Update: Russian strike on Cherkasy Oblast injures 8

"If you ask, it's probably something that can't be answered negatively," Finnish President Alexander Stubb said.

The news comes on the heels of the U.K.'s surprise easing of Russian oil sanctions, dealing a further blow to London's image as one of Ukraine's most steadfast partners.

The conversation marks the first recorded direct contact between Macron and Lukashenko since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion.

Russian forces launched a large-scale missile attack on Kyiv overnight on May 24, officials reported.

The Vtorovo oil pumping and dispatching station in Russia's Vladimir Oblast is a strategic infrastructure hub that supplies fuel to the Moscow region and its major airports.

"They're really insane. It's important that this doesn't go unpunished for Russia," Zelensky said.

"The residential complex where the Ambassador of Albania to Ukraine resides was struck, putting his life at serious risk," Ferit Hoxha, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Albania, posted on X.

In the latest episode of Ukraine This Week, Anna Belokur examines Russia’s growing recruitment of fighters from African countries — and the tactics used to lure vulnerable people into military service.

"We had just opened the coffee shop yesterday," Yevhen Prusak, 35-year-old co-owner of Hogo coffee shop, told the Kyiv Independent at the scene.

The number includes 1110 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.

Oleksandr Usyk retained his heavyweight title with a late-round victory over Rico Verhoeven on May 24.

Civilian casualties were reported in Odesa and Kharkiv oblasts while drones targeted Kyiv after President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that Russia was preparing a broader assault across Ukraine.

Citing Ukrainian and Western intelligence reports, Zelensky said Russia appeared to be preparing an Oreshnik missile strike on Ukraine.

According to the Sumy Oblast Military Administration, the drone struck the procession while commemorations marking Ukraine's Day of Heroes were taking place across the city.