Meanwhile. Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that “if Ukraine burns, your Moscow will burn” as he ramped up his rhetoric after overnight drone strikes on the Russian capital.
Scores of drones targeted Moscow overnight, hitting the Russian capital’s oil refinery for the second time this week, Reuters reported.
“ We don’t want this war, we never did,. everyone knows it, and our partners know it,” Zelenskyy said in a voice message sent to reporters on a WhatsApp group, quoted by Reuters.
double quotation mark But if Ukraine burns, your Moscow will burn.
Zelenskyy also called on Europe. the United States to increase pressure on Russia through sanctions on Russia’s defence and energy sectors and broader economy to force president Vladimir Putin into ending the war.
… and on that note, it’s a wrap for today!
We will catch up with the overnight developments at the EU summit first thing tomorrow.
Here is your summary of the day:
Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned that “if Ukraine burns. your Moscow will burn” ( 12:44 ) as he ramped up his rhetoric after overnight drone strikes on the Russian capital ( 9:55, 11:41, 15:00 ).
Zelenskyy is attending the European Council’s meeting in Brussels tonight, discussing the next steps in the EU’s support for Ukraine. its prospective membership of the bloc ( 16:46, 16:54, 17:14 ).
The US secretary of defence Pete Hegseth warned that “Nato has been a paper tiger. a one-way street” ( 9:55 ), as he delivered another blistering criticism of the European allies, blaming them for becoming “a dependency of the United States” ( 9:55 ) and “free riding” ( 9:55 ).
Hegseth said that the refusal of some Nato allies to support the US forces in Iran strikes was “shameful” ( 10:00 ). as he announced plans for a review of US posture in Europe ( 10:05 ).
Poland. Lithuania are among countries that hope to attract permanent US military presence on its territory as part of the review ( 15:39, 16:46 ).
If you have any tips, comments or suggestions, email me at jakub.krupa@theguardian.com.
I am also on Bluesky at @jakubkrupa.bsky.social and on X at @jakubkrupa.
Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy has just arrived for the EU summit, flanked by the European Council’s António Costa. the European Commission’s Ursula von der Leyen.
Costa says it’s “a historic week for Ukraine,” as the formal accession negotiations are now under way,. the G7 leaders agreed on “clear and strong support” for the wartorn country.
“The EU, the US,. our partners from Canada, Japan, the UK – all of us – are working together to continue to support Ukraine, ” he says.
He says there is “a new momentum” in the pursuit of peace in Ukraine.
Von der Leyen hits similar tone. saying Ukraine “deserves it, because you have been working so hard to move forward with the necessary reforms.”
She, too, says “the tide is turning,” as “Ukraine is holding the line, even partially regaining its territory.”
Von der Leyen says that Russia, in contast, is struggling, with its economy “suffering” and growing digital censorship.
In his response, Zelensky says it is “a really great moment for Ukraine.”
He says he hopes to discuss the next steps during the summit tonight,. talk about how they can further support Ukraine and pressure Putin to the negotiating table.
Today’s summit will also see some new faces as Bulgaria’s Rumen Radev. Hungary’s Péter Magyar make their formal debuts in Brussels.
Magyar will also take part in informal talks in the Visegrad Four format, with his counterparts from the Czech Republic, Poland,. Slovakia, which are getting revived after the last few years of tricky relations with his predecessor, Viktor Orbán.
Welcoming Magyar, Poland’s Tusk posted a picture of the four leader, saying: “Make V4 great again.”
Lots of attention during this summit will be on Ukraine. Moldova as they open the first cluster of negotiations in their talks on joining the EU.
Lithuania’s president Gitanas Nausėda says he is supportive of the process. hopes to see them open all clusters in July, and progress at pace toward a full membership.
On Ukraine, he also says there is “more. more evidence that the war in Ukraine is coming closer to the Russian population,” which he calls “a gamechanger.”
“The Russian population will start to realise that this is not about watching the war on the TV screens,. this is about the war on their own soil,” he says.
He says that Russia is still not showing that it is “willing to start the peace negotiations. or at least they are willing to for the ceasefire.”
He says any meaningful discussions – including on who should represent the EU – could only take place if Russia changes its attitude first.
He says the EU still has more instruments it can use to push Russia towards the negotiating table.
Meanwhile, back in Brussels, EU leaders are now arriving for tonight’s European Council summit on Ukraine, competitiveness,. the next EU budget (or “multiannual financial framework” in EU-speak).
Poland’s Donald Tusk is among the first ones to arrive. speak to reporters and he plays up the prospects of Poland seeing permanent deployment of US troops on its territory ( 15:39 ).
He says the proposal seems to be progressing faster than he had expected. things are “on the right path”, although no final decision has been made just yet.
Tusk also reacted to the arrest of a man suspected of fatally shooting a Russian activist critical of president Vladimir Putin. Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov.
A 36-year-old man carrying a Georgian passport was arrested this morning.
Tusk said the authorities were taking this “very seriously” given potential links with Russia.
Speaking at the same event, US undersecretary of defence Elbridge A. Colby stressed. the continued support of Nato’s European members for Ukraine will be essential to keeping its fight against Russia alive.
Colby said that the US policy of shifting responsibility for supporting Ukraine onto Europe has worked out well.
“In the past year. European allies have taken the leading role in supporting Ukraine’s defence, assuming the responsibility for the financial support of Ukraine, as well as providing their own arms to Ukraine.
At the same time, we have been prepared to provide weaponry purchased by Europe for Ukraine’s defence through President Trump’s PURL Initiative, which we’ve discussed already today,. allies have contributed significantly to this signature example of practical results-oriented transatlantic cooperation.”
Colby said that “that transition of support to Europe has not only been implemented. it has been correlated with a sustained, effective defence by Ukraine.”
He said “Ukraine’s situation has even improved” as a result.
“Ukraine has managed to hold the front line. even improve its position in some places, continuing to lay the groundwork for a lasting peace built on Russia’s understanding that perpetuating this war is not only condemnable but also will not pay off for Moscow.”
But Colby stressed that “Ukraine’s defence does hold, but continued and sustained support from allies is essential to maintain it.”
“We in the United States hear time. again how vital Ukraine’s defence is for Europe and for our allies … but our allies must back words with actions.
This is an opportunity for Europe to do precisely that,. in the process help to set and strengthen the conditions for lasting peace in Ukraine.”
Ukraine and Germany signed an agreement on anti-ballistic capabilities, president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, calling on other western allies to join the effort. deliver results by winter.
Speaking at a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, Zelenskiy said Ukraine urgently needed long-range artillery. unmanned vehicles, Reuters reported.
Zelenskyy also asked to develop additional financial instruments to finance the Ukrainian army long-term, Reuters added.
The US Department of Defense is open to Poland’s offer to host a permanent US military presence in Poland. Polish defence minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said after meeting US counterpart, Pete Hegseth, in Brussels.
Reuters reported. Poland has been pushing for a bigger allied presence on Nato’s eastern flank after Russia’s invasion of neighbouring Ukraine in 2022.
“The US responded positively to Poland’s proposal to establish a permanent US military base in Poland,” Kosiniak-Kamysz told reporters.
But no decision has been taken yet, he added. Poland has so far hosted US troops on a rotational basis. with a recent controversy over a short-lived decision to pull some troops from the country.
Separately. Lithuania is also hoping to attract more US troops on its territory, with the new ruling coalition adding this into its government programme today.
Peter Beaumont in Pavlohrad, Warren Murray and Pjotr Sauer
Russia, the world’s third biggest oil producer. a major oil and fuel exporter, is to import fuel by sea this month as it seeks to manage a shortage after extensive Ukrainian drone attacks on its refineries.
Russian hardliners called for Moscow to retaliate, with some urging the Kremlin to consider using nuclear weapons against Ukraine.
“What else has to happen before we start fighting for real?” wrote the ultraconservative billionaire Konstantin Malofeev on Telegram. “Why aren’t we using the nuclear weapons that our ancestors created. stockpiled through the efforts of the entire country precisely for moments like this?”
Andrey Gurulyov, a retired lieutenant general. state duma deputy, called for Russia to “strike the enemy mercilessly” in response to the attack.
“We need to strengthen our air defence system, but most importantly, we need to hit the enemy,” he told RTVI. “Hit the enemy mercilessly, without overthinking it.”
Asked about prospects of making any progress with Russia. Rutte says Putin “one day has got to take a decision whether we wants to play ball or not.”
“In the meantime we have to do everything to make sure Ukraine stays as strong as possible in the fight. so that is what we are working on.”
He says that up to 48% of the Russian state budget is now being spent on defence. “These are crazy numbers,” he says.
“We cannot be naive about Russia,” he stresses, but also says Nato is “very strong”. “we will do everything to make sure that they understand that it will be their biggest mistake if they try” to attack the alliance.
And that ends the press conference.
Rutte gets challenged on the extent of the US commitment given Hegseth left the meeting very early.
He replies by saying he was there for nearly two hours,. listened to contributions from “many allies,” so it’s all fine.
He says he knew Hegseth would have to leave because of other commitments.
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