The delays in deliveries of Patriot interceptor missiles, the continued restrictions on access to Starlink for Ukrainian soldiers and the unjustified interruption of alerts on Russian missile launches. The situation described by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in a video call with a bipartisan representation of American representatives of Congress, is - he says - "the most difficult since the beginning of this war". The Pope calls Zelensky after the phone call with Putin and insists on the "serious situation" in Oleshky, a Ukrainian town on the front line for which he calls for "a humanitarian truce and the collaboration of both sides to allow the arrival of aid and the evacuation of the population". Kiev says that a plan is being studied with Moscow to evacuate the almost 2,000 trapped civilians. The Tsar meanwhile proposed a three-way summit with Trump and Xi to end the war on Moscow's terms at the Apec summit in November in Shenzhen. Ukraine complains that it was not warned by the US of the missiles that rained down on the capital during the night and that in various sectors of the front the connection to Starlink continues to be "limited". Raid on a playground in Kharkiv, 6 dead including 3 children.
US President Donald Trump's envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, will fly to St. Petersburg, Russia tomorrow to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in his hometown. This was reported by the New York Times, according to which the talks could also include the release of an American citizen detained in Russia, as part of the Trump administration's efforts to favor an agreement with Moscow.
The only American citizen that the State Department classifies as "unjustly detained" in Russia is Stephen Hubbard, accused by Moscow of having fought as a mercenary alongside Ukraine. Hubbard, who is about 75 years old, was arrested in 2022 and sentenced to more than six years to be served in a penal colony.
The mission of the American emissaries to Russia would take place after today in Oslo Kushner and Witkoff met, together with the leaders of Norway and Finland, the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky.
US Vice President JD Vance, in an interview with 2way Tonight, said that "in a certain sense, Ukraine is certainly a partner but I think sometimes we have divergences of interests." “For example,” he said, “do I think they should bomb Russian diesel plants, which increases the cost of energy for Americans? No. But, of course, we cooperate with them on some issues and will continue to cooperate. But I think they should stop bombing Russian power plants.” Asked whether the concept of "partner" was less narrow than that of "ally," Vance responded that the United States "does not have an official alliance with Ukraine." "They are not part of NATO - he explained - I don't think they should be part of it. I think it is a very respectable country, a beautiful country with many extraordinary people. We will cooperate on some issues, but we will also have opposing positions on others".
“Relations between Russia and the United States are “compromised for decades to come,” said Security Council Deputy Chairman and former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, commenting on US President Donald Trump's suspension of the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act. “This law (the Graham Act) is absolutely illegal from the point of view of the fundamental principles of international law and represents an unlawful violation of the rights of Russia and Russian citizens, which can even be classified as an act of genocide,” Medvedev wrote on the platform Max. "The decisions to freeze the application of some of its parts (the so-called waiver) will turn into a ten-year series of attempts at blackmail and bargaining with Russia on various issues - wrote Medvedev - I remember how Trump's 'best friend', (former president) Obama, in some conversations with me, took credit for having implemented the 'waiver' provided for by the infamous Jackson-Vanik law, and then for having repealed it. This happened 35 years after its approval." "We must admit that relations between Russia and the United States are again compromised for the next decades. We have been, are and will remain systemic adversaries,” the former Russian president said.
The Finnish president, Alexander Stubb, will also participate in meetings in Oslo with the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, the Norwegian prime minister, Jonas Gahr Store, and European representatives to discuss the war in Ukraine and European security. US President Donald Trump's envoys will also take part in the talks.
Stubb said the focus of the meetings would be "Russia's illegal war of aggression against Ukraine and the overall security situation in Europe."
Zelensky asked Norway and Finland to organize the meeting as part of ongoing diplomatic efforts, at a crucial time for Ukraine, as Store highlighted. A press conference is expected at the end of the talks.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed strong bitterness over Washington's recent decisions, while reiterating his gratitude towards the American people. In an interview with Corriere della Sera, the head of state denounced that the restrictions decided by the USA are now concrete: "The limitations on the sharing of intelligence and the reduction in the speed of Starlink are no longer simple threats, but a reality - he declared - It is unfair towards us. We remain grateful to the American people and Trump's team. But there must be honesty between partners". Speaking about the diesel pact made between Trump and Putin, the Ukrainian leader says he is open to dialogue: "Yesterday we spoke with Trump's negotiating group. I said we are ready: if they want to discuss negotiations and a peace agreement with Putin, we are always open". And, regarding the hypothesis of a summit between the United States, Russia and China without the presence of Kiev, he added: "If we talk about Ukraine, we would like Ukraine to be consulted. I won't comment on the rest".
Zelensky also focused on security guarantees and the role of NATO, identifying, for a secure ceasefire that counters Moscow's territorial claims, a precise formula based on three pillars: the Ukrainian army, the European Union and the Atlantic Alliance. "The best format includes three elements - he proposed - the Ukrainian army, the European Union and NATO. If it is not NATO, what alternative is offered to us? We are ready to discuss equivalent guarantees, even with another name, but they must have the same legal force". "Some countries have Patriot missiles - he added - we need to help us prepare for the winter. It is in everyone's interest. If the skies are protected, people will stay in Ukraine as much as possible".
The Ukrainian president also spoke about relations with Italy and Giorgia Meloni, describing the bond with the prime minister as excellent and underlining that military support is not non-repayable, but represents a bilateral technological and economic exchange, citing the cooperation with the Leonardo group. "I have an excellent relationship with Giorgia and I respect her a lot - he declared - But it is not a relationship in which Italy helps and Ukraine gives nothing in return. We share experience on weapons. This exchange also helps Italian technology grow. Italians work in the factories in Italy: they are jobs, not just aid to Ukraine". "Russia has long been waging a hybrid war against Europe - added Zelensky - including against Italy, France, Great Britain and Germany. It is not the large-scale war that it wages against us, but it passes through television, the media, the Internet and social networks. Citizens have the right to be satisfied or dissatisfied with their governments, they must not be manipulated by Russian campaigns".
In the conflict in Ukraine, Russia is attacking agricultural reserves and trade routes. This was said by the High Representative for Foreign Policy and Security Kaja Kallas in the Chamber in Strabourg. “Russia is attacking Ukrainian agricultural infrastructure, Black Sea and Nova ports, border crossings, export infrastructure, ships, sea routes and destroying grain warehouses,” said the High Representative who gave the chamber the numbers of this attack. “Ukraine is losing around 60 million euros a day in export earnings. Ukraine is one of the most important agricultural exporters in the world. It supplies 15% of global corn exports, 10% of grain and 15% of other agricultural products. About 90% of these goods pass through this corridor, which represents the most important route for the transportation of Ukrainian grain to international markets." “As underlined by Member States at the European Council last week, Russia is intentionally weaponizing food and undermining global food security, particularly in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. To avoid a further deterioration of the situation, the European Council calls for the immediate restoration of safe passage for merchant, civilian and commercial vessels in the Black Sea,” Kallas concluded.
It is not yet clear when Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit Russia. Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the Tass agency. Xi Jinping last visited Russia from May 7 to 10, 2025. The official visit was timed to coincide with the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory in the Great Patriotic War. The Chinese president has visited Russia 11 times since taking office in 2013, including two state visits and three official visits. Russian President Vladimir Putin last visited China on May 19 and 20 this year to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Good Neighborhood and Friendly Cooperation between Moscow and Beijing. Putin has visited China more than 20 times, both as president and prime minister, including two state visits. The Russian leader plans to attend the Apec summit, scheduled for November 18 and 19 this year in Shenzhen, China.
"The limitations on intelligence sharing and the reduction of Starlink's speed are no longer mere threats but a reality. It is unfair to us. We remain grateful to the American people and the Trump team. But there must be honesty between partners." Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky stated this in an interview with Corriere della Sera. "The strategic relationship with the United States - he adds - has always been important, since the beginning of the occupation and especially during the large-scale war. The American people, the administrations and the two parties have supported us: I am grateful for that. We have always wanted a relationship based on honesty, justice and transparency. I do not want to hide anything from the American president. We may have different opinions and interests, but our peoples have much more in common than America and Russia. Collaboration exists: we receive American weapons through programs financed by Europeans. Today those weapons we pay. We want to continue to have open, honest and pragmatic relationships."
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported on X that he held a conversation with Pope Leo "I updated him in detail on the situation regarding Russian escalation and Russia's continued attacks on Ukrainian cities and communities," the Kiev leader added. "We also discussed the humanitarian catastrophe in Oleshky, currently under Russian occupation. We are working to help our population in that area and are preparing measures to be taken. His Holiness informed me of the contacts he had with the Russian side on this issue," he added. “Of course, we also discussed all current security challenges and threats, including our allies' failure to provide warnings regarding Russian ballistic missile attacks, something that has occurred three times recently,” Zelensky further reported. "I thank His Holiness for his support and for all his efforts aimed at achieving a dignified peace."
