Key events
Ukraine urgently needs more air defence, EU’s von der Leyen says, pledges to discuss at Nato
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen backed Zelenskyy’s call for stronger air defence for Europe, saying this will be discussed at the Nato summit in Ankara this week and pledging that Europe will “keep increasing the pressure until Russia ends the bloodshed.”
In a post on X, she said:
“Last night, the Russian regime once again blindly attacked civilians from the air, with over 400 drones and missiles attacking the capital. Ukraine urgently needs more air defence. We will discuss it this week in Ankara at the @NATO Summit.
Last week we provided the first €4 billion under our €90 billion loan, to strengthen Ukraine’s defence with advanced drone technology. More is coming very soon. And we are working hard to seal the deal on the 21st sanctions package in the next days. We will keep increasing the pressure until Russia ends the bloodshed.”
Morning opening: Zelenskyy calls for ‘strong decisions’ after Russia kills 11 in strikes on Kyiv
Jakub Krupa
Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged Nato to make “strong decisions” at this week’s Nato summit in Ankara after 11 people were killed in another overnight Russian strike on Kyiv.
Around 60 more people were injured after 68 missiles and over 350 drones hit the Ukrainian capital.
He said Ukraine struggles because of “the insufficient supply of interceptor missiles,” and its partners could help to supply its air defence systems and “protect the lives of ordinary people.”
“As long as Patriot missiles remain in our allies’ stockpiles, Russia is only encouraged to keep vanquishing residential buildings. The United States and Europe have enough strength to stop this terror,” he said in a post on X.
The attack comes just days after a similar deadly strike on Kyiv, and with the Nato summit – expected to include discussions on Ukraine – starting tomorrow.
Russia claimed its “massive attack” targeted military and energy facilities, despite evidence showing damaged apartment blocks.
We are likely to hear more on this throughout the day, as leaders prepare for the Nato summit.
I will bring you all the latest.
It’s Monday, 6 July 2026, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.
Good morning.
