The US has been blocking Ukraine from firing long-range missiles into Russian territory for several months, according to new reports.
The move came after a fresh review mechanism brought in by the Pentagon in late spring, which effectively limits Kyiv’s operational capabilities, according to the Wall Street Journal.
It has prevented Ukraine from striking using US-made Army Tactical Missile Systems (Atacms), or British-produced Storm Shadows, both of which need US targeting data to be effective.
The approvals policy means US defence secretary ultimate decision-making capabilities for Ukrainian strikes, which two American officials told the WSJ had been rejected on at least one occasion.
Zelensky has responded to the reports saying Ukraine has recently been using its own weapons and not consulting Washington over its strikes.
As Ukraine celebrates its Independence Day, Russian officials reported that a Ukrainian drone strike hit a Russian nuclear plant causing a brief fire.
The strike at Russia’s Kursk Nuclear Power Plant damaged an auxiliary transformer and reduced output at one reactor to 50 per cent, according to Moscow. No injuries were reported and radiation levels remained normal.
US president Donald Trump has given Moscow a two-week deadline to agree to peace talks with Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky, warning he will take further action if no progress is made.
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Key Points
- Trump threatens to impose 'massive sanctions' on Russia
- Ukraine drone attack causes fire, capacity reduction at Russia's Kursk nuclear power plant
- Russian air defences down drone flying towards Moscow, regional airports closed
- Flying Ukraine flags ‘a visible symbol of UK’s unwavering support’ – Government
- Pentagon restricts Ukraine's use of US missiles against Russia, WSJ reports
RECAP: Lavrov says next steps 'depend on US'
05:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneRussian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov has said the ‘next steps’ in repairing US-Russia relations depend on US leadership.
In a post on Telegram, he stated: “President #Putin: @realDonaldTrump & I had a very good, constructive & frank discussion in Alaska.
“I really hope the first steps made are just the beginning of a full-scale recovery of #RussiaUS relations.
“The next steps depend on the US leadership.”
Ukraine unveils devastating new ‘Flamingo’ cruise missile
04:45 , Nicole Wootton-CaneUkraine has revealed its plans to move ahead with a new cruise missile that would have the ability to strike deep into Russian territory.
The Flamingo FP-5 missile can carry a warhead weighing more than one tonne, and can fly more than 3,000 kilometres.
Manufactured by Ukraine’s Fire Point defence company, the missile is reportedly faster than any the country currently use and took just nine months to develop.
Vance insists Trump will bring end to war
04:30 , Nicole Wootton-CaneUS vice president JD Vance has insisted Donald Trump will be the one to bring an end to war in Ukraine as he praised his “energetic diplomacy”.
In remarks made on NBC’s Meet the Press Sunday, Vance told Kristen Welker both sides had shown openness to accepting “significant concessions” in recent days.
He added Trump would be willing to pile the pressure onto one side if necessary.
Earlier this week, the US president said he would “see whose fault it is” before taking further action towards peace talks.
Vance boasts Trump will end Ukraine war while Russia stalls on talks with Zelensky
Belarusian president says he is healthy after physical examination
04:17 , Arpan RaiVeteran Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko, a close ally of Vladimir Putin, said that he had undergone the first physical of his life and was found to be in good health.
Questions have periodically been raised about Lukashenko's health in the past few years
"Recently, for the first time in my life, I underwent a complete physical over two days," Lukashenko, 70, told journalists on Belarusian television in comments posted on his Pul Pervogo Telegram channel.
"Goodness knows what they didn't do to me. They even got into my brain. They x-rayed every bit of me... Touch wood, I am happy. Everything is normal."
Doubts about his health intensified during a visit to Moscow in 2023 on the anniversary of the 1945 Soviet victory over Nazi Germany during which he missed events, appeared unsteady and failed to make an address.
Lukashenko said even intelligence services from nations friendly to Belarus had inquired about his health.
"I am saying that I am ok with that," he said. "Hand over the test results, those examinations and let them be published."
In power since 1994, Lukashenko allowed Putin to use his country's territory to launch the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, but has said he will play no direct role in the conflict.
RECAP: Putin says Trump is 'light at the end of the tunnel' for US-Russia relations
04:15 , Nicole Wootton-CaneRussian leader Vladimir Putin praised US President Donald Trump as the “light at the end of the tunnel” after decades of strained relations between the two countries.
His remarks came after the two met in Alaska in a high-stakes summit that failed to see any significant progress made towards peace in Ukraine.
Ukrainians living in UK fear war will 'never end'
04:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneUkrainians living in the UK have said they are scared the war will “never end” after peace talks between the US and Russia ended uneventfully.
Monika Popadiuk, who moved to the UK from Kyiv in July 2022, said she was “afraid of losing everything a second time” if the conflict is not brought to an end.
Ukrainians in the UK fear war will never end after Trump-Zelensky meeting
Russian air defence units destroy two drones flying towards Moscow
03:59 , Arpan RaiRussia's air defence units destroyed two drones flying towards Moscow, Sergei Sobyanin, the mayor of the Russian capital said this morning.
"Emergency services are working at the site where the debris fell," Sobyanin said in a post on the Telegram messaging app.
Zelensky: 'The end of the war means a guarantee of peace in Ukraine'
03:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneSpeaking in Kyiv on Ukraine’s Independence Day, Zelensky said the end of the war would mean a “guarantee of peace” for Ukraine.
"We are all working to ensure that the end of this war would mean the guarantee of peace for Ukraine, so that neither war nor the threat of war are left for our children to inherit," Zelensky told a crowd of dignitaries in Kyiv's Sophia Square.
Zelensky has previously said he wants future security guarantees as part of a potential peace deal to be as close as possible to NATO's Article 5, which considers an attack on one member state as an attack against all.
Zelensky shares more messages from world leaders
02:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneSupport has poured in for Ukraine and President Zelensky on Ukraine’s Independence Day.
Posting on X, Zelensky shared dozens of letters and posts from foreign leaders, including Sir Keir Starmer, Emmanuel Macron, and Mark Carney.
Thank you for your sincere Independence Day wishes, dear @JakovMilatovic! We are grateful to Montenegro for its support for our shared cause: to defend freedom, security, and peace in Europe. We look forward to continued cooperation and developing our friendly ties. pic.twitter.com/rp0RLrQEdr
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) August 24, 2025
RECAP: Report claims US has blocked Ukraine from using long-range missiles in Russia
01:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneThe US has reportedly been blocking Ukraine from using long-range missiles in Russia, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Both US-made Army Tactical Missile Systems (Atacms) and British-produced Storm Shadows depend on US targeting data.
A new review process brought in by Washington in late spring has blocked Ukraine from using Atacms at least one, the report claimed.
In response, Zelensky said Kyiv had recently been using its own weapons and not consulting with Washington over strikes.
RECAP: British military experts will continue to train Ukrainian soldiers until at least the end of 2026
Monday 25 August 2025 00:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneA British operation to help train Ukrainian forces will continue until at least the end of 2026, the government has announced.
Operation Interflex has trained more than 50,000 Ukrainian recruits on British soil.
Speaking ahead of Ukraine’s Independence Day celebrations, Defence Secretary John Healey said the UK was “ramping up” its support for Ukrainian forces.
Lavrov says Putin ready to talk but labels Zelensky 'illegitimate'
Sunday 24 August 2025 23:30 , Nicole Wootton-CaneRussia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has insisted that Vladimir Putin is ready to come to the table for peace negotiations, but has called Volodymyr Zelensky “illegitimate”.
In an interview on Sunday he said Russia would need reassurance whoever was “signing documents” was “legitimate”.
Zelensky has repeatedly said he is willing to commence peace talks with the Russian leader.
Ukrainian defence minister celebrates POW swap
Sunday 24 August 2025 23:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneThe Ukrainian defence minister has welcomed returning prisoners of war home.
In a post on X, he said Kyiv do “everything possible” to bring them back.
Nearly 150 prisoners from each side were reportedly swapped on Sunday.
We are bringing our people back from russian captivity. We remember each and every one of them and do everything possible to ensure they return home as soon as possible.
— Denys Shmyhal (@Denys_Shmyhal) August 24, 2025
Happy Independence Day! Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the Heroes!
_____
Повертаємо наших людей з російської… pic.twitter.com/3qcIsVw8kh
RECAP: Ukraine's military says it hit Russia's Syzran oil refinery overnight
Sunday 24 August 2025 22:30 , Nicole Wootton-CaneUkraine's military hit Russia's Syzran oil refinery overnight, it said on Sunday.
The refinery, located in the Samara region, is operated by Russian oil giant Rosneft.
Footage shows Canadian PM joining Zelensky in Kyiv
Sunday 24 August 2025 22:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneNew footage released by Kyiv shows the Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney joining Zelensky to remember fallen troops on Ukraine’s Independence Day.
A place of remembrance and deep reverence. Here are the names of those who gave their lives for our independence and freedom. Today, together with First Lady @ZelenskaUA and Prime Minister of Canada @MarkJCarney, we honored the fallen defenders of Ukraine at the Wall of… pic.twitter.com/OSOmM4a3dl
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) August 24, 2025
RECAP: Zelensky calls King Charles 'true inspiration' after letter of support
Sunday 24 August 2025 21:30 , Nicole Wootton-CanePresident Zelensky called King Charles a “true inspiration” after receiving a letter of support from the monarch.
The King’s message, shared on social media by Mr Zelensky, said: “I keep feeling the greatest and deepest admiration for the unbreakable courage and spirit of the Ukrainian people.
“I remain hopeful that our countries will be able to further work closely together to achieve a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.”
Zelensky thanks King Charles for ‘inspirational’ letter sent to mark Independence Day
Carney says he won't rule out Canadian troops in Ukraine as part of security guarantees
Sunday 24 August 2025 21:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneCanada's Prime Minister Mark Carney said in Kyiv on Sunday he would not rule out the presence of Canadian troops in Ukraine as part of future proposed security guarantees.
It comes as Carney visited Kyiv to be beside President Zelensky on Ukraine’s Independence Day.
RECAP: Russia says it has captured another village in Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk region
Sunday 24 August 2025 20:30 , Nicole Wootton-CaneRussia's defence ministry said on Sunday Russian forces had captured the settlement of Filiia in Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk region.
The Independent could not independently verify the battlefield reports.
UK flies Ukrainian flags for Independence Day
Sunday 24 August 2025 20:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneUK government buildings are flying the Ukrainian flag to celebrate its Independence Day on Sunday.
The blue and yellow flag has been raised over 10 Downing Street as well as other Whitehall buildings.
Ukraine drone attack causes fire, capacity reduction at Russia's Kursk nuclear power plant
Sunday 24 August 2025 05:20 , Namita SinghA Ukrainian drone attack sparked a short-lived fire at the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant, damaged an auxiliary transformer and led to reduction in the operating capacity at one of the plant's units, the plant's press service reported early on Sunday.
"A combat unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) belonging to the Armed Forces of Ukraine was shot down by air defence systems near the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant," the press service said in a statement on the Telegram messaging app.
"Upon impact, the drone detonated, resulting in damage to an auxiliary transformer."
The press service added that there were no injuries, but as a result of the detonation, unit three of the plant was reduced to 50 per cent capacity. The destroyed drone also sparked a fire that has since been extinguished, the press service said.
Radiation levels at the site and in the surrounding area have not exceeded normal limits, the press service added.
There was no immediate comment from Ukraine. Kyiv has said its strikes inside Russia are in response to Russia's continued attacks on Ukraine and are aimed at destroying infrastructure deemed crucial to Moscow's overall military efforts.
