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President Donald Trump has confirmed that the United States is selling weapons to NATO allies, who are then supplying them to Ukraine as it faces intensifying Russian missile and drone attacks. “We’re sending weapons to NATO, and NATO is paying for those weapons, 100%,” Trump told NBC on Thursday. “The weapons that are going out are going to NATO, and then NATO is going to be giving those weapons (to Ukraine), and NATO is paying for those weapons." Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking from Kuala Lumpur on Friday, explained that deploying existing U.S.-made weapons from NATO allies in Europe is faster than sending them directly from U.S. factories. “It’s a lot faster to move something, for example, from Germany to Ukraine,” he said. Ukraine urgently needs more U.S.-made Patriot air defense systems. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Thursday that Ukraine is seeking 10 additional Patriot systems. Germany has pledged two, and Norway one. Russia launches record drone attack on Ukraine Meanwhile, Russia launched a drone attack on Kharkiv early Friday, injuring nine and damaging a maternity hospital. Another drone strike in Odesa also injured nine. “There is no silence in Ukraine,” Zelenskyy said. In response, Kyiv is launching the “Clear Sky” project—an interceptor drone system with a $6.2 million investment to counter Russian Shahed drones. Zelenskyy said his recent talks with Trump have been “very constructive,” as Ukraine pushes its allies to speed up promised military support.

A wave of Russian drone attacks struck central Kharkiv on Friday, injuring nine people and damaging a maternity hospital, according to Ukrainian officials. Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said mothers and their newborns were being relocated to another facility. He did not confirm whether anyone in the hospital was among the injured. The assault comes amid a surge in Russia’s use of long-range Shahed drones, often combined with missiles and powerful glide bombs, prompting renewed calls to strengthen Ukraine’s air defenses as the war drags on into its third year. “There is no silence in Ukraine,” President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in response to the attack, noting that Kyiv and several other regions have faced an uptick in drone strikes in recent weeks. The U.N. human rights mission in Ukraine reported that June saw the highest number of civilian casualties in the past three years—232 people killed and 1,343 injured. Russia reportedly launched 10 times more drones and missiles last month compared to June 2024. Russia launches record drone attack on Ukraine Meanwhile, fierce fighting continues along the roughly 1,000-kilometer front line, where thousands of troops on both sides have been killed since Russia's full-scale invasion began in February 2022. Zelenskyy urged Western allies to follow through on military support commitments made during a summit in Rome on Thursday. He specifically appealed for more U.S.-made Patriot air defense systems and interceptor drones to defend against the growing Shahed drone threat. According to reports, Russia aims to ramp up drone production to 1,000 units per day. Zelenskyy described recent discussions with U.S. President Donald Trump as “very constructive,” though U.S. policy on further military aid remains unclear. He also signaled a possible diplomatic reshuffle, indicating that Defense Minister Rustem Umerov may replace Oksana Markarova as Ukraine's ambassador to Washington. Ukraine has requested 10 additional Patriot systems. Zelenskyy noted that Germany has agreed to purchase two and Norway one, all of which are expected to be transferred to Ukraine. Speaking to NBC, Trump said the U.S. is supplying weapons to NATO allies, who are in turn providing them to Ukraine. However, he did not confirm whether Patriot systems were part of the deal. Trump added that he would make “a major statement” on Russia next Monday, though he offered no details. Zelenskyy continues to call for tougher sanctions on Moscow. In the U.S., a bipartisan sanctions bill is gaining momentum in the Senate. Spearheaded by Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham and Democrat Sen. Richard Blumenthal, the proposal would impose a 500% tariff on imports from countries that continue buying Russian energy exports, such as China and India. In response to repeated aerial attacks on Kyiv, Ukrainian authorities announced the launch of a new initiative called “Clear Sky,” aimed at boosting drone defense capabilities. The project, with a budget of 260 million hryvnias (around $6.2 million), includes investments in interceptor drones, mobile response units, and operator training. Zelenskyy emphasized the need for international support to scale up production of these domestically developed interceptor drones. “Our scientists and engineers have found a solution,” he said. “Now we need financing. Then we will intercept.”

More than 500 migrants were brought to the mainland port of Lavrio, near Athens, on Thursday after being intercepted south of Crete, as Greek authorities move to tackle a sharp rise in Mediterranean crossings originating from Libya. The group, mainly composed of young men, had been traveling on a fishing trawler that was stopped by Greek officials. They were transferred overnight to a bulk carrier and later brought ashore with the assistance of service vessels. Kenya's president says 'enough is enough' and vows to end anti-government protests The migrants are now being sent to detention facilities near the capital. Officials ordered the transfer to the mainland as reception centers on Crete have reached full capacity. The island has seen a daily influx of around 500 new arrivals since the weekend. On Wednesday, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced a three-month suspension of asylum procedures for migrants arriving by sea from North Africa. The decision—focused on Crete—comes amid growing diplomatic tensions between the European Union and Libya over migration cooperation. Earlier this week, EU delegates were turned away from eastern Libya due to a disagreement over the format of planned discussions on stemming migrant flows. Authorities on Crete are struggling to cope with the escalating situation, relying on temporary facilities to shelter migrants, most of whom are reportedly from Somalia, Sudan, Egypt, and Morocco.    

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez presented anti-corruption measures in response to the mounting corruption cases involving his Socialist Party, and again said he would not step down from office. Speaking in parliament Wednesday at an extraordinary session about a corruption probe involving a former Socialist Party official, the Spanish leader took responsibility for his poor judgement but repeatedly said he would not step down, calling himself “an honest politician” with “the pride of leading an exemplary party.” “I will not throw in the towel,” Sánchez said. The left-wing Spanish leader spoke about a week after a Supreme Court judge ordered the pretrial detention of Santos Cerdán, a former aide to the prime minister and previously the third-most senior member of the Socialist Party, over allegations that he received kickbacks for public works contracts. On Wednesday, Sánchez presented 15 anti-corruption measures, including bringing more transparency to political and public financing, and working with the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development to crack down on graft. Other measures involved blacklisting companies found guilty of corruption, using artificial intelligence to oversee public procurement contracts, and sanctioning political parties involved in graft. The move immediately drew ridicule from opposition leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo, leader of the conservative People’s Party, who urged Sánchez to take responsibility for his party’s actions, report what he knew and call early elections. Malaysian PM warns Southeast Asia that trade war is not ‘passing storm’ “It’s not that it’s the only decent way out,” Feijóo said, “but you have no alternative.” A former Sánchez minister is also ensnared in the corruption investigation involving Cerdán, who has denied the allegations. Facing separate corruption or misconduct probes are the prime minister's former attorney general, brother and wife, all of whom have denied wrongdoing. Sánchez himself has not been accused in any of the cases. Over the weekend, an official that Sánchez had just promoted as part of his Socialist Party’s shake-up resigned over sexual misconduct allegations. The Spanish leader has been in power since 2018 and leads a minority coalition government with leftwing allies. His government has been unable to pass legislation and in recent weeks, its future has looked increasingly uncertain amid the corruption probes.

Russia launched a record-breaking 728 Shahed and decoy drones along with 13 missiles at Ukraine overnight, the Ukrainian air force reported Wednesday, marking a sharp escalation in the ongoing war now in its fourth year. The western city of Lutsk, near the borders with Poland and Belarus, was the hardest hit in the wave of attacks, though President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said at least 10 other regions were also targeted. Lutsk, a key military hub with airfields frequently used by Ukrainian cargo planes and fighter jets, plays a crucial logistical role in receiving foreign military aid before it’s distributed to other parts of Ukraine. Russia has intensified its long-range strikes to disrupt these supply lines. In recent weeks, Moscow has ramped up the scale and complexity of its aerial offensives, increasingly using decoy drones to try and overwhelm Ukrainian air defenses. The latest barrage surpasses the previous record set on the night of July 4. These attacks come alongside renewed efforts by Russia’s larger army to break through weakened segments of the 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) frontline, where Ukrainian troops are under growing pressure. U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday he was “not happy” with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has remained unmoved on his ceasefire and peace demands since Trump took office in January. Trump also said on Monday that the U.S. may need to send additional weapons to Ukraine, following a temporary pause in arms shipments that raised questions about Washington's commitment to Kyiv’s defense. President Zelenskyy described the latest assault as a deliberate signal from the Kremlin amid faltering U.S.-led peace efforts. He called on Ukraine’s international partners to tighten sanctions on Russian oil and penalize those funding Moscow’s war by purchasing its energy exports. “Everyone who wants peace must act,” Zelenskyy urged. During his visit to Italy on Wednesday, the Ukrainian leader was scheduled to meet Pope Leo XIV. Ukrainian officials said two people were injured in the Kyiv region during the overnight strikes, while emergency teams continued to assess the full scale of damage. In response to the assault, Poland scrambled fighter jets and raised its military alert level, according to a post by the Polish Armed Forces Operational Command on social media platform X. Europe’s top court to rule on Russia-Ukraine cases Elsewhere in Europe, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen issued a stark warning on Tuesday, saying Russia could become a serious security threat to the European Union within five years. She called for a rapid boost in defense manufacturing across both Europe and Ukraine. According to Ukraine’s air force, 296 drones and seven missiles were successfully intercepted overnight. An additional 415 drones either crashed or were neutralized via jamming technologies. President Zelenskyy noted growing success in using domestically developed interceptor drones, made specifically to counter Russia’s Shahed drones. He said production is increasing, aided by Western partnerships. Military analysts warn that Russia is ramping up its own drone manufacturing and may soon be capable of launching up to 1,000 drones per night. Ukraine, meanwhile, has expanded its own drone operations, recently conducting long-range strikes deep inside Russian territory. Russia’s Defense Ministry reported Wednesday that its air defenses shot down 86 Ukrainian drones across six regions, including the area around Moscow. As a precaution, flights were temporarily halted at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport and the Kaluga International Airport. In Russia’s border region of Kursk, Governor Alexander Khinshtein said a Ukrainian drone strike on the regional capital just before midnight killed three people and injured seven others, including a five-year-old child.

Europe’s highest human rights court is set to issue a ruling Wednesday on cases against Russia concerning its actions during the conflict in Ukraine, including alleged human rights violations throughout the full-scale invasion and the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17. The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in Strasbourg will decide on four cases brought by Ukraine and the Netherlands against Russia, marking the first time an international court will assess Russia’s responsibility for the broader Ukraine conflict dating back to 2014. While any decision will carry largely symbolic weight — as the court’s governing body expelled Moscow in 2022 following the full-scale invasion — families of MH17 victims view the ruling as a crucial milestone in their pursuit of justice. “It’s a real step in understanding who was really responsible,” said Thomas Schansman, who lost his 18-year-old son Quinn in the tragedy. The Boeing 777, en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, was shot down on July 17, 2014, by a Russian-made Buk missile launched from territory in eastern Ukraine controlled by separatist rebels. All 298 people on board, including 196 Dutch citizens, were killed. In May, the United Nations’ aviation agency officially held Russia responsible for the disaster. The ECHR is a key institution within the Council of Europe, the continent’s premier human rights body. Russia was expelled from the council due to its invasion and ongoing war in Ukraine, but the court can still hear cases against Russia dating from before its expulsion. Russia fires over 100 drones at Ukraine as Kremlin dismisses transport chief after travel chaos Last year, the court ruled in favor of Ukraine and the Netherlands in a jurisdictional challenge, determining there was sufficient evidence to conclude that areas in eastern Ukraine controlled by separatists were “under the jurisdiction of the Russian Federation,” given Moscow’s provision of weapons and political and economic support. Wednesday’s ruling will not be the last decision from the ECHR regarding the war. Kyiv has additional cases pending against Russia, and nearly 10,000 individual complaints have been filed against the Kremlin. These decisions are separate from a criminal trial in the Netherlands where two Russians and a Ukrainian rebel were convicted in absentia for multiple murders linked to the MH17 downing. Meanwhile, in 2022, the United Nations’ top court ordered Russia to cease military operations in Ukraine during ongoing proceedings—a directive Russia has ignored. Last month, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy formally approved plans to establish a new international court to prosecute senior Russian officials for the full-scale invasion. Schansman, who has also filed a personal case with the ECHR, said he intends to continue seeking justice more than a decade after his son’s death. “The worst thing we could do is stop fighting,” he told The Associated Press. “MH17 is not a case that will disappear for Russia.”

French President Emmanuel Macron has arrived in the United Kingdom for a three-day state visit marked by royal ceremony and high-stakes political discussions focused on curbing cross-Channel migration and supporting Ukraine. Macron’s visit comes at the invitation of King Charles III and represents the first state visit by a European Union head of state to the UK since Brexit, symbolizing Britain’s efforts to rebuild ties with the EU following its 2020 departure from the bloc. The French President and his wife, Brigitte Macron, were received at a Royal Air Force base by Prince William and Princess Catherine. They then traveled to Windsor Castle in a horse-drawn carriage, passing through streets decorated with Union Jacks and French tricolor flags. Upon arrival at Windsor, the Macrons were welcomed with a military honor guard and will attend a state banquet hosted by King Charles and Queen Camilla. This visit follows a reciprocal state visit by the British royals to France in September 2023. While the monarch is expected to avoid direct political commentary, King Charles will use his address at the banquet to make a broader call for international unity, stating that the UK and France “face a multitude of complex threats” that “know no borders,” adding that “no fortress can protect us against them.” During his stay, President Macron will also address both houses of the British Parliament in the historic Royal Gallery before holding bilateral talks with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Discussions will focus on migration, defense cooperation, and investment. Focus on migration: "New tactics to stop boats" A major item on the agenda is tackling illegal migration across the English Channel. At a UK-France summit scheduled for Thursday, senior officials from both governments will discuss joint efforts to reduce the number of small boats carrying migrants from northern France to the UK. Though the UK receives fewer asylum seekers compared to southern European nations, it remains a popular destination for migrants. Thousands use northern France as a launching point, especially after increased security measures targeted truck stowaways. In 2024, around 37,000 people crossed the Channel in small boats, making it the second-highest annual total after 2022. Over 20,000 crossings have already been recorded in the first half of 2025 — a nearly 50% increase over the same period last year. The journey remains perilous, with dozens losing their lives attempting it. Ukraine pursues joint weapons production with allies as US pauses some arms shipments Prime Minister Starmer, whose centre-left government came to power a year ago, has vowed to “smash the gangs” behind the human smuggling networks. His strategy emphasizes closer cooperation with France and countries along migrant routes in Africa and the Middle East. The UK is also pursuing bilateral agreements with individual countries to repatriate failed asylum seekers. British officials have urged French police to take more aggressive action to prevent crossings. Recent footage of French officers slashing rubber dinghies was welcomed by the UK. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper commented that the French are “bringing in important new tactics to stop boats that are in the water.” The UK is also pushing France to allow its officers to intervene in deeper waters, a proposal currently under consideration in Paris. However, some migrant rights advocates and a police union have warned that such moves could pose risks to both migrants and law enforcement personnel. Tom Wells, spokesperson for Starmer, acknowledged the complexity of the discussions, stating, “Some of the tactics being discussed are operationally and legally complex, but we’re working closely with the French.” Keeping Ukraine on the agenda Macron and Starmer are also coordinating closely on Ukraine. Both leaders have championed efforts to establish an international peacekeeping force to help enforce a future ceasefire, should one be reached. The proposed force would involve European troops, military equipment, and U.S. security guarantees. However, the plan has met resistance from Washington, with U.S. President Donald Trump showing limited enthusiasm for the idea. Russia, meanwhile, has continued its military aggression in Ukraine, making a ceasefire uncertain. Despite these hurdles, British officials maintain that the initiative — referred to as a “coalition of the willing” — remains viable. Macron and Starmer are expected to participate in an international videoconference on Thursday to continue planning efforts. Starmer spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday and discussed the “significant progress being made by military planners,” according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s office.

Greek authorities have detained over 1,200 migrants on the island of Crete and the nearby islet of Gavdos over the past three days, following a sharp increase in arrivals from Libya. The Greek coast guard reported intercepting multiple boats off Crete's southern coast between Saturday and Monday, prompting regional officials to call for additional support from the government. The spike in arrivals comes as Greece’s Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis visited Libya for talks with both the internationally recognized government and a rival faction, seeking solutions to the escalating migration crisis and ongoing disputes over maritime boundaries. Government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis said patrol operations by the coast guard and navy in the area will likely be strengthened. According to him, around 8,000 migrants have landed on Crete so far this year. “This is a complex and extremely serious situation. Crete and its residents are under immense pressure,” Marinakis said. “We hope diplomatic efforts succeed. If not, we’ll have to implement stricter, large-scale measures to safeguard the country.” Many migrants undertake the dangerous 350-kilometer (220-mile) journey from Libya to Crete in unsafe, makeshift boats, often assembled to survive a single trip or converted from abandoned vessels. The small island of Gavdos, located south of Crete, has been overwhelmed by the influx. Stranded boats and dinghies litter its remote, pebble beaches, some accessible only on foot. On one such beach, a migrant named David from conflict-ridden South Sudan sat with five others, resting as they considered their next steps. He told The Associated Press that smugglers mistreated many passengers during the journey and demanded extra payments. “After you pay, everything is by force. If you speak, they beat you,” David said, describing the overcrowded and dangerous conditions on board. He expressed his hope to stay anywhere in Europe. Australian woman convicted of killing 3 relatives by serving poisonous mushroom meal “We didn’t come to cause problems. We came to save our lives,” he added. “If you stay [back home], you die.” Meanwhile, European Commissioner Magnus Brunner is scheduled to visit Libya this week alongside officials from Greece, Italy, and Malta to urge Libyan authorities to step up efforts to prevent migrant departures to Europe.

Russia launched over 100 drones targeting civilian areas in Ukraine overnight, Ukrainian officials said on Monday, as the Kremlin dismissed its transport minister following widespread travel disruptions over the weekend caused by fears of Ukrainian drone strikes. At least 10 civilians were killed and 38 others, including three children, were injured in Russian attacks over the past 24 hours, according to Ukrainian authorities. Russia has intensified its aerial assaults on Ukrainian civilian targets in recent weeks, more than three years into the war. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated Monday that Russia had deployed approximately 1,270 drones, 39 missiles, and nearly 1,000 glide bombs against Ukraine over the past week alone. Meanwhile, Russia's military continues its efforts to break through certain sections of the roughly 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line, where Ukrainian forces remain stretched thin. Amid mounting pressure from Russia’s invasion, limited progress in peace negotiations, and last week's suspension of some promised U.S. weapons deliveries, Ukraine has been pushing for increased military support from the U.S. and European allies. Zelenskyy announced on Saturday that Ukraine had signed new agreements with European partners and a major U.S. defense manufacturer to ramp up drone production, with plans to deliver "hundreds of thousands" more drones this year. Israel strikes Houthis in Yemen; rebels fire missile back “Air defense is the key to protecting lives,” Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram Monday, noting the importance of producing interceptor drones to counter Russia’s long-range Shahed drones. Drones have also played a crucial role in helping Ukraine offset its manpower shortages along the front line. In the latest Russian drone attacks, one person was killed in Odesa, 27 injured in Kharkiv, and falling debris damaged parts of Kyiv, according to Ukrainian officials. In northern Ukraine’s Sumy region, Russian short-range drone strikes killed two people and wounded two more. Sumy has seen a significant Russian military buildup in recent weeks. In the eastern Donetsk region, regional head Vadym Filashkin reported seven deaths and nine injuries, though he did not specify the type of weapons used. Ukraine’s Army Ground Forces command said Russian long-range drone strikes targeted military recruitment centers for the third time in five days, apparently aiming to disrupt troop mobilization. Additional strikes in Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia injured at least 17 people, regional officials said. Meanwhile, Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed its forces intercepted 91 Ukrainian drones across 13 Russian regions, as well as over the Black Sea and Crimea, the peninsula annexed by Moscow in 2014. On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed Transport Minister Roman Starovoyt, according to an official decree published on the Kremlin's website. His deputy, Andrey Nikitin, was appointed acting transport minister. Nikitin previously served as governor of Russia’s Novgorod region. The Kremlin did not provide a reason for Starovoyt’s dismissal, and spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to comment. The minister’s removal follows a chaotic weekend of mass flight cancellations and delays at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo and St. Petersburg’s Pulkovo airports, as well as disruptions at other airports in western and central Russia, all linked to the threat of Ukrainian drone attacks. Thousands of passengers faced lengthy delays as a result.

A ship came under attack Sunday in the Red Sea off the coast of Yemen by armed men firing guns and launching rocket-propelled grenades, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center, a group overseen by the British military. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, which occurred amid heightened tensions in the Middle East due to the Israel-Hamas war and recent conflicts involving Iran and the United States. The attack took place approximately 100 kilometers (60 miles) southwest of Hodeida, Yemen, a city controlled by Houthi rebels. The UK Maritime Trade Operations center stated that an armed security team aboard the ship returned fire and described the situation as ongoing. “Authorities are investigating,” the center added. Maritime security firm Ambrey issued a warning saying that a merchant ship was “attacked by eight skiffs while transiting northbound in the Red Sea” and believed the attack was still in progress. Ukraine pursues joint weapons production with allies as US pauses some arms shipments The U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet referred questions to the U.S. Central Command, which had not immediately responded to requests for comment. The Houthi rebels have previously launched missile and drone attacks against commercial and military vessels in the region, describing their actions as efforts to end Israel’s offensive against Hamas in Gaza. Their al-Masirah satellite news channel confirmed the attack but offered no further comments, instead airing a speech by their leader, Abdul Malik al-Houthi. Between November 2023 and January 2025, the Houthis targeted more than 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones, sinking two ships and killing four sailors. These attacks significantly disrupted the flow of trade through the Red Sea corridor, which typically sees goods worth $1 trillion annually. The Houthis had paused their attacks under a self-imposed ceasefire until mid-March, when the U.S. launched a broad assault against them. The ceasefire ended weeks later, and while the Houthis have not attacked any vessels since, they have continued missile attacks targeting Israel. On Sunday, the group claimed to have launched a missile at Israel, which the Israeli military said was intercepted. Meanwhile, the decade-long war in Yemen between the Houthis and the exiled government, supported by a Saudi-led coalition, remains at a stalemate. The Yemeni Coast Guard, loyal to the exiled government, has also engaged in firefights with vessels in the Red Sea. In addition, Somali pirates have operated in the region, typically targeting vessels for robbery or ransom.