Ukraine-Russia war latest: G7 leaders agree to boost Ukraine’s air defence after ‘very good’ Trump-Zelensky meeting

The leaders of the G7 countries have announced today that they stand united in support of Ukraine, including its territorial integrity, and agreed to increase the pressure on the Russian war economy.

“In this context, we will strengthen our ⁠sanctions (against Russia), including those ​on ⁠the oil and ‌gas sectors,” the leaders said in a joint statement.

Separately, the leaders, who are meeting for a summit in the French town of Evian-les-Bains, have also welcomed the deal between the United States and Iran and said they are ready to contribute to its implementation.

They ‌added they will ​make efforts to ‌diversify energy supply routes ⁠and reduce dependence ⁠on the Strait of Hormuz ‌and increase ​energy stocks.

Volodymyr Zelensky appears to have got the tone right as he presented evidence to Donald Trump of the war’s impact on his country, which officials say moved the US president.

Two European diplomats said that, during the meeting, Zelensky showed Trump images of the aftermath of a Russian strike ‌on Monday ⁠on Kyiv’s Pechersk Lavra monastery.

Trump expressed disapproval of the strike, one of the European diplomats said, while the other said that it had been “psychologically” a good move by Zelensky to show the images.

European diplomats said the tone of the meeting had been constructive.

Volodymyr Zelensky appears to have got the tone right as he presented evidence to Donald Trump of the war’s impact on his country, which officials say moved the US president.

Two European diplomats said that, during the meeting, Zelensky showed Trump images of the aftermath of a Russian strike ‌on Monday ⁠on Kyiv’s Pechersk Lavra monastery.

Trump expressed disapproval of the strike, one of the European diplomats said, while the other said that it had been “psychologically” a good move by Zelensky to show the images.

European diplomats said the tone of the meeting had been constructive.

Russian president Vladimir Putin did not discuss the possibility of a meeting with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky during his latest phone call with US president Donald Trump, said Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov.

“No ⁠one has approached ‌us with such a proposal,” Ushakov told ‌reporters.

Trump said he spoke separately to Putin and Zelensky on Sunday.

Zelensky said on Monday that he had offered to meet Putin at a G7 summit in France this week, or even in the United States, for talks to end the war that is well into its fifth year.

In a poignant interview, Volodymyr Zelensky has said he misses being a father and confessed that he often cries when he meets the parents of the deceased Ukrainian soldiers.

Speaking during a virtual interview with Reuters on the sidelines of the G7 summit, Zelensky was asked what he used to tell his children most when they were younger.

“I love you,” Zelensky said, after a pause. On being asked what he tells them now that they’re older, Zelensky replied: “Oh, I miss you”.

The war-time leader, who is believed to be living away from his children since the full-scale invasion of Russia in February 2022, said he misses “being a good father”.

Zelensky, already seen turning emotional, said that he might cry after the interview.

“I will try to do it after our interview. No, I mean this, between us. I’m a normal man and then there are a lot of different moments, between us, almost each day, a lot of losses on the battlefield and civilians, and there are absolutely crazy attacks on our people,” he said, responding to a question on when did he last cry.

Zelensky went on: “And I’m just, it’s… I mean, It’s very difficult really, when I give orders (medals). I said about it. It’s always difficult for me when I give orders (medals) to the mothers and fathers, who lost their children. In such moments, really, I often cry.”

The journalist asked Zelensky if he thought of himself as a hero but the Ukrainian president denied.

He was then asked who was his hero. “My hero? My children, my army, our army, and Ukrainian people. So I’m a part… I’m also a Ukrainian, so I’m a part of our nation. But now our nation, I think, that our nation is absolutely heroic.”

Prime minister Keir Starmer has said the firing of warning shots by a Russian frigate to divert a UK-flagged civilian yacht near British territorial waters was reckless and deeply concerning.

“What happened in the Channel was deeply concerning. It was reckless,” Sir Keir, who is in France for the G7 summit, told BBC News.

He said the ministry of defence’s assessment was that the Russian vessel was “drifting, and they were warning shots”.

“That shouldn’t have happened. It is reckless, and the couple on the yacht ⁠must’ve been terrified.”

The Russian ministry said on Tuesday the crew of the frigate spotted a yacht travelling on a course that risked collision with the ship. After repeated attempts to establish radio contact failed, the frigate fired warning shots, including ‌small arms fire, ahead of the yacht, ​the ministry said.

It said the ‌yacht then altered course ⁠and moved away.

The incident took place yesterday in the English Channel, according to statements from the defence ministries of Britain and Russia.

They said the firing ⁠was designed to prevent ​a ⁠collision after unsuccessful attempts by the Admiral Grigorovich to contact the yacht.

Britain’s defence ministry described ⁠it as “an isolated incident” and not linked to the interception ‌of a ​Russian shadow fleet vessel intercepted ‌by British commandos over ​the weekend.

Crimea has banned the use of motorised vehicles such as scooters, quad bikes and motorcycles at nighttime, saying they sound like drone attacks, Moscow-installed authorities said.

Sergei Aksyonov, the peninsula’s Russian-installed governor, said the ban, which he called a temporary measure to guard military and other important facilities, would be in place between 8pm and 6am from Wednesday onwards.

“The moped noise hampers the work of defence systems. Their engines sound similar (to drones),” Oleg Kryuchkov, Aksyonov’s advisor, said separately on Telegram on Tuesday. “The enemy is recruiting your children for nighttime rides.”

Prime minister Keir Starmer has said the firing of warning shots by a Russian frigate to divert a UK-flagged civilian yacht near British territorial waters was reckless and deeply concerning.

“What happened in the Channel was deeply concerning. It was reckless,” Sir Keir, who is in France for the G7 summit, told BBC News.

He said the ministry of defence’s assessment was that the Russian vessel was “drifting, and they were warning shots”.

“That shouldn’t have happened. It is reckless, and the couple on the yacht ⁠must’ve been terrified.”

The Russian ministry said on Tuesday the crew of the frigate spotted a yacht travelling on a course that risked collision with the ship. After repeated attempts to establish radio contact failed, the frigate fired warning shots, including ‌small arms fire, ahead of the yacht, ​the ministry said.

It said the ‌yacht then altered course ⁠and moved away.

The incident took place yesterday in the English Channel, according to statements from the defence ministries of Britain and Russia.

They said the firing ⁠was designed to prevent ​a ⁠collision after unsuccessful attempts by the Admiral Grigorovich to contact the yacht.

Britain’s defence ministry described ⁠it as “an isolated incident” and not linked to the interception ‌of a ​Russian shadow fleet vessel intercepted ‌by British commandos over ​the weekend.

The warship fired warning shots towards the yacht, in what was described by the UK Ministry of Defence as an “isolated incident”.

Speaking to BBC Newsnight from the yacht, Jane recalled: “[The warship] gave out five blasts on their horn, which means ‘have you seen us?’