Closing summary
… and on that note, it’s a wrap!
Donald Trump spoke with Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, on Friday as the US president appears increasingly disheartened over his chances of fulfilling a campaign pledge to end the war between Russia and Ukraine (9:27).
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the US president was “very well informed” about the situation in Ukraine, as the pair discussed “the possibilities of air defence and agreed that we will work on increasing the protection in the sky” (16:28).
Germany also earlier said it would look to help with air defence, confirming “intensitve discussions” on the issue, including on buying the US Patriot defence system for Ukraine (11:57), with chancellor Friedrich Merz also speaking with Trump in the last 24 hours (15:43).
The phone call came after Russia struck Kyiv with the highest number of drones and missiles since the start of the war, Ukraine said (9:59), with Polish foreign minister telling Trump in a social media post that Russia’s Putin was “mocking his peace efforts” (11:21).
Separately, French president Emmanuel Macron and British prime minister Keir Starmer will co-chair a Ukraine summit in the UK on 10 July (13:17).
In other news,
Only half of young people in France and Spain believe that democracy is the best form of government, with support even lower among their Polish counterparts, a study has found (13:59).
A strike by French air traffic controllers entered its second day, leaving many passengers stranded at the start of Europe’s peak travel season (14:21).
Large parts of the Czech Republic including the capital city of Prague were hit by a major blackout, causing widespread disruption (13:42).
The number of people injured in a massive gas explosion at a petrol station in Rome on Friday has risen to 45, with two in a critical condition (16:48).
Finland’s president Alexander Stubb approved the country’s withdrawal from a treaty banning anti-personnel mines, citing a “deteriorated security situation” and longer-term threat from Russia (14:08).
Germany’s interior minister plans to host an EU summit to push for stricter rules for the bloc’s asylum system in Bavaria on 18 July, a ministry spokesperson said, as the new government seeks to deliver on a campaign pledge (13:46).
In Spain, more than 35,000 people have signed onto a petition calling on the government to decree a maximum temperature at which people can work outdoors (13:33).
And that’s all from me, Jakub Krupa, for today.
If you have any tips, comments or suggestions, email me at jakub.krupa@theguardian.com.
I am also on Bluesky at @jakubkrupa.bsky.social and on X at @jakubkrupa.
EU, US to hold last minute trade talks to avoid tariffs
EU and US negotiators will hold final stretch talks through the weekend as Brussels chases a deal before a 9 July deadline to avoid the return of steep tariffs, diplomats said, as reported by AFP.
If the European Union does not clinch an agreement with the United States by Wednesday next week, higher levies will snap back in and unleash economic pain on the bloc.
During a Friday briefing for member states, a senior EU official told countries there was no deal yet but talks would continue “likely over the weekend”, an EU diplomat told AFP.
Ukraine blames Russian strike for Zaporizhzhia plant blackout
We’re now getting a bit more on this developing story with Ukraine saying that a Russian strike hit power line to the plant, causing blackout.
Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant lost power, relies in emergency diesel generators, IAEA warns
As we wait to hear from Trump, the International Atomic Energy Agency said the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine has lost all off-site power today.
They said it’s the 9th time this happened during “military conflict,” but added that it’s only the first time since late 2023.
“The ZNPP currently relies on power from its emergency diesel generators, underlining extremely precarious nuclear safety situation,” it added.
AFP noted that the power plant’s six reactors are all shut down but the plant requires power to its cooling systems for safety.
Updated
European capitals can see twice as many heatwave days by 2100, analysis show
European capitals scorched by extreme heat this week – such as Berlin, Paris and Madrid – can expect to see twice as many heatwave days by the end of the century, a new analysis from Climate Analytics has found, unless faster action is taken to reduce fossil fuel pollution.
Current climate policies are projected to heat the planet by about 2-3C by the end of the century, a level of warming that will translate into a catastrophic worsening of weather extremes.
The analysis found annual heatwave days are set to more than double by the end of the century in Paris (to 41 days) and Berlin (to 48 days). In Madrid, they are on track to almost triple (to 57 days).
Athens and Rome could expect to see 58 and 61 heatwave days, respectively.
Bill Hare, CEO of Climate Analytics, said it was important that people understood the dangers of overshooting 1.5C of global warming – the level world leaders agreed to aim for by 2100 at a climate conference in Paris 10 years ago – and that they redoubled efforts to cut pollution if it was breached.
“It’s doubly disappointing in the same week that European citizens have been losing loved ones to unmanageable heat, that the EU has watered down its own 2040 climate target,” he said.
On Wednesday, the European Commission proposed cutting planet-heating pollution by 90% by 2040 but - in a bid to win over reluctant member states - allowed the limited purchase of foreign carbon credits to offset slow action at home. The proposal fell short of recommendations from the EU’s own climate science advisors, who had called for a 90-90% target without the use of offsets.
“We need European leadership on this issue now more than ever,” said Hare. “Watering down commitments is completely the wrong move at the wrong time.”
in Palermo
The number of people injured in a massive gas explosion at a petrol station in Rome on Friday has risen to 45, with two in a critical condition. Among the wounded are police officers, firefighters and emergency workers who had responded to an earlier, smaller blast triggered when a truck struck a gas pipe.
The second explosion, which occurred in the northeast of the capital, was powerful enough to be heard across the city, sending a wave of panic through neighbourhoods. A thick column of smoke was visible from many areas of Rome.
The injured were taken to nine hospitals across the city. They include local residents hurt by flying shards from shattered windows. Medical officials said six people were in a “code red” condition, with two on life support. The critically injured pair suffered burns over 55% and 25% of their bodies, along with inhalation trauma and barotrauma – injuries caused by the force of the air displacement from the blast.
Of the 45 injured, 24 are civilians, 12 are police officers, six are firefighters and three are emergency services personnel.
Fabio Balzani, who manages a nearby summer camp, told state agency Ansa it was fortunate the explosion happened early in the day. “It would have been a massacre if the usual 60 children and 120 pool guests had been there,” he said. Early-morning staff and the first children to arrive were evacuated after the initial gas smell was detected.
Environmental campaign group Legambiente called for fewer petrol and gas stations in urban areas, warning that extreme summer heat raises the risk of such incidents. Taxpayers’ association Federcontribuenti added that “the facility should not have been placed in that location”.
Health authorities issued warnings about the dangers of exposure to Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG). “LPG, a mixture of propane and butane, if inhaled in high concentrations can cause nausea, dizziness, neurological issues, loss of consciousness and, in the most severe cases, asphyxiation,” said the Italian Society of Environmental Medicine (SIMA). “Direct contact with the cryogenic liquid can also result in cold burns and serious skin damage.”
Local residents were advised to keep windows shut as fumes and ash from the blaze continued to spread through the area.
As we wait to hear from Trump on his call with Zelenskyy, let me bring you updates on that gas explosion in Rome earlier today and on the European heatwave.
Ukraine, US agree to hold separate talks to strengthen air defence after Trump call, Zelenskyy says
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he spoke with US president Donald Trump about the need to strengthen Ukraine’s air defence amid escalating Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities.
In a brief note about their call, published on Telegram, he said the US president was “very well informed” about the situation in Ukraine, as the pair discussed “the possibilities of air defence and agreed that we will work on increasing the protection in the sky.”
He said they agreed to hold a separate meeting between their teams on this issue.
Zelenskyy added that they also talked about the opportunities for joint arms production, saying “we are ready for direct projects with America,” as well as potential other joint purchases and investments.
The Ukrainian president also passed his best wishes on the US Independence Day, thanking for the US support so far.
“We have done a lot together with America and support all efforts to stop the killings and restore a normal, stable, dignified peace. A decent agreement is needed for peace, and Ukraine supports American proposals,” he said.
Updated
If and when we hear from Trump or Zelenskyy, I will bring you their comments here immediately.
Zelenskyy's top aide praises 'very important, meaningful conversation' with Trump
Andriy Yermak, the most senior aide to Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said in a brief social media update that the call with Trump was “a very important and meaningful conversation between the presidents.”
“All details will be available very soon,” he added.
Trump spoke with Germany's Merz on Ukraine, EU-US trade
Meanwhile, German magazine Spiegel reports that German chancellor Friedrich Merz also spoke with US president Donald Trump, discussing the situation in Ukraine and EU-US trade.
Spiegel reported that Trump made no commitments during the call, with Germany reportedly calling for more support for Ukraine on air defence.
Updated
One person killed in overnight strikes on Kyiv
Russia pummelled Kyiv with the largest drone attack of the war, killing one person, injuring at least 23 and damaging buildings across the capital hours after US president Donald Trump spoke to Russia’s Vladimir Putin, officials said on Friday.
Air raid sirens, the whine of kamikaze drones and booming detonations reverberated from early evening until dawn as Russia launched what Ukraine’s Air Force said was a total of 539 drones and 11 missiles.
Families huddled in underground metro stations for shelter. Acrid smoke hung over the city centre. Kyiv’s military administration chief said on Friday afternoon a body had been found in the wreckage of one of the strike sites.
Updated
That brings you up to date on most important things happening in Europe today.
Let’s go back to Ukraine, as we wait more details on that much anticipated Trump-Zelenskyy call.
Updated
French air traffic controllers continue strike for second day
A strike by French air traffic controllers entered its second day, leaving many passengers stranded at the start of Europe’s peak travel season, Reuters reported.
Civil aviation agency DGAC told airlines to cancel 40% of flights at the three main Paris airports because of the strike, which the air traffic controllers say is over staff shortages and ageing equipment.
Up to half of flights at France’s other airports, mostly in the south, were also affected, DGAC added.
The Airlines for Europe (A4E) lobby group said late on Thursday that 1,500 flights had been cancelled over the two-day strike, affecting 300,000 passengers and causing cascading delays.
Finnish president finalises anti-mine treaty withdrawal amid Russia threat
Finland’s president Alexander Stubb approved the country’s withdrawal from a treaty banning anti-personnel mines, citing a “deteriorated security situation” and longer-term threat from Russia, AFP reported.
Finnish lawmakers voted to leave the anti-landmine Ottawa Convention in June but the decision needed to be signed by the president.
“Finland is not facing an immediate military threat, but the changes in the operating environment require that we strengthen our defence,” Stubb said in a statement.
“We have a long border with Russia, which is not a party to the Ottawa Agreement. We have seen how Russia wages war today.”
AFP noted that Finland’s decision will come into effect six months after the country formally notifies the United Nations.
Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia, as well as Poland, also plan to exit the treaty.
Young Europeans losing faith in democracy, poll finds
Only half of young people in France and Spain believe that democracy is the best form of government, with support even lower among their Polish counterparts, a study has found.
A majority from Europe’s generation Z – 57% – prefer democracy to any other form of government. Rates of support varied significantly, however, reaching just 48% in Poland and only about 51-52% in Spain and France, with Germany highest at 71%.
The study was carried out in April and May. More than 6,700 people between the ages of 16 and 26 in Britain, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Greece and Poland responded to the ninth annual survey by the YouGov institute for the Tui Foundation, which funds projects dedicated to youth in Europe.
More than one in five – 21% – would favour authoritarian rule under certain, unspecified circumstances. This was highest in Italy at 24% and lowest in Germany with 15%. In France, Spain and Poland the figure was 23%.
Nearly one in 10 across the nations said they did not care whether their government was democratic or not, while another 14% did not know or did not answer.
Thorsten Faas, a political scientist at Berlin’s Free University, who worked on the study, said: “Among people who see themselves as politically to the right of centre and feel economically disadvantaged, their support of democracy sinks to just one in three.
Democracy is under pressure, from within and without.
Diogo Jota to be honoured as mourners gather in Portugal for Liverpool player’s wake
Mourners are gathering at a wake in Portugal to commemorate Diogo Jota and his brother, André Silva, following their deaths in a car accident.
Jota and his 25-year-old sibling died when the Lamborghini they were travelling in careered off a road in north-western Spain in the early hours of Thursday. The bodies of the two professional footballers were returned to Portugal later that day.
José Manuel Macedo, parish priest at the Igreja Matriz de Gondomar in São Cosme, said that a wake for the brothers was taking place at the nearby Capela da Ressurreição on Friday before their funeral at the Igreja Matriz church on Saturday at 10am. Jota and Silva grew up in Gondomar, a small city east of Porto.
Jota was 28 and had married his long-term partner, Rute Cardoso, 11 days before his death. They had three young children.
Germany to host EU summit on stricter asylum, migration policies
Germany’s interior minister plans to host an EU summit to push for stricter rules for the bloc’s asylum system in Bavaria on 18 July, a ministry spokesperson said, as the new government seeks to deliver on a campaign pledge.
Alexander Dobrindt has invited interior ministers of France, Poland, Austria, Denmark and the Czech Republic, as well as the EU’s internal affairs commissioner Magnus Brunner.
The event will take place at the Zugspitze, Germany’s highest peak, on 18 July, Reuters reported.
Germany recently stepped up its migration policy, causing a public spat with Poland, and joining the bloc’s group of migration hawks.
Blackout hits Czech Republic
Large parts of the Czech Republic including the capital city of Prague were hit by a major blackout, causing widespread disruption.
Other cities, like Hradec Králové, Liberec and Ústí nad Labem, also reported issues.
The country’s prime minister Petr Fiala said in a social media update that it was “an extraordinary and unpleasant situation,” as he assured citizens that the state was “working intensively to restore electricity supplies.”
He also confirmed that a crisis response was under way.
Czech media reported that the cause of the blackout was unknown, with officials quoted by iDnes appearing to dismiss suggestions of a third-party intervention.
Health minister Vlastimil Válek sought to reassure Czechs that the healthcare system had “clearly defined procedures in place” to deal with the disruption, with backup generators in use. “Patient care is not at risk,” he said.
Thousands demand restrictions on outside work during heatwave after street sweeper's death
In Spain, more than 35,000 people have signed onto a petition calling on the government to decree a maximum temperature at which people can work outdoors.
The petition was launched by Elvira Gómez, a street sweeper in Catalonia.
“Thousands of us work in the open air, without shade, in physically demanding jobs, in heavy, thick suits and sometime in temperatures of up to 40 degrees without access to water or rest areas,” the petition notes.
It comes after the death of Montse Aguilar, a street sweeper in Barcelona. On Saturday, as Spain wrestled with its first heatwave of the summer, Aguilar told a friend that she was feeling ill after hours of working outdoors in temperatures that had climbed past 35 degrees Celsius. She walked home after her shift and collapsed soon after – paramedics were unable to revive her.
Gómez said she and other street sweepers worried constantly that something similar could happen to them. “If we are lucky, we get a five-minute break per hour or a bottle of water for the whole shift,” she noted.
While Spanish law stipulates that companies must take measures to protect their employees when there are official heat alerts, Gómez said it wasn’t enough. “This does not protect those of us who work in the sun when there is no alert but it’s 33 to 35 degrees,” she said.
Spanish law had already set out limits for office workers, stipulating that indoor spaces must be kept at 27 degrees or cooler. “But if you work in the street, there’s no limit.”
She called on Spain – where heatwaves are becoming more frequent – to take action.
“We don’t want to mourn the deaths of more of our colleagues due to heat exhaustion,” the petition notes.
More deaths linked to continuing heatwave in Italy
in Palermo
A 22-year-old woman has died of a heart attack while training in a gym without air conditioning near Turin, as Italy continues to struggle with extreme summer temperatures.
The woman, who was from Chieri, collapsed on Thursday while working out in the weights room of a gym in Poirino, a town in the province of Turin. According to local sources, the facility had no air conditioning system, and staff confirmed that windows are typically left open during hot days to provide ventilation.
Despite attempts to revive her, the woman died on site.
Separately, a 58-year-old construction worker has died after collapsing on a job site in Atina, a town in the province of Frosinone, marking the second fatality on a local building site in just three days and the 8th victims in Italy due to the heat.
The man had been working on the installation of a new fibre optic network along Via Randolfi when he reportedly fell ill and collapsed around 10am. Emergency medical teams from Cassino arrived within minutes and attempted resuscitation, but were unable to save him. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The incident has reignited concerns over health and safety conditions on Italian construction sites, particularly during periods of intense heat.
On Friday, 58-year-old retired farmer, from Palagonia in the province of Catania, was found dead on his land in the Serravalle area of Lentini, in the province of Syracuse, possibly due to a heart attack brought on by extreme heat.
Health authorities have issued repeated warnings in recent days urging people to avoid physical exertion during the hottest hours of the day, particularly in enclosed or poorly ventilated spaces.
At least 27 injures in gas explosion at petrol station in Rome
in Palermo
A gas explosion at a petrol station in Rome injured at least 27 people, including police officers and emergency workers who had been called in to respond to a gas leak after a truck struck a gas pipe.
The blast, which occurred in the northeast of the capital, was powerful enough to be heard across much of the city. A thick plume of smoke rose into the sky and was visible from several districts. Local residents sustained minor injuries from flying glass as windows shattered under the force of the explosion.
Among the injured was a man pulled from a burning car who remains in serious condition. The others are not believed to be in life-threatening danger, according to local officials.
The manager of a nearby summer camp said the timing of the explosion, early in the morning, may have prevented a much greater tragedy. “It would have been a massacre if the 60 children and 120 people who use the swimming pool had already arrived,” they said.
Prime minister Giorgia Meloni said she was in close contact with Rome’s mayor, Roberto Gualtieri, and was monitoring the situation. Pope Leo also expressed his solidarity, saying he was praying for the victims.
Rome prosecutors have opened an investigation into the incident.
This post was corrected on 4 July 2025, an earlier version incorrectly referred to the previous pope, Pope Francis
Updated
As we wait for the Trump-Zelenskyy call, let’s do a quick news round on other developments in Europe.
Macron, Starmer to co-chair Ukraine summit in UK on 10 July
We’re now getting a line from the Élysée Palace that French president Emmanuel Macron and British prime minister Keir Starmer will co-chair a Ukraine summit in the UK on 10 July.
“There will certainly be a discussion on how to seriously maintain Ukraine’s combat capability,” the palace said, adding that Starmer and Macron will co-chair the meeting of Kyiv’s allies by video link.
The date coincides with Macron’s formal state visit to the UK from 8 to 10 July, during which he will also address the UK parliament.
AFP noted Macron will be the first French president to make a state visit since Nicolas Sarkozy in 2008.
Ukraine's Zelenskyy confirms fresh prisoner swap with Russia
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has just confirmed the latest swap of prisoners of war, posting some pictures of them wearing Ukrainian flags.
He said:
“Our people are home. Most of them had been held in Russian captivity since 2022.
Today, our defenders who fought for Ukraine in various regions – the Donetsk region and Mariupol, the Luhansk, Kharkiv, and Kherson regions – are coming back. These are warriors of the Armed Forces, the National Guard, the State Border Guard Service, and the State Special Transport Service. And also civilians.
Exchanges must continue, and I thank everyone ensuring this. Ukraine’s goal is to free all our people from Russian captivity. I am grateful to everyone who helps make this possible.”
Updated
Russia says currently unable to achieve goals in Ukraine through diplomacy
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that Russia would continue its war on Ukraine as it was unable to achieve its goals through “diplomatic means.”
“We are interested in achieving our goals in the course of the special military operation and it is preferable to do it by political and diplomatic means,” Peskov said, as reported by AFP.
He added:
“But until that is not possible, we are continuing the special operation.”
Separately, the Russian defence ministry said that the two countries exchanged another group of prisoners of war on Friday.
The move was agreed during the most recent round of talks in Istanbul last month.
'Various ways to fill Patriot gap,' Germany says
Here are the exact lines from the German government spokesperson, via Reuters:
“There are various ways to fill this Patriot gap,” said the spokesperson, adding that one option being considered is buying the Patriot defence system in the United States and then passing them on.
“I can confirm that intensive discussions are indeed being held on this matter,” he said.
Active talks to buy US Patriot missiles for Ukraine, Germany says
We’re now getting a line from a German government spokesperson, via Reuters, that there are active talks to purchase Patriot air defence missiles from the US to provide them to Ukraine.
I will bring you more when we have it.
Updated
Trump-Zelenskyy call 'this afternoon,' official says
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US leader Donald Trump are planning to speak by telephone on Friday afternoon Kyiv time, a senior Ukrainian official told AFP.
(It’s 12:43 in Kyiv at the moment.)
“It’s being prepared for this afternoon, but everything will be clear at the last moment,” the source said.
The call would follow a conversation between Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin a day earlier.
'Putin is mocking your peace efforts,' Polish foreign minister tells Trump urging him to restore supplies for Ukraine
Polish foreign minister Radosław Sikorski told US president Donald Trump in a social media post that Russia’s Vladimir Putin was “mocking your peace efforts” as he urged him to “restore supplies of anti-aircraft ammunition to Ukraine and impose tough new sanctions on the aggressor.”
Sikorski added that the massive Russian attack last night has caused “fires and much damage, including to the Polish consulate in Kyiv.”
Footage shows explosions in Kyiv after Russia pummels city in all-night drone attack – video
Macron spoke with Trump last night on Iran, Ukraine, EU-US trade talks
in Paris
The Elysée said just after midnight that Emmanuel Macron had spoken to Donald Trump late on Thursday night. An Elysée source said they discussed Iran, Ukraine and current negotiations between the EU and the US on tariffs.
Macron also spoke to Saudi Arabia’s Mohammed bin Salman on Thursday to discuss Iran and Gaza.
Kyiv strike overnight saw largest number of drones and missiles used in single attack, Ukraine says
Ukraine’s air force representative Yuriy Ignat said the overnight attack on Kyiv saw the largest number of Russian drones and missile used in a single attack during the more than three-year invasion, AFP reported.
Russia increases use of chemical weapons in Ukraine, German and Dutch intelligence services warn
German federal intelligence service, BND, has just published a joint report with the Dutch intelligence and military intelligence services accusing Russia of increasing the use of chemical weapons in Ukraine in a violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention.
Dutch defence minister, Ruben Brekelmans, said on the report:
“These weapons are being employed systematically and on a large scale. This is a slippery slope. It is completely unacceptable and again demonstrates the brutality of the aggressor Ukraine has to face.”
He added:
“Lowering the threshold for the use of this type of weapon poses a danger not only to Ukraine but also to the rest of Europe and the world.
This calls for more sanctions, the isolation of Russia and undiminished military support for Ukraine.”
The note says that according to Ukrainian records, “Russia has carried out more than 9,000 chemical weapons attacks on Ukrainian troops since the start of the large-scale invasion in 2022,” with at least three deaths directly attributable to exposure to chemical weapons.
Morning opening: Russian attacks on Ukraine continue
Russia launched 550 drones and missiles overnight targeting Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities just hours after a phone call between the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, and US counterpart, Donald Trump.
An all-night attack on the capital injured at least 23 people, damaging railway infrastructure and setting buildings and cars on fire throughout the city, authorities in the Ukrainian capital said in comments reported by Reuters.
Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko said that explosions were recorded in six out of ten of the city’s districts.
The attack – the latest in a series of escalating Russian airstrikes in recent weeks – came just hours after the latest phone call between Trump and Putin in which the US president reportedly tried to push for a ceasefire and peace talks.
But Trump told reporters he was “very disappointed” with the conversation with Putin, adding “I’m just saying I don’t think he’s looking to stop, and that’s too bad.”
He added:
I didn’t make any progress with him at all.
Trump is expected to speak with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy later today.
I will bring you all the updates here.
It’s Friday, 4 July 2025, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.
Good morning.
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