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6 mins ago
Zelensky will address the G7 as leaders plan the next stage of their response to Russia's war
By Kevin Liptack
US President Joe Biden and other world leaders, gathered in the Bavarian Alps, will hear Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday as they reflect on the next phase of their country's bloody war with Russia.
The conflict has been at the center of the Group of 7 summit.
The leaders have decided on new measures to isolate the Russian economy, including a ban on further imports of Russian gold, and are pledging support for Zelensky as his country suffers setbacks in the east.
There are other big items on the agenda, such as a new effort to counter China's infrastructure investments in the developing world, which have spread Beijing's influence around the world.
But how much longer the Western front can remain united against Russia is the question hanging over these talks.
Zelensky, who is also scheduled to speak at this week's NATO summit in Madrid, has pressed the West to accelerate sanctions on Moscow and heavy artillery to push back the Russian invaders.
9 mins ago
Evacuation of civilians from Severodonetsk is possible only "to Russia or the occupied territories"
By Yulia Kesavia
A man rides a scooter past a damaged car in Lisychansk on June 21, 2022, as Ukraine says Russian shelling has caused "catastrophic destruction" in the eastern industrial city, which lies just across a river from Severodonetsk, where Russian and Ukrainian troops have been at odds for weeks.
(Photo by ANATOLII STEPANOV/AFP via Getty Images)
The remaining civilians in the city of Severodonetsk (between 7,000 and 8,000) can only be evacuated "towards Russia or the occupied territories", Oleksandr Striuk told a briefing on Monday.
He added that the health situation is also fragile and there are only a few doctors left in the city.
He described as "critical" the situation of water and food in the city.
Striuk, the Head of the Severodonetsk Military Administration, also said that the only way for Ukrainian troops to leave the city was by raft across the river.
He added that "almost all units have withdrawn and taken as much equipment as they can."
Striuk also provided an update on the Russian forces now occupying the city.
He described the Russians as "trying to establish their occupational authority" and that many units have been housed in the homes of evacuated residents.
The city of Lysychansk, located south of Severodontesk, "is being bombarded with artillery non-stop and the city is being razed," Striuk said.
"I would say that since they have captured Severodonetsk they are focusing all their efforts on Lysychansk."
13 mins ago
Lisichansk Civilians Urged to Evacuate as Russian Forces Close
By Tim Lister and Oleksandra Ochman
Local residents gather near a shelter during a military attack in Lysychansk, Ukraine, on June 17.
(Photo: Oleksandr Ratushniak/Reuters)
Civilians in Lisichansk have been urged to leave immediately as Russian forces gain ground in Ukraine's last remaining town in the eastern Luhansk region.
"Due to the real threat to life and health, we call for an immediate evacuation. The situation in the city is very difficult," the head of the Luhansk regional military administration, Serhiy Hayday, said on Telegram.
He promised civilians that they would be treated in other Ukrainian cities.
Videos from Lisichansk suggest that some civilians are reluctant to leave their homes, regardless of who controls the city.
There are between 10,000 and 15,000 people still in Lisychansk, with only about 50 people leaving a day, according to Shybiko Valerii, head of the Ukrainian military administration in Lisychansk.
The United States will announce the purchase of a medium to long-range surface-to-air missile defense system for Ukraine
The forces of the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic (LPR), which is fighting alongside the Russian military, said on Monday that they are carrying out "a successful offensive in the Lisychansk area with the fire support of the Russian army."
"The enemy suffered heavy losses in personnel and armored vehicles," he said on his Telegram channel.
"The people's militia continues to liberate the territory occupied by Kyiv," the LPR added, stating that the town of Borivske, 5 kilometers (3 miles) from Lisychansk, is now under their control.
LPR militia officers claimed to have cut off two evacuation routes for Ukrainian troops from Lisychansk, according to a reporter from the state-run Ria Novosti news agency.
Heavy fighting has broken out southwest of Lisychansk around Vovchoyarivka, near the main road leading west, as Russian forces attempt to complete the encirclement of the town.
17 mins ago
Analysis: The tide turns in the war as Russia advances in the east
By Tim Lister
Russian forces are arguably enjoying their best moment since the invasion of Ukraine began four months ago.
Russia eliminated most of the Ukrainian defenses in the Luhansk region, consolidated control of a belt of territory in the south, improved its logistics and command structure, and mitigated the effectiveness of Ukrainian attack drones.
In the past week, the Russians have been rewarded for their intense, some would say ruthless, bombardment of the remaining parts of the Luhansk region held by Ukrainian forces, which have ultimately ceded Severodonetsk and lost territory south of Lysychansk.
The head of the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic, Leonid Pasechnik, predicted last Friday that Russian forces would completely encircle Lysychansk in two to three days.
So far they haven't, but the city is in imminent danger.
The Ukrainian city of Severodonetsk is "completely under Russian occupation" after months of fighting
Russian forces have also stepped up attacks in the Donetsk region, moving a little closer to the belt of industrial cities in the region that stretches south from Sloviansk through Kramatorsk to Kostiantynivka.
See the full analysis here.
21 mins ago
US and G7 leaders will try to limit the price of Russian oil
By Kevin Liptack
G7 leaders line up for an informal group photo at the "Merkel - Obama" bench after dinner at the G7 meeting in Schloss Elmau, Germany, on June 26.
(Photo: Michael Kappeler/picture alliance/Getty Images)
Western leaders meeting at the G7 have decided to try to limit the price of Russian oil, according to the officials.
It is the last step to punish Moscow and try to mitigate the economic effects of the war in Ukraine.
It remains to be seen how, when and by how much the price of Russian oil will be capped.
Officials said the precise mechanism to achieve the cap is still being worked out.
The leaders said they will instruct their teams to work on finding a way to cap the price at which Russia can sell its oil, depriving Moscow of a key source of revenue.
Russian Missiles Hit Kyiv as G7 Summit Begins in Europe
"The goal is to 'starve' Russia, deprive Russian President Vladimir Putin of his main source of income, and force down the price of Russian oil to help mitigate the impact of Putin's war on gas stations," said a senior US administration official.
As oil prices have soared, Russia's oil revenues have risen despite global import bans.
The leaders want to use their collective influence to reduce the income that Russia receives from the countries that still buy its oil.
It is not clear how.
One official suggested that G7 nations have leverage through oil transportation networks that could help enforce the cap.
More Sanctions
: G7 leaders are also set to announce a long series of new sanctions, including on Russian defense supply chains, Russians responsible for human rights violations and war crimes, private military companies and to new visa restrictions for 500 civil servants.
New Funding
: The United States will also announce $7.5 billion in new funding for Ukraine, as part of a broader commitment by the G7 nations to help the country offset its budget shortfalls.
war in ukraine
