Morning Briefing: G7 and EU Leaders Convene After Fatal Kyiv Assaults Including Strike on Heritage Site

Jakub Krupa

G7 heads of state will gather in Évian-les-Bains in France later today to address urgent matters including Ukraine, Gaza and Iran.

The gathering hosted by French president Emmanuel Macron will feature US president Donald Trump updating participants on the recent Iran peace agreement while he also attended a martial arts event at the White House.

Diplomatic editor Patrick Wintour observes that Macron cannot predict whether Trump will complete the full three days or cause interruptions throughout his attendance.

Approximately 20000 demonstrators clashed with authorities near Geneva on Monday during widespread protests against the leaders summit.

Separately EU foreign ministers are convening in Luxembourg with a comparable agenda.

Ukraine remains a central topic at both gatherings following a fresh Russian assault overnight that killed at least nine people and wounded over 20 in Kyiv.

The Unesco protected Kyiv Pechersk Lavra monastery suffered damage in the strikes prompting Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy to label it one of Russias gravest assaults on Christian heritage so far.

Zelenskyy stated that this demonstrates Russias resolve to prolong the conflict and stressed the need for a firm response from G7 nations including heightened sanctions on the aggressor and enhanced air defence assistance for Ukraine particularly anti ballistic systems.

France condemned the incident strongly with foreign minister Jean Noël Barrot describing the targeting of the religious site as comparable to bombing Notre Dame or Saint Denis and entirely unacceptable.

Updates will follow throughout the day.

Today is Monday 15 June 2026 and this is Europe Live with Jakub Krupa.

Good morning.

Key developments

13m ago Sweden calls on European partners to act against Russias shadow fleet
40m ago G7 summit to focus on pressuring Russia and drawing Putin into talks EU chief von der Leyen states
1h ago Russia denies hitting historic monastery and attributes damage to Ukrainian air defences
1h ago EU diplomat declares Russian strikes on civilian sites constitute war crimes
1h ago G7 summit to examine Ukraine peace following unjustified monastery attack Macron declares
1h ago Morning briefing G7 and EU leaders meet after lethal strikes on Kyiv including Unesco site

Sweden Urges Allies to Target Russias Shadow Fleet

Jennifer Rankin

in Brussels

Sweden has pressed European partners to intensify efforts against Russias shadow fleet that sustains oil income for the Kremlins campaign in Ukraine.

Swedish forces have detained five such vessels this year alone and seeks greater cooperation to halt these ageing poorly maintained ships that carry Russian oil in violation of western restrictions.

In a joint letter to EU leaders Swedens foreign affairs minister Maria Stenergard and civil defence minister Carl Oskar Bohlin stated that all member states must share responsibility for limiting the network supporting these vessels.

The ministers noted that the shadow fleet erodes maritime safety norms and creates environmental hazards in regional waters.

Stenergard added that the fleet finances drones and missiles striking Ukraine and that confronting it is essential if ending the war is a genuine priority.

The call follows the first seizure of a shadow fleet tanker by British forces on Sunday with France and Belgium having taken comparable steps previously.

Sweden also advocated rapid approval of the EUs newest sanctions package against Russia including steps to curb oil revenues amid rising prices. The proposed 21st package would keep the oil price cap at 44 dollars per barrel until January to restrict Russian profits.

According to Sweden Russian oil income had fallen 50 percent year on year by January 2026 before recent market disruptions from the Iran conflict raised concerns that higher prices could bolster the Kremlins war funding.

G7 Summit to Focus on Pressuring Russia and Engaging Putin in Negotiations EU Chief Says

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen expressed scepticism regarding Russian accounts.

Ahead of the G7 summit she posted that participants will examine further measures to heighten pressure on Russia draw Putin into discussions and halt the pointless violence. Europe seeks peace more than anyone especially Ukrainians while Russia has again revealed its preference for aggression and ruin.

Russia Denies Striking Monastery Blames Ukrainian Defences

Russia asserted it did not target the historic Pechersk Lavra monastery in Kyiv during an overnight operation against military facilities and instead blamed damage on a US supplied Patriot missile.

The Russian defence ministry stated that its forces do not plan or execute attacks on civilian infrastructure and suggested that expired western supplied missiles might explain any system failure.

EU Diplomat Labels Attacks on Civilian Sites War Crimes

EUs foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas described the overnight strikes on Ukrainian civilian areas and the Unesco heritage site as war crimes for which Russia must be held accountable.

Chairing the foreign ministers meeting Kallas noted that additional sanctions targeting Russias military industrial base and shadow fleet are being adopted today to further limit Moscows options.

Macron Condemns Monastery Strike at G7 Summit

French president Emmanuel Macron also denounced the assault on the Unesco listed Kyiv Pechersk Lavra monastery.

In a statement he declared nothing justifies this attack on shared heritage and that France stands prepared to assist Ukrainian heritage officials. The incident reinforces resolve to pursue a ceasefire which Russia continues to reject and ultimately peace with allies at the G7 in Evian.