MOSCOW, June 12 (Reuters) — President Vladimir Putin announced on Friday that Russia is building a satellite-linked system to command combat drones, during a closed-door meeting with senior military brass, according to the Interfax news agency. The announcement comes as Moscow seeks to extend the reach and resilience of its unmanned aerial operations amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin stated on Friday that he sees no reason to meet with Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskiy, calling the Ukrainian leader’s recent open letter proposing face-to-face talks 'rude' and lacking sincerity. Speaking at Russia’s annual economic forum in St. Petersburg, Putin suggested the letter was a ploy to avoid genuine negotiations rather than a step toward peace.
In an open letter published Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to agree to face-to-face negotiations aimed at ending a war that has dragged on for over four years, while signaling Kyiv's readiness to continue resistance.
Kyiv’s expanded drone capabilities have helped counter the impact of reduced American military support, shifting the war’s trajectory in Ukraine’s favor.
For the first time since the war began, residents in St. Petersburg were told to stay indoors as Ukrainian drones hit targets in the Leningrad region, including a naval base and an oil depot, escalating the conflict on Russian soil.
Ukrainian drones struck oil depots, naval facilities and military targets near St. Petersburg on Saturday, prompting a Russian official to label the assault “unprecedented.” The coordinated operation, which also hit an oil depot in southern Russia, marks a significant escalation in Kyiv’s long-range strike campaign.
With the world's attention fixed on Iran, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is capitalizing on his nuclear-backed geopolitical position, securing high-level summits with China and Russia while positioning himself for potential talks with the U.S. and South Korea.
For years, residents of Moscow and St. Petersburg lived largely untouched by the war in Ukraine. Now, Kyiv's intensifying long-range strikes — paired with economic strain and digital crackdowns — are stirring unease in Russia’s urban heartland.
The Russian Energy Ministry has acknowledged significant fuel supply problems in several southern regions following a wave of Ukrainian attacks on the country's energy infrastructure. The admission marks a rare official confirmation of tactical setbacks from Moscow's war effort.
KYIV, June 12 (Reuters) — Ukraine plans to ask its allies for an additional $20 billion in military funding at a meeting next week, aiming to capitalize on what it sees as a fleeting window of battlefield momentum against Russian forces, a Ukrainian defense source told Reuters.
