Lithuanian foreign minister comments on his journey to Kyiv during Russian attack: "Shower of missiles and drones"
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys, who arrived in Kyiv on Monday 9 June for an official visit, has shared that he had travelled to the Ukrainian capital through a "shower of missiles and drones" launched by Russia.
Source: Budrys on X (Twitter), as reported by European Pravda
Details: Budrys noted that Russia has recently intensified its strikes on Ukrainian civilian infrastructure.
Quote: "This morning, our train had to pass through the shower of missiles and drones striking the cities of Rivne and Dubno. Just days ago, a strike on Kharkiv killed and injured dozens, including children."
Details: He emphasised that these are "deliberate acts of terror aimed at breaking Ukraine's will".
Quote: "But Ukraine stands firm, defending not just its territory, but the principles of freedom and democracy in Europe. In fact, Ukraine is defending Europe. Peace will not come through appeasement. The world must stay united in supporting Ukraine – militarily, economically and politically."
Background:
Budrys is scheduled to hold a number of meetings in Kyiv, including with his Ukrainian counterpart Andrii Sybiha and Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna.
Russia launched a total of 499 drones and missiles on Ukraine on the night of 8-9 June, of which 479 were downed by air defence systems. Rivne Oblast came under particularly heavy attack.
Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Miami Herald
20 minutes ago
- Miami Herald
Kim Jong Un meets Russian Culture Minister amid growing ties
SEOUL. June 30 (UPI) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met with visiting Russian Culture Minister Olga Lyubimova in Pyongyang as the two countries continue to strengthen bilateral ties, the North's state-run media reported Monday. The meeting took place on Sunday at the headquarters of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea's Central Committee and was also attended by Russian Ambassador to North Korea Alexandr Matsegora, the official Korean Central News Agency reported. Lyubimova led a ministry delegation to mark the first anniversary of the countries' comprehensive strategic partnership treaty, under which North Korea has sent troops and weapons to Moscow to aid in its war against Ukraine. Kim said that "extensive and profound exchanges and cooperation in all fields are further expanding and developing day by day" in the wake of the partnership, according to KCNA. "It is important for the cultural sector to guide the relations between the two countries," he said. "It is necessary to further expand the exchange and cooperation in the field of culture and art to know well about each other's excellent cultural traditions and learn more." Lyubimova said her visit came at a time when the "solidity and invincibility of the DPRK-Russia friendship and solidarity are being more clearly proved," KCNA reported. The Democratic People's Republic of Korea is the official name of North Korea. "Cooperation between the two countries in the cultural field has reached the highest level in history," she added. The two discussed future plans for cultural exchanges and attended a concert by North Korean musicians and a visiting troupe of Russian performers, the KCNA report said. Photos released by KCNA showed images of North Korean troops deployed to Russia used as a stage backdrop. North Korea has sent some 14,000 troops to help Russia recapture lost territory in Kursk Province from Ukrainian forces, according to a recent report from the 11-country Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team. Pyongyang acknowledged sending the troops for the first time in April. The cultural meeting came on the heels of a pair of visits by Russia's Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu this month. On June 18, Shoigu announced that North Korea would send 6,000 military workers and combat engineers to help rebuild the Kursk region. North Korea is likely to send additional troops to support Russia's war against Ukraine in July or August, South Korea's National Intelligence Service told lawmakers in a closed-door meeting on Thursday. Copyright 2025 UPI News Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
Miami Herald
20 minutes ago
- Miami Herald
Russia Predicts Why NATO Will Collapse
Russia's foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, has predicted that the dramatic increase in NATO defense spending agreed last week will lead to its collapse. Responding to the statement on Thursday from Poland's foreign minister, Radoslaw Sikorski, that an arms race between Russia and the West could result in the fall of Vladimir Putin, Lavrov said: "He can probably see—since he is such a wise sage—that the disastrous increase in spending of NATO countries will also lead to the collapse of this organization." "Meanwhile, Russia—as President [Vladimir Putin] said the other day in Minsk after the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council meeting—plans to reduce its military spending and be guided by common sense, rather than imaginary threats, as NATO member states do, including Sikorski," he said, according to Russia's state TASS news agency. In an interview with the AFP news agency last week, Sikorski said: "Putin should understand that he is on the path of (Soviet leader Leonid) Brezhnev. He himself once said that the Soviet Union collapsed because it spent too much on armament, and now he is doing exactly the same thing." NATO leaders reached a historic agreement last week to significantly increase defense spending, following strong pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump. The 32-member alliance voiced an "ironclad commitment" to mutual defense in the event of an attack, reaffirming its core collective security principle. In a joint summit statement, the leaders pledged to allocate 5% of their GDP annually to core defense needs and related security spending by 2035, aiming to strengthen both individual and collective security obligations. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte hailed the summit as "transformational." Trump called the spending boost "something that no one really thought possible. And they said, 'You did it, sir. You did it.' Well, I don't know if I did it, but I think I did." However, not all members are on board. Spain has already made it clear it cannot meet the target, and other countries have raised concerns. Still, the agreement includes a 2029 review, which will coincide with the next U.S. presidential elections, to assess the progress and recalibrate NATO's response to Russia's growing threat. The alliance also reaffirmed its commitment to mutual defense, with a renewed emphasis on the principle that "an attack on one is an attack on all." Trump had cast doubt on the U.S.'s readiness to defend its allies in the lead-up to the summit. "Together, allies have laid the foundations for a stronger, fairer, and more lethal NATO," Rutte told reporters following the meeting in The Hague. "This will fuel a quantum leap in our collective defense." This article includes reporting from The Associated Press. Related Articles Ukrainian President Moves to Withdraw From Ottawa Convention: What to KnowNATO Scrambles Fighter Jets After Russia's Largest Air Assault on UkraineNATO Scrambles Fighter Jets To Intercept Russia Spy PlanesIran Joins China and Russia in Security Talks After US Strikes 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Miami Herald
20 minutes ago
- Miami Herald
Ukraine Rebukes NATO Member For Plea To Forgive Putin
Russia could be forgiven for its aggression in Ukraine if such a move could usher in peace talks, Slovakia's foreign minister Juraj Blanár has said in comments that have prompted a rebuke from Kyiv. In an interview with Slovak broadcaster STVR, Blanár said that the war in Ukraine could not be resolved militarily and that as part of a return to diplomacy, the West could forgive Russia. The comments from the top diplomat of a NATO member sparked anger among Ukrainian voices on social media and comes as Slovakia's prime minister, Robert Fico, faces criticism among Kyiv's supporters over his relationship with Russia's Vladimir Putin. Newsweek has contacted the Slovakian Foreign Ministry for comment. The war Putin started continues with no clear path to negotiations following Moscow's rejection of a ceasefire deal. Blanár's comments add to European concerns about the stance of an EU and NATO country toward Ukraine given Fico's opposition to continuing military aid for Kyiv and sanctions on Moscow. As negotiations remain stalled, Blanár said Sunday the international community may need to "perhaps" forgive Russia's actions and resume dialogue with Moscow. In a translation of his comments, he said that "diplomatic solutions" could be sought and that there should be "communication" with Russia to prevent a third world war, which could involve "even" forgiveness. But Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on X Monday that "Russia's sense of impunity is the root cause of its crimes." Sybiha's post added that it was naive to expect a criminal to stop if their crime is forgiven instead of punished and that Moscow will "hit the other cheek as well." The remarks came after Slovakia requested an 18th package of EU sanctions against Russia be postponed until a decision is reached over on the consequences of the European Commission's initiative to end dependence on Russian fossil fuels by 2030. Since taking office in 2023, Prime Minister Fico has halted Slovak military aid to Ukraine and unlike the EU increased diplomatic engagement with Russia, attending the Victory Day Parade in Moscow in May and meeting with Putin. Russia and Ukraine have held two rounds of face-to-face talks in Istanbul on May 16 on June 2, resulting in prisoner exchanges but no steps toward a ceasefire. During the latter meeting, both sides presented proposals for ending the war, which Putin said were incompatible. Kyiv had demanded an unconditional 30-day ceasefire, which is backed Western partners, while Russia insisted on a limited truce to recover the bodies of fallen soldiers. Slovakian Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár: "We want the conflict in Ukraine to be resolved peacefully, even though it will be difficult, and then look for ways to consolidate relations with must find some form of cooperation and maybe even forgiveness for everything that has happened here." Former Ukrainian presidential spokesperson Iuliia Mendel on X: "Slovak FM Juraj Blanár says resolving the Ukraine war (Russian aggression against Ukraine) requires communication with Russia and suggests the West may need to 'forgive' Russia. He emphasizes diplomacy and international law over military solutions." Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha on X: "It's naive to expect a criminal to stop if their crime is forgiven instead of punished. Russia will hit your other cheek as well." Pro-Ukrainian X user Devana: "If Russia received a harsh punishment for every crime, it would act differently. The world is partly complicit in Russian crimes and some countries should be put on trial together with the Russian Federation." Russia said it is open to a third round of negotiation and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan confirmed his country is willing to host and that efforts are underway to arrange a direct meeting between Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky—possibly with involvement from President Donald Trump. Related Articles Betting Market in Disarray Over Zelensky Suit That's Also Maybe Not a SuitUkrainian President Moves to Withdraw From Ottawa Convention: What to KnowNATO Scrambles Fighter Jets After Russia's Largest Air Assault on UkraineF-16 Pilot Killed As Russia Launches Largest Air Assault on Ukraine 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
