Published on: 05/06/2026 - 05:11 Modified on: 05/06/2026 - 22:38

The Russian president judged that a meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart had "no point" until a peace agreement had been finalized, after Volodymyr Zelensky's invitation to a tête-à-tête. Putin also reiterated that the war in Ukraine would only end when Russia had achieved its objectives. Find the thread for June 5, 2026.

This is the end of this live, thank you for following it. Find our coverage of the war in Ukraine here.

🎥 “Vladimir Putin is going through the most difficult period of his reign”

Are we seeing a turning point in the war in Ukraine? kyiv is increasing strikes deep into Russian territory, in a context where Russia is already in difficulty on the front line and where Vladimir Putin's power is weakened in many respects.

Vincent Jauvert, senior reporter, former head of the foreign service at Nouvel Obs, and author of “Kremlin confidential” (published by Albin Michel), was the guest of Au coeur de l’info ⤵️

Ukrainian drone strikes engineers near Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, Russian atomic energy agency says

Russia's atomic energy agency Rosatom said a Ukrainian drone deliberately struck engineers demining an area around the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, injuring at least three people.

Rosatom said the incident occurred at the start of a ceasefire around the plant, brokered by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the United Nations nuclear watchdog, to restore the plant's main external power supply.

“The strike was obviously premeditated,” Alexei Likachev, head of Rosatom, said in comments posted on social media. "Three of our engineers were injured. Two are in serious condition."

🎥 José Manuel Albares: “We support Ukraine so that it wins the war, and above all the peace”

In Here Europe, France 24 received this week the Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares.

The latter detailed Spain's policies, sometimes going against the grain of the rest of the European Union, and reaffirmed his country's support for Ukraine ⤵️

By rejecting his meeting proposal, Putin "chooses war again", deplores Zelensky

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky sharply criticized his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin for rejecting a request for a face-to-face meeting to discuss ending their four-year-old war

"Unfortunately, Russia is choosing war again. Everyone has heard today's response. A weak response. He simply does not want to end the war," Zelensky said after Putin said he saw "no point" in meeting the Ukrainian leader.

Russian servicemen injured in incident at Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, IAEA says

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said it was informed of a serious incident at the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, in which Russian servicemen were injured, shortly after Russia claimed Ukraine had violated the local ceasefire brokered by the IAEA.

Ukrainian envoy to Warsaw to calm historic dispute

An envoy from the Ukrainian president has arrived in Warsaw to seek a solution to the resurgence of a historic dispute which has poisoned relations between the two neighboring and allied countries for decades, we learned from an official source.

Warsaw has condemned Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's recent decision to name a military unit after a World War II-era nationalist organization that Warsaw blames for the deaths of more than 100,000 Poles in 1943-45.

“Outraged”, Polish nationalist President Karol Nawrocki proposed depriving his Ukrainian counterpart of the most important Polish distinction, the Order of the White Eagle, which had been awarded to him three years previously.

Obviously embarrassed, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, a pro-European committed to supporting Ukraine, this week called on the two heads of state for appeasement, while deeming Volodymyr Zelensky's decision "worrying".

🎥 Putin's Russia retreats on the Ukrainian front: can the EU force Moscow into peace?

The war in Ukraine is currently experiencing a lot of movement: the Russians have lost 280 km² of territory since the start of the year, while they progressed in 2025.

For their part, the Ukrainians managed to strike the heart of Saint Petersburg, where an economic forum was being held. With its back against the wall, Russia is raining down drones and ballistic missiles on Ukraine.

War in Ukraine will end only when Russia achieves its goals, Putin repeats

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said the war in Ukraine will end only when Russia achieves its goals.

“We assume that hostilities will end one day. And, without a doubt, they will end when we have achieved the objectives that we have set for ourselves,” declared Vladimir Putin in Saint Petersburg where he spoke as part of the major International Economic Forum (SPIEF).

Russian president says there is "no point" in a meeting with Zelensky until a final agreement is reached

The Russian president judged that a meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart had "no point" until a peace agreement had been finalized, after Volodymyr Zelensky's invitation to a tête-à-tête.

“I do not see the point of a meeting. It is only of interest for the Ukrainian side in order to stop the advance of our armed forces,” declared Vladimir Putin in Saint Petersburg, adding that it was necessary “to let the specialists work, develop solutions, and then we can meet.”

🎥 An issue of Reporters to (re)see 👉 Norway: the Svalbard archipelago, a pawn on the Russian chessboard

Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the Russian presence in Norway, a NATO member country, has caused concern.

Relations between Oslo and Moscow have deteriorated. The Russian "colonies", in the Svalbard archipelago, are subject to European economic sanctions, but are organizing to deal with them ⤵️

Norwegian arrested in Russia

A Norwegian national was arrested in Russia, the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, without giving further details.

“We can confirm that a Norwegian national has been arrested in Russia,” a ministry spokeswoman said in a message to AFP.

Norway has advised against travel to Russia since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

“The embassy has very limited means to provide consular assistance to Norwegian citizens in the country,” the ministry says on its website.

Russia could attack NATO "as early as 2030", warns British Prime Minister

Russia could attack NATO "as early as 2030", warned Keir Starmer, assuring the United Kingdom's determination to develop its military capabilities to be ready for such a situation.

“According to the assessment of our intelligence services, as well as that of other NATO countries, there could be an attack by Russia against NATO as early as 2030,” declared the head of the Labor government, traveling to the site of a defense company in Wiltshire.

“It is no exaggeration to say that we are living in the most dangerous and uncertain period of our lives,” said Keir Starmer, adding that it is his government’s “responsibility” to “be ready”.

📷 In pictures – Return to Ukraine of some 185 Ukrainian prisoners of war, as part of an exchange with Russia

Residents of the Chernyhiv region of Ukraine wait for the return of Ukrainian soldiers as part of a prisoner of war exchange between Russia and Ukraine, June 5, 2026.

Credits: Evgeniy Maloletka, AP

The return to the Russian side:

Credits: Russian Ministry of Defense, via AFP

Russian president downplays Russia's economic woes, insists on 'sovereignty'

Vladimir Putin downplayed, during an important investment forum in St. Petersburg, the economic difficulties facing his country, preferring to praise its "sovereignty" and its partnerships with the countries of the South.

“We are told from all sides that everything is going wrong with us. (...) Yes, economic dynamics are currently moderate,” declared the Russian president during a speech to Russian and foreign officials and businessmen. “In a tense and difficult context, Russia continues to strengthen its sovereignty (...) by expanding its circle of partners.”

Macron, Merz and Starmer will meet Zelensky on Sunday evening in London

Emmanuel Macron, Keir Starmer and Friedrich Merz will meet Volodymyr Zelensky in London on Sunday, to discuss "support for Ukraine" and "strengthening pressure on the Russian war effort", announces the Élysée.

The French President, the British Prime Minister and the German Chancellor will first meet all three, before receiving the Ukrainian President. “This meeting will also provide an opportunity to take stock of the work undertaken in favor of a just and lasting peace in Ukraine and on the European continent, particularly within the framework of the Coalition of the Willing,” added the French presidency in a press release.

Ukraine's notification of a drifting drone allowed Romanian authorities to evacuate the area before it exploded

Romanian authorities were able to evacuate people from the Romanian Black Sea port of Constanta before a maritime drone self-destructed following a notification from Ukraine, Defense Minister Radu Miruta said.

The latter specified that Ukraine had warned Romania of the time of the self-detonation of the drone. Ukraine earlier said the drone was jammed by Russia before drifting towards the Romanian coast.

📷 In pictures – A Russian strike left four dead on an agri-food site near kyiv

A Russian drone strike on a food factory near the Ukrainian capital kyiv left four people dead early on June 5, 2026, the region's governor said.

Rescue workers respond to the site hit by a Russian drone strike, in the context of the Russian offensive against Ukraine, in the kyiv region, Ukraine.

Credits: National Emergency Situations Service of Ukraine in the kyiv region, via Reuters

Five injured, two in serious condition after Russian strike on gas station in Kherson Oblast

A Russian drone attack on a gas station in the community of Chornobayevka, Kherson Oblast, injured five people, Oleksandr Prokudin, head of the regional military administration, announced on Telegram.

Two injured men are "in serious condition" and have been diagnosed with "explosive and closed brain trauma, acute trauma and shrapnel wounds", it specifies.

Another suffered a traumatic leg amputation. “The doctors are doing everything possible to save their lives,” adds Oleksandr Prokudin, who adds that three other injured people are in “moderately serious” condition.

Ukraine admits drone that exploded in Romania was one of its own, 'disturbed' by Russian jamming

Ukraine has admitted that the maritime drone that exploded in the morning in the Romanian Black Sea port of Constanta was its own, saying it "lost control" of it due to Russian electronic jamming. The surface drone "of the Ukrainian Navy was disrupted by the enemy's electronic warfare systems, lost control and ended up near the Romanian coast," the Ukrainian Navy said on Facebook.

With AFP and Reuters

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