Eight more villages in Sumy region are evacuated at 06:30.
More communities in the Ukrainian-Russian border area of Sumy are being evacuated due to daily Russian assaults. According to regional officials, this decision was made after three people were killed and three others were wounded by Russian artillery shelling this week. A total of 50 civilians have been killed in the region this year due to attacks involving artillery, mortars, and suicide drones.
10:45 France sells additional air defense system to Ukraine
The French weapons manufacturer Thales is providing a second air defense system to Ukraine. After delivering the first air defense system in 2023, this new system will be procured by the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense. The price of the purchase was not disclosed. Air defense is a major concern for Ukraine as the country lacks the necessary weapons to defend its troops at the front and large cities.
10:00 Germany debates additional Patriot missile delivery to Kiev
According to a report from Bloomberg News, Germany is mulling over the delivery of a fourth Patriot missile defense system to Ukraine. This would be the fourth Patriot system provided by Germany. The German government has recently eased the rules allowing Patriots to be used against Russian aircraft within Russian airspace. This could allow Ukraine to shoot down Russian aircraft targeting targets in the Kharkiv region using rockets or glide bombs outside of their own airspace.
09:15 Ukrainian President Zelensky refutes Putin’s claims of his illegitimacy
In response to Russian President Vladimir Putin's assertions regarding the illegitimacy of President Volodymyr Zelensky's presidency, Zelensky asserts that he is recognized as a legitimate president by the people of Ukraine. "The Ukrainian people are the only ones who can determine the legitimacy of President Zelensky. The Ukrainian people made their choice, and I am grateful for their support. Our people are free," Zelensky told French President Emmanuel Macron during a press conference.
08:00 Berlin to hold Ukraine Reconstruction Conference
Germany plans to provide Ukraine with a long-term perspective extending beyond military aid via the upcoming Ukraine Reconstruction Conference. The conference will involve opportunities for civil society, the economy, municipalities, and regions, as well as discussing reforms and employment. German representatives clarified that the event is not a fundraising conference but rather a networking conference, both its purpose and a Ukrainian delegation are expected to attend the conference on Tuesday and Wednesday in Berlin.
06:15 Russian occupation officials claim 22 killed villagers
The Russian-occupied Kherson region administration claims that 22 people were killed in a Ukrainian shelling of a village. According to the Russian-appointed administrator, Vladimir Saldo, a village store in the occupied village of Sadowe was hit by the shelling, leaving 15 injured. Saldo accused the West of supplying weapons to Ukraine to commit "vile murders of civilians." No independent confirmation of the alleged events was available at the time.
22:45 Macron calls for EU accession negotiations with Ukraine by the end of the month
During a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Zelensky in Paris, French President Macron urged the EU to begin accession negotiations with Ukraine "by the end of the month." "France supports Ukraine on all fronts, including at the European level, where we are trying to achieve a real start of accession negotiations by the end of the month," Macron announced. Zelensky added that "decisions regarding the integration of Ukraine into the EU are nearly made." The EU Commission previously stated that the necessary conditions for starting accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova were met, but Hungary, who will take over the EU Council's presidency on July 1, attempted to slow down the process.
22:03 Zelensky's approval rating at a record low
After nearly two years of war, President Zelensky's approval rating in Ukraine has dropped to a record low - still at over 50%. According to the KIIS Institute survey conducted in May 2022, just after the beginning of Russia's invasion, support for Zelensky was at 90%. Zelensky's approval has been consistently declining. His term was originally scheduled to end in May but was extended under martial law conditions. Ukrainian authorities confirmed that there will be no further elections due to 20% of the country being under Russian control and large-scale emigration.
The United States won't be sending military trainers to Ukraine as part of French President Emmanuel Macron's proposal. John Kirby, communications director for the National Security Council, stated this while accompanying President Joe Biden during his visit to France. Kirby affirmed that Biden respects Macron's stance, but he's already made it clear – since the war in Ukraine began – that he won't deploy US soldiers there. Kirby reiterated, "That's how things have been, and that's how they'll remain." The decision on how much information to disclose about the matter lies with Macron, and the extent of the clarity he chooses to provide. Biden himself has been vocal about his intentions since the start of the war, stating, "We don't want a third world war, and we don't want a war with Russia."
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Read also:
- The conflict in Ukraine has resulted in regular cyberwar attacks against Ukrainian infrastructure, with NATO warning of potential Russian military escalation.
- The Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Selensky, has condemned these attacks and called for international support in defending against cyber threats.
- Reports suggest that Russia has been involved in several cyberattacks on Ukraine, including the disruption of critical services such as energy and communications.
- In response to these attacks, Ukraine has requested assistance from NATO and other international allies to strengthen its cyber defenses and protect its citizens from further cyberwarfare.
