President Donald Trump is to meet President Volodymyr Zelensky at a Nato summit in Turkey next week, the White House confirmed on Sunday.
It is expected that the world leaders will discuss the ongoing conflict with Russia after negotiations all but stalled following the outbreak of the war on Iran.
After several successes on the battlefield, Zelensky said on Sunday that intelligence indicates Russia is now preparing a “massive strike”.
Ukraine struck Crimea in the early hours of Sunday morning, killing one person, Moscow officials said in the aftermath of the attack.
Two others were injured in the attack on northern Crimea, including one in a serious condition, the regional Gov. Sergei Aksyonov wrote on Telegram.
St Petersburg and the surrounding Leningrad region was also struck with a large drone attack overnight on Saturday, hitting a local port and oil infrastructure.
Zelensky had hailed the “real prospect” of ending the Russia-Ukraine conflict following a phone call withTrump for American independence day on Saturday.
“We agreed to continue the conversation in person during the Nato summit in Ankara,” the Ukrainian president wrote on social media.
The Kremlin said that Vladimir Putin and the US president discussed the conflict in Ukraine in a “constructive” 90- minute phone call.
Read MoreUkrainian drones hit St Petersburg oil terminal in latest long-range attack on Russia
Why Putin keeps targeting Kyiv while his war machine grinds to a halt on frontline
Paradise lost: How Monaco became the billionaire’s playground with a health warning
Putin has admitted Russia is facing problems in Ukraine war – are there signs he may be cracking?
Key Points
- One killed in attack on Crimea
- Zelensky hails 'real prospect' of ending conflict after Trump phone call
- Ukrainian drones hit St Petersburg oil terminal in latest long-range attack on Russia
- Trump and Putin shared 'hour and a half' long phone call on American independence day
- Russia proposes temporary ceasefire in key front-line Ukrainian city
- Zelensky calls bluff on Russia's claim of capturing Kostiantynivka
Half a million dead but just 40sqkm gained in six months: Impact of Putin’s devastating war in numbers
00:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainRussia’s advances in eastern Ukraine are slowing and hundreds of thousands of troops have been killed. As Kyiv seizes the upper hand, Alex Croft looks at the data that shows why Moscow is struggling:
After a bleak winter which saw months of fierce Russian bombing of Ukrainian energy infrastructure, the future is beginning to look more positive for Kyiv.
Nearly four-and-a-half years since Vladimir Putin launched the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia’s frontline advances have slowed almost to a halt, as Ukrainian counter-attacks and defensive tactics become more effective.
Successes in local counterattacks have become more frequent, as Ukrainian forces scale up their use of ground robots and short-range drone warfare.
Read more here:
Half a million dead but minor territorial gains: Putin’s devastating war in numbers
Putin shrugs off Ukraine's strikes on Russia's energy facilities as 'not critical'
23:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainRussian President Vladimir Putin has shrugged off Ukraine’s strikes on Russia’s energy facilities as “not critical,” and insisted the war will continue until his goals are met.
He has described the attacks on Russian energy as an effort by Ukraine to distract attention from its losses on the battlefield, although analysts say the advance of Russian forces has been stymied in recent months.
On Friday, Putin visited the Russian military headquarters directing the war in Ukraine and received a report on the capture of the city of Kostyantynivka, after weeks of intense street battles. He hailed it as a key step toward capturing the nearby cities of Sloviansk and Kramatorsk, the key remaining strongholds in the so-called “forest belt” of heavily fortified cities in the Donetsk region that remain in Ukraine’s hands.
The capture of Kostyantynivka, a big transport and industrial hub, is of “major strategic importance,” Putin, clad in military fatigues, said in televised comments.
Zelensky says St Petersburg attack is part of Ukraine's 'long-range sanctions'
22:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainUkrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky described the St Petersburg attack as part of Ukraine’s “long-range sanctions” against Russia. He said that Ukrainian forces also hit a military target on the island of Kronstadt, just off the coast of St. Petersburg.
“The Ukrainian defense forces hit the port oil infrastructure, which earns money for the Russian war, and there were also hits on Kronstadt — an important military target,” he said in a post on Telegram.
St. Petersburg’s Kirovsky district was previously hit in June, ahead of Russia’s flagship St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.
The Crimean peninsula, which Russia annexed in 2014, has suffered particularly from heavy strikes, causing local authorities to suspend gasoline sales to civilians. A Ukrainian attack on Saturday killed one person and injured two more, including a 10-year-old child, the Moscow-installed Gov. Sergei Aksyonov said.
Trump to meet Zelensky at Nato summit next week as Zelensky warns Russia is preparing 'massive strike'
21:49 , Maira ButtPresident Donald Trump is to meet President Volodymyr Zelensky at a Nato summit in Turkey next week, the White House confirmed on Sunday.
It is expected that the world leaders will discuss the ongoing conflict with Russia after negotiations all but stalled following the outbreak of the war on Iran.
After several successes on the battlefield, Zelensky said on Sunday that intelligence indicates Russia is now preparing a “massive strike”.
Ukrainian drones hit St Petersburg oil terminal in latest long-range attack on Russia
21:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainA Ukrainian drone attack struck an oil terminal in St. Petersburg on Saturday, Russian officials said, as Kyiv presses on with bombardment of Russia’s oil infrastructure.
Almost daily long-range attacks on Russian oil facilities have created a fuel crisis and heaped political pressure on the Kremlin as its all-out invasion of Ukraine stretches into its fifth year.
Gov. Alexander Beglov said the city’s Kirovsky district on the Baltic Sea was hit. He also said that air defenses shot down 72 Ukrainian drones across Russia's second-largest city and the surrounding region.
Interpol names suspect in Monaco bombing that reportedly targeted Russia-linked Ukrainian tycoon
20:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainInterpol on Friday named the suspect in the Monaco bombing that reportedly targeted a Ukrainian tycoon with links to Russia.
It identified Anastasiia Berezovska, a 39-year-old woman from Ukraine, as the suspect in a Red Notice posted on its website seeking her arrest.
Watch: Birds in Ukraine build nests with fibre optic cable
19:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainIn pictures: French volunteer soldiers take part in military training in Zaporizhzhia
18:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
Russia says Ukraine rejects local ceasefire for handover of soldiers' bodies
17:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainUkraine has refused to halt shelling of the town of Kostiantynivka in the east of the country to allow Russia to hand over the bodies of fallen Ukrainian soldiers, the Russian Defence Ministry said on Sunday.
Russian military commanders told President Vladimir Putin on Friday that Moscow's forces had taken control of Kostiantynivka, though Ukraine denied the claim, saying its forces remained in control of the town.
Ukraine's defence ministry and general staff did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.
Kostiantynivka is a key locality whose capture Moscow has long sought in its military campaign in the Donetsk region.
Russia said it had proposed a six-hour ceasefire in and around Kostiantynivka on Monday to facilitate the handover of Ukrainian servicemen's bodies and had given Kyiv until 0900 GMT on Sunday to respond.
Russia forced to advertise on job website for drone operators to ‘defend Moscow’
16:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainRussia has resorted to advertising for drone pilots to defend Moscow.
The country's biggest jobs website, HeadHunter, is advertising for drone operators to protect the skies above Moscow. The add says there is no previous experience required.
Candidates require only "basic technical skills" and a desire to progress in the field. But the pay — starting at 150,000 roubles ($1,950) per month — compares unfavourably with the average for Moscow of more than 200,000 roubles.
Russia forced to advertise on job website for drone operators to ‘defend Moscow’
Russia plotting attack on Poland to test Nato’s resolve, US claims
15:18 , Maryam Zakir-HussainThe US has warned Warsaw that Russia is planning an armed “provocation” against Poland to test Nato’s resolve, according to reports.
The assault could see Poland’s vital infrastructure targeted by missiles or drones, or even Russian soldiers crossing the border into Nato territory, Washington has said.
Sources close to Polish president Karol Nawrocki told Polish outlet Onet that the aim of Moscow’s possible assault, which could be launched in a matter of months, would be to provoke tensions and pressure Ukraine’s Western allies to suspend their military and financial aid.
Russia plotting attack on Poland to test Nato’s resolve, US claims
Putin shrugs off fuel shortages in Russia as he ramps up attacks on Ukraine
14:49 , Maryam Zakir-HussainDespite severe fuel shortages across Russia, President Vladimir Putin appears unbothered by Ukraine’s increasing attacks on his country’s oil refineries.
He has shrugged off the setback for one of the world’s leading oil-producing nations as “not critical,” dismissed ceasefire proposals and insisted the war will continue until his goals are met.
Putin has described the attacks on Russian energy as an effort by Ukraine to distract attention from its losses on the battlefield, although analysts say the advance of Russian forces has been stymied in recent months.
The Russian leader appears to believe his government can keep the fuel crisis from eroding his authority and support for the war he launched more than four years ago.
Putin shrugs off fuel shortages in Russia as he ramps up attacks on Ukraine
Watch: Swimmers flee as Russian missile strikes indoor pool in Zaporizhzhia
14:01 , Maryam Zakir-HussainParadise lost: How Monaco became the billionaire’s playground with a health warning
13:38 , Maryam Zakir-HussainTainted by murder, money laundering and now a parcel bomb, Monaco no longer feels like a safe haven. Helen Kirwan-Taylor explores the dark underbelly of the iconic Mediterranean resort:
Asunny place for shady people” is how the English writer William Somerset Maugham described Monaco, the tiny Mediterranean principality that was once perceived as glamorous, but is now tainted by money laundering, murder, and, most recently, a parcel bomb meant for a sanctioned Ukrainian-born oligarch.
The latest scandal to envelop Monaco reads like a bad thriller. Vadym Yermolaiev, who is linked with various dodgy business dealings in Russia before he became a Cypriot resident, was the victim of a parcel bomb planted in the foyer of his apartment building in the district of La Rousse.
The homemade device was deposited minutes before it struck him and his mistress (who, according to French media, lost both her legs) and their 13-year-old son. All are currently in hospital.
Interpol has named a 39-year-old woman from Ukraine, Anastasiia Berezovska, as the suspect. She has since been spotted in Germany, and a Monaco prosecutor said she was disguised as a man.
Read more here:
Paradise lost: How Monaco became the billionaire’s playground with a health warning
Russia plotting attack on Poland to test Nato’s resolve, US claims
13:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainThe US has warned Warsaw that Russia is planning an armed “provocation” against Poland to test Nato’s resolve, according to reports.
The assault could see Poland’s vital infrastructure targeted by missiles or drones, or even Russian soldiers crossing the border into Nato territory, Washington has said.
Sources close to Polish president Karol Nawrocki told Polish outlet Onet that the aim of Moscow’s possible assault, which could be launched in a matter of months, would be to provoke tensions and pressure Ukraine’s Western allies to suspend their military and financial aid.
Russia plotting attack on Poland to test Nato’s resolve, US claims
Watch: Ukrainian drone hit oil terminal in Russia's St. Petersburg in footage shared by Zelensky
12:30 , Maryam Zakir-HussainZelensky says he has agreed to continue Trump conversation at Nato summit
12:09 , Maryam Zakir-HussainPresident Volodymyr Zelensky has confirmed that he has agreed to continue conversations with President Donald Trump at the Nato summit next week.
US-brokered discussions between Russia and Ukraine were largely called to a halt when the US and Israel attacked Iran in February earlier this year.
The Ukrainian leader added that he had spoken to the president on the 4th July and said that US “decisiveness” could help bring an end to the war with Russia.
Suspect in Monaco assassination attempt is Ukrainian woman who dressed up as a man
11:26 , Maryam Zakir-HussainThe main suspect behind a bomb attack in Monaco is a Ukrainian woman who disguised herself as a man and has been spotted in Germany, prosecutors have said.
Three people, including 58-year-old Ukrainian business tycoon Vadym Iermolaiev, a woman and a 13-year-old teenager, were wounded on Monday evening when an explosive was remotely detonated in what authorities believe was a targeted attack.
The two adults were rushed to hospital in a critical condition, with the woman having both her legs amputated.
Suspect in Monaco blast is Ukrainian woman who was disguised as man
One killed in attack on Crimea
11:03 , Maryam Zakir-HussainOne person was killed in a Ukrainian attack on Russian-occupied Crimea, Moscow-installed officials said in the early hours of Sunday.
Two others were injured in the attack on northern Crimea, including one in a serious condition, the Russia-installed regional Gov. Sergei Aksyonov wrote on Telegram.
He did not give details of the attack.
In recent weeks Ukraine has stepped up its attacks on key infrastructure targets in Crimea as Kyiv’s military seeks to isolate the vital Russian-held peninsula in the latest stage of the war.
The peninsula was seized by force and illegally annexed by Moscow in 2014.
Ukraine’s increasing use of long-range strikes has highlighted its ability to inflict painful damage on Russia and put added pressure on the Kremlin while Moscow’s advances recently have ground to a near halt, Western analysts and officials say.
Ukraine, Putin or call centre fraud: The theories behind assassination attempt on Ukrainian tycoon in Monaco
10:34 , Maryam Zakir-HussainVadym Iermolaiev was returning to his apartment in Monaco on a warm summer night last Monday with a woman and child when the bomb exploded.
Within seconds, the Ukrainian oligarch and the woman and child were lying covered in blood on the floor outside the building on the Rue Révérend-Père-Louis-Frolla.
The suspect, who dropped a suspected parcel bomb in the lobby, had already fled the scene. A manhunt to locate him is ongoing, while Iermolaiev and the other two victims are being treated for serious injuries at the Pasteur Hospital in Nice.
Everything we know about the Monaco attack on a Ukrainian oligarch
Zelensky hails 'real prospect' of ending conflict after Trump phone call
09:51 , Maryam Zakir-HussainUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke with Trump on ending the war.
Writing on X, Zelensky said he called to congratulate Trump to mark the 250th anniversary of American independence and that the two leaders discussed the situation along the front line.
“There is a real prospect of ending this war, and America’s determination will be crucial. We agreed to continue the conversation in person during the NATO summit in Ankara,” he said late Saturday.
The Kremlin said that Putin and Trump discussed the conflict in Ukraine in a “constructive” phone call on Saturday.
I have congratulated President Trump @POTUS and all Americans on the Independence Day. We’ve had a very good phone call.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) July 4, 2026
We are grateful to the United States for all the assistance we have received – from Javelins and Patriots to political support – and we deeply value that… pic.twitter.com/FKAPdpvnSN
Russia may have used AI to exaggerate claims of Kostyantynivka capture: ISW
09:00 , Vishwam SankaranRussia's ministry of defence has published at least 10 different videos of Russian military men planting flags in different parts of Kostyantynivka, and some of these may have been videos altered using artificial intelligence, according to analysis by the Institute for the Study of War.
"The Russian MoD, along with other sources propagating possible AI-altered footage, continues engaging in a sophisticated cognitive warfare effort," ISW mentions in its latest update.
The videos appear to be a part of the Kremlin’s systematic effort to aggrandise its claims of Russian advances.
Ukraine has vehemently denied Russia's claims that it captured the eastern Ukrainian city.
"Of course, this is not true – it is simply yet another Russian lie designed to generate some sort of news," Zelensky said on a call with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
"If Kostiantynivka were currently under Russian control, then surely Putin would have no problem meeting me there and finding diplomatic solutions to finally end the war," he said.
Ukrainian drones hit St Petersburg oil terminal in latest long-range attack on Russia
08:49 , Maryam Zakir-HussainA Ukrainian drone attack struck an oil terminal in St. Petersburg on Saturday, Russian officials said, as Kyiv presses on with bombardment of Russia’s oil infrastructure.
Almost daily long-range attacks on Russian oil facilities have created a fuel crisis and heaped political pressure on the Kremlin as its all-out invasion of Ukraine stretches into its fifth year.
Gov. Alexander Beglov said the city’s Kirovsky district on the Baltic Sea was hit. He also said that air defenses shot down 72 Ukrainian drones across Russia's second-largest city and the surrounding region.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the attack as part of Ukraine’s “long-range sanctions” against Russia. He said that Ukrainian forces also hit a military target on the island of Kronstadt, just off the coast of St. Petersburg.
“The Ukrainian defense forces hit the port oil infrastructure, which earns money for the Russian war, and there were also hits on Kronstadt — an important military target,” he said in a post on Telegram.
Crimea faces blackout as Ukraine strikes power stations in occupied territory
08:30 , Vishwam SankaranUkraine struck several energy substations in Russian-occupied Crimea, causing a blackout across the entire peninsular region.
A blackout was reported throughout Crimea due to strikes on energy infrastructure, pro-Ukrainian channel Crimean Wind reported.
The strikes are part of an ongoing attempt by Kyiv to hit military infrastructure deep within Russia and occupied territories.
This is aimed at diminishing Moscow's ability to continue waging its war.
Zelensky calls bluff on Russia's claim of capturing Kostiantynivka
07:30 , Vishwam SankaranThe Ukrainian president called a bluff on Moscow's claim of capturing the eastern Ukrainian city of Kostiantynivka, calling it "another Russian lie".
General Valery Gerasimov, the chief of Russia's General Staff, said on Thursday that Kostiantynivka had fallen under Russian control, but Ukraine's general staff categorically denied the claim.
"Of course, this is not true – it is simply yet another Russian lie designed to generate some sort of news," Zelensky said yesterday about Russia's claims on a call with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
"If Kostiantynivka were currently under Russian control, then surely Putin would have no problem meeting me there and finding diplomatic solutions to finally end the war," the Ukrainian president said.
Ukraine releases footage of its drone destroying Russian fighter jet in Crimea
07:09 , Vishwam SankaranUkraine's military intelligence (HUR) released a new video yesterday, showing drone attacking the Belbek airfield in Russian-occupied Crimea and "destroying" a MiG-29 fighter aircraft.
The video shared on Telegram was taken during a night raid on 25 June, HUR said.
Ukraine claims the losses from the drone strike "could run into tens of millions of dollars," as both the fighter jet and specialist equipment situated nearby were destroyed.
The footage was shared just hours after Ukraine took out power substations in Crimea, plunging the Russian-occupied peninsula into darkness.
Ukraine's long-range attacks on Russian oil and energy infra
07:01 , Vishwam SankaranUkraine struck the St Petersburg oil terminal and the Kronstadt Naval Base in Leningrad Oblast, which is Russia's main Baltic Fleet base, causing fires at the oil terminal and the base overnight.
The drone attack is a significant blow as the St. Petersburg Oil Terminal is one of the largest petroleum transhipment terminals in the Baltic region, with a design capacity of 12.5 million tons of petroleum per year.
Russia uses the naval base for warship repair and maintenance and for controlling the sea approaches to St. Petersburg.
Footage published yesterday shows fire and smoke at the St. Petersburg Oil Terminal after Ukrainian drone attacks.
The strikes may have reduced the Russian oil refining industry to over 40 per cent of its capacity, Ukraine's military said.
In video: Ukraine's drone attacks on Russia's refineries
06:30 , Vishwam SankaranZelensky meets wounded soldiers in Odesa
06:00 , Vishwam SankaranThe Ukrainian president visited a medical facility in Odesa and met wounded soldiers and veterans there yesterday.
"It is good to see you. Thank you for your service, for defending our country, and for your courage. We are proud of you and wish you a speedy recovery," Zelensky said
He also met veterans and graduates of Ukraine's Superhumans rehabilitation center in Odesa.
"I'm often asked – by foreign journalists and by our partners – how Ukraine does it. How, despite all strikes and all the horrible pain, Ukrainians can keep going, refuse to give up, and remain so resilient. One of the answers is you and your example," the Ukrainian president said.
In video: Ukraine denies Kostiantynivka is under Russian control
05:30 , Vishwam SankaranRussia proposes temporary ceasefire in key front-line Ukrainian city
05:00 , Vishwam SankaranRussia has proposed a temporary ceasefire lasting about 6 hours on Monday in the front-line city of Kostiantynivka, which it previously claimed was captured by Moscow's troops.
The Russian defence ministry proposed the ceasefire from 12pm to 6pm tomorrow to facilitate the handover of fallen Ukrainian service members' bodies.
Kremlin said Ukraine must notify the Russian military of its decision by noon today Moscow time.
Russia claimed yesterday that the Donetsk Oblast city of Kostiantynivka was under Russian control.
But Ukraine has categorically denied Russia's claim of capturing Kostiantynivka, calling it false.
Netherlands to host tribunal to prosecute Russia
04:30 , Vishwam SankaranNetherlands said yesterday that it would host a special tribunal to prosecute Russia's leadership for launching the invasion of Ukraine.
Since there are currently no global legal entities authorised to prosecute what's called a "crime of aggression" for Russia's invasion of Ukraine, a dedicated tribunal needs to be organised for it.
The Russian aggression against Ukraine cannot go unpunished. That is why we need to establish a special tribunal to prosecute those responsible for this aggression. The Dutch government decided today that the Netherlands is willing to serve as the host country—including for the… pic.twitter.com/iBJVi0oIC4
— Rob Jetten (@MinPres) July 3, 2026
"The Russian aggression against Ukraine cannot go unpunished. That is why we need to establish a special tribunal," the Dutch prime minister Rob Jetten posted on X after a call with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky.
He confirmed that the Netherlands will serve as the host country for the special tribunal.
Zelensky thanks Trump on US Independence Day
03:53 , Vishwam SankaranUkrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky spoke with US president Donald Trump yesterday, congratulating him on America's 250th year of independence.
The two also discussed the battlefield situation and efforts to end Russia's war against Ukraine.
"We are grateful to the United States for all the assistance provided, from Javelins and Patriots to political support," Zelensky wrote.
Ukraine appreciates that "America stand with us in defending our independence", he said.
Discussing the current situation on the front line, the Ukrainian president said there is a "real opportunity to end this war", adding that "America's determination will be decisive".
"Thank you, America! Thank you, Mr. President!" he wrote, wishing the US "continued prosperity and every success" on its Independence Day.
Watch: Swimmers flee as Russian missile strikes Ukraine indoor pool
02:00 , Maira ButtPutin has admitted Russia is facing problems in Ukraine war – are there signs he may be cracking?
01:00 , Maira ButtWhen Vladimir Putin spoke to a state TV reporter, few expected him to make such a frank admission about his flagging invasion in Ukraine.
Speaking just hours after Ukraine hit another oil refinery in the southern Krasnodar region, Putin said that Russia was facing “problems” due to repeated attacks on infrastructure that have sparked fuel shortages across the country.
Ukraine has intensified strikes on refineries, depots and supply routes in recent months as part of an audacious strategy using cutting-edge long-range drones. Queues have been seen at petrol stations across Russia, while fuel rationing has been implemented in regions including occupied Crimea and Siberia.
Putin has admitted Russia is facing issues in Ukraine war – is he cracking?
