Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky attends a peace summit in Lucerne, Switzerland to rally international backing for his strategy to resolve the conflict with Russia, amidst ongoing drone and missile attacks. Russia’s new demands for Ukraine to withdraw from certain regions and abandon NATO aspirations are swiftly dismissed, as the ground conflict escalates with casualties reported in various regions.
A Ukrainian firefighter attempts to control a blaze at an industrial facility damaged after a recent airstrike in the Kyiv region. Overnight and throughout the day, Russia and Ukraine exchanged numerous drone and missile attacks.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Switzerland on Friday for a two-day Ukraine peace summit in Lucerne, aiming to garner international support for his plan to end the ongoing conflict. The summit includes world leaders like US Vice President Kamala Harris, French President Emmanuel Macron, and leaders from Germany, Italy, Britain, Canada, and Japan. However, Russia and China are not participating. The discussions are set to focus on nuclear safety, food security, and the return of prisoners of war and Ukrainian children taken to Russian-controlled territories.
On Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin issued new demands, calling for Ukraine to withdraw from the east and south, give up a NATO bid, and cede territories claimed by Russia. These demands were swiftly rejected by Ukraine.
The conflict continues on the ground with Russian airstrikes killing one person and injuring four in the northern Sumy region. Ukrainian attacks on southern Russia’s Belgorod region reportedly killed six people. Russia launched 17 missiles and nearly 500 drones on Friday, resulting in civilian casualties and property damage across various regions in Ukraine. Russia claimed to have downed 87 Ukrainian drones aimed at multiple regions, including Rostov and the annexed Crimean peninsula.
In the eastern Donetsk region, Russian forces concentrated their firepower, wounding at least six civilians. The European Union’s member states have agreed in principle to begin accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova, contingent upon formal approval later in June, despite opposition from Hungary.
The summit in Switzerland comes at a challenging time, with increased Russian offensives in northeastern areas like Kharkiv and intensified missile strikes. While significant progress may be limited due to key absences and ongoing hostilities, the meeting underscores Ukraine’s push for international support and a framework for potential peace.