A nine-year-old child has been killed and a teenager sustained injuries after Russia struck Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia Oblast overnight.
Governor Ivan Fedorov wrote this morning that one house was destroyed, while several other houses, cars, and outbuildings were damaged by the air raid on Ukraine's southern region.
Amid the barrage of missile strikes, Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of “doing everything it can” to ensure that a next potential meeting between the two sides brings no results.
Ukraine has not yet confirmed whether it will attend the talks in Istanbul on Monday. It said it was committed to peace, but that it was waiting for a memorandum from the Russian side setting out their proposals.
The Donald Trump administration has claimed that Britain will attend the next round of peace talks. Trump’s special envoy to Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, told US outlet ABC News that national security advisers from the UK, Germany and France would all attend the talks.
Last night, the US told a UN Security Council meeting that Putin should “take the deal” and agree to a pause in fighting for 30 days.
Key Points
- Child killed in Russia's overnight attack
- Russia and Ukraine spar over proposed June peace talks
- UK, Germany and France to attend peace talks in Turkey, US claims
- North Korea helped Putin escalate missile strikes with ammunition, say experts
- US says Putin should take Ukraine ceasefire deal
Watch: Piglet therapy cafe opens in Kyiv for Ukrainians impacted by war
07:18
,
Tara Cobham
Russia says ceasefire not enough to end war
06:04
,
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Russia has told the UN Security Council that a ceasefire alone is not enough to end Vladimir Putin's war on Ukraine.
"To achieve a sustainable and lasting settlement of the Ukrainian crisis, we need to address its root causes," Russia's UN envoy Vassily Nebenzia told the council yesterday.
"What we're proposing is a second round of talks in Istanbul this coming Monday... where we can exchange memoranda about both parties' approaches to the negotiations process."
Ukraine, meanwhile, resisted US and Russian pressure to commit to attending another round of peace talks scheduled for Monday, saying it first needed to see Russian proposals.
US president Donald Trump is urging Moscow and Kyiv to work together on a deal to end their three-year-old war, and Russia has proposed a second round of face-to-face talks with Ukrainian officials next week in Istanbul.
Child killed in Russia's overnight attack
05:36
,
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
A child was killed and a teenager sustained injuries in Russia's overnight attack on Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia Oblast.
The 9-year-old girl was killed in the Polohivskyi district of Zaporizhzhia Oblast in a Russian missile attack, governor Ivan Fedorov wrote on Telegram.
"One house was destroyed. Several other houses, cars, and outbuildings were damaged by the blast wave," he added.
Putin orders government to memorialise soldiers killed in war
05:09
,
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Russian leader Vladimir Putin has ordered his office to prepare federal guidelines for memorial practices for the soldiers killed in Moscow's war on Ukraine.
"The government of the Russian Federation, together with the administration of the president of the Russian Federation, will develop unified recommendations for commemorating the defenders of the Fatherland, including those killed in the special military operation," the Kremlin's website said.
The deadline for this task is 1 September.
The heads of the regions have been tasked with honoring the memory of Russia’s soldiers, TASS news agency reported.
US and allies accuse North Korea of ramping up military aid to Russia
04:35
,
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
The US and 10 allies on Thursday said the military cooperation between Russia and North Korea flagrantly violated UN sanctions and enabled Moscow to increase its missile strikes on Ukrainian cities.
They made the allegations in their first report since joining hands to monitor sanctions against North Korea after Russia vetoed a resolution in March 2024 to continue the monitoring by a UN Security Council panel of experts.
The panel had been issuing reports of Pyongyang’s sanctions violations since 2010.
The report by the Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team – comprised of the US, UK, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, South Korea – said it had gathered evidence showing that North Korea and Russia engaged in “myriad unlawful activities” explicitly prohibited by UN sanctions resolutions.
More here.
Russian soldiers paid $200,000 for 'downing F-16 fighter jet'
04:20
,
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
A dozen Russian soldiers were awarded about $195,000 each for shooting down an F-16 fighter jet in Ukraine, according to Russia's TASS news agency.
Ukraine's Air Force in late August last year confirmed that a pilot had been killed during Russia's mass attack, which shot down one of the US-delivered F-16 jets.
"Forces has delivered on its earlier promise to transfer 15 million rubles to members of the Russian Armed Forces for downing the first F-16 in the special military operation zone," the company said.
US Senate to work on 'bone-breaking' Russia sanctions bill next week
03:57
,
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
The US Senate is set to move ahead next week with a bill imposing more sanctions on Russia over its three-year-old war in Ukraine, Senator Lindsey Graham has told the Ukrainian president.
Mr Graham, a Republican from South Carolina, was accompanied on a visit to Kyiv by Connecticut Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, who co-sponsored the Senate sanctions measure, which sets a 500 per cent tariff on goods imported from countries that buy Russian oil, gas, uranium and other products.
Mr Graham said the legislation, which had 82 co-sponsors, would impose "bone-breaking sanctions" on Russia and its customers."So, I would expect next week that the Senate will start moving the sanctions bill. There are House members that are ready to move in the House, and you'll see congressional action," he said.
To become law, the measure must pass the Senate and House of Representatives and be signed by president Donald Trump.
Mr Trump has expressed frustration with Russian president Vladimir Putin's action in Ukraine but has held off on more sanctions, saying he worries they would hurt prospects for a peace deal.
Mr Graham said his aim was to muster bipartisan congressional support "for tools that would help President Trump get Putin to the peace table. These sanctions would do that".
Zelensky insists new round of peace talks must not be 'empty'
03:46
,
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky told his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan that a ceasefire was needed to move forward towards a settlement of the war with Russia.
"There must be a ceasefire to move further toward peace. The killing of people must stop," Mr Zelensky wrote on Telegram after his conversation with the Turkish leader.
"We share the view that this meeting cannot and should not be empty."
Mr Zelensky also said that the two men discussed the possibility of organising a four-way meeting with the leaders of Ukraine, Russia, Turkey and the United States.
Ukraine says it's ready to resume talks with Russia but needs clarity on Kremlin's terms
03:00
,
Tom Watling
Russia won’t agree a ceasefire in Ukraine while Europe continues to fund Putin’s war
02:00
,
Tom Watling
Former Russian president threatens Trump with World War 3 after Putin criticism
01:00
,
Tom Watling
US and allies accuse North Korea of ramping up military aid to Russia in UN sanctions breach
Saturday 31 May 2025 00:00
,
Tom Watling
Russia and Ukraine in spat over proposed June peace talks after Trump pushes deadline on Putin
Friday 30 May 2025 23:00
,
Tom Watling
What you need to know about Taurus cruise missiles: Ukraine’s new weapon threatening Putin
Friday 30 May 2025 22:00
,
Tom Watling
Donald Trump grows angrier as Vladimir Putin exposes his impotence
Friday 30 May 2025 21:00
,
Tom Watling
UN official says Russia isn't imminently turning on Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant
Friday 30 May 2025 20:00
,
Tom Watling
UK turns to AI in bid to tackle Putin’s threat in Arctic
Friday 30 May 2025 19:00
,
Tom Watling
Why Zelensky believes Russia is planning a major new offensive, not a peace proposal
Friday 30 May 2025 18:00
,
Tom Watling
In pictures: Ukraine runs anti-drone training
Friday 30 May 2025 17:00
,
Tom Watling
Mapped: Ukraine's frontline in Donetsk
Friday 30 May 2025 16:00
,
Tom Watling
Kyiv piglet cafe provides rare moment of calm for residents under Russia’s bombardment
Friday 30 May 2025 15:32
,
Tom Watling
Ukraine says it's ready to resume talks with Russia but needs clarity on Kremlin's terms
Friday 30 May 2025 15:06
,
Tom Watling
Ukraine is ready to resume direct peace talks with Russia in Istanbul on Monday, a top adviser to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, following days of uncertainty over whether Kyiv would attend a further meeting proposed by Moscow.
But Ukrainian officials have insisted that the Kremlin provide a promised memorandum setting out its position on ending the more than three-year war, before the two delegations sit down to negotiate.
Zelensky sits down with Turkish foreign minister in Kyiv
Friday 30 May 2025 14:41
,
Tom Watling
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has met Turkish foreign minister Hakan Fidan in Kyiv.
The officials sat down days after Fidan met with Vladimir Putin in Moscow.
Russia has proposed a second meeting with Ukraine, to be staged in Turkey, next Monday.
Ukraine, however, has not confirmed whether it will attend the talks.
In a post on X last night, Zelensky suggested that any meeting with Russia in Turkey would be “meaningless” unless Putin dropped his maximalist demands.
Medinsky to lead Russian delegation at talks with Ukraine in Istanbul
Friday 30 May 2025 14:13
,
Tom Watling
Kremlin aide Vladimir Medinsky will again head Russia's delegation in Istanbul on 2 June for the second round of Russia-Ukraine talks and will bring a memorandum and other ceasefire proposals, the Russian foreign ministry said on Friday.
Ukraine is yet to reply to Russia's proposals to hold the talks in Istanbul next week.
Russia won’t agree a ceasefire in Ukraine while Europe continues to fund Putin’s war
Friday 30 May 2025 14:00
,
Tom Watling
The White House is wagging its finger, the Brits and other Europeans will be alongside Ukraine and Turkey has high hopes.
And when they all come together in Istanbul on Monday for ceasefire talks with Russia the Kremlin’s reaction will be “ish-to” – so what?
Vladimir Putin is facing no significant consequences from either Donald Trump or Europe for his continued war in Ukraine.
Kremlin expresses satisfaction that President Putin's stance on Nato expansion is understood in the US
Friday 30 May 2025 13:07
,
Tom Watling
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday that Russia is glad that its president Vladimir Putin's position on Ukraine's Nato membership is being understood in Washington.
Peskov commented on the words of Trump's envoy Keith Kellogg that Russia's concerns about Ukraine's possible NATO membership are fair.
Russia accuses ally Serbia of betrayal for supplying arms to Ukraine: ‘Stab in the back’
Friday 30 May 2025 12:44
,
Tom Watling
Russia on Thursday accused Serbia of exporting arms to Ukraine, saying it’s a stab in the back by its longtime Slavic Balkan ally.
“Serbian defense enterprises, contrary to the ‘neutrality’ declared by official Belgrade, continue to supply ammunition to Kyiv,” the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service, SVR, said in a statement.
Serbia's populist President Aleksandar Vucic told the state RTS television that he has recently discussed the issue of the arm exports to Ukraine with Russian President Vladimir Putin and that it was agreed that the two countries form a “working group” to establish how Serbian-made weapons reach the Ukrainian frontlines.
Former Russian president threatens Trump with World War 3 after Putin criticism
Friday 30 May 2025 12:20
,
Tom Watling
A former Russian president has threatened ‘World War III’ after Donald Trump criticised Vladimir Putin for his actions in Ukraine.
The US branded the comments by the often-inflammatory Dmitry Medvedev “reckless”, as the war of the words between the two global powers continues to ramp up. However, diplomatic efforts appear to be ongoing despite the public clashes and in a rare move US embassy officials were seen attending a security meeting in Moscow on Wednesday.
Russian drone attack in Donetsk
Friday 30 May 2025 11:44
,
Tom Watling
A Russian drone attack in Ukraine’s eastern region of Donetsk has destroyed a multistorey building, photos have shown.
Ukraine’s state emergency services posted footage of the attack on the residential building in Belozerske, Donetsk region.
They wrote: “Preliminary reports indicate that 2 more people may be trapped under the rubble. Rescue and search operations are ongoing.”
російський БпЛА влучив у житлову 5-поверхівку у Білозерському на Донеччині.
— DSNS.GOV.UA (@SESU_UA) May 30, 2025
Частково зруйновані квартири з 3 по 5 поверхи. Виникла пожежа, яку рятувальники ліквідували.
Попередньо, під завалами можуть перебувати ще 2 осіб. Тривають аварійно-рятувальні та пошукові роботи. pic.twitter.com/6eB50njDbw
Zelensky: Russia's strategy is simply to destroy lives
Friday 30 May 2025 11:18
,
Tom Watling
Vladimir Putin’s strategy is “simply to destroy lives”, the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has said, as he posted footage of a Russian drone strike on the northeast city of Kharkiv.
Zelensky’s comments come as Ukraine continues to decide whether to attend a second round of peace talks with Moscow in Turkey next Monday.
Earlier, Zelensky claimed the talks would be “meaningless” unless Russia abandoned its maximalist demands.
Russian Shaheds against ordinary trolleybuses. This was a strike on Kharkiv – at least 8 Shahed drones destroyed a trolleybus depot and also damaged nearby residential apartment buildings. A typical Russian strike on ordinary civilian life.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) May 30, 2025
In total, Russians used 90 attack… pic.twitter.com/WkJhUayv2T
Turkish foreign minister visits Kyiv
Friday 30 May 2025 10:45
,
Tom Watling
Turkish foreign minister Hakan Fidan has visited Kyiv days after meeting with Vladimir Putin in Moscow.
Fidan will spend two days in the Ukrainian capital to discuss ongoing efforts to end the war in Ukraine.
Turkey has taken on a mediation role and is due to host talks next Monday between Russia and Ukraine, though Kyiv is yet to confirm if it will attend.
Ukraine’s foreign minister, Andrii Sybiha, said Fidan told him about the outcomes of the Moscow meeting and discussed the next steps towards peace.
Glad to welcome my Turkish counterpart and friend @HakanFidan in Kyiv.
— Andrii Sybiha (@andrii_sybiha) May 30, 2025
I thanked Türkiye for its support for Ukraine and genuine efforts to advance peace. We especially value President Erdogan’s important role in them.
I appreciate Minister Fidan informing me about the outcomes… pic.twitter.com/p2rxosS5F6
Turkey hopes to host leaders of US, Russia, Ukraine after potential next round peace talks
Friday 30 May 2025 10:20
,
Tom Watling
Turkey hopes that Russia and Ukraine will largely finish work on technical issues at their next potential talks aimed at ending the war, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Friday.
He added that Ankara wanted to host a leaders' summit afterwards with the Turkish and US presidents also present.
Speaking at a press conference in Kyiv, to where he travelled after talks in Moscow earlier this week, Fidan said the 16 May talks between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul - the first direct contact between them in three years - marked a new start, adding he believed further meetings were possible.
Russia and Ukraine in spat over proposed June peace talks after Trump pushes deadline on Putin
Friday 30 May 2025 09:58
,
Tom Watling
The Kremlin has proposed a second round of direct peace talks with Ukraine for 2 June, reviving negotiations that failed to make significant progress two weeks ago.
But a war of words erupted following the offer, with Kyiv accusing Moscow of failing to send a memorandum outlining proposals for a future ceasefire – something it says was agreed upon during the previous talks. The latest row comes after US president Donald Trump issued a two-week deadline for Vladimir Putin to demonstrate he actually wants to end the war he started three years ago.
In pictures: Ukraine inspects site of Russia drone attack in Kharkiv
Friday 30 May 2025 09:32
,
Tom Watling
Ukrainian police officers have been pictured examining the site of a Russian drone attack in the northeast city of Kharkiv.
Kharkiv mayor Ihor Terekhov said Russian attacks on the city damaged 30 apartment buildings.
Oleh Syniehubov, governor of the wider region, said eight people, including two 16-year-olds, were injured in an attack in the nearby village of Vasyliv Khutir.
Mapped: Russia's war on Ukraine
Friday 30 May 2025 09:17
,
Tom Watling
Below you can see a map of Russia’s frontline in Ukraine, as detailed by the British ministry of defence.
The illegal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine is continuing.
— Ministry of Defence (@DefenceHQ) May 30, 2025
The map below is the latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine – 30 May 2025.#StandWithUkraine pic.twitter.com/oCQk9hH1Ek
Russia launches 92 drones and missiles at Ukraine, Kyiv claims
Friday 30 May 2025 09:02
Russia has launched 90 drones and two missiles at targets across Ukraine, Kyiv’s air force has claimed.
They claimed to have shot down 56 drones.
Russia has stepped up its overnight aerial attacks in recent weeks following the first round of peace talks in Turkey earlier this month.
Last week, they fired more than 900 drones in just three days, according to Ukrainian estimates.
Ukraine says Russian drones hit port town next to Romania
Friday 30 May 2025 08:46
,
Tom Watling
Russian forces launched a drone attack overnight that targeted a Ukrainian town on the border with Nato member Romania, Ukrainian officials said on Friday.
The attack hit the town of Izmail, Ukraine's biggest port on the Danube river, which is important for critical imports and which lies across the river from Romania.
A post office branch was destroyed in the drone attack, regional Governor Oleh Kiper said.
He reported no casualties.
What we know about next week’s peace talks in Turkey
Friday 30 May 2025 08:45
,
Tom Watling
Donald Trump’s special envoy to Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, suggested last night that peace talks in Turkey, proposed by Russia on Wednesday, will go ahead.
The official also claimed that the UK, Germany and France would attend the talks, scheduled for 2 June.
But we remind you that Kyiv is yet to accept Russia’s proposal for talks. They have suggested that Moscow is using the meeting to drag out talks while it continues its attacks on Ukraine.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said last night that Russia’s refusal to send a memorandum of their demands for peace ahead of the meeting, as previously promised, made next week’s talks “meaningless”.
Russia said it would provide this document after the previous peace talks on 16 May. It has since repeatedly said it needs more time to create the document, before announcing earlier this week that they would present the memorandum to Ukraine on 2 June in Turkey.
Ukraine says it has already sent its document.
Kyiv claims that Russia’s document is likely to include maximalist demands that amount to calls to end Ukraine’s sovereignty and independence, and that it will be impossible to have constructive talks based on such a memorandum. They have repeatedly asked for time to consider the document before the talks.
Russia is dragging out the war and doing everything it can simply to deceive the countries that are still trying to influence Moscow with words rather than pressure. Words do not work with Moscow. Even the so-called “memorandum,” which they promised and allegedly spent over a… pic.twitter.com/LzXSE30kSx
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) May 29, 2025
UK, Germany and France to attend peace talks in Turkey, US claims
Friday 30 May 2025 07:58
,
Tom Watling
We have some more interesting takeaways from a late-night interview with Donald Trump’s special envoy to Ukraine, Keith Kellogg.
The official told ABC News that the UK, Germany and France will attend a second round of peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in Turkey next week.
Ukraine has not confirmed it will attend the talks, which were proposed by Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov on Wednesday.
The Independent is seeking clarification on whether Britain will attend.
“We'll have what we call the E3. That is the national security advisors from Germany, France, and Great Britain,” Kellogg claimed.
He added: “When we were in London, they kind of helped us mould a term sheet for Ukraine.”
The official also claimed the sequencing of the peace talks would include an attempt to merge the two peace memoranda drafted by Russia and Ukraine into one single document.
Russia is yet to provide its document, having pledged to have it ready after the first round of talks earlier this month.
Trump administration backs Putin’s opposition Nato expansion
Friday 30 May 2025 07:35
,
Tom Watling
Donald Trump’s special envoy to Ukraine has seemingly backed Vladimir Putin’s alleged demand to have in writing that Nato will not enlarge eastward.
In an interview with US network ABC News, Keith Kellogg described Putin’s reported demand as a “fair concern” and one that was likely to include not just Ukraine but also Georgia and Moldova.
“We've said that to us, Ukraine coming into Nato is not on the table, and we're not the only country that says that - you know I could probably give you four other countries in Nato and it takes 32 of the 32 to allow you to come in to Nato. That's one of the issues that Russia will bring up.
