U.S. Secretary of State Rubio Denies Zelensky's Claim on Security Guarantees

U.S. Secretary of State Rubio has denied the claim made by Ukrainian President Zelensky that the U.S. is making security guarantees conditional on the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from Donbas, calling it a 'lie.' Rubio emphasized that Ukraine has the final say and if it does not wish to make concessions, the war will continue. He also stated that there are currently no plans for talks regarding the conflict in Ukraine.

On the night of June 7, Ukraine launched a drone attack targeting Moscow, with at least 10 drones reportedly shot down by Russian air defenses. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin confirmed the incident, stating that emergency services were dispatched to the impact sites. The attack led to temporary flight restrictions at Moscow's Vnukovo and Domodedovo airports, which were later lifted. In the Tula region, south of Moscow, a drone strike on the Azot chemical plant in Novomoskovsk caused a fire and injured two people. The plant is known for producing explosives, including TNT, used in artillery shells and missiles. Meanwhile, Russian forces intensified their own long-range strikes into Ukraine, with 49 drones and three missiles reported fired overnight. Ukrainian air defenses claimed to have neutralized 40 of these drones. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized the urgent need to strengthen Ukraine's air defense capabilities in response to Russia's escalating attacks. The northeastern city of Kharkiv, near the Russian border, was among the areas hit, resulting in at least three deaths and 23 injuries. The conflict has also seen a territorial escalation, with Russia claiming advances into Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk region for the first time in its three-year offensive. Peace talks brokered by the U.S. remain stalled, with both sides accusing each other of delaying a prisoner swap. The U.S. anticipates a significant, multi-pronged Russian retaliation for the drone attack, potentially targeting symbolic Ukrainian government buildings or defense manufacturing centers.