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Russia’s war against Ukraine
President Volodymyr Zelensky is applauded before giving an address to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe following the signing of an agreement for establishing a special tribunal to try top officials responsible for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, France, on June 25, 2025. (Frederick Florin / AFP via Getty Images)
Zelensky, Trump hold talks on NATO summit sidelines. “We covered all the truly important issues,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said. “We discussed how to achieve a ceasefire and a real peace. We spoke about how to protect our people. We appreciate the attention and the readiness to help bring peace closer.”
Ukraine, Council of Europe sign historic agreement to establish tribunal on Russian aggression. Ukraine and the Council of Europe signed a landmark agreement to establish a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression, aimed at prosecuting Russian leadership for the full-scale invasion. The signing follows more than three years of diplomatic efforts and deliberation.
‘It’s possible’ — Trump on Putin’s territorial ambitions beyond Ukraine. “I consider him (Russian President Vladimir Putin) a person I think is misguided,” U.S. President Donald Trump said, speaking at a NATO press conference in The Hague on June 25.
Ukrainian ‘traitor’ behind Russian missile guidance system charged with treason, SBU says. Oleg Borsuk, a 61-year-old Ukrainian national, allegedly oversaw the development and modernization of satellite guidance systems (GPS/GLONASS) used in Russian missiles.
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‘Something unknown’ hits key Russian drone facility in Taganrog, Ukrainian official says. “Something unknown flew into the Atlant-Aero plant in Taganrog,” Andrii Kovalenko, head of the counter-disinformation center, said. “This is an important node in the Russian military-industrial complex, specializing in components for combat drones and control systems.”
Trump says Zelensky is a ‘nice guy,’ will discuss ‘his difficulties’ during meeting at NATO summit. “Obviously we’ll be discussing his difficulties, he’s got a little difficulty,” U.S. President Donald Trump said.
UK to buy Ukraine weapons with frozen Russian asset proceeds. The move represents the U.K.’s first direct use of Russia-linked funds to buy weaponry for Kyiv.
Russian court convicts 184 Ukrainian POWs captured in Kursk Oblast of terrorism, Mediazona reports. A Russian military court has convicted 184 Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) captured in Kursk Oblast of acts of terrorism, Mediazona reported on June 25.
Read our exclusives
Ukraine war latest: US signals more Patriot missiles for Kyiv after Zelensky-Trump talks at NATO summit
President Volodymyr Zelensky met with U.S. President Donald Trump at the NATO summit in The Hague on June 25. The meeting lasted approximately 50 minutes, according to Suspilne. In a post on X, Zelensky described the conversation as “long and substantive.”
Photo: Volodymyr Zelensky/Telegram
Ukrainian author killed by Russia awarded UK’s prestigious Orwell Prize in political writing
Two years after her tragic death in a Russian missile strike, Ukrainian author Victoria Amelina was posthumously awarded on June 25 the prestigious U.K. Orwell Prize for her book “Looking at Women, Looking at War.”
Photo: Victoria Amelina/Facebook
Diplomacy or deal-making? Unpacking the U.S.-Belarus prisoner deal
After a high-level U.S. visit to Belarus led to the release of 14 prisoners, observers have been left wondering what autocrat Alexander Lukashenko may have secured in return. The visit on June 21 marked the highest-level diplomatic contact the isolated regime had with the U.S. in years.
Photo: Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya/YouTube
As Ukraine bleeds, Western opera welcomes back pro-Putin Russian singer Anna Netrebko
More than three years into Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, many Western cultural institutions that had distanced themselves from Russian artists as a gesture of solidarity with Ukraine are now reversing course.
Photo: Vladimir Rodionov/Wikimedia
Putin insists the Russian economy is fine, but Kremlin officials say otherwise
In a rare public sign that all is not well in Russia, two high-ranking Moscow officials last week issued separate warnings about the state of the country’s economy.
Photo: Contributor/Getty Images
With Trump disengaged and EU complacent, Ukrainian reforms lose momentum
Russia’s all-out war has accelerated Ukraine’s push to join the European Union and NATO, as well as its dependency on Western loans and aid.
Photo: Andrii Nesterenko/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images
Human cost of Russia’s war
Donetsk Oblast city ‘on brink of humanitarian catastrophe,’ governor says as drones cripple infrastructure. “The Russians are trying to fully control all movement in the city using their drones,” a military spokesperson told the Kyiv Independent.
At least 23 killed, more than 300 injured in Russian drone and missile attacks across Ukraine over past day. According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russian forces launched 71 Shahed-type attack drones and decoys from multiple directions, including Bryansk, Millerovo, Kursk, and occupied Crimea. Ukraine’s air defenses destroyed 52 of them.
International response
Trump signals support for sending more Patriot missiles to Ukraine. “They (Ukraine) do want to have the anti missiles. As they call them, the Patriots, and we’re going to see if we can make some available,” U.S. President Donald Trump said.
NATO allies set new 5% defense spending target, reaffirm support for Ukraine, but fail to condemn Russia. The leaders also reaffirmed support for Ukraine, stating that direct contributions to Ukraine’s defense and industrial capacity will be counted toward the 5% total.
‘Crushing’ Russia with sanctions would jeopardize Ukraine peace talks, Rubio says. “If we did what everybody here wants us to do, and that is come in and crush them with more sanctions, we probably lose our ability to talk to them about the ceasefire and then who’s talking to them?” U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.
NATO allies surprised by Rubio’s inconsistency on Russia sanctions, Politico reports. United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio surprised NATO allies with conflicting messages on Russia sanctions, delivering a tougher stance in private than in his public remarks, POLITICO reported on June 25.
For Putin, war is existential — Estonian foreign minister at NATO summit
In other news
‘Treasonous’ — Trump, Witkoff slam intel leak undermining US strikes on Iran, insist nuclear targets ‘obliterated’. “It goes without saying that leaking that type of information, whatever the information, whatever side it comes out on, is outrageous. It’s treasonous,” U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff said during an appearance on Fox News.
Putin to skip BRICS summit in Brazil due to ICC arrest warrant. Brazil is a member of the ICC and a signatory to the Rome Statute, meaning it is obliged to arrest Russian President Vladimir Putin if he enters the country.
US citizen wanted for child sex crimes arrested in Ukraine after 30 years on the run. According to U.S. law enforcement, the suspect worked as the director of a preschool in Pima County, Arizona, and committed a series of sexual offenses against four children aged 4 to 9 between 1984 and 1991.
Explosions reported in Moscow, airport restrictions imposed as Russian authorities claim drone attack. Explosions were reported in Moscow overnight on June 26, with Mayor Sergey Sobyanin claiming two drones were shot down by air defenses.
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