Zelensky urges fast-track EU membership for Ukraine at summit
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged the European Union to put Ukraine on a fast-track path to membership, telling an EU summit that Europe's future security is being shaped by the defence of his country. He said Ukraine deserved a place in the bloc and argued that the best guarantee for Europe's future would be to grant Kyiv accelerated accession. His remarks were delivered in a video message posted on X and addressed to leaders gathered for the summit.Zelensky said every democratic nation in Europe deserved to be in the EU and argued that Ukraine had paid a higher price... [Continue Reading]
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Chinese foreign minister to visit Delhi ahead of BRICS summit preparations
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is due to visit New Delhi on June 22-23 for a meeting of BRICS national security advisers, in a move described as part of preparations for the bloc's leaders' summit in India in September. The talks are expected to focus on international security, major regional issues and joint responses to traditional and non-traditional security challenges. The visit comes as India prepares to host the next BRICS summit and as member states coordinate their positions ahead of the gathering.According to Chinese officials, Wang will exchange views with other BRICS members on the current international security situation... [Continue Reading]
Macron says G7, including US, aligned on Ukraine support at summit in Canada
Emmanuel Macron has said the G7, including the United States, now recognises Ukraine's territorial integrity and shares a commitment to increasing pressure on Russia. Speaking at the summit in Évian-les-Bains, the French president described what he called a "very deep change" in Washington's approach to the war. He said the leaders present understood that Vladimir Putin was not interested in peace.Macron said Donald Trump, like the other G7 leaders, had acknowledged that there was no serious willingness on Russia's part to discuss peace. He described the shift as a "re-synchronisation" of positions and a "very profound shift and remobilisation of... [Continue Reading]
Russian anti-Putin artist shot dead in Poland as Tusk calls killing likely political
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has said the fatal shooting of exiled Russian artist Semyon Skrepetsky was likely a political assassination. The killing took place in eastern Poland on Monday, and Polish officials say the artist was shot multiple times by an unidentified gunman armed with a handgun. Two Belarusian citizens were briefly detained in connection with the case and later released, according to officials.Tusk said there were "all indications" that the death was a political murder, and added that if it was commissioned by Russia it would have an international dimension. Polish officials said Skrepetsky, whose real name was... [Continue Reading]
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G7 in France backs more air defence and long-range support for Ukraine as sanctions tighten
G7 leaders meeting in France have agreed to step up military support for Ukraine, including more air defence systems, interceptors and long-range capabilities. The statement says the group remains committed to what it called "unwavering support" for Ukraine in defending its freedom, sovereignty and territorial integrity. It also says the leaders are ready to consider extending licences to help increase Ukraine's own military production.The new language adds detail to the summit's Ukraine discussions and follows earlier signs of concern about Donald Trump's position. The statement also says the G7 will increase pressure on the Russian war economy and strengthen sanctions,... [Continue Reading]
G7 summit in Evian turns to AI and social media security on final day
On the final day of the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, leaders are set to focus on the security risks posed by artificial intelligence and social media. The discussions come as the three-day meeting draws to a close, with French President Emmanuel Macron due to host US President Donald Trump for dinner at the Palace of Versailles after the summit. Final statements are also expected on the Middle East and Ukraine, adding to an already crowded agenda.The technology session is expected to bring together senior figures from the AI sector, including Sam Altman of OpenAI, Dario Amodei of Anthropic and Arthur... [Continue Reading]
Former MI6 chief says Russia is trying to intimidate UK through sabotage and arson
Russian President Vladimir Putin is trying to intimidate the UK through sabotage, arson and cyber attacks, according to the former head of MI6. Sir Richard Moore said the Kremlin was seeking to expand the battlefield beyond the war in Ukraine by using methods that stop short of open conflict. His comments came after reporting on arson attacks targeting property and a car linked to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.Sir Richard made the remarks on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, saying proxy attacks showed Britain needed a discussion about the balance of resources for security and defence. He said Putin was... [Continue Reading]
Russia tightens security after reported AI-enabled killing of Iran's supreme leader
Russia's security services have temporarily disconnected parts of a special surveillance system protecting President Vladimir Putin and his close circle, according to a report cited in the supplied material. The move was said to follow the reported US-Israeli killing of Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in Tehran. The report says the Kremlin's response reflects concern that AI-assisted video analysis can be used to identify patterns, movements and meeting locations at scale.The material says the shutdown affected a system used to protect Putin and his closest aides, with parts of it sealed off from the internet. It attributes the account... [Continue Reading]
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Hungary's Fidesz re-elects Viktor Orban as party leader after April election defeat
Hungary's Fidesz party has re-elected Viktor Orban as its leader for another year, despite the party's defeat in April's parliamentary election. Orban ran unopposed at the party congress and won a near-unanimous vote, with 729 of 737 delegates backing him. The result keeps the former prime minister at the head of the governing party as it tries to regroup after losing power to the centre-right Tisza party.Orban told delegates he took full responsibility for Fidesz's election defeat and said he did not intend to step aside. He also said the party needed to change if it was to function as... [Continue Reading]
Ukraine strikes on Russian energy infrastructure acknowledged by Putin, as damage is admitted
President Vladimir Putin has publicly acknowledged that recent Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries, depots, pipelines and fuel supplies are causing damage to the Russian economy and society. His comments came after weeks of intensifying attacks on energy and logistics infrastructure, including what was described as a Kyiv-claimed strike on a key oil refinery in Nizhnekamsk the previous night. Putin said the attacks were intended to sow confusion, but insisted they would not divide society or cause lasting economic harm.The remarks were carried by Russia's state-owned TASS news agency and were made on Friday. Putin said Russia was recovering quickly and... [Continue Reading]


