Keir Starmer said his sanctions would choke off Putin’s ability to continue his war

The G7 countries are planning on discussing a new package of sanctions against Russia and a joint approach to the Israel/ Iran Middle East crisis but it appears Trump is preparing to reject the proposals

Ukraine is urging citizens to come back and Britain is offering refugees no permanent resettlement process

US President Donald Trump disclosed details of a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, sharing the information through his Truth Social platform.

According to Trump, Putin initiated the call to congratulate him on his birthday. The conversation covered multiple international issues, with Iran featuring prominently in their discussions. Trump indicated that Putin “knows this country very well,” suggesting the Russian leader’s familiarity with Iranian affairs influenced their dialogue.

Earlier, Putin’s assistant Yuri Ushakov told Russian state agency TASS that both leaders discussed the Israel-Iran conflict extensively, with Putin offering Russia as a mediator between the countries while condemning Israeli actions. Trump assessed the situation between the nations as “alarming” but noted the effectiveness of Israeli strikes against Iran.

The US President revealed that while Russia and Ukraine were discussed, these topics received limited attention during this particular call.

“We talked at length. We spent much less time talking about Russia and Ukraine, but that will be next week,” Trump stated, indicating future discussions on the conflict are planned.

Trump disclosed that Putin is also coordinating a prisoner exchange involving “a large number of prisoners” from both sides, describing the exchange as imminent.

Ukraine and Russia conducted a series of prisoner exchanges in June 2025, with the fourth swap occurring on 14 June, marking intense ongoing efforts to repatriate captives following an agreement reached during talks in Istanbul on 2 June. These exchanges primarily focus on releasing severely wounded, seriously ill soldiers, and military personnel aged 18 to 25, many of whom have been held since 2022.

Both leaders addressed peace negotiations regarding the Russia-Ukraine war, with Putin declaring that Russia is ready to continue dialogue with Ukraine after 22 June, according to Ushakov. Trump confirmed his desire for the quickest possible end to the war in Ukraine.

However, on 15 June, shortly after Putin congratulated Trump on his birthday during a phone call, Russia launched its largest missile and drone strike on the Ukrainian city of Kremenchuk, targeting critical energy and agricultural infrastructure. The strike hit Kremenchuk Thermal Power Plant and oil refinery, vital for Ukraine’s energy and defense systems.

The assault, involving nearly 200 missiles and drones, caused around 30 explosions and fires that burned for hours, damaging residential buildings and vehicles but reportedly causing no casualties due to effective Ukrainian air defenses that intercepted most of the attack.

On his birthday, Trump also attended a military parade in Washington, D.C., featuring over 6,000 troops, 128 tanks, armored vehicles, helicopters, and a 21-gun salute, as part of the US Army’s 250th anniversary celebration.

Despite the grandeur, attendance was much lower than expected, and the parade occurred amid widespread protests nationwide under the “No Kings” movement, denouncing Trump’s perceived authoritarianism and criticizing the parade as an extravagant, ego-driven display amid ongoing political and social divisions.

The sky turned red from the explosions. Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated US President Donald Trump on his birthday on 14 June, and almost immediately launched a strike on the Ukrainian city of Kremenchuk with Kinzhal hypersonic missiles. 

Russia was likely to target critical infrastructure, particularly the Kremenchuk Thermal Power Plant and oil refinery, which are both essential to Ukraine’s energy system and defense. The city lies on the Dnipro River and has important railway connections and major logistics hubs.

It is reported that energy and agricultural infrastructure facilities in six locations in Kremenchuk in Poltava Oblast were hit. Fires broke out due to direct strikes and falling debris, Liga.net reports. 

The attack rocked the Ukrainian city hours after Putin called Trump on his birthday to offer congratulations and discuss the situation in the Middle East and Ukraine. Their conversation lasted approximately one hour, according to Ukrainska Pravda. 

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According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russia launched 194 aerial weapons — 167 were neutralized: 119 were shot down, and 48 are considered lost over Ukrainian territory.

Among the downed targets were:

• 111 drones,
• Two Kinzhal hypersonic missiles,
• Three Iskander-K cruise missiles
• Three Kalibr cruise missiles.

The Ukrainian air defense regularly intercepts Russian aerial targets, but debris still scatters over the homes and apartments of civilians. No casualties have been reported after the aerial assault. 

That’s about four times more drones than Iran launched at Israel in attacks beginning on 13 June, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty writes. At the same time, US troops assisted Jerusalem in repelling Tehran’s assault.

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Despite the US’s absence, the Ramstein meeting on 4 June kicked off a new era of military aid for Ukraine, with billions in investments and joint weapons production.

Ramstein moves forward without the US 

For the first time since the group’s creation, the US Secretary of Defense was absent from the meeting. 

The Pentagon explained that Pete Hegseth had a tight schedule, writes ArmyInform. He also won’t attend today’s NATO–Ukraine Council meeting, although he did arrive for the NATO ministerial and attended the Alliance’s headquarters on the morning of 5 June.

Nevertheless, the meeting results demonstrate that the rest of the allies remain committed to supporting Ukraine militarily, as confirmed by the announcement of new aid packages.

Ukraine and allies won’t just share weapons

The central takeaway from the Contact Group meeting was the agreement to create a joint defense production mechanism. Ukraine’s Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said the concept came from partners offering to help establish defense production involving Ukrainian companies.

“Our partners are ready to fully finance the production, and the products made under Ukrainian licenses will be sent to Ukraine as long as the war continues,” he explained.

During the discussions, however, the plan evolved into mutual investment: Ukrainian manufacturers will be able to invest in partner countries, while companies from these countries will be able to build large-scale factories in Ukraine.

Umerov noted that the idea is still new, with details under discussion and no official name yet.

“We’re calling it ‘Ramstein investments in the defense industry,’ but this is a strategic breakthrough,” the minister emphasized.

There are already specific agreements on joint production:

• A Western European company announced it will produce modern anti-Shahed missiles in Ukraine,
• The UK and Ukraine will jointly manufacture LMM missiles and launchers,
• Rheinmetall is building cutting-edge Lynx combat vehicles in Ukraine,
• Ukrainian companies are producing ammunition under Nammo licenses,
• SAAB, Kongsberg, KNDS, FFG, and Raytheon are all expanding their presence in Ukraine.

The SAAB produces Gripen fighter jets, Raytheon manufactures Patriot missiles, the only type capable of intercepting Russia’s ballistic missiles, KNDS makes missiles for NASAMS, and FFG is notable for supplying military vehicles and equipment, including contributing Leopard 1A5 tanks. 

“Ukrainian drones have changed the situation on the battlefield, and now they will change how Ramstein countries prepare for future threats,” Umerov stated.

100,000 drones and a record £4.5 billion in aid

Before the session even began, London announced a new aid package with a special focus on drones: 100,000 drones for Ukraine’s Defense Forces by the end of 2025, ten times more than last year, with record investments of £350 million.

Additionally, 140,000 artillery shells have already been delivered. Another £247 million will go toward training Ukrainian troops as part of Operation Interflex, which has already trained 55,000 Ukrainian soldiers.

German long-range weapons to be built on Ukrainian soil

Germany, in turn, confirmed its previously announced €5 billion military aid package. It includes funding for long-range weapons to be produced in Ukraine, as well as the delivery of air defense systems, weapons, and ammunition.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius assured that supporting Ukraine remains a priority both for the new German government and for him personally.

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Support for Ukraine goes far beyond just two countries. The Netherlands is focusing on maritime security: €400 million will go toward a mine countermeasure ship, boats, and maritime drones for Ukraine.

Norway is prioritizing support for Ukraine’s defense industry, allocating $700 million for drones and contributing $50 million to the NSATU fund.

Canada will provide $45 million for drones, electronic warfare equipment, and will send Coyote and Bison armored vehicles to Ukraine.

Belgium, which hosted Ramstein for the second time, announced a long-term initiative — committing to €1 billion annually in aid to Ukraine through 2029 and the delivery of a mine countermeasure vessel.

Sweden allocated €440 million for international programs to purchase artillery shells, drones, and other weaponry for Ukraine.

The United States has refused to provide air defense support for a planned European “reassurance force” in postwar Ukraine, Bloomberg reports, citing people familiar with the matter.

European allies, particularly the UK and France, had sought a firm security guarantee from the US to back a proposed “reassurance force” that would deter Russia from violating any potential ceasefire. However, discussions with US counterparts revealed that President Donald Trump is unlikely to offer the military support they had hoped for, according to sources cited by Bloomberg. 

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer had emphasized the need for a US guarantee, stating in February:

“US security guarantee is the only way to effectively deter Russia from attacking Ukraine again.”

Nonetheless, the lack of US commitment has forced Europe to adjust its approach.

Shift in deterrence planning

Despite downgraded expectations, UK and French officials hope the US will continue providing intelligence and border surveillance, Bloomberg reports. Some European officials believe Trump might act if European troops are directly targeted by Russia, but sources suggest he will not commit such guarantees in writing.

European governments have adapted their strategy, now relying on a mix of Ukrainian forces, allied training, and European troops and aircraft stationed along NATO’s eastern flank. Regular patrols in the Black Sea are also being considered part of this new framework to deter Russian aggression.

Coalition development and limitations

The coalition being led by the UK and France aims to safeguard Ukraine’s airspace, coastline, and key infrastructure using European troops positioned away from the border. However, the entire plan is contingent upon a future peace deal, which European officials view as increasingly unlikely.

While the UK and France have finalized details of the force’s deployment and operation, Bloomberg reports that the initiative remains suspended until ceasefire negotiations resume.

Of the 30 nations participating in the coalition — including non-European countries such as Canada, Australia, Japan, and New Zealand — only fifteen have so far pledged military resources like aircraft and naval vessels. Even fewer have committed troops.

These aircraft rained death on Ukrainian cities — now they’re burning on their own airfields. On 1 June, Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) carried out a stunning special operation dubbed “Spiderweb,” destroying or disabling at least 41 Russian aircraft involved in massive airstrikes against Ukraine.

“There are aircraft that were burned, and others damaged beyond repair. For a long time, they won’t be able to carry out terrorist acts,” said Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yurii Ihnat.

Since 2022, the Russians have launched 2,437 Kh-101, Kh-555, and Kh-55 cruise missiles from these bombers, of which 1,916 were intercepted. However, more than 500 reached their targets.

“Russia also used Tu-22M3 bombers with Kh-22 and Kh-32 missiles. The Kh-22 is known as an ‘aircraft carrier killer’… the enemy used them to strike major cities. There were many casualties,” Ihnat adds. 

Russia has also launched over 400 Kh-22 missiles, and only a few were intercepted by air defenses. The missile carries a warhead weighing over 900 kg and is among the most powerful in Russia’s arsenal.

For instance, in 2025, Russia killed 14 civilians, including two children, with such missiles, demolishing a five-storey residential building in Poltava. No military targets were located in the area. 

In 2024, a missile of the same type broke a huge hole in the residential building in Dnipro, ruining a driveway and killing almost every civilian in it. 

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Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked SBU Chief Vasyl Maliuk for the operation’s results. He noted that the SBU’s operational office in Russian territory was located right next to a regional FSB headquarters. In total, 117 drones were used in the operation.

An explosion occurred at Kerch Strait Bridge this morning. Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) on 3 June confirmed it carried out an operation to damage the Kerch Bridge from below the waterline, marking the third time Ukrainian forces have struck the Russian-built structure connecting occupied Crimea with mainland Russia. 

According to the SBU, the operation targeted the underwater supports of the Crimean bridge—known by Russia as the Kerch bridge—with specially planted explosive devices. The agency reported that the attack was launched precisely at 4:44 a.m., damaging the bridge at the level of its underwater support pillars.

The explosives used amounted to 1100 kg in TNT equivalent, the SBU stated, describing the bridge as now in a critical or near-emergency condition. The SBU emphasized that the explosion caused no civilian casualties.

SBU head Vasyl Maliuk personally coordinated and supervised the planning and execution of the mission. He stated:

“God loves the Trinity (Ukrainian saying used when something occurs for the third time, – Ed.), and the SBU always finishes what it starts and never repeats itself. We struck the Crimean bridge twice before, in 2022 and 2023. Today, we continued that tradition—this time from underwater.”

Legitimate military target

Maliuk justified the strike as a response to Russia’s continued occupation of Ukrainian territory and the use of the bridge as a key supply route for Russian military operations in southern Ukraine.

“No illegal object of the Russian Federation has any place on the territory of our state,” he said. “The Crimean bridge is an entirely legal target, especially considering that the enemy used it as a logistical artery to supply its troops. Crimea is Ukraine, and any signs of occupation will be met with a tough response.”

Damage remains unverified

The full extent of the underwater damage has not yet been independently verified. However, the SBU’s statement indicates significant harm to the bridge’s structural supports at the seabed level. Russia has not yet commented on the event at the time of publication.

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Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) announced that its large-scale Spiderweb drone operation, that simultaneously targeted four Russian military airfields on 1 June, destroyed or damaged 41 strategic aircraft worth over $7 billion.

SBU Chief Vasyl Maliuk confirmed the operation struck the Belaya, Dyagilevo, Olenya, and Ivanovo airfields, located 2,000 (1242 miles) and over 4,000 km (2485 miles) from the frontline.

The strikes hit Russian aircraft, including A-50 early warning planes, Tu-95 and Tu-160 strategic bombers, and Tu-22 M3 medium-range bombers.

The operation destroyed 34% of Russia’s strategic cruise missile carriers used for attacks on Ukraine 

“The enemy bombed our state almost nightly with these aircraft, and today they truly felt that ‘retribution is inevitable […] We will respond to Russian terror and destroy the enemy everywhere – at sea, in the air, and on land. And if necessary – we’ll get them from underground too,” SBU Chief Vasyl Maliuk said.

Maliuk stated that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy personally monitored the operation’s progress and had tasked the SBU with destroying Russian bombers.

The operation required over 18 months of preparation and presented significant logistical challenges due to coordination across three time zones.

The SBU first transported FPV drones into Russian territory, followed by mobile wooden houses. The drones were concealed within these structures on cargo vehicles, with roofs designed to open remotely when activated.

“According to the laws and customs of war, we worked on absolutely legitimate targets – military airfields and aviation that bombs our peaceful cities. So from our side, this is real demilitarization of Russia, as we destroy precisely military targets,” Maliuk added.

The security service emphasized that all personnel involved in the operation have returned safely to Ukraine. 

Earlier, satellite images, captured by American aerospace company Umbra Space, revealed extensive destruction of Russian strategic bombers at the Belaya air base in Irkutsk Oblast, over 4,000 km from Ukraine. Satellite data confirmed the destruction of multiple Tu-95MS and Tu-22M3 bombers.

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Chairman of the Ukrainian Parliament, Ruslan Stefanchuk, has called Ukraine’s unique special operation targeting Russian airfields “a modern version of the Budapest Memorandum.”

“Meticulous work. Impressive results,” Ruslan Stefanchuk writes on social media, assessing the scale of the Web operation on Russian territory.

Thanks to President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Head of the Security Service of Ukraine Vasyl Maliuk, and everyone involved in this operation for ensuring the non-nuclear status of the aggressor state, Stefanchuk adds.

He emphasizes that for those fighting for their land, no goals are too distant.

On 1 June, the Security Service of Ukraine and Defense Intelligence conducted the unprecedented “Web” operation, during which FPV-drones were brought to Russia in trucks and released from them to target four Russian airfields: Byelaya, Dyagilevo, Olenya, and Ivanovo.

As a result, over 40 Russian aircraft were damaged, including the A-50 reconnaissance plane and strategic bombers Tu-95 and Tu-22M3.

Preparation for the operation took over one and a half years. President Zelenskyy personally oversaw the operation, while Head of the SBU Vasyl Maliuk and his team managed its execution. 

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For Russia, a war is more important than the welfare of its people. At the Security Cooperation Forum in Vienna, Lieutenant Colonel Joby Rimmer, senior military advisor to the UK delegation at the OSCE, stressed that Russia’s aggression is having catastrophic effects on its economy, UkrInform reports. 

He highlighted that international sanctions have cost Russia approximately $450 billion in revenue from its energy sector. Additionally, two-thirds of the liquid assets in Russia’s National Wealth Fund have already been depleted.

The Central Bank of Russia’s key interest rate has surged to 21%, signaling a deep financial crisis.

Rimmer noted that 40% of Russia’s 2025 budget is allocated to defense spending, marking the first time since the Soviet era that defense expenditures have surpassed social spending.

He emphasized that the Kremlin is deliberately prioritizing war over the well-being of its own population, a decision driving the country toward impoverishment.

Despite official claims of seeking “peace,” Russia continues intense airstrikes against Ukrainian cities, clear evidence of its lack of genuine intent to negotiate, the British official said.

The UK’s position remains firm: Russia’s invasion is a blatant violation of international law, and support for Ukraine will continue until its sovereignty is fully restored, he added. 

On 27 May, Ukraine’s Defense Ministry announced that the United Kingdom will allocate funding from the ERA (Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration) initiative to support Ukraine’s military needs. Under this agreement, Ukraine is set to receive $3 billion over 2025–2026. The funds originate from excess profits generated by frozen Russian assets.

The Ministry reported that the agreement was signed by First Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine Serhii Boiev and Deputy Minister of Strategic Industries of Ukraine Davyd Aloian. Representing the United Kingdom, Major General Anna-Lee Reilly, Director Strategic Capability, Engagement and Operations at the UK Ministry of Defence, signed the agreement.

Funding targets defense procurement and repairs

Ukraine’s Defense Ministry detailed that the funding will be used for:

• Procurement of defense products manufactured abroad;
• Repair and maintenance of military equipment;
• Joint projects between Ukrainian and international defense companies;
• Procurement of critically essential materials, including items made in Ukraine.

According to Boiev, the use of Russian-origin profits for defense purposes is “not only valuable in practical terms, but also as a matter of principle.” He stated:

“The use of excess profits from Russian assets to reinforce Ukraine’s defense is a just response to aggression and an acknowledgement of Ukraine’s right to self-defense.”

Ukraine seeks to unlock production potential

Deputy Minister Davyd Aloian emphasized the importance of the funding in activating domestic capacity:

“Ukrainian enterprises have a production capacity of $35 billion, but insufficient funding prevents their full utilization. Therefore, leveraging excess profits generated from frozen Russian assets will significantly boost the production and repair capacities of Ukraine’s defense industry.”

The Ukrainian side thanked the United Kingdom for providing the financial support and for backing Ukraine’s armament production efforts.

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