Three Ukrainian nationals were killed in a bus accident in France on June 13, President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed in a statement on Telegram.

"Terrible news about the tragic bus accident in France," Zelensky wrote.

The accident occurred in the morning of June 13, near the Sarthe department of France. The bus was reportedly carrying Ukrainian nationals, including adults and children, who were returning from an educational exchange.

While en route to Paris, the bus lost control and flipped into a ditch.

Four adults were killed in total – three of whom were Ukrainian nationals. French media reported that nine people sustained serious injuries, while an additional 18 suffered minor injuries.

Zelensky added that Ukraine's Foreign Ministry promptly sent a team of diplomats and consuls, led by the ambassador to France, to assist survivors and support the victims’ families. The team is coordinating with French authorities and emergency services at the scene.

Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko are providing regular updates on the victims' conditions and emerging details regarding the accident.

Zelensky thanked the French authorities, noting that "more than 50 emergency teams were deployed" in what he called "a true expression of French solidarity."

He also expressed his "condolences to all the families of the victims" and wished for a "speedy recovery of the injured children."

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Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha warned on June 13 that Russia has begun preparing strategic military reserves, signaling plans for military operations that may extend beyond Ukraine.

"According to our intelligence, Russia has started to prepare strategic reserves, which indicates plans for combat operations not only in Ukraine," Sybiha said during the Globsec conference in Prague, calling for urgent diplomatic and economic pressure.

"Allies need full diplomatic mobilization to stop this war. This is not just a question for Ukraine. (Russian President Vladimir) Putin only understands strength, and right now it's crucial to apply sanctions in a timely manner, using them as economic weapons to pressure Russia," Sybiha said.

The comments come as Russia intensifies its military offensives and missile strikes across Ukraine, despite participating in two recent rounds of peace talks in Istanbul. The first talks were held on May 16, followed by a second meeting on June 2. While both rounds produced agreements on prisoner exchanges, they failed to secure a ceasefire.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a June 12 interview with Germany's Bild newspaper that Russia is using the talks to delay tougher U.S. sanctions, while continuing to escalate attacks on Ukrainian cities.

Russia also continues to issue nuclear threats to Western countries. Putin claimed on June 11 that Russia possesses the world's most advanced nuclear systems, with 95% of its strategic nuclear forces reportedly made up of modern equipment.

Putin emphasized the need to significantly strengthen Russia's ground forces. Russian defense spending has surged to 6.3% of GDP, the highest level since the Cold War, as Moscow continues to ramp up its military investment amid the ongoing war.

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Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha publicly condemned countries that sent congratulatory messages to Russia on its national holiday, specifically targeting recent greetings from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Speaking before a “Weimar+” format ministerial meeting in Rome, Sybiha expressed his displeasure at what he described as inappropriate diplomatic gestures toward an aggressor nation.

“As a minister of a country at war, it was particularly unpleasant for me to read public congratulations from some countries addressed to the Russian aggressor on their national holiday this morning. There can be no reward for aggression. There can be no reward for an aggressor country,” Sybiha said, according to reports from Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Sybiha argued that his position stems from direct exposure to the war’s realities. The minister referenced a recent visit to Kherson with his Lithuanian counterpart, noting the city’s proximity to active fighting at just 13 kilometers (8 miles) from the front line.

This short distance to active hostilities makes Kherson vulnerable to heavy and continuous shelling and drone attacks by Russian forces. Sybiha described observing children attending classes in underground schools as evidence of what he termed “Russian terror.”

The minister’s comments came in response to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s Russia Day message, in which Rubio stated that the United States remains committed to supporting the Russian people who “continue to build their aspiration for a better future.”

Rubio also emphasized a desire for “constructive engagement with the Russian Federation to bring about a durable peace between Russia and Ukraine. It is our hope that peace will foster more mutually beneficial relations between our countries.”

His greeting came as the Russian troop losses in Ukraine have surpassed one million and the recent polls indicated that approximately 75% of Russians still support the ongoing invasion. 

Sybiha also claimed that Russia presented what he called “old and unrealistic ultimatums” during peace talks in Istanbul. Russia demands Ukraine withdraws from four occupied regions, adopts a neutral status, abandon aspirations to join NATO, and recognize Russian as an official languag.

Meanwhile, Ukraine rejects any veto over its NATO aspirations and insists on strong Western security guarantees. The country also accepted a US ceasefire proposal 100 days ago, which Russia continues to reject. Russian President Vladimir Putin also avoided meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Istanbul even though this was proposed to him. 

The foreign minister stated Ukraine’s goal of ending the war within the current year, emphasizing the importance of maintaining pressure on Russia to achieve a ceasefire that could lead to broader negotiations.

Lithuania’s Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys stated during a 9 June briefing in Kyiv that existing EU sanctions cover just 40% of Russia’s capabilities, calling for significantly stronger measures and expanded coordination with the United States.

Current sanctions insufficient

Speaking alongside Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, Budrys criticized the current state of European sanctions targeting Russia, asserting that Europe cannot claim it has exhausted all possible measures.

“Only 40% of Russia’s capacity is under sanctions. We cannot afford to say that we have done everything possible in terms of sanctions. No, we have not,” Budrys said.

18th EU sanctions package in progress

According to Budrys, the European Union has already begun work on its 18th package of anti-Russian sanctions. This new round aims to cover sectors of the Russian economy that remain untouched by previous restrictions.

Budrys emphasized that the upcoming sanctions are expected to include personal restrictions on top managers within Russian corporations, as well as new limitations on Russian exports.

The Lithuanian foreign minister underscored the need for the EU to synchronize its efforts with the United States, reinforcing the necessity of united transatlantic pressure on Russia.

Ukraine has received no response from Russia to its peace proposals handed over ahead of the second round of talks in Istanbul, Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha said on 9 June during a joint press conference in Kyiv with Lithuanian counterpart Kęstutis Budrys, Suspilne reports.

Sybiha stated that Moscow has yet to reply to the “constructive proposals” Ukraine presented and accused the Kremlin of blocking the peace process.

“Instead, they (the Russian delegation, – Ed.) threw a list of ultimatums on the table in Istanbul, which are unacceptable to diplomats,” Sybiha said.

He emphasized the need to increase pressure on Russia and all entities aiding its war against Ukraine, pointing to the Kremlin’s actions as further proof of its unwillingness to pursue a peaceful resolution.

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Details of the Ukrainian memorandum

Suspilne previously obtained the full text of Ukraine’s memorandum presented during the Istanbul talks on 2 June. The document includes proposals for a ceasefire, monitoring of the truce, and a presidential meeting between Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Vladimir Putin.

It also calls for Russia’s unconditional return of all deported and displaced Ukrainian children, a full prisoner exchange, and the release of all civilian detainees. These measures are meant to cover all individuals affected since February 2014.

Defense Minister Rustem Umerov had disclosed on 28 May that the Ukrainian delegation had handed this memorandum to the head of the Russian negotiating team, Vladimir Medinsky.

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Russia’s conditions and response

During the 2 June session, Russia provided its own memorandum, which it claims includes steps for ending the war. According to this document, Russia demands a full withdrawal of the Ukrainian Armed Forces from Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson oblasts, and recognition of these territories as Russian. The memorandum also requires Ukraine to adopt a neutral status, stop receiving weapons, and cease intelligence cooperation.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described Russia’s memorandum as an “ultimatum.”