NATO considers long-term military presence in eastern Europe.

Britain imposed 18 new sanctions targeting financial networks it says help Russia evade restrictions and sustain its war, including the Ilan Shor-linked A7 network.

Russia said it would appeal to the International Court of Justice over alleged discrimination against Russian minorities in the Baltic states. Estonia called the move a part of Moscow's disinformation campaign, according to a statement for the Kyiv Independent.

Human Rights Watch said Russia is unlawfully seizing Ukrainian-owned homes in occupied territories by declaring them "ownerless," while pressuring residents to obtain Russian citizenship and restricting travel back to occupied areas.

"The first main condition should be that Russia should be ready to actually talk. They are not. They are not ready to engage in meaningful peace talks," said Artjoms Ursulskis, deputy to Latvia's Foreign Minister Baiba Braze.

"Recently, Lukashenko said that it is time for the presidents of Ukraine and Belarus to meet," Zelensky said during his speech at the summit. "It turned out quite interesting: Lukashenko said it, but Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya came instead. Glad to see you, Sviatlana."

Lavrov warned Rubio of "systematic and consistent strikes" on Kyiv and referenced earlier recommendations by Moscow that foreign diplomatic missions evacuate personnel from the Ukrainian capital.

Russia has not reacted to the General Staff's claim as of the publication time.

The Kyiv Independent is bringing its award-winning documentary The War They Play to Sweden for a four-city tour this June, offering audiences a look at one of the dimensions of Russia's war against Ukraine: the systematic militarization of Ukrainian children living under occupation.

Russia continued its deadly attacks on civilians overnight on May 26, launching two Iskander-M ballistic missiles and 122 drones, including Shahed-type jet-powered unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), Ukraine's Air Force said.

The number includes 1,010 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.

"This strike underscores the strategic foresight, unity of planning, and deliberate actions that prove no position of the russian aggressor is safe on Ukrainian soil," the General Staff said.

Russia carried out an airstrike on the center of Kramatorsk in Donetsk Oblast on May 25, injuring at least 12 civilians, regional authorities reported.

Foreign citizens, including diplomats, were encouraged to leave the city, while Ukrainian civilians were called upon to stay away from "military and administrative infrastructure of the Zelensky regime."