Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has offered Vladimir Putin fresh peace talks after weeks of relentless Russian missile attacks.
Mr Zelensky offered Moscow another round of ceasefire negotiations for next week, saying he wanted to speed up ending the conflict.
It comes after weeks of relentless Russian strikes on Ukraine, including over 300 drones and 30 missiles launched on Friday night.
“Everything should be done to achieve a ceasefire,” Mr Zelensky said in his evening address to the nation. “The Russian side should stop hiding from decisions.”
Ukraine and Russia have held two rounds of talks in Istanbul over the past five months. They have agreed to swap prisoners but made no breakthroughs in ending almost three and a half years of conflict that started with Russia's 2022 invasion.
Mr Zelensky said Rustem Umerov, who headed the Ukrainian delegation at both talks in Istanbul, had sent the Russian side the offer to hold the meeting next week, but gave no more details.
US president Donald Trump, who has sharpened his tone against Russia in recent weeks amid worsening air strikes on Ukrainian cities, threatened harsher sanctions on Russia earlier this month if a peace deal was not reached within 50 days.
Key Points
- Zelensky offers Russia fresh peace talks
- Zelensky: Over 300 Russian drones launched overnight
- Flights suspended as Ukraine attacks Moscow
- Russia launches 'hellish' six-hour bombardment on Ukrainian city
- EU and UK increase sanctions on Putin
Person killed following Russian drone attack on Ukrainian city
06:46
,
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
In pics: Aftermath of recent shelling in Donetsk
06:01
,
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Two killed in Russian attack on Dnipropetrovsk
05:23
,
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
At least two people were killed in Russian attack on Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk region.
Russia launched its biggest ever attack on the eastern Ukrainian city of Pavlohrad yesterday, regional governor Sergiy Lysak said.
The airstrike destroyed “an outpatient clinic, a school and a cultural institution” in the Vasylkivska township, he added.
Flights suspended as Ukraine attacks Moscow
04:54
,
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Russian air defence systems shot down three drones en route to Moscow last evening, city mayor Sergei Sobyanin said on Telegram.
Two Moscow airports - Vnukovo and Domodedovo - suspended arrivals and departures for safety reasons but later resumed operations, Russian aviation watchdog Rosaviatsia said.
The Russian defence ministry said its air defence systems intercepted and destroyed 27 Ukrainian drones in total from 3 pm to 7pm local time, including four over Moscow region, 15 over Bryansk region, six over Kaluga region and two over Tula.
Minister accuses Russia of deporting Ukrainians
04:32
,
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Ukraine's foreign minister has accused Russia of deporting Ukrainian citizens into Georgia and leaving them stranded without proper identification.
Andrii Sybiha said Moscow has escalated the practice of expelling Ukrainians — many of whom are former prisoners — across its southern border with Georgia, instead of returning them directly to Ukraine.
"Dozens of people, many of whom lack proper documentation, have been stuck in the transit zone," he wrote on X.
Russia pounds Ukraine with over 300 drones
04:10
,
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Russia launched a massive attack on Ukraine with hundreds of drones, killing at least one person, part of a stepped-up bombing campaign that has dashed hopes for a breakthrough in efforts to end the more than three-year-old war.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky posted on X that Russia fired over 300 drones, along with more than 30 cruise missiles.
One person died in the Black Sea port city of Odesa, which was hit with more than 20 drones and a missile, mayor Hennadii Trukhanov wrote on Telegram, while five people were rescued when a fire broke out in a residential high-rise building.
According to Mr Zelensky, six other people were wounded in the attack on Odesa, including a child, and critical infrastructure was damaged in Ukraine's northeastern Sumy region.
Recap: We see what you are doing, Lammy warns Kremlin
03:00
,
Alexander Butler
The UK has sanctioned a string of Russian spies and hackers, accusing them of carrying out a campaign to “destabilise Europe”.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy said: “GRU spies are running a campaign to destabilise Europe, undermine Ukraine’s sovereignty and threaten the safety of British citizens.
“The Kremlin should be in no doubt: we see what they are trying to do in the shadows and we won’t tolerate it. That’s why we’re taking decisive action with sanctions against Russian spies.”
What are Patriot missiles and why does Ukraine need them?
02:00
,
Alexander Butler
Yulia Svyrydenko: Ukraine’s new prime minister who masterminded key Trump deal
01:00
,
Alexander Butler
How the EU aims to put the squeeze on the Russian economy with new sanctions package
Sunday 20 July 2025 00:01
,
Alexander Butler
Recap: Russia launches 'hellish' six-hour bombardment on Ukrainian city
Saturday 19 July 2025 23:00
,
Alexander Butler
Russia launched a “hellish” aerial attack on the eastern Ukrainian city of Pavlohrad overnight.
The head of the Dnipropetrovsk region, Sergey Lysak, said the city had been bombarded for six-hours with a factory, fire station and five-storey residential building hit.
“A hellish night and morning for Pavlohrad. The most intense attack on the city. Explosion after explosion. Russian terrorists targeted it with missiles and drones,” he said.
It was one of a number of cities across the country that were targeted by Russian drones overnight. In the city of Odesa, one person was killed.
Analysis: How Ukraine’s drone-infested front is slowing Russia’s advance
Saturday 19 July 2025 22:00
,
Alexander Butler
Ukraine war veterans to be ringside for Usyk’s heavyweight fight at Wembley Stadium
Saturday 19 July 2025 21:00
,
Athena Stavrou
Zelensky offers Russia fresh peace talks
Saturday 19 July 2025 20:45
,
Alexander Butler
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday that Kyiv has sent Moscow an offer to hold another round of peace talks next week, and that he wanted to speed up negotiations for a ceasefire.
Ukraine and Russia have held two rounds of talks in Istanbul over the past five months. They have agreed to swap prisoners but made no breakthroughs in ending almost three and a half years of conflict that started with Russia's 2022 invasion.
“Everything should be done to achieve a ceasefire,” Mr Zelensky said in his evening address to the nation. “The Russian side should stop hiding from decisions,” he added.
The president said Rustem Umerov, who headed the Ukrainian delegation at both talks in Istanbul, had sent the Russian side the offer to hold the meeting next week, but gave no more details.
Umerov, a former defence minister, was appointed last week as the head of the National Security and Defence Council and tasked with adding more momentum to the negotiations.
Russia has been pressing a grinding offensive along the eastern front in Ukraine's Donetsk region. It has repeatedly said it is ready for a new round of talks but has not backed down from what Kyiv and its allies describe as its maximalist war aims.
US President Donald Trump, who has sharpened his tone against Russia in recent weeks amid worsening air strikes on Ukrainian cities, threatened harsher sanctions on Russia earlier this month if a peace deal was not reached within 50 days.
In pics: People take shelter inside a metro station during a Russian drone strike
Saturday 19 July 2025 20:28
,
Athena Stavrou
Watch: Zelensky thanks Trump after US president threatens Putin with sanctions if no peace in Ukraine in 50 days
Saturday 19 July 2025 19:42
,
Athena Stavrou
Analysis: How Ukraine’s drone-infested front is slowing Russia’s advance
Saturday 19 July 2025 19:01
,
Athena Stavrou
Lammy warns Kremlin: We see what you are doing
Saturday 19 July 2025 18:20
,
Athena Stavrou
The UK has sanctioned a string of Russian spies and hackers, accusing them of carrying out a campaign to “destabilise Europe”.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy said: “GRU spies are running a campaign to destabilise Europe, undermine Ukraine’s sovereignty and threaten the safety of British citizens.
“The Kremlin should be in no doubt: we see what they are trying to do in the shadows and we won’t tolerate it. That’s why we’re taking decisive action with sanctions against Russian spies.”
How does the EU aims to put the squeeze on the Russian economy?
Saturday 19 July 2025 17:34
,
Athena Stavrou
The European Union’s 18th sanctions package against Russia over its war in Ukraine targets Moscow’s energy and financial sectors to limit its ability to fund war in Ukraine.
Key measures include a lower oil price cap, Nord Stream transaction ban, more shadow fleet sanctions, and a full ban on Russian bank deals.
“We are striking at the heart of Russia's war machine,” EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said in a post on X.
The measures are intended to ramp up pressure on Russia amid flagging peace negotiations, as well as targeting companies and countries that allow Moscow to evade existing sanctions.
More here.
Latest pictures from Ukraine
Saturday 19 July 2025 16:44
,
Athena Stavrou
Russia launches 'hellish' six-hour bombardment on Ukrainian city
Saturday 19 July 2025 15:50
,
Athena Stavrou
Russia launched what has been described as a “hellish” aerial attack on the eastern Ukrainian city of Pavlohrad overnight.
The head of the Dnipropetrovsk region, Sergey Lysak, said the city had been bombarded for six-hours with a factory, fire station and five-storey residential building hit.
“A hellish night and morning for Pavlohrad. The most intense attack on the city. Explosion after explosion. Russian terrorists targeted it with missiles and drones,” he said.
It was one of a number of cities across the country that were targeted by Russian drones overnight. In the city of Odesa, one person was killed.
Kyiv accuses Russia of leaving Ukrainians stranded at Georgian border
Saturday 19 July 2025 15:31
,
Athena Stavrou
Ukraine's foreign minister accused Russia on Saturday of deporting Ukrainians into Georgia and leaving them stranded there without proper documents hundreds of miles from their home.
Andrii Sybiha said Russia was stepping up the expulsions of Ukrainians - many of them former prisoners - over the southern frontier, rather than sending them directly over its border with Ukraine.
That amounted to Russia "weaponizing the deportation of Ukrainian citizens," he added on X.
There was no immediate response from Moscow, which has denied accusations of mistreating or targeting civilians since its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
"Since June, Russia has significantly increased the number of deported Ukrainian nationals, mostly former convicts, to the border with Georgia," Sybiha wrote.
"As a result, dozens of people, many of whom lack proper documentation, have been stuck in the transit zone."
Recap: One dead after drone attack on Odesa
Saturday 19 July 2025 15:02
,
Athena Stavrou
A mass drone attack on the Ukrainian Black Sea port of Odesa has killed one person overnight, officials said.
Mayor Hennady Trukhanov said at least 20 drones converged on the city early on Saturday, setting ablaze at least one multi-storey apartment building and killing one resident.
Pictures posted online showed a fire engulfing floors near the top of one building as president Volodymyr Zelensky said six people were injured - including a child - in the attack.
Zelensky added over 300 drones and 30 missiles had been launched at Ukraine overnight overall, with several regions affected.
Full story: Russian spies who ‘targeted Britain in sustained campaign’ sanctioned
Saturday 19 July 2025 14:28
,
Athena Stavrou
Latest pictures from Ukraine
Saturday 19 July 2025 13:59
,
Athena Stavrou
Zelensky's latest statement in full:
Saturday 19 July 2025 13:31
,
Athena Stavrou
Last night, our warriors from various units repelled another Russian attack. More than 300 strike drones and over 30 missiles of various types were launched against our cities. Target elimination is still ongoing — drones remain in the air.
Rescue operations are underway following the attack: the Donetsk, Kirovohrad, Dnipro, Sumy, Kherson, Volyn, Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv, Odesa, and Zhytomyr regions were affected.
In Sumy, critical infrastructure was damaged, leaving several thousand families without electricity. Shostka was hit with combined strikes. In Odesa, an apartment building was damaged — six people were injured, including a child. Sadly, one person was killed. My condolences to their family and loved ones. Missiles and drones also struck Pavlohrad, damaging a residential building and vital infrastructure. All relevant services are now on the ground wherever needed, restoring affected areas and assisting people after the attack.
I thank all the leaders who understand how crucial it is to promptly implement our agreements. Joint weapons production, investment in drone manufacturing in Ukraine — especially interceptor drones — the provision of air defense systems and missiles for them, and the ability to manufacture them here in Ukraine — all of this saves lives and is needed by Ukraine right now.
Zelensky on X
Lammy warns Kremlin: We see what you are doing
Saturday 19 July 2025 13:02
,
Athena Stavrou
The UK has sanctioned a string of Russian spies and hackers, accusing them of carrying out a campaign to “destabilise Europe”.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy said: “GRU spies are running a campaign to destabilise Europe, undermine Ukraine’s sovereignty and threaten the safety of British citizens.
“The Kremlin should be in no doubt: we see what they are trying to do in the shadows and we won’t tolerate it. That’s why we’re taking decisive action with sanctions against Russian spies.”
Analysis: How Ukraine’s drone-infested front is slowing Russia’s advance
Saturday 19 July 2025 12:35
,
Athena Stavrou
Watch: Trump threatens Russia with sanctions and tariffs if peace with Ukraine is not reached in 50 days
Saturday 19 July 2025 11:57
,
Athena Stavrou
UK says sanctioned more than 20 Russian spies, hackers and agencies: ICYMI
Saturday 19 July 2025 11:27
,
Athena Stavrou
Britain on Friday said it had sanctioned more than 20 Russian spies, hackers and agencies over what it called a “sustained campaign of malicious cyber activity” to destabilise Europe.
The foreign ministry said it was sanctioning three units of the Russian military intelligence GRU agency and 18 of its officers, including those it said were involved in targeting strikes against Mariupol during the war in Ukraine, and spying on former agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia before they were targeted in a Novichok poisoning in 2018.
In full: How the EU aims to put the squeeze on the Russian economy with new sanctions package
Saturday 19 July 2025 11:02
,
Athena Stavrou
EU’s 18th sanctions package against Moscow explained:
Australia delivers Abrams tanks to Ukraine
Saturday 19 July 2025 10:42
,
Athena Stavrou
The Australian government this morning said it delivered M1A1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine as part of a A$245m ($160m) package to help the country defend itself against Russia in their ongoing war.
Australia, one of the largest non-Nato contributors to Ukraine, has been supplying aid, ammunition and defence equipment since Moscow invaded its neighbour in February 2022.
Ukraine has taken possession of most of the 49 tanks given by Australia, and the rest will be delivered in coming months, said defence minister Richard Marles.
The "M1A1 Abrams tanks will make a significant contribution to Ukraine's ongoing fight against Russia's illegal and immoral invasion," Mr Marles said in a statement.
The tanks formed part of the A$1.5bn ($980m) that Canberra has provided Ukraine in the conflict, the government said.
Australia has also banned exports of alumina and aluminium ores, including bauxite, to Russia, and has sanctioned about 1,000 Russian individuals and entities.
Explained: Which areas do the latest sanctions apply to?
Saturday 19 July 2025 10:17
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Athena Stavrou
The European Union’s 18th sanctions package against Russia over its war in Ukraine targets Moscow’s energy and financial sectors to limit its ability to fund war in Ukraine.
Here’s a look at the key measures:
- A moving price cap on Russian crude oil at 15 percent below market price.
- A ban on importing petroleum products made from Russian crude, excluding imports from Norway, Britain, the US, Canada and Switzerland.
- A further 105 shadow fleet vessels banned.
- Transactions related to Russia's Nord Stream gas pipelines will be banned.
- A full ban on all transactions with Russian financial institutions.
- A ban on transactions with Russia’s sovereign wealth fund.
- Lowered threshold for sanctions on financial and credit institutions circumventing sanctions.
Pictured: Damage to Odesa after Russian attack
Saturday 19 July 2025 09:38
,
Athena Stavrou
Zelensky and Trump's potential drone 'mega-deal' - recap
Saturday 19 July 2025 09:16
,
Athena Stavrou
Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky are considering a deal that involves Washington buying battlefield-tested Ukrainian drones in exchange for Kyiv purchasing weapons from the US.
The Ukrainian president said his latest talks with Mr Trump focused on a deal that would help each country bolster its aerial technology.
Ukrainian drones have been able to strike targets as deep as 800 miles (1,300 km) into Russian territory.
“The people of America need this technology, and you need to have it in your arsenal,” Mr Zelensky told the New York Post this week.
The Ukrainian leader said drones were the key tool that has allowed his country to fight off Russia's invasion for more than three years.
“We will be ready to share this experience with America and other European partners,” he said. Ukraine was also in talks with Denmark, Norway and Germany, Mr Zelensky said.
Six injured including a child in Odesa: Zelensky
Saturday 19 July 2025 08:46
,
Athena Stavrou
Six people including a child were injured in a Russian drone attack on Ukraine’s Odesa overnight, Zelensky said.
In a statement on X, he said: “In Odesa, an apartment building was damaged — six people were injured, including a child. Sadly, one person was killed. My condolences to their family and loved ones.”
Pictured: Emergency services rush to rescue Odesa residents
Saturday 19 July 2025 08:11
,
Athena Stavrou
Zelensky: Over 300 Russian drones launched overnight
Saturday 19 July 2025 07:54
,
Athena Stavrou
Volodymyr Zelensky has claimed Russia launched over 300 drones and 30 missiles at Ukraine overnight.
The Ukrainian president said target elimination remains ongoing as drones remain in the air.
Rescue operations are underway in areas affected which include the Donetsk, Kirovohrad, Dnipro, Sumy, Kherson, Volyn, Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv, Odesa, and Zhytomyr regions.
“In Sumy, critical infrastructure was damaged, leaving several thousand families without electricity. Shostka was hit with combined strikes,” he wrote on X.
“In Odesa, an apartment building was damaged — six people were injured, including a child. Sadly, one person was killed.”
How the EU aims to put the squeeze on the Russian economy?
Saturday 19 July 2025 07:18
,
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
The European Union’s 18th sanctions package against Russia over its war in Ukraine targets Moscow’s energy and financial sectors to limit its ability to fund war in Ukraine.
Key measures include a lower oil price cap, Nord Stream transaction ban, more shadow fleet sanctions, and a full ban on Russian bank deals.
“We are striking at the heart of Russia's war machine,” EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said in a post on X.
The measures are intended to ramp up pressure on Russia amid flagging peace negotiations, as well as targeting companies and countries that allow Moscow to evade existing sanctions.
More here.