Photograph: Alex Brandon/AP
Closing summary
… and on that note, it’s a wrap!
European leaders have accused Vladimir Putin of undermining peace talks, after Russian missile strikes on Kyiv this week killed at least 23 people and damaged diplomatic buildings, including EU and British Council offices (9:38, 9:51, 14:00).
EU’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas accused Russia of disregard for international law and of undermining peace efforts. Her statement was endorsed by all EU member states except Hungary, which is led by Putin’s ally Viktor Orbán (15:10, 15:30, 15:36, 15:43).
French president Emmanuel Macron and German chancellor Friedrich Merz also condemned Russia’s attacks and delay tactics (16:52, 16:56), as they pledged to provide more air defence to Ukraine (15:53) and push for peace talks to advance or Russia face more sanctions.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy suggested that allies should consider Monday to be the deadline for Russia to agree to bilateral meeting on ending war and call for “a response” if it misses the date (14:05). Separately, he also warned that Russia was massing 100,000 troops near east Ukraine stronghold of Pokrovsk, warning of potential “offensive actions” (15:13).
Zelenskyy’s top aide, Andriy Yermak, also warned the US special envoy Steve Witkoff that Russia was “obviously prolonging hostilities,” as the pair met in New York (17:28).
Sweden joined the EU (17:44) and the UK (17:56) in summoning the Russian ambassador to “protest against Russia’s continued attacks on Ukrainian cities and civilians” (11:51).
And that’s all from me, Jakub Krupa, for today.
If you have any tips, comments or suggestions, email me at jakub.krupa@theguardian.com.
I am also on Bluesky at @jakubkrupa.bsky.social and on X at @jakubkrupa.
British Council's Kyiv offices 'rendered unusable' by Russian strike, director says
Defence and security editor
Colm McGivern, the director of the British Council in Ukraine, said a security guard had been injured and the cultural organisation’s headquarters had been “rendered unusable” by damage from Thursday’s Russian air strikes on Kyiv.
No evidence has emerged to suggest the council was deliberately targeted by Moscow, though McGivern said “what I do know is that Russia has targeted educational and cultural infrastructure in Ukraine repeatedly”.
A neighbouring building in the city centure was struck at 5.40am and the ensuing blast wave from the explosion blew out the British Council’s windows, destroyed its ceilings and left its computers non functional, the director said.
Such was the damage that a security guard, on night watch was injured and hospitalised. The guard had to have an operation, and McGivern said “thankfully he is going to be okay”. No other employees were on the site at the time.
McGivern said that the 120 staff of the unit, 119 of whom are Ukrainian, had resolved to continue with the British Council’s cultural activities despite the loss of the premises for the foreseeable future, including supporting the Kyiv International Short Film Festival next week.
“It was another night where Ukraine has been subject to a barbaric attack,” McGivern said. “There is a palpable level of anger and colleagues are more determined than ever to do all they can, to act on the things they can control, which is strengthen the relationship with the UK”.
'EU will not stop to support Ukraine,' Russian envoy told after strike damaged EU delegation in Kyiv
in Brussels
Our Brussels correspondent Jennifer Rankin has asked the European Commission for more details about its summoning of the Russian charges d’affaires yesterday, after a Russian strike in Kyiv hit the EU delegation building and the British Council offices, among others.
EU spokesperson for foreign affairs Anitta Hipper said:
“The European External Action Service under the leadership of the HR/VP has summoned the Chargé d’Affaires of the Russian mission to the European Union, Karen Malayan yesterday.
Clear messages have been passed.
Firstly, Russian reckless attacks resulted in the death of at least 23 people, including 4 children.
Secondly, on the fact that the damages to the EU Delegations are serious and constitute a violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. Inviolability of diplomatic premises and personnel is to be respected in all cases.
And thirdly, the EU will not stop to support Ukraine.
Russia must stop killing and negotiate.”
Russia is 'obviously prolonging hostilities,' Zelenskyy's top aide tells US Witkoff
Meanwhile, Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s top aide, Andriy Yermak, met with US peace envoy Steve Witkoff in New York.
Yermak said the meeting, which he attended together with Ukraine’s first deputy minister of foreign affairs Serhii Kyslytsia, was intended to “push for real diplomacy and the implementation of all agreements of the Washington summit.”
He said that the Ukrainian delegation told Witkoff about “all the war crimes that Russia commits daily against our cities and communities,” including Thursday’s attack on Kyiv, which killed 23 people.
“Unfortunately, Russia is not doing anything necessary to end the war and is obviously prolonging the hostilities,” he warned.
He told Witkoff that Ukraine is “open to direct talks at the leadership level,” ramping up further pressure on making the bi- or trilateral summit with Zelenskyy, Putin and potentially Trump happen in near future.
Yermak also said he invited Witkoff to visit Ukraine “in the near future.”
France's Macron says he will continue mandate until end of term, despite political crises
Given the domestic political context in France, with François Bayrou’s government widely expected to collapse next month, Macron’s comments that he intends to serve out the rest of his term are also making headlines.
The president told reporters that he had a long discussion with Bayrou about his plan, and appeared to back his plan for a crunch vote in parliament, saying the situation required a principled discussion about key issues.
Asked about his future, he insisted that “the mandate which has been given to me by the French people, and by no-one else, is a mandate that will be carried out through to the end of its term.”
And that ends their press conference.
Updated
Separately, chancellor Merz also pushed back against US president Donald Trump’s questioning the EU’s digital regulations, stressing it was an expression of the bloc’s sovereignty.
“We are doing this in our own interest and solely for our own interest, and we will certainly not be guided by statements that perhaps consider completely different, perhaps even no, regulation necessary and important,” he said.
Ukraine war could go on for 'many months' as Putin 'clearly unwilling' to advance talks, Merz says
Germany’s Merz warned in turn that the war could go on for “many months” as he questioned Vladimir Putin’s commitments to progress the peace talks.
He pointed out that the original discussion focused on hosting a bilateral summit between Putin and Zelenskyy within two weeks, and yet the Russian president remained “clearly unwilling” to follow through on this plan.
“Frankly, this doesn’t surprise me, because it’s part of the Russian president’s strategy to proceed in the same way,” he said.
Instead, he stressed the importance of working together within the Coalition of the Willing and putting even more pressure on Russia to come to the table.
Updated
Putin will have 'played' Trump if he refuses to meet Zelenskyy as agreed, Macron says
During the press conference, Macron also reiterated that a just and lasting peace is only possible if Ukraine gets strong security guarantees.
He added that they both hoped that Russia’s Putin would move ahead with the bi- or trilateral meeting on ending the war, as committed to in conversations with president Trump.
But Macron warned that if Putin was to miss the Monday deadline, it would have been another example of him trying to “play” Trump, which he said could not go unanswered, and should prompt further sanctions.
He indicated that both him and Merz could speak with Trump over the weekend.
Updated
Speaking at a joint press conference just now, Emmanuel Macron also stressed the need for the two countries to work together on industrial and digital policies, saying they would improve their digital sovereignty and competitiveness in “cutting-edge technologies.”
The president also said they were determined to preserve the EU’s legislation on digital, which can be seen as an indirect response to US president Donald Trump’s repeated comments expressing his frustration with the bloc’s rulebooks, which he sees as discriminating American technology.
He also signalled France and Germany would work together more closely on other issues, including the future of the automotive industry, steel, climate policies, and migration.
France, Germany to provide more air defence to Ukraine, work closer on security
We are also getting first news lines from Toulon, where French president Emmanuel Macron and German chancellor Friedrich Merz attended the 25th Franco-German Council of Ministers.
A joint statement from the meeting includes a commitment to start what is called as “strategic dialogue” over nuclear deterrence and more broadly linking the two countries’ security policies, agencies reported.
Importantly for Kyiv, it is also reported to include a pledge to provide more air defence systems to Ukraine, adding that “despite intensive international diplomatic efforts, Russia shows no intention to end its war of aggression against Ukraine”.
Updated
Kallas also gets asked if there is a way to unblock the €6.6bn in the European Peace Facility and use it for purchases helping Ukraine under the new Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List scheme agreed with Nato and US president Donald Trump.
She says there has been various attempts to convince Hungary to unblock the budget, including potential “opt outs” or guarantees the money would not be used on lethal aid, but she concedes these “have not been effective so far.”
She notes that Hungary often praises US president Trump’s peace efforts, and unblocking this money could help to advance them.
Costs of not helping Ukraine now will be more substantial in longer term, Danish defence minister warns
Speaking alongside Kallas, Danish deputy prime minister and defence minister Troels Lund Poulsen stresses the need to provide Ukraine with the support it needs.
He says:
“This is indeed an important time for Europe’s security, and we have also discussed this during our meeting today, a central topic for today’s meeting was the EU’s military support to Ukraine.
The task is very clear. Ukraine needs more military support, and they need it right now. We do not have time on our side, and the costs if we are not acting now will be much more substantial in the longer term.
We simply don’t have a choice.”
'Broad support' to expand EU military mission to provide training, advice inside Ukraine after truce, Kallas says
Reporting after ministerial talks on Ukraine, Kallas says “it is clear that Europe will fully play its part.”
She says the EU ministers showed “a broad support” to “expand our EU military mission mandate to provide training and advice inside Ukraine after any truce.”
She says the EU is already the largest training provider for Ukraine’s military, but it “must be ready to do more,” with EU trainers in Ukraine’s military academies and institutions and working on building Ukraine’s civilian resilience against Russian hybrid attacks.
She also touches upon the need to provide Ukraine with new security guarantees.
She says:
“Going forward, we will closely coordinate with the Coalition of the Willing.
Ministers were clear that the security guarantees for Ukraine must be robust and credible. 2022 must not be allowed to repeat.”
Russia deliberately chooses to escalate and mock peace efforts, EU's Kallas says
EU’s foreign policy chief Kallas is speaking in Copenhagen now.
“The past weeks, we have seen diplomatic efforts to end Russia’s war, and it’s clear that Europe wants peace, America wants peace, Ukraine wants peace.
Who doesn’t want peace is Russia.”
She says Russian attacks on Kyiv showed it was a “deliberate choice” to “escalate and mock the peace efforts.”
Updated
Russia massing 100,000 troops near east Ukraine stronghold of Pokrovsk, Zelenskyy says
Her comments will be closely watched as they come shortly after Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy told reporters that Russia was building up a force of some 100,000 troops near the eastern Ukrainian stronghold of Pokrovsk, which Russia claims as its territory, AFP reported.
“There is a build-up and concentration of the enemy there. Up to 100,000 – that’s what we have as of this morning. They are preparing offensive actions in any case,” Zelensky told journalists.
We should hear from Kallas herself shortly – her press briefing is expected to start in the next few minutes.
I will bring you all the key lines here.
'Russia must stop the killing and show genuine willingness for peace,' EU26 says
26 member states of the EU have signed a new statement issued by the EU’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, condemning the Russian attack on Kyiv on Thursday, calling out “the reckless nature of Russia’s attacks and its disregard for international law.”
The group – which includes all EU members states except for Hungary, which regularly refuses to back statements critical of Russia – stressed that “intentional attacks against civilians and non-military objectives are war crimes,” and warned that “all commanders, perpetrators and accomplices of these grave violations of international humanitarian law shall be held to account.
“These crimes only reinforce our determination and resolve to support Ukraine and its people in their defence against Russia and their pursuit of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace,” the statement said, promising to “continue and increase” support for Ukraine and “accelerate” the work on new sanctions against Russia.
Russia must stop the killing and show genuine willingness for peace.
Updated
Ukraine's top military chief speaks with 'Coalition of the Willing' on security support for Ukraine
Separately, Ukraine’s top general Oleksandr Syrskyi just said he spoke with his counterparts from member countries of the so-called “Coalition of the Willing” about steps that could help secure a just and lasting peace in the war with Russia, Reuters reported.
“Jointly developed practical solutions, supported by real mechanisms of political and diplomatic support from reliable partners of Ukraine, are capable of ensuring a just and lasting peace for Ukraine and all of Europe,” he said.
Updated
Zelenskyy says security guarantees discussion needs leaders' involvement, parliamentary ratification
During a meeting with reporters, Zelenskyy said that discussions by Kyiv’s partners on security guarantees for Ukraine should be “urgently” elevated to a leaders’ level, and that US president Donald Trump should take part, Reuters reported.
He said he expected to continue discussions with European leaders next week on what he described as Nato-like commitments.
“We need the architecture to be clear to everyone,” he said. “Then we want to connect with President Trump during a meeting... and tell him how we see it.“
Zelenskiy added that he would also like to see allies ratify any security guarantees through their respective parliaments.
“We want legally binding security guarantees. We don’t want (another) Budapest Memorandum,” he said, referring to a 1994 deal in which Ukraine gave up its nuclear arsenal in exchange for security assurances.
Zelenskyy urges Monday deadline for Russia to agree to bilateral meeting on ending war
We are getting some news lines from Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, via Reuters.
He is quoted as saying that Ukraine and its allies have agreed to wait until 1 September for Russia to show genuine willingness and readiness to take part in a bilateral meting on ending the invasion of Ukraine.
But he said that he expected a response from partners if Russia fails to move by this deadline.
Zelenskyy also argued in favour of moving talks on security guarantees to a more senior level of national leaders.
I will bring you full quotes when we get them.
Updated
Europe needs to recognise need to work on readiness to respond to crises, EU's von der Leyen says, as she warns against 'predator' Putin
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen is in Latvia today, and has been speaking to the media in the last few minutes.
Speaking alongside Latvia’s prime minister Evika Siliņa, she praised the country’s work on becoming “a true drone and anti drone powerhouse” in Europe, contributing to Nato’s security in the region bordering with Russia.
We know that Europe is only safe if the eastern border is safe.
She added:
“The risks your country and the other Baltic States warned us about, unfortunately, have materialised.
Russia’s brutal war against Ukraine is now in its fourth year, Putin is a predator, Putin’s proxies have been targeting our societies for years with hybrid attacks, with cyber-attacks, [and] the weaponising of migrants is another example.”
Von der Leyen also revealed that the EU has reached “full subscription” of the EU’s €150bn SAFE mechanism for joint procurement as part of its broader effort to step up defence production.
The commission president, and former German defence minister under Angela Merkel, stressed that “the whole of the European Union needs to understand that it is important to work on readiness, immediate readiness” to respond to growing risks and threats.
She spoke that this included the importance of financial flexibility for EU member states “to invest in their own defence,” and the need to look into more joint procurement across Europe.
Von der Leyen also said that “in parallel” the EU needed to work on strengthening the Ukrainian armed forces to turn them into “like a steel porcupine, undigestible for potential invaders.”
Turkish foreign minister claims Russia scales back its territorial demands in Ukraine
Turkish foreign minister Hakan Fidan said that it was his understanding that Russia would be willing to freeze the conflict in the south of Ukraine along current front lines if it is given all of the Donbas region.
In comments reported by the AFP, Hakan argued that Russia has moved on from its original demands.
“There is currently a preliminary (agreement) regarding the return of 25-30 percent of Donetsk and maintaining the contact line in Zaporizhzhia and Kherson,” Fidan said in an interview with TGRT Haber on Thursday.
It was not clear who that agreement was between, AFP noted.
Asked about Fidan’s comments, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow was “deliberately not disclosing all the details of the conversation between the two presidents in Alaska” as doing so would hinder the peace process.
The Ukrainian military said it had carried out an overnight strike on a facility in Russia’s Bryansk region responsible for pumping diesel fuel for Moscow’s war effort in Ukraine, Reuters reported.
In a statement, Kyiv’s General Staff said the station in the village of Naitopovichi has a pumping capacity of around 10.5m tonnes per year, and that the strike had caused a fire.
Sweden summons Russian ambassador over Ukraine attacks
After the EU and the UK, Sweden has now also summoned the Russian ambassador to “protest against Russia’s continued attacks on Ukrainian cities and civilians.”
Sweden wanted to “emphasise Russia’s obligation to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure in accordance with international humanitarian law,” a statement on the foreign ministry’s website said.
Russia appears to reject security guarantees for Europe, warning of risk of conflict
Meanwhile, Russia has appeared to reject the European proposals on security guarantees for Ukraine, claiming they would increase the risk of a military conflict and turn Ukraine into a “strategic provocateur” on Russia’s border, Reuters reported.
Russian missiles will not stop our support for Ukraine as the British Council’s vital work goes on – comment
Chief executive of the British Council
On Wednesday night, our office in Kyiv was damaged in a Russian missile attack. It was a stark reminder of the risks that an organisation such as ours faces in conflict-affected areas. I was relieved to hear that all colleagues were safe and accounted for. One colleague was injured and admitted to hospital but thankfully he is in a stable condition.
Working under such conditions around the world is challenging, and yet, time and again, our colleagues and partners demonstrate courage and commitment in carrying on despite the dangers. Their resilience is extraordinary. We are working to find ways to minimise disruption and continuing to support our team there. …
My colleagues work in the most complex and often dangerous places, whether in Myanmar, Iraq, the occupied Palestinian territories, Venezuela or Bangladesh. And they don’t give up when the going gets tough.
If we are absolutely forced to withdraw from a region, we return as soon as possible. This means that our history has not been without tragedy. In 1971, guards were killed protecting our office in Dhaka during Bangladesh’s liberation war. More lives were lost during the Taliban attack on our office in Kabul in 2011. There have been shootings, arrests and detentions. We will always be grateful to the people who have stood with us against those who will go to the most violent ends to disrupt our work.
Over the past 90 years there have been periods of friction, war and conflict and some of relative peace. I fear the years ahead hold significant challenge. But that is when the British Council needs to deliver more than ever.
This war has damaged Ukraine’s infrastructure, putting the right to education of millions of young people at stake. The British government recently committed to a 100-year partnership with Ukraine, signifying the breadth and depth of relationships between our countries. The work of the British Council is more important than ever – it will continue throughout the war, office or no office.
Kyiv residents fatalistic but defiant as city again comes under mass air attack
in Kyiv
Photographs by Julia Kochetova
At a five-storey residential apartment block in the Darnytskyi area in the east of the city, residents said they had heard Russian bombing in the distance. It was a familiar sound, and many had gathered away from the windows in central corridors that extended along the block, only for disaster to strike.
“We didn’t understand what had happened,” said Oleksandr Yastremskyi, who had taken refuge in a corridor with his wife, Tetiana, and their son Denys. “It’s like something had landed into our house. And then we heard people screaming.” A hundred metres away, the other end of their building collapsed, sending, according to Tetiana, “a big wave of dust and smoke” in their direction.
Ivan Zhelezko, a serving soldier, looked across at his bombed second-floor flat, its balcony hanging at an unsustainable angle. Around him in bags were a handful of possessions he had managed to take with him from the apartment where he lived with his family for 20 years.
Zhelezko said he was too stunned to be angry, describing himself as confused. Among those who died, he said, were his friend’s sister and the parents of a childhood friend.
The soldier explained that his family escaped because they left immediately after the first explosion, and he tried to insist the tragedy was “nothing new for me”. Such fatalism was hard to believe, though he added: “I’m just happy my family is alive.”
Those who moved fast or were simply at the other end of the building may have been able to escape unhurt but, such was the ferocity of the blasts, taking down all five storeys, they could only have been caused by a cruise or ballistic missile attack, giving those in the path of the rockets no chance.
Ireland's Harris supports Denmark over alleged US Greenland influence campaign
Given the meeting is held in Copenhagen, as Denmark holds the rotating EU presidency at the moment, some ministers get asked about the recent allegations of US influence operations in relation to Greenland.
Ireland’s Harris declared his full support for Denmark in response, saying:
“Ireland fully supports and stands with the people of Denmark and the Danish government in relation to Greenland.
I think it’s important that every country in the European Union stands with Denmark in relation to this matter.”
'This cannot be consequence-free zone,' Ireland's Harris says after Russian attacks on Kyiv
We are getting first lines from Copenhagen, where EU defence ministers are meeting this morning.
Ireland’s Simon Harris joined the growing chorus of those calling for a stronger reaction, including further sanctions.
He said:
“I’m absolutely appalled by the actions of Russia in terms of the attack on Kyiv and indeed the attack on the European delegation office there. This cannot be a consequence free zone.
I think it’s very important that the entire world speaks with one voice in its absolute condemnation of Russia’s clear breach of the Vienna Convention.
What’s also clear is that while the world is talking about peace, and how do we bring about peace and dialogue and diplomacy to end the war on Ukraine, it’s quite clear that Russia is continuing to engage in the actions of terror, attacking a civilian population, showing no willingness for a ceasefire, and therefore, I think it’s imperative that those of us in the European Union now consider further sanctions.”
Earlier, Estonia’s defence minister Hanno Pevkur argued that the best security guarantee for Ukraine would be membership in Nato.
Lithuanian minister, Dovilė Šakalienė, called for secondary sanctions on Russia and its partners, arguing it would be the most efficient way to stop funding the Russian war machine.
Morning opening: 23 dead in yesterday's Russian attacks on Kyiv, Zelenskyy says
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that at least 23 people were killed in yesterday’s Russian attacks on Kyiv, including 22 people on a single site in the city’s Darnytskyi district.
More than 50 people were injured, and 8 people are still missing.
On Friday morning, Zelenskyy reiterated his call for Russia to be held accountable for these strikes.
He said:
“When instead of diplomacy Russia chooses ballistics, continues to modernize ‘shaheds’ for killing, and deepens cooperation with actors like North Korea, it means the world must respond accordingly.
Strong sanctions, strong pressure, strong steps are needed so that the murderers do not feel impunity.”
EU defence ministers are meeting in Copenhagen today to discuss what else the bloc could do when it comes to both pressure on Russia to bring it to the negotiating table, and support and security guarantees for Ukraine.
Arriving for the meeting this morning, EU’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said:
“These attacks show that Putin is just mocking any kind of peace efforts that are made. So what we have to do is increase pressure on Russia.”
Expect that to be a recurring theme in the ministers’ comments throughout the day.
We will also hear from the European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, as she is touring member states on the eastern flank, and from the French president, Emmanuel Macron, and the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, as they are meeting for a Franco-German summit in Toulon.
I will bring you all the key updates here.
It’s Friday, 29 August 2025, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.
Good morning.
