\u201cAt least 800 Russian drones have already been launched, and the attack is ongoing, with additional drones entering our country\u2019s airspace,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He suggested that Russia seeks to \u201cdisrupt the overall political atmosphere\u201d as it times its attacks for the duration of US president Donald Trump\u2019s visit to China.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is important that the world does not remain silent about this. It is important that Russia\u2019s true intentions are made clear to leaders and countries. It is important to apply real pressure on the Russian aggressor so that this terror is brought to an end.\u201d<\/p>\n
Share<\/a><\/p>\n Key events<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1d ago<\/p>\n Closing summary<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 1d ago<\/p>\n Slovakia closes border crossing with Ukraine amid warnings of further Russian strikes<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 1d ago<\/p>\n Six people dead in ‘ongoing’ Russian strikes on Ukraine, Zelenskyy says<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 1d ago<\/p>\n For talks with Russia, ‘Putin has to play ball and he is not playing,’ Nato’s Rutte says<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 1d ago<\/p>\n ‘We cannot let down our guard,’ as Russia remains ‘most significant, direct threat to Nato,’ Rutte says<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 1d ago<\/p>\n Nato’s Hague targets are not ceiling, but ‘minimum’ needed, Poland’s Nawrocki says<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 1d ago<\/p>\n Leaders brief press after Bucharest Nine meeting on security, Nato<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 1d ago<\/p>\n First photos of stranded cruise ship in Bordeaux<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 1d ago<\/p>\n Majority of passengers on board of cruise ship stuck in Bordeaux are British, operator confirms<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 1d ago<\/p>\n Operator confirms number of guests, crew in Bordeaux ‘displaying symptoms’ of gastrointestinal illness<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 1d ago<\/p>\n 1,700 people reported confined on cruise ship in Bordeaux after suspected norovirus death<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 1d ago<\/p>\n Romania reeling over claims of high-level justice system corruption<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 2d ago<\/p>\n Zelenskyy arrives in Romania to join B9 summit on security<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 2d ago<\/p>\n Russia launches combined airstrike on critical facilities in Ukraine, hours after Zelenskyy’s warning, Ukraine says<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 2d ago<\/p>\n Israel goes through to Eurovision’s final despite boos, attempted disruptions<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 2d ago<\/p>\n Russia’s aggression on Ukraine ‘not an isolated conflict,’ but Russia’s ‘direct challenge,’ Poland’s Nawrocki says<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 2d ago<\/p>\n Ukraine’s Zelenskyy warns against Russian drones attack during day<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 2d ago<\/p>\n Morning opening: What to do about Russia<\/p>\n <\/a>Show key events only<\/p>\n Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature<\/p>\n Closing summary \u2026 and on that note, it\u2019s a wrap for today!<\/p>\n At least six people were killed in an intense daytime Russian attack on Ukraine, with over 800 drones launched against targets in the country, president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said (9:57<\/a>, 11:47<\/a>, 16:54<\/a>).<\/p>\n Neighbouring Slovakia has closed temporarily its border crossings with Ukraine in response to expected further attacks near the border (17:12<\/a>).<\/p>\n The attack comes as top regional leaders, joined by Zelenskyy, met in Bucharest to discuss the European security, reaffirming their support for Ukraine (16:35<\/a>, 16:43<\/a>).<\/p>\n Earlier,<\/p>\n French authorities have confined more than 1,700 passengers and crew members to a cruise ship docked in Bordeaux after a suspected norovirus outbreak, officials have said (13:03<\/a>).<\/p>\n The cruise ship\u2019s operator confirmed that a number of guests are displaying symptoms, with further testing under way (13:47<\/a>).<\/p>\n A 92-year-old man died on the ship earlier this week, but the cause of his death is yet to be established (14:13<\/a>).<\/p>\n If you have any tips, comments or suggestions, email me at jakub.krupa@theguardian.com.<\/p>\n I am also on Bluesky at @jakubkrupa.bsky.social and on X at @jakubkrupa.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Separately, Russia hit Ukraine\u2019s railway facilities 23 times during its drone attacks on Wednesday, damaging trains, carriages, railway depots, and bridges, a senior advisor to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Slovakia closes border crossing with Ukraine amid warnings of further Russian strikes<\/p>\n Meanwhile, the scale of the continuing Russian attacks on Ukraine<\/a> today is so significant that some of its neighbours had to take precautionary measures, too.<\/p>\n Slovakia has temporarily closed all border crossings with Ukraine until further notice, citing expectations of a large-scale attack on the city of Uzhhorod and the neighboring Zakarpattia region with attacks reported as close as 50 km from the Slovak border.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Financial Administration recommends that the public monitor up-to-date information and comply with the instructions of the Financial Administration and Police Force officers. We will keep you informed of further developments,\u201d it said in a statement.<\/a><\/p>\n Earlier, Poland briefly bolstered air defence along the Ukrainian border following earlier strikes. The operation ended<\/a> after several hours with no recorded airspace violations.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.13 EDT<\/p>\n Nato\u2019s Rutte says he is \u201ccautiously optimistic\u201d about the upcoming Nato summit in Ankara as he repeats his \u201cNato 3.0\u201d theory of Europe<\/a> taking more responsibility for its own security, allowing the US to pivot to its other interests without abandoning Europe.<\/p>\n He says the focus is on making sure there is no gap in \u201cour deterrence and defence.\u201d<\/p>\n Poland\u2019s Nawrocki and Romania\u2019s Dan essentially toe the same line.<\/p>\n And that ends the press conference.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Reporters are now again fishing for lines on Trump\u2019s relations with its Nato allies, but Rutte stays fully on message, repeating that there\u2019s some \u201cdisappointment\u201d in the US, and the European allies are responding to it.<\/p>\n Poland\u2019s Nawrocki was also asked about how the fugitive former minister Zbigniew Ziobro\u2019s decision to move to the US would affect Poland\u2019s relations with the US.<\/p>\n In stark contrast to the government figures, he says he \u201ccannot imagine\u201d how this could affect the relationship with Washington given its importance for Poland\u2019s security and foreign policy.<\/p>\n He also claims that Ziobro, a senior figure in the Law and Justice party that endorsed him in last year\u2019s presidential election, would not get a \u201cfair trial\u201d in Poland.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Six people dead in ‘ongoing’ Russian strikes on Ukraine, Zelenskyy says<\/p>\n Just as the leaders are talking in Bucharest, Ukraine\u2019s Volodymyr Zelenskyy took to social media to post an update saying that at least six people were reported dead after Russian attacks on Ukraine<\/a> today.<\/p>\n \u201cAt least 800 Russian drones have already been launched, and the attack is ongoing, with additional drones entering our country\u2019s airspace,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n He suggested that Russia seeks to \u201cdisrupt the overall political atmosphere\u201d as it times its attacks for the duration of US president Donald Trump\u2019s visit to China.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is important that the world does not remain silent about this. It is important that Russia\u2019s true intentions are made clear to leaders and countries. It is important to apply real pressure on the Russian aggressor so that this terror is brought to an end.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Another question concerns the presence of US troops in Europe<\/a> amid talk of the White House looking to pull some of them out of the region.<\/p>\n Nato\u2019s Rutte says that \u201cthe US presence in Europe is still vast and massive,\u201d and shows \u201ca clear commitment\u201d of the US administration to Europe.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have always known that the United States, overtime, has to pivot more towards Asia, what we have to make sure of and the US, the Europeans agree on this, that \u2026 the overall level of deterrence and defence stays strong.\u201d<\/p>\n Poland\u2019s Nawrocki says the topic did not come up during the official talks today, but Poland is always ready to welcome more US troops as it continues to campaign for the 5,000 troops pulled out of Germany to be relocated on the eastern flank of Nato.<\/p>\n Romania\u2019s Dan confirms the issue was not on the table today, but all allies are determined to work to maintain substantial US presence in Europe.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>For talks with Russia, ‘Putin has to play ball and he is not playing,’ Nato’s Rutte says<\/p>\n The leaders get asked about the prospects for Ukraine<\/a> and any potential peace discussions with Russia.<\/p>\n Poland\u2019s Nawrocki goes first and says that supporting Ukraine remains a \u201cstrategic\u201d aim of the B9 group, as he notes the importance of Zelenskyy attending the meeting.<\/p>\n He repeatedly says Russia\u2019s Putin is responsible for the war, and calls for a \u201clong-term, just peace settlement.\u201d<\/p>\n Nato\u2019s Rutte says \u201cPutin has to play ball, and at the moment he is not.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe has to be willing to play ball to engage, really, in peace negotiations,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n \u201cI must say the ball is clearly in Putin\u2019s court. He has to play ball. He is not doing that yet. Let\u2019s see what happens. And the Ukrainians, in the meantime, are maintaining the fight, doing well on the frontline, but obviously they did not ask for this, and many people have been killed because of Putin in Ukraine.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Asked about the relations with the US, Rutte concedes that “we know that there was some disappointment in the US when it came to the reaction of some allies regarding Iran and the war against Iran by the US and Israel.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut I would say that clearly, allies have heard the message \u2026 and that is on two fronts: first, \u2026 when it comes to living up to all the commitments to basic requests [from the US] \u2026 and then when it comes to the strait of Hormuz, the next phase\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n He says that the Italians, for example, are sending more assets in the area, \u201cso they can be active there when necessary,\u201d with other initiatives taken by other countries, including France<\/a> and the UK.<\/p>\n \u201cSo my message to the United States is: The Europeans hear the message. They are following up. We are really working together on this.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a>‘We cannot let down our guard,’ as Russia remains ‘most significant, direct threat to Nato,’ Rutte says<\/p>\n Nato\u2019s Rutte says that the meeting showed the group of nine countries is \u201cfirmly anchored in Nato and the transatlantic relationship.\u201d<\/p>\n He warns that Russia \u201cremains, indeed, the most significant and direct threat to Nato, as it continues its ruthless war of aggression against Ukraine<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe cannot let down our guard. We will always do what is necessary to defend every inch of Nato territory.\u201d<\/p>\n Looking ahead to Nato\u2019s summit in Ankara, Rutte says that \u201ccash is crucial\u201d as countries are urged to increase their spending, but he adds the talks will also be about \u201ccombat ready capabilities and significantly scaling up our defence industries.\u201d<\/p>\n Turning to Ukraine, he pays tribute to its continued fight against Russia<\/a>, as he says \u201ca strong Ukraine today and a strong Ukraine for the future is how Russian aggression can be stopped.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Nato’s Hague targets are not ceiling, but ‘minimum’ needed, Poland’s Nawrocki says<\/p>\n Romania\u2019s Dan opens up by thanking all participants, including the US delegation.<\/p>\n Poland\u2019s president Karol Nawrocki, Romania\u2019s President Nicusor Dan and Nato secretary general Mark Rutte arrive for a press conference during the summit of the Bucharest Nine (B9) and the Nordic countries at the Cotroceni Palace in Bucharest, Romania. Photograph: Mihai Barbu\/AFP\/Getty Images<\/p>\n He says that allies in this part of Europe<\/a> have \u201ccommon concerns and a common threat\u201d from Russia, and need to coordinate.<\/p>\n He also pointedly backs Moldova, raising the issue of supporting Chi\u0219in\u0103u as it faces pressure from Russia<\/a>.<\/p>\n Poland\u2019s Nawrocki picks up a broader discussion on defence spending, as he says that the spending targets adopted in the Hague last year \u201care not the ceiling, but the minimum needed that is necessary.\u201d<\/p>\n He says Russia \u201cis and will remain the most serious, long-term and direct threat to the security of allied countries.\u201d<\/p>\n He warns that Russia wants to \u201crebuild its spheres of influence, weaken the integrity of Nato \u2026 and question the sovereignty and democracy of countries in our region.\u201d<\/p>\n Nawrocki also criticises some European leaders \u2013 he doesn\u2019t name them \u2013 who in his view \u201cquestion the alliance between the B9, the EU and the US in a way that is far from any logic.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTearing apart transatlantic relations, breaking up the relations of the European Union and nation states with the United States is in the interest of the Russian Federation. We should all be deeply aware of this,\u201d he warns.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.36 EDT<\/p>\n Leaders brief press after Bucharest Nine meeting on security, Nato<\/p>\n As promised, you can watch along below, and I will bring you the key lines here.<\/p>\n As we are waiting for the press conference, we can quickly take a look at the summit\u2019s joint statement, signed by the leaders of 14 allies in the central and eastern Europe<\/a>, the Baltics, and the Nordics.<\/p>\n Leaders of the B9 and Nordic countries as well as Ukraine\u2019s Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Nato\u2019s Mark Rutte pose for a family photo at the Bucharest Summit of B9 in Bucharest, Romania. Photograph: Robert Ghement\/EPA<\/p>\n In particular, they said that Russia\u2019s repeated airspace violations of countries on the eastern flank of Nato underline the urgent need to consolidate the alliance\u2019s air defences against missiles and drones, Reuters reported.<\/p>\n Romania, Poland and Baltic states have had their airspace repeatedly breached by Russian drones. Russia has denied targeting Nato states.<\/p>\n \u201cWe condemn Russia\u2019s highly confrontational actions against Allies and partners, including sabotage, cyber-attacks, and a wide range of hybrid attacks and destabilising activities,\u201d the leaders\u2019 joint statement also said.<\/p>\n Share<\/a> Back to international politics, we are expecting a press conference after the B9 meeting in Bucharest shortly, with Nato\u2019s secretary general Mark Rutte expected among the speakers.<\/p>\n I will bring you the key lines here.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Meanwhile, Le Figaro reported<\/a> that the French health authorities confirmed that \u201cthere is no reason to link this outbreak on board a cruise ship from Belfast and Liverpool with the hantavirus cases detected on the vessel MV Hondius,\u201d as per the cruise ship operator\u2019s statement earlier (13:47<\/a>).<\/p>\n Share<\/a>First photos of stranded cruise ship in Bordeaux<\/p>\n With passengers taking pictures of Bordeaux from the deck, as per our last update, let\u2019s take a look at some pictures taken in the opposite direction\u2026<\/p>\n A man rides his bicycle past the Bahamas-registered cruise ship Ambition after passengers were confined following the outbreak of a gastrointestinal illness onboard, at the Bordeaux port in southwestern France. Photograph: Christophe Archambault\/AFP\/Getty ImagesPassers-by walk past the Bahamas-registered cruise ship Ambition after passengers were confined following the outbreak of a gastrointestinal illness onboard, at the Bordeaux port in southwestern France. Photograph: Christophe Archambault\/AFP\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n No security measures were in place around the ship as it was docked in Bordeaux on Wednesday, an AFP reporter said.<\/p>\n Passengers were taking pictures of the French city from the deck.<\/p>\n![\"Jakub](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/people\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1778800651_896_Jakub_Krupa.png\")
Jakub Krupa<\/p>\n![\"Romanian](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/people\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1778800651_453_3500.jpg\")
Romanian and Polish presidents deliver joint remarks at Nato Bucharest Nine summit \u2013 watch liveShare<\/a><\/p>\nJakub Krupa<\/p>\n