Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky said he will be meeting the US president Donald Trump on Friday, when the two will discuss long-range missile capabilities to pressure Russia.
Announcing the departure of the Ukrainian delegation, Zelensky said: “I will also have the opportunity to come to Washington and meet with president Trump on Friday. I believe we will discuss a series of steps that I intend to propose. I am grateful to president Trump for our dialogue and his support.”
“...the main focus of the visit is air defence and our long-range capabilities aimed at exerting pressure on Russia for the sake of peace,” he said in a post on X.
Zelensky has been lobbying with Washington to supply the US-produced missiles, which could help Kyiv strike deep inside Russia – including Moscow –which Ukrainians say would be used only on military targets.
US-made Tomahawks, which have a range of 2,500km (1,550 miles) and could therefore strike anywhere within European Russia, will likely be a part of the discussion as Zelensky said he had given Trump an idea of how many of the coveted Tomahawks Ukraine needs.
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Key Points
- Zelensky says he will discuss long-range missiles with Trump to put pressure on Putin
- Nearly 30,000 without power in Russian attack on Ukraine's Kharkiv
- Hosts of Ukrainian refugees say they face ‘endless bureaucracy’
- Former Russian president responds to Trump’s Tomahawk threat
- Zelensky says nearly 100 drones launched on Ukraine overnight: 'Utterly terrorist, cynical'
A nation pauses: Ukraine’s daily moment of remembrance endures through intensified Russian attacks
10:01 , Arpan RaiEach morning at 9 o'clock, Kyiv stops for a minute.
Traffic lights turn red, and the steady beat of a metronome on loudspeakers signals 60 seconds of reflection. Cars idle in the middle of the street as drivers step out and stand with heads bowed.
Across Ukraine — in cafes, gyms, schools, on television and even on the front lines — people pause to remember those killed in Russia’s full-scale invasion.
Near a growing outdoor memorial at Kyiv’s Maidan Square, four friends gathered with cardboard signs that read, “Stop. Honor.” Around them, flags, photos and candles for fallen service members formed a dense mosaic of grief and pride.
A nation pauses: Ukraine’s daily moment of remembrance endures through intensified Russian attacks
Zelenskiy discusses Ukraine's air defence with Finland's Stubb
09:48 , Arpan RaiVolodymyr Zelensky has discussed his country's air defence needs with his Finnish counterpart Alexander Stubb after recent Russian strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure.
Zelensky, who is due to meet Donald Trump in Washington on Friday, also said it was important that the US president had managed to stop the war in Gaza.
"Of course, the right steps by America could also work to end Russia's war against Ukraine. We have a vision for this," Zelensky said, adding that he and Stubb were "coordinating" their positions.
Watch: Zelensky confirms meeting with Trump in Washington
09:13 , Arpan RaiZelensky says he will discuss long-range missiles with Trump to put pressure on Putin
08:57 , Arpan RaiUkraine president Volodymyr Zelensky said he will be meeting the US president Donald Trump on Friday, when the two will discuss long-range missile capabilities to pressure Russia.
Announcing the departure of the Ukrainian delegation, Zelensky said: “I will also have the opportunity to come to Washington and meet with president Trump on Friday. I believe we will discuss a series of steps that I intend to propose. I am grateful to president Trump for our dialogue and his support.”
He said the long-range missile capabilities will be discussed to exert pressure on Moscow “for the sake of peace”.
“I will also meet with energy companies. This is necessary – it was President Trump’s proposal – and I will meet with these companies because there are pressing needs linked to various formats of attacks, not even the attacks that Russia has already carried out. In any case, we must be prepared. So, it will be helpful. Therefore, the main focus of the visit is air defence and our long-range capabilities aimed at exerting pressure on Russia for the sake of peace,” he said.
Russia opens new criminal case against exiled Kremlin critic
08:52 , Arpan RaiRussia's Federal Security Service (FSB) has opened a criminal case against exiled Kremlin critic Mikhail Khodorkovsky, accusing him of creating a "terrorist organisation" and of plotting to violently seize power.
The FSB today said the charges relate to the activities of a Khodorkovsky-backed group that opposes the war in Ukraine. The group, called the Anti-War Committee, has been banned in Russia.
Khodorkovsky, an oil tycoon who was once Russia's richest man, served 10 years in a Siberian prison on fraud charges that he and many Western countries said were politically motivated.
Khodorkovsky rose to prominence as one of a handful of wealthy businessmen who backed Russia's former president Boris Yeltsin in the 1990s, gaining huge power over the Russian economy as a result.
He fell from grace as Yeltsin's successor Vladimir Putin tightened the Kremlin's grip on previously independent-minded business figures.
He was pardoned in 2013 and left Russia. He has since backed a series of groups opposed to Russian president Vladimir Putin.
There was no immediate comment from Khodorkovsky or his representatives.
Zelensky says nearly 100 drones launched on Ukraine overnight: 'Utterly terrorist, cynical'
08:32 , Arpan RaiVolodymyr Zelensky said Russia attacked Ukrainian cities with nearly 100 drones, of which most were shot down and guided bombs in late nigth attack.
“Last night, Russia’s aerial terror against our cities and infrastructure continued once again. The main targets were our energy facilities. Ninety-six attack drones were launched, most were shot down, though unfortunately not all. Yesterday evening, Russia dropped aerial bombs on Kharkiv, striking a city hospital and injuring 57 people. An utterly terrorist, cynical attack on a place where lives are saved,” Zelensky said on X.
He added: “Energy infrastructure in the region was also hit. In the Kirovohrad region, civilian infrastructure was damaged, including railway facilities in two local settlements. In the Sumy region, there were strikes on energy facilities and an enterprise. The Donetsk region was also attacked.”
The Ukrainian president said the world should compel Moscow to sit down for genuine negotiations.
“We count on action from the United States, Europe, the G7, and all partners who have these systems and can provide them to help protect our people. Ukraine needs sufficient air defence capabilities to shield its skies from missiles, drones, and glide bombs so that Russia’s aerial terror becomes meaningless,” he said on X.
Last night, Russia’s aerial terror against our cities and infrastructure continued once again. The main targets were our energy facilities. Ninety-six attack drones were launched, most were shot down, though unfortunately not all. Yesterday evening, Russia dropped aerial bombs on… pic.twitter.com/4NjfXGjPY5
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) October 14, 2025
Trump and Zelensky to discuss potential missile supply deal
08:17 , Arpan RaiMore detail has emerged about Trump and Zelensky’s Friday meeting, with the Ukrainian leader telling reporters that the two plan to discuss Ukraine's air defence and long-range strike capabilities.
Speaking to reporters in Kyiv, Zelensky said that he had shared with Trump a "vision" of how many US Tomahawk missiles Ukraine needs for its war effort against Russia and that the two leaders would discuss further details on the matter at their working lunch at the end of the week.
UN nuclear watchdog seeks a local truce to restore power to the Zaporizhzhia plant
07:59 , Arpan RaiThe UN nuclear watchdog is pushing Ukraine and Russia to agree to local ceasefires so that external power can be restored to Ukraine's huge nuclear power plant in Zaporizhzhia, two diplomats familiar with the plan said.
The plant is in an area under Russian control since early in Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine and is not in service, but it needs reliable power to cool its six shutdown reactors and spent fuel, to avoid any catastrophic nuclear incidents.
It has been operating on diesel generators since 23 September when its last remaining external power line was severed in attacks that each side blamed on the other.
The International Atomic Energy Agency has repeatedly expressed alarm about the nuclear plant, Europe's biggest.
The agency is proposing to restore external power to the plant in two phases, according to a European diplomat briefed on the proposal by the IAEA director general Rafael Grossi.
A Russian diplomat confirmed some aspects of the plan.
In photos: Russian attacks target civilians in Kharkiv overnight
07:26 , Arpan Rai
Germany's Merz says he will speak to Trump about ending Ukraine war
07:12 , Arpan RaiGerman chancellor Friedrich Merz said he would speak to US president Donald Trump about ending the war in Ukraine.
"Today is proof that when the international community stands together, peace can be achieved," Merz said in a post on X, referring to the Gaza peace plan.
MI5 warns MPs they are being targeted by China and Russia
06:50 , Arpan RaiMI5 has warned MPs that they are being targeted by China, Russia and Iran through espionage in a shock warning.
In a caution posted by the government ahead of a Commons statement by security minister Dan Jarvis, intelligence chiefs issued new guidance to protect Britain’s democracy from foreign agents.
The warning noted that elected representatives and those who work with them may be targeted for their access to information, their ability to shape policy or public opinion, or their relationships with others of interest.
This includes not only classified material but also privileged or insider knowledge that foreign intelligence services find valuable. This could be through attempts to exploit overseas travel, online activity, and financial donations as routes to access and influence.
David Maddox reports:
Trump to shift focus on Russia-Ukraine war after Gaza
06:37 , Arpan RaiDonald Trump is now set to turn his attention to ending the war in Ukraine after helping the Israel-Hamas conflict sign a peace deal.
Volodymyr Zelensky has said a possible ceasefire for Ukraine and the next steps will likely be discussed in a meeting on Friday between him and the US president.
"I think we need to discuss the sequence of steps that I want to propose to president (Trump)," Zelensky told journalists yesterday.
He said the long-range missile capabilities will be a part of discussion which will likely build pressure on Russian president Vladimir Putin to bring him to a negotiating table.
“The main topics will be air defence and our long-range capabilities, to maintain pressure on Russia,” Zelensky said.
The two leaders spoke on both Saturday and Sunday amid intensifying discussions about the potential provision of long-range Tomahawk missiles to Kyiv, and a Ukrainian delegation led by prime minister Yulia Svyrydenko is slated to visit Washington before the Friday meeting.
EU starts funding special tribunal to prosecute Russia, Kallas says
06:10 , Arpan RaiEuropean Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the EU had started funding a special tribunal to prosecute Russian president Vladimir Putin and other senior Russian officials for the crime of aggression against Ukraine, calling on other countries to do the same.
"We set up this special tribunal for the crimes of aggression but now we are providing also funding for this tribunal," Kallas said during a news conference in Kyiv alongside Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky.
"We are also calling on other member states, countries, participants to fund it so that the work can really start full-scale because without accountability there is no just and lasting peace," she added.
Zelensky tells Nato that Putin 'can be forced to make peace'
05:53 , Arpan RaiPresident Volodymyr Zelensky has said he believes that Russian leader Vladimir Putin can be forced to make peace in Ukraine.
Speaking at the Nato Parliamentary Assembly, Zelensky said that the war in Ukraine remains the biggest source of global instability despite the end of the conflict in Gaza.
“Putin can be forced to make peace – like any other terrorist. Even Hamas is now preparing to release hostages. If this is possible, then Putin can also be forced to restore peace,” Zelensky said.
He went on: “Before winter, Putin hopes to use this terror to break our resistance regime. We cannot allow this.”
Hosts of Ukrainian refugees say they face ‘endless bureaucracy’
05:28 , Arpan RaiHosts of Ukrainian refugees say they are facing “endless bureaucracy” and “horrendous” support from the Home Office, with thousands stuck in limbo more than three years after Russia’s invasion of the country.
For Juliet Grover, the daughter of a Jewish refugee who escaped the Nazis, the decision to become a host was personal. She signed up to the “Homes for Ukraine” scheme as soon as the war began in February 2022, firmly believing that providing refuge to those in need was important.
Yet immediately she says she was struck by the difficulties facing host families, with little to zero information and advice given by the UK government.
UK hosts of Ukrainian refugees hit out at ‘horrendous’ support from Home Office
Nearly 30,000 without power in Russian attack on Ukraine's Kharkiv
05:08 , Arpan RaiAround 30,000 people across three districts are without power after Russian forces attacked Kharkiv with guided bombs, local officials said.
Regional governor Oleh Syniehubov said Russian forces used guided bombs to attack Nemyshlianskyi and Slobidskyi districts in the southeast and Shevchenkivskyi district in the north of the city.
Mayor Ihor Terekhov, interviewed on local television, said the three bombs damaged a hospital and hit power transmission lines. Nearly 30,000 customers had been hit by power cuts.
He said four people had been injured, most by flying glass, with some patients being transferred to different wards.
"Unfortunately, the hospital was quite badly damaged and there were patients inside. Four people were injured to various degrees and about 200 windows were smashed," Terekhov said.
"Attacks are generally on energy targets – generation transmission, the power network. The aim is to have the power transmission network stop working,” he said.
Trump says Turkey's Erdogan could help end Russia-Ukraine conflict
04:54 , Arpan RaiUS president Donald Trump reiterated his belief that Turkish president Rcep Tayyip Erdogan could play a pivotal role in ending the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
"He's respected by Russia. Ukraine – I can't tell you about. But he is respected by (Vladimir) Putin, and he's a friend of mine,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One.
On being asked if Erdogan particularly could help in the war between Russia and Ukraine, Trump said: “Yeah, Erdogan can”.
Zelensky says he will discuss long-range missiles with Trump to put pressure on Putin
04:26 , Arpan RaiUkraine president Volodymyr Zelensky said he will be meeting the US president Donald Trump on Friday, when the two will discuss long-range missile capabilities to pressure Russia.
Announcing the departure of the Ukrainian delegation, Zelensky said: “I will also have the opportunity to come to Washington and meet with president Trump on Friday. I believe we will discuss a series of steps that I intend to propose. I am grateful to president Trump for our dialogue and his support.”
He said the long-range missile capabilities will be discussed to exert pressure on Moscow “for the sake of peace”.
“I will also meet with energy companies. This is necessary – it was President Trump’s proposal – and I will meet with these companies because there are pressing needs linked to various formats of attacks, not even the attacks that Russia has already carried out. In any case, we must be prepared. So, it will be helpful. Therefore, the main focus of the visit is air defence and our long-range capabilities aimed at exerting pressure on Russia for the sake of peace,” he said.
The Ukrainian delegation has departed for the United States: Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko, Head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Rustem Umerov, and several representatives of the diplomatic sector. They will hold…
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) October 13, 2025
Former Russian president responds to Trump’s Tomahawk threat
04:12 , Arpan RaiFormer Russian president Dmitry Medvedev says supplying US Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine could end badly for everyone, especially US president Donald Trump.
On Sunday, Trump said again that he may offer long-range Tomahawk missiles that could be used by Kyiv if Putin does not end the war in Ukraine.
"Yeah, I might tell him (Putin), if the war is not settled, we may very well do it," Trump said.
"We may not, but we may do it... do they want to have Tomahawks going in their direction? I don’t think so."
Medvedev, an arch-hawk who has repeatedly goaded Trump on social media, said it is impossible to distinguish between Tomahawk missiles carrying nuclear warheads and conventional ones after they are launched - a point that president Vladimir Putin's spokesperson has also made.
Former Russian president responds to Trump’s Tomahawk threat
Europe ready to further support Ukraine, says ex-Estonian PM
03:01 , Harriette BoucherEU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas said Europe is ready to further support Ukraine amid intensifying attacks from Russia.
The former Estonian prime minister met with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday, later stating that “new measures are in the works”.
Russia and China posing ‘significant threat’ to UK cyberspace, NCSC warns
01:35 , Harry CockburnThe "significant threat" posed by Chinese and Russian hackers has contributed to a record number of serious online attacks, the UK's cyber security agency has warned.
The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), which is part of the GCHQ intelligence agency, recorded a 50% increase in "highly significant" incidents in the year to the end of August.
The attacks on household names including Marks and Spencer, Co-op and Jaguar Land Rover have shown the real world impact of cyberattacks, the NCSC said.
Nearly 30,000 without power after Russian attack
Monday 13 October 2025 23:33 , Harriette BoucherRussia attacked Kharkiv with guided bombs on Monday, shutting off power to nearly 30,000 customers across three districts, according to Reuters.
The mayor of Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, said four people were injured as three guided bombs damaged a hospital and struck a power transmission line.
He said: "Unfortunately, the hospital was quite badly damaged and there were patients inside. Four people were injured to various degrees and about 200 windows were smashed.
"Attacks are generally on energy targets - generation transmission, the power network. The aim is to have the power transmission network stop working."
Russian forces take control of two villages in eastern Ukraine
Monday 13 October 2025 22:00 , Harry CockburnRussia’s defence ministry announced earlier on Monday that its forces have taken control of two villages in eastern Ukraine. According to a statement posted on the ministry’s Telegram channel, troops captured Borivska Andriyivka in the Kharkiv region.
The ministry also reported the seizure of Kulykivske in the neighbouring Donetsk region.
‘Landmark drone deal’ aims to maintain US engagement with Ukraine
Monday 13 October 2025 21:00 , Harry CockburnUkraine and the US are reportedly closing in on a landmark drone deal in which Ukraine would share drone technology with the United States.
European diplomats see such a deal as an important tool for keeping the US president engaged and supportive of Ukraine.
Zelensky urges allies to move faster on using frozen Russian assets for Ukraine
Monday 13 October 2025 20:00 , Harry CockburnVolodymyr Zelensky has urged European countries to act faster on making use of frozen Russian assets to benefit Ukraine.
It comes days after Sir Keir Starmer said the UK is "ready to progress" to using the full value of frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine's war effort.
In a statement last week, the UK, France and Germany said the joint action would "increase pressure" on Vladimir Putin and "bring Russia to the negotiation table".
Trump and Zelensky to discuss potential missile supply deal
Monday 13 October 2025 19:00 , Harry CockburnMore detail has emerged about Trump and Zelensky’s Friday meeting, with the Ukrainian leader telling reporters that the two plan to discuss Ukraine's air defence and long-range strike capabilities.
Speaking to reporters in Kyiv, Zelensky said that he had shared with Trump a "vision" of how many US Tomahawk missiles Ukraine needs for its war effort against Russia and that the two leaders would discuss further details on the matter at their working lunch at the end of the week.
Zelensky has been lobbying Washington to supply the US-produced Tomahawk missiles, which have the capacity to hit Moscow, but which Ukrainian has said would only be used against military targets. Moscow has said such a move would represent a serious escalation. Trump has suggested he would consider sending the missiles to Ukraine, but has also said he may talk to Vladimir Putin about it.
EU to support special tribunal for prosecuting Russia for aggression towards Ukraine
Monday 13 October 2025 18:00 , Harry CockburnThe European Union will provide €10m (£8.7m) to support the creation of a special tribunal aimed at prosecuting Russia for the crime of aggression, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has said.
Speaking at a press conference in Kyiv alongside Ukrainian official Andrii Sybiha, Kallas said the funding marks the bloc’s first direct financial commitment to the tribunal effort.
She also pledged an additional €6m (£5.2m) to assist Ukrainian children who have been deported to Russia and survivors of sexual violence linked to the conflict.
“The first €10m in funding to establish a special tribunal to address Russia’s crimes” has now been allocated, Kallas said, underscoring the EU’s continued backing for Ukraine as the war enters its third year.
Zelensky tells Nato that Putin 'can be forced to make peace'
Monday 13 October 2025 17:30 , Daniel KeanePresident Volodymyr Zelensky has said he believes that Russian leader Vladimir Putin can be forced to make peace in Ukraine.
Speaking at the Nato Parliamentary Assembly, Zelensky said that the war in Ukraine remains the biggest source of global instability despite the end of the conflict in Gaza.
“Putin can be forced to make peace – like any other terrorist. Even Hamas is now preparing to release hostages. If this is possible, then Putin can also be forced to restore peace,” Zelensky said.
He went on: “Before winter, Putin hopes to use this terror to break our resistance regime. We cannot allow this.”
Two Russian citizens charged over spying in Poland
Monday 13 October 2025 17:00 , Daniel KeaneProsecutors in Pland have charged two Russian citizens with spying for Russian intelligence and one of them for plotting to send a parcel of explosives.
European authorities have been on high alert for explosive packages since a series of explosions occurred in courier depots in Britain, Germany and near the Polish capital Warsaw in July 2024. Western officials blamed those incidents on Russia.
Moscow denies the accusations.
One of the Russians, referred to as Igor R under Polish privacy laws, was charged with participating in a plot to send a parcel bomb via courier, for which a Ukrainian citizen was also charged earlier this year.
“The parcel contained explosive devices and materials in the form of nitroglycerine, as well as hidden military-grade electric detonators and initiating devices ... The entire package constituted a so-called shaped charge bomb,” prosecutors said.
Trump and Zelensky to have 'working lunch' meeting this week
Monday 13 October 2025 16:46 , Harry CockburnDonald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky will meet on Friday this week for a “working lunch”, the White House has confirmed.
The two leaders spoke to one another on both Saturday and Sunday as Ukraine presses for access to more US-made weapons to counter Russian attacks.
Nato chief mocks 'broken' Russian submarine
Monday 13 October 2025 16:30 , Daniel KeaneNato chief Mark Rutte has mocked Russia over the "limping" condition of one of its submarines, in comments likely to spark anger in Moscow.
Russia's Black Sea Fleet said the diesel-powered submarine Novorossiysk had surfaced off France to comply with navigation rules in the English Channel.
Moscow rejected reports it had suffered a serious malfunction.
But Rutte, in a speech in Slovenia, said the vessel was "broken".
"Now, in effect, there is hardly any Russian naval presence in the Mediterranean left. There's a lone and broken Russian submarine limping home from patrol," he said.
"What a change from the 1984 Tom Clancy novel 'The Hunt for Red October'. Today, it seems more like the hunt for the nearest mechanic."
German chancellor urges Trump to extend Middle East influence to Ukraine war
Monday 13 October 2025 16:00 , Daniel KeaneGerman Chancellor Friedrich Merz has expressed hope that Donald Trump will exercise the same influence on the war in Ukraine that he has in the Middle East, where he helped end the war in Gaza.
Speaking in Sharm El-Sheikh ahead of a summit with Trump and other global leaders to cement the Gaza truce, Merz said the meeting in Egypt showed that the end of war is possible if the international community stands together.
His comments echoed those made by Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky, who earlier said: “When peace is achieved for one part of the world, it brings more hope for peace in other regions where life is still under threat.”
Trump to welcome Zelensky to Washington on Friday - report
Monday 13 October 2025 15:47 , Daniel KeanePresident Trump plans to welcome President Zelensky to Washington on Friday, according to a report.
Three sources told the FT that the Ukrainian president held two phone calls with his US counterpart over the weekend to discuss the US supply of Tomahawk missiles and how to end the war in Russia.
A Ukrainian delegation has also arrived in Washington for a week of discussions with US officials.
Why Donald Trump keeps rescuing Keir Starmer from international humiliation
Monday 13 October 2025 15:30 , Daniel KeaneWith Keir Starmer facing scorn from both Israel and the US ambassador in Tel Aviv over the UK’s role in the Middle East peace process, the US president has once again come to his aid. Political editor David Maddox explains why.
Why does Trump keeps rescuing Starmer from international humiliation?
Zelensky welcomes return of hostages in Israel
Monday 13 October 2025 15:00 , Daniel KeaneUkraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky has welcomed the return of Israeli hostages from Gaza and the end of the war in the enclave.
He wrote on X: “In Ukraine, we welcome all the efforts that have led to today’s outcome for the Middle East. The hostages have been freed, and the war in Gaza is coming to an end. This is truly an extraordinary event.
The leadership and determination of President Trump have worked, and it is important that all the necessary help has come from countries and many people who have real influence.”
He added: “We are working so that the day of peace comes for Ukraine as well.”
When peace is achieved for one part of the world, it brings more hope for peace in other regions where life is still under threat. In Ukraine, we welcome all the efforts that have led to today’s outcome for the Middle East. The hostages have been freed, and the war in Gaza is…
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) October 13, 2025
Lavrov says Trump's plan is too vague on Palestinian statehood
Monday 13 October 2025 14:30 , Daniel KeaneRussian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said that Donald Trump's plan to settle the Israeli-Palestinian conflict only dealt with Gaza, in comments that are likely to infuriate the US President.
"We have noted that Donald Trump's peace plan only addresses the Gaza Strip. It mentions statehood, but in rather general terms," Lavrov told reporters from Arab countries.
"It's imperative to flesh out these approaches, including defining what will happen in the West Bank."
His comments came as Trump addressed the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, as all Israeli hostages were released by Hamas.
Senior Ukrainian officials head to Washington for talks on defence and energy
Monday 13 October 2025 14:00 , Daniel KeaneA Ukrainian delegation led by Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko will visit Washington for talks on strengthening Kyiv's defence and energy resilience, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's chief of staff said on Monday.
Ukraine is seeking more US support for its war effort against Russia, as Kremlin forces step up strikes on energy facilities across the country.
Writing on X, Andriy Yermak said the two sides would also discuss stronger sanctions against Russia.
"The ultimate goal remains unchanged – a just and lasting peace!" he wrote.
Kremlin declines to comment after Trump floats supply of Tomahawk missiles
Monday 13 October 2025 13:30 , Daniel KeaneKremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to offer any new comment after US President Donald Trump said again that he may agree to the supply of Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine.
Peskov reiterated Moscow's stated position that the use of such weapons would require US participation.
Earlier, former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev said supplying the missiles could end badly for everyone, especially Trump.
Moscow 'exploiting' world's focus on Middle East, Zelensky says
Monday 13 October 2025 13:00 , Namita SinghVolodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of “exploiting” the fact that world leaders and international media were focused on the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas to ramp up its attacks on Ukraine.
He said that over the course of the last week, more than 3,100 drones, 92 missiles and around 1,360 glide bombs had been used against Ukraine.
Throughout this week, many regions of Ukraine have been under fire, and in many regions air raid sirens are now sounding again because of the threat of attack drones. Russia continues its aerial terror against our cities and communities, intensifying strikes on our energy… pic.twitter.com/OP5yhENGcS
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) October 12, 2025
In a post on X, he said: “Moscow allows itself to escalate its strikes, openly exploiting the fact that the world is focused on ensuring peace in the Middle East.
“That is precisely why no weakening of pressure can be allowed. Sanctions, tariffs, and joint actions against the buyers of Russian oil – those who finance this war – must all remain on the table.”
Russia again targets Ukraine’s power grid
Monday 13 October 2025 12:10 , Namita SinghRussia attacked Ukraine's power grid in a major overnight operation, as part of an ongoing campaign to cripple energy infrastructure before winter.
The attack came as Moscow expressed "extreme concern" over the US potentially providing Tomahawk cruise missiles to Kyiv.
Two employees of Ukraine's largest private energy company, DTEK, were injured in Russian strikes on a substation in the region, Kyiv regional governor Mykola Kalashnyk said.
Ukraine's energy ministry said energy infrastructure was also attacked in the regions of Donetsk, Odesa and Chernihiv.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia launched "more than 3,100 drones, 92 missiles, and around 1,360 glide bombs" against Ukraine over the past week.
He also called for tighter secondary sanctions on buyers of Russian oil.
"Sanctions, tariffs, and joint actions against the buyers of Russian oil - those who finance this war - must all remain on the table," he said.
He wrote on Sunday he had a "very productive" phone call with US president Donald Trump in which they discussed strengthening Ukraine's "air defence, resilience, and long-range capabilities," along with "details related to the energy sector".
What Zelensky said when asked about Tomahawks supply to Ukraine
Monday 13 October 2025 12:04 , Namita SinghIn an interview with Fox News channel's The Sunday Briefing after his call with the US president, Zelensky was asked whether Trump had approved the Tomahawks.
"We work on it," he said, adding: "Of course we count on such decisions, but we will see. We will see."
Later on Sunday, Trump warned Russia that he could send Ukraine long-range Tomahawk missiles if Moscow did not settle its war there soon."I might say, 'Look, if this war is not going to get settled, I'm going to send them Tomahawks'," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One as he flew to Israel ahead of a meeting to sign the Gaza ceasefire deal.
"The Tomahawk is an incredible weapon, very offensive weapon. And honestly, Russia does not need that.
He added: "I might tell them that if the war is not settled - that we may very well - we may not, but we may do it. I think it's appropriate to bring up."
Kremlin declines new comment after Trump again floats possible supply of Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine
Monday 13 October 2025 11:50 , Namita SinghKremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to offer any new comment on Monday after US president Donald Trump said again that he may agree to the supply of Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine.
Peskov reiterated Moscow's stated position that the use of such weapons would require US participation.
Earlier, former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev said supplying the missiles could end badly for everyone, especially Trump.
Russia says its troops captured two villages in eastern Ukraine
Monday 13 October 2025 10:54 , Namita SinghRussian forces captured the village of Borivska Andriyivka in Ukraine's Kharkiv region and the village of Kulykivske in Donetsk, Russia's defence ministry said on Monday via its Telegram channel.
Russia's Medvedev hopes Trump’s Tomahawks warning is ‘empty threat’
Monday 13 October 2025 10:37 , Namita SinghFormer Russian president Dmitry Medvedev said on Monday that supplying US Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine could end badly for everyone, especially US president Donald Trump.
Medvedev, an arch-hawk who has repeatedly goaded Trump on social media, said it is impossible to distinguish between Tomahawk missiles carrying nuclear warheads and conventional ones after they are launched - a point that President Vladimir Putin's spokesman has also made.
"How should Russia respond? Exactly!" Medvedev said on Telegram, appearing to hint that Moscow's response would be nuclear.
Trump said again on Sunday that he may offer long-range Tomahawk missiles that could be used by Kyiv if Putin does not end the war in Ukraine.
-is-launched-from-the-guided-missile-cruiser-USS-Cap.jpeg)
Medvedev wrote: "One can only hope that this is another empty threat... Like sending nuclear submarines closer to Russia."
He was alluding to Trump's statement in August that he had ordered two nuclear subs to move closer to Russia in response to what he called "highly provocative" comments from Medvedev about the risk of war.
Germany's top spy says Russia won't shy away from attacking NATO
Monday 13 October 2025 10:19 , Namita SinghThe head of Germany's foreign intelligence service BND said on Monday that Russia would not shy away from a military attack against a Nato member state.
Addressing a parliamentary hearing of leading intelligence officers, BND head Martin Jaeger said Russia's aim was to intimidate Europe to the point of paralysis and surrender.
He said nobody should rely on some estimates that Russia will be ready to attack Nato by 2029, because such a move could occur at an earlier date.
Russia denies claims about its submarine surfacing off coast near France
Monday 13 October 2025 09:55 , Namita SinghRussia has denied a report that one of its submarines was suffering technical problems after the vessel surfaced off the coast of northern France.
NATO's Maritime Command published photographs on October 9 of what it said was a French navy frigate observing a Russian submarine operating on the surface off the coast of Brittany.
"NATO stands ready to defend our Alliance with constant vigilance and maritime awareness across the Atlantic," it posted on X, without naming the submarine.
Report:
Russia responds after claims its submarine surfaced off the coast of France
Russia's Medvedev says supplying Tomahawks to Ukraine could end badly for everyone, including Trump
Monday 13 October 2025 09:34 , Namita SinghFormer Russian president Dmitry Medvedev said on Monday that supplying US Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine could end badly for everyone, especially US president Donald Trump.
Medvedev said it is impossible to distinguish between Tomahawk missiles carrying nuclear warheads and conventional ones after they are launched.
"How should Russia respond? Exactly!" Medvedev said on Telegram, appearing to hint that Moscow's response would be nuclear.
Pictures: Firefighters work at the site of a Russian drone strike in Ukraine
Monday 13 October 2025 09:27 , Namita Singh
Ukrainian drones hit an oil terminal in Crimea overnight, official says
Monday 13 October 2025 09:20 , Namita SinghUkrainian drones hit a oil terminal in the Russian-occupied Crimean peninsula overnight, a Ukrainian security official told Reuters on condition of anonymity.
The drones, launched by Ukraine's SBU intelligence service and military special forces, hit at least five reservoirs at the facility causing a large fire, according to the source.
The source said drones also hit at least two Russian electrical substations on the peninsula, which Russia took from Ukraine in 2014.
India is now lead supplier of fuel additives for Russia’s fighter jets, warns think tank
Monday 13 October 2025 08:35 , Namita SinghIndia is now believed to be the biggest supplier of fuel additives used to enhance the capabilities of Russian fighter jets, according to a new report.
More than half a dozen Indian companies – suppliers and manufacturers based in Delhi and Mumbai – were found to have supplied nearly half of the total of Russia’s imported fuel additives in 2024, a Kyiv-based think tank has found.
Fuel additives are chemical compounds in liquid form added to aviation fuel for both commercial and military aircraft to boost their performance.
Report:
India is now lead supplier of fuel additives for Russia’s fighter jets, report says
How Melania Trump's involvement in Ukraine war shaped Trump's response
Monday 13 October 2025 08:30 , Namita SinghMelania Trump on Friday said that she, along with her “representative” had been “working directly with President Putin’s team to ensure the safe reunification of children with their families between Russia and Ukraine,” starting with eight such children who had been “rejoined with their families” over the past 24 hours.
The work outlined by the First Lady on Friday is not the first involvement she has had in shaping the American response to Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine.
Over the summer, president Donald Trump revealed that his wife had been frequently reminding him of Russia’s continuous strikes against Ukrainian civilian targets.
At one Oval Office appearance in July, he told reporters that she would routinely weigh in after he described his phone calls with Putin in positive terms.“I go home, I tell the First Lady, ‘I spoke to Vladimir today, we had a wonderful conversation.’ And she says, ‘Oh really, another city was just hit,’” he said at the time.
The first lady said her work on the fate of the kidnapped Ukrainian minors would be an “ongoing mission” and that it is an “important initiative” for her.
She added that moving forward she would be working to “optimize a transparent free-flow exchange of health-related information surrounding all children who have fallen victim to this war, and to facilitate the regular communication of children with their families until each individual returns home.
”She added that plans were underway to return more children to Ukraine from Russia “in the immediate future,” and said that Russia had further agreed to return adults who were kidnapped while they were minors but have since turned 18 in captivity.
Report:
Melania Trump reveals talks with Putin over kidnapped Ukraine children
Melania Trump reveals talking to Putin through ‘back channels’
Monday 13 October 2025 08:15 , Namita SinghEight Ukrainian children who were kidnapped from their families and held captive in Russia have been returned to Ukraine following back-channel negotiations between Melania Trump and Russian representatives, the First Lady said on Friday.
Trump, a former model who was born in what is now Slovenia when that country was part of what was then Yugoslavia, made the stunning announcement in the Grand Foyer of the White House.
She told reporters that “much [had] unfolded” since she sent a letter in August to Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding the fate of the thousands of children who have been taken to Russia after being seized by Russian forces during the invasion of Ukraine.
She said Putin had responded in writing to signal a “willingness to engage” with the First Lady “directly”, and provided her with “details regarding the Ukrainian children residing in Russia.”
“Since then, President Putin and I have had an open channel of communication regarding the welfare of these children,” she said.
Trump also told reporters that “both sides” of the talks had participated in “several back-channel meetings and calls” and had “agreed to cooperate with each other for the benefit of all people involved in this war.”
UK hosts of Ukrainian refugees hit out at ‘horrendous’ support from Home Office
Monday 13 October 2025 08:01 , Namita SinghHosts of Ukrainian refugees say they are facing “endless bureaucracy” and “horrendous” support from the Home Office, with thousands stuck in limbo more than three years after Russia’s invasion of the country.
For Juliet Grover, the daughter of a Jewish refugee who escaped the Nazis, the decision to become a host was personal. She signed up to the “Homes for Ukraine” scheme as soon as the war began in February 2022, firmly believing that providing refuge to those in need was important.
Yet immediately she says she was struck by the difficulties facing host families, with little to zero information and advice given by the UK government.
Report:
UK hosts of Ukrainian refugees hit out at ‘horrendous’ support from Home Office
Ukraine's daily moment of remembrance endures through intensified Russian attacks
Monday 13 October 2025 07:12 , Namita SinghEach morning at 9 o'clock, Kyiv stops for a minute.
Traffic lights turn red, and the steady beat of a metronome on loudspeakers signals 60 seconds of reflection. Cars idle in the middle of the street as drivers step out and stand with heads bowed.
Across Ukraine – in cafes, gyms, schools, on television and even on the front lines – people pause to remember those killed in Russia's full-scale invasion.
Near a growing outdoor memorial at Kyiv's Maidan Square, four friends gathered with cardboard signs that read, "Stop. Honor." Around them, flags, photos and candles for fallen service members formed a dense mosaic of grief and pride.
The four are connected by Iryna Tsybukh, a 25-year-old combat medic killed by a landmine in eastern Ukraine last year. Her death sparked a national outpouring of grief and added momentum to the daily remembrance initiative.
"Memory is not about death," said Kateryna Datsenko, a friend of the fallen medic and co-founder of Vshanuy, a civic group that promotes the daily observance.
"It's about life — what people loved, valued and thought about. Someone might have loved gardening, someone else a favorite poem. This is the kind of memory we try to preserve."
The 9am ritual began in 2022, weeks after the invasion started, as a presidential decree from Volodymyr Zelensky. It has since evolved into a shared national practice.
Public demonstrations of solidarity continue even as Russian missile and drone attacks have intensified in recent weeks, striking power facilities and cities across the country. Despite the escalation, Ukrainians still gather each morning to honor those lost in the war.
Ihor Reva, deputy head of Kyiv's military administration, said the ritual fulfills a deep social and personal need.
"This war has a price, and that price is terrible – human lives," he said. "You disconnect from everyday thoughts and simply devote that minute to remembrance. That's what I'd call it – a mindful keeping of time."
Associated Press
Ukraine strikes Russian energy grid with help from US
Monday 13 October 2025 07:04 , Namita SinghUkraine launched a long-range strike on Russian energy facilities with the help of US intelligence, reported the Financial Times citing American and Ukrainian sources.
The US shared critical information with Kyiv to help them execute strikes on Russian infrastructure including oil refineries far beyond the frontline, said officials familiar with the attack.
Ukrainian strikes have increased energy prices in Russia, prompting it to cut diesel exports and import more fuel.
The intelligence sharing is the latest sign in the shift of ties between Ukraine and the US in recent weeks, with Donald Trump becoming increasingly frustrated with Vladimir Putin.
G7 to discuss sanctions on Russia and Ukraine aid options
Monday 13 October 2025 06:11 , Namita SinghFinance ministers from the Group of Seven industrial democracies are expected to meet on Wednesday to discuss efforts to step up sanctions pressure on Russia that is aimed at ending Moscow's war against Ukraine.
A British government source said that chancellor Rachel Reeves wants to ensure joint action with G7 and European Union countries to cut Russia's energy revenues and access to overseas assets that comply with international law.
Among these options that G7 ministers will discuss is a European Union plan to use Russian frozen sovereign assets to back a loan of $162bn to Ukraine.
Finance chiefs gathering in Washington this week are also expected to discuss the global economy's surprising resilience in the face of Donald Trump's tariff assaults - until the US-China trade war erupted again with the US president threatening 100 per cent duties on Chinese imports and sending markets into a tailspin.
Ukraine’s power grid targetted again by Russia
Monday 13 October 2025 05:26 , Namita SinghRussia has attacked Ukraine's power grid in a major overnight operation, as part of an ongoing campaign to cripple energy infrastructure before winter.
The incident came as Moscow expressed "extreme concern" over the United States potentially providing Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine.
Kyiv regional governor Mykola Kalashnyk said two employees of Ukraine's largest private energy company, DTEK, were injured in Russian strikes on a substation in the region.
Ukraine's energy ministry said energy infrastructure was also attacked in the regions of Donetsk, Odesa, and Chernihiv.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky highlighted that Russia has launched "more than 3,100 drones, 92 missiles, and around 1,360 glide bombs" against Ukraine over the past week, and said on X: "Russia continues its aerial terror against our cities and communities, intensifying strikes on our energy infrastructure."
He called for tighter secondary sanctions on buyers of Russian oil.
"Sanctions, tariffs, and joint actions against the buyers of Russian oil - those who finance this war - must all remain on the table," he said.
