Ukraine-Russia war latest: Trump warns supplying Tomahawks could be ‘escalation’ in Zelensky White House meeting

Trump announces new location to meet Putin for second Ukraine-Russia war summit

Tomahawk missiles are Trump’s ace card for Ukraine – Zelensky says it’s time to play it

Hundreds gather for rare anti-Putin demonstration in St Petersburg singing protest songs: ‘The old man clings to his throne’

Trump claims Modi has agreed to stop importing Russian oil to India

Key Points

• Zelensky tells Trump he could exchange drones for missiles
• "I love solving wars" says Trump, eyeing 'number 9'
• Russian forces seize three more villages in eastern Ukraine, says Moscow
• Zelensky says Russia ‘on the defensive’ after Trump-Putin meeting announced
• Putin warns Trump not to give Ukraine Tomahawks in phone call
• Why are Tomahawks a game changer?

Zelensky's White House visit in pictures

Trump's false war claim

President Donald Trump falsely claimed that the U.S. has “never had a president that solved one war.”

Trump made the false claim as he prepared to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House on Friday afternoon. They’re expected to discuss strengthening US support for Kyiv.

“To the best of my knowledge, we've never had a president that solved one war, not one war,” Trump told reporters.

“Bush started a war. A lot of them start wars, but they don't solve the wars.”

Trump claims he's ended 8 wars - and Ukraine will be 9

Kremlin proposes 70-mile ‘Putin-Trump unity tunnel’ linking the US and Russia

A Kremlin envoy has proposed a “Putin-Trump” rail tunnel between eastern Russia and the US state of Alaska to “symbolise unity”, even suggesting that it could be built by billionaire Elon Musk.

Kirill Dmitriev, Moscow’s special envoy on international economic and investment cooperation and a key negotiator in Ukraine peace talks, suggested the project could be completed within eight years by Musk’s Boring Company, at a cost of $8bn (£6bn). This could be funded by Moscow and “international partners”, he added.

He envisaged the 70-mile rail and cargo link beneath the Bering Strait could unlock joint exploration of natural resources.

Putin talks are just another delaying tactic, experts say

Putin’s talks move was meant to make the US transfer of such weapons less likely, said Max Bergmann, a Russia expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

“It does seem that Putin's outreach is perhaps designed to thwart the potential transfer of Tomahawks to Ukraine, so Putin is wanting to put that back in the box,” Bergmann said. “It strikes me as sort of a stalling tactic.”

Mykola Bielieskov, a senior analyst at Come Back Alive, a Ukrainian non-governmental organization that is a major procurer of military equipment for the Ukrainian armed forces, said Tomahawk missiles would level a playing field that is tipped toward Russia, but that they would not be a silver bullet.

“We don't expect Russia to crumble after one, two or three successful strikes,” Bielieskov said. “But it's about pressure, constant pressure. It's about disrupting the military-industrial complex.”

Since taking office in January, Trump has regularly threatened action against Russia, only to delay those steps after talks with Putin.

Ukraine sees Putin's summit as a sign he fears US support

More than three and a half years after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia has ground out some territorial gains this year, but Ukraine's top military commander Oleksandr Syrskyi said on Thursday that the Russian offensive had failed.

Putin this month said his forces had taken almost 5,000 square kilometres (1,930 square miles) of land in Ukraine in 2025 - equivalent to adding 1% of Ukraine's territory to the nearly 20% already held.

Both sides have also escalated attacks on each other's energy systems, and Russian drones and jets have strayed into NATO countries.

The White House had seemed in recent days to be increasingly frustrated with Putin and leaning toward granting Zelenskiy fresh support, including the Tomahawk missiles that Ukrainians say would help them inflict more damage to Russia's war machine.

Zelensky, who has had an up-and-down relationship with Trump, said Putin, who pressed ahead with assaults on Ukraine after meeting with Trump in Alaska, was again playing for time.

“We can already see that Moscow is rushing to resume dialogue as soon as it hears about Tomahawks,” he wrote on X.

Putin’s mini-coup in the White House has beaten Zelensky to the punch with Trump

Vladimir Putin has pulled off a mini-coup in the White House, driven a painful wedge into the European Union, and is repairing his reputation as an indicted war criminal – all in one phone call.

In a couple of weeks, he will get the red-carpet treatment again, this time as a guest of Hungary’s Victor Orban, a leading light of the wannabe dictator club, to hold meetings with Donald Trump, no fan of democratic institutions himself.

He will swagger into Europe untroubled by the International Criminal Court indictments against him for war crimes in Ukraine, and as he stands gazing at Budapest’s golden Danube riverfront, he will breathe in the irony of the moment.

Click here for Sam’s full view.

Trump doesn't know what brought Putin to the table

Trump announced the summit with Putin on Thursday after a more than two-hour phone conversation with the Russian leader about Russia's war in Ukraine, which he said was productive.

It was unclear what Putin had told Trump that prompted him to agree to the meeting, as their August summit in Alaska ended early with no major breakthrough.

The Kremlin said much needed to be decided and that the summit might take place "a little later" than within the two-week period mentioned by Trump.

Trump's conciliatory tone after the call with Putin raised questions over the near-term likelihood of assistance to Ukraine and reignited European fears of a deal that suits Moscow.

A spokesperson for the European Union said it welcomed the talks if they could help bring peace to Ukraine.

But the president also expressed affection for Zelensky, at one point praising him for sporting a dark suit jacket after he was knocked earlier this year for visiting the White House without one.

“I think he looks beautiful in his jacket," Trump said. “I hope people notice... it's actually very stylish. I like it.”

Trump presented himself as mediator

Zelenskiy said Ukraine has thousands of drones, but needs missiles: “We don't have Tomahawks, that's why we need Tomahawks.”

Trump responded: "We're going to be talking about Tomahawks," Trump said. “We'd much rather have them not need Tomahawks.”

He portrayed himself as a mediator and reiterated his belief that both sides seek a peace deal.

“I think President Zelensky wants it done, and I think President Putin wants it done. Now all they have to do is get along a little bit,” Trump said.

Zelensky avoided the public humiliation of his first visit

In front of the cameras at least, the meeting went much more smoothly for Zelensky - even if he doesn’t manage to achieve his primary goal.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Vice President JD Vance, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth, and Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, sat on the president's side of the table.

Notably, during questions from the press, they did not get involved or talk over the Ukrainian leader.

It was a marked change from when Vance repeatedly attacked Zelensky on his first visit to meet Trump in the Oval Office.

Will Zelensky leave empty handed?

Volodymyr Zelensky visited the White House on Friday to plead to Donald Trump for Tomahawk missiles.

But the US president's focus on his next meeting with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Budapest raised the possibility the Ukrainian leader may head home empty-handed.

Upon greeting Zelensky outside the White House, Trump nodded when asked by a reporter if he thought he could convince Putin to end the war in Ukraine.

Prior to the private lunch meeting, Trump said the two leaders would discuss his call the previous day with Putin.

"Things are coming along pretty well," Trump told reporters.

Zelensky noted how difficult it has been to try and secure a ceasefire. "We want this. Putin doesn't want (it)," he said.

Watch: President swears during Zelensky meeting

Trump drops F-word live on air during White House meeting with Zelensky

President Donald Trump swore live on air during a high-stakes meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House.

Trump was taking questions from reporters and was asked about Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro when he dropped the expletive.

“He [Maduro] has offered everything,” Trump said. “You know why? Because he doesn't want to f*** around with the United States.”

After using the swear word, Trump swiftly brought the press conference to a close.

Broadcasters apologized to viewers for the president’s language.

Why are Tomahawks a game changer?

US Tomahawk missiles were repeatedly mentioned during the meeting between Trump and Zelensky.

But why are they so significant?

A long-range missile with huge potential for precision strikes deep in enemy territory, access to the weapon would provide Ukraine with a new kind of military might.

The Tomahawk is a US-made long-range cruise missile typically launched from sea to attack targets in deep-strike missions.

First used in 1991 during the Persian Gulf War, the missiles have evolved considerably over the last 30 years. According to manufacturer Raytheon, the most recent version, called the Block IV Tactical Tomahawk, or TACTOM, can switch targets while in flight, loiter for hours and change course instantly on command.

Tomahawks are a "big deal", Trump says, warning of "escalation"

"Tomahawks are very dangerous weapons,” Trump continues. “They're incredible weapons. If you like warfare. It's one of the most accurate."

He adds that the cruise missiles are "a big deal," and "an amazing weapon."

"They're very powerful weapon, but they're a very dangerous weapon. And it could mean big, you know, escalation. It could mean lot of bad things can happen. Tomahawks are a big deal," he said.

"But one thing I have to say, We want tomahawks also. We don't want to be giving away things that we need to protect our country. We have a very strong country right now. We have a strong military. We have the greatest military in the world. We have the greatest weapons in the world. I want to get this war over," Trump adds.

Trump says he is, in fact, concerned that Putin's offer to meet is just another play for time.

"I've been played all my life by the best of them, and I came out really well, so it's possible," he says. "But I think that I'm pretty good at this stuff. I think that he wants to make a deal."

"I love solving wars" says Trump, eyeing 'number 9'

Trump has now pivoted to ranting about not getting the Nobel Peace Prize but immediately afterward adds: "I don't care about all that stuff. I just care about saving lives."

He also said the ongoing conflict between Pakistan and the Taliban-led Afghanistan would be "an easy one for me to solve, if I have to solve it."

"In the meantime, I have to run the USA. But I love solving wars. You know why? I like stopping people from being killed, and I've saved millions and millions of lives, and I think we're going to have success with this war," he said.

Tomahawks would send a very clear message to Putin: former British Army officer

“There are two real values that Tomahawks bring to the war,” says Colonel Philip Ingram, a former British Army officer and intelligence expert, as the conversation turns to the U.S. provision of missiles.

“They are very, very accurate and have a stealth better than most other missiles in the Ukrainian arsenal.

“The second and more important value is political - their supply would send a very clear message to Putin that the US is committed to Ukraine and angry at Russia.”

“The level of support that the US would have to provide is something Putin is well aware of - hence his move to speak to Trump and try and wrestle the initiative back,” Ingram says.

“The fact that there will be a meeting between the two suggests that Putin has once again played Trump like a grand master - we will see if that is true once we get a statement after Trump’s meeting with Zelensky.”

Asked what will happen if the U.S. ends up in a conflict and needs Tomahawks, which Ukraine is seeking, Trump replies: “That’s a problem. We need Tomahawks and we need a lot of other things that we’ve been sending over the last four years to Ukraine. We gave them a lot.”

He says the situation is different now, with the U.S. sending weapons to the EU to buy. But they still need the weapons in stockpiles, he says.

“Hopefully we’ll be able to get the war over with without thinking about Tomahawks. I think we’re fairly close to that.”

Zelensky stresses Tomahawks are part of the broader arsenal Ukraine needs, but that they can work together. He suggests they could set up a system of exchange for Ukrainian drones.

Trump acknowledges the importance of drone warfare. But he reiterates that he would rather end the war and avoid the need to send Ukraine missiles.

Zelensky deftly handles question on differences between Biden and Trump

Asked about the difference in diplomacy between Trump and Biden, Zelensky replies that Trump "has a big chance now to finish this war" while Biden doesn't because he's no longer president.

Trump has shown "he can manage a ceasefire in Middle East," he says."

“And that's why I hope that he will do this and we will also have such big success for Ukraine — it's a big chance and I hope that President Trump can manage it."

Trump dodges question on whether Ukraine can get back all its territory

Asked whether he still believes Ukraine can take back all its lost territory, Trump says: “You never know. War is very interesting.

“You never know, do you? War and peace but you never know.”

"We want peace, Putin doesn't" - Zelensky

“Even now you see in the Middle East, it’s very difficult to hold ceasefire,” Zelensky says, adding: “We want peace, Putin doesn’t want. That’s why we need pressure on him.”

“We understand what we need to push Putin to the negotiating table.”

Zelensky goes on to talk about the security guarantees Ukraine needs from his allies.

“NATO is the best. But weapons are very important. Allies on our side are very important. And for us, bilateral security guarantees are very important.”

Trump continues to say he does think Putin “wants to get it done”.

Call with Putin up for discussion today, Trump says

In his opening remarks, Trump said that Thursday’s call with Vladimir Putin would be up for discussion today.

The pair spoke for two-and-a-half hours on issues including the possible provision of Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine and a peace summit in Hungary.

Trump continues to insist that Putin wants peace.

Trump praises Zelensky's jacket

After hearing from Zelensky - who praised Trump’s peace deal in Gaza and said he had met with American energy firms - Trump took a moment to praise the Ukrainian’s “very beautiful” jacket.

The comments carry weight. Zelensky’s choice of dress attracted negative attention during the disastrous summit in February.

Trump praises Zelensky in opening address

Trump praised Zelensky in his opening words after the Ukrainian’s arrival.

"It's an honor to be with a very strong leader, a man who has been through a lot, and a man who I've gotten to know very well, and we've gotten along really very well," he said.

Trump added that Zelensky "has endured a lot, and we've endured it with him."

Zelensky arrives at White House

Donald Trump greeted Zelensky arriving at the White House in a black SUV.

Trump briefly spoke to Zelensky between the flags of Ukraine and the United States as the Ukrainian president nodded and smiled.

The U.S. president then gestured to press before welcoming his Ukrainian counterpart into the building.

Tomahawks still on the table after Putin call, sources say

The provision of highly sought-after Tomahawk missiles is not off the table following Trump’s call with Putin on Thursday, sources familiar with the conversation told CNN.

Two sources said that Trump is still not expected to commit to giving Ukraine the missiles during the meeting with Zelensky on Friday.

But U.S. sources told the outlet the president has appeared more willing to allow Ukraine access in recent weeks.

Ukrainian team confirmed as marines line up for Zelensky's arrival

A spokesperson for the Ukrainian delegation confirmed that the team arriving with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy from Blair House, includes:

– Head of the Office of the President, Andrii Yermak

– Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, Rustem Umerov

– First Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Sergiy Kyslytsya

– Ambassador of Ukraine to the United States, Olga Stefanishyna

As of now, the Cabinet Room meeting between President Donald Trump and President Zelenskyy remains closed press, with no updates or changes in access so far.

Moments ago, several people were seen entering the West Wing carrying large bags or packages, though it is unclear whether they were related to the Ukrainian delegation’s materials or to advance arrangements.

The U.S. Marine sentries are already stationed outside the West Wing entrance, where the American and Ukrainian flags are displayed in preparation for the bilateral meeting.

Trump meets with Andrea Bocelli ahead of Zelensky summit

Gearing up for his imminent meeting with President Zelensky, Donald Trump joined with Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli in the Oval Office.

‘Con te partirò’, first performed by Bocelli, rang out as preparations were being made for Zelensky’s arrival.

It wasn't clear why Trump was holding the meeting at the White House shortly before he was due to meet with Ukraine's president.

A White House aide posted a photo of Trump meeting with Bocelli in the Oval Office while Bocelli's music blared from speakers in the Rose Garden.

The music could be heard on the North Lawn, where Zelenskyy was due to arrive any moment.

President Trump meets with Andrea Bocelli in the Oval Office while listening to Andrea Bocelli…❤️🎶🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/IXzFEgSlOD

— Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) October 17, 2025

Pictures of Zelensky stepping off the plane in Washington DC

Trump and Zelensky set to meet at the White House shortly

The US president and Ukraine’s leader are set to meet at the White House shortly.

While the two leaders have met several times since their infamous clash in February, it is the first two the two presidents have been face face at the Oval Office since then.

Volodymr Zelensky will be hoping for a more welcoming reception than last time as he hopes to lobby for US support in the ongoing war.

Watch live: Trump meets Zelensky at White House

Watch live as Donald Trump meets Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House on Friday (17 October):

Watch live: Trump meets Zelensky at White House after Putin’s missile warning

What did Putin and Trump talk about on Thursday?

Donald Trump seemed receptive to the idea of giving Ukraine Tomahawk missiles earlier this week.

The missiles would bolster Kyiv’s ability to strike deep into Russia.

But Vladimir Putin threw a curveball with a surprise phone call on Thursday, a day before Trump and Zelensky were due to meet in Washington.

Coming off the call, Trump revealed plans to meet with Putin in Budapest “within two weeks or so”.

He said that “high-level” advisers from both sides would meet next week. The aim, Trump said, was to bring an end to the war.

Without going into much detail, Trump said: “I thought it was a very good phone call. Very productive.”

Trump said that the topic of Tomahawks had come up, and that he had joked to Putin: “Would you mind if I gave a couple of thousands of Tomahawks to your opposition? [sic]”

He said Putin “didn’t like that idea”. Trump suggested the US couldn’t deplete its own reserves by giving them away.

Ukraine must be involved in any decisions made at Trump-Putin meeting - German foreign minister

German foreign minister Johann Wadephul said on Friday the planned Budapest talks between US president Donald Trump and Russian president Vladimir Putin are a second attempt to get Putin to negotiate seriously, but stressed that Ukraine must be involved in any decision.

Mr Wadephul made the remarks during his visit to Ankara, where he met his Turkish counterpart.

Ukraine has not been invited to the Trump-Putin talks. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is due to meet Trump later on Friday.

Watch: Putin’s mini-coup in the White House has beaten Zelensky to the punch with Trump

Zelensky's suit condundrum - will he wear one to the Oval Office?

Volodymyr Zelensky will not wear a suit to the meeting, which comes eight months after he was infamously booted out of the Oval Office by the US president.

While Trump’s furious rant at Zelensky dominated the headlines, the Ukrainian war leader was also criticised for his choice not to wear a suit.

"He is all dressed up today,” said Trump sarcastically.

Right-wing journalist Brian Glenn said: “You’re at the highest level in this country’s office, and you refuse to wear a suit... A lot of Americans have problems with you not respecting the dignity of this office.”

Zelensky retorted that he would wear a “costume” - the same word for “suit” in Ukrainian - once the war is over.

But why doesn’t Zelensky wear a suit?

Zelensky has donned black, grey or khaki combat gear, and sweatshirts and polos with the Ukrainian national symbol since the Russian invasion in February 2022.

Speaking to Politico, Elvira Gasanova, who designs the Damirli brand, one of Mr Zelensky’s signature looks, said the clothing “is a signal — ‘Ukraine is at war and I am part of this fight'”.

“The president shows that the war is still going on, that the country is still in a struggle.”

“Manipulating dress requirements is an act of domination,” Ukrainian fashion historian Zoya Zvynyatskivsk told the outlet. “Trump is a political bully, who does not disdain any opportunity to humiliate his opponent, to show him and the rest his place in the hierarchy.

“To paraphrase Churchill, if our man put on a tie to avoid public humiliation, he would receive the same humiliation — but in a tie. ‘Oh, I see you finally dressed like a man,’ Trump would say.”

What happened the last time Zelensky visited the White House?

The last time Volodymyr Zelensky visited the White House in August, he was accompanied by a large group of European leaders.

It came six months after the explosive Oval Office meeting which saw the Ukrainian president booted out of the White House. It was also just days after Trump met with Vladimir Putin in Alaska.

Zelensky was greeted warmly, with Trump promising a “reasonable” chance of ending Russia’s war with a commitment to US involvement in a peacekeeping force in Ukraine as a shield against further aggression.

Trump had Putin’s proposal for Ukraine to cede territory it controls, and before the August meeting, he appeared to pressure Zelensky to agree to the autocrat’s demands, claiming he could end the war “almost immediately, if he wants to.”

Trump, at an afternoon roundtable surrounded by top European officials, said they would be discussing “possible exchanges of territory, taking into consideration the current line of contact.”

But since then, negotiations towards peace fell quiet, with Trump growing increasingly dismayed with Russia’s repeated attacks on Ukraine.

Here’s a recap of the August meeting.

Trump and Zelensky hold White House meetings as Russia peace deal inches closer

Zelensky surrounded by large security presence in 'the world's most exclusive hotel'

Volodymyr Zelensky is staying at Blair House, the president’s official guest house often used by visiting foreign leaders.

There is a heavy security presence, with streets blocked off near the White House in the same way they were for Israeli prime minister Netanyahu’s visit earlier in the month.

Known as The President’s Guest House, Blair house is an official residence in Washington, DC, sometimes referred to as “the world’s most exclusive hotel”.

A Ukrainian flag is hanging from the residence to mark the Mr Zelensky’s visit. Outside the house is stationed a large white tent, presumably for security purposes.

Further away from the house is a ring of large trucks and police vehicles, preventing any cars from driving through towards Blair House.

We’ll be expecting to see some more movement in the area in the next few hours, when the Ukrainian president sets off for the White House to be greeted once again by Donald Trump.

He is due to arrive at 1pm local time (6pm UK time).

EU welcomes upcoming proposed Trump-Putin meeting if it helps peace

The European Union welcomes the proposed meeting between US president Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin if this can help bring peace in Ukraine, a spokesperson told a briefing on Friday.

Trump said Thursday he and Putin may meet within the next two weeks in Budapest, after a more than two-hour phone conversation he called productive. The Kremlin confirmed plans for the meeting, though neither side provided a date for when it would occur.

Analysis | Tomahawk missiles are Trump’s ace card for Ukraine – Zelensky says it’s time to play it

Volodymyr Zelensky wants Tomahawk missiles to smash Russia’s command and control of its war in his country. Donald Trump has said he’s tempted to sell them to Kyiv, which prompted the Kremlin’s chief extremist and former president Dmitry Medvedev to boast “that’ll end badly” for all – especially the US.

Why all the fuss?

Tomahawk missiles can fly up to a thousand miles (1,600km), carry almost half a tonne of explosives, can be guided onto targets in Russia, are accurate to within a few metres, and can loiter in the skies to dive on targets of opportunity. The US has this year launched Tomahawk against the Houthis in Yemen and against Iran to devastating but not strategic effect.

Ukraine has made its own long-range missile, the Flamingo, or FP-5. It can hit a target at 1,600 miles (3,000km) and carries over a tonne of explosives.

If Zelensky persuades Trump to sell European donors Tomahawk missiles for Ukraine, it would be a huge military boost for Kyiv.

Our world affairs editor Sam Kiley writes:

Tomahawk missiles are Trump’s ace card in Ukraine. Zelensky says it’s time to play it

Zelensky lands for second Trump meeting in a month - but Putin once again stands in the way

Volodymyr Zelensky has landed for his fourth face-to-face meeting with Donald Trump, and his second in the past month.

A week ago, this would have been seen as a perfectly-timed meeting in Kyiv’s attempt to push Trump to ramp up pressure on Moscow. The US president has sounded increasingly dismayed with Moscow in the months since his face-to-face meeting with Vladimir Putin in Alaska.

But after a phone call between the US and Russian presidents yesterday, Zelensky comes into this meeting a little less on the offensive than he initially hoped.

Trump hailed the “great progress” made in the phone call, and said he would be meeting with Putin in Budapest. The Kremlin said Putin had warned Trump against sending Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine, and the US president sounds unlikely to do so.

Zelensky will now look to convince Trump that his Russian counterpart is not serious about peace. He has already taken to X to argue that Putin is resuming dialogue only to protect Russia from Tomahawks.

“Putin is certainly no braver than Hamas or any other terrorist,” he said.

“The language of strength and justice will inevitably work against Russia as well. We can already see that Moscow is rushing to resume dialogue as soon as it hears about Tomahawks.”

Already in Washington.

Today, I am having meetings with representatives of defense companies – producers of powerful weapons that can definitely strengthen our protection. In particular, we will discuss additional supplies of air defense systems. I will also meet today with… pic.twitter.com/MRFmPARkq1

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) October 16, 2025

In pictures: Zelensky arrives in Washington for Trump meeting

Russian forces seize three more villages in eastern Ukraine, says Moscow

The Russian Defence Ministry said on Friday that its forces had taken control of three more villages in eastern Ukraine.

According to the ministry, Russian troops have taken control of Pryvilla in the Dnipropetrovsk region, as well as Pishchane and Tykhe in the Kharkiv region.

The Independent could not independently verify the battlefield report.

Hungary to ensure Putin can enter country for Trump meeting - foreign minister

Hungary will ensure Russian president Vladimir Putin can enter the country for a summit with President Trump planned in Budapest, Hungary's foreign minister Peter Szijjarto said on Friday.

Trump announced on Thursday he would meet Putin in the Hungarian capital to discuss ending the war in Ukraine.

Mr Szijjarto said dates for the summit could be discussed after meetings between the U.S. and Russian foreign ministers expected next week.

Putin warns Trump not to give Ukraine Tomahawks in phone call

Vladimir Putin has warned Donald Trump not to give Ukraine Tomahawks in a crucial phone call last night.

The discussion appears to have softened the US president’s stance against Putin, which had become increasingly hardened in recent weeks while Trump appeared to ponder whether to send the long-range missiles to Kyiv.

The Kremlin said Putin had warned Trump that giving Kyiv Tomahawk cruise missiles - one of the most important upgrades in US support which Zelensky has been seeking - would harm relations between Moscow and Kyiv.

“Vladimir Putin reiterated his point that Tomahawks would not change the situation on the battlefield but would cause significant harm to relations between our countries, not to mention the prospects for peaceful settlement,” Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said according to The Kyiv Independent.

The US president seems unlikely to make a decision to send the missiles to Ukraine.

“We need Tomahawks for the United States of America too. We have a lot of them, but we need them. I mean, we can’t deplete for our country,” he told reporters in the Oval Office.

“I don’t know what we can do about that,” he added.

Putin met with Russia's powerful Security Council after Trump call

Russian president Vladimir Putin convened a meeting of Russia's powerful Security Council following a phone call with Donald Trump, Russian news agencies reported on Friday, citing Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov.

According to Ushakov, Putin provided a detailed briefing to Security Council members about the conversation with Trump.

Trump and Putin agreed on Thursday to another summit on the war in Ukraine, a surprise move that came as Moscow feared fresh US military support for Kyiv.

In Putin's Russia, the Security Council is a key arena for the formulation of decisions on Russia's most important national security issues.

Russian forces launch 70 drones at Ukraine

Russian forces launched 70 drones at Ukraine overnight into Friday, Kyiv’s air force has said.

The air attack was largely repelled by Ukrainian missile defences but strikes were recorded in 10 locations.

"As of 09:00, air defence units destroyed or jammed 35 enemy UAVs of the Shahed, Gerbera and other types in the country's north and east,” it said.

“Strikes from 31 attack drones were recorded in 10 locations, with debris from downed UAVs falling in two more."

Watch: Trump says Tomahawks were discussed during ‘very productive’ call with Putin

Trump claims Modi has agreed to halt import of Russian oil

Our Asia correspondent Shweta Sharma reports:

US president Donald Trump has claimed that Indian prime minister Narendra Modi has agreed to halt the import of Russian oil, even as New Delhi has clarified that the discussions on the topic are ongoing.

India’s increasing import of Russian energy since the start of the war in Ukraine has emerged as one of the most contentious points in India-US relations under Mr Trump’s second term. The US has directed its anger towards India for taking advantage of the discounted prices offered by Moscow, which Mr Trump claims have helped fund Vladimir Putin’s war efforts.

The Trump administration imposed secondary sanctions on India with a 50 per cent tariff on goods from the country as a punishment for India’s reliance on Russian energy, putting a strain on India-US ties for the first time in years.

Talking to reporters at the White House, Mr Trump said Mr Modi agreed to phase out the purchase of Russian oil during a conversation on Wednesday, which was previously not disclosed.

Mr Trump called it a “big step” and said India will halt imports "within a short period of time".

Hungary's Orban says he will talk to Putin later

Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban said he will talk to Russian president Vladimir Putin today.

Earlier, he said Budapest had begun preparations to host a summit between Putin and US president Donald Trump after the two leaders agreed to meet in Hungary.

Orban said the meeting “will be about peace” and if there is a peace deal, that would lead to a new phase of economic development in Hungary and Europe.

Trump said he made “great progress” in his own phone call with Putin on Thursday, describing the conversation as “very productive”.

EU unveils anti-drone system to defend Europe from Russian attacks

The European Union has unveiled a strategy to bolster its defences, to be fully operational by the decade's end, amidst concerns over Russian incursions.

A key component is the “European Drone Defense Initiative,” to detect, track, and neutralise rogue drones, following troubling airspace violations across Europe, some near Russian, Belarusian, and Ukrainian borders.

Complementing this is “Eastern Flank Watch,” a scheme to fortify its eastern frontier across land, Baltic and Black seas, air, and against hybrid attacks.

Initial operation for both is December next year, the drone system fully functional by late 2027 and Eastern Flank Watch in full swing by the end of 2028.

Separate air and space shields are also envisioned.

Read more here:

EU unveils anti-drone system to defend Europe from Russian attacks

Why is Trump meeting Putin in Hungary?

US president Donald Trump and Russian president Vladimir Putin are set to meet in Budapest, with the location reportedly suggested by Trump and immediately agreed to by Putin, according to the Kremlin.

Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban welcomed the news enthusiastically. He called Hungary an “island of peace” and confirmed that preparations for the summit were underway after speaking directly with Trump.

Budapest is not new to hosting high-level US–Russia talks. It was among the shortlisted locations for the last Trump–Putin summit in Alaska, and it carries significant historical weight in the context of Ukraine.

In 1994, Ukraine handed over the world’s third-largest nuclear arsenal under the Budapest Memorandum, receiving security guarantees from Russia, the US, and the UK in return.

Those guarantees were intended to protect Ukraine’s sovereignty – promises that were broken first with Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and later with the full-scale invasion in 2022.

Tomahawk missiles are Trump’s ace card for Ukraine – Zelensky says it’s time to play it

The US president has shown he loves to back a winner – especially one that uses US weapons – which means Zelensky must convince him that he’s the one to back with Tomahawk missiles, writes Sam Kiley in Dnipro:

Tomahawk missiles are Trump’s ace card in Ukraine. Zelensky says it’s time to play it

Hungarian prime minister says ‘we are ready’ for planned Trump-Putin summit

Hungary’s prime minister Viktor Orban has expressed strong support for the planned summit between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin.

“The planned meeting between the American and Russian presidents is great news for the peace-loving people of the world. We are ready!” he said.

The Hungarian leader added that he had spoken by phone with Trump and that preparations for a US–Russia summit were already underway.

Earlier, Trump announced he would be taking part in a new meeting with Putin in Hungary, with the timing yet to be agreed.

He is meeting the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky in Washington DC later today.

Hundreds gather for rare anti-Putin demonstration in St Petersburg singing protest songs: ‘The old man clings to his throne’

Hundreds of people gathered in the centre of St Petersburg in a rare moment of protest against Russian president Vladimir Putin to sing anti-war songs.

A crowd of young people gathered to sing anti-war songs in Kazanskaya Square, including the proscribed song “Swan Lake Collective” by Russian rapper Noize MC, in footage that has now gone viral on social media.

The song, banned from distribution by the Primorsky District Court in May, features anti-Putin lyrics including “The old man still clings to his throne, afraid to let go” and “When the tsar dies, we’ll dance again — ‘Swan Lake’ on every screen.”

Crowds could be heard chanting the chorus: “I want to watch the ballet, let the swans dance. Let the old man shake in fear for his lake”.

Read more here:

Hundreds attend rare anti-Putin protest in St Petersburg

Trump says he will meet Putin in Budapest for second Ukraine war summit

Donald Trump has agreed to a second Ukraine war summit with Vladimir Putin after a “productive” phone call between the pair on the eve of a White House visit by Volodymyr Zelensky.

A date has not been set, but Mr Trump wrote on social media that the meeting would take place in Budapest.

“I believe great progress was made with today's telephone conversation,” the US president wrote after the conversation, which lasted more than two hours.

Their previous summit, in Alaska in August, ended without any significant diplomatic breakthroughs for Mr Trump. Yuri Ushakov, Putin’s foreign affairs adviser, said the Russian president initiated the call, which he described as “very frank and trusting”.

It came as Mr Zelensky was heading to the White House to push for more military support, including long-range Tomahawk missiles that would allow Ukraine to strike deeper into Russian territory.

Read more here:

Trump says he will meet Putin in Hungary for second Ukraine war summit

Trump-Putin phone call may slow down momentum to toughen stance on Moscow, former state department official says

Russian president Vladimir Putin’s latest phone call with Donald Trump may have slowed growing US momentum to toughen its stance on Moscow, according to a former US State Department official.

“Putin is trying to derail the momentum toward greater pressure on Russia,” said Dan Fried, a former US State Department official and veteran diplomat who oversaw sanctions policy under multiple administrations.

“We’ll see what happens tomorrow [on Friday, with Zelensky due to meet Trump] but the chances of moving toward a ceasefire by pushing Russia to get serious seem to have diminished.”

The Kremlin described Thursday’s Trump and Putin call as “extremely frank and trustful”.

Earlier, Trump had appeared to harden his position, voicing frustration with Russia’s continued attacks and hinting at a possible decision to provide Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine.

Drone attacks target areas inside Russia-held territory - report

Explosions were reported overnight in both occupied Donetsk and the Russian resort city of Sochi, as suspected Ukrainian drone attacks targeted sites deep inside Russian-held territory.

“An air defence system is active in Sochi. An attack by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) is being repelled,” Sochi Mayor Andrei Proshunin said.

In Donetsk, local channels reported that a Russian ammunition depot had been struck, setting off a series of explosions and large fires visible across the occupied city.

Videos circulating on social media appeared to show multiple blasts lighting up the night sky, Kyiv Independent reported.

Ukrainian officials have not commented on either incident.

Trump says ‘we need Tomahawks too’ before his meeting with Zelensky

Donald Trump appeared uncertain on Wednesday about supplying Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine, saying the US must also keep enough for its own defence – just hours before his scheduled meeting with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky in Washington.

“We need Tomahawks for the United States of America too. We have a lot of them, but we need them. I mean, we can’t deplete for our country,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.

“I don’t know what we can do about that,” he added.

Zelensky, who arrived in Washington earlier in the day, is expected to make a fresh push for the long-range missiles, which can strike targets up to 2,500 kilometres away.

Already in Washington.

Today, I am having meetings with representatives of defense companies – producers of powerful weapons that can definitely strengthen our protection. In particular, we will discuss additional supplies of air defense systems. I will also meet today with… pic.twitter.com/MRFmPARkq1

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) October 16, 2025

Earlier, Putin’s aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters that Moscow had warned Trump against arming Kyiv with the missiles.

“Vladimir Putin reiterated his point that Tomahawks would not change the situation on the battlefield but would cause significant harm to relations between our countries, not to mention the prospects for peaceful settlement,” Ushakov said, according to the Kyiv Independent.

Russia targets Ukraine’s gas sites as Zelensky flies to US for Trump talks

Russia launched one of its biggest aerial attacks in months on Thursday, pounding Ukraine’s energy network just as president Volodymyr Zelensky flew to Washington to ask Donald Trump for long-range Tomahawk missiles.

More than 300 drones and 37 missiles rained down across Ukraine overnight, sparking blackouts in eight regions and fires at key gas facilities.

“This autumn, the Russians use every single day to strike at our energy infrastructure,” Zelensky said on X.

Last night brought strikes against our people, our energy sector, and our civilian infrastructure. Russia launched more than 300 attack drones and 37 missiles, a significant number of them ballistic, against Ukraine. Infrastructure in the Vinnytsia, Sumy, and Poltava regions came… pic.twitter.com/bH3TipG4d2

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) October 16, 2025

One of the main targets was the Shebelinka gas processing plant in Kharkiv region, where drones and missiles hit around 5.30am.

Huge columns of black smoke rose from the site as crews battled multiple fires.

Zelensky says Russia ‘on the defensive’ as Trump announces new Putin meet

Volodymyr Zelensky has said the Russian president’s sudden push to meet Donald Trump shows the Russian leader is “on the defensive”.

Speaking in Washington on Thursday, the Ukrainian president said Putin’s eagerness to resume talks was directly tied to Trump’s recent suggestion that the US could send Tomahawk cruise missiles to Kyiv.

“We can already see that Moscow is rushing to resume dialogue as soon as it hears about Tomahawks,” Zelensky said.

His comments came after Trump confirmed he is planning to meet Putin in Budapest in the coming weeks.

Trump boasts 'tremendous prospects' for US-Russia economic cooperation if war were to end

One of Trump’s main arguments for ending the war in Ukraine is that it would allow for strong economic cooperation between the US and Russia, the Kremlin said. 

In a statement, Yury Ushakov said: “It is noteworthy that one of the US President’s key arguments centred on the premise that the resolution of the conflict in Ukraine would open up tremendous – and he stressed this – tremendous prospects for the development of US-Russian economic cooperation.” 

After Trump and Putin’s meeting, Trump said the pair “spent a great deal of time talking about trade between Russia and the United States when the war with Ukraine is over.” 

What is in the EU’s five-year plan to defend against Russian attacks? 

The European Union has unveiled four flagship projects to strengthen its defence capabilities against Russia by 2030, as recent airspace violations show that “Europe is at risk”.

The European Commission will submit the ‘Defence Readiness Roadmap 2030’ to EU leaders next week, essentially presenting them with a checklist of equipment to buy, with hopes of encouraging states to decide who will take the lead on projects. 

What are the projects? 

The European Drone Defence Initiative 

As a top priority, the plans include the European Drone Defence Initiative, which aims to build counter-drone capabilities to detect, track, and disable rogue drones. The system is expected to be initially operational by December 2026 and fully functional in late 2027.

The Eastern Flank Watch 

The drone system is part of the wider Eastern Flank Watch scheme, which aims to fortify defences along Europe's eastern border on land, in the Baltic and Black seas, in the sky, and against hybrid operations. It hopes to be fully functional by 2028. 

The European Air Shield

The European Air Shield aims to protect member states’ airspace by creating an integrated, multi-layered air and missile defence shield to protect against all Russian air threats. 

The European Space Shield

The fourth project is the European Space Shield, which aims to protect space assets and services against growing threats.

US may have to keep Tomahawks for itself, Trump says

Donald Trump has suggested that the US may need to keep its Tomahawk missiles for itself, as Zelensky is expected to push for its supply at their meeting tomorrow.

He said: "Tomahawks. We have a lot of them, but we need them. We can't deplete” US stockpiles, the BBC reported.

The Russian president has warned Trump that supplying Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine would harm peace prospects and damage US-Russia relations, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters.

Trump said: "I did actually say to him, 'Would you mind if I gave a couple of thousands of Tomahawks to your opposition?' I did say that to him. I said it just like that. He didn't like that idea,” according to the BBC.

"You have to be a bit light-hearted sometimes.”

Preparations underway for US-Russia summit, says Hungary's PM

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said preparations for Putin and Trump’s summit in Budapest were underway.

Posting on X after a phone call with Trump, the president said: “Hungary is the island of PEACE!”

He previously said the meeting was “great news for the peace-loving people of the world.”

Putin congratulates Trump for 'solving peace in the Middle East'

Moscow rushing to renew dialogue over Trump's Tomahawk threat, says Zelensky

Zelensky expects the momentum from the ceasefire will help end the Ukraine war as Moscow tries to renew its dialogue after Trump threatened to supply Ukraine with Tomahawk missiles.

In a post on X, the president said: “Putin is certainly no braver than Hamas or any other terrorist. The language of strength and justice will inevitably work against Russia as well.

“We can already see that Moscow is rushing to resume dialogue as soon as it hears about Tomahawks.

“There must be no alternative but peace and reliably guaranteed security – and it is crucial to protect people from Russian strikes and assaults as soon as possible.”

'Putin is not a rational man', says Farage

Nigel Farage supports shooting down Russian fighter jets that violate Nato airspace, as he calls Putin “a very bad dude”.

“Clearly, Putin is not a rational man,” Farage said in an interview with Bloomberg.

“The idea that I’m soft on this is just nonsense.”

Farage has faced criticism that his stance on Moscow could hurt his chance of becoming Prime Minister.

In the interview on Thursday, he said he would support spending frozen Russian assets to help Ukraine, and may even deploy British troops to the country if he were to become PM.

Zelensky arrives in Washington ahead of meeting with Trump

Trump and Putin to meet in next two weeks, says Trump

Trump and Putin will meet in Budapest in the next two weeks, while foreign ministers Marco Rubio and Sergei Lavrov will speak beforehand.

Speaking at the White House, Trump said: "We have a problem, they don't get along too well, those two," Trump says, arguing that this requires separate meetings,” Sky News reported.

"This is a terrible relationship the two of them have."

Trump's call to Putin was initiated by Russia, says Kremlin

Trump and Putin’s phone call was initiated by Moscow, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said.

The pair are now planning to meet in Budapest soon, the location of which was suggested by Trump and immediately agreed to by Putin, Mr Ushakov said.

He said the two countries will now quickly prepare for the summit, and the timing of the meeting will depend on how the preparations go.

Zelensky touches down in Washington to meet with defence and energy companies ahead of meeting

Zelensky has landed in Washington ahead of his visit to the Oval Office on Friday.

In the meantime, he is having meetings with defence company representatives, who produce powerful weapons that can strengthen Ukraine’s protection, he said. He is planning to seek out additional supplies of air defence systems.

Zelensky will also meet with energy companies.

“Now, as Russia is betting on terror against our energy sector and carrying out daily strikes, we are working to ensure Ukraine’s resilience,” he said.

Ukrainian officials hope for 'concrete decisions' on Friday as they prepare for Zelensky's meeting with Trump

High-level Ukrainian figures, including Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, are already in the US, planning ahead of Zelensky’s visit to the Oval Office on Friday.

Andriy Yermak, the head of Zelensky’s office, said they hoped for concrete decisions at Friday’s meeting.

Putin thanked Melania Trump for her 'involvement with children'

During their phone call, Trump said Putin thanked the First Lady for her involvement in returning kidnapped Ukrainian children to their families.

“He was very appreciative, and said that this will continue,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social.

Last week, Melania Trump revealed that she had sent a letter to Putin in August regarding the fate of the thousands of children who had been taken by Russian forces during the invasion of Ukraine.

Putin responded in writing to signal a “willingness to engage” with Mrs Trump, she said.

“Since then, President Putin and I have had an open channel of communication regarding the welfare of these children,” she said.

Eight children had been rejoined with their families, according to Mrs Trump.

Putin cautioned Trump against supplying Tomahawks to Kyiv, Kremlin says

Putin warned Trump that supplying Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine would harm peace prospects and damage US-Russia relations, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters.

Zelensky is visiting Trump at the Oval Office on Friday where he is expected to push for the supply of Tomahawks.

Trump told reporters travelling with him to Israel on Sunday that he planned to discuss providing Kyiv with the weapons as a way to pressure Putin to end the war.

"Do they want to have Tomahawks going in that direction? I don't think so," Trump said on Sunday.

"I think I might speak to Russia about that."

Hungarian PM says Putin and Trump's planned meeting in Budapest is 'great news'

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has applauded Trump and Putin’s plans to meet in Budapest in a post on X.