Back to Brussels, opening the Ukraine Defense Contact Group’s meeting, UK defence secretary John Healey confirmed UK plans on drone deliveries for Ukraine.
More broadly, he spoke about the need to continue supporting Ukraine as he stressed “this is not just Ukraine’s battle,” but “for the security of Europe, for our security today, tomorrow and for our future generations.”
Key events
The European Commission proposed on Wednesday extending temporary protection for Ukrainians who have sought refuge in the European Union until March 2027, underlining the need for flexibility as Russia’s war in Ukraine drags on.
The Commission, the EU’s executive body, also proposed steps to help displaced Ukrainians return home when the war eventually ends.
EU figures show more than 4.25 million people who have fled Ukraine benefit from the bloc’s Temporary Protection Directive, a measure to help cope with mass arrivals of displaced persons that was activated after Russia’s 2022 invasion.
The directive, which was due to expire in March 2026 and has already been extended three times, provides protection and benefits lasting for one to three years across the EU, including a residence permit, access to employment and social welfare.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, said on Wednesday he met US secretary of state Marco Rubio in Washington DC during his visit there.
“We discussed the situation at the frontline and the need to strengthen support for Ukraine in the area of air defence,” he wrote on Telegram.
“We also shared our views on the meeting with the Russians in Istanbul, the further course of negotiations, the upcoming exchange of prisoners, and the importance of returning all hostages and children abducted by Russia.”
German chancellor Friedrich Merz will tell US president Donald Trump on his upcoming visit that Europe is firmly on Ukraine’s side in its war with Russia and that no chance for peace must be passed up, Germany’s foreign minister said on Wednesday.
“Europe expects us, the United States and Europe, to bring Russia to the negotiating table. This opportunity for peace must not be missed. And this war must finally be brought to a just end,” Johann Wadephul said at a news conference with his Polish counterpart.
Talks between Russia and Ukraine in Turkey were sobering, German foreign minister Johann Wadephul said on Wednesday, adding Germany was pushing for new sanctions against Moscow which should be coordinated with the United States.
“What we experienced at the recent talks in Istanbul is sobering. The Russian side presented nothing more than familiar maximum demands. A willingness to engage in dialogue looks different,” Wadephul said at a news conference with his Polish counterpart.
“We are pushing for an 18th package of sanctions as quickly as possible,” he said.
Russia’s top state investigator said on Wednesday that Ukraine’s security services blew up bridges at the weekend in Bryansk and Kursk regions, crimes that he said killed seven people and injured 115 others.
Alexander Bastrykin, the head of Russia’s investigative committee, said that the controlling devices for the bombs were manufactured in Ukraine. The explosives were foreign made, he said.
Bastrykin said the attacks were acts of terror. Ukraine has not commented on the train attacks.
Vladimir Putin also said that the attacks on bridges were terrorist attacks aimed at wrecking the peace talks.
“They are asking for a summit meeting. But how can such meetings be held in these conditions? What is there to talk about? How can we negotiate with those who rely on terror?” Putin said.
Russia should not fall for Ukraine’s criminal provocations, and should use negotiations and all means to achieve the goals of the military operation in Ukraine, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday.
After Lavrov’s remarks, President Vladimir Putin said: “I agree with this.”
Jakub Krupa
… and on that note it’s all from me, Jakub Krupa, but Tom Ambrose is here to offer you more detail on Ukraine talks when we have it and guide you through the afternoon.
We are now getting some further updates from the latest round of talks between Russia and Ukraine.
Reuters is carrying updates with Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov saying “there was a real move forward” on certain issues, and adding that “all means, including negotiations, should be used to achieve goals of the military operation in Ukraine.”
Head of the Russian delegation Vladimir Medinsky is quoted as offering more detail on the two sides returning prisoners of war – up to 1,200 on each side – and bodies of killed servicemen.
He also said that Russia was “working on returning children to Ukraine”, with a list of 339 names.
But the two sides appear to still be divided on the suggestion of an immediate unconditional ceasefire, which the Russian side reportedly rejected and put forward a two-three days break instead.
We will bring you more detail on their comments when we have it.
Back to Brussels, opening the Ukraine Defense Contact Group’s meeting, UK defence secretary John Healey confirmed UK plans on drone deliveries for Ukraine.
More broadly, he spoke about the need to continue supporting Ukraine as he stressed “this is not just Ukraine’s battle,” but “for the security of Europe, for our security today, tomorrow and for our future generations.”
Why Geert Wilders’ plan to become Netherlands leader may well backfire – analysis
Jon Henley
It is a gamble that Geert Wilders may live to regret. Increasingly frustrated by his coalition partners’ unwillingness to embrace his promised “strictest asylum policy in Europe”, the Dutch far-right leader brought down the government.
Wilders’ calculation, if it is more than a fit of political pique, appears simple: if he can turn this autumn’s snap elections into a referendum on immigration and asylum, his Freedom party (PVV) can win it – and he might even become the Netherlands’ prime minister.
The plan, however, may well backfire, and for several reasons. Wilders has seriously alienated potential new coalition partners. The political landscape has changed. And polls suggest immigration and asylum are no longer voters’ biggest concern.
Read the full analysis:
Jakub Krupa
Let’s turn to our Europe correspondent Jon Henley for the latest on the Dutch government crisis I referenced earlier.
Zelenskyy proposes Ukraine ceasefire anticipating leaders meeting
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy proposed implementing a ceasefire until such time as a meeting can be arranged with Russian president Vladimir Putin, Reuters reported.
“My proposal, which I believe our partners can support, is that we propose to Russians a ceasefire until the leaders meet,” he told a briefing in Kyiv.
2 June peace talks with Russia in Istanbul made little progress toward ending the three-year-old war in Ukraine, apart from an exchange of proposals and a plan for a major swap of prisoners of war, which Zelenskyy said would take place this weekend.
Separately, he suggested that Russia is only holding talks on ending the war to try to convince US president Donald Trump to delay fresh sanctions over its invasion, AFP reported.
“They did it to demonstrate to the United States of America that they are constructive,” Zelensky told reporters in Kyiv. “Why? To have a delay, which depends on President Trump personally: whether or not to postpone the imposition of sanctions,” Zelenskyy said.
The latest to arrive, Dutch defence minister Ruben Brekelmans opts to speak in English as he seeks to reassure reporters that despite the ongoing political crisis, the Dutch government will continue to support Ukraine with new investments in maritime security, among others.
He says:
“We in the Netherlands have a new political situation since yesterday, but regarding international security, regarding defence, our support to Ukraine, the position of the Dutch government will remain the same.
Our efforts will remain the same.
So basically, we will continue business as usual you could say, because, of course, the international threats are still the same.
And in order to protect ourselves and to strengthen both the military and our alliance, we need to continue the important work we do.”
Lithuania’s defence minister welcomes ‘good news’ of Ukrainian attack on Russian airbase
Lithuanian defence minister Dovilė Šakalienė expressed approval of Ukraine’s recent strike on a Russian airbase over the weekend, noting the timing coincided with her birthday.
“Well, it was my birthday actually, on 1 June, so it was very good news,” she said, beaming.
Šakalienė also said that 2032 would be way too late as the target date for Nato members to increase spending, saying that she wouldn’t be satisfied even with 2030 and more needs to be done earlier.
“Is it really that difficult to understand that it doesn’t really matter how much you invest if it is too late?
For, I don’t know, a cancer patient, it’s not really important if he will get treatment in two years, or in three years if he’s going to be dead (by then). He has to get better treatment right now.”
She also stressed the need to continue supporting Ukraine, explaining that:
If we fail with support to Ukraine, then Russia and China’s coordinated action globally will actually sow such level of chaos and discord that we won’t be able to restore our world order ever.
Arriving in Brussels, German defence minister Boris Pistorius criticised Russia for continuing “massive” attacks on Ukraine intended to “undermine the morale of the Ukrainian population and break their will to resist.”
He said that it was increasingly clear that Russia could not achieve its aims through this aggression as he stressed the need to continue supporting Ukraine, including finding more air defences for Ukraine.
Pistorius was also asked about the decision of US defense secretary Pete Hegseth not to attend, and he said that European countries – in particular Germany and the UK – will take over the leading role in the group and “structure it a little differently.”
But he stressed that Hegseth will still be here tomorrow, for Nato meeting, and there is a US representation at a different level, too.