Europe
President Zelenskyy ordered to clarify the details of the death of F-16 pilot Maksym Ustymenko, who destroyed seven aerial targets during the attack. The President also discussed the need to strengthen Ukraine's air defense after massive enemy strikes.
Budapest hosted its largest LGBTQ+ Pride in 30 years, gathering 200,000 participants despite the Orbán government's ban. The Mayor of Budapest and the Deputy Prime Minister of Spain led the demonstration, while the European Parliament emphasized support for European values.
Denmark will become the first European state to legally enshrine citizens' copyrights to their biometric data. This step is aimed at combating deepfakes and will allow demanding the blocking of content without consent.
On June 28, Ukraine celebrates Constitution Day, adopted in 1996. On the same day, the world celebrates International Milk Chocolate Day and other events.
Lithuania officially notified the UN of its withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention on the Prohibition of Anti-Personnel Mines. This decision was made due to the perception of Russia as a long-term existential threat, with the aim of using all means to protect the population and territory of NATO.
The Head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak stated that sanctions successfully deter Russia from aggression against Europe and NATO. He emphasized that sanctions and the struggle of the Ukrainian nation are the only things holding them back.
Estonia has confirmed its readiness to host F-35 aircraft of the North Atlantic Alliance on its territory, capable of carrying nuclear weapons. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called this "dangerous" for Russia.
The warming in Ukraine will begin on June 29 thanks to an anticyclone from Europe. This was announced by Natalia Ptukha, spokeswoman for the Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center. The weather will become more stable, less windy and sunnier.
The Chinese government has called on NATO to correct its “misconception” of the Asian giant. Earlier, NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg said that China is reorganizing and building up its military power. NATO sees what China, North Korea, and Iran are doing, emphasized the NATO Secretary General.
U. S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has extended extraordinary measures to avoid exceeding the statutory debt limit. The Treasury will no longer be able to meet all of its obligations without congressional action to raise or suspend the debt limit by mid-to-late summer.
The number of drug users in the world reached 316 million in 2023, according to a UN report; this growth is causing additional violence and mortality worldwide. The cocaine market is showing the fastest growth: production reached 3,708 tons in 2023, an increase of one-third.
People's Deputy Maria Mezentseva spoke about the details of the Agreement on a Special International Tribunal regarding Russia's military aggression. This tribunal will ensure the responsibility of high-ranking Russian officials, a clear definition of aggression as an international crime, and the possibility of convicting criminals in absentia.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that Ukraine is protecting the security of Europe, therefore NATO partners will continue to support it. According to him, a significant strengthening of NATO is a strong result for Ukraine.
Iranian Minister of Communications Sattar Hashemi stated that the internet in Iran has returned to its "previous state" after the ceasefire. However, the ban on social networks such as X is still in effect, and Iranians use VPNs to access them.
President of Poland Andrzej Duda stated that he does not expect an immediate Russian attack on NATO countries, as Russia is exhausted by the war in Ukraine. However, he emphasized a real threat in the future and called for increased defense spending.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that the increase in NATO defense spending is a result of members' "own convictions", and not a favor. NATO leaders plan to officially approve an increase in spending to 5% of GDP, which is attributed to pressure from Donald Trump.
New Tesla car sales in Europe fell by 27. 9% in May, while overall electric car sales in the region rose by 27.2%. The decline is attributed to competition from cheaper Chinese electric vehicles and protests against Elon Musk's policies.
The Ukrainian delegation at the NATO summit in The Hague announced preparations for a meeting between Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Donald Trump. Head of the President's Office Andriy Yermak reported that negotiations with the American side are already underway.
Denmark has allocated almost 3. 3 billion hryvnias for launching Ukrainian defense production on its territory. This project is the first step of the Build with Ukraine initiative, agreed upon during the Ramstein format meeting in Brussels, and will strengthen cooperation in the defense sector.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof in The Hague. A new aid package for Ukraine worth 175 million euros, including 100 drone detection radars, and an additional 80 million euros for drones, was discussed.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated that the Alliance faces challenges due to Russia's aggressive rearmament, supported by Chinese technology. NATO is strengthening its production capabilities, opening hundreds of new production lines to increase the output of military equipment.
According to Bloomberg Economics, a full-scale Russian war against Europe could reduce global GDP by $1. 5 trillion. Russia is actively increasing arms production, and the Baltic states are considered a potential target for aggression.
June 24 marks the International Fairy Day, established in 1999, and the World BDSM Day, created in 2003. Also, today is Pool Day and the Nativity of St. John the Baptist.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine condemned Iran's missile strike on the Al Udeid base in Qatar, emphasizing Tehran's close cooperation with Moscow. Ukraine expressed solidarity with Qatar and called on Iran to adhere to its nuclear non-proliferation obligations.
Adviser to the Head of the Presidential Office Mykhailo Podolyak stated that the situation in the Middle East is not a catastrophe for Ukraine. He emphasized that the West has the capacity to simultaneously assist Israel and Ukraine, and that rising oil prices benefit Russia.
Scientists have discovered that the weakening of the Gulf Stream ocean current has been happening for over a century, and it could soon disappear entirely, causing extreme cooling in Europe. A new study points to a "cold blob" in the North Atlantic as evidence of the weakening Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation.
Volodymyr Zelensky reacted to the Russian missile strike on a lyceum in Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi, which caused destruction and casualties. He stressed that such strikes are deliberate and require increased pressure on Russia.
The pharmaceutical company "Darnitsa" won a UN tender, which will allow it to supply medicines to 80 countries. At the same time, Ukraine is experiencing a significant increase in drug prices, and state regulation is proving ineffective, leading to an imbalance between manufacturers' business ambitions and the needs of Ukrainians.
The water level in the cooling pond of the Zaporizhzhia NPP has fallen below 14 meters after the Kakhovka reservoir explosion. The normative indicator is over 16 meters, which creates risks for nuclear safety.
Europe finds itself critically dependent on American tech giants such as Amazon, Microsoft, and Google, which control over two-thirds of the regional cloud computing market. This raises fears that the US administration could leverage its technological advantage, and even, at some point, disconnect Europe from vital cloud services that underpin its digital existence.