Joe Biden has authorised Ukraine’s use of long-range missiles to strike hundreds of miles inside Russia for the first time, according to reports.
The decision is a major US policy shift and comes after Russia warned that Moscow would see the move to allow the use of US-made missiles “as a major escalation”.
With Biden leaving office in two months President-elect Donald Trump has pledged to limit American support for Ukraine and end the war as soon as possible.
In September Vladimir Putin warned the decision would be an act of war back when reports emerged that Joe Biden was “working out” the possibility of US long-range missiles being used inside Russia.
It came as a “massive” Russian missile attack,dubbed the largest air attack on Ukraine in months, has killed at least seven people and injured at least 19, according to Ukrainian officials.
The strikes targeted vital energy infrastructure as temperatures hit sub-zero in the war-torn country.
Key Points
- Biden approves Ukraine’s use of long-range missiles to strike inside Russia for first time
- Ukraine struck by ‘largest air attack’, says foreign minister
- In pictures: Ukraine reels from largest drone attack in months
- Ukraine claims North Korea is supplying dozens of long-range missiles to Russia
- Zelensky criticises German’s chancellor’s call with Putin
Russia is secretly developing a petrifying new weapon
22:08
Alex Croft
In a secret factory in central Russia, engineers are manufacturing hundreds of decoy drones meant to overwhelm Ukrainian defences as they try to protect against a horrific new weapon.
The plant in Russia’s Alabuga Special Economic Zone recently started churning out thermobaric drones alongside the decoys, an Associated Press investigation has found. The thermobaric warheads create a vortex of high pressure and heat that can penetrate thick walls. They suck out all the oxygen in their path, and have a fearsome reputation because of the injuries inflicted even outside the initial blast site: Collapsed lungs, crushed eyeballs, brain damage.
From the Amazon rainforest, Biden declares nobody can reverse clean energy
21:59
Barney Davis
Joe Biden witnessed the devastation of drought up close as the first sitting American president to visit the Amazon rainforest.
The massive Amazon region, which is about the size of Australia, stores huge amounts of the world’s carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas driving climate change.
But development is rapidly depleting the world’s largest tropical rainforest, and rivers are drying up.Biden said the fight against climate change has been a defining cause of his presidency — he’s pushed for cleaner air, water and energy, including legislation that marked the most substantial federal investment in history to fight global warming.
But he’s about to hand the nation over to Republican President-elect Donald Trump, who is highly unlikely to prioritize the Amazon or anything related to climate change, which he’s cast as a “hoax.”
Trump has pledged to again pull out of the Paris agreement, a global pact forged to avert the threat of catastrophic climate change, and he says he’ll rescind unspent funds in energy efficiency legislation.
Ukraine claims North Korea is supplying long-range missiles to Russia
21:11
Alex Croft
North Korea has supplied Russia with long-range rockets and artillery systems, Ukrainian intelligence assessment has found, amid reports of Pyongyang deploying 12,000 of its soldiers to Moscow to fight against Ukraine.
Pyongyang has provided 50 domestically produced 170mm M1989 self-propelled howitzers and 20 updated 240mm multiple launch rocket systems, Financial Times reported citing the assessment.
Some of the weapons have been moved to the border region of Kursk where Moscow has deployed 50,000 Russian and North Korean soldiers to retake the territory from Ukrainian troops. The Russian forces are facing difficulty in pushing back Ukraine’s cross-border incursion launched on 6 August.
Missiles speak for themselves - Zelensky
21:00
Barney Davis
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Sunday that “missiles speak for themselves” and “such things are not announced”, after reports that Washington had granted Kyiv permission to conduct strikes deeper into Russia with US-made missiles.
Zelensky has been calling for the US and UK to agree to allow them to strike infrastructure such as airfields that contribute to the barrages of missiles and drones that strike across Ukraine on a near-daily basis.
World War Three? US allowing long-range strikes by Ukraine will get response - Russia
20:50
Barney Davis
Washington’s decision to let Ukraine strike deep into Russia with long-range US missiles could lead to World War Three and will receive a swift response, Vladimir Dzhabarov, first deputy head of the Russian upper house’s international affairs committee, said on Sunday, according to the TASS news agency.
Two U.S. officials and a source familiar with the decision revealed the significant reversal of Washington’s policy in the Ukraine-Russia conflict earlier on Sunday.
PM has ‘no plans’ to speak to Putin as he puts Ukraine top of G20 summit agenda
20:47
Jabed Ahmed
Sir Keir Starmer has “no plans” to speak to Russian President Vladimir Putin as he said “we need to double down” on support for Ukraine with the conflict approaching its 1,000th day.
The Prime Minister pledged that Ukraine was “top” of his agenda at this week’s G20 summit of world leaders and told reporters that “there’s got to be full support as long as it takes”.
There has been concern about the level of support the US may continue to give Ukraine when President-elect Donald Trump returns to the White House in January.
Earlier this week, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz spoke to Mr Putin on what was the Russian leader’s first publicly announced conversation with the sitting head of a major western power in nearly two years.
Asked if he had any plans to make a similar call, Sir Keir said: “It’s a matter for Chancellor Scholz who he speaks to. I have no plans to speak to Putin.”
Putin has laid out many red lines about Ukraine – are long-range missiles targeting Russia the last one?
19:54
Barney Davis
The West should not back down from supporting Ukraine with long-range missiles despite Vladimir Putin’s fresh threats of possible war with Nato, Kremlin critics, military leaders and Ukrainian officials previously toldThe Independent.
Prominent Putin critic Sir Bill Browder told The Independent: “[Putin’s] psychology is one where he’s provoked by weakness, not by strength, and the only way to deal with Russia is to put a boot on the throat.
“This is all bluster, as far as I can see. Good luck to him if he wants to go to war with Nato. He would lose that war in a matter of days.”
What has Putin said on use of US long range missiles on Russian targets?
19:36
Barney Davis
Vladimir Putin warned it would be an act of war back in September when reports emerged that Joe Biden was considering “working out” the possibility of US long-range missiles being used inside Russia.He told state media: “It would mean that Nato countries, the US, European countries, are at war with Russia.
“If that’s the case, then taking into account the change of nature of the conflict, we will take the appropriate decisions based on the threats that we will face.”
What long range missiles will be used by Ukraine first?
19:35
Barney Davis
The first deep strikes are likely to be carried out using Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) rockets, which have a range of up to 190 miles (306 km), according to the sources.
ATACMS are a long-range guided missile that gives operational commanders the “immediate firepower to win the deep battle”.
Produced by US global security and aerospace company Lockheed Martin, the missiles carry a 500lb (227kg) class blast fragmentation warhead.
The weapons are fitted with a specialised GPS system and have a maximum range of 300km (around 190 miles) – though the ones supplied to Ukraine have a shorter range and carry cluster munitions.
When fired, the clusters open in the air, releasing hundreds of bomblets rather than a single warhead.
The other missile being touted the British/French made Storm Shadow/SCALP-EG missile has a much longer estimated range of up to 550 km (340miles).
G7 reiterates pledge to impose severe costs on Russia
19:20
Alex Croft
Leaders of the major democracies in the G7 repeated their pledge on Saturday to impose severe consequences on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.
The consequences will include sanctions, export controls and other measures, the G7 said. The group will continue supporting Ukraine for as long as necessary, it added.
“Russia remains the sole obstacle to just and lasting peace,” it said in a statement on Saturday. The statement was adopted “in support of Kyiv as the thousandth day of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine approaches.”
“The G7 confirms its commitment to imposing severe costs on Russia through sanctions, export controls and other effective measures. We stand united with Ukraine,” the statement added.
Italy currently holds the 2024 rotating presidency of the G7. Other member states include United States, Canada, Japan, France, Germany and Britain.
Biden approves Ukraine’s use of long-range missiles to strike inside Russia for first time
19:13
Barney Davis
Joe Biden has authorised Ukraine’s use of long-range missiles to strike hundreds of miles inside Russia for the first time, according to reports.
The decision is a major US policy shift and comes after Russia warned that Moscow would see the move to allow the use of US-made missiles “as a major escalation”.
With Biden leaving office in two months President-elect Donald Trump has pledged to limit American support for Ukraine and end the war as soon as possible.
Putin critics lead march in Berlin calling for end of Ukraine war
19:01
Jabed Ahmed
Prominent Russian opposition figures have led a march of at least 1,000 people in central Berlin, criticising Russian President Vladimir Putin and his war in Ukraine and calling for democracy in Russia.
Behind a banner that read “No Putin, No War”, the protesters were led by Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of top Putin critic Alexei Navalny, as well as Ilya Yashin and Vladimir Kara-Murza, who were freed from Russian detention in a high-profile prisoner exchange this summer.
Shouting “Russia without Putin” and other chants in Russian, the demonstrators held up signs with a wide array of messages on a red background, including “Putin = War” and “Putin is a murderer” in German.
Some marched with the flags of Russia or Ukraine, as well as a white-blue-white flag used by some Russian opposition groups.
Organisers said the march began near Potsdamer Platz and went through the Brandenburg Gate and Checkpoint Charlie and was expected to end outside the Russian embassy.
“The march demands the immediate withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine, the trial of Vladimir Putin as a war criminal, and the release of all political prisoners in Russia,” the protesters said in a statement.
Ukraine to face power cuts on Monday after Russian air strike
18:31
Jabed Ahmed
All Ukrainian regions will experience temporary restrictions on power consumption on Monday following Russia’s massive air strike on the country’s energy system, the national grid operator has said.
In a statement, Ukrenergo said temporary cut-offs would last from 6 am until 10 pm, and that workers were repairing damages as quickly as possible.
Russia's Gazprom stops flow of natural gas to Austria, OMV utility says
18:22
Alex Croft
Russia’s state-owned natural gas company Gazprom stopped supplies to Austria early Saturday, according to the Vienna-based utility OMV after it said it would stop payments for the gas following an arbitration award.
The official cutoff of supplies before dawn Saturday came after Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer on Friday held a hastily called news conference to emphasize his country has a secure supply of alternative fuel for this winter.
OMV said it would stop paying for Gazprom gas to its Austrian arm to offset a 230 million-euro ($242 million) arbitration award it won from the International Chamber of Commerce over an earlier cutoff of gas to its German subsidiary.
Read the full report:
Comment: If Trump pulls off his Ukraine deal with Putin, will they sign at Camp David or the Kremlin?
17:58
Jabed Ahmed
Seven killed in ‘massive’ Russian air attack on Ukrainian energy systems as temperatures plummet
17:28
Alex Croft
At least seven people were killed and 19 injured after Russia unleashed its largest airstrike on Ukraine in months, targeting energy infrastructure as overnight temperatures begin to drop below freezing.
Russian forces launched 120 missiles and 90 drones at Ukrainian territory, striking multiple targets on an already damaged energy system and causing widespread power cuts.
Huge blasts rang across the capital of Kyiv as Ukrainian air defences were forced into action, with residents taking shelter in underground metro stations.
Read the full report:
Russian forces capture two villages in Ukraine, defence ministry says
16:31
Alex Croft
Russian forces captured two villages in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region, Russian news agencies cited the defence ministry as saying on Saturday.
The villages of Makarivka, just over 100km west of Donetsk city, and Hryhorivka, which is is situated to the west of the town of Selydove, captured by Russia last month, the ministry claims according to Reuters.
It comes as Russia continues to progress in its offensive on the eastern Ukrainian front.
Zelensky ‘deeply grateful’ to G7
15:37
Alex Croft
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has thanked leaders of the G7 major democracies, who this week reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Ukraine.
In a post on X, he said: “The leaders of the G7 have once again demonstrated unwavering support for Ukraine as we approach the 1,000th day of Russia’s full-scale aggression.
“I am deeply grateful to President of the Council of Ministers Giorgia Meloni and all G7 leaders for their united voice in standing with Ukraine. Their support helps Ukraine protect its people against terror, ultimately saving countless lives.
“At a time when Russia remains the sole obstacle to a just and lasting peace, it’s vital to send a clear message: aggression and violations of the international order, as outlined in the UN Charter, will not be tolerated, and those responsible will face consequences.
“Now is the time for the global community to deepen its efforts and make decisive decisions to ensure stability and peace for all our nations.”
Call with Putin was needed, says Scholz
14:40
Alex Croft
German chancellor Olaf Scholz has said his call with Putin was necessary to ensure Europe remained a key player following Donald Trump’s election.
In their first direct communication in nearly two years, Mr Scholz told Putin that he “cannot count on support from Germany, Europe and many others in the world waning”.
But Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said it was a breach of Western solidarity in favour of domestic political advantage.
Following Russia’s huge missile attack on Ukraine overnight on Sunday, Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha took a dig at Mr Scholz, saying the attack was Putin’s “true response to all those who called and visited him recently”.
Mr Scholz added of the call: "The conversation was very detailed but contributed to a recognition that little has changed in the Russian President’s views of the war - and that’s not good news."
But Donald Trump’s re-election, and his promise of a quick end to the war, has implications for Europe, Mr Scholz said.
"In my view it would not be a good idea if there were talks between the American and Russian presidents and the leader of an important European country was not also doing so," he said.
Seven dead and 19 injured after overnight Russian attacks
14:04
Alex Croft
At least seven people were killed in Russia’s major overnight drone attacks across Ukraine, described by Kyiv as the largest in months.
Ukrainian media reports that at least 19 people were injured too.
It comes after explosions were heard in multiple regions, including in the capital of Kyiv.
Russia was targeting "power generation and transmission facilities throughout Ukraine," according to energy minister Herman Halushchenko.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said the war-torn country is facing a force of “absolute evil”.
ICYMI: Putin tells Scholz that Russia is willing to look at energy cooperation, Kremlin says
13:45
Alex Croft
Vladimir Putin has told Germany’s Olaf Scholz that Russia is ready to look at energy deals if Berlin is interested, the Kremlin has said, following their first phone conversation since December 2022.
A readout from the Kremlin claimed: “It was emphasised that Russia has always strictly fulfilled its treaty and contractual obligations in the energy sector and is ready for mutually beneficial cooperation if the German side shows interest in this.”
Germany was heavily reliant on Russian gas before the war, but direct shipments ceased when the Nord Stream pipelines under the Baltic Sea were blown up in 2022.
Germany and other European Union countries have imposed successive waves of sanctions on Russia over the war and taken steps to wean themselves off their dependence on Russian oil and gas.
Zelensky shares details of meeting with Japanese foreign minister
13:21
Alex Croft
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has revealed details of a meeting held with Japanese foreign minister Takeshi Iwaya, who visited the war torn country earlier this week.
In a post on X, Mr Zelensky said the pair discussed “North Korea’s alliance with Russia and its support for Putin in this brutal war”.
He added: “I informed him about the activities of North Korean military personnel in the Kursk region and the various threats posed by the collaboration between Pyongyang and Moscow.
“Russia is teaching North Korea modern warfare, which could lead to significant and widespread destabilization. We must work together with all our other partners to counter this.”
I had a meeting with Japan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, and one of the key issues we discussed was North Korea’s alliance with Russia and its support for Putin in this brutal war.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) November 16, 2024
I informed him about the activities of North Korean military personnel in the Kursk region and… pic.twitter.com/CNFX5jxSTg
Russia grinds deeper into Ukraine after 1,000 days of grueling war
12:58
Alex Croft
When Russian tanks rolled into Ukraine in February 2022, the conventional wisdom was that the capital, Kyiv, would soon fall and the rest of the country wouldn’t last long against a much larger enemy.
Instead, it was that narrative that quickly collapsed. The Ukrainian army proved it could slow the advance of Russia’s forces and, if not drive them out completely, then – with enough support from the West – at least forestall defeat.
Read the full report:
One killed in Ukrainian drone attack on Russia
12:35
Alex Croft
One civilian has been killed in a Ukrainian drone attack on the Russian border region of Belgorod, according to regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov.
The announcement on Sunday comes after Russia launched its largest missile attack on Ukraine for months, according to Kyiv. The attack targeted Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
Zelensky says war will ‘end sooner’ with Trump as president as he slams German chancellor’s call with Putin
12:15
Alex Croft
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has said he is certain the war with Russia will “end sooner” once Donald Trump returns to the White House.
Mr Zelensky conceded the battlefield situation in eastern Ukraine was difficult and Russia was making advances, adding that Russian president Vladimir Putin was not interested in agreeing to a peace deal.
In an interview on Saturday, the Ukrainian president said he had a “constructive exchange” with US president-elect Trump during a phone conversation following his victory against Kamala Harris.
Read Jabed Ahmed’s full report:
In pictures: Devastation following ‘massive’ Russian missile attack
11:49
Alex Croft
Zelensky: ‘We are defending ourselves against absolute evil'
11:28
Alex Croft
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has said Ukraine is defending itself against “absolute evil”, as he shares footage of the devastation following what Kyiv says is Russia’s largest missile attack in months.
“Russian terrorists are once again trying to intimidate us with cold and blackouts, repeating their actions and trying to get results from them,” Mr Zelensky said.
“The entire world sees and knows that we are defending ourselves against absolute evil, which understands no language but force. We need unity, the world needs unity. Only together can we stop this evil.”
Russia used nearly 140 missiles of different types, 900 guided aerial bombs and over 600 strike drones, Mr Zelensky added.
“Efforts to address the consequences of the combined attack on our infrastructure in the Rivne, Lviv, Dnipropetrovsk, Volyn, and Odesa regions are ongoing.”
Over the past week, the aggressor used nearly 140 missiles of various types, more than 900 guided aerial bombs, and over 600 strike drones. Today, our F-16 pilots shot down approximately 10 aerial targets. Efforts to address the consequences of the combined attack on our… pic.twitter.com/rpRNJmIPIn
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) November 17, 2024
Kyiv takes thinly-veiled dig at German chancellor
11:13
Alex Croft
Ukraine’s foreign minister Andrii Sybiha has taken a thinly-veiled dig at German chancellor Olaf Scholz after he held a phone call with Russian president Vladimir Putin on Friday.
“Russia launched one of the largest air attacks: drones and missiles against peaceful cities, sleeping civilians, critical infrastructure,” Mr Sybiha wrote on X on Sunday morning.
“This is war criminal Putin’s true response to all those who called and visited him recently. We need peace through strength, not appeasement.”
He appeared to be taking direct aim at Mr Scholz following his discussiong with Putin, in which he called for Russian forces to retreat from Ukraine and for Moscow and Kyiv to open talks for a “just and lasting peace”.
Russia launched one of the largest air attacks: drones and missiles against peaceful cities, sleeping civilians, critical infrastructure. This is war criminal Putin’s true response to all those who called and visited him recently. We need peace through strength, not appeasement.
— Andrii Sybiha (@andrii_sybiha) November 17, 2024
Ukraine shoots down 144 drones and missiles
10:45
Alex Croft
Ukrainian air defences destroyed 102 Russian missiles and 42 drones during the major overnight strike, the air force said on Sunday.
Russian forces launched a total of 120 missiles of multiple different types, including hypersonic missiles, alongside 90 drones, Kyiv said.
The scale of the damage to Ukraine’s energy infrastructure has not yet been clarified.
Zelenskyy says Russia has launched 120 missiles and 90 drones targeting Ukraine's infrastructure
10:17
Alex Croft
Polish air force scrambles jets to face Russian drone attacks
09:57
Alex Croft
Poland and its allies carried out an air operation in response to a large-scale Russian missile attack on western Ukraine.
The Polish military says “regular pairs of fighter jets have been scrambled, and ground-based air defence and radar systems have been placed on high alert”, according to a statement from the Polish armed forces via Ukrainska Pravda.
“Attention, the operation of Polish and allied aircraft in our airspace has begun due to a large-scale attack by the Russian Federation, which has launched cruise missiles, ballistic missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles against targets located, in particular, in western Ukraine,” the statement adds.
“The Operational Command is monitoring the current situation, and the subordinate assets and personnel remain in full readiness for immediate response.”
At least three killed overnight in Russian drone attacks
09:31
Alex Croft
Two railway workers have been killed in a Russian drone attack on a depot in the Dnipropetrovsk region.
Three other railway workers were also injured in the attacks, according to Ukrainska Pravda.
A 66-year-old woman was killed in in her car in the Chervonohrad district of the Lviv region after the fall of Russian missile wreckage. Two other men were injured in the attack, with one taken to hospital.
The main heating pipe in the area was damaged, leaving 6,000 people without heating, and 12 garages caught fire amid the bombardment.
Ukraine’s largest energy provider reports ‘serious damage’ after drone attacks
09:11
Alex Croft
Russian strikes on Ukraine have “seriously damaged” equipment at the thermal power stations owned by the country’s largest energy provider, the company said on Sunday.
Employees are working on repairing the equipment, DTEK said on social media, but it did not specify what had been hit.
In pictures: Ukraine reels from largest drone attack in months
08:54
Alex Croft
More than 200 drones and missiles launched in ‘massive’ attack, Zelensky says
08:42
Alex Croft
Russia launched around 120 missiles and 90 drones in a “massive” strike on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday morning.
“The enemy’s target was our energy infrastructure throughout Ukraine. Unfortunately, there is damage to objects from strikes and falling debris,” he said in a statement on social media.
“As of now, some areas remain without power, but all necessary forces are working to mitigate the consequences and restore the infrastructure,” he added.
A massive combined attack targeted all regions of Ukraine. Overnight and this morning, Russian terrorists used various types of drones, including Shaheds, as well as cruise, ballistic, and aeroballistic missiles—Zircons, Iskanders, and Kinzhals. In total, approximately 120…
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) November 17, 2024
Ukraine struck by ‘largest air attack’, says foreign minister
08:26
Alex Croft
Russian forces have launched one of the “largest air attacks” in months, targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure as temperatures hit sub-zero in some areas.
“Russia launched one of the largest air attacks: drones and missiles against peaceful cities, sleeping civilians, critical infrastructure,” said foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said on Sunday morning.
He added that the strike was the “true response” to the leaders who had interacted with Vladimir Putin, in an apparent swipe at German chancellor Olaf Scholz who has been criticised by Kyiv for holding a phone call with Putin on Friday.
A series of powerful blasts were heard in Kyiv’s city centre as Russia seeks to inflict crippling damage on power supplies, with overnight temperatures going below freezing in the capital.
"Another massive attack on the power system is under way. The enemy is attacking electricity generation and transmission facilities throughout Ukraine," Ukrainian energy minister German Galushchenko wrote on Facebook.
Ukraine struck by ‘largest air attack’, says foreign minister
08:26
Alex Croft
Russian forces have launched one of the “largest air attacks” in months, targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure as temperatures hit sub-zero in some areas.
“Russia launched one of the largest air attacks: drones and missiles against peaceful cities, sleeping civilians, critical infrastructure,” said foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said on Sunday morning.
He added that the strike was the “true response” to the leaders who had interacted with Vladimir Putin, in an apparent swipe at German chancellor Olaf Scholz who has been criticised by Kyiv for holding a phone call with Putin on Friday.
A series of powerful blasts were heard in Kyiv’s city centre as Russia seeks to inflict crippling damage on power supplies, with overnight temperatures going below freezing in the capital.
"Another massive attack on the power system is under way. The enemy is attacking electricity generation and transmission facilities throughout Ukraine," Ukrainian energy minister German Galushchenko wrote on Facebook.
Ukraine must ensure the war ends through diplomacy, says Zelensky
08:00
Alex Croft
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has said Ukraine must ensure the war with Russia ends next year through diplomacy.
Mr Zelensky accepted in a radio interview on Saturday that the situation on the eastern Ukrainian front is difficult as Russia continues to advance in key areas.
US legislation prevents the president from meeting with US president-elect Donald Trump before his inauguration in January - but Mr Zelensky has said he will only talk with Trump himself rather than an advisor.
“I, as the president of Ukraine, will only take seriously a conversation with the president of the United States of America, with all due respect to any entourage, to any people.”
“From our side, we must do everything so that this war ends next year, ends through diplomatic means,” Mr Zelensky said.
Where has Russia made advances on the frontline in Ukraine?
07:30
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Ukrainian forces defending the eastern region of Donetsk are heading into the “moment of maximum tension” as Russian forces rush to take territory across Ukraine ahead of Donald Trump’s inauguration next year, war monitors have claimed.
Mr Trump’s comprehensive victory in the US election, which came off the back of his promises to end the war in Ukraine in 24 hours, has brought into sharp relief the difficult situation on the frontline for Kyiv.
Russian forces have continued to make gains in the eastern region of Donetsk, advancing along several fronts towards the city of Pokrovsk, a linchpin of the wider area’s defence.
Tom Watling has more.
Ukraine has not received half of aid allocated by US, Zelensky says
07:00
Alex Croft
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has said Ukraine hasn’t received even half of the weapons allocated to it by the US.
Speaking on Ukrainian Radio, he said according to Ukrainska Pravda: “Now, regarding the huge assistance [from the US – ed.]. Look, that money still needs to be delivered. If you asked me how much we have received from this, I wouldn’t go into the details because there are various reports from different institutions, such as the Ministry of Defence, intelligence agencies, and so on.
“I would only say that we haven’t received half.
“When I talk about half, I actually mean less, and I’m talking about weapons. I negotiated for weapons. Of course, there is humanitarian aid, financial aid, targeted financial aid to the budget, as well as specific humanitarian programmes directed to the regions.”
Russia is secretly developing a petrifying new weapon
06:30
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
In a secret factory in central Russia, engineers are manufacturing hundreds of decoy drones meant to overwhelm Ukrainian defences as they try to protect against a horrific new weapon.
The plant in Russia’s Alabuga Special Economic Zone recently started churning out thermobaric drones alongside the decoys, an Associated Press investigation has found.
The thermobaric warheads create a vortex of high pressure and heat that can penetrate thick walls. They suck out all the oxygen in their path, and have a fearsome reputation because of the injuries inflicted even outside the initial blast site: Collapsed lungs, crushed eyeballs, brain damage.
More here.
Russian forces capture two villages in Ukraine, defence ministry claims
06:00
Alex Croft
Russian forces have captured two villages in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region, Russian news agencies cited the defence ministry as saying on Saturday.
The villages of Makarivka, just over 100km west of Donetsk city, and Hryhorivka, which is is situated to the west of the town of Selydove, captured by Russia last month, the ministry claims according to Reuters.
It comes as Russia continues to progress in its offensive on the eastern Ukrainian front.
Biden urges Xi to dissuade North Korea from supporting Russia’s war
05:30
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
US president Joe Biden urged his Chinese counterpart to dissuade North Korea from further deepening its support for Russia’s war on Ukraine.
The leaders, with top aides surrounding them, met at a Lima hotel on the sidelines of the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.
Mr Biden wants Mr Xi to step up Chinese engagement to prevent an already dangerous moment with North Korea from further escalating, officials said.
White House officials have expressed frustration with Beijing, which accounts for the vast majority of North Korea’s trade, for not doing more to rein in Pyongyang.
The North Koreans also have provided Russia with artillery and other munitions, according to US and South Korean intelligence officials.
In pics: Fighting intensifies in Russian border region of Kursk
05:00
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Zelensky claims Iran oversaw Russia’s first Shahed drone attack
04:30
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
on UkrainePresident Volodymyr Zelensky claimed that representatives from Iran were present during Russia’s launch of the Shahed kamikaze drone targetting Ukrainian cities.
“As per Ukrainian intelligence, representatives from Iran were present during the first, murderous, Shahed attacks on Ukrainian cities, because at first, almost none of the Russians could operate these weapons,” he was quoted by Ukrinform as saying.
“They claim they o