Von der Leyen unveils defence push in Kyiv amid Baltic strike fears
Ursula von der Leyen is in Kyiv to announce defence industry integration plans while Lithuania warns of imminent Russian attacks on critical Baltic infrastructure, highlighting Europe's deepening security vulnerabilities.
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen arrived in Kyiv today to announce "new initiatives to integrate our defence industries." Her visit comes as Ukrainian forces claim to have hit 20 Russian vessels in the Black Sea overnight, while Russian strikes targeted the Ukrainian ports of Odesa and Chornomorsk.
"It’s a special moment. Ukraine has built a strong military momentum. The tide is turning," von der Leyen said. The push to merge European and Ukrainian defence production signals a long-term strategic shift, as Brussels looks to build a military industrial base capable of sustaining prolonged support.
Baltic infrastructure warnings
The security situation closer to home is also deteriorating. Lithuania’s president, Gitanas Nausėda, warned that Russia could be preparing targeted attacks on critical infrastructure in the Baltic region. Security around energy and transport sites is being tightened as a precaution.
Nausėda confirmed that intelligence services had picked up "signals" of a potential provocation. "I cannot deny that we have such information and that it concerns kinetic operations – not on a large scale, but targeted kinetic operations that are very likely to be directed against critical infrastructure," he told BNS news agency.
Disrupting these facilities would threaten more than local power supplies. "Anything that could stop these facilities from functioning is important because they matter not only in themselves but also because they ensure the functioning of the entire system, particularly our synchronisation with the continental European electricity grid," Nausėda added. His warnings follow similar alerts from Poland’s prime minister, Donald Tusk, and foreign minister, Radosław Sikorski.
Diplomatic front and sanctions
Kyiv is hosting the fifth Southeastern Europe – Ukraine summit, drawing leaders from Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Moldova, Romania and Slovenia. Even Serbia’s Moscow-friendly president, Aleksander Vucić, attended, with Ukraine’s foreign minister, Andrii Sybiha, stating the focus would be "reaffirming our partnership and cooperation on the path to the EU. In focus: joint work to strengthen Europe, multilateral political interaction, and strengthening security and defence cooperation, among other topics."
Meanwhile, EU ambassadors in Brussels remain locked in negotiations over the bloc's 21st sanctions package against Russia, which missed its Monday adoption deadline. Several member states are still hesitating over a proposed price cap on Russian oil.
Italian riders strike over heatwave
In southern Europe, the intersection of climate change and labour policy is causing immediate disruption. Food delivery riders for Glovo and Deliveroo will strike across Milan, Bologna and Florence today, demanding income guarantees and employee contracts during a heatwave expected to push temperatures to 42C in parts of Italy.
Authorities in Milan have already temporarily suspended deliveries during the hottest hours. Andrea Bacchin of the Nidil-Cgil trade union called for "measures that protect their health without forcing them to lose wages." The union stressed that "those who cycle through our cities must not be forced to bear the cost of climate change. If delivery apps are suspended for safety reasons, companies must guarantee workers’ incomes. Halting deliveries cannot mean losing wages." The strike precedes a crucial meeting at Italy’s labour ministry tomorrow.
