Ukraine War Live Updates: Cautious Warnings as U.S. Aid Review Looms
US Aid withdrawal would be like planting a "mine" or setting off a "bomb," according to Zelensky.
Get the latest updates on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine as tensions remain high and claims of alleged atrocities surface.
22:56 Selenskyj's Cautious Warnings: Aid Withdrawal Could Trigger "Bomb or Mine"
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Selenskyj has publicly expressed his concerns about the possible implications if the United States decides to reduce or halt its aid to his country. In an interview with Axel Springer media, Selenskyj warned, "If they really cut the aid, we will feel it. Ukraine will feel it, but so will other states. It's a wave of risks for all states, especially for Europe." He further stated, "It's a bomb or a mine if aid to Ukraine is withdrawn. It could blow up security in any country." Although military aid from the U.S. is currently running smoothly, there are no new commitments in sight.
22:00 Wadephul Holds Talks in Rome on Support for Ukraine
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul travels to Italy on June 9th. After initial talks with Vatican representatives, Wadephul will attend a meeting in the Weimar Plus format with foreign ministers from France, Poland, Italy, the UK, and Spain. The group will discuss further support for Ukraine and strengthening European defense. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrij Sybiha, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte are also expected to participate.
21:30 Selenskyj: Kremlin's Ambitious Goals Revealed
In an address to heads of state and government from Southeastern Europe in the Ukrainian port city of Odessa, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Selenskyj claimed, "The Russian military plans target this region - Odessa - and then the borders with Moldova and Romania." Russia's reported intentions are aimed at sowing chaos in the region to weaken Europe overall. A high-ranking general in Moscow previously declared the control of the south of Ukraine and the land route to the region of Transnistria, which has seceded from Moldova, as war aims. The Kremlin has yet to officially comment on the matter.
21:05 Russia Responds Calmly to Potential Oil Price Cap
Russia has reacted calmly to the EU's plans to set a lower price cap for its oil. Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov told the Russian news agency Interfax, "Russia has been living under various restrictions, which we consider illegal, for quite some time. And Russia has already gained some very useful experience in minimizing the consequences of such decisions." The EU aims to lower the price cap for Russian oil from the current $60 USD per barrel to $45 USD per barrel in an effort to reduce the income of the energy superpower, which has been waging war against Ukraine for over three years, from the sale of raw materials.
20:21 Southeastern European States Condemn Russian Aggression Against Ukraine
Leaders of several southeastern European countries gathered at a summit in the Ukrainian port city of Odessa and issued a joint statement, firmly condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The statement outlined their commitment to providing comprehensive and sustained support to Ukraine and its people for as long as necessary, and calling on all nations to refrain from providing any material or other assistance to Russia's war efforts. The "complete withdrawal of Russian troops and military equipment from the entire territory of Ukraine" was described as a "central and non-negotiable condition for peace."
19:41 Estonia Sentences Journalist to Six Years in Prison for Working for Russian State Media
An Estonian court has sentenced a journalist to six years in prison for violating international sanctions and treason. The defendant was found guilty of violating international sanctions by working for the state-owned Russian media agency Rossiya Segodnya, led by Dmitry Kiselyov, who is on the EU sanctions list. She provided economic resources to a sanctioned person by contributing articles and photos to an online portal of the state media, according to the court. The journalist was also accused of establishing and maintaining a relationship with a foreign national hostile to Estonia, who was found to be a reserve officer of Russia's internal security service FSB, with whom she was said to be publishing various writings promoting Russia's foreign and security policy goals and influence activities in neighboring countries.
18:36 Cathedral in Kyiv Sustains Damage After Russian Attacks
The world-renowned St. Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv has sustained damage in Russian attacks on the Ukrainian capital. The cathedral, part of the UNESCO World Heritage site and built in the 11th century, was lightly damaged during overnight attacks on Monday. A portion of the facade "fell off due to the shockwave" of an explosion, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The cause of the damage is still unclear, whether from a Russian drone or Ukrainian air defense.
17:58 SPD Manifesto Met with Mixed Response in Russia
In a "manifesto," prominent SPD politicians, among other things, call for talks with Russia. However, the Kremlin is only willing to engage in dialogue under certain conditions, as reported by ntv-reporter Rainer Munz. Russian foreign policy, on the other hand, continues to condemn Germany, pointing to incidents such as the 2015 hacker attack on the Bundestag, the 2019 murder of a Georgian in Berlin's Tiergarten by a Russian intelligence agent, and recent espionage acts against the Bundeswehr.
17:32 Russian Opposition Figure Schlosberg Sentenced to House Arrest
A Russian court has sentenced opposition politician Lew Schlosberg to two months of house arrest for insulting the military. Schlosberg has been labeled a "foreign agent" by the Kremlin, making life difficult for those so designated. If convicted, he faces up to five years in prison.
The German government strongly condemned the arrest of the opposition politician. "We note that in Russia, an atmosphere of fear and isolation is deliberately created, especially for critical voices," said a spokesman for the Foreign Office in Berlin. "Every voice that stands up for a more democratic and free Russia is being silenced." They are following this development "with great concern," he added.
17:00 Kremlin Neither Expects Nor Wishes Rapid Normalization of Relations with the USA
Despite a series of telephone calls between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump, the Kremlin does not expect a swift normalization of relations with the USA. "There are many obstacles in the bilateral relations, and it is unlikely that we can hope for quick results," said Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov to journalists in Moscow. "This difficult work will continue."
16:45 Stegner Defends SPD Paper "What's so Problematic about Talking about Peace?"
SPD foreign policy expert Ralf Stegner defended the "manifesto" he co-authored against criticism. "Our considerations cannot answer all questions, and yet we are looking for exits in dangerous times," Stegner said in an interview. "At its core, we need a combination of defense capability and incentives for conflict mitigation and coexistence." Stegner, along with Bundestag member Ralf Stegner and former party leader Norbert Walter-Borjans, signed the "manifesto." In it, the group of Social Democrats calls on the black-red federal government to rethink its foreign and security policy.
16:05 Russia Attacks Oil Platform
An aerial surveillance drone has documented the impact of a Russian cruise missile on the contested oil platform Tavrida in the Black Sea. Both sides are increasingly intensifying their military activities, with Russia attempting to gain control of the area.
15:27 Pistorius: "Manifest on Russia 'is reality denial'"
Defense Minister Boris Pistorius harshly rejected demands from prominent SPD politicians for a shift in Germany's Russia policy. "This paper is reality denial," Pistorius asserted. He added that Russian President Vladimir Putin is not interested in talks but continues to bomb cities in Ukraine even more harshly and brutally.
15:00 Mützenich Defends SPD Peace Manifesto with Search for "Exits in Dangerous Times"
Former SPD parliamentary group leader Rolf Mützenich defended the "manifesto" he co-authored against criticism. Mützenich emphasized the need to look for exits in dangerous times and to combine defense capabilities with incentives for conflict mitigation and coexistence.
14:03 Ukraine Receives Over 1,000 Soldier Bodies from Russia
After days of dispute over the return of the remains of Ukrainian soldiers killed in the war, Kyiv has finally received the first bodies from Russia. A total of 1,212 bodies were repatriated, according to the office for prisoner of war affairs in Kyiv. The soldiers were killed in battles in the western Russian border region of Kursk and the Ukrainian regions of Kharkiv, Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson. In negotiations in Turkey, the return of the remains of more than 6,000 soldiers—from Russia to Ukraine—was agreed upon. It remains unclear whether Russia will also receive the remains of its own soldiers killed in Ukraine.
12:32 Moscow: Russian Troops Reach West of Donetsk
According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, Russian troops have reached the west of the Ukrainian region of Donetsk. The Kremlin has stated its intention to establish a buffer zone in nearby Dnipropetrovsk.
11:57 Ukrainian Intelligence Reports Arrest of FSB Agent in Lviv
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has arrested an FSB agent who coordinated Russian attacks on military airfields in the Lviv region. The arrested person is said to be a 57-year-old unemployed man from the region who was recruited by the Russian FSB using Telegram channels. The main task of the agent was to locate military airfields in western Ukraine, gathering information to facilitate attacks.
11:37 Gunpowder Factory in Tambov Stops Production After Drone Strike
The heavily damaged Russian gunpowder factory in Kotovsk, Tambov Oblast, has halted production. The extent of the damage is still unknown.
11:28 Greens Criticize SPD's "Manifesto" as "Pipe Dream"
The Greens have heavily criticized the "manifesto" advocating a shift in foreign policy by SPD politicians as "wishful thinking." Deputy parliamentary group leader Agnieszka Brugger stated that such a course does not lead to an end to the violence instigated by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
11:12 Slovakia Threatens to Veto EU Sanctions Against Russia
Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico has threatened to veto the proposed new EU sanctions against Russia in their current form. Slovakia is heavily dependent on Russian raw material supplies and fears the potential consequences of new sanctions.
10:57 Kyiv: Russia has Lost Over 999,000 Soldiers Since the Start of the War
Official figures from Ukraine show that Russia's personnel losses remain high, with 1,120 soldiers killed or unable to continue fighting in a single day. Since the start of the war in February 2022, a total of 999,200 Russian soldiers have been "eliminated," according to the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense. The figures cannot be independently verified. Moscow maintains silence on its own losses in Ukraine.
10:24 Stegner on "Manifesto": "The Peace Party SPD Must Discuss"
SPD foreign policy expert Ralf Stegner wants to use the "manifesto" to spark a debate about an alternative foreign policy course that moves away from rearmament. In the current debate, it's all about "putting more into rearmament," Stegner said. This involves "crazy sums" of up to five percent of GDP. Stegner sees a global "arms race" and believes that the "Peace Party SPD must discuss."
09:31 German Imports from Russia Since Ukraine War Have Dropped by Around 95 Percent
German imports from Russia have dropped significantly since the Ukraine war, with 2022 imports amounting to around 95 percent less than before the war. In 2022, imports were worth only 1.8 billion euros, compared to 33.1 billion euros in 2021, according to the Federal Statistical Office.
09:03 Kharkiv: At Least Three Dead and Counting After Russian Drone Attack
Russian drone attacks on Kharkiv have resulted in at least three deaths, according to local authorities. The extent of the damage is still unknown.
06:46 Gunpowder Factory in Tambov Oblast On Fire, Explosions Reported
Reports have surfaced of a large fire at a gunpowder factory in Kotovsk, Tambov Oblast, with several explosions occurring. The extent of the damage is still unknown.
06:25 German General Gerhartz to Lead NATO Command for Eastern Flank
German Air Force General Ingo Gerhartz will take over command of NATO's operational protection for the eastern flank. Gerhartz is anticipated to lead the headquarters in the Netherlands, Brunssum ("Allied Joint Force Command"). He is responsible for the defense of nearly 3,900 kilometers of border with Russia and Belarus, stretching from Norway and Finland all the way to Hungary.
05:52 Kharkiv: At Least 37 Injured in Russian Drone Attack
At least 37 people have been injured in Kharkiv after a large-scale Russian drone attack, according to statements made by Ihor Terechow, the city's mayor, on Telegram. The attacks targeted residential areas, damaging both private homes and businesses.
03:40 Slovakia Threatens to Veto EU Sanctions Against Russia
Slovakia has threatened to use a veto to block the planned new EU sanctions against Russia, citing potential consequences for the nation due to the complete stop of gas, oil, and nuclear fuel supplies from Russia.
01:47 Kharkiv: At Least Two Dead and Over 30 Injured in Russian Drone Attack
Two people have died and over 30 have been injured following a devastating Russian drone attack on Kharkiv overnight. Buildings and infrastructure have reportedly been destroyed, with the full extent of the damage still unknown.
00:51 Lew Schlosberg, Opposition Politician, Arrested in Russia
One of the last leading opposition politicians in Russia, Lew Schlosberg, has been arrested for allegedly discrediting the Russian army. The background lies in a video debate from January in which Schlosberg called for an early ceasefire in the Ukraine war.
- The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has led to concerns from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Selenskyj about the implications of potential changes in the United States' employment policy, stating that a reduction or halt in aid could have widespread risks, especially for Europe.
- In Italy, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul will attend a meeting in the Weimar Plus format with other foreign ministers to discuss further support for Ukraine and strengthening European defense. This meeting is an indication of the collective employment policy of various countries in response to the crisis in Ukraine.
![School erects privacy barrier in proximity. [Image available]](/en/img/20250614072103_image-description-sunset-over-a-mountain-range-clear-sky-silhouette-of-trees-autumn-colors.jpeg?width=1280&crop=4-3&quality=75)
