Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has dismissed the idea of travelling to Moscow for peace talks with Vladimir Putin, saying he “can't go to the capital of this terrorist”.
Zelensky told NBC News Putin’s proposal was not genuine, and that the Russian president was simply “playing games” for the benefit of US president Donald Trump.
Earlier, sources close to Trump were quoted as saying he has become increasingly “pessimistic” about the prospect of ending the war in Ukraine.
In a post on Truth Social, the US President posted a picture of the Russian leader with China’s president Xi Jinping and India’s prime minister Narendra Modi, and added Putin had been “lost to deepest, darkest China”.
And while European leaders continue to make plans for a peace deal, Putin warned that foreign troops stationed in Ukraine would be a legitimate target for Russian forces.
His comments came after French president Emmanuel Macron said that 26 countries had agreed to provide military assistance for Ukraine on land, sea and in the air.
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Key Points
- Zelensky dismisses Putin's 'invitation' to talks in Moscow
- Putin says any Western troops in Ukraine would be legitimate targets
- Donald Trump issues warning to European leaders over pressure on China
- Macron says 26 nations will provide postwar military backing to Ukraine
Trump says he thought Ukraine war 'would be easiest' to stop
10:54 , Adam WithnallDonald Trump has admitted he underestimated the task of stopping the war in Ukraine, something he claimed he would be able to do on his first day in office for his second term.
Speaking at the first dinner held in the newly renovated Rose Garden at the White House last night, Trump again repeated his claim to have ended seven wars, a line that has already been widely debunked.
"Nobody has done what we did in seven months. We stopped seven wars. The war that I thought would probably be the easiest was the most difficult: that of Russia and Ukraine. I thought it would be easiest because of the relationship with President Putin... It didn't matter. It ended up being probably the most difficult," Trump said.
Zelensky dismisses Putin's 'invitation' to talks in Moscow
09:17 , Adam WithnallSpeaking to NBC News, Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky has rejected the idea of travelling to Moscow for peace talks, as proposed by Vladimir Putin.
Zelensky said Putin’s proposal was not genuine, and that the Russian president was simply “playing games” with the US.
"He can come to Kyiv. If a person doesn't want to meet during the war, of course, he can propose something which is acceptable to me or the other. It's understandable; I can't go to Moscow when my country's under missiles, under attack, each day. I can't go to the capital of this terrorist," Zelensky said.
India hits out at Trump aide for accusing it of 'profiteering' from Ukraine war
08:31 , Adam WithnallIndia’s government spokesperson hit back with unusually pointed remarks towards Donald Trump’s trade adviser Peter Navarro late yesterday.
Navarro said earlier this week that India had become the “oil money laundromat for the Kremlin”, referring to the fact India has been purchasing Russian oil in large volumes since other countries sanctioned Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine. He also referred to the Ukraine conflict as “Modi’s war”.
Randhir Jaiswal said: “We have seen some wrong and misleading comments or statements from Navarro. And we would like to say that this is unacceptable for us and we reject it.”
Recap: Putin says foreign troops deployed to Ukraine would be ‘legitimate targets’
07:11 , Adam WithnallRussian president Vladimir Putin said yesterday that any foreign troops deployed to Ukraine before a peace agreement has been signed would be considered “legitimate targets” by Moscow's forces.
Putin's comments came hours after European leaders once again pledged their commitment to a potential peacekeeping force. Emmanuel Macron on Thursday said that 26 of Ukraine’s allies have pledged to deploy troops as a “reassurance force” for Ukraine once fighting ends, without naming the countries involved.
Putin told a panel at an economic forum in Vladivostok: “If any troops appear there [in Ukraine], especially now while fighting is ongoing, we assume that they will be legitimate targets.”
Putin also dismissed the idea of peacekeeping forces in Ukraine after a final peace deal, saying “no one should doubt” that Moscow would comply once a treaty is agreed to halt its 3½-year full-scale invasion of its neighbour.
He said that security guarantees would be needed for both Russia and Ukraine.
Trump renames Pentagon the 'Department of War'
05:30 , Adam WithnallUS president Donald Trump signed an executive order on Friday to rename the Department of Defense as the "Department of War," reverting to a title it held until after World War Two when officials sought to emphasise the Pentagon's role in preventing conflict.
The Pentagon moved swiftly to change signs at the US military's five-sided headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, switching Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's title on his door to "Secretary of War" and the title of his No. 2, Steve Feinberg, to the "Deputy Secretary of War."
"It's a very important change, because it's an attitude," Trump said as he signed the executive order at a ceremony in the Oval Office. "It's really about winning."
The move would instruct Hegseth to recommend legislative and executive actions required to make the renaming permanent.
Department name changes are rare and have required congressional approval. Still, Trump questioned whether he really needed a nod from Congress, even though his fellow Republicans hold slim majorities in both the Senate and House of Representatives.
Two Republican senators, Mike Lee of Utah and Rick Scott of Florida, and one Republican House member, Greg Steube of Florida, introduced legislation on Friday to make the change.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, introduced as the Secretary of War by Trump, cheered the change, which he has long advocated.
"We're going to go on the offense, not just on defense. Maximum lethality, not tepid legality," Hegseth said.
Trump’s name change to Department of War could cost taxpayers over $1B
Putin calls for more rocket engines
04:42 , Adam WithnallVladimir Putin urged aerospace industry leaders on Friday to press on with efforts to develop booster rocket engines for space launch vehicles and build on Russia's longstanding reputation as a leader in space technology.
Putin, who has spent the past week in China and the Russian far eastern port of Vladivostok, flew to the southern Russian city of Samara, where he met industry specialists and toured the Kuznetsov design bureau aircraft engine manufacturing plant.
Quoted by Russian news agencies, Putin said Russia remained a leading force in the development of the aerospace industry.
"It is important to consistently renew production capacity in terms of engines for booster rockets," the agencies quoted Putin as saying late on Friday.
"And in doing so, we must not only meet our own current and future needs but also move actively on world markets and be successful competitors."
Putin noted Russian success in developing innovations in terms of producing engines, particularly in the energy sector, despite the imposition of sanctions by Western countries linked to Moscow's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
"In conditions of restrictions from sanctions, we succeeded in a short period of time in developing a series of innovative engines for energy," Putin was quoted as saying. "These are being actively used, including in terms of gas transport infrastructure."
Zelensky visits American electronics factory hit by Russian missiles
03:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneZelensky has visited the Flextronics factory in Mukachevo - a site he said has American investment - which he says was hit by Russian missiles last month.
In a post on X, he wrote: “Today, I spoke on site with representatives of the enterprise about the factory’s operations and its recovery.
“Unfortunately, Russian missiles and drones strike across the entire country. But I am very grateful to everyone working here.
“It is crucial for us that American business is present in Ukraine. We will do everything to help the enterprise recover as quickly as possible.”
The Flextronics factory in Mukachevo is an enterprise with American investment. It manufactured household appliances. Russia carried out a missile strike on it on the morning of August 21. Seventeen people were injured in this attack, some of whom are still in the hospital.… pic.twitter.com/bH1rJtvC8C
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) September 5, 2025
Russian politician blasts European talks 'heresy'
02:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneDmitry Medvedev has called talks between the “coalition of the willing” “heresy” and “bull****”.
In a video posted on X, the deputy chairman of Russia’s security council hit out at the group made up of countries who have said they would be willing to send troops to Ukraine to keep peace in the event of any agreement.
Washington mulls over plans for US-led 'buffer zone' in Ukraine
Saturday 6 September 2025 00:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneThe US government are reportedly considering plans to lead on a Korea-style demilitarised zone between Russian-controlled and Ukrainian-controlled land once the war ends.
NBC News reported on Friday that the offer would come as part of a possible peace plan as the US president continues to make bids to end the war in Ukraine.
No American ground troops would be involved, and a person told NBC that planners are deliberately avoiding proposing NATO involvement or involvement from any group of countries that could suggest NATO involvement in the plan.
Russia has previously rejected any suggestion of European or NATO nations becoming involved in securing any future peace settlement with Kyiv. However, the area could be policed by troops from non-NATO nations such as Saudi Arabia or Bangladesh.
RECAP: US cutting military aid near Russian border, Lithuania says
Friday 5 September 2025 23:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneThe US Department of Defence informed European countries last week that military support under a program known as Section 333 will be cut to zero from the next fiscal year, a Lithuanian defence ministry official said on Friday.
Two sources familiar with the matter said on Thursday the United States will phase out some security assistance for European countries near the border with Russia.
The move has raised concerns among key recipients such as Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia.
ICYMI: Europe's new world order is undermined by Trump, says Sam Kiley
Friday 5 September 2025 22:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneEuropean leaders are trying to build a new world order outside of the “chaos” caused by Trump, The Independent’s world affairs editor Sam Kiley writes in his latest analysis.
But every attempt is “dogged” by the US President, he says. You can read his full analysis below.
Trump’s undermining Europe’s new world order - much to Putin’s glee
WATCH: Hot mic captures Putin and Xi discussing organ transplant
Friday 5 September 2025 21:30 , Nicole Wootton-CaneA hot mic picked up a conversation between Presidents Putin and Xi where the pair appeared to discuss organ transplants and immortality.
They met as world leaders gathered at a summit in China earlier this week.
India's diesel exports to Europe soar ahead of EU ban
Friday 5 September 2025 21:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneIndia’s diesel exports to Europe soared to an 11-month high in August, as European buyers rushed to stockpile supplies before a looming EU ban on fuels made from Russian crude.
Tanker-tracking firm Kpler says shipments hit about 260,000 barrels per day last month – a jump of 63 per cent on July.
It comes as Europe moves to ban the import of petroleum products refined from Russian oil in third countries from January 2026.
India is selling Russian oil products to EU at record rate before ban kicks in
Ukraine's allies prepare new sanctions to ramp up pressure on Putin
Friday 5 September 2025 20:30 , Nicole Wootton-CaneUkraine's allies are preparing a new set of sanctions against Russia in a bid to put pressure on Putin to end the war on Ukraine, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Friday,
"Mr Putin is the cause of this war. He's the reason for the killing - he is not going to dictate the terms of the peace," he told a televised news conference.
These Ukrainians refused to leave their homes. Now they have no choice
Friday 5 September 2025 20:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneUkrainians in the eastern Donetsk region, are being forced out of their homes as Russian strikes show no signs of slowing down.
Towns across the area, larger than Slovenia, are steadily emptying as Russian forces now control around 70 per cent of the territory.
"We kept hoping. We waited for every round of negotiations. We thought somehow they would reach an agreement in our favor, and we could stay in our homes," said Zaichikova, who still bears bruises and hematomas across her face.
Hanna Arhirova and Vasilisa Stepanenko report...
These Ukrainians refused to leave their homes. Now they have no choice
Russia names local apps to be unaffected by blackouts
Friday 5 September 2025 19:30 , Nicole Wootton-CaneRussia published a list of locally developed social media, taxi and other apps that it said would keep working during its mobile internet blackouts.
These are shutdowns that have often been ordered to disrupt Ukrainian drone attacks.
The list issued on Friday included online government services, marketplaces, the Mir electronic payment system and state-backed messenger MAX.
Foreign services including Meta Platforms' WhatsApp were missing from the list.
The Digital Development Ministry said it had a "special technical solution" to let local apps keep going. "This measure will reduce the inconvenience caused to citizens by mobile internet shutdowns necessary to ensure security," it added.
It made no mention of Ukraine or drones. Governors from Russian border regions have regularly said blackouts were needed to disrupt assaults that use the internet to navigate to their targets.
Ukraine moves to ban Orthodox church over alleged Moscow links
Friday 5 September 2025 19:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneUkraine is set to ban a branch of the Orthodox Church over claims it has failed to sever its long-standing ties with Russia.
The Ukrainian Orthodox Church denounced the full-blown Russian invasion from the start in 2022 and reiterated that stance this year.
But Kyiv says it has not done enough to sever centuries-old ties to Moscow.
Ukraine has previously banned the Moscow-based Russian Orthodox Church over its support for Russia’s invasion.
Ukraine moves to ban Orthodox church it claims is linked with Moscow
Why are Slovaks angry at Ukrainian attacks on Russia?
Friday 5 September 2025 18:30 , Nicole Wootton-CanePresident Zelensky met with Slovakia’s Robert Fico on Friday to discuss tensions between the two countries over Kyiv’s targeting of Russian oil refineries.
The Druzhba pipeline, which carries Russian oil to central Europe - including Slovakia - has recently been at the centre of such attacks. While Ukraine is likely to see them as necessary strikes on a key piece of Russian infrastructure, the hits have a knock-on effect on countries like Slovakia.
Previously, he Hungarian and Slovakian governments wrote to the European Commission, the EU executive, saying that Russian oil supplies could be suspended for at least five days owing to the damage following one such strike.
“The physical and geographical reality is that without this pipeline, the safe supply of our countries is simply not possible,” their foreign ministers, Péter Szijjártó and Juraj Blanár, said in a letter.
Zelensky says Ukraine open to supplying gas and oil to Slovakia, unless from Russia
Friday 5 September 2025 18:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneFollowing Friday’s talks with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, President Zelensky has said he remains open to supplying the country with non-Russian gas and oil.
He added that Kyiv would continue responding to Russian strikes on its energy system.
Fico: 'Ukrainian attacks on Russian energy networks hurt Slovakia'
Friday 5 September 2025 17:30 , Nicole Wootton-CaneSlovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said that he wished for Ukraine to be able to find security guarantees quickly and reach a just peace in its conflict with Russia.
Following discussions with Zelensky on Friday, he added relations between Ukraine and Slovakia were strong despite differences of opinion, while also saying that Ukrainian attacks on targets like Russian energy networks hurt Slovakia.
Slovakia, which is heavily dependent on Russian oil supplies, has been angered by Ukrainian attacks on the Druzhba oil pipeline that disrupt Russian crude shipments. Fico met Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday in Beijing and said Slovakia wanted to normalise relations with Moscow.
White House economic advisor Hassett 'disappointed' in India
Friday 5 September 2025 17:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneWhite House economic advisor Kevin Hassett has said he is “disappointed” India are “continuing to help fund Russia’s warn in Ukraine”.
The statement comes after Putin and Indian Prime Minister Modi met at a summit in China last week alongside other world leaders.
Zelensky says he had 'substantive' talks with Slovakia's Fico
Friday 5 September 2025 16:30 , Nicole Wootton-CaneUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he had held "substantive" talks with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico during his visit to Ukraine's western city of Uzhhorod on Friday.
"It is important that we have this dialogue. We will continue it," Zelensky was quoted as saying by Ukrinform agency.
The pair were meeting with the President of the European Council to discuss the phasing out of Russian oil to Slovakia.
I had a substantive discussion with the Prime Minister of Slovakia @RobertFicoSVK. We covered key topics — matters of principle for Ukraine and matters of principle for Slovakia.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) September 5, 2025
I informed about our conversation yesterday with President Trump, our work with leaders of the… pic.twitter.com/gOAgPdeEyi
ANALYSIS: Trump’s undermining Europe’s new world order - much to Putin’s glee
Friday 5 September 2025 16:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneTrump is undermining Europe’s world order - and that’s to Putin’s advantage, writes world affairs editor Sam Kiley.
Following the news that 26 countries have joined the “coalition of the willing”, who are prepared to deploy forces to Ukraine in the event of a peace deal, he says the US president’s actions are only making it harder for Europe.
“No peace deal is on the table. But Europe is trying to build a new order, outside the chaos caused by Trump,” Sam Kiley writes. “Its every move, though, is dogged by the Oval Office.”
Trump’s undermining Europe’s new world order - much to Putin’s glee
