Ukraine's prime minister, Yulia Svyrydenko, met with Prince Harry in Kyiv, as the Duke of Sussex delivered a passionate plea for the US to honour its obligations in the Ukrainian conflict. In response, US President Donald Trump stated that Prince Harry "is not speaking for the UK."
Prince Harry's Speech at Kyiv Security Forum
Speaking at the Kyiv Security Forum on Thursday, Prince Harry, a former soldier, emphasised that he was "not here as a politician" but as "a soldier who understands service" and a "humanitarian." He urged the United States to uphold its international treaty obligations, referencing the Budapest Memorandum in which Ukraine gave up its nuclear weapons in exchange for assurances of its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Harry stated, "The United States has a singular role in this story. Not only because of its power, but because when Ukraine gave up nuclear weapons, America was part of the assurance that Ukraine's sovereignty and borders would be respected. This is a moment for American leadership, a moment for America, to show that it can honour its international treaty obligations – not out of charity but out of its own enduring role in global security and strategic stability."
Trump's Response
President Trump retorted that Prince Harry "is not speaking for the UK" and claimed, "I think I am speaking for the UK more than Prince Harry … But I appreciate his advice very much." Harry did not claim to represent the UK government in his speech.
Ukrainian Drone Breakthrough
In a significant technological development, Ukrainian MP Marian Zablotskiy revealed that he successfully piloted an FPV interceptor drone from a distance of about 2,000 kilometres, marking a "historic experiment." Ukrainian drone manufacturer Wild Hornets confirmed this and aims to make remote control "the primary method of drone control." Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov stated, "Ukraine is the first in the world to systematically scale up remote control of interceptor drones. Today, we have confirmed results – the downing of targets at distances of hundreds and thousands of kilometres."
Russian Oil Terminal Fire
Russia continues to struggle with a fire at a Black Sea oil terminal in Tuapse, which was struck by Ukraine earlier this week. The attack on oil facilities aims to disrupt Russian oil exports funding the war. The regional emergency headquarters reported that four storage tanks are ablaze, and contaminated rainfall has left a black coating on surfaces.
EU Loan and Sanctions
EU leaders have broken a diplomatic deadlock to approve a €90bn (£78bn) loan for Ukraine, along with a 20th sanctions package against Russia. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen indicated that the first €45bn tranche could be disbursed by the end of June, with funds directed towards Ukrainian domestic drone production – "drones from Ukraine for Ukraine."
Casualties
Russian attacks on residential areas in Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk region killed three people and wounded at least 10, including two girls aged nine and 14. In Russia's Samara region, one person was killed in a drone strike, and another attack killed a person in the Belgorod region.
