Closing summary
… and on that note, it’s a wrap!
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has spoken with UK prime minister Keir Starmer this afternoon to discuss “joint diplomatic efforts” and plans for a meeting of “the Coalition of the Willing” in the coming days (16:34), as Ukraine seeks to respond to Russia’s escalating air attacks on its cities (10:12, 10:25).
Their call comes just hours after Russia claimed it captured its first village in Ukraine’s central Dnipropetrovsk region after grinding towards the border for months (13:42).
Earlier, it emerged that Zelenskyy discussed the idea of replacing the current Ukrainian ambassador to the US during his phone call with US president Donald Trump last week (11:31).
Meanwhile, Ukraine said it had struck a chemical plant in Russia that manufactures explosives, ammunition and thermobaric warheads for Shahed attack drones (15:56).
Meanwhile,
Poland has introduced border controls with Germany and Lithuania in a bid to address growing worries about irregular migration through the country, which Warsaw says is inspired by Russia and Belarus (12:05).
Polish prime minister Donald Tusk warned that Poland’s heavily militarised border with Belarus will not be enough to defend the bloc “if other external borders of the EU won’t be as tightly guarded” (12:41), explaining his reasoning as he stressed he “wanted Europe to understand why we, supporters of Schengen, of Europe without borders” take such measures.
The European Commission confirmed that it received the relevant paperwork from Poland, adding that “neighbouring countries with temporary border controls coordinate closely with each other to limit the impact of these border controls to a minimum”.
Germany’s government commissioner for Poland, Knut Abraham, described the border controls as a “heavy burden” for the border region. “This is not a good day for German-Polish relations,” he said.
And elsewhere,
The European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has appeared before European parliament at a debate on a motion of censure brought against her commission (17:06). We will offer a summary of this debate in Tuesday’s blog.
The debate comes hours after Brussels confirmed that von der Leyen spoke with US president Donald Trump and had “a good exchange” on trade, as the bloc rushes to get a deal on tariffs before the US deadline on Wednesday (12:53).
Ireland’s Paschal Donohoe has just been confirmed for a third term as Eurogroup president (16:59), after his rivals from Spain and Lithuania dropped out of the race just hours before the key meeting (15:20).
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.
‘Shorts and flip-flops are not allowed’: La Scala enforces opera dress code ban
Operagoers have been warned they will be banned from entering Milan’s prestigious La Scala theatre if they turn up wearing shorts, tank tops or flip-flops. Kimonos, however, are acceptable.
The venue’s management team reminded people how not to dress for an opera after complaints that some spectators were donning attire more suitable for the beach.
A “rules of conduct” sign has been placed at La Scala’s entrance urging its audience to “choose clothing in keeping with the decorum of the theatre”, adding that “spectators wearing tank tops, shorts and flip-flops are not allowed”. Those who arrive inappropriately dressed will not be given a refund. The message has also been placed on tickets and the opera house’s website.
The anti-beachwear dress code was introduced in 2015, the year Milan hosted the World Expo and La Scala stayed open for the entire summer, as a way to stop people from turning up in swimming costumes.
But until now it has never been strictly enforced, partly because of calls for more tolerance over attire by La Scala’s former French director, Dominique Meyer, who in his youth was criticised by fellow spectators at Paris Opera productions for his “worker’s look”. Meyer later became the general director of the opera company.
“The rules now need to be reinforced, especially due to the heat we’ve been experiencing,” said a spokesperson for La Scala. “Some spectators were getting annoyed after seeing others not dress appropriately, for example in flip-flops, especially in a theatre where people are sitting shoulder to shoulder.”
Greece faces temperatures topping 40 Celsius with peak still ahead
And, as of today, it has been Greece’s turn to sweltering in temperatures topping 40C.
The heatwave, the second this summer, is expected to peak tomorrow when the mercury is predicted to exceed 42 degrees in the Greater Athens region.
Earlier thermal cameras registered with the city’s town hall recorded temperatures of 50C while heat on materials such as asphalt surpassed 100 C.
The country’s meteorological service EMY forecast temperatures dropping by Thursday saying, this time at least, the hot spell would last no more than four days.
But von der Leyen is definitely not the only person in Europe feeling the heat today…
To explain what I mean by that, let’s go to Helena Smith in Athens.
EU's von der Leyen to face motion of censure against her commission
Almost one year since being re-elected to lead the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has to explain herself before the European parliament this week.
The European Commission president will appear before MEPs later on Monday at a debate on a motion of censure brought against her commission.
The censure vote, which will take place on Thursday, has no chance of passing, but could reveal discontent about her way of running the commission and aloofness from the parliament, the EU’s only directly elected institution.
The motion of censure is ostensibly about von der Leyen’s refusal to share text messages she exchanged with the boss of Pfizer while negotiating multi-billion contracts for Covid vaccines. It was tabled by Romanian nationalist MEP Gheorghe Piperea, who secured the necessary 72 signatures (10% of the chamber) to get the motion on the agenda. In theory, it could bring down the entire commission leadership.
But to pass it would need two-thirds of votes cast, representing a majority of the 720 MEPs. That is not going to happen. The European People’s Party, von der Leyen’s political family oppose the “irresponsible” motion, as do Socialists, Liberals and Greens, who voted for the commission president last year.
But the vote shows the heft of the nationalist and far right to set the agenda – the far-right Patriots for Europe can be expected to vote against von der Leyen. It also could reveal discontent with von der Leyen from the political mainstream. Announcing its intention to vote against the motion, a spokesperson from the centrist Renew group attacked the “insupportable mishmash” of allegations, but said they hoped von der Leyen “gets this message that you cannot govern with the radical right”.
The Commission president and EPP group have been accused of moving too close to the right on issues such as migration and climate, as well as in votes in the European parliament.
For its part, the EPP has described the vote as “highly irresponsible” in a time of growing geopolitical tension.
With war in Ukraine, conflict in the Middle East and humanitarian disaster in Gaza, the climate crisis, not to mention a possible trade war with the US looming, it seems likely that von der Leyen will refer to that turbulent context when she meets MEPs later.
Since we are talking about the EU and personal dramas…
Let’s hear from our Brussels correspondent Jennifer Rankin on what’s going to happen in Strasbourg tonight as the European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, faces a debate on a vote of no-confidence for her cabinet, which is expected later this week.
Updated
Ireland's Donohoe re-elected as Eurogroup president
And just as expected (15:20), Ireland’s Paschal Donohoe has just been confirmed for a third term as Eurogroup president.
Here is the official statement, released moments ago:
The Eurogroup has today elected by consensus, Paschal Donohoe, Minister for Finance of Ireland, as its President for a third term. His new term, lasting two and a half years, will commence on 13 July 2025.
“It has been a great honour and privilege to serve as President of the Eurogroup since 2020. I am very grateful to my fellow ministers for the trust they have placed in me to continue leading our important work for a third term.
As I promised to ministers in 2020, I have been – and will remain – a genuine and honest broker in our negotiations, ensuring that all voices and positions are taken into account.
In the face of significant geopolitical changes, the euro area has proven to be very resilient. It will be my task to further strengthen our common currency area and facilitate tangible progress on our key work streams during this next mandate – from budgetary coordination to the Capital Markets Union, and from the digital euro to the Banking Union.
A stronger and more competitive euro area will reinforce the international role of the euro, further enhance our resilience and prosperity to the benefit of our citizens.”
Paschal Donohoe, President of the Eurogroup
The President has been in office since 13 July 2020.
Zelenskyy says he spoke with UK's Starmer on diplomatic efforts, air defence
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has just said he has spoken with Britain’s prime minister Keir Starmer, discussing “joint diplomatic efforts” and plans for a meeting of the “Coalition of the Willing” in Rome “in a few days.”
“We are working to ensure the decisions made are as strong as possible,” he said.
In an update on his Telegram and X accounts, Zelenskyy also said Starmer also expressed his condolences over continuing Russian attacks on Ukraine as the two discussed what else can be done to support Ukraine.
“We also discussed additional funding to be provided this month for Ukraine’s domestic drone production, primarily interceptor drones,” he said.
Zelenskyy added that the pair also “agreed to work on strengthening other formats of cooperation with key partners as well, particularly the Ramstein format,” with focus on protecting lives of Ukrainians against on-going attacks by Russia.
Updated
Russian minister kills himself hours after being dismissed by Putin
Meanwhile over in Russia, the country’s former transport minister Roman Starovoyt reportedly killed himself hours after being officially dismissed by president Vladimir Putin, agencies reported.
Authorities said Starovoyt’s body was found in a Moscow suburb after the dismissal was announced with “suicide” being considered as the most likely cause of death.
AFP notes that Starovoyt’s firing came after another weekend of travel chaos at Russian airports following Ukrainian drone attacks. More than 240 flights were delayed, and 160 were cancelled due to disruptions.
One of Starovoyt’s deputies and the former governon of Russia’s Novgorod region, Andrei Nikitin, was appointed as acting transport minister.
Ukraine says it hit Russia's chemical plant involved in drone production
Back to Ukraine, the country’s military said it had struck a chemical plant in Russia’s Moscow region that manufactures explosives, ammunition and thermobaric warheads for Shahed attack drones.
“A series of explosions were recorded in the area of the city of Krasnozavodsk and the movement of fire trucks in neighbouring settlements,” Kyiv’s General Staff said in a statement on the Telegram messaging site, reported by Reuters, adding that the final results of the strike were still being clarified.
They added:
“The Defence Forces continue to take measures to undermine the offensive potential of the Russian occupiers and force the Russian Federation to stop its armed aggression against Ukraine.”
Ireland's Donohoe on course to be re-elected Eurogroup president
Meanwhile in Brussels, the Eurogroup – an informal body of eurozone finance ministers – appears to be set to re-elect the Irish finance minister Paschal Donohoe as its head after his rivals reportedly decided to drop out from the race.
Earlier today, Spanish newspaper El Mundo reported the country’s economy minister Carlos Cuerpo was planning to withdraw after concluding he would not get the votes necessary to be elected.
Arriving in Brussels, Cuerpo confirmed the report, saying that after conversations with fellow eurozone ministers over the weekend, he concluded he had no chance of winning and wanted to “avoid the fragmentation” of the group.
Shortly afterwards, Lithuania’s Rimantas Šadžius declared himself out of the race too.
The Lithuanian said it was “an honour” to be involved in the race coming from a country that introduced the euro only 10 years ago – and Šadžius was the country’s finance minister at the time, too – but he insisted that the eurogroup “should work on the basis of consensus,” and that should guide the choice of the next president.
“Today we will be able to choose the next president, for the next two and a half years, by consensus as well,” he said.
That leaves Donohoe the clear favourite to get the nod for another, third term later today.
Macron’s UK state visit underlines effort to move on from Brexit nightmare
Later this week, UK prime minister Keir Starmer and French president Emmanuel Macron will lead a working session with leaders of the countries taking part in the coalition of the willing that continues supporting Ukraine in its fight against Russia.
The online meeting will take place on Thursday, as part of Macron’s state visit to the UK, which begins tomorrow.
The strong Franco-British unity on display is seen as crucial at a time of war in Ukraine and the Middle East and faced with the unpredictability of the US president.
Our Paris correspondent Angelique Chrisafis looked at the preparations for the visit in her analysis here.
When Emmanuel Macron rides in a horse-drawn carriage to Windsor Castle this week, it will be to celebrate the return of close political relations between London and Paris, drawing a line under the damaging spats of the Brexit years.
The French president’s office said the “shared interests” of the two countries were what mattered now, hailing France and the UK’s “essential” close relationship on the international stage. This reinvigorated cross-Channel bond was “vital”, a UK official said.
For Paris, it is symbolic that Macron is the first European leader to be invited for a pomp-filled state visit to the UK since Brexit.
Russia claims first foothold in new Ukraine region
Back to Ukraine, Russia claimed it captured its first village in Ukraine’s central Dnipropetrovsk region after grinding towards the border for months, dealing a physchological blow for Kyiv as its worries mount, AFP reported.
The Russian defence ministry said its forces captured the village of Dachne in the Dnipropetrovsk region, an important industrial mining territory that has also come under mounting Russian air attacks.
Russian forces appear to have made crossing the border a key strategic objective over recent months, and deeper advances into the region could pose logistics and economic problems for Kyiv, the agency noted.
But Ukraine has so far denied any Russian foothold in Dnipropetrovsk, and its army said earlier on Monday that its forces “repelled” attacks in Dnipropetrovsk, including “in the vicinity” of Dachne.
EU calls for 'close coordination' between countries affected by reintroduction of border controls
The commission also addressed the reintroduction of Polish border controls with Germany and Lithuania, confirming at its midday media briefing that it had received a formal notification from Poland on Friday.
EU spokesperson Markus Lammert confirmed that “reintroducing temporary internal border controls is possible subject to certain conditions, as set out in EU legislation, and in particular in the Schengen borders code.”
He added the move requires “close coordination at EU level, and in particular with all member states concerned,” and said the EU was in close contact with all parties.
“It is important, let me add, that that neighbouring countries with temporary border controls coordinate closely with each other to limit the impact of these border controls to a minimum, including as regards smooth traffic flows.”
EU's von der Leyen spoke with US president Trump on trade over weekend, work towards 9 July deadline, commission says
Meanwhile over in Brussels, European Commission spokesperson Stefan de Keersmaecker confirmed that commission president Ursula von der Leyen spoke with US president Donald Trump on Sunday and they had “a good exchange,” without going into further details.
EU’s trade spokesperson Olof Gill offered a bit more colour, stressing “the EU has been completely unflinching and unchanging in its position.”
We want to reach a deal with the US. We want to avoid tariffs. We believe they cause pain. We want to achieve win-win outcomes, not lose-lose outcomes.
He added that EU’s trade commissioner Maroš Šefčovič made “substantial progress” during his meetings in Washington DC last week, and the state of talks was discussed with member states on Friday, “as we have done systematically and in depth at all stages in this sorry saga.”
“We have been continuing political and technical level contact with the US on substance, our aim remains to find an agreement before 9 July at present.”
The spokesperson also declined to respond to comments by US officials over the weekend.
Updated
EU border controls necessary to stop Belarus, Russia-inspired irregular migration flows, Tusk says
Polish prime minister Donald Tusk has just been speaking about the border situation at a joint press conference with Dutch prime minister, Dick Schoof.
He repeated Poland’s main argument that irregular migration flows in Europe were “organised by hostile powers, let’s call them for what they are, primarily by the Lukashenko regime [in Belarus], but also supported by Putin’s administration” in Russia.
He said that the Polish border guard’s heavily militarised operation on the border with Belarus stops 98% of all attempts to cross into border, but he warned “it all won’t make any sense if other external borders of the EU won’t be as tightly guarded.”
Tusk stressed that the decision to reintroduce controls with Lithuania are meant to catch all cases where someone fails to get into Poland from Belarus, but succeeds to go through the Baltics instead.
He also offered a bit more detail on the four Afghan citizens stopped overnight at the Polish-Lithuanian border (12:05), saying that they had been previously registered as attempting the illegal crossing from Belarus.
The Polish prime minister also repeated his thinly veiled criticism of Germany, saying the new controls will allow the Polish authorities to carefully scrutinise every case of a suspected irregular migrant being turned away by the German border force and pushed back into Poland.
“It will no longer be the case that anyone who has crossed the border illegally, and whose documentation is incomplete or unclear, will be sent to Poland from anywhere – whether from Germany or any other country.”
He then added:
“We are doing this for you: for the Germans, the Dutch, the French, because it’s the border of the European Union,” he insisted.
“I really want Europe to understand why we, supporters of Schengen, of Europe without borders … have to partially reintroduce controls on the border.”
Updated
Poland introduces border controls with Germany, Lithuania
Poland has introduced border controls with Germany and Lithuania in a bid to address growing worries about irregular migration through the country, which Warsaw says is inspired by Russia and Belarus.
Announcing the move last week, Poland’s prime minister Donald Tusk said that the recent policy shift in Germany had placed undue pressure on Poland to accept individuals denied entry at the German border.
In remarks at the beginning of the weekly cabinet meeting, Tusk blamed Germany for the move, accusing it of a policy shift resulting in “effectively refusing entry … to migrants who are heading to Germany to apply for asylum or other forms of status”.
“With no border checks on the Polish side, it becomes difficult to determine whether those being returned or redirected to Poland should be sent there,” he said.
Polish interior minister Tomasz Siemoniak defended the move this morning saying it was justified by what authorities see on the border.
Poland has long been warning against what it says is a Russian-Belarusian campaign to destabilise the European Union by incentivising irregular migration through the bloc’s eastern borders with Belarus.
He told private broadcaster TVN24:
“We must take very clear action in a situation where the German side, on one hand, does not admit … migrants and does not subject them to the readmission procedure, and on the other hand, due to the tightening of our Polish-Belarusian border, (...) we are seeing a significant increase in illegal migrants crossing the border into Lithuania, Latvia, and then traveling to Poland.”
Siemoniak added that minutes before the controls kicked in at midnight, the Polish border guard stopped an Estonian man attempting to smuggle four people, likely Afghan citizens, across the border without the necessary documents.
By the end of June this year, 412 people have been detained at the Polish-Lithuanian border – just short of the total for the entire year of 2024, which was 432. More than 15,000 people attempted to cross the Polish-Belarusian border illegally, according to official figures.
800 additional border guards, 300 police officers, and over 500 members of the territorial defence forces were sent to implement the new measures.
The measure, introduced after a series of far-right-inspired protests along the border, was initially introduced for 30 days, but Siemoniak said, “If Germans don’t remove their controls, we will continue with ours too.”
Zelenskyy discussed replacing Ukraine ambassador to US with Trump, Bloomberg says
Back to Ukraine, Bloomberg News (£) has just reported that Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy discussed replacing the current ambassador to the US during his phone call with President Donald Trump on Friday.
Bloomberg reported that Ukraine’s prime minister Denys Shmyhal is high on the list of potential candidates, with some other senior figures such as his deputy Olha Stefanishyna and defence minister Rustem Umerov also believed to be under consideration.
Updated
Paris reopens Seine River to public swimming after century-long ban
Parisians and tourists flocked to take a dip in the Seine River this weekend after city authorities gave the green light for it to be used for public swimming for the first time in more than a century.
The opening followed a comprehensive clean-up programme sped up by its use as a venue in last year’s Paris Olympics after people who regularly swam in it illegally lobbied for its transformation.
The outgoing mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, also helped to champion the plans, jumping in the river herself before the Olympics.
About 1,000 swimmers a day will be allowed access to three bathing sites on the banks of the Seine for free, until the end of August.
Zakynthos hit by earthquake, with no injuries reported
The Greek island of Zakynthos was hit by a 4.1 magnitude earthquake overnight, Kathimerini reported.
No injuries or significant damage were reported, it added.
The paper noted that “Zakynthos was all but destroyed in a 6.8 magnitude tremor in 1953.”
Fresh scandal hits Spain’s ruling party as official quits over sexual harassment claims
in Madrid
Pedro Sánchez’s efforts to reset Spain’s ruling socialist party after damaging corruption allegations that threatened to topple his coalition government have suffered a severe setback over the weekend after a party official resigned over accusations of sexual harassment.
The prime minister had hoped this weekend’s meeting of the federal committee of his Spanish Socialist Workers’ party (PSOE) would help the party move past weeks of scandals that have undermined the ethical and anti-corruption pledges on which it came to power seven years ago.
But such hopes were flattened late on Friday night after the online newspaper elDiario published allegations from various female PSOE workers who said they had been subjected to sexual harassment by Francisco Salazar, who oversaw institutional coordination at the Moncloa palace, the office and official residence of the prime minister.
The accusations prompted Salazar to announce on Saturday that he was stepping down from that post and from his new role as a deputy in the PSOE’s organisational secretariat.
He told elDiario he could not recall any inappropriate interactions. “I’ve racked my brains over it and it seems mind-boggling to me,” he said. “I keep wondering if I’ve screwed up and said something inappropriate to a workmate, and the truth is, I can’t find [an example].”
Sources at Moncloa, in Madrid, said an investigation had been launched, but added that no official complaints had so far been made against Salazar.
On Saturday, Sánchez apologised again for what he called his misplaced confidence in those accused of wrongdoing, adding: “I was wrong to place my trust in people who didn’t deserve it, but we won’t fall short in a time of democratic regeneration.”
The prime minister, who is under growing pressure to call a snap election, said he had no intention of stepping down.
Zelenskyy tells partners to 'fulfil everything we agreed on' as he seeks more air defence for Ukraine
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has now responded to the overnight attacks on Ukraine, ramping up pressure on the US and European allies to help with air defence systems.
“We very much expect that our partners will fulfil everything we agreed on. Air defence is the main thing for protecting life,” he said.
Zelenskyy added that Ukraine was developing investments plans to increase its own weapon production, including “all types of drones,” and with “special attention paid to interceptor drones.”
Updated
Morning opening: What's next for Ukraine?
At least four people were killed and more than 30 injured in another round of Russian strikes on Ukraine overnight, just days after a series of phone calls between US president Donald Trump, Russian president Vladimir Putin, and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The latest attack will once again pose questions on what’s next for Ukraine as the US ceasefire proposal, pursued by Trump, appears to be failing to make any further progress.
Zelenskyy’s top aide Andriy Yermak said in an update on Telegram that “one of the important principles of defence is the destruction of the enemy’s ability to produce weapons,” as he called for “Russia’s military-industrial complex … to be weakened in various ways: from sanctions to direct strikes.”
The western world must realise that Russia’s scaling up of weapons production only brings us closer to the day when it will be used not only against Ukraine.
Elsewhere, some parts of Europe still battles heatwave with temperatures close to 40 Celsius in Greece, while others in central and eastern Europe are on alert for storms and torrential rains.
In Strasbourg, the European parliament will hold a debate ahead of this Thursday’s vote of no confidence in Ursula von der Leyen’s EU commission.
We are also waiting for more updates from EU-US trade talks, and on the latest situation on the Polish border with Germany after Poland has reintroduced controls overnight in an attempt to prevent irregular migration.I will bring you all the updates from Ukraine and across Europe here.
It’s Monday, 7 July 2025, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.
Good morning.
