Morning opening: Ukraine accuses Russia of ‘escalating terror’
Jakub Krupa
Russia launched round 400 drones and 18 missiles in opposition to Ukraine in a single day, with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy saying the current assaults mark “a clear escalation of terror” by Moscow.

He mentioned:
“Tons of of ‘shaheds’ each night time, fixed strikes, and large assaults on Ukrainian cities.
This calls for that we velocity issues up.
Sanctions have to be imposed sooner, and stress on Russia have to be robust sufficient that they really really feel the results of their terror.”
The assault comes simply hours earlier than Zelenskyy meets with worldwide elements at the Ukraine Restoration Convention in Rome and talks to allies within the Coalition of the Prepared.
In an early morning put up, he mentioned the talks will deal with “additional funding for the production of interceptor drones and the supply of air defence systems for Ukraine.”
“The objectives are absolutely clear. Such Russian attacks must be met with a tough response. And that is exactly what we will deliver.”
It’s Thursday, 10 July 2025, it’s Jakub Krupa right here, and that is Europe Reside.
Good morning.
Key occasions
Leaders arriving for Ukraine Recovery Conference
I am keeping an eye on the arrivals at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Rome.
In the next hour we should hear from the host, Giorgia Meloni, but also a long list of international guests, including Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, German chancellor Friedrich Merz, and Polish prime minister Donald Tusk.
There appears to be a slight delay to the proceedings and Meloni is only welcoming the international guests now – met with Tusk just seconds ago – but I will bring you the news lines as soon as they start.
Russian activity made 2024 ‘one of the most challenging in modern history,’ Czech intelligence service says
As a result of increased Russian activity – including sabotage planning, attempted sanction evasion, state-backed cyber-attacks and disinformation – 2024 was “one of the most challenging in the modern history of the Czech Republic in terms of security,” the head of the country’s security services Michal Koudelka said.
In its annual report published today, the Security Information Service, or BIS, said Russia “continued in its attempts to restore broader espionage structures” under the diplomatic cover of its embassy in the Czech Republic.
In addition to its officers, the Russian intelligence services recruited other people, including a named Belarusian asylum seeker who was allegedly paid by the Russian GRU in cryptocurrency to publish pro-Russian propaganda.
The Czech agency also warned about the growing number of cases of people “with no direct connection to Russia” recruited from organised crime groups through online advertisement, particularly on Telegram, which is dubbed “Telegram agents.”
It noted that Russian recruiters particularly targeted poorer economic migrants from outside the EU, and added that Russian intelligence services often used further intermediaries in the process, so the person hired for the job may not even be aware of the Russian involvement.
The report said such people were usually tasked with a wide range of activities, including “transporting people or packages, photographing and filming sensitive objects … to arson attacks.”
It particularly referenced last year’s arson attack at Prague’s Klíčov bus depot, which it said was carried out by a Colombian citizen who was offered money through internet.
The report also mentioned some hostile activity from China, including attempts to “find sympathisers who would promote China’s interests, suppress Czech-Taiwanese cooperation, and [act to] not raise the issue of human rights in China.”
EU’s von der Leyen faces vote of no confidence

Jennifer Rankin
Individually, we will probably be the vote of no confidence in Ursula von der Leyen’s European Fee in Strasbourg.
Our Brussels correspondent Jennifer Rankin wrote this explainer on what’s at stake.
Here’s what she says:
Von der Leyen is anticipated to comfortably survive a vote on Thursday on the censure movement, which in principle might set off the downfall of her fee.
Whereas her survival is taken into account a certainty, the controversy has lifted the lid on simmering discontent amongst centrist, centre-left and inexperienced MEPs who voted her again into workplace just below one 12 months in the past, after elections that gave rightwing nationalists their best-ever outcomes.
However behind the scenes, her officers are frightened that a lot of no-shows and abstentions from mainstream teams might harm her standing within the vote.
Morning opening: Ukraine accuses Russia of ‘escalating terror’

Jakub Krupa
Russia launched round 400 drones and 18 missiles in opposition to Ukraine in a single day, with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy saying the current assaults mark “a clear escalation of terror” by Moscow.
He mentioned:
“Tons of of ‘shaheds’ each night time, fixed strikes, and large assaults on Ukrainian cities.
This calls for that we velocity issues up.
Sanctions have to be imposed sooner, and stress on Russia have to be robust sufficient that they really really feel the results of their terror.”
The assault comes simply hours earlier than Zelenskyy meets with worldwide elements at the Ukraine Restoration Convention in Rome and talks to allies within the Coalition of the Prepared.
In an early morning put up, he mentioned the talks will deal with “additional funding for the production of interceptor drones and the supply of air defence systems for Ukraine.”
“The objectives are absolutely clear. Such Russian attacks must be met with a tough response. And that is exactly what we will deliver.”
It’s Thursday, 10 July 2025, it’s Jakub Krupa right here, and that is Europe Reside.
Good morning.