Zelenskyy says he spoke with UK’s Starmer on diplomatic efforts, air defence
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has simply mentioned he has spoken with Britain’s prime minister Keir Starmer, discussing “joint diplomatic efforts” and plans for a gathering of the “Coalition of the Keen” in Rome “in a number of days.”
“We’re working to make sure the selections made are as sturdy as doable,” he mentioned.
In an replace on his Telegram and X accounts, Zelenskyy additionally mentioned Starmer additionally expressed his condolences over persevering with Russian assaults on Ukraine as the 2 mentioned what else may be carried out to help Ukraine.
“We additionally mentioned extra funding to be offered this month for Ukraine’s home drone manufacturing, primarily interceptor drones,” he mentioned.
Zelenskyy added that the pair additionally “agreed to work on strengthening different codecs of cooperation with key companions as effectively, significantly the Ramstein format,” with deal with defending lives of Ukrainians in opposition to on-going assaults by Russia.
Key occasions
EU’s von der Leyen to face movement of censure in opposition to her fee
Jennifer Rankin
Nearly one 12 months since being re-elected to guide the European Fee, Ursula von der Leyen, has to elucidate herself earlier than the European parliament this week.
The European Fee president will seem earlier than MEPs in a while Monday at a debate on a movement of censure introduced in opposition to her fee.
The censure vote, which can happen on Thursday, has no likelihood of passing, however might reveal discontent about her manner of operating the fee and aloofness from the parliament, the EU’s solely immediately elected establishment.
The movement of censure is ostensibly about von der Leyen’s refusal to share textual content messages she exchanged with the boss of Pfizer whereas negotiating multi-billion contracts for Covid vaccines. It was tabled by Romanian nationalist MEP Gheorghe Piperea, who secured the required 72 signatures (10% of the chamber) to get the movement on the agenda. In concept, it might convey down the complete fee management.
However to go it might want two-thirds of votes forged, representing a majority of the 720 MEPs. That’s not going to occur. The European Individuals’s Get together, von der Leyen’s political household oppose the “irresponsible” movement, as do Socialists, Liberals and Greens, who voted for the fee president final 12 months.
However the vote reveals the heft of the nationalist and much proper to set the agenda – the far-right Patriots for Europe may be anticipated to vote in opposition to von der Leyen. It additionally might reveal discontent with von der Leyen from the political mainstream. Asserting its intention to vote in opposition to the movement, a spokesperson from the centrist Renew group attacked the “intolerable mishmash” of allegations, however mentioned they hoped von der Leyen “will get this message that you simply can not govern with the novel proper”.
The Fee president and EPP group have been accused of transferring too near the best on points reminiscent of migration and local weather, in addition to in votes within the European parliament.
For its half, the EPP has described the vote as “extremely irresponsible” in a time of rising geopolitical stress.
With battle in Ukraine, battle within the Center East and humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, the local weather disaster, to not point out a doable commerce battle with the US looming, it appears possible that von der Leyen will seek advice from that turbulent context when she meets MEPs later.
Jakub Krupa
Since we’re speaking concerning the EU and private dramas…
Let’s hear from our Brussels correspondent Jennifer Rankin on what’s going to occur in Strasbourg tonight as the European Fee president, Ursula von der Leyen, faces a debate on a vote of no-confidence for her cupboard, which is predicted later this week.
Eire’s Donohoe re-elected as Eurogroup president
And simply as anticipated (15:20), Eire’s Paschal Donohoe has simply been confirmed for a 3rd time period as Eurogroup president.
Right here is the official assertion, launched moments in the past:
The Eurogroup has right this moment elected by consensus, Paschal Donohoe, Minister for Finance of Eire, as its President for a 3rd time period. His new time period, lasting two and a half years, will start on 13 July 2025.
“It has been an incredible honour and privilege to function President of the Eurogroup since 2020. I’m very grateful to my fellow ministers for the belief they’ve positioned in me to proceed main our necessary work for a 3rd time period.
As I promised to ministers in 2020, I’ve been – and can stay – a real and sincere dealer in our negotiations, making certain that every one voices and positions are taken under consideration.
Within the face of great geopolitical adjustments, the euro space has confirmed to be very resilient. It will likely be my activity to additional strengthen our widespread foreign money space and facilitate tangible progress on our key work streams throughout this subsequent mandate – from budgetary coordination to the Capital Markets Union, and from the digital euro to the Banking Union.
A stronger and extra aggressive euro space will reinforce the worldwide position of the euro, additional improve our resilience and prosperity to the good thing about our residents.”
Paschal Donohoe, President of the Eurogroup
The President has been in workplace since 13 July 2020.
Zelenskyy says he spoke with UK’s Starmer on diplomatic efforts, air defence
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has simply mentioned he has spoken with Britain’s prime minister Keir Starmer, discussing “joint diplomatic efforts” and plans for a gathering of the “Coalition of the Keen” in Rome “in a number of days.”
“We’re working to make sure the selections made are as sturdy as doable,” he mentioned.
In an replace on his Telegram and X accounts, Zelenskyy additionally mentioned Starmer additionally expressed his condolences over persevering with Russian assaults on Ukraine as the 2 mentioned what else may be carried out to help Ukraine.
“We additionally mentioned extra funding to be offered this month for Ukraine’s home drone manufacturing, primarily interceptor drones,” he mentioned.
Zelenskyy added that the pair additionally “agreed to work on strengthening different codecs of cooperation with key companions as effectively, significantly the Ramstein format,” with deal with defending lives of Ukrainians in opposition to on-going assaults by Russia.
Russian minister kills himself hours after being dismissed by Putin
In the meantime over in Russia, the nation’s former transport minister Roman Starovoyt reportedly killed himself hours after being formally dismissed by president Vladimir Putin, businesses reported.
Authorities mentioned Starovoyt’s physique was present in a Moscow suburb after the dismissal was introduced with “suicide” being thought of because the most certainly reason behind loss of life.
AFP notes that Starovoyt’s firing got here after one other weekend of journey chaos at Russian airports following Ukrainian drone assaults. Greater than 240 flights had been delayed, and 160 had been cancelled because of disruptions.
Certainly one of Starovoyt’s deputies and the previous governon of Russia’s Novgorod area, Andrei Nikitin, was appointed as appearing transport minister.
Ukraine says it hit Russia’s chemical plant concerned in drone manufacturing
Again to Ukraine, the nation’s navy mentioned it had struck a chemical plant in Russia’s Moscow area that manufactures explosives, ammunition and thermobaric warheads for Shahed assault drones.
“A collection of explosions had been recorded within the space of the town of Krasnozavodsk and the motion of fireplace vans in neighbouring settlements,” Kyiv’s Basic Employees mentioned in a press release on the Telegram messaging web site, reported by Reuters, including that the ultimate outcomes of the strike had been nonetheless being clarified.
They added:
“The Defence Forces proceed to take measures to undermine the offensive potential of the Russian occupiers and power the Russian Federation to cease its armed aggression in opposition to Ukraine.”
Eire’s Donohoe heading in the right direction to be re-elected Eurogroup president
In the meantime in Brussels, the Eurogroup – a casual physique of eurozone finance ministers – seems to be set to re-elect the Irish finance minister Paschal Donohoe as its head after his rivals reportedly determined to drop out from the race.
Earlier right this moment, Spanish newspaper El Mundo reported the nation’s economic system minister Carlos Cuerpo was planning to withdraw after concluding he wouldn’t get the votes essential to be elected.
Arriving in Brussels, Cuerpo confirmed the report, saying that after conversations with fellow eurozone ministers over the weekend, he concluded he had no likelihood of successful and wished to “keep away from the fragmentation” of the group.
Shortly afterwards, Lithuania’s Rimantas Šadžius declared himself out of the race too.
The Lithuanian mentioned it was “an honour” to be concerned within the race coming from a rustic that launched the euro solely 10 years in the past – and Šadžius was the nation’s finance minister on the time, too – however he insisted that the eurogroup “ought to work on the premise of consensus,” and that ought to information the selection of the following president.
“Right now we will select the following president, for the following two and a half years, by consensus as effectively,” he mentioned.
That leaves Donohoe the clear favorite to get the nod for an additional, third time period later right this moment.
Macron’s UK state go to underlines effort to maneuver on from Brexit nightmare
Angelique Chrisafis
Later this week, UK prime minister Keir Starmer and French president Emmanuel Macron will lead a working session with leaders of the international locations collaborating within the coalition of the keen that continues supporting Ukraine in its battle in opposition to Russia.
The on-line assembly will happen on Thursday, as a part of Macron’s state go to to the UK, which begins tomorrow.
The sturdy Franco-British unity on show is seen as essential at a time of battle in Ukraine and the Center East and confronted with the unpredictability of the US president.
Our Paris correspondent Angelique Chrisafis appeared on the preparations for the go to in her evaluation right here.
When Emmanuel Macron rides in a horse-drawn carriage to Windsor Fort this week, will probably be to have a good time the return of shut political relations between London and Paris, drawing a line beneath the damaging spats of the Brexit years.
The French president’s workplace mentioned the “shared pursuits” of the 2 international locations had been what mattered now, hailing France and the UK’s “important” shut relationship on the worldwide stage. This reinvigorated cross-Channel bond was “very important”, a UK official mentioned.
For Paris, it’s symbolic that Macron is the primary European chief to be invited for a pomp-filled state go to to the UK since Brexit.
Russia claims first foothold in new Ukraine area
Again to Ukraine, Russia claimed it captured its first village in Ukraine’s central Dnipropetrovsk area after grinding in direction of the border for months, dealing a physchological blow for Kyiv as its worries mount, AFP reported.
The Russian defence ministry mentioned its forces captured the village of Dachne within the Dnipropetrovsk area, an necessary industrial mining territory that has additionally come beneath mounting Russian air assaults.
Russian forces seem to have made crossing the border a key strategic goal over latest months, and deeper advances into the area might pose logistics and financial issues for Kyiv, the company famous.
However Ukraine has thus far denied any Russian foothold in Dnipropetrovsk, and its military mentioned earlier on Monday that its forces “repelled” assaults in Dnipropetrovsk, together with “within the neighborhood” of Dachne.
EU requires ‘shut coordination’ between international locations affected by reintroduction of border controls
The fee additionally addressed the reintroduction of Polish border controls with Germany and Lithuania, confirming at its noon media briefing that it had acquired a proper notification from Poland on Friday.
EU spokesperson Markus Lammert confirmed that “reintroducing non permanent inside border controls is feasible topic to sure situations, as set out in EU laws, and particularly within the Schengen borders code.”
He added the transfer requires “shut coordination at EU stage, and particularly with all member states involved,” and mentioned the EU was in shut contact with all events.
“It’s necessary, let me add, that that neighbouring international locations with non permanent border controls coordinate carefully with one another to restrict the impression of those border controls to a minimal, together with as regards clean site visitors flows.”
EU’s von der Leyen spoke with US president Trump on commerce over weekend, work in direction of 9 July deadline, fee says
In the meantime over in Brussels, European Fee spokesperson Stefan de Keersmaecker confirmed that fee president Ursula von der Leyen spoke with US president Donald Trump on Sunday and they’d “a great alternate,” with out going into additional particulars.
EU’s commerce spokesperson Olof Gill provided a bit extra color, stressing “the EU has been utterly unflinching and unchanging in its place.”
We wish to attain a take care of the US. We wish to keep away from tariffs. We imagine they trigger ache. We wish to obtain win-win outcomes, not lose-lose outcomes.
He added that EU’s commerce commissioner Maroš Šefčovič made “substantial progress” throughout his conferences in Washington DC final week, and the state of talks was mentioned with member states on Friday, “as we have now carried out systematically and in depth in any respect levels on this sorry saga.”
“We now have been persevering with political and technical stage contact with the US on substance, our purpose stays to seek out an settlement earlier than 9 July at current.”
The spokesperson additionally declined to answer feedback by US officers over the weekend.
EU border controls essential to cease Belarus, Russia-inspired irregular migration flows, Tusk says
Polish prime minister Donald Tusk has simply been talking concerning the border scenario at a joint press convention with Dutch prime minister, Dick Schoof.
He repeated Poland’s primary argument that irregular migration flows in Europe had been “organised by hostile powers, let’s name them for what they’re, primarily by the Lukashenko regime [in Belarus], but additionally supported by Putin’s administration” in Russia.
He mentioned that the Polish border guard’s closely militarised operation on the border with Belarus stops 98% of all makes an attempt to cross into border, however he warned “all of it gained’t make any sense if different exterior borders of the EU gained’t be as tightly guarded.”
Tusk careworn that the choice to reintroduce controls with Lithuania are supposed to catch all instances the place somebody fails to get into Poland from Belarus, however succeeds to undergo the Baltics as an alternative.
He additionally provided a bit extra element on the 4 Afghan residents stopped in a single day on the Polish-Lithuanian border (12:05), saying that they’d been beforehand registered as trying the unlawful crossing from Belarus.
The Polish prime minister additionally repeated his thinly veiled criticism of Germany, saying the brand new controls will enable the Polish authorities to rigorously scrutinise each case of a suspected irregular migrant being turned away by the German border power and pushed again into Poland.
“It should now not be the case that anybody who has crossed the border illegally, and whose documentation is incomplete or unclear, will likely be despatched to Poland from anyplace – whether or not from Germany or some other nation.”
He then added:
“We’re doing this for you: for the Germans, the Dutch, the French, as a result of it’s the border of the European Union,” he insisted.
“I actually need Europe to grasp why we, supporters of Schengen, of Europe with out borders … need to partially reintroduce controls on the border.”
Poland introduces border controls with Germany, Lithuania
Poland has launched border controls with Germany and Lithuania in a bid to deal with rising worries about irregular migration by way of the nation, which Warsaw says is impressed by Russia and Belarus.
Asserting the transfer final week, Poland’s prime minister Donald Tusk mentioned that the latest coverage shift in Germany had positioned undue stress on Poland to simply accept people denied entry on the German border.
In remarks initially of the weekly cupboard assembly, Tusk blamed Germany for the transfer, accusing it of a coverage shift leading to “successfully refusing entry … to migrants who’re heading to Germany to use for asylum or different types of standing”.
“With no border checks on the Polish aspect, it turns into tough to find out whether or not these being returned or redirected to Poland ought to be despatched there,” he mentioned.
Polish inside minister Tomasz Siemoniak defended the transfer this morning saying it was justified by what authorities see on the border.
Poland has lengthy been warning in opposition to what it says is a Russian-Belarusian marketing campaign to destabilise the European Union by incentivising irregular migration by way of the bloc’s japanese borders with Belarus.
He instructed non-public broadcaster TVN24:
“We should take very clear motion in a scenario the place the German aspect, on one hand, doesn’t admit … migrants and doesn’t topic them to the readmission process, and then again, because of the tightening of our Polish-Belarusian border, (…) we’re seeing a major enhance in unlawful migrants crossing the border into Lithuania, Latvia, after which touring to Poland.”
Siemoniak added that minutes earlier than the controls kicked in at midnight, the Polish border guard stopped an Estonian man trying to smuggle 4 folks, possible Afghan residents, throughout the border with out the required paperwork.
By the top of June this 12 months, 412 folks have been detained on the Polish-Lithuanian border – simply wanting the overall for the complete 12 months of 2024, which was 432. Greater than 15,000 folks tried to cross the Polish-Belarusian border illegally, in response to official figures.
800 extra border guards, 300 law enforcement officials, and over 500 members of the territorial defence forces had been despatched to implement the brand new measures.
The measure, launched after a collection of far-right-inspired protests alongside the border, was initially launched for 30 days, however Siemoniak mentioned, “If Germans don’t take away their controls, we’ll proceed with ours too.”
Zelenskyy mentioned changing Ukraine ambassador to US with Trump, Bloomberg says
Again to Ukraine, Bloomberg Information (£) has simply reported that Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned changing the present ambassador to the US throughout his telephone name with President Donald Trump on Friday.
Bloomberg reported that Ukraine’s prime minister Denys Shmyhal is excessive on the checklist of potential candidates, with another senior figures reminiscent of his deputy Olha Stefanishyna and defence minister Rustem Umerov additionally believed to be into consideration.
Paris reopens Seine River to public swimming after century-long ban
Kate Connolly
Parisians and vacationers flocked to take a dip in the Seine River this weekend after metropolis authorities gave the inexperienced gentle for it for use for public swimming for the primary time in additional than a century.
The opening adopted a complete clean-up programme sped up by its use as a venue in final 12 months’s Paris Olympics after individuals who recurrently swam in it illegally lobbied for its transformation.
The outgoing mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, additionally helped to champion the plans, leaping within the river herself earlier than the Olympics.
About 1,000 swimmers a day will likely be allowed entry to 3 bathing websites on the banks of the Seine free of charge, till the top of August.
Zakynthos hit by earthquake, with no accidents reported
The Greek island of Zakynthos was hit by a 4.1 magnitude earthquake in a single day, Kathimerini reported.
No accidents or vital harm had been reported, it added.
The paper famous that “Zakynthos was all however destroyed in a 6.8 magnitude tremor in 1953.”
Recent scandal hits Spain’s ruling celebration as official quits over sexual harassment claims
Sam Jones
in Madrid
Pedro Sánchez’s efforts to reset Spain’s ruling socialist celebration after damaging corruption allegations that threatened to topple his coalition authorities have suffered a extreme setback over the weekend after a celebration official resigned over accusations of sexual harassment.
The prime minister had hoped this weekend’s assembly of the federal committee of his Spanish Socialist Employees’ celebration (PSOE) would assist the celebration transfer previous weeks of scandals which have undermined the moral and anti-corruption pledges on which it got here to energy seven years in the past.
However such hopes had been flattened late on Friday evening after the net newspaper elDiario revealed allegations from various feminine PSOE staff who mentioned they’d been subjected to sexual harassment by Francisco Salazar, who oversaw institutional coordination on the Moncloa palace, the workplace and official residence of the prime minister.
The accusations prompted Salazar to announce on Saturday that he was stepping down from that submit and from his new position as a deputy within the PSOE’s organisational secretariat.
He instructed elDiario he couldn’t recall any inappropriate interactions. “I’ve racked my brains over it and it appears mind-boggling to me,” he mentioned. “I maintain questioning if I’ve screwed up and mentioned one thing inappropriate to a workmate, and the reality is, I can’t discover [an example].”
Sources at Moncloa, in Madrid, mentioned an investigation had been launched, however added that no official complaints had thus far been made in opposition to Salazar.
On Saturday, Sánchez apologised once more for what he referred to as his misplaced confidence in these accused of wrongdoing, including: “I used to be mistaken to position my belief in individuals who didn’t deserve it, however we gained’t fall quick in a time of democratic regeneration.”
The prime minister, who’s beneath rising stress to name a snap election, mentioned he had no intention of stepping down.
Zelenskyy tells companions to ‘fulfil the whole lot we agreed on’ as he seeks extra air defence for Ukraine
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has now responded to the in a single day assaults on Ukraine, ramping up stress on the US and European allies to assist with air defence techniques.
“We very a lot anticipate that our companions will fulfil the whole lot we agreed on. Air defence is the principle factor for shielding life,” he mentioned.
Zelenskyy added that Ukraine was creating investments plans to extend its personal weapon manufacturing, together with “all sorts of drones,” and with “particular consideration paid to interceptor drones.”
Morning opening: What’s subsequent for Ukraine?
Jakub Krupa
At the least 4 folks had been killed and greater than 30 injured in one other spherical of Russian strikes on Ukraine in a single day, simply days after a collection of telephone calls between US president Donald Trump, Russian president Vladimir Putin, and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The most recent assault will as soon as once more pose questions on what’s subsequent for Ukraine because the US ceasefire proposal, pursued by Trump, seems to be failing to make any additional progress.
Zelenskyy’s high aide Andriy Yermak mentioned in an replace on Telegram that “one of many necessary ideas of defence is the destruction of the enemy’s skill to provide weapons,” as he referred to as for “Russia’s military-industrial complicated … to be weakened in varied methods: from sanctions to direct strikes.”
The western world should realise that Russia’s scaling up of weapons manufacturing solely brings us nearer to the day when will probably be used not solely in opposition to Ukraine.
Elsewhere, some components of Europe nonetheless battles heatwave with temperatures near 40 Celsius in Greece, whereas others in central and japanese Europe are on alert for storms and torrential rains.
In Strasbourg, the European parliament will maintain a debate forward of this Thursday’s vote of no confidence in Ursula von der Leyen’s EU fee.
We’re additionally ready for extra updates from EU-US commerce talks, and on the most recent scenario on the Polish border with Germany after Poland has reintroduced controls in a single day in an try to forestall irregular migration.I’ll convey you all of the updates from Ukraine and throughout Europe right here.
It’s Monday, 7 July 2025, it’s Jakub Krupa right here, and that is Europe Stay.
Good morning.
