Ukraine-Russia war latest: ‘Reckless’ British yacht shooting condemned as Nato announces military boost for Kyiv
G7 leaders were in an upbeat mood after Tuesday's talks, as Donald Trump said he had a “very good” meeting with president Volodymyr Zelensky and called on Russia to make peace with Ukraine.
President Trump said he would do “whatever I can” to end the war and said Russia “should make a deal”.
In a joint statement this morning, the G7 leaders commended Ukraine for its "progress on the battlefield in recent months".
“To support and accelerate this new momentum, we agree to increase the delivery of air defence capacities, additional systems and interceptors, and long-range capabilities," the statement read.
Meanwhile, Sir Keir Starmer has condemned a Russian frigate for firing warning shots towards a UK-flagged civilian yacht in the English Channel.
“What happened in the Channel was deeply concerning. It was reckless," Sir Keir, who is in France for the G7 summit, told BBC News.
He said the ministry of defence's assessment was that the Russian vessel was "drifting, and they were warning shots".
“That shouldn't have happened. It is reckless, and the couple on the yacht must've been terrified." Zelensky, nearly in tears, says he misses his children and ‘being a good father’
In a poignant interview, Volodymyr Zelensky has said he misses being a father and confessed that he often cries when he meets the parents of the deceased Ukrainian soldiers.
“I love you,” Zelensky said, after a pause. On being asked what he tells them now that they’re older, Zelensky replied: “Oh, I miss you”.
The war-time leader, who is believed to be living away from his children since the full-scale invasion of Russia in February 2022, said he misses “being a good father”.
Zelensky, already seen turning emotional, said that he might cry after the interview.
“I will try to do it after our interview. No, I mean this, between us. I'm a normal man and then there are a lot of different moments, between us, almost each day, a lot of losses on the battlefield and civilians, and there are absolutely crazy attacks on our people,” he said, responding to a question on when did he last cry.
Zelensky went on: “And I'm just, it's… I mean, It's very difficult really, when I give orders (medals). I said about it. It's always difficult for me when I give orders (medals) to the mothers and fathers, who lost their children. In such moments, really, I often cry.”
The journalist asked Zelensky if he thought of himself as a hero but the Ukrainian president denied.
He was then asked who was his hero. “My hero? My children, my army, our army, and Ukrainian people. So I'm a part… I'm also a Ukrainian, so I'm a part of our nation. But now our nation, I think, that our nation is absolutely heroic.”
Arpan Rai17 June 2026 08:50Starmer says Channel incident involving Russian warship 'reckless'
Prime minister Keir Starmer has said the firing of warning shots by a Russian frigate to divert a UK-flagged civilian yacht near British territorial waters was reckless and deeply concerning.
"What happened in the Channel was deeply concerning. It was reckless," Sir Keir, who is in France for the G7 summit, told BBC News.
He said the ministry of defence's assessment was that the Russian vessel was "drifting, and they were warning shots".
"That shouldn't have happened. It is reckless, and the couple on the yacht must've been terrified."
The Russian ministry said on Tuesday the crew of the frigate spotted a yacht travelling on a course that risked collision with the ship. After repeated attempts to establish radio contact failed, the frigate fired warning shots, including small arms fire, ahead of the yacht, the ministry said.
It said the yacht then altered course and moved away.
The incident took place yesterday in the English Channel, according to statements from the defence ministries of Britain and Russia.
They said the firing was designed to prevent a collision after unsuccessful attempts by the Admiral Grigorovich to contact the yacht.
Britain's defence ministry described it as "an isolated incident" and not linked to the interception of a Russian shadow fleet vessel intercepted by British commandos over the weekend.
(PA Wire)
Arpan Rai17 June 2026 08:46Crimea bans use of motorcycles and scooters at night because ‘they sound like drone attacks’
Crimea has banned the use of motorised vehicles such as scooters, quad bikes and motorcycles at nighttime, saying they sound like drone attacks, Moscow-installed authorities said.
Sergei Aksyonov, the peninsula's Russian-installed governor, said the ban, which he called a temporary measure to guard military and other important facilities, would be in place between 8pm and 6am from Wednesday onwards.
"The moped noise hampers the work of defence systems. Their engines sound similar (to drones)," Oleg Kryuchkov, Aksyonov's advisor, said separately on Telegram on Tuesday. "The enemy is recruiting your children for nighttime rides."
Arpan Rai17 June 2026 08:45Starmer says Channel incident involving Russian warship 'reckless'
Prime minister Keir Starmer has said the firing of warning shots by a Russian frigate to divert a UK-flagged civilian yacht near British territorial waters was reckless and deeply concerning.
"What happened in the Channel was deeply concerning. It was reckless," Sir Keir, who is in France for the G7 summit, told BBC News.
He said the ministry of defence's assessment was that the Russian vessel was "drifting, and they were warning shots".
"That shouldn't have happened. It is reckless, and the couple on the yacht must've been terrified."
The Russian ministry said on Tuesday the crew of the frigate spotted a yacht travelling on a course that risked collision with the ship. After repeated attempts to establish radio contact failed, the frigate fired warning shots, including small arms fire, ahead of the yacht, the ministry said.
It said the yacht then altered course and moved away.
The incident took place yesterday in the English Channel, according to statements from the defence ministries of Britain and Russia.
They said the firing was designed to prevent a collision after unsuccessful attempts by the Admiral Grigorovich to contact the yacht.
Britain's defence ministry described it as "an isolated incident" and not linked to the interception of a Russian shadow fleet vessel intercepted by British commandos over the weekend.
(PA Wire)
Arpan Rai17 June 2026 08:44British retired couple recall ‘scary’ moment Russian warship fired warning shots near their yacht in Channel
Jane Kelvey, 68, and her husband Alan, 70, came into close contact with the Russian frigate the Admiral Grigorovich while sailing their yacht Bright Future around 23 miles off the coast of the Isle of Wight on Tuesday morning.
The warship fired warning shots towards the yacht, in what was described by the UK Ministry of Defence as an “isolated incident”.
Speaking to BBC Newsnight from the yacht, Jane recalled: "[The warship] gave out five blasts on their horn, which means 'have you seen us?'
Arpan Rai17 June 2026 08:25G7 says 'ready to consider' extending military production licences to Ukraine
The G7 leaders have announced they could allow military production licences to be issued to Ukraine in their bid to boost arms deliveries.
“We commend Ukraine for its resilience and progress on the battlefield in recent months and emphasise there is now a new momentum. To support and accelerate this new momentum, we agree to increase the delivery of air defence capacities, additional systems and interceptors, and long-range capabilities," the statement read.
It added: "We are also ready to consider extending to Ukraine the benefit of licences to allow for an increase in Ukraine’s military production."
The US has also said it would look into it but there was no further discussion of the matter, a senior EU official said.
(Getty)
Arpan Rai17 June 2026 08:00G7 agree to increase support for Ukraine – and pressure on Russia
The leaders of the G7 countries have announced today that they stand united in support of Ukraine, including its territorial integrity, and agreed to increase the pressure on the Russian war economy.
“In this context, we will strengthen our sanctions (against Russia), including those on the oil and gas sectors," the leaders said in a joint statement.
Separately, the leaders, who are meeting for a summit in the French town of Evian-les-Bains, have also welcomed the deal between the United States and Iran and said they are ready to contribute to its implementation.
They added they will make efforts to diversify energy supply routes and reduce dependence on the Strait of Hormuz and increase energy stocks.
(AFP/Getty)
Arpan Rai17 June 2026 07:47Russia bans use of motorcycles in Crimea, saying they sound like drones
Crimea has banned the use of motorised vehicles such as scooters, quad bikes and motorcycles at nighttime, saying they sound like drone attacks, Moscow-installed authorities said.
Sergei Aksyonov, the peninsula's Russian-installed governor, said the ban, which he called a temporary measure to guard military and other important facilities, would be in place between 8pm and 6am from Wednesday onwards.
"The moped noise hampers the work of defence systems. Their engines sound similar (to drones)," Oleg Kryuchkov, Aksyonov's advisor, said separately on Telegram on Tuesday.
“The enemy is recruiting your children for nighttime rides."
The ban in Crimea, a popular summer tourist destination for Russians, does not apply to cars or larger vehicles.
Ukraine has recently intensified drone attacks on Crimea, home to Russia's Black Sea Fleet, targeting the peninsula's supply routes and triggering a fuel crisis, as the holiday season starts.
Arpan Rai17 June 2026 07:27
Arpan Rai17 June 2026 07:00Kremlin says Putin did not discuss meeting Zelensky in latest call with Trump
Russian president Vladimir Putin did not discuss the possibility of a meeting with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky during his latest phone call with US president Donald Trump, said Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov.
“No one has approached us with such a proposal," Ushakov told reporters.
Trump said he spoke separately to Putin and Zelensky on Sunday.
Zelensky said on Monday that he had offered to meet Putin at a G7 summit in France this week, or even in the United States, for talks to end the war that is well into its fifth year.
Arpan Rai17 June 2026 06:47
