Russia launches massive strikes on Ukraine

Russia hit multiple Ukrainian cities with one of the largest air assaults of the war on June 2, as emergency crews searched damaged apartment blocks and officials reported at least 14 deaths. The strikes landed while Moscow was also pressing for a more structured negotiating format with the United States and Ukraine, according to a report cited by RBC-Ukraine. The same day, European officials said any broader diplomatic role for the European Union would depend on an unconditional ceasefire. At the United Nations, a senior official urged restraint and warned of a wider escalation. ### Which cities were hit in the latest Russian barrage? Ukrainian cities including Kyiv were struck in the latest wave of Russian attacks, according to live reporting by The Independent, which said the death toll had risen to at least 14 and that people were still trapped in destroyed homes. The outlet described the barrage as one of the biggest attacks on Ukrainian cities since the war began. The casualty count was still moving on June 2. USA Today reported later in the day that authorities had put the toll at 18 dead and more than 100 wounded after Russia launched hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles. That suggests the scale of the strike was still being assessed as rescue work continued. ### What did the United Nations say as the attacks intensified? (independent.co.uk) The United Nations told the Security Council on June 1 that the war was entering a more dangerous phase. Kayoko Gotoh, a director in the U.N. political and peace departments, said a Russian drone had entered Romanian airspace on Friday night and hit an apartment building in Galați, injuring a woman and a child. She said the incident reflected repeated spillover risks beyond Ukraine. (usatoday.com) Gotoh said the Galați strike came amid “a sharp escalation” of large-scale Russian missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian towns and cities, with a worsening toll on civilians and civilian infrastructure. She also said there had been a marked increase in Ukrainian attacks on military, energy and industrial infrastructure inside Russia. The U.N. warning added a regional dimension to the latest strikes inside Ukraine. (news.un.org) The U.N. also flagged nuclear safety concerns. Gotoh said the International Atomic Energy Agency had been informed on May 30 that a drone struck a turbine building at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, leaving a hole in the wall — the first such attack within the plant perimeter in two years. ### What new peace-talk format is Moscow seeking? RBC-Ukraine, citing The New York Times, reported on June 1 that Moscow wanted a “stable diplomatic process” with working groups and regular meetings rather than periodic visits by U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. (news.un.org) The report also said Russia wanted a U.S. ambassador in Moscow. The same report said Russia had grown tired of ad hoc shuttle diplomacy and was seeking a more formal structure for talks. (news.un.org) RBC-Ukraine also quoted Richard Fontaine, chief executive of the Center for a New American Security, saying foreign policy is usually a long and difficult enterprise requiring sustained follow-through. ### Why is the EU refusing to move first? (newsukraine.rbc.ua) The European Union said on June 2 that it was ready to “step up” in Ukraine-Russia talks, but only if Russia first agreed to an unconditional ceasefire, according to a draft summit text reported by Euronews. The report said EU leaders were set to discuss possible direct engagement when they meet on June 18-19. (newsukraine.rbc.ua) That position leaves the diplomatic track split across several forums. Moscow is arguing for a new negotiating structure, the U.N. is calling for restraint, and the EU is tying any deeper role to a ceasefire that has not materialized. June 18-19 is the next named milestone. Euronews reported that EU leaders will take up the question of whether to engage more directly in talks at that summit, while the U.N. continues to press for de-escalation and Russia presses its preferred format. (euronews.com) (newsukraine.rbc.ua)