Ukraine-Russia war latest: Trump says conflict could lead to world war and Putin ‘has really let me down’

‘Putin really let me down’: Trump says he thought war in Ukraine would be ‘easy to solve’

What is a no-fly zone? Poland and Ukraine call for protection of European airspace

Ukraine to acquire US weapons through $3.5 billion fund

Drills in Belarus and drone incursions into Romania: How the war in Ukraine has already become a European conflict

Key Points

• Trump says US would help secure peace after Russia's war in Ukraine ends
• Watch: Trump says Putin has really let him down
• EU looks to accelerate ban on Russian LNG in 19th package of sanctions
• Zelensky says he visited frontline Donetsk region

Ireland sends 34 vehicles and demining robots to Ukraine

Ireland has delivered 34 military vehicles and three demining robots to Ukraine as part of its non-lethal military aid, the Irish government said yesterday.

The transfer of aid was done under Operation Carousel 3 by the Irish Defence Forces and transferred to Poland for handover to the Ukrainian military, the government said in a statement.

Tanaiste and defence minister Simon Harris said the important donation shows Ireland’s “steadfast support for Ukraine in the face of Russia’s brutal invasion”.

“It is imperative that we continue to stand firm in the face of ongoing Russian aggression and support Ukraine in whatever way we can,” the minister said.

The aid includes ambulances, trucks, vans, minibuses, and double cab Ford Rangers, along with three Reacher Robots to support demining operations.

Ukraine receives 1,000 bodies of soldiers killed in war with Russia

Ukraine has received the remains of 1,000 service personnel killed in the war during its latest exchange with Russia, Ukrainian officials said yesterday.

“Repatriation measures took place today. 1,000 bodies, which according to the Russian side belong to Ukrainian servicemen, have been returned to Ukraine,” the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War said on Telegram in a statement.

More than 7,000 mostly unidentified bodies have been brought to Ukraine in recent months in multiple exchanges, a result of talks between the two sides in Istanbul earlier this year.

In a statement, Kyiv's coordinating council for prisoners of war said officials would work on identifying the bodies.

Watch: UK and US 'working together' to end wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Starmer says

Fragments from downed drone damage Kyiv trolley bus lines

Fragments from a downed Russian drone damaged trolley bus lines in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv in the early hours today, the head of the city's military administration said.

Tymur Tkachenko said drone fragments had fallen in several locations, including on a road in central Shevchenkivsky district.

"The trolley bus network has been damaged," he wrote. "According to preliminary reports, there are no injuries."

Two air raid alerts were announced in quick succession after midnight in the city.

Mayor Vitali Klitschko said drone fragments had also fallen in another district.

Trump says there are ways to end Ukraine war

Donald Trump has said he still believed there would be a solution to the conflict, and that one of the ways to get there was for Europe to stop buying Russian oil.

"Ultimately, if oil prices go down, or if Russia is not selling oil, they have no choice but to settle and European Union nations or the Nato nations... when they're buying oil from Russia, that's not the greatest thing," Trump said.

Earlier this month, Trump told European leaders that countries in the continent must stop buying Russian oil, claiming that it is helping Moscow fund its war against Ukraine.

On Sunday, the US president made a lengthy post on Truth Social and said he believes the Russia-Ukraine war would end if all Nato countries stopped buying oil from Moscow and placed tariffs on China of 50 per cent to 100 per cent for its purchases of Russian petroleum.

Since 2023, Nato member Turkey has been the third largest buyer of Russian oil, after China and India, according to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air. Other members of the 32-state alliance involved in purchasing Russian oil include Hungary and Slovakia.

Trump says US would help secure peace after Russia's war in Ukraine ends

The United States would help to secure peace after Russia's war in Ukraine is settled, president Donald Trump said.

"After the war is settled, we would help secure the peace. And I think ultimately that'll happen," Trump told Fox News last night.

Trump also said that helping to bring about an end to the war in Ukraine had been more challenging than he anticipated and that he was "very disappointed" in Russian president Vladimir Putin.

"The one I thought was going to be easiest (to settle) was going to be Russia-Ukraine, because of my relationship with president Putin. So I'm disappointed," Trump said.

Trump has repeatedly set deadlines for Moscow to reach a ceasefire deal with Ukraine or face new sanctions, only to see the deadlines ignored.

He warmly welcomed Putin at what was billed by the White House as a peace summit in Alaska in mid-August but failed to secure major concessions.

Watch: Trump says Putin has really let him down

EU defence chief to convene talks on 'drone wall' to protect against Russia

European Defence Commissioner Andrius Kubilius said on Thursday he plans to convene talks with defence ministers next week on creating a "drone wall" along the EU's eastern border - a project infused with urgency by a Russian drone incursion into Poland.

Kubilius told Reuters that some European Union countries had already been discussing the idea of a line of defence against drones before last week's incursion and the EU's executive arm now wanted to move quickly to turn the concept into reality.

‘Putin really let me down’: Trump says he thought war in Ukraine would be ‘easy to solve’

‘Putin let me down’: Trump says he thought Ukraine war would be ‘easy to solve’

Poland turns to Ukraine for drone warfare expertise

Poland's defence chief travelled to Kyiv on Thursday in search of Ukrainian help in developing his country's drone warfare capabilities, just over a week after Russian drones entered Polish airspace and exposed Nato's vulnerability to drone warfare.

Drones used for defence and attack have taken a central battlefield role in the more than three years since Russia invaded Ukraine, transforming how wars are waged, and countries are keen to master the new and quickly developing battlefield technology.

"We will be signing an agreement concerning co-operation between the (defence) ministries, but also acquiring capabilities when it comes to operating drones," Polish defence minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said in published comments.

Trump says he is very disappointed in Putin

Donald Trump said on Thursday that he was very disappointed in Russian President Vladimir Putin because the Russian leader has not agreed to end the war in Ukraine.

"I'm disappointed in Putin ... I'm very disappointed in him," Trump said in an interview with Fox News' "The Story with Martha MacCallum."

"The one I thought was going to be easiest (to settle) was going to be Russia-Ukraine, because of my relationship with President Putin. So I'm disappointed," Trump added.

EU looks to accelerate ban on Russian LNG in 19th package of sanctions, EU official says

The European Commission is discussing a proposal to accelerate a ban on Russian liquefied natural gas in its 19th package of sanctions against Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine, an EU official said.

The package is due to be presented to member states on Friday.

Pictures: Trump says Putin ‘really let me down’ amid stalled peace efforts

The weapons Ukraine hopes will help resist Russian invasion

The weapons Ukraine hopes will help resist Russian invasion

Poland wants to benefit from Ukraine's knowledge about drones

Poland wants to benefit from Ukraine's knowledge and skills regarding drone warfare, Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz has said as Warsaw and Kyiv announced the creation of a joint operational group for unmanned systems.

"We want to benefit from your knowledge and skills, and we want Polish companies, both public and private, to be able to participate in this together," Kosiniak-Kamysz said during a news conference in Kyiv.

Uzbekistan takes stake in Russia-backed Eurasian Development Bank

Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed a decree this week on the country's accession to the Eurasian Development Bank, a Russian-backed alternative to the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development.

The decree signed on Tuesday provides for Uzbekistan to pay $168.411 million from its state budget for EDB membership, becoming the bank's seventh member and third largest shareholder, with a stake of 10%.

Zelensky says he visited frontline Donetsk region

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Thursday that he visited Ukraine's frontline Donetsk region.

Zelenskiy said on X that he had met soldiers taking part in fighting to recapture land near Dobropillia after Russian troops made rapid advances in the area in August.

"Step-by-step, the warriors are liberating our land: since the start of the operation, 160 square kilometres (62 square miles) and seven settlements have been reclaimed," he added.

Explained: What is a no-fly zone? Poland and Ukraine call for protection of European airspace

What is a no-fly zone? Poland and Ukraine call for protection of European airspace

In full: Trump says he thought war in Ukraine would be ‘easy to solve’ but Putin ‘really let me down’

Trump says he thought war in Ukraine would be ‘easy to solve’ but Putin ‘let me down’

Trump says 'sending lots of weapons to Nato'

Trump added that they are sending “lots of weapons to Nato”, as he met Sir Keir Starmer for talks at Chequers.

“Nato is paying for those weapons in full, but we’re sending them, and we’re doing a great job at getting them what they need, and we appreciate the fact that they’re taken care of, because the United States is into that war for 350 billion dollars and just really very sad.

“Just got out of control.”

Russia says it will answer Japan's new 'unfriendly' sanctions

Russia's foreign ministry said that Japan's new sanctions against Russia were unfriendly and would not go unanswered.

Japan last week expanded its sanctions in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, targeting additional individuals and entities and lowering the price cap on Russian oil.

"Japan's latest unfriendly actions will not go unanswered," Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told reporters.

"But our response will be well thought out and based on national interests. We will continue to take appropriate countermeasures, including those of an asymmetric nature," Zakharova said.

Starmer says US, UK working to pressure Putin to get peace in Ukraine

Sir Keir Starmer has said the UK and US are working together to put pressure on Vladimir Putin to get him to agree to a peace deal with Ukraine.

"We have discussed today how we can build our defences, further support Ukraine and decisively increase the pressure on Putin to get him to agree a peace deal that will last," Starmer told reporters.

Trump says Putin has 'really let him down'

Donald Trump has said Putin ‘really let him down’, as he met Sir Keir Starmer for talks at Chequers.

“The one that I thought would be easiest would be because of my relationship with President Putin. But he's let me down. He's really let me down,” the US President said.

“You thought were going to have an easy time or a hard time and it turns out to be the reverse.”

Russia hands over remains of 1,000 Ukrainian service personnel: Kyiv

Ukraine has received the remains of 1,000 service personnel killed in the war that began with Russia's 2022 full-scale invasion during its latest exchange with Russia, Ukrainian officials said.

More than 7,000 mostly unidentified bodies have been brought to Ukraine in recent months in multiple exchanges, a result of talks between the two sides in Istanbul earlier this year.

In a statement, Kyiv's coordinating council for prisoners of war said officials would work on identifying the bodies.

Ukrainian military in counteroffensive on eastern front: Zelensky

Ukraine's military is carrying out a counteroffensive operation against Russian forces on the eastern front, President Volodymyr Zelensky has said.

Zelensky described fighting as heavy in the area of Dobropillia and Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region.

"In fact, our forces are depriving the occupier of the opportunity to carry out a full-fledged offensive operation, which they had been planning for a long time and counting on," he said in a video address.

Pictures: Polish forces hold military exercises 'Iron Defender' with NATO soldiers

ICYMI: Poland kickstarts 'Iron Defender' military exercise

Poland kickstarted its military exercise Iron Defender-25, just days after Russia violated its airspace with a drone incursion.

Deputy polish defence minister Cezary Tomczyk said Poland had been preparing for many months and was holding its own exercises.

More than 30,000 troops from Poland and allied nations will take part in drills across Orzysz, Ustka, Nowa Dęba, the Baltic Sea, airspace, and cyberspace.

Hungary still opposed to phasing out Russian fuels faster than planned

Hungary has not changed position on phasing out Russian fuel, environment minister Aniko Raisz has indicated.

"I think you know our position. We are one of the few landlocked countries in the region. Our position has always been guided by the energy security for Hungary," Raisz told reporters in Brussels when asked if Hungary would support a faster phasing out of Russian fossil fuels or more sanctions on oil and gas.

"We know that we have important, important tasks ahead of us, but let's not daydream," she added.

Watch: Vladimir Putin observes joint military exercise with Belarus

Ukraine says it struck oil refinery in Russia's Volgograd overnight

Ukraine's military has said it had struck an oil refinery in Russia's Volgograd region overnight.

Ukrainian special forces said the Volgograd oil refinery had halted operations, citing preliminary information in a post on the Telegram messaging app.

Cyber attacks traced to Russia, China cost Germany €300bn over one year: survey

Cyber attacks cost the German economy almost 300 billion euros over the past year, according to a new survey.

The attacks are increasingly launched by foreign intelligence agencies rather than criminals.

Almost half of all companies that could identify the sources of attacks had traced them to Russia and China, while about a quarter traced them to other European Union countries or the United States.

"The trail leads relatively clearly and unambiguously to the east, with two countries at the forefront: Russia and China," said Ralf Wintergerst, Bitkom's head, unveiling the survey of some 1,000 companies. The survey was led by industry group Bitkom.

Trump, UK's Starmer to discuss Ukraine

UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is expected to focus on foreign affairs when he hosts Trump at his Chequers country residence, hoping to persuade the US leader to take stronger action against Russia over its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Trump pleased Europe by calling Russia "the aggressor" in the war last weekend but he is also demanding that Europe stop all purchases of Russian oil before he will agree to impose heavier sanctions on Moscow.

Russia gains far more than North Korea in military deal: report

A new study has found that Russia and North Korea have an uneven military deal, with Russia benefiting much more.

The report, released by German think tank Friedrich Naumann Foundation, says North Korea has sent up to $9.8 billion in weapons and fighters to Russia since 2023.

In return, North Korea may have received between $457 million to $1.19 billion.

The two countries signed a major mutual defence agreement last year, raising concerns in the West.

Pictures: Poland's deputy PM, defence minister visit Kyiv

Two Ukrainian drones attack major Russian petrochemical complex: senior official

Two Ukrainian drones attacked the Gazprom Neftekhim Salavat oil processing and petrochemical complex, one of Russia's largest, in Russia's Bashkortostan region, Radiy Khabirov, the regional head, has said on his Telegram channel.

"We are assessing the extent of the damage. We're currently putting out the fire. All the (emergency) services are on site," he said.

He said there had been no casualties and that the complex's own security forces had opened fire at the drones.

Nato 'failed' in its duty to protect member states, says former chief

Nato’s former Deputy Supreme Allied Commander and former British Army general Sir Richard Shirreff told The Independent that Nato had “failed” in its duty to protect member states.

“Last week Russia attacked a Nato country,” said Sir Richard, who is now chair of the Healix Risk and Security Advisory Board. “The whole purpose of Nato is to defend the airspace, land borders and the sea lines of communication. It ultimately does that through effective deterrence. Last week, that failed.”

He believes that the incursion was a “deliberate attack to probe Nato defenses”, adding that if Russia “smells weakness” it will persist in its aggression: “Nato has to respond with real strength.”

He said imposing a no-fly zone is “absolutely” the correct route to take.

In response to concerns of a wider war, he said: “This is an act of war against Russia, but it is in response to an act of war by Russia in a Nato member state. So it is entirely justifiable. In a very real sense, we are already at war with Russia.”

King Charles 'very close' to details of Ukraine ceasefire talks

King Charles has not shied away from supporting Ukraine publicly and is now reported to be keeping close tabs on ceasefire negotiations between Ukraine and Russia.

The King is “very close” to the detail of negotiations and to the Ukrainian war-time president Volodymyr Zelensky himself, a senior defence official told Politico on the condition of anonymity.

Last month, the King sent a message of support to Ukraine to mark the country’s independence day as he called for a “just and lasting peace” to end the war triggered by Russia’s 2022 invasion of its neighbour.

The King’s sensitivity towards the Ukrainian cause could help soften US president Donald Trump’s stance on backing Ukraine, the Politico report added.

“It wouldn’t be surprising if he took the opportunity privately to encourage the president to support Ukraine more effectively,” a former senior UK diplomat said, referring to conversations during Trump's overnight stay at Windsor Castle.

Top Russian general claims Putin's forces are 'advancing in practically all directions'

A senior Russian officer toured positions held by his troops in Ukraine and said Moscow's forces were advancing on all fronts, the Russian defence ministry said.

He said the heaviest fighting between Russian and Ukrainian troops was taking place around the logistics centre of Pokrovsk.

General Valery Gerasimov, Russia's chief of staff of the armed forces in what Moscow calls its "special military operation", said Moscow's troops were making progress in the eastern Donetsk region, the conflict's focal point, and further west in the Zaporizhzhia and Dnipropetrovsk regions.

"Our troops in the zone of the special military operation are advancing in practically all directions," the defence ministry quoted Gerasimov as saying.

"And the heaviest fighting is occurring in the Krasnoarmeisk direction," he added, using the Soviet-era name for the city of Pokrovsk, "where the enemy, by any means and taking no account of losses, is trying unsuccessfully to stop our advances and seize back the initiative.

"The Ukrainian military, he was quoted as saying, "has deployed the best-trained and most capable fighting units, taking them from other areas. And that facilitates the advance of our troops in other sectors."

Gerasimov's statements appeared to be at odds with accounts by Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky and Ukrainian military officials, however.

Zelensky, interviewed by Sky News this week, said he expected new Russian offensives but added that Moscow's forces had enjoyed little frontline success in their recent activity.

A spokesperson for a Ukrainian unit near Kupiansk yesterday said that an attempted Russian advance on the town had resulted in many of its men being taken prisoner.

Trump sends first Patriot and HIMARS missiles to Ukraine under Europe-funded weapons scheme

The Trump administration is sending Ukraine its first missiles for Patriot air defence systems and HIMARS rocket launchers under a new Europe-funded scheme.

Volodymyr Zelensky said the first two batches, worth $500m (£366m) each, will "definitely include missiles for Patriot and HIMARS.

The first batches of equipment funding through PURL were already on their way, Nato's senior representative in Ukraine told Reuters.

"Four packages under the Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List have already been funded and equipment is already flowing," Patrick Turner said.

Donald Trump has been strongly critical of the billions of dollars the United States has spent on military aid for Ukraine. The PURL initiative offers a way for Europe to pay for the weapons and the US to send them.

Additional packages, each worth about $500m, are working their way through the approval system, sources told Reuters.

The new supplies of critical weapons comes as Ukraine is bracing for a heavy autumn offensive from Russia, with Vladimir Putin’s forces accelerating strikes on its shattered energy system, including gas infrastructure.

Ukraine to acquire US weapons through $3.5 billion fund

Five injured as Russian forces attack railway infrastructure in Ukraine

At least five people were injured after Russian forces attacked railway infrastructure in Ukraine's central Poltava region, officials said this morning.

In Myrhorod district, an attack wounded one person and caused fires, regional governor Volodymyr Kohut said.

Ukrainian state railways operator Ukrzaliznytsia said the attack temporarily cut power to several stations and prompted delays of up to three hours for passenger trains. A similar attack had disrupted rail services in the early hours yesterday.

In recent months, Russian forces have pummelled Ukrainian rail infrastructure, including attacks on hubs in the Kharkiv and Donetsk regions, as well as disruption in the Kirovohrad region.

A late evening drone attack on Poltava region also damaged a fuel station, causing a fire and wounding four more people, according to the emergency services.

The Ukrainian air force said it shot down 48 of 75 drones launched by Russia and reported 26 drone hits at six locations.

Zelensky says allies 'on same page' about extent of security guarantees needed for Ukraine

Volodymyr Zelensky has said Ukraine's allies understand the scale of security guarantees needed for Ukraine after the war stops – adding that the conflict is costing Kyiv's backers $60bn for every year that it continues.

Writing on X, he said: “When we speak about security guarantees for Ukraine, there are several key elements. First, the Ukrainian army. We already agreed on what we need in the sky, at sea, and on the ground. Our partners now understand the scale of these needs, but the important thing is that we are on the same page, and they are ready to deliver.”

He said the strength and size of the Ukrainian army itself requires significant funding and called for financial support from Kyiv’s allies.

“Third, Article 5–like guarantees. We are discussing this with the US, and I believe we will reach bilateral decisions,” Zelensky said, referring to Nato's Article 5 that warns an attack on one member of the alliance will be treated as an attack on all members.

The Ukrainian president called for sanctions and said: “To give an example: the cost of this war today is about $120bn per year. Ukraine covers half from its own budget. The other half – $60bn – must be secured. Plan A is to end the war. Plan B is to secure the cost,” he said.

When we speak about security guarantees for Ukraine, there are several key elements. First, the Ukrainian army. We already agreed on what we need in the sky, at sea, and on the ground. Our partners now understand the scale of these needs, but the important thing is that we are on…

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) September 17, 2025

Russia resumes domestic flights to southern city of Krasnodar for first time in three years

Russia has resumed regular domestic passenger flights to the southern city of Krasnodar yesterday.

The key regional airport was closed for more than three years due to security concerns linked to the war in Ukraine.

Russia closed 11 major airports in its southern and western regions, including those in Kursk, Simferopol and Rostov-on-Don, following the start of its military campaign in Ukraine in February 2022.

A fully loaded 183-seat Airbus A321 from Moscow operated by Russian flag carrier Aeroflot landed in the city of over 1.5 million people after a flight of about three and a half hours.

That was about 90 minutes longer than flights before the war, as planes now avoid the airspace near the front line in Ukraine and fly via Volgograd and the Black Sea coast.

Aeroflot said it will operate up to five flights a day from Moscow, as well as services from six other Russian cities, including Saint-Petersburg.

"We didn't believe it could happen," said Maya Tikhomirova, a passenger on Wednesday's flight who regularly travels between Moscow and Krasnodar. "It's the first time in three years we got here so easily."