Ukraine

A new report from UN human rights monitors in Ukraine has revealed the “horrific toll” of attacks by Russian armed forces, with May recording the highest number of civilian casualties in nearly a year. 

NATO will station a senior civilian official in Kyiv, among a raft of new measures designed to shore up long-term support for Ukraine that are expected to be announced at a summit in Washington next week, U.S. and alliance officials say.

The European Union and Ukraine began membership talks Tuesday, a process that could take years and which Russia has historically tried to prevent.

Moscow on Tuesday banned Russians from accessing 81 Western media sites from 25 EU nations, accusing them of "systematically distributing inaccurate information" about Russia's "special military operation" — the official name the Kremlin has given its invasion of Ukraine. … French news agency AFP, Germany's Der Spiegel, Spain's El Pais, and state broadcasters from Austria, Ireland and Italy were among the Western outlets blocked by the Kremlin.

The UN’s top political affairs official on Tuesday reiterated that attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure are prohibited by international law. More than 170 civilians lost their lives and a further 690 were injured in continued Russian strikes across Ukraine last month.

Ukraine has won the support of an international summit for its territorial integrity and part of its vision for ending Russia’s invasion, but major nations, including India, Brazil and South Africa, declined to sign up.

After weeks of wrangling, EU ambassadors late Friday (14 June) evening, agreed in principle on the negotiating frameworks for the accession negotiations of Ukraine and Moldova.

After a day of “difficult” negotiations, Hungary confirmed on Wednesday (12 June) that it will not hinder future NATO military aid to Ukraine, but was also promised the right not to take part in such efforts. 

The UN is becoming increasingly concerned over falling levels of humanitarian funding for civilians across war-torn Ukraine, the head of the UN Development Programme (UNDP) told delegates to the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Berlin on Wednesday. 

The United States and Poland on June 10 launched an international operation based in Warsaw whose mission is to help Ukraine counter Russian disinformation. … (T)he new Ukraine Communications Group … which begins its work on June 11, will comprise representatives from 12 countries, including Canada, France, Germany, Finland, Italy, and Ukraine.