US president Donald Trump has grown increasingly frustrated with Russian president Vladimir Putin as the war continues, US secretary of state Marco Rubio told his Russian counterpart.
Rubio met with Sergei Lavrov, Russia’s foreign minister, on the sidelines of the ASEAN foreign ministers' meeting in Malaysia for a “frank conversation” where they discussed a possible peace deal with Ukraine.
The secretary of state expressed to Lavrov that Trump had publicly said “there's not been more flexibility on the Russian side to bring about an end to this conflict.”
The envoys’ second-in person meeting came amid intensified Russian attacks against Ukraine, after a night of heavy aerial bombardment across the war torn country.
President Volodymyr Zelensky told fellow world leaders at the Ukraine recovery conference: "Ukrainians now face attacks by hundreds of these drones every single night and this is pure terrorism," reflecting on the record-breaking aerial strike on Ukraine on Wednesday which saw over 700 drones and missiles launched by Russia.
Trump reportedly threatened to “bomb the s**t out of Moscow” if Russian President Putin attacked Ukraine, according to a new book, 2024: How Trump Retook the White House and the Democrats Lost America.
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Key Points
- Trump threatened to bomb Moscow if Putin attacked Ukraine, new book claims
- Two killed in Kyiv as Russia pounds Ukrainian capital with missiles and drones
- Russia fired 18 missiles and more than 400 drones on Ukraine overnight
- Zelensky decries 'pure terrorism' of increased drone strikes
Merz: Germany prepared to buy Patriots from U.S. for Ukraine
14:10
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Bryony Gooch
Germany is prepared to buy Patriot air defence systems from the United States and provide them to Ukraine, German chancellor Friedrich Merz said in Rome on Thursday.
"We are also prepared to purchase additional Patriot systems from the U.S. to make them available to Ukraine," Merz said at a conference on Ukraine support, where he discussed air defence with President Volodymyr Zelensky and other leaders.
Merz said he asked U.S. President Donald Trump last week to deliver the Patriots, adding, "The Americans need some of them themselves, but they also have a lot of them. ... It has not yet been finalised whether a delivery will be made."
How reliant is Kyiv on US military assistance?
14:00
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Bryony Gooch
Lavrov discusses Ukraine peace deal and Iran situation with Rubio
13:45
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Bryony Gooch
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed Ukraine peace deal as well as the situation in Iran and Syria at a meeting in the Malaysian capital on Thursday, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
"A substantive and frank exchange of views took place on the settlement of the situation around Ukraine, the situation around Iran and Syria, as well as a number of other international issues," the ministry said in a statement.
Lavrov and Rubio "confirmed their mutual desire to find peaceful solutions to conflicts, restore Russian-American economic and humanitarian cooperation, and facilitate unimpeded contacts between the societies of the two countries."
Constructive dialogue between Moscow and Washington will continue, the Russian ministry said.
Key moments from Rubio-Lavrov meeting
13:30
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Bryony Gooch
- US secretary of state Marco Rubio met with Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov in Malaysia on Thursday.
- Rubio said president Trump had been disappointed there had not been more flexibility from Russia over the war in Ukraine.
- Rubio added they needed to see a roadmap moving forward on how the conflict in Ukraine conflict could conclude.
- The two politicians discussed the issues in Iran and Syria as well as a Ukraine peace deal.
Rubio and Lavrov meet in Kuala Lumpur
13:15
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Bryony Gooch
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on the sidelines of the ASEAN foreign ministers' meeting in Malaysia on Thursday, as Russia intensifies its attacks on Ukraine.
It was their second in-person meeting, at a time when U.S. President Donald Trump has grown increasingly frustrated with Russian President Vladimir Putin as the war in Ukraine drags on.
Neither Lavrov nor Rubio made any comments to reporters at the start of the meeting, which lasted about 50 minutes. Russian drones and missiles bore down on the Ukrainian capital early on Thursday, as escalating Russian attacks have strained Ukrainian air defenses, forcing thousands into bomb shelters overnight.
Meloni: 'We need to increase pressure on Russia through sanctions'
13:04
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Bryony Gooch
Russia should face tougher sanctions to increase pressure on it to halt the war in Ukraine, Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni said on Thursday.
"The path for us is clear: to continue to support Ukraine and on the other hand, to maintain or to indeed increase the pressure on Russia, above all through sanctions," Meloni said, speaking to reporters alongside Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky after the opening of a conference in Rome on support for Ukraine's recovery.
UK to sign deal to supply air defence missiles to Ukraine
13:00
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Bryony Gooch
UK deputy prime minister Angela Rayner will on Thursday sign a previously announced deal to supply Ukraine with more than 5,000 air defence missiles from Thales.
Rayner is expected to sign the agreement in Rome, where the Ukraine Recovery Conference is taking place. The deal was first announced by prime minister Keir Starmer on 2 March.
The government also re-confirmed it would supply up to 283 million pounds in bilateral assistance to Ukraine over the next year.
European court finds Russia responsible for human rights abuses during Ukraine invasion
12:45
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Bryony Gooch
How much money does Ukraine actually need to reconstruct?
12:30
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Bryony Gooch
World leaders attending the Ukraine reconstruction conference have pledged around €10 billion to the war-torn country’s reconstruction support.
It’s the eighth year that the conference has taken place with leaders from around the globe attending and pledging their support to Ukraine as Russia continues to pursue its full-scale invasion.
But it’s possible that €10 billion will barely cover a fraction of the overall cost needed to help Ukraine recover from the war.
A report from the United Nations in February this year said that the total cost of reconstruction and recovery in Ukraine is estimated at €506 billion over the next decade.
The updated joint Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment commissioned by the Ukrainian Government, World Bank Group, European Commission and the UN covers damage incurred since the intensified conflict erupted in February 2022, all the way up to the end of 2024.
As the war continues, this bill could drastically increase still.
Ukraine launches criminal investigation over killing of security agent
12:15
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Bryony Gooch
Ukraine's domestic security agency said on Thursday it had opened a criminal investigation into the killing of one of its officers.
In a statement, the Security Service of Ukraine said the officer had been killed in the capital Kyiv. A Ukrainian official told Reuters the agent was a colonel with the SBU.
Zelensky decries 'pure terrorism' of increased drone strikes
12:07
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Bryony Gooch
Zelensky has addressed world leaders at the recovery conference.
"Ukrainians now face attacks by hundreds of these drones every single night and this is pure terrorism," he said, reflecting on the record-breaking aerial strike on Ukraine yesterday which saw over 700 drones and missiles launched by Russia.
"This is exactly what Putin wants, for our people to suffer and flee Ukraine," he added.
He continued that Ukraine needs more air defence systems and missiles and urges allies to increase their investments.
"When Russia increases its attacks, we cannot have a shortage of funding for drone production," he said.
Mapped: How Russia's aerial strikes have increased over the past 50 days
12:00
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Bryony Gooch
EU announces 2.3 billion euros in Ukraine reconstruction support
11:55
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Bryony Gooch
The European Commission announced 2.3 billion euros in support to Ukraine on Thursday to help it rebuild after the damage caused by Russia's full-scale invasion.
The funds include 1.8 billion euros in loan guarantees and 580 million euros in grants from international and bilateral public financial institutions, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said at a conference in Rome on plans for Ukraine's reconstruction.
The 2.3 billion euros is part of the Ukraine Investment Framework, which von der Leyen said is expected to mobilise up to 10 billion euros of investments in Ukraine.
She also announced the creation of a new equity fund for the reconstruction of Ukraine, backed by the European Investment Bank, France, Germany, Italy and Poland.
With an initial capital of 220 million euros, the fund aims to mobilise 500 million euros by 2026, the Commission said.
Merz to Trump: 'stay with us on this side of our common history'
11:42
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Bryony Gooch
German chancellor Friedrich Merz has shared a message with Trump while attending the Ukraine reconstruction conference.
He said the “message to Trump is to stay with us on this side of our common history” amid the US president’s inconsistent support of Ukraine since entering office.
Kremlin says Ukraine peace process has not stalled
11:30
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Bryony Gooch
The Kremlin said on Thursday that Russia does not think peace talks on Ukraine have stalled and that it still wants to achieve its goals there through peaceful political and diplomatic means.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow was waiting for Kyiv to give a signal about whether it is ready to start the third round of talks, which first kicked off in May in Istanbul.
Merz: 'We fully support European reconstruction fund for Ukraine to mobilise private investment'
11:20
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Bryony Gooch
German chancellor Friedrich Merz has issued his full support to Ukraine as he attends the reconstruction conference in Rome.
He has said he fully supports the fund for Ukraine to mobilise its private investment. He added he supported the country’s pathway to EU membership and that they would continue to support the stabilisation and reconstruction of Ukraine’s energy system.
"The enormous cost of reconstruction cannot be financed through public funds alone," said Merz at the start of the two-day conference, taking place more than three years after Russia invaded Ukraine.
That is why Germany, France, Italy and Poland, as well as the European Investment Bank and the EU Commission, are launching the European Flagship Fund for the Reconstruction of Ukraine, said the German leader.
"I fully support its goal to mobilise large volumes of private investment for the reconstruction of Ukraine."
Russia says it struck military-industrial facilities in Kyiv
11:15
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Bryony Gooch
Russia's defence ministry said on Thursday that its forces had successfully carried out strikes on military-industrial facilities in Kyiv and on a military airfield in Ukraine.
"The armed forces of the Russian Federation launched a group strike with high-precision long-range weapons and unmanned aerial vehicles against enterprises of the military-industrial complex of Ukraine in Kyiv and on the infrastructure of the military airfield," the ministry said.
We could not independently verify battlefield reports.
Who do we know is attending the Ukraine reconstruction conference?
11:12
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Bryony Gooch
- Giorgia Meloni, Italian Prime Minister
- Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukrainian President
- Ursula Von Der Leyen, President of the European Commission
- Friedrich Merz, German Chancellor
- Pedro Sanchez, Spanish Prime Minister
- Maia Sandy, Moldovan Prime Minister
- Donald Tusk, Polish Prime Minister
- Eli Rama, Albanian Prime Minister
- Keith Kellogg, US Special Envoy for Ukraine
In pictures: World leaders attend the Ukraine reconstruction conference
11:08
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Bryony Gooch
Zelensky calls for frozen Russian assets to be used in Ukraine reconstruction
11:01
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Bryony Gooch
Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky has told global partners that Russia’s frozen assets must be used “much more actively” for Ukraine reconstruction.
"Not only the income from these assets, but the assets themselves must be used and much more actively than they are now to help save lives," Zelenskiy said in Rome at a conference about Ukraine's reconstruction following Russia's invasion.
Prime minister Meloni pledged over 10 billion euros in commitments favouring Ukraine as the conference in Rome began.
Inside the €10bn commitment to help Ukraine
10:55
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Bryony Gooch
Participants in a Rome conference on the economic recovery of Ukraine have pledged over 10 billion euros ($11.73 billion) to help the war-torn country, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Thursday.
"I think we should be proud of the result we have achieved together today - nations, international organizations, financial institutions, local authorities, the business sector, and civil society," Meloni said in her opening speech at the conference.
"Together, at today's conference, we have made commitments totaling over 10 billion euros," she said.
Meloni: 'Conference will include over 10 billion euros in commitments to Ukraine'
10:53
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Bryony Gooch
Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni has promised that the Ukraine recovery conference will include over 10 billion euros in commitments favouring Ukraine.
She added Italy in particular would igve a “strong contribution” to a new European equity fund for Ukraine.
“We want to work with Ukraine to avoid that those who helped the Russian war machine may benefit from the reconstruction.”
Ukraine recovery conference - live updates
10:49
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Bryony Gooch
We’ll be giving you live updates from the Ukraine recovery conference in Rome.
Stay tuned as Zelensky and US prime minister Giorgia Meloni speak to media.
In pictures: Residential houses hit in Kyiv by Russian strikes
10:45
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Bryony Gooch
Dutch pledge 300 million euros to Ukraine for economic support
10:30
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Bryony Gooch
The Netherlands on Thursday said it would donate 300 million euros ($352 million) to Ukraine to support its economy and help it repair damages caused by Russia's invasion.
The Dutch government pledged the funds, for this year and next, at a conference in Rome on plans for Ukraine's reconstruction.
The money comes from a 500 million euro fund reserved for non-military support to Ukraine in 2025 and 2026, of which 200 million euros had already been spent.
How Russia has amped up its aerial strikes on Ukraine
10:16
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Bryony Gooch
Ukrainian officials breathed a sigh of relief on Wednesday after Donald Trump pledged to send more weapons to Kyiv. Just hours earlier, Russia launched 728 drones and 13 missiles at Ukraine - its largest ever aerial attack.
Air defences were able to shoot down 296 drones and seven missiles while a further 415 drones were lost from radars or jammed.
President Volodymyr Zelensky described the incident as “a telling attack” that came “precisely at a time when so many efforts have been made to achieve peace”.
But this is only the latest in a streak of record-breaking aerial attacks over the past month.
Below, we look at how, and why, Russia has decided to target Ukraine’s cities with such devastating force.
China 'still verifying information' as Ukraine accuses Chinese father and son of spying
10:00
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Bryony Gooch
China’s foreign ministry has said it is “still verifying information” after Ukraine said on Wednesday it had detained a Chinese father and son, both suspected of spying on its prized Neptune anti-ship missile programme, a key part of Kyiv's growing domestic arms industry critical to its defence against Russian invaders.
The announcement by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) follows assertions by Kyiv in recent months that Beijing, which has sought to project an image of neutrality, is helping the Kremlin's war effort.
Counterintelligence officials arrested a 24-year-old former student in Kyiv after they provided him with "technical documentation" related to Neptune production, it said in a statement.
They later detained his father, who had aimed to smuggle out the documents to the Chinese special services, the SBU said. The father had been living in China but visited Ukraine to "personally coordinate" his son's work, the agency said.
A Ukrainian official said the two men were the first Chinese people arrested for spying since Moscow's 2022 full-scale invasion.
"If Chinese citizens are involved, we will safeguard their legitimate rights and interests in accordance with the law," China’s foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told a regular press conference when asked about the arrests.
Watch: Trump denies he was unaware of Ukraine weapons pause day after admitting he didn't know who ordered it
09:40
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Bryony Gooch
Zelensky: 'Kyiv attack is a clear escalation of terror by Russia'
09:20
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Bryony Gooch
President Volodymyr Zelensky has released a statement following a devastating attack on Kyiv after Ukraine faced off 415 drones and missiles.
He said: “Last night, Russia launched a massive combined strike that lasted nearly 10 hours. 18 missiles, including ballistic ones, and around 400 attack drones were used — nearly 200 of them were ‘shaheds.’
“The main target of the attack was Kyiv and the region. Chernihiv, Sumy, Poltava, Kirovohrad, and Kharkiv regions also came under fire.
“Sadly, two people were reported killed in Kyiv — my condolences to their families and loved ones. As of now, we know of 16 people injured.
“This is a clear escalation of terror by Russia — hundreds of ‘shaheds’ every night, constant strikes, and massive attacks on Ukrainian cities.
“This demands that we speed things up. Sanctions must be imposed faster, and pressure on Russia must be strong enough that they truly feel the consequences of their terror. There’s a need for quicker action from our partners in investing in weapons production and advancing technology.
“Today, I will be speaking with partners — in particular within the Coalition of the Willing — about additional funding for the production of interceptor drones and the supply of air defense systems for Ukraine.
“The objectives are absolutely clear. Such Russian attacks must be met with a tough response. And that is exactly what we will deliver.”
Two dead and at least 16 injured in Kyiv
09:00
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Bryony Gooch
Ukraine’s military has reported two people dead and at least 16 people injured after Russia struck the capital last night in its latest air raid.
President Zelensky offered his condolences to their families and loved ones
Analysis: 'Air defence used to protect Kyiv can't be used on the frontline'
08:40
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Bryony Gooch
One of the benefits Russia finds in increasing its strikes on Ukraine, and diversifying where it attacks, is whatever air defence that goes towards protecting places like Kyiv, which was pounded by missiles and drones overnight, takes away from the frontline, says former US Department of Defence analyst Marcel Plichta.
He told The Independent: “Any air defence that's protecting Kiev or Laval or Odessa, , can't be used at the front line to shoot down Russian drones and Russian aircraft.
“So there's another additional benefit for Russia there where basically if you're the Russian Air Force, you want the air defence to be way far away from the front instead of close to the front and the head makes sure that all that air defence stuff is locked way, way far away from the border.”
He added that the increased number of drones meant there was a higher chance of success in hitting key facilities in the capital.
“That means potentially hitting the Ministry of Defense, the presidential palace, these sites where, you know, you would have ideally as much defense as possible.
“Or it means that they have a freer hand to attack other cities if Ukraine decides to concentrate all of its air defence around Kyiv.
“So in the in the big geopolitical sense it's sort of related to Russia wanting to escalate, to Russia wanting to show strength and this also follows the pattern of Russia wants more and more ability to strike Ukraine and that's something they've been investing in for years and years.”
Ukraine's Zelensky to hold more meetings with US officials in Rome
08:24
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Bryony Gooch
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky will hold more meetings with U.S. officials on Thursday at a conference dedicated to Ukraine's recovery, its foreign minister said.
"The main focus will be on sanctions policy and the adoption of the next package of U.S. sanctions in the near future," Andriy Sybiha posted on Telegram late on Wednesday.
The conference in Rome will focus on short and long-term reconstruction following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, now 40 months old.
In pictures: Kyiv on fire after Russia relentlessly attacks the capital
08:15
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Bryony Gooch
Trump threatened to bomb Moscow if Putin attacked Ukraine, new book claims
07:53
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Arpan Rai
President Trump threatened to “bomb the s**t out of Moscow” if Russian President Putin attacked Ukraine, according to a new book.
The remark was among several captured in a series of audio tapes from 2024 fundraisers in New York and Florida. CNN aired the clips Tuesday night.
A trio of political journalists – Josh Dawsey, Tyler Pager, and Isaac Arnsdorf – obtained the tapes and have written about the exchanges in their new book, 2024: How Trump Retook the White House and the Democrats Lost America.
“With Putin I said, ‘If you go into Ukraine, I’m going to bomb the sh*t out of Moscow. I’m telling you I have no choice,” Trump said in the audio.
Russia fired 18 missiles and more than 400 drones on Ukraine overnight, says Zelensky
07:48
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Arpan Rai
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia launched 18 missiles and around 400 drones during an overnight attack on Ukraine that primarily targeted the capital.
Russia pounded Ukraine's capital with yet another large missile and drone attack overnight into today, killing at least two people and causing fires in areas across the city, a day after the heaviest aerial attack of the three-year war so far.
His remarks come as the Ukrainian president said his meetings with partners today in Rome will focus on additional financing for drone interceptors and air defence.
Zelensky to hold more meetings with US officials in Rome
07:42
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Arpan Rai
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky will hold more meetings with US officials today at a conference dedicated to Ukraine's recovery, his foreign minister said.
"The main focus will be on sanctions policy and the adoption of the next package of US sanctions in the near future," Andriy Sybiha posted on Telegram late last night.
The conference in Rome will focus on short and long-term reconstruction following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, now 40 months old.
US secretary of state Rubio to meet Russian foreign minister in Malaysia today
06:39
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Arpan Rai
US secretary of state Marco Rubio and his Russian counterpart will meet today in Malaysia for talks as tensions between the countries rise over Moscow's increasing attacks on Ukraine and questions about whether Russia's leader is serious about a peace deal.
Mr Rubio and foreign minister Sergei Lavrov are to see each other in Kuala Lumpur, where both men are attending the annual Association of Southeast Asian Nations Regional Forum, which brings together all 10 ASEAN members and their most important diplomatic partners, including Russia, China, Japan, South Korea, the Europeans and the US.
The meeting is set to take place shortly after the US resumed some shipments of defensive weapons to Ukraine following a pause — ostensibly for the Pentagon to review domestic munitions stocks — that was cheered in Moscow.
Trump denies he was unaware of Ukraine weapons pause
06:27
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Arpan Rai
Donald Trump has said that he “would be the first to know” if a big decision such as the Ukraine weapons pause was authorised by the government, despite earlier saying he did not know who ordered it.
Responding to a question from a reporter about the decision being made without his consent on Wednesday, the US president said: “I would know, if a decision is made I would be the first to know in fact most likely I’d give the order but I haven’t done that yet.”
The Pentagon announced on 30 June that it would hold back some weapons pledged to Kyiv because of concerns that American stockpiles were running short on supply.
Russia attacks Ukrainian cities again overnight after record number of strikes yesterday
05:56
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Arpan Rai
Russian drones and missiles bore down on the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv in the early hours today, with officials reporting two deaths, 13 injured and fires in apartment and non-residential buildings.
It was also the latest in Russia's escalating attacks with hundreds of drones and missiles straining Ukrainian air defences at a perilous moment in the war and forcing thousands of people to frequently seek bomb shelters overnight.
The overnight attack comes a day after Russia launched a single-night record number of drones targeting its smaller neighbour.
Russia's attack on Kyiv on Thursday rattled the city with explosions, Reuters' witnesses said. Videos showed windows blown out, devastated facades and cars burned down. Kyiv's officials said that damage was reported in six of the city's 10 districts.
Kyiv's Shevchenkivskyi district, known for elegant restaurants, art galleries and vibrant student bars, suffered significant damage to residential buildings, the district's head said on Telegram.
A thick smoke covered parts of Kyiv, darkening the red hues of a sunrise over the city of three million. Air raids in the capital lasted more than four hours, according to Ukraine's air force data.
"After returning home from shelters, keep your windows closed – there is a lot of smoke," Mr Tkachenko said.
In photos: Residents flee as Ukraine comes under massive Russian aerial attack overnight
05:50
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Arpan Rai
Russia destroys 14 Ukrainian drones overnight
05:39
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Arpan Rai
Russia has said its air defence units destroyed 14 Ukrainian drones overnight, its defence ministry said this morning.
Of these, eight were destroyed over the Black Sea region while others were downed over the border region between Russia and Ukraine, including Kursk and Belgorod.