Summary

  • Russia is trying to make Kharkiv a "front-line city," Vadym Denysenko, an adviser to Ukraine's interior minister says

  • Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg says the conflict could last for years

  • In an interview with German newspaper Bild, Stoltenberg adds that the supply of state-of-the-art weaponry to Ukrainian troops would increase the chance of liberating the Donbas region

  • Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has told the Sunday Times that "we need to steel ourselves for a long war"

  • Ukrainian authorities say their air defence systems in the Kyiv Region shot down a Russian “air object” on Sunday morning

  • Explosions were heard in Vyshhorod District, north of the city centre, but no casualties were reported

Live Reporting

Edited by Jeremy Gahagan and Alexandra Fouché

  1. Will Ukraine get candidate status?

    Paul Kirby
    Digital Europe editor

    Ursula von der Leyen is fully expected to declare later that the European Commission backs Ukraine to become a candidate to join the EU. Moldova and Georgia are also waiting with baited breath.

    But that’s only a first step as the decision rests with the EU’s 27 member states who get together next Thursday.

    Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky had a big vote of confidence from some of Europe’s heaviest hitters yesterday when Scholz, Macron and Draghi backed his country’s candidate status. But it’s not a done deal.

    For a start Germany’s chancellor believes it could take years and Ukraine’s path is “very demanding”, because Ukraine needs to make headway on fighting corruption and improving the rule of law.

    But then other countries are wary of putting Ukraine ahead of other candidates in the Balkans which are already waiting in the queue, such as Albania, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia.

    Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer says Ukraine shouldn’t have preference over Western Balkans states. Why should Ukraine leapfrog Bosnia-Herzegovina, he asks. Bosnia is only classed as a temporary candidate and it has been waiting for several years to join the queue. So is Kosovo.

    That’s why Zelensky said this morning that he wanted a united Europe, with Ukraine and the Western Balkans inside the tent together.

  2. Welcome to our live coverage

    We’ll be taking you through the latest developments in Ukraine as they unfold, including an expected step forward in its efforts to join the EU.

    To get you up to speed, here’s the latest:

    EU membership

    The European Commission is expected to back the idea of granting Ukraine official candidate status in its application to join the EU. Commissioners are meeting to decide on their recommendation with an announcement expected later.

    The leaders of France, Germany, Italy and Romania have already publicly backed Ukraine's bid to join the EU, saying it should be given "immediate" candidate status.

    All 27 EU leaders will discuss the issue at a summit on 23 and 24 June. Some members have already expressed reservations.

    Candidacy status will only be the next step on Ukraine’s road to full EU membership, which French President Macron previously said could take years.

    Military developments

    Ukraine has now lost up to half of its military hardware, the country’s deputy defence minister says.

    Denys Sharapov called for more military aid as fierce fighting in the east of Ukraine continues – with heavy losses reported on both sides.

    On the ground, Ukraine says Russia is concentrating its forces for an assault on the eastern city of Slovyansk. Fighting is also continuing for full control of Severodonetsk.

    Stay with us for the latest developments and analysis.