Leaders Pledge Ukraine Support.
UK's Starmer Hosts European Leaders to Discuss Ukraine Support Amid Rising Tensions.
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British Prime Minister Keir Starmer hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in London on June 7 to coordinate continued support for Ukraine. The summit came as Ukraine launched a massive drone offensive against St. Petersburg — striking targets more than 1,000 kilometers inside Russia — in one of Kyiv's boldest deep-strike operations of the war, according to AP News.
The meeting of the so-called E3 group signals a broader European effort to build a durable security framework for Ukraine. With Washington's attention focused elsewhere, Starmer, Macron, and Merz are stepping up — trying to show that European support will not waver regardless of shifts in US policy, The Guardian reported.
Ukraine Strikes St. Petersburg in Landmark Deep-Strike Operation
On June 3 and 4, Ukraine launched drones that flew over 1,000 kilometers to hit the Neste Oil Terminal and the Petergofskaya Oil Depot in St. Petersburg — Russia's second-largest city. The timing was deliberate. Russia was hosting the high-profile St. Petersburg International Economic Forum at the time, according to AP News.
A second wave followed on June 6. Ukraine launched 376 drones targeting the Kronstadt Naval Base and a military arsenal in the Leningrad region. St. Petersburg's governor told residents to stay indoors as internet services went dark. The Institute for the Study of War said the strikes show Russia "cannot reliably defend its major cities," even during major public events, ISW noted.
Peace Bid Fails as Putin Rejects Zelenskyy's Ceasefire Offer
On June 4, Zelenskyy sent Putin a direct letter calling for a full ceasefire and face-to-face talks, according to Bloomberg. Putin responded two days later at the economic forum. He claimed "complete Russian control" of the Luhansk region and called Zelenskyy's offer "pointless."
With diplomacy stalled, Zelenskyy arrived in London on June 7 seeking concrete security guarantees and access to more long-range capabilities. The failed peace bid sets a grim backdrop — most analysts now see a prolonged war of attrition as the most likely path forward.
E3 Leaders Build a European-Led Security Pillar Without Washington
Macron's office said the London meeting aims to "increase pressure on Russia." The E3 leaders are pushing to move the so-called "Coalition of the Willing" — a group of 30-plus countries — from a talking point into an active military planning structure. A major follow-up meeting is set for July 13–14 in Paris, according to The Guardian.
Under Chancellor Merz, Germany has taken a sharper stance than under his predecessor. He has committed Germany to a stronger NATO eastern flank posture, including a permanent German brigade in Lithuania. On January 6, 2026, the UK and France also signed a Declaration of Intent to deploy a multinational force in Ukraine if a ceasefire is reached, Sky News reported.
EU Aid Unlocked but European Unity Has Its Limits
Hungary's new Prime Minister Péter Magyar — who replaced Viktor Orbán in April 2026 — unblocked €90 billion in EU aid for Ukraine, according to Euractiv. That removed a major bottleneck. But Magyar still opposes sending weapons or soldiers, showing that even a post-Orbán Europe remains split on how far to go militarily.
In May 2026, Russian forces lost control of roughly 280 square kilometers of territory despite claiming local gains, according to ISW. Meanwhile, Russia's attacks on Black Sea shipping lanes continue to threaten global grain supplies, adding economic pressure to an already grinding conflict, Al Jazeera reported.
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