Polish officials consider limiting contact with Zelensky
People close to Polish President Karol Nawrocki are considering limiting contact with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as relations between Warsaw and Kyiv continue to deteriorate, according to Polish newspaper Dziennik Gazeta Prawna.
A source close to Nawrocki said the Polish president may outline his position on July 11, Poland's National Day of Remembrance of the Victims of the Genocide of Citizens of the Polish Republic Committed by Ukrainian Nationalists.
According to the report, the Presidential Palace views Zelenskyy's decision to establish the Ukrainian National Pantheon as a deliberate provocation and believes recent actions by the Ukrainian authorities are part of a broader long-term historical policy rather than isolated decisions.
"We are responding to this statement with restraint because the actions of Zelensky and those around him are provocative in nature, and we will not become part of a scenario written by Kyiv, which, incidentally, reinforces Russian propaganda," a representative of the Presidential Chancellery said.
The official also claimed Zelensky's recent decisions are aimed primarily at a domestic audience to strengthen his political position and divert attention from corruption scandals involving senior Ukrainian officials.
According to the source, the Presidential Palace does not intend to react immediately, preferring to address the issue during the July 11 commemorations.
"We will not respond impulsively. We will continue doing our job, and we will consistently refer to those who committed crimes under the Ukrainian Insurgent Army flag as perpetrators of genocide," the official said.
People close to Nawrocki are reportedly considering reducing direct contacts with Zelensky while maintaining Poland's broader support for Ukraine.
The EU lends Ukraine 3.9 billion euros for drones under a major support loan
The European Union is disbursing €3.9 billion ($4.5 billion) to fund drone procurement for Ukraine, the European Commission announced on June 30.
The funding is part of the first €6 billion ($7 billion) tranche allocated for drones under the €90 billion ($103 billion) Ukraine Support Loan, approved in April to strengthen Ukraine's defense and help cover budget needs in 2026 and 2027.
Ursula von der Leyen said Ukraine's innovation has been central to resisting Russia's full-scale invasion.
"Ukraine's ingenuity is at the heart of its success in resisting Russia's full-scale invasion. Ingenuity we want to support."
She said the investment would help Ukraine protect its citizens, defend its sovereignty, and strengthen Europe's security.
Drones have become one of the defining weapons of the war, enabling Ukraine to strike Russian oil refineries, logistics hubs, air defense systems, and command posts deep behind the front line.
Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said the funding would be invested directly in expanding Ukraine's domestic defense production.
"These resources will be invested directly in expanding Ukraine's defense production—scaling up drones and other critical capabilities for our Defense Forces. This is an investment in Europe's defense industrial capacity and in our shared security."
Around two-thirds of the €90 billion loan has been earmarked for defense needs, including drones, ammunition, missiles, and air defense systems.
Ukraine received the first €3.2 billion ($3.6 billion) payment under the program last week, bringing total disbursements to more than €7 billion ($8 billion).
Russian attacks killed 16, injured 125 across Ukraine, as casualties rise from morning strike on Dnipro
Russian attacks across Ukraine killed at least 16 civilians and injured at least 125 others over the past day, regional authorities reported on June 29.
The deadliest strike hit the city of Dnipro, where at least six people were killed and 35 injured. Four of the wounded remain in critical condition, according to regional governor Oleksandr Hanzha. Local authorities have not yet identified the type of weapon used.
According to Ukraine's Air Force, Russia launched 108 attack drones overnight. Air defenses shot down or electronically suppressed 82 of them.
In Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Russian attacks killed six people and injured 34. The casualties included two people killed and six others, including a child, wounded when Russian forces struck a minibus, regional governor Ivan Fedorov said.
In Kharkiv Oblast, two people were killed, and 25 were injured, including a 10-year-old girl and a 16-year-old boy, according to the governor.
In Sumy Oblast, Russian attacks killed two people and injured nine others.
A Russian drone strike on a gas station in Chernihiv Oblast injured one worker, the governor.
In Donetsk Oblast, at least seven people were wounded in Russian attacks over the past day.
In Kherson Oblast, Russian attacks injured 14 people, according to regional governor.