Analysis: Putin is asking for peace talks. It’s time to kick him while he’s down
Putin is rattled and Trump needs a win – this is the chance for Ukraine and her allies to force the collapse of Russia’s army and push back against its land grab, writes The Independent’s world affairs editor Sam Kiley:
Amy-Clare Martin27 June 2026 13:30
EU moves to prolong protection for Ukrainians but not new arrivals eligible for military service
The European Union yesterday moved to prolong temporary protection status for millions of people who have fled the war in Ukraine, but not for new arrivals who would be eligible to serve in the armed forces.
Ukraine is desperate to boost the size of its fighting force more than four years into its full-scale war with Russia. It’s estimated to have suffered around 600,000 military casualties. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in February that 55,000 troops have died and many are missing.
More than 4.4 million Ukrainians have been welcomed into the EU since 2022. Most are living in Germany and Poland. They’ve been given temporary residency permits and support, including accommodation or help to get housing, social welfare benefits, medical care and access to schools.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar27 June 2026 13:00
Rachel Reeves arrives in Ukraine for one-day visit
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves at Kyiv train station as she arrives in Ukraine for a one-day visit to the capital om 27 June, 2026 (PA)
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves at Kyiv train station as she arrives in Ukraine for a one day visit to the capital (PA)
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar27 June 2026 12:30
Russia claims it has taken control of village in Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk region
Russian forces have taken control of the village of Novoskeliuvate in Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk region, the state-owned RIA news agency said on Saturday, citing the Defence Ministry.
Amy-Clare Martin27 June 2026 12:00
Zelensky: Ukrainian pressure ‘lays the groundwork for a dignified peace’
Ukrainian-made Flamingo missiles hit a plant producing artillery systems and components for missile launch systems in Russia’s Volgograd region overnight, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has said.
The strikes caused a fire at the premises of the Titan-Barrikady plant, he said on the Telegram app on Saturday.
Ukraine’s SBU security service also said its drones attacked the “Vtorovo” oil pumping station in Russia’s Vladimir region for the second time this month. The station is a key logistics hub used to ship petroleum products to Russian domestic consumers and also for export, the SBU said on Telegram.
“The reach of Ukraine’s long-range sanctions continues to expand,” Zelenskiy said, referring to Kyiv’s strikes deep inside Russian territory.
“It is precisely our pressure, day after day, that lays the groundwork for a dignified peace in the end.”
Ukraine has intensified mid and long-range drone attacks on the Russian oil facilities and weapon production in recent months in response to Russia’s devastating strikes on the capital Kyiv and other cities.
With the war now in its fifth year, fighting rages along more than 1,200 km of the frontline, and Russia launches hundreds of drones in nearly nightly attacks on Ukrainian cities and infrastructure.
Ukraine’s energy company, Naftogaz, said its production facilities in the Poltava and Kharkiv regions in the northeast had been damaged following Russian missile and drone attacks over the past two days.
Zelenskiy said Russia launched nearly 1,400 drones and 19 missiles during last week’s attacks on 15 Ukrainian regions, adding that air defence supplies and drone cooperation with allies remained key priorities for Kyiv.
Amy-Clare Martin27 June 2026 11:30
Royal Navy shadows Russian warships in UK waters for three months
The Royal Navy has disclosed it maintained a continuous, three-month surveillance operation on Russian warships navigating UK waters, including a frigate that fired a warning shot at a British yacht.
Five naval vessels were deployed to track the Admiral Grigorovich, the ship involved in the 16 June incident with the Bright Future yacht south of the Isle of Wight.
A Royal Navy spokesperson confirmed the frigate’s presence in the Channel across several periods: 30 April to 4 May, 8 to 12 May, and 22 to 28 May.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar27 June 2026 11:00
Zelensky says Russia must get out of Ukraine
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia must get out of Ukraine as he outlined Ukraine’s core diplomatic priorities ahead of the upcoming Nato summit in Ankara.
Moscow must now take a step toward peace, the president emphasized.
He thanked everyone working with Ukraine to push Russia toward diplomacy, as well as those helping defend the country and protect human life.
“Ukrainian warriors prove the strength of Ukrainian precision every day. Ukraine’s long-range sanctions and medium-range sanctions are being fully implemented. These are our fair responses to Russia for this war — the war that Russia started and that Russia must end,” he said.
“Russia must take this war out of Ukraine. We do not need war,” the Ukrainian leader added.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar27 June 2026 11:00
Authorities in Russian-annexed Crimea declared an “emergency situation” in an effort to ease the fallout from increasing Ukrainian attacks.
Yesterday’s announcement comes amid a fuel shortage and ongoing power cuts caused by incessant Ukrainian attacks on logistics chain and oil facilities across Crimea.
“A decision has been made… to sign decrees declaring a regional-level emergency situation in the Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol,” the Moscow-installed governor Sergey Aksyonov said.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar27 June 2026 10:30
Russia and Ukraine swap 160 soldiers each
Russia and Ukraine have exchanged 160 captured soldiers each in the latest prisoner swap since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion in 2022.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky announced the handover, saying: “We continue bringing Ukrainians home from Russian captivity. Today, 160 service members were released.”
Russia’s defence ministry confirmed that “160 Russian servicemen have been returned” and “160 Ukrainian prisoners of war handed over in exchange.”
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar27 June 2026 10:00
Russia damages Ukraine’s Naftogaz production facilities
Russia fired ballistic missiles and drones to attack production facilities of Ukrainian energy company Naftogaz in the northeastern Poltava and Kharkiv regions, causing damage, Naftogaz said this morning.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar27 June 2026 09:30