Surveys show that Ukraine has fundamentally changed. Today, up to 90% of citizens in every region, including the south and east, support Euro-Atlantic integration, says Anton Hrushetskyi, Executive Director of the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS), UkrInform reports. 

After years of war with Russia, Ukrainian society has overcome longstanding geopolitical divisions.

“We have bridged the main divides. Issues that once split us, NATO, the EU, language, and attitudes toward Russia, now unite us,” the sociologist notes.

Key findings from KIIS:

• Support for NATO and the EU has surged to 80–90% across all regions
• There is a broad consensus that Russia is the aggressor
• Ukrainian remains the sole state language, though one-third still favor optional study of Russian

Researchers emphasize that this is not a fleeting trend but a lasting transformation rooted in 2022. However, they caution that “the work is far from complete,” as some politicians continue to exploit language issues for electoral advantage.

“Society is evolving — Russian is no longer part of our identity but is perceived as just another foreign language,” Hrushetskyi adds.

Earlier, a poll showed that a large majority of Ukrainians, 84%, believe there is no systematic discrimination or restriction of rights against Russian-speaking citizens in Ukraine. Among Russian-speaking Ukrainians themselves, 81% share this view.

The poll’s findings reject Russian propaganda that has systematically fabricated claims of discrimination against Russian speakers in Ukraine to justify its aggression. 

The European Commission has reportedly appointed former home affairs commissioner Ylva Johansson as the EU’s special envoy for Ukrainians, a newly created position to implement its updated refugee strategy.

Politico reported on 12 June that two officials familiar with the matter confirmed Johansson’s selection. Her appointment comes as the European Union unveiled a long-term approach to manage the needs of the displaced Ukrainians.

Johansson, who served as home affairs commissioner from 2019 to 2024, previously visited Ukraine several times. Her trips included a visit to a refugee camp near the Romania border. In recognition of her efforts, she received the Ukrainian order of merit in September last year.

Refugee protection extended as part of the EU’s updated response

Last week, the European Commission extended the temporary protection status for Ukrainian refugees, reinforcing its commitment to their welfare. The EU executive detailed plans to either transition these individuals into permanent legal arrangements or assist those who choose to return to Ukraine. Johansson is expected to be at the forefront of coordinating these measures across member states.

While some European officials have expressed concerns over growing “fatigue” in certain host countries toward hosting Ukrainian refugees, others remain in favor of retaining them to strengthen local workforces. 

Coordination of Ukrainian aircraft and air defense systems with NATO opens a new era of defensive capabilities in the war against Russia, 24 Channel reports. 

Ukraine’s F-16 and Mirage 2000 jets will now operate within a unified digital network alongside NATO air defense systems, enabling real-time exchange of critical information. This will ensure maximum coordination of actions in the air and significantly boost the country’s defensive potential.

Aviation expert Bohdan Dolintse emphasizes that the integration covers not only Ukrainian ground-based air defense systems but also satellite data and allied systems deployed near the Black Sea and on Ukraine’s western borders.

“This is the opportunity to integrate with ground air defense systems, satellite data… information can be automatically transmitted to aircraft and air defense systems,” Dolintse explains.

In other words, as the expert noted, having radar on the F-16 means the aircraft receives consolidated information from multiple sources and presents the pilot with the broadest, most complete situational picture, enhancing decision-making effectiveness and mission execution.

Earlier, Deputy Minister of Defense for Digitalization Kateryna Chernogorenko announced that Ukraine signed a licensing agreement to use NATO’s non-commercial software with the Link-16 data transmission protocol, a “military Wi-Fi” that ensures compatibility with allies and improves combat management, UNIAN reports. 

This step is extremely important for strengthening Ukraine’s air defense and deepening partnerships with NATO countries amid the war.

The EU’s move to reinstate tariff quotas on Ukrainian agricultural exports from 6 June 2025 has drawn sharp criticism from Ukraine’s Agriculture Minister Vitalii Koval, who warned the decision could cost the country between €2.8 billion and €3.5 billion in 2025 alone and undermine efforts to plug the country into the bloc’s single market, Euroactiv reports.

The reintroduction of pre-2022 trade restrictions comes after EU member states, particularly those with large farming sectors, pushed for the change. The move cancels the full trade liberalization granted to Ukraine after Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.

Minister warns of “moral losses” and economic harm

Speaking at the Agriculture and Fisheries Council (AGRIFISH) in Brussels on Monday, Koval described the EU’s decision not only as an economic setback but a blow to public morale in Ukraine.

“What about the moral losses? This is not calculated in billions, but millions of Ukrainian citizens supporting integration into the EU,” he said.

Koval noted that agriculture has become Ukraine’s key economic pillar following the devastation of its other major sectors, including chemicals and steel. With farming now contributing 17% of Ukraine’s GDP, he emphasized the weight of the EU’s decision on the country’s overall recovery.

Poland welcomes decision

Poland’s Agriculture Minister Czesław Siekierski celebrated the rollback of liberalized trade with Ukraine, calling it a political win ahead of national elections scheduled for Sunday. Speaking on the sidelines of the AGRIFISH meeting, Siekierski said the move would help address the concerns of Polish farmers, who have been protesting over Ukrainian imports in recent years.

Future trade framework in the works

Koval said Ukraine’s goal remains to develop a long-term trade framework with the EU by the end of July. He framed the Monday visit to Brussels as an effort to counter negative narratives about Ukrainian exports, saying his job was to confront “myths” about disruptions caused by Ukraine’s products.