45 per barrel, ahead of the group’s summit in Canada.
"Yes, that's right. That would be so and we have to deal with that," German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius told journalists in response to a question about a potential U.S. pullback.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on June 13 that he was aware of Israel's plans to conduct strikes on Iran in advance and that Washington is watching for any signs of retaliation by Tehran, Fox News reported.
Most G7 members are prepared to lower the Russian oil price cap from $60 to $45 per barrel even without U.S. support, Reuters reported on June 12.
Key developments on June 12: * Ukrainian forces 'gradually pushing back' Russian troops from Sumy Oblast, Zelensky says * Germany to supply new Iris-T air defense systems to Ukraine, rules out Taurus missiles * Ukraine, Russia carry out another exchange of POWs under Istanbul deal * 'Juicy target' — Ukraine says it struck Russian electronics
Editor's Note: This article has been updated to reflect new details of BAE Systems' new chemical process that the company confirmed to the Kyiv Independent after initial publication. The West is failing to catch up to Russia's production of the most basic unit of war for the past half-millennium — gunpowder.
The U.S. Embassy said that Ambassador Lynne Tracy is "concluding her mission at the U.S. Embassy in Russia," without providing further details.
The initiative, named Smart Indication and Warning Broad Area Detection (SINBAD), will allow NATO to scan vast territories with unprecedented frequency, using AI-powered analysis to detect changes and alert allies to potential threats.
"It's important for them to show (U.S. President Donald) Trump that there is a diplomatic bridge between Ukraine and Russia," President Volodymyr Zelensky told Bild.
"Right now, we are running on fumes," Nathaniel Raymond, the lab's executive director, told CNN. "As of July 1, we lay off all of our staff across Ukraine and other teams, and our work tracking the kids officially ends."
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio congratulated the Russian people on June 12, Russia's National Day, and expressed a desire for "constructive engagement" to bring peace to Ukraine.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on June 11 stood by the administration’s approach, portraying a U.S.-brokered peace deal as a sign of strength and admitting that any agreement would inevitably leave “plenty of people on both sides” dissatisfied.
Editor's note: For security reasons, the real names of the soldiers mentioned in this story have not been used. A reduction in U.S. military aid to Ukraine would be "painful" and could have potentially "dire consequences" for the global order, Ukrainian lawmakers and soldiers have told the Kyiv Independent.
The unusually brief document recognizes Russia as a threat to NATO but not as an aggressor in Ukraine.
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