President Donald Trump has vowed to "get it done" and stop the Ukraine war as he prepares to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Zelensky and top European leaders will be in Washington, D.C., Monday for a high-stakes summit at the White House. Trump is set to meet with Zelensky at 1 p.m. (6 p.m. BST) before meeting with European leaders at 3 p.m. (8 p.m. BST).
"Despite all of my lightweight and very jealous critics, I'll get it done — I always do," Trump wrote on Truth Social.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer landed outside Washington, D.C., on Monday morning. Other leaders expected to attend the meeting with Trump include French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
After meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska Friday, Trump is pushing Zelensky to strike a peace agreement, by giving up Crimea and NATO membership, and reach an immediate ceasefire – reiterating Moscow's position.
"President Zelenskyy of Ukraine can end the war with Russia almost immediately, if he wants to, or he can continue to fight," Trump previously said on Truth Social.
Putin agreed during his meeting with Trump to let the U.S. and its European allies offer Ukraine security guarantees, U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff said.
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Ukraine-Russia latest: Key points
- Trump says Zelensky can end war - but rules out Nato and Crimea for Ukraine
- Zelensky hits out at 'cynical' Russian strike ahead of White House talks
- European leaders to back Zelensky in Washington today
- The schedule for today's crucial round of diplomacy
- Two children among seven dead in Russian attack on Kharkiv, Ukraine says
Emmanuel Macron arrives in Washington, DC
16:57
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Katie Hawkinson
French President Emmanuel Macron has landed at Dulles International Airport, just outside Washington, D.C., CNBC reports.
This comes after British Prime Minister Keir Starmer landed earlier this morning at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland.
In pictures: Pro-Ukraine protest forms near White House
16:55
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Katie Hawkinson
Watch: How Trump and Zelensky’s explosive first White House meeting played out
16:45
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Katie Hawkinson
President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky are due to unite for a second meeting at the White House following their explosive showdown.
In February, the pair's critical talks on Ukraine erupted into a shouting match in the Oval Office.
Here’s how the meeting went down:
Who will join Trump and Zelensky in the Oval Office?
16:34
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Katie Hawkinson
President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will both be accompanied by staff during their Oval Office meeting, the BBC reports.
Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, special envoy Steve Witkoff, special envoy Keith Kellogg and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles are expected to join Trump.
Zelensky will be accompanied by his chief of staff Andriy Yermak and Rustem Umerov, secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine.
Zelensky set to show up in ‘suit-style’ jacket for Oval Office meeting after Trump complained about his attire last time
16:18
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Katie Hawkinson
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will wear a “suit-style” jacket during his meeting with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office.
This comes months after Trump welcomed Zelensky into the West Wing and made jabs about his customary military-style attire, jokingly telling the press, “he’s all dressed up today.”
Keep reading:
Zelensky met with special envoy Keith Kellogg
16:03
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Katie Hawkinson
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with U.S. special envoy Keith Kellogg ahead of his White House visit.
“I thank @GeneralKellogg for the meeting and for the joint work with our team,” Zelensky wrote on X. “President Trump invited Ukraine and other European countries to Washington today – this is the first meeting in such a format, and it is very serious.”
“We discussed the battlefield situation and our strong diplomatic capabilities – Ukraine’s and all of Europe’s together with America,” he added. “Russia can only be forced into peace through strength, and President Trump has that strength. We have to do everything right to make peace happen. Thank you!”
Zelensky to talk with European leaders ahead of White House meeting: report
15:59
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Katie Hawkinson
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is set to meet with some European leaders ahead of his summit with President Donald Trump on Monday morning.
Zelensky is expected to meet with the leaders at the Ukrainian embassy, CNN reports, citing two sources familiar with the situation.
Who will travel to Washington, DC, with Zelensky?
15:55
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Katie Hawkinson
Several European leaders will join Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Washington, D.C., on Monday afternoon.
Confirmed attendees include:
- British Prime Minister Keir Starmer
- European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen
- Finnish President Alexander Stubb
- French President Emmanuel Macron
- German Chancellor Friedrich Merz
- Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni
- Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte.
Trump vows to 'get it done' ahead of Zelensky meeting
15:40
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Katie Hawkinson
President Donald Trump shared a post on Truth Social ahead of his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Trump repeated his claim that the war in Ukraine would not have happened if he hadn’t lost the White House to former President Joe Biden in 2020.
“I’ve settled 6 Wars in 6 months, one of them a possible Nuclear disaster, and yet I have to read & listen to the Wall Street Journal, and many other who truly don’t have a clue, tell me everything that I am doing wrong on the Russia/Ukraine MESS, that is Sleepy Joe Biden’s war, not mine,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “I’m only here to stop it, not to prosecute it any further. It would have NEVER happened if I was President.”
“I know exactly what I’m doing, and I don’t need the advice of people who have been working on all of these conflicts for years, and were never able to do a thing to stop them,” he added. “They are ‘STUPID’ people, with no common sense, intelligence, or understanding, and they only make the current R/U disaster more difficult to FIX. Despite all of my lightweight and very jealous critics, I’ll get it done — I always do!!!”
Russian President Vladimir Putin echoed Trump’s claim about Biden after he met with the president in Alaska on Friday.
“Today, when President Trump [said] that if he was the president back then, there would be no war. And I'm quite sure that it would indeed be so, I can confirm that,” Putin said, via a translater.
Keir Starmer lands near Washington, D.C.
15:33
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Katie Hawkinson
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has landed at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, just outside of Washington, D.C.
Starmer is one of many European leaders set to meet with President Donald Trump at the White House today.
Trump has changed so Zelensky will be confident, Ukrainian MP tells The Independent
15:29
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Alex Croft
We’ve been hearing from Ukrainian MP Oleksandr Merezhko, who tells The Independent that Volodymyr Zelensky will be confident going into his meeting with a “changed” Donald Trump.
Mr Merezhko, the head Ukraine’s parliamentary foreign committee, in June withdrew a Nobel Peace Prize nomination he had made for Trump the previous November, stating that he had "lost any sort of faith and belief" in the US president.
But ahead of Monday’s meeting with Mr Zelensky, Mr Merezhko retains hope - and says the US president has changed since he infamously booted his Ukrainian counterpart from the White House in February.
“Trump has changed. He has changed, at least for some time, his stance on Russia when he said he was disappointed with Putin.”
Mr Merezhko notes that Russia has continued bombarding Ukraine since Putin and Trump met in person in Alaska last week.
“So Putin didn’t stop. And I'm sure that Trump will take at least into consideration that Putin is not going to stop. Despite the red carpet greetings and so on, Putin cannot be corrected. He's incorrigible.”
Mr Zelensky will be “confident” going into the meeting with the entire country behind him, the MP added.
Who will travel to Washington, DC, with Zelensky?
15:28
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Katie Hawkinson
Several European leaders will join Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Washington, D.C., on Monday afternoon.
Confirmed attendees include:
- British Prime Minister Keir Starmer
- European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen
- Finnish President Alexander Stubb
- French President Emmanuel Macron
- German Chancellor Friedrich Merz
- Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni
- Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte.
Recap: How Trump and Zelensky’s explosive first White House meeting played out
15:15
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Alex Croft
In February 2025, Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky’s critical talks on Ukraine erupted into a shouting match in the Oval Office.
The US president and JD Vance shouted over the Ukrainian president; the meeting appeared to go south when the US vice president accused Mr Zelensky of being "disrespectful" when he said US security guarantees are necessary for a ceasefire.
Mr Zelensky's clothes, a departure from his usual military fatigues, were mocked by Marjorie Taylor Greene's boyfriend.
"I will wear [a suit] after this war finishes. Maybe something like yours, maybe something better," Mr Zelensky retorted.
Comment | Trump isn’t fighting for peace in Ukraine, he’s managing Russia’s victory - and Europe is worried
15:05
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Alex Croft
No higher delegation of European leaders has ever assembled for a mission of such extraordinary importance - talks with an American president who now wholly represents the interests of Russia.
Donald Trump has represented Russia’s strategic interests against Ukraine, Europe, and arguably his own country, consistently since his inauguration this year.
He will be speaking the Kremlin’s mind when he meets Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval office. And he will rehearsing Putin’s talking points when he meets the assembled European leaders later.
The Independent’s world affairs editor Sam Kiley writes:
Watch: Russian truck which Ukraine says was carrying gun across river destroyed in huge explosion
14:54
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Alex Croft
Starmer's spokesperson: 'We are ready to put UK boots on the ground in Ukraine'
14:39
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Bryony Gooch
Prime minister Keir Starmer’s spokesperson has said Britain is ready to put boots on the ground in Ukraine as he heads to Washington for talks with Zelensky and Trump.
The spokesperson said: “We are ready to put UK boots on the ground in Ukraine to reassure Ukrainians and to secure the safe skies, safe seas and build the strength of the Ukrainian forces.”
They reaffirmed their stance on Ukraine joining Nato before adding “Putin has never been serious about peace.”
In pictures: Starmer on plane to DC to meet Trump and Zelensky
14:28
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Bryony Gooch
Trump hopeful for results in 'big day' at the White House
14:14
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Alex Croft
Donald Trump is gearing up for a “big day” at the White House as he prepares to host multiple European leaders at once in a critical day of diplomacy.
“A big day at the White House. We have never had so many European Leaders here at one time,” the US president wrote on Truth Social.
“A great honor for America!!! Lets see what the results will be??? President DJT,” he added.
A bilateral meeting between Volodymyr Zelensky and Trump will begin at 1pm (6pm UK time), one hour after Kyiv’s European allies arrive at 12pm (5pm UK time).
A summit with all the leaders will take place at 3pm (8pm UK time).
Starmer: 'We've got to make sure there is lasting peace that is fair and just'
14:00
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Bryony Gooch
Sir Keir Starmer has said that allies must “make sure” there is “fair” and “just” peace in Ukraine, as he heads to Washington DC for crunch talks at the White House.
In a video posted on X, the Prime Minister said of the conflict: “Everybody wants it to end, not least the Ukrainians.
“But we’ve got to get this right. We’ve got to make sure there is peace, that it is lasting peace, and that it is fair and that it is just.
“That’s why I’m travelling to Washington with other European leaders to discuss this face to face with President Trump and President Zelensky, because it’s in everyone’s interests, it’s in the UK’s interests that we get this right.”
JD Vance to attend Trump-Zelensky meeting - report
13:56
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Alex Croft
US vice president JD Vance will attend the Monday meeting between Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Donald Trump in Washington, ABC News reported on Monday.
During the last White House meeting, it was JD Vance who set off the US president in his furious rant against Mr Zelensky.
Why is Russia so desperate to capture Ukraine’s Donbas region?
13:39
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Alex Croft
The future of Ukraine’s industrial heartland in the east of the country is uncertain, after Vladimir Putin reportedly demanded it be handed to Russia during his meeting with Donald Trump in Alaska on Friday.
The Russian leader demanded that Ukrainian forces withdraw from Donetsk as part of any ceasefire deal, and said he would be prepared to stop fighting on the rest of the frontline if Kyiv gave in to the demand and addressed the “root causes of the conflict”.
The Ukrainian president has said that Putin wants to take the remaining 30 per cent of the eastern region, which has been the location of some of the fiercest battles in the three-and-a-half-year war.
But losing Donetsk would give Russia control of almost all of the Donbas, the collective name for Ukraine’s eastern industrial heartland, which has been long coveted by Putin.
Bryony Gooch reports:
ICYMI: Putin demands the Donbas
13:23
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Alex Croft
As a condition for peace, Vladimir Putin wants Kyiv to give up the Donbas, the industrial region in eastern Ukraine that has seen some of the most intense fighting but that Russian forces have failed to capture completely.
In his Sunday night post, Donald Trump wrote that Volodymyr Zelensky should also accept Russia's illegal 2014 annexation of Ukraine's Crimea region.
As part of a deal, Putin has said the United States and its European allies can provide Ukraine with a security guarantee resembling Nato’s collective defence pledge, according to a senior US official.
Trump envoy Steve Witkoff called that a "game-changing" step though he offered few details on how it would work.
Ukraine has long pressed for some kind of guarantee that would prevent Russia from invading again.
Starmer would back a Ukraine peace deal without ceasefire precondition - Downing Street
13:15
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Bryony Gooch
Downing Street has suggested that Sir Keir Starmer would back a Ukraine peace deal without a ceasefire as a precondition.
Asked if the Prime Minister wants a ceasefire back on the table after Donald Trump appeared to drop his calls for one following his meeting with Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday, Sir Keir’s official spokesman said: “We’ve always said we want to see a sustainable and just peace for Ukraine.
“One that ensures peace returns to Europe and the Ukrainian people can live without fear of attack again, and an agreement that delivers that as soon as possible, but ends the killing and translates that into a lasting peace supported by security guarantees, would be a significantly positive step.”
Pressed on whether that marked a change of position, the Prime Minister’s spokesman said: “We want to see an end to the killing. If you can bring about an end to the killing and bring about a sustained peace in one go, then all the better.”
Ukraine’s borders are for the country to determine itself in negotiations, he added, stressing that “international borders must not be changed by force”.
Moscow says it's discussing swap of 31 civilians with Ukraine
13:07
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Alex Croft
Russian human rights commissioner Tatyana Moskalkova said on Monday that Moscow is ready to hand over 31 civilians to Ukraine in return for the return of the same number of people to Russia, state news agency RIA reported.
Moskalkova said 31 civilians from the Russian region of Kursk, where Ukrainian staged a major incursion last year, were still being held in Ukraine. S
he said she would meet shortly with her Ukrainian counterpart, Dmytro Lubinets.
Watch: Putin opens up on 'very frank' conversation with Trump after crunch Ukraine summit
12:48
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Alex Croft
Ukrainian foreign minister hits out at Hungarian counterpart over oil claims
12:30
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Alex Croft
Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha has hit out at his Hungarian counterpart, who condemned Kyiv for attacking a Russian crude oil pipeline leading to Hungary.
“This latest strike against our energy security is outrageous and unacceptable!” foreign minister Peter Szijjarto said.
But Mr Sybiha has told Mr Szijjarto to send his complaints “to your friends in Moscow”.
“Peter, it is Russia, not Ukraine, who began this war and refuses to end it,” he said.
“Hungary has been told for years that Moscow is an unreliable partner. Despite this, Hungary has made every effort to maintain its reliance on Russia. Even after the full-scale war began. You can now send your complaints—and threats—to your friends in Moscow.”
Hungary, despite being an EU and Nato member state, holds friendly relations with Russia and has held a far softer stance to Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine than its European allies.
Peter, it is Russia, not Ukraine, who began this war and refuses to end it. Hungary has been told for years that Moscow is an unreliable partner. Despite this, Hungary has made every effort to maintain its reliance on Russia. Even after the full-scale war began. You can now send… https://t.co/yvMq8slTG0
— Andrii Sybiha (@andrii_sybiha) August 18, 2025
Why has Trump told Zelensky to let go of Crimea?
12:11
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Alex Croft
Crimea has been a crucial sticking point in peace talks between Russia and Ukraine - but Donald Trump is aiming to resolve the issue as part of peace negotiations.
The US president has consistently said that Ukraine regaining control over Crimea, a peninsula jutting into the Black Sea, is off the cards in a potential agreement between Moscow and Kyiv to stop the war.
He reiterated that Crimea was off the table in a social media post on Monday ahead of a highly anticipated White House meeting with the Ukrainian president on 18 August.
Read the full report:
Putin discusses Russia-US summit with South African president
11:54
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Alex Croft
Russian President Vladimir Putin held a phone call with South African president Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday to discuss the outcome of last week's Russia-US summit, the Kremlin said.
It said Ramaphosa "expressed support for the diplomatic efforts being undertaken to bring about a peaceful settlement of the Ukrainian crisis".
The two leaders also discussed further development of a "comprehensive strategic Russian-South African partnership", the Kremlin said.
Zelensky hits out at 'cynical' Russian strike before Washington summit
11:41
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Alex Croft
Volodymyr Zelensky has hit out at Russia’s “cynical” and deadly strikes across Ukraine, which he says was deliberately carried out hours before his summit with Donald Trump in Washington.
At least seven people were killed including two children in Kharkiv due to Russia’s overnight attack, local authorities said. Three more were killed and 20 injured in Zaporizhzhia, with further casualties in Sumy and Odesa.
“This was a demonstrative and cynical Russian strike,” Mr Zelensky said on X. “They are aware that a meeting is taking place today in Washington that will address the end of the war.”
He added: “Putin will commit demonstrative killings to maintain pressure on Ukraine and Europe, as well as to humiliate diplomatic efforts.
“That is precisely why we are seeking assistance to put an end to the killings. That is why reliable security guarantees are required.”
This was a demonstrative and cynical Russian strike. They are aware that a meeting is taking place today in Washington that will address the end of the war.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) August 18, 2025
We will have a discussion with President Trump about key issues. Along with Ukraine, the leaders of the United Kingdom,… pic.twitter.com/p62L8tAKx5
European leaders to seek clarity on US role in security guarantees
11:22
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Alex Croft
European leaders, scheduled to participate in Ukraine talks in Washington on Monday, will seek to discuss the role the US can play in security guarantees to protect Ukraine after any agreement with Russia, a German government spokesperson said.
"We have also seen signals from the US that there may have been concessions or promises from the Americans (...) Of course, this must first be concretised and verified in the talks today," the spokesperson said in a regular government press conference.
European leaders, including German chancellor Friedrich Merz, will join Volodymyr Zelensky to meet Donald Trump in Washington on Monday, seeking to shore up the Ukrainian president’s position as Trump presses Ukraine to accept a quick peace deal with Russia.
Trump will return to original ceasefire proposal after Zelensky meeting, predicts Ukrainian MP
10:57
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Alex Croft
Donald Trump will return to his original proposal for an immediate ceasefire after meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky, a Ukrainian MP has predicted.
“Me expectation is that Zelensky and European allies will manage to convince Trump to return to his initial proposal regarding unconditional ceasefire,” Oleksandr Merezhko told The Independent.
“Putin's idea about having peace treaty instead of ceasefire, to me, it looks very dangerous, both for Ukraine and for the United States,” Mr Merezhko, the chair of Kyiv’s foreign affairs committee, added.
“Putin deliberately, as a provocation, offers this peace treaty proposal. In his mind it’s about capitulation of Ukraine, and he understands that his conditions in such a peace treaty will never be acceptable to Ukraine.
“The danger is there is a struggle going on between, on the one hand, Ukraine and European partners and on the other hand, Putin, trying to persuade Trump to choose the necessary course of action,” he said.
In pictures: Russia fires rocket launcher at Ukrainian frontline
10:40
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Alex Croft
The Independent View | Zelensky returns to Washington, this time with Europe at his side
10:19
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Alex Croft
It has to be a tribute to Volodymyr Zelensky’s resilience, as well as an acknowledgement of Donald Trump’s still-pivotal role as the would-be peacemaker, that he is prepared to risk another encounter at the White House.
That meeting, six months ago, has gone down in the annals as one of the most disgraceful episodes in modern-day diplomacy, with a national leader humiliated in front of the cameras in a grilling that the US president said afterwards would make good television. Lessons have clearly been drawn from that dire encounter, not just by President Zelensky himself, and maybe President Trump, who mended fences at an informal tete-a-tete at the Vatican, but also by the Ukrainian’s many European supporters.
Kharkiv death toll rises to seven including two children, Ukraine says
10:10
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Alex Croft
The death toll of a Russian drone attack on the northeastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv has risen to seven, including two children, Ukrainian authorities said.
Six children aged 6 to 17 were among 20 other people injured in the attack on Ukraine's second largest city, Oleh Synehubov, governor of the wider Kharkiv region, wrote on Telegram.
A toddler and a 16-year-old boy were among those killed.
Ukraine’s air force earlier said Russia launched 140 drones against Ukraine overnight, the largest total recorded in a single night since August 4.
Kharkiv, which lies near northeastern Ukraine's border with Russia, has been the target of Russian drone and missile attacks throughout the war.
Russian oil flows to Hungary halted after Ukrainian attack, Budapest says
10:01
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Alex Croft
Hungary has accused Ukraine of attacking a pipeline of Russian crude oil which supplies the country, prompting flows to be halted.
“Ukraine has once again attacked the oil pipeline leading to Hungary, cutting off supplies,” Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said. “This latest strike against our energy security is outrageous and unacceptable!”
Hungary, despite being an EU and Nato member state, holds friendly relations with Russia and has held a far softer stance to Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine than its European allies.
Mr Szijjarto added that he had spoken with Russian deputy energy minister Pavel Sorokin who said experts were working to restore the transformer.
Zelensky-Trump meeting 'absolutely crucial' for peace in Ukraine - UK minister
09:49
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Alex Croft
Our political correspondent Archie Mitchell reports:
Volodymyr Zelensky’s meeting with Donald Trump is “absolutely crucial” in bringing about peace in Ukraine, a UK minister has said.
The Ukrainian president’s talks with his US counterpart, at which he will be flanked by European leaders including Sir Keir Starmer, are “such an important moment”, Stephen Kinnock added.
Asked how important the meeting is, health minister Mr Kinnock told the BBC: “It is absolutely crucial. This is going to be such an important moment for the talks that need to take place to ensure that we move towards peace to an end to this terrible war.”
He said Sir Keir has clear objectives for the talks, including to agree “ironclad” security guarantees for the country and that no decisions about Ukraine can be taken without Ukraine.
“It's very good that they are going to Washington to send a very clear signal to Moscow and to the rest of the world in terms of where we stand on these matters,” Mr Kinnock added.
Trump has changed so Zelensky will be confident, Ukrainian MP tells The Independent
09:33
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Alex Croft
We’ve been hearing from Ukrainian MP Oleksandr Merezhko, who tells The Independent that Volodymyr Zelensky will be confident going into his meeting with a “changed” Donald Trump.
Mr Merezhko, the head Ukraine’s parliamentary foreign committee, in June withdrew a Nobel Peace Prize nomination he had made for Trump the previous November, stating that he had "lost any sort of faith and belief" in the US president.
But ahead of Monday’s meeting with Mr Zelensky, Mr Merezhko retains hope - and says the US president has changed since he infamously booted his Ukrainian counterpart from the White House in February.
“Trump has changed. He has changed, at least for some time, his stance on Russia when he said he was disappointed with Putin.”
Mr Merezhko notes that Russia has continued bombarding Ukraine since Putin and Trump met in person in Alaska last week.
“So Putin didn’t stop. And I'm sure that Trump will take at least into consideration that Putin is not going to stop. Despite the red carpet greetings and so on, Putin cannot be corrected. He's incorrigible.”
Mr Zelensky will be “confident” going into the meeting with the entire country behind him, the MP added.
Ukrainian drone did not cause significant damage to Smolensk nuclear plant, Russia says
09:27
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Alex Croft
A Ukrainian drone intercepted by Russia near the Smolensk nuclear power plant detonated after falling but did not cause significant damage to the plant, Russia's nuclear power corporation Rosatom said on Monday.
"The damage is insignificant, there are no casualties," Rosatom said.
Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) said on Sunday it had prevented a Ukrainian drone attack on the Smolensk nuclear power plant.
In pictures: Heavy damage to Kharkiv apartment building after Russian attack
09:14
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Alex Croft
