War in Ukraine, latest news. Trump calls Orban: 'Override veto on Kiev in EU'. Russian drone crashes in Poland

'At least three people have been killed and four wounded after shelling on Kostiantynivka', denounces the governor of the Ukrainian region of Donetsk, Vadym Filashkin - quoted by Rbc-Ukraine - accusing Russian troops of firing eight Smerch missiles at the town. Filashkin claims that a market was targeted. France Presse reports that according to local authorities at least six civilians were killed today in attacks in eastern and southern Ukraine.

The British government has announced a new sanctions package against Russia targeting financial networks used by Moscow to circumvent measures imposed by the West after the invasion of Ukraine. According to a Foreign Office memo, the US has also taken similar action and the move comes as the UK and international allies work towards a 'just and lasting peace' in Ukraine. London's action is aimed at targeting individuals and companies in the financial sector of the former Soviet republic of Kyrgyzstan accused of 'channelling money through opaque networks, including cryptocurrencies'. These include the Capital Bank and its director Kantemir Chalbayev, which Russia has resorted to for the 'purchase of armaments'. "Together with our allies, we will continue to support the US-led initiative to end this illegal war and ensure a just and lasting peace," said Deputy Minister Stephen Doughty.

If Russian President Vladimir Putin agrees to meet with his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, as urged by US President Donald Trump, he will come face to face with a man he has spent three and a half years criticising as an 'illegitimate leader' and 'puppet'. This is what the Wall Street Journal writes, explaining that such a choice could get the Kremlin leader into trouble domestically as it would be 'in stark contrast' to the narrative Putin has constructed over the years to justify the war in Ukraine. Therefore, it goes on to say, the meeting should not take place 'quickly' or even 'easily'.

Britain is offering military air and sea defence, logistical support and training, but not on the line of contact with Russia, as part of an international force to secure the country in the event of a truce or peace agreement, anticipates the Guardian just hours after a meeting in Washington between military representatives of the Coalition of the Willing, to which London is sending its chief of staff, Tony Radakin. "Today is a very important day. Nothing happens in Washington without the President giving the green light, so Trump's endorsement of Monday's security guarantees kicked off a lot of activity,' a source explained.

Russian forces 'intensify pressure north of Donetsk'. This was admitted by the commander of the Ukrainian armed forces. The commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian army, Oleksandr Syrsky, who visited combat units in the Donetsk oblast, reported that the regions where the situation is most tense remain Pokrovsk, Dobropillya and Novopavlovsk. Russian forces are also 'increasing pressure north of Donetsk, towards Lyman', he wrote on Facebook. "Our units are conducting heavy defensive battles against the dominant Russian forces, repelling their attacks and also conducting active response actions," Syrsky said.

"The map shown by Trump in the Oval Office was such a slap in the face that it should have brought everyone to their senses." With these words, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova commented on the image of US President Donald Trump showing a large map of Ukraine with occupied areas highlighted in red during the latest visit of Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky to Washington. The episode, which was also attended by several European leaders and Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte, was interpreted by Moscow as a political 'slap in the face' to Kiev and its Western allies. Zakharova pointed out that "this map is before Zelensky's eyes every night, as well as before those of the EU and NATO heads of state," adding that the Ukrainian president should feel somewhat "shaken" by such an eloquent image.

The spokeswoman went on to say: 'I think it will be very difficult for anyone to regain their clarity in the end, but at least to get him to react in some way, to show him, and all those who protect him, how much they have lost'. According to the data on the map shown by Trump, Russia would control 99% of Luhansk, 76% of Donetsk, 73% of Zaporizhzhia and 73% of Kherson, strategic regions bordering Crimea, already annexed in 2014. In a later interview with Fox News, the US president reiterated the importance of the gesture: 'I guess everybody has seen the map. A big piece of Ukrainian territory has been taken'. For several analysts, the White House wanted to send a clear message: those areas would no longer be realistically recoverable from Kiev, thus paving the way for a possible agreement with Moscow to cede the Donbass, a mineral-rich region with a strong Russian-speaking presence.

One inhabitant of the Bryansk region died following an attack by a Ukrainian drone while another was injured. This was reported by the governor of the Russian region to Ria Novosti.

Russian forces are trying to counter-attack the Kiev military's offensive to clear the infiltration into the Dobropillia area of Donetsk. They have managed to advance northwest of Poltavka and northeast of Volodymyrivka (both settlements are southeast of Dobropillia), writes the Institute for the Study of War, citing military bloggers. Moscow's soldiers are bypassing Volodymyrivka, heading towards Sofiivka, to the north-east, and are flanking Ukrainian positions in and around Shakhove, to the north, from the west, to neutralise the Ukrainians' effort in recent days to cut off supply bases for units that had managed to penetrate deep into the first half of August.

The Russian Embassy in Hungary told Ria Novosti that it 'has no information' about the possible holding of the Russia-Ukraine-US trilateral summit in Budapest. Politico, quoting sources, had reported that the White House would consider Budapest a priority venue for the trilateral meeting.

A meeting between Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky will not happen 'quickly' or 'easily'. The Kremlin leader, says the Wall Street Journal, has described the Ukrainian president as a 'puppet' in the hands of the West and has repeatedly insisted that many issues need to be resolved before a face-to-face meeting, as well as questioning his authority to sign a possible peace agreement. Negotiating directly with Zelensky would directly contradict the narrative Putin has constructed to justify the invasion of Ukraine and therefore dealing with him would create a problem for Putin. Trump's request for a meeting between the two leaders puts the tsar in a bind. If he refused he would risk irritating Trump, who has already threatened him with sanctions. But sitting down with Zelensky could hurt him in the eyes of Russian public opinion.

Turkey will support a process involving 'all parties' for peace in Ukraine. This was confirmed by Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan in his telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Erdogan, Ankara reported, "reported that he is closely following developments in the peace process" and "stressed Turkey's sincere commitment to achieving a just peace since the beginning of the war". And, they continued, 'he said we support approaches aimed at establishing a lasting peace with the participation of all parties'.

After Lavrov (read below, ndr), the Kremlin's special envoy for foreign investment, head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, Kirill Dmitriev, also denounced the attempt by European leaders to 'make every effort to avoid peace talks and normalisation between Russia and the US, hiding behind words of distrust in Russia'. He wrote this on his Telegram channel.

Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the state of negotiations on Ukraine with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan in a telephone conversation today. This was reported by the Kremlin. Putin emphasised "with satisfaction the assistance provided by Turkey" for the conduct of the Russian-Turkish talks held so far in Istanbul.

Russian troops have announced that they have 'liberated' the villages of Novogeorgievka in the Dnepropetrovsk region and Sukhetske and Pankovka in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic. This was reported by Tass citing the Russian Defence Ministry.

NATO chiefs of staff will meet today by video conference to discuss the conflict in Ukraine, as part of discussions among Kiev's allies on security guarantees to be offered in the event of a peace agreement with Moscow. No details have been released on this conference, which is scheduled to start today at 12.30 GMT. The meeting comes in the wake of intensive diplomatic efforts launched after the meeting in Alaska between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin and the subsequent summit in Washington between Trump Zelensky and leaders of European countries to end the conflict triggered by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

"Last night, a drone attack on Okhtyrka in the Sumy region injured 14 people. A family with injured children - aged 5 months, 4 years and 6 years - called for help after the attack'. This is what Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote in a social media post. "In Kostiantynivka, in the Donetsk region, an attack with glide bombs damaged five residential buildings and at least three people are still under the rubble," he added, "there was also a sneak attack on a gas distribution station in the Odessa region. The shelling also hit the regions of Chernihiv, Kharkiv and Poltava. In total, more than 60 drones and a ballistic missile were used'.

The Russian raids launched overnight against Ukraine are "demonstrative attacks that only confirm the need to put pressure on Moscow and impose new sanctions and tariffs until diplomacy is fully effective," Zelensky wrote again on X. "I thank all partners who are helping to stop this Russian war," he added, "together with the United States, Europe and all those who seek peace, we work every day to ensure security. We need solid security guarantees to ensure a truly reliable and lasting peace."

Peace for Ukraine and the Middle East, peace for "the whole world". Pope Leo, in his greetings in Polish during Wednesday's general audience in the Paul VI Hall, forcefully called for it.

"I cordially greet the Poles present in Rome and those on pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Jasna Góra. I ask you," said the Pontiff, "to include in your intentions the supplication for the gift of peace - disarming and disarming - for the whole world, especially for Ukraine and the Middle East".

"Budapest? Perhaps not everyone will remember, but in 1994 Ukraine already obtained guarantees of territorial integrity from the US, Russia and the UK. Budapest. Maybe I am superstitious, but this time I would try to find another place'. This was written on X by the Polish Prime Minister, Donald Tusk, as the possibility of the Hungarian capital as the venue for a possible trilateral meeting between the presidents of the United States, Donald Trump, Russia, Vladimir Putin, and Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, seems to be gaining ground in order to take a further step in the negotiations to end the war in Ukraine. Tusk's reference is to the 1994 Budapest Memorandum by which Ukraine had acceded to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty by transferring the warheads in its possession to Russia in exchange for recognition of its territorial borders.

Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky "are at the stage" of organising their bilateral. Donald Trump said this in a radio interview granted in the night, reiterating that 'for now I think it's better if they meet without me'. Then, the US president added in reference to a possible trilateral, 'if necessary, I will go'.

"The Odessa region, the Sumy region. Another wave of Russian air strikes'. Denouncing it via X is Andriy Yermak, head of the Ukrainian president's office, Volodymyr Zelensky, who reiterates that "these attacks must be stopped" and how it is "our priority to strengthen security in the skies, on the ground and at sea" and "equally essential to increase pressure on Russia to end the war". "While the aggressor talks about wanting peace, his attacks show that Russia is in no hurry to end the war," urges Yermak, who confirms after the latest attacks "a fire in an energy infrastructure" and damage in "civilian homes".

The war in Ukraine "will end more with a truce than with real peace, and within this truce I believe there will be more unity in Europe". Giulio Tremonti, former deputy prime minister and Minister of the Economy, now president of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Chamber of Deputies, explains this to Il Messaggero. Now Putin wants to see Zelensky in Moscow. "An interesting proposal, with a strong symbolic value and iconographic carat. But the big question that will open will be the enlargement of the Union,' he continues. "It is written in the treaties that European states can join. Until now the approach has been paternalistic: accounts in order, perfect rule of law. But if you don't enlarge to the East once the war stops, Putin will do it from the West,' he points out. 'And not only with war, there are many asymmetrical ways to do it. My idea is: all in, all in'. "Obviously you have to change the voting system, unanimity doesn't even work in apartment blocks,' he points out. 'But you have to strengthen the borders and open up Europe. Otherwise it will be Russia going the other way'.

Russian air defences last night shot down 42 Ukrainian drones over nine regions of the country, the Moscow Defence Ministry announced on Telegram. The largest number of unmanned aircraft, 14, were intercepted in the Voronezh region.

The map of Ukraine displayed at the White House during talks between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was, according to Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, a powerful wake-up call for Kiev.

"The map was such a powerful slap in the face that it should have brought back to reason all those who, for several years, isolated from history, isolated from geography, isolated from reality, had been talking about the battlefield without understanding what they were talking about," Zakharova told radio Sputnik.

"This slap should probably have magically awakened Zelensky somehow. I think it will be very difficult for anyone to bring him completely back to his senses," the spokeswoman concluded.

Zakharova's reference concerns the map of Ukraine with Russian occupation percentages present in the Oval Office during the summit between Trump and Zelensky.

La mappa dell’Ucraina presente nello Studio Ovale della Casa Bianca durante il colloquio Trump-Zelensky

"Ukraine will not join NATO also because it needs the unanimity of its members. It is important that the US is already starting concrete consultations with the military leadership of the most involved European countries, also with the participation of the Chief of Defence Staff, General Luciano Portolano, to start reasoning on what to do at a military level and provide security guarantees. I believe, however, that it is premature to indicate the terms of a possible sending of European soldiers'. This was stated by Ambassador Francesco Talò, former diplomatic advisor to Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Italy's permanent representative to NATO and head of the diplomatic delegation to Israel in an interview with the Corriere della Sera. "It is not true that Europe is not there. It is in the game and the Washington summit proved it. The fact is that it is not strong enough and we need the involvement of the US in a two-way relationship a la 'Together in, together out',' he adds, 'we need to stay together, not necessarily in the same way, with the Americans who may not want to send troops on the ground but could provide strategic assets. And the Russians will have to accept this. It will not be easy, and sooner or later a passage should take place in the UN Security Council where China, the stone guest in Anchorage and Washington, also sits'.

Ukrainian authorities blame Russia for a drone attack that struck the Izmail district in the Odessa region overnight, where 'damage to port infrastructure, fires' and the wounding of one person are reported. This is reported by Ukrainska Pravda, which cites local authorities.

For security guarantees to Ukraine 'now Meloni's hypothesis of an Article 5 mechanism is gaining ground. It is one of the possible solutions and is not incompatible with that of the Volunteers. Both can be realised'. This was stated by Defence Minister Guido Crosetto in an interview with the daily newspaper La Repubblica. Article 5, Crosetto points out, 'is a security commitment that nations would make. Meloni's idea, which was also discussed yesterday, is that it could be NATO - as a defensive alliance - that would provide an external country like Ukraine with protection. Alternatively, individual nations could undertake to do so. The best mechanism will be chosen. Certainly, with NATO, superior deterrence would be ensured'. And on the criticism of this mechanism by the Coalition of the Willing, Crosetto emphasises: 'I have been saying for months: let's see the conditions of the truce. One of them, if the Russians accept Article 5, could be that of not having troops from other countries, moreover European ones, in Ukraine'.

'Europe is capable of protecting Ukraine'. Donald Trump said this in an interview on the Mark Levin Show, reiterating accusations against Joe Biden of spending too many billions on Kiev. "There was an ocean in the way," the president attacked.

Regarding the war between Ukraine and Russia 'I have to be optimistic'. This was stated by the US president, Donald Trump, during an interview on the Mark Levin Show. "We will try to stop" the conflict and "I think we have a good chance," Trump added. The US president also spoke about his relations with Vladimir Putin, explaining that there will now be no need to "worry" about the potential outbreak of World War III.

"This all started because Obama gave Russia Crimea, the heart and soul of Crimea." Donald Trump said this on the Mark Levin Show, reiterating that if he had been president in 2022 "the invasion would never have happened". "Putin said that too, I didn't ask him to say that," the president repeated, referring to a statement by the tsar at the summit in Alaska.

Valdimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky "are arranging everything and we will see what happens". This was stated in a radio interview on the Mark Levin Show by the US president, Donald Trump, speaking about the possible bilateral meeting between the Russian and Ukrainian presidents.

Senior American and European military officers met yesterday in Washington to discuss the mechanics of a possible peace agreement in Ukraine. This was reported by a US defence source to Agence France Presse. The US chief of staff, General Dan Caine, held talks on Tuesday evening with European military leaders to discuss 'the best options for a potential peace agreement in Ukraine', before a virtual meeting today with the military leadership of the 32 NATO member states.

During the night, the Russian army launched a massive drone attack on the town of Okhtyrka in the Ukrainian region of Sumy. At least 12 people were injured, including two children. This was reported by the regional police. An apartment building, 13 private homes, an outbuilding and a garage were damaged in the raid. 'Russian troops have once again demonstrated their cynical attitude towards the lives and safety of civilians by deliberately attacking residential areas,' the police said, as reported by Rbc-Ukraine.