Ukraine War Diplomacy: Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda arrives in Kyiv for Flag Day and Independence Day, meeting Zelensky and coordinating with Nordic-Baltic allies ahead of the Coalition of the Willing talks. Ukrainian Elections Clash: Zelenskyy rejects wartime elections as “a huge risk,” after fired ex-defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov urged a safe path to polls. Air-Defence Push: Nordic and Baltic leaders meet in Kyiv to finalize a coordinated air-defence plan with faster production goals, feeding into broader Western security coordination. EU-Ukraine Defence Procurement: EU funding for drone capabilities includes an exemption that keeps Kyiv reliant on Chinese components, highlighting scale and supply gaps. France-Ukraine Military Acceleration: Macron and Zelenskyy agree to speed up Aster-30 interceptor deliveries and licensing for Ukraine to produce advanced weapons. Climate & Food Pressure: Heatwaves and drought are squeezing European agriculture and driving up costs, with early harvests and crop losses reported across multiple countries. Energy Bills Watch (UK): Ofgem’s next price cap update is set to lift typical household bills again, with Middle East-linked wholesale uncertainty and heat-driven demand cited. EU Politics & Governance: Amsterdam’s coalition moves to raise tourist taxes sharply to curb overtourism, while Kazakhstan’s snap parliamentary election proceeds under tightly controlled party access. Banking Regulation: European banks welcome likely EU regulation cuts after complaints about capital and liquidity constraints.