⚡️Zelensky urges Trump to enforce tougher sanctions if peace talks with Russia stall.
"If the Istanbul meeting brings nothing, that clearly means strong new sanctions are urgently needed,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
"If the Istanbul meeting brings nothing, that clearly means strong new sanctions are urgently needed,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
⚡️ Trump reportedly wasn't informed in advance about Ukraine's drone strike on Russian bombers.
U.S. President Donald Trump was not informed in advance about Ukraine's mass drone attack that allegedly hit 41 Russian aircraft across four air bases on June 1, CBS News and Axios reported, citing their undisclosed sources.
U.S. President Donald Trump was not informed in advance about Ukraine's mass drone attack that allegedly hit 41 Russian aircraft across four air bases on June 1, CBS News and Axios reported, citing their undisclosed sources.
⚡️ Russian central bank head under pressure to slash key interest rate, Bloomberg reports.
The reason is the growing toll on the federal budget and civilian industries, three officials told Bloomberg, with some calling for the decision to be made at the bank's meeting on June 6.
The reason is the growing toll on the federal budget and civilian industries, three officials told Bloomberg, with some calling for the decision to be made at the bank's meeting on June 6.
⚡️ UPDATE: Ukraine, Russia begin second round of peace talks in Istanbul.
Ukrainian and Russian delegates had begun another round of peace talks in Istanbul, Ukraine's Foreign Ministry announced on June 2.
Ukrainian and Russian delegates had begun another round of peace talks in Istanbul, Ukraine's Foreign Ministry announced on June 2.
⚡️Ukrainian military responds to commander’s claim of no state-supplied FPV drones for 3rd Brigade.
In a written response to a request from Babel, the Armed Forces of Ukraine said the brigade had received a total of 7,992 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) of various types between Jan. 1 and May 27, 2025.
In a written response to a request from Babel, the Armed Forces of Ukraine said the brigade had received a total of 7,992 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) of various types between Jan. 1 and May 27, 2025.
⚡️ Russian double-tap attack injures 12 emergency workers in Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia Oblast.
Russian drone attacks against a State Emergency Service building in Zaporizhzhia Oblast's front-line areas on June 2 injured 12 emergency workers, Governor Ivan Fedorov reported.
Russian forces attacked again during an evacuation of the injured, the State Emergency Service said.
Photo: State Emergency Service/Telegram
Russian drone attacks against a State Emergency Service building in Zaporizhzhia Oblast's front-line areas on June 2 injured 12 emergency workers, Governor Ivan Fedorov reported.
Russian forces attacked again during an evacuation of the injured, the State Emergency Service said.
Photo: State Emergency Service/Telegram
⚡️Portnov family bought Dubai properties worth over $2 million, media investigation says.
According to property records leaked from Dubai's Land Department and state-owned utilities, six properties were purchased in 2022–2023 by Portnov's civil partner, Anastasiia Valiaieva, and his daughter, Liliia Portnova, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported.
According to property records leaked from Dubai's Land Department and state-owned utilities, six properties were purchased in 2022–2023 by Portnov's civil partner, Anastasiia Valiaieva, and his daughter, Liliia Portnova, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported.
⚡️Ukraine, Russia end second round of peace talks, no ceasefire achieved.
During the talks in Istanbul, the Ukrainian delegation offered Moscow a complete ceasefire, the exchange of prisoners of war in an all-for-all format, bringing back the children abducted by Russia, and the release of all civilians from Russian captivity.
During the talks in Istanbul, the Ukrainian delegation offered Moscow a complete ceasefire, the exchange of prisoners of war in an all-for-all format, bringing back the children abducted by Russia, and the release of all civilians from Russian captivity.
⚡️Ukraine ready to make concessions on sanctions against Russia amid ongoing peace talks, demands ceasefire first.
Some of the sanctions against Russia could be lifted following a potential full ceasefire, according to Ukraine's official proposal, seen by the Kyiv Independent on June 2. Yet, the condition proposed by Ukraine is that sanctions are automatically renewed if the ceasefire agreement is broken.
Some of the sanctions against Russia could be lifted following a potential full ceasefire, according to Ukraine's official proposal, seen by the Kyiv Independent on June 2. Yet, the condition proposed by Ukraine is that sanctions are automatically renewed if the ceasefire agreement is broken.
⚡️Ukraine, Russia preparing for new prisoner exange following 2nd round of peace talks, Zelensky says.
Russia and Ukraine are preparing to hold a new prisoners of war (POWs) exchange mediated by Turkey after the second round of peace talks.
Russia and Ukraine are preparing to hold a new prisoners of war (POWs) exchange mediated by Turkey after the second round of peace talks.
⚡️Russia proposes 2-3-day ceasefire in some areas of front to retrieve bodies of the fallen, Medinsky says.
According to a source in the President's Office, who spoke on condition of anonymity, Russia declined a ceasefire proposed by Ukraine.
According to a source in the President's Office, who spoke on condition of anonymity, Russia declined a ceasefire proposed by Ukraine.
⚡️Ukraine seeks to bring back up to 1,200 people in next prisoner swap with Russia, Zelensky says.
The next prisoner exchange will reportedly include young people between the ages of 18 and 25, as well as people with serious injuries.
The next prisoner exchange will reportedly include young people between the ages of 18 and 25, as well as people with serious injuries.
⚡️Russian state media publishes Moscow's official peace demands — 5 Ukrainian regions, ban on NATO, limits on Kyiv's army.
Among Russia's key demands is the official recognition of Russia's annexation of Crimea, as well as the annexation of Ukraine's Kherson, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Luhansk oblasts, none of which Moscow controls in full.
Among Russia's key demands is the official recognition of Russia's annexation of Crimea, as well as the annexation of Ukraine's Kherson, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Luhansk oblasts, none of which Moscow controls in full.
Growing up under missiles — Ukrainian childhoods shaped by war (PHOTOS)
The Kyiv Independent spoke to children and their families to understand how war affects childhood, how it quietly rewrites dreams, creeps into fantasies, and redefines what it means to be safe.
One thing all the children who spoke to the Kyiv Independent have in common: They all feel safest when there are no air raid alerts or the sounds of Russian missiles and drones above them.
Photo: Elena Kalinichenko/The Kyiv Independent
The Kyiv Independent spoke to children and their families to understand how war affects childhood, how it quietly rewrites dreams, creeps into fantasies, and redefines what it means to be safe.
One thing all the children who spoke to the Kyiv Independent have in common: They all feel safest when there are no air raid alerts or the sounds of Russian missiles and drones above them.
Photo: Elena Kalinichenko/The Kyiv Independent
⚡️'Idiots' — Zelensky slams Russia’s proposal for brief truce to retrieve fallen soldiers' bodies.
"They just don’t see a ceasefire as such at the moment," President Volodymyr Zelensky said on June 2, commenting on Russia's proposal. "I think they’re idiots, because, fundamentally, a ceasefire is meant so that there are no dead."
"They just don’t see a ceasefire as such at the moment," President Volodymyr Zelensky said on June 2, commenting on Russia's proposal. "I think they’re idiots, because, fundamentally, a ceasefire is meant so that there are no dead."
Ukraine war latest: Ukraine, Russia agree on new prisoner swap, return of fallen soldiers
The Ukrainian and Russian delegations concluded peace talks in Istanbul on June 2, agreeing on a new prisoners of war (POWs) exchange but failing to reach a ceasefire.
The talks, hosted by Turkish officials, follow the first round of negotiations on May 16. The initial meeting ended with an agreement on the largest prisoner exchange of the war, but without any tangible progress toward a peace deal.
Photo: Murat Gok/Anadolu via Getty Images
The Ukrainian and Russian delegations concluded peace talks in Istanbul on June 2, agreeing on a new prisoners of war (POWs) exchange but failing to reach a ceasefire.
The talks, hosted by Turkish officials, follow the first round of negotiations on May 16. The initial meeting ended with an agreement on the largest prisoner exchange of the war, but without any tangible progress toward a peace deal.
Photo: Murat Gok/Anadolu via Getty Images
‘Closer to victory’ – Operation Spiderweb gives much-needed morale boost to Ukrainians after 3 years of full-scale war
In Ukraine, the operation quickly drew comparisons to some of the most uplifting moments since 2022 – including the sinking of the Black Sea Fleet’s flagship Moskva, the attack on the Crimean Bridge, and the surprise incursion into Russia’s Kursk Oblast.
Photo: SBU source
In Ukraine, the operation quickly drew comparisons to some of the most uplifting moments since 2022 – including the sinking of the Black Sea Fleet’s flagship Moskva, the attack on the Crimean Bridge, and the surprise incursion into Russia’s Kursk Oblast.
Photo: SBU source
⚡️DTEK to build one of Europe's largest energy storage facilities, company announces.
Ukraine's largest private energy company DTEK secured a $72-million loan to build one of the largest battery energy storage complexes in Eastern Europe, the company said on June 3.
Ukraine's largest private energy company DTEK secured a $72-million loan to build one of the largest battery energy storage complexes in Eastern Europe, the company said on June 3.