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by Novaya Gazeta Europe

This war must end. But the Russian leader wants to fight." Zelensky's letter to Putin is an act of demonstrating strength and defiance, but it also has diplomatic significance

Volodymyr Zelensky. Photo: Office of the President of Ukraine. Strikes on St. Petersburg and Kronstadt on the first day of the SPIEF, where the main event was the discussion of Zelensky's letter to Putin with a proposal to start personal negotiations, continued on the last day of the forum. Mobile communication failed in the northern capital, and Governor Beglov urged residents not to go out on the streets. "This war must end. But the Russian leader wants to fight," the Ukrainian president summarized the results of the indirect dialogue he initiated. It seems that few doubt that the bold letter can only formally be considered an invitation to negotiations. Putin's expected reaction directly confirmed this. What was it then? Russia and the world were informed that the war is entering a new phase, when time, considered an ally of Russia, is clearly beginning to work for Ukraine. The arguments are consistently laid out in the letter, and the choice of addressee and time of publication ensured that the message received the widest possible audience, with precise targeting: a direct address to Russia with the help and over the head of its permanent leader, where the growing doubts of the population and the bureaucratic layer in his victorious strategy are expressed in a simple, clear form. Smoke over St. Petersburg after a Ukrainian drone strike, June 3, 2026. Photo: Reuters / Scanpix / LETA. The St. Petersburg Forum is the Russian president's favorite toy, a place where he can still pretend to be an extremely influential world leader, to prance against the backdrop of the racial diversity of participants. Here, too, are gathered those whom the researcher of Russian public administration Alexandra Prokopenko calls nobles: the political aristocracy of Putin's Russia. Media and PR services scurry about in abundance. Therefore, resonance is guaranteed for everything that falls into the active field of attention of the participants, and there is no more important question than what "the grandfather" intends to do with the war. All participants and observers wanted to hear the answer to it, and Zelensky ensured that this answer became the central event of the forum, devaluing the tales of "platform drivers of sovereignty." To begin with, Ukrainian drones prepared the necessary entourage. Petersburgers and city guests had the opportunity to observe pillars of smoke over the local oil terminal and wonder how well Russia's defense capabilities are doing, if even here, at such a moment, drones fly in and hit. Kronstadt, a military base itself, the "reliable shield of Leningrad," was also hit, which looked like mockery. After that, the letter came into play. The killing power of the document lies in the fact that it summarizes the 26-year rule of Vladimir Putin, spent on conquering Ukraine and, driven by an idée fixe, ruined the country. Russians received war on their territory, sanctions, and dependence on China, and Putin himself received growing fatigue from him and an increased need to fight for his personal safety in his declining years. "Do you need this?" Volodymyr Zelensky seems to ask Russians. "And you?" he nods towards Putin. "Yes, yes!" Putin predictably answers with bitterness and kills the hopes of Russians for some reasonable way out. And immediately he addresses his military: "[Comrades soldiers and sailors!] Work, brothers!" "See," Zelensky shrugs, leaving it to the participants of the SPIEF and ordinary Russians to judge the leader's adequacy. Another portion of UAVs flies into the Leningrad region, illustrating the text of the insolent letter and closing the theme. Secondary detonation at the arsenal in the Bolshaya Izhora area saluted this information-psychological operation. When Volodymyr Zelensky embarked on his path to power, having no political experience at all, but only extensive stage experience, many reasonably considered it a fatal weakness. Over time – and the time was extremely difficult – he politically "pumped up" in a super-intensive mode, but his sense of timing, plot development, and ability to work with the expectations of the audience, and even different audiences simultaneously, did not disappear. As the leader of a warring nation, this has armed him with additional capabilities unavailable to "proper" politicians. And the letter to Putin is an example of another move by Zelensky – and Ukraine – beyond what was accepted and considered possible, and it is on par with the presidential decree allowing Russia to hold a Victory Parade on Red Square. Of course, this is an act of demonstrating strength and defiance, not a diplomatic initiative formulated in a strange, doomed-to-failure way, with "wrong words." As if there are words that can stop Putin. But the diplomatic significance of this operation, of course, also exists. In the spring of 2026, Donald Trump's peacemaking enthusiasm on the Russian-Ukrainian track had withered, and by the summer, against the backdrop of the White House administration's concerns about Iran, it had disappeared altogether. Trilateral negotiations did not achieve any breakthrough. Marco Rubio stated the futility of continuing in the same vein: "We are not interested in getting involved in an endless cycle of meetings that lead nowhere." Moscow does not tire of talking about its disappointment with Washington's inability to comply with the agreements reached in Anchorage. It should be recalled that after the meeting in Alaska in August last year, Trump withdrew his demand for an immediate ceasefire as a mandatory transition to negotiations. It seems that he received assurances from Putin that he would be able to force Ukraine and bring about peace on his terms, and the United States, for its part, only needed to pressure Kyiv, and the Nobel Prize would be in the president's pocket, everyone would be satisfied. The time that has passed since then is indeed enough to conclude that the agreements did not work. Ukraine not only did not become more compliant, it became even more brazen. But Putin also deceived Trump's expectations, proving unable to show convincing results either on the battlefield or by forcing Ukraine through long-range strikes on energy infrastructure. Unable to defeat Ukraine, but refusing to make peace, Putin deprives Donald Trump of his well-deserved umpteenth stopped war. Volodymyr Putin and Donald Trump during a meeting in Alaska, USA, August 15, 2025. Photo: Sergey Bobylev / Sputnik / Kremlin / EPA. Zelensky, on the other hand, shows card after card, the existence of which was denied to him in the Oval Office a year and a half ago, and now the attitude towards Ukraine in the White House is clearly changing to respectful, but they are not yet ready for new negotiation efforts, finally putting pressure on the aggressor. European allies of Ukraine see in these circumstances a chance to become active participants in negotiations and persuade Putin to stop before it gets worse. The Sunday meeting of leaders in London is dedicated to this, in particular. But it seems this idea will have to be postponed for some time. The St. Petersburg story demonstrated Putin's undiminished eagerness for war, and no one can say now when or if enlightenment will occur. Ukraine can only increase its efforts, working on Russia's fatigue, about which Zelensky writes in his letter. That fatigue, after which changes occur.

Cover image for This war must end. But the Russian leader wants to fight." Zelensky's letter to Putin is an act of demonstrating strength and defiance, but it also has diplomatic significance
by Novaya Gazeta Europe

What is Mirra Andreeva, who at 19 won a Grand Slam tournament, known for? Key information about the Roland Garros final and the Russian tennis player's career

Russian tennis player Mirra Andreeva, competing under a neutral status, has become the winner of Roland Garros-26, the French Open tennis tournament. In the final, held on the Philippe-Chatrier court in Paris, she defeated her Polish opponent Maia Chwalińska with a score of 6:3, 6:2. After the match, Andreeva thanked her parents, coach, psychologist—and herself—'for believing and fighting inner demons.' She became the youngest French Open champion in 34 years—since Monica Seles (1992)—and the first Russian woman to conquer a Grand Slam tournament since 2014 (after Maria Sharapova). 'New Europe' tells about the tennis player's career path and what Andreeva is known for. Mirra Andreeva with the Suzanne Lenglen Cup after winning the final match at the Roland Garros Grand Slam tournament in Paris, France, June 6, 2026. Photo: Mohammed Badra / EPA. In her post-victory interview, Andreeva told journalists that she had imagined winning the tournament many times, but in real life, the emotions are 'much better': 'To look at this trophy and realize that it's all real, and I can call myself a Grand Slam champion.' According to the athlete, 'it's addictive,' and she can't wait to repeat the experience. 'I've been watching Roland Garros since childhood and always dreamed of winning this trophy,' said Andreeva. Andreeva was presented with the trophy by the winner of the 2000 French Open, Mary Pierce. Andreeva's coach, Conchita Martínez, lost to Pierce in the 2000 tournament final. Mirra Andreeva receives the trophy from French tennis player Mary Pierce after winning the Roland Garros tournament, Paris, France, June 6, 2026. Photo: Mohammed Badra / EPA. Martínez said she is very proud of her protégé's victory. She also shared that Andreeva 'has a difficult character.' 'You have to give her credit and praise her for wanting to change things, for staying open and not being afraid of hard work. As you can see, as soon as she puts in the effort, her potential is immediately revealed. She has innate talent. She is a magnificent player, so this is her path,' the coach noted at a press conference. After her Roland Garros final victory, Andreeva shared that she indeed has a difficult character. The young woman thanked her opponent, coach, and family, and also specifically thanked her psychologist, who, according to her, was watching from Florida: 'Everything you told me, I tried to use during these two weeks.' She also expressed gratitude in Russian to her former coach Kirill Kryukov. 'And finally, I want to thank myself for believing in myself and always giving 100%, even when it was tough, for striving to become better as a person and as a player, for fighting many inner demons,' Andreeva said. For winning the tournament, the tennis player earned 2.8 million euros in prize money. 'Proud of you, Mirra. This celebration speaks for itself. Thrilled, but not yet satisfied. The mark of a true champion,' Maria Sharapova reacted to Andreeva's victory. Match against Kostyuk In the Roland Garros semifinals, Russian Andreeva, the world's eighth-ranked player, defeated Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk, the world's 15th-ranked player, with a score of 6:1, 6:3. After the match, the players did not shake hands. At the pre-match press conference, Kostyuk criticized Russian athletes for not speaking out about Russia's aggression against Ukraine. 'I would like to see more clear statements on this matter. I don't know how you can sleep peacefully when you know that such things are happening, and you are silent,' she said. Kostyuk had previously spoken about a Russian missile strike near her childhood home in Kyiv. After her quarterfinal victory, Kostyuk tearfully dedicated her win to the people of Ukraine: 'We had another very difficult evening in Ukraine, especially in Kyiv. So many people died. I want to dedicate this match to the Ukrainian people and their resilience,' she said. Andreeva praised her opponent's game after the semifinal. 'She is an amazing tennis player, a strong opponent, so I am very pleased with my game. I am glad that I got revenge for the Madrid final and reached my first Grand Slam final,' said the Russian. The tennis player also noted that 'nobody wants war in the world.' 'I never think about these things when I play,' she added. Marta Kostyuk during the semifinal match against Mirra Andreeva at Roland Garros, Paris, France, June 4, 2026. Photo: Teresa Suarez / EPA. Career Successes Besides Roland Garros Andreeva has been playing professional tennis since she was 15. She was born in Krasnoyarsk, then lived and trained in Moscow, and in January 2022, she began training at the Cannes academy Elite in France. In an interview with 'Kommersant,' Andreeva recalled that her sports career began when her mother became interested in tennis. First, she enrolled her older sister, Erika (also a professional tennis player), in a sports section. 'I love holding a racket, feeling the grip with its fresh wrap in my palm. And I love the sound the strings make when you hit the ball in the center of the stringbed. Sometimes I'm given a week off to reset, but I can't stand it after about the third day and start hitting the ball against the wall or at least mimic strokes,' the athlete said in an interview with 'Kommersant.' In 2025, Mirra Andreeva won two consecutive WTA 1000 tournaments, prestigious tournaments of the Women's Tennis Association: in Dubai and Indian Wells. At 17, she became the youngest WTA 1000 tournament champion. In February, she entered the WTA top 10 for the first time, and in July—the top 5. In the same year, Andreeva won her first WTA doubles title. She won with Diana Shnaider at the tournament in Brisbane, Australia. Later, they also won the tournament in Miami, and at the end of the season, they participated in the WTA Finals as a pair for the first time. Mirra Andreeva during the semifinal match against Marta Kostyuk at Roland Garros, Paris, France, June 4, 2026. Photo: Mohammed Badra / EPA. Andreeva reached her first WTA final in 2024. She won the title in Iași (Romania) and was a finalist at the tournament in Ningbo (China). At Roland Garros, one of the four Grand Slam tournaments, Andreeva reached the semifinals for the first time in 2024. In the quarterfinals, she defeated the world's second-ranked player, Aryna Sabalenka. On October 8, 2024, Andreeva entered the WTA top 20 for the first time and finished the season in 16th place. In the same year, she won a silver medal at the Paris Olympics in women's doubles with Diana Shnaider. In 2023, Andreeva started the season with a 13-match winning streak and won two International Tennis Federation (ITF) tournaments in Switzerland. She then received a wild card (a special invitation from the organizers) for the tournament in Madrid and reached the fourth round, defeating Leylah Fernandez, Beatriz Haddad Maia, and Magda Linette. In the fourth round, she lost to Aryna Sabalenka. In the same season, Andreeva debuted at Grand Slam tournaments: she reached the third round at Roland Garros, the fourth round at Wimbledon, and lost in the second round of the US Open to future champion Coco Gauff. Also in 2023, the Russian reached the fourth round of the tournament in Beijing, where she lost to Elena Rybakina. By the end of the season, Andreeva entered the WTA top 50 for the first time, although she started the year outside the top 300. WTA recognized her as Newcomer of the Year. In 2022, Andreeva had successful performances at ITF tournaments: she won 39 matches with 9 losses and took her first four titles at this level. In the same year, she debuted in the main draw of a WTA tournament in Monastir (Tunisia) but lost in the first round to Anastasia Potapova. Andreeva began her professional career in February 2022 at the ITF W15 tournament in Sharm El Sheikh. W15 is the entry level for professional ITF tournaments. In total, the athlete has six ITF singles titles. In her junior career, Andreeva's main achievement was reaching the final of the Australian Open in 2023. She lost to compatriot Alina Korneeva.

Cover image for What is Mirra Andreeva, who at 19 won a Grand Slam tournament, known for? Key information about the Roland Garros final and the Russian tennis player's career
by Globo

Após xingamentos, Virginia desfalca time de famosos em after de jogo do Brasil

A influenciadora Virginia Fonseca desfalcou o time de famosos em uma after party que rolou após o jogo do Brasil contra o Panamá, que aconteceu no Estádio do Maracanã, nesse domingo (31). Na madrugada desta segunda-feira (1), a influenciadora não apareceu entre outros nomes que estenderam a noite para celebrar a goleada no último amistoso antes da Copa do Mundo 2026.

Cover image for Após xingamentos, Virginia desfalca time de famosos em after de jogo do Brasil
by Constantin

Dutch Oven Bread

While this is a very simple and effortless recipe, the waiting times between phases recommend it for moments when you have other things to do.

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