Ukraine-Russia war latest: Putin’s forces jammed Ukrainian drone that struck Romanian port, says Kyiv
Recap: Zelensky asks for face-to-face meeting with Putin in letter
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has made a direct and public appeal to Russian President Vladimir Putin urging face-to-face negotiations in a letter that also delivered a scathing critique of the Russian leader’s 26-year tenure.
This marks the first time Mr Zelensky has publicly addressed Mr Putin directly since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The Ukrainian leader’s message underscored a recognition of shifting US priorities, stating it would be misguided to simply await the Trump administration’s renewed focus on ending the conflict in Ukraine while its attention remains heavily directed towards the war in Iran.
“I am proposing a meeting,” Zelensky wrote.
Zelensky appeared to be trying to seize a pivotal moment in the war, as Ukraine has begun to regain some battlefield leverage largely through improved long-range strike capabilities that have complicated Russia’s advances.
He said the talks could be hosted by a neutral third country, ruling out both Moscow and Kyiv as venues and suggested Switzerland, Turkey or Arab states as possible hosts for negotiations.
“It is leaders who resolve the key issues. That has always been the case, and it always will be,” he wrote. “I propose to set a clear date for such a meeting.”
Alex Croft5 June 2026 09:21
Russian amusement park names ride ‘Oreshnik’ after nuclear-capable missile
A Russian amusement park in St Petersburg has named one of its rides the “Oreshnik”, after a nuclear-capable hypersonic missile that Moscow has fired three times at Ukraine.
Visitors to the rocket-shaped attraction are repeatedly lifted into the air and plunged into sudden stomach-churning drops.
Not everyone is pleased with the name, however.
“I don’t think it fits. The best name for it would be ‘Rocket’… I don’t understand what it’s got to do with the Oreshnik – who came up with that name?” one woman said.
A man visiting the park on Friday told Reuters: “A children’s attraction should have a children’s name, that’s my personal opinion.”
Alex Croft5 June 2026 17:20
Putin thanks ‘Donald’ as he hits back at Zelensky’s ‘rude’ letter
In his speech earlier, Vladimir Putin said he is “grateful to Donald” but added that there is “still some work to do”.
Speaking at an economic summit in St Petersburg, he said he sees no reason to meet Volodymyr Zelensky after the Ukrainian president published an open letter proposing they meet to agree an end to the war.
The Kremlin chief said Zelenskiy’s letter was rude in parts and did not come across as sincere offer to hold talks.
“This letter contains some rather rude remarks. Was it a way to create the conditions for a face-to-face meeting or a way not to set up a face-to-face meeting? I think it was the second,” said Putin.
Asked on stage at Russia’s annual economic forum whether he would meet the Ukrainian leader, Putin said: “I don’t see any point for now.”
Alex Croft5 June 2026 17:20
As we earlier reported, five Azerbaijani citizens were killed and three others injured in attacks on two cargo vessels in the Sea of Azov, Azerbaijan’s foreign ministry said on Friday.
Russia has now accused Ukraine on Friday of killing Azerbaijani crew on board two cargo vessels headed for a Russian port.
Ukraine said earlier on Friday that its drones had struck five ships in the ports of Mariupol and Berdyansk on the Sea of Azov, as well as in the coastal waters of Russian-controlled territories.
Robert Brovdi, the commander of Ukrainian drone forces, said in a statement that his drones had hit dry cargo ships and a tanker that were involved in “stealing” Ukrainian grain and transferring military cargo and fuel, with the names of the vessels painted over and their radars turned off.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry said two ships – the Natra and Zircon – had been sailing from Turkey to Rostov-on-Don in southern Russia when they came under attack from Ukrainian drones.
“The circumstances of the incident are being investigated. According to available information, the vessels were attacked by Ukrainian drones, which once again confirms the terrorist nature of the Kyiv regime, which is increasingly targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure,” the ministry said in a statement.
Alex Croft5 June 2026 16:47
Three injured in Ukrainian attack on Zaporizhzhia power plant, Moscow claims
Three people were injured in a Ukrainian attack on the area of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant on Friday, Russian state nuclear corporation head Alexei Likhachev said, according to Interfax news agency.
The International Atomic Energy Agency said it has negotiated a temporary local ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia, the sixth since late last year, allowing repairs to a power supply line to Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia plant.
Alex Croft5 June 2026 16:16
Russia not expecting visit by US negotiators in near future – Kremlin
Russia is not expecting a visit by U.S. negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in the near future, Interfax reported on Friday, citing Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
The two had previously been involved in mediation efforts between Russia and Ukraine, which stalled in February after the United States and Israel began military action against Iran.
Alex Croft5 June 2026 15:43
EU must show it is willing to accept new members, says Merz
The European Union must show it is willing and able to take in new members, German chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Friday.
The bloc’s leaders were gathering with Western Balkan counterparts hoping to join in the coming years.
Enlargement has risen up the EU agenda due to Russia’s war against Ukraine, with Kyiv keen to join the bloc.
But the process of joining is usually long and complex, involving years of negotiations and legal reforms, with approval of all 27 current EU members required to complete each step.
“The European Union has to show that it is capable of enlarging and willing to enlarge and we want to discuss that here,” Merz told reporters at the summit in the Montenegrin coastal town of Tivat.
“There are, of course, a whole range of questions that we must answer, that we must answer together, but above all else, it must be clear that this part of Europe belongs within the European Union’s future,” Merz added.
Alex Croft5 June 2026 15:29
In pictures: Russia strikes dairy farm in Kyiv region, killing four
Alex Croft5 June 2026 15:16
Putin says inflation has significantly slowed to 5.2% in 2026
Putin has now said that inflation in Russia had slowed significantly and would be close to 5.2 per cent in 2026.
The Kremlin chief was speaking at Russia’s annual economic forum.
He adds that around 65 per cent of Russia’s export operations are now rouble-denominated.
Putin also warned that Russia’s budget deficit could increase over the course of the year, as we reported earlier.
Alex Croft5 June 2026 15:05
Putin speaks at Russian economic forum
We’re hearing from Russian president Vladimir Putin, who is speaking at an economic forum in St Petersburg.
The “theft” of Russian assets has had an impact on the US dollar and Euro, he says, referring to international sanctions imposed on Russian assets abroad.
Putin adds that Russia’s budget deficit – when expenses exceed income – may increase over the year.
But he tells the room of delegates that the BRICS alliance – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – is performing better than the G7.
Russia was formerly part of the G7, when it was known as the G8, before it was expelled following Moscow’s 2014 annexation of Crimea.
Alex Croft5 June 2026 14:47