Sweden scrambled a pair of fighter jets to intercept a Russian Su-24 plane that crossed into Nato airspace on Friday.
Sweden’s Air Power first verbally warned the Russian pilot, which didn’t deviate from its course, after which despatched two JAS-39 Gripen fighters to drive it to show round, the Swedish Armed Forces mentioned in an announcement.
“This Russian behaviour will not be acceptable and exhibits a scarcity of respect for our territorial integrity,” mentioned Jonas Wikman, head of the Air Power.
Friday’s incident got here days after the same border intrusion by Russian plane in Finland. Sweden grew to become a full member of Nato earlier this 12 months, dropping two centuries of army non-alignment.
05:28 PM BST
That’s all for at this time
Thanks for following our dwell protection. President Volodymyr Zelensky mentioned he hoped to seek out paths to a “simply peace” as quickly as attainable, as a primary worldwide summit on pathways to finish Russia’s warfare in Ukraine opened Saturday. In the meantime, Kamala Harris, the US vice-president, introduced greater than $1.5 billion in support partially for Ukraine’s power sector and its humanitarian state of affairs.
Different key developments from the day have been:
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Ukraine launched a significant drone assault on the Morosovsk Airfield in Russia, about 150 miles from the entrance traces, in keeping with an evaluation of satellite tv for pc imagery.
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Sweden scrambled a pair of fighter jets to intercept a Russian Su-24 plane that crossed into Nato airspace on Friday.
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Denmark’s authorities is asking residents to organize for an assault or different potential disaster by stockpiling provides of water, meals and medication, and conserving iodine tablets at dwelling.
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German chancellor Olaf Scholz mentioned on Saturday Russian chief Vladimir Putin was attempting to dictate the circumstances for peace in Ukraine by providing to halt Moscow’s offensive if Kyiv successfully surrenders. Giorgia Meloni, the Italian prime minister, additionally weighed in, and slammed as “propaganda” Vladimir Putin’s demand that Ukraine successfully give up earlier than any peace talks.
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Peter Pellegrini, an ally of Ukraine-sceptic prime minister Robert Fico, was sworn in as Slovakia’s new president on Saturday, pledging to unite the politically polarised central European nation.
05:19 PM BST
ICYMI: Putin guarantees ‘fast’ ceasefire if Ukraine drops Nato bid
05:06 PM BST
Danes requested to stockpile provides in case of assault
Denmark’s authorities is asking residents to organize for an assault or different potential disaster by stockpiling provides of water, meals and medication, and conserving iodine tablets at dwelling.
A rising risk from Russia has prompted Danish authorities to extend their preparedness and subject suggestions to Danes to do the identical, Bloomberg has reported.
“The fact is that Denmark and our allies are threatened by hybrid warfare,” mentioned Troels Lund Poulsen, the defence minister. “Every of us ought to put together for the truth that, for a brief interval, we could also be with out entry to electrical energy or water, or be unable to purchase fundamental requirements.”
The suggestions counsel residents fill up on non-perishable meals that doesn’t require a range or oven to be ready, and at the very least 9 liters (2.4 gallons) of bottled water per particular person, sufficient for 3 days. Danes also needs to put together for energy failures by conserving batteries, flashlights and candles at hand, and have the ability to keep heat with out heating.
Authorities additionally advise that residents underneath 40 preserve iodine tablets at dwelling within the occasion of a nuclear accident, although it’s “most unlikely” that these shall be wanted, Laila Reenberg, chief of Denmark’s emergency administration company mentioned.
04:27 PM BST
Saudi Arabia’s international minister arrives in Switzerland to attend Ukraine summit
Saudi Arabia’s international minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah has arrived within the Swiss metropolis of Lucerne to attend a summit on Ukraine, the Saudi state information company mentioned.
04:10 PM BST
‘I’m not keen to be occupied’: How a Ukrainian priest led a resistance behind enemy traces
Ben Farmer experiences
From the very starting, Father Andriy’s religion has included a big streak of resistance.
As a younger man within the final days of the Soviet Union, he began going to church as a approach of opposing the system and later went to a seminary and have become a priest after its collapse.
His second likelihood at resistance got here 30 years later when Russian troopers menaced his village in Ukraine.
By then he had his flock and obligations, however he was decided to not let Putin’s invasion stand. “I really like my nation and I’m not keen to be occupied,” he defined.
After Russian troops invaded and took management of his area within the first darkish days of the February 2022 invasion, he and others started small acts of resistance.
They left graffiti messages towards the occupation. Leaflets have been printed assuring residents that the Ukrainian military was approaching.
Some stored a watch on Russian troop actions and reported again to the Ukrainian authorities till the web gave out and so they had no technique of communication.
“I acquired over my concern, I used to be solely afraid in the beginning,” remembers Father Andriy.
03:44 PM BST
Ukraine-sceptic Pellegrini sworn in as Slovak president
Peter Pellegrini, an ally of Ukraine-sceptic prime minister Robert Fico, was sworn in as Slovakia’s new president on Saturday, pledging to unite the politically polarised central European nation.
Analysts have predicted Slovakia’s worldwide isolation will enhance with Mr Pellegrini as president and anticipate the federal government to crank up its pro-Russian rhetoric now that its ally is head of state.
Mr Fico, a populist who’s recovering from being shot at shut vary on Might 15, has ruled a rustic that has been deeply cut up for years between pro-European and nationalist-leaning camps.
“Politics shouldn’t divide,” Mr Pellegrini mentioned in his inauguration speech. “It shouldn’t turn out to be a driver of destructive and damaging feelings.”
The brand new president, himself a former prime minister, was elected in April with 53 per cent of the vote.
He defeated pro-West diplomat Ivan Korcok in a poll dominated by divisions over the warfare in neighbouring Ukraine.
Though the workplace is basically ceremonial, Slovakia’s president is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, ratifies worldwide treaties and appoints prime judges.
03:02 PM BST
Italy PM slams Putin’s ‘propaganda’ on Ukraine peace talks
Giorgia Meloni, the Italian prime minister, has slammed as “propaganda” Vladimir Putin’s demand that Ukraine successfully give up earlier than any peace talks.
“It doesn’t appear significantly efficient to me as a negotiation proposal to inform Ukraine that it should withdraw from Ukraine,” she mentioned on the finish of a G7 summit in Italy, including that “it appears extra like a propaganda initiative”.
02:47 PM BST
In footage
02:14 PM BST
Italy PM says EU states gained’t be straight concerned in G7 Ukraine mortgage
European Union states won’t be straight concerned for now in a $50 billion mortgage that the Group of Seven nations plan to boost for Ukraine primarily based on earnings from frozen Russian belongings, Giorgia Meloni, the Italian prime minister, mentioned on Saturday.
Europe was already contributing by offering assure mechanisms for the mortgage, Ms Meloni mentioned, including that the USA, Canada, Britain and doubtless Japan would contribute.
02:02 PM BST
Ukraine seeks path to simply peace at Swiss summit
President Volodymyr Zelensky mentioned he hoped to seek out paths to a “simply peace” as quickly as attainable, as a primary worldwide summit on pathways to finish Russia’s warfare in Ukraine opened Saturday.
Greater than 50 world leaders have been becoming a member of Zelensky on the Burgenstock resort in Switzerland for a two-day peace summit – although with Moscow rejecting the occasion, it solely has the modest ambitions of laying the groundwork for ending the battle, now in its third 12 months.
“I consider that we’ll witness historical past being made right here on the summit. Might a simply peace be established as quickly as attainable,” Mr Zelensky mentioned because the occasion started.
“The whole lot that shall be agreed upon on the summit at this time shall be a part of the peacemaking course of,” he mentioned.
“We’ve succeeded in bringing again to the world the concept that joint efforts can cease warfare and set up a simply peace.”
01:35 PM BST
Ukraine LGBTQ army union ‘involved’ about assaults on Delight march
Ukrainian LGBTQ activists have warned of potential violence towards this weekend’s Kyiv Delight parade amid pressures from far-right teams and the Russian warfare.
Sunday’s occasion is the primary parade within the capital because the starting of the Russian invasion, which Kyiv usually portrays as an existential struggle to be a part of the West and its liberal values.
“We’re significantly involved about attainable assaults on march individuals,” the LGBTIQ+ army union that defends the rights of veterans and troopers mentioned on Instagram.
The march shall be held in a closed format, with 500 individuals attending, whereas its location and time have been stored confidential, AFP has reported.
The LGBTQ army group mentioned it “will regard any bodily assaults as acts of Russian agent networks geared toward undermining Ukraine’s picture”.
01:13 PM BST
Kremlin says Western response to Putin proposal on Ukraine ‘unconstructive’
The Kremlin has mentioned that the West has reacted unconstructively to Russian president Vladimir Putin’s proposals for a brand new safety structure and peace talks with Ukraine.
“There’s a number of it, an enormous quantity of it – official response, official statements. Of an unconstructive nature,” Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, mentioned in response to a query about whether or not there had been an official response to the proposals.
Mr Putin set out on Friday what he mentioned have been Russia’s preconditions for beginning peace talks with Ukraine, saying Russia would finish the warfare provided that Kyiv agreed to drop its Nato ambitions and hand over 4 provinces claimed by Moscow – calls for Kyiv swiftly rejected as tantamount to give up.
12:50 PM BST
Ukrainian drones strike airfield internet hosting Russian fighter-bombers
Ukraine has launched a significant drone assault on the Morosovsk Airfield in Russia, about 150 miles from the entrance traces, in keeping with an evaluation of satellite tv for pc imagery.
The airfield is situated within the Rostov area, and has been the staging submit for Russian bombings on the entrance line because the starting of the full-scale invasion in 2022. It homes dozens of Su-27 and Su-34 fighter-bombers, key weapons within the warfare.
The operation concerned at the very least 70 drones putting the bottom on Thursday, Kyrylo Budanov, the top of Ukraine’s army intelligence, instructed The Conflict Zone, although it was unclear if any plane had been destoyed.
The assault is the second at Morosovsk in current months. An assault on April 5 reportedly destroyed six Russian warplanes.
12:43 PM BST
Zelensky: ‘The World Peace Summit begins’
World leaders are becoming a member of Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian President, in Switzerland for a summit on peace in his nation. Writing on social media, Mr Zelensky mentioned representatives from “Latin America, the Center East and Asia, Africa, Europe, the Pacific, Australia, North America” are current.
“Collectively, we’re making step one towards simply peace primarily based on the UN Constitution and basic rules of worldwide legislation,” Mr Zelensky mentioned.
At this time, the World Peace Summit begins with the registered 100 states and worldwide organizations coming from all continents and all components of the world, representing totally different views however united by respect to worldwide legislation and each other.
Latin America, the Center…
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) June 15, 2024
11:32 AM BST
US publicizes $1.5 billion support for Ukraine
Kamala Harris, the US vice-president, has introduced greater than $1.5 billion in support partially for Ukraine’s power sector and its humanitarian state of affairs on account of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The announcement was made as Ms Harris attended a Ukraine peace summit in Lucerne, Switzerland, the place she was to satisfy Volodymyr Zelensky and tackle the summit’s plenary session.
The $1.5 billion consists of $500 million in new funding for power help and the redirecting of $324 million in beforehand introduced funds towards emergency power infrastructure restore and different wants in Ukraine, the vice-president’s workplace mentioned.
“These efforts will assist Ukraine reply to Russia’s newest assaults on Ukraine power infrastructure by supporting restore and restoration, bettering Ukraine’s resilience to power provide disruptions, and laying the groundwork to restore and develop Ukraine’s power system,” Ms Harris’s workplace mentioned.
She additionally introduced greater than $379 million in humanitarian help to assist refugees and different individuals affected by the warfare.
The cash is to cowl meals help, well being providers, shelter, and water, sanitation and hygiene providers for thousands and thousands of Ukrainians.
11:29 AM BST
Three killed in Russian assault in Ukraine’s Donetsk area
Three individuals have been killed and 5 wounded by Russian shelling in Ulakly village within the japanese Ukrainian area of Donetsk, native governor Vadym Filashkin mentioned on Saturday.
The village was hit by cluster munitions, he mentioned on the Telegram messaging app. Filashkin mentioned administrative buildings, a personal home, a store and eight automobiles have been broken.
11:08 AM BST
Sweden says Russian bomber violated its airspace
A Russian army plane violated Sweden’s airspace east of the Baltic island of Gotland on Friday, the Nordic nation’s armed forces mentioned.
Two Gripen jets have been despatched as much as meet the Russian airplane, an SU-24, after it failed to answer a radio warning by Sweden’s army air site visitors management, the Swedish armed forces mentioned in an announcement.
“The Russian actions should not acceptable and present a scarcity of respect for our territorial integrity,” Swedish air drive chief Jonas Wikman mentioned. “We adopted the whole chain of occasions and have been in place to intervene.”
Friday’s incident passed off as Sweden – Nato’s latest member – and a number of other of its new allies participate in naval workout routines within the Baltic Sea.
The Swedish army mentioned comparable airspace violations by Russian plane final occurred in 2022 when two SU-27 and two SU-24 planes additionally made incursions close to Gotland.
Sweden’s neighbour Finland mentioned individually on Friday it suspected that 4 Russian army planes had violated its airspace on June 10.
11:05 AM BST
In footage
10:47 AM BST
Scholz says Putin attempting to ‘dictate’ peace
German chancellor Olaf Scholz mentioned on Saturday Russian chief Vladimir Putin was attempting to dictate the circumstances for peace in Ukraine by providing to halt Moscow’s offensive if Kyiv successfully surrenders.
“What we’d like will not be a dictated peace however a simply and equitable peace which takes under consideration Ukraine’s (territorial) integrity and sovereignty,” he instructed the general public broadcaster ARD on the sidelines of a G7 summut in Italy.
10:23 AM BST
State of affairs on Pokrovsk entrance stays tense
Preventing on the Pokrovsk entrance stays tense, in keeping with the Basic Workers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Three fight clashes are presently going down within the areas of Novooleksandrivka, Yevhenivka and Novoselivka Persha.
“Probably the most tense state of affairs stays within the Pokrovsky route,” wrote the Basic Workers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Fb. “So many assaults have already been fought. Defence forces proceed to make efforts to stabilize the state of affairs, creating a posh fireplace impact.”
09:56 AM BST
Harris to handle Ukraine summit
Kamala Harris, the US vice-president, will attend the worldwide Ukraine peace summit in Switzerland this weekend, the place she’s going to meet with Volodymyr Zelensky and tackle world leaders.
She is going to stress that the result of the warfare in Ukraine impacts the whole world, a US official mentioned, and push for a most variety of nations to again the notion that Russia’s invasion violates the UN Constitution’s founding rules and that Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity have to be revered.
Ms Harris, who will spend lower than 24 hours on the gathering in Lucerne, shall be standing in for president Joe Biden on the occasion. The president shall be simply ending his participation on the G7 summit in Italy and returning to the USA to attend a fundraiser for his re-election marketing campaign in Los Angeles.
09:48 AM BST
Watch: Russian troopers give up after failed raid
09:37 AM BST
World leaders be a part of Ukraine summit in take a look at of Kyiv’s diplomatic clout
World leaders will collect in Switzerland at this time for a summit geared toward pressuring Russia to finish its warfare in Ukraine, however the absence of highly effective allies of Moscow comparable to China will blunt its potential influence.
Dozens of allies of Ukraine will participate within the summit, however China is staying away after Russia was frozen out of proceedings.
With out China, hopes of isolating Moscow have pale, whereas current army reverses have put Kyiv on the again foot. The warfare in Gaza between Israel and Hamas has additionally diverted consideration from Ukraine.
The talks are anticipated to concentrate on broader issues triggered by the warfare, comparable to meals and nuclear safety and freedom of navigation, and a draft of the ultimate declaration identifies Russia because the aggressor within the battle, sources mentioned.
“The summit dangers displaying the boundaries of Ukrainian diplomacy,” mentioned Richard Gowan, UN director on the worldwide disaster group. “Nonetheless, it is usually an opportunity for Ukraine to remind the world that it’s defending the rules of the UN Constitution.”
09:24 AM BST
Scholz: Putin’s peace proposals aren’t critical
G7 leaders didn’t focus on Vladimir Putin’s proposals for peace in Ukraine since everybody knew they weren’t critical, German chancellor Olaf Scholz mentioned.
Talking from Italy shortly earlier than leaving for Switzerland, the place a Ukraine convention opens on Saturday, Mr Scholz mentioned Putin’s proposals – for Ukraine to desert 4 provinces Russia claims, cease preventing and drop its ambition of Nato membership – have been aimed solely at distracting from the convention.
“Everybody is aware of that this was proposal wasn’t meant significantly, however had one thing to do with the peace convention in Switzerland,” he instructed ZDF tv in an interview.
09:18 AM BST
Ukrainian shelling ‘kills 5 in Russian border city’
Ukrainian shelling on the Russian border city of Shebekino killed 5 individuals and wounded a number of, the governor of the area of Belgorod mentioned on Saturday.
Since Russia launched its army offensive on Ukraine in 2022, Belgorod has confronted waves of assaults, which Kyiv say are retaliation for Moscow’s large-scale assault.
“4 our bodies have been recovered from the rubble” of {a partially} collapsed home in Shebekino, mentioned governor Vyacheslav Gladkov, who added that one other lady had died in hospital.
Russia’s emergency providers printed footage of a crane and rescuers sifting by means of the rubble of a destroyed five-storey constructing within the evening.
Six civilians have been wounded within the late night shelling, the governor mentioned.
Shebekino is a city of 40,000 individuals near the border with Ukraine’s northeast Kharkiv area.
