War has been raging in Ukraine since February 24, 2022. You can find all developments in the country and the European security situation here in the ticker.
Brief summary of past events:
- Since February 24, 2022, the Russian army has been waging a war of aggression against Ukraine. Ukraine launched a counteroffensive in the Russian border region of Kursk in August 2024.
- Promising peace negotiations have stalled, and Russian attacks have increased significantly.
Tue 18:23
Trump-Putin meeting apparently not taking place
The planned meeting in Budapest between US President Donald Trump and Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin will apparently not take place after all. US officials told the AFP news agency. Trump will not meet with Putin in the near future, they say.
Diplomats had previously told Reuters that the meeting could be canceled because Russia was unwilling to agree to an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine. The information reportedly came to light after a preparatory meeting between diplomats from both countries.
The foreign ministers of the United States and Russia were also scheduled to meet in Budapest on Thursday, but this meeting has now also been postponed.
October 21, 2025
Tue 15:56
Is the Trump-Putin summit in Hungary in jeopardy?
The summit between Trump and Putin in Hungary could be delayed, according to sources familiar with the matter, CNN said. According to the source, a preliminary meeting between the two countries' foreign ministers has been postponed for the time being. The meeting was scheduled to take place this week. Whether a rescheduled date has been set yet is unknown.
It's also unclear why the meeting didn't take place this week. Russia has publicly opposed Trump's demand to freeze the conflict on the front line. However, it's unclear whether this is the reason for the postponement of the meeting.
Trump said last week after his conversation with Putin that he expected them to meet within about two weeks, fairly soon. The Kremlin downplayed this timeline the next day, stating that the meeting could take place within two weeks or a little later.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Tuesday that the summit could not be postponed because a date had never been set. You can't postpone anything that wasn't planned, he told reporters.
October 21, 2025
Tue 00:23
Trump: I don't think Ukraine will win the war
US President Donald Trump says he does not believe that Ukraine will win the war against the Russian aggressors – but he does not completely rule it out either.
During an appearance with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Trump was asked about his statement about a month ago that Ukraine, with the support of the European Union, might be able to reclaim territories occupied by Russia. When asked about this, he said:"They could still win. I don't think they will—but they still could. I never said they would win, I said they could win." War is a very strange business, he continued."A lot of bad things happen. A lot of good things happen."
Freeze front line
Over the weekend, Trump advocated freezing the current front lines to end the fighting in Ukraine. He plans to meet with Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin in Budapest soon.
Before Trump's comments, the Financial Times reported that Trump had urged Zelensky at the meeting on Friday to give up the entire Donbas region in eastern Ukraine in exchange for an end to the war. Completely annexing the Donbas is one of the goals of the Russian war of aggression launched in February 2022. Russia currently controls a large part of it, but not the entire region.
In a Fox News interview broadcast on Sunday, Trump also said Putin would take something. He described the territories occupied by Russia as"property." I mean, they fought—and he has a lot of property. (DPA)
October 20, 2025
Mon 16:48
Selensky criticizes Hungary as a negotiating venue and suggests Switzerland
I don't think a prime minister who blocks Ukraine everywhere can achieve anything positive for the Ukrainians, or at least something balanced, Zelensky told the Ukrainian news agency Interfax-Ukraina. I don't think Budapest is the best place for this meeting, the Ukrainian president continued. He named the Vatican, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Switzerland as possible alternatives.
It seems to me that the current Prime Minister of Hungary is among those who constantly promote the idea of Russia's supposedly unconditional advantage in this war. And when we talk about mediation, I don't think the current Prime Minister of Hungary has, let's say, an appropriate stance on this, Zelensky continued.
October 20, 2025
Mon 05:02
Trump calls for freezing the front line in Ukraine
To end the fighting in Ukraine, US President Donald Trump believes the front lines should be frozen – including the resulting division of the eastern Donbass region. Russia and Ukraine should each remain where their troops are currently located; anything further would be very difficult to negotiate, Trump told journalists on a flight on his government aircraft, Air Force One. He argued that the Donbass should be divided along the front lines. Russia currently controls most of the eastern Ukrainian region.
Trump went on to say that the warring parties could negotiate later. He also told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that during his visit to Washington on Friday. The soldiers should turn back; the bloodshed must end. Go home, stop the fighting, stop the killing, Trump said on the return flight from the US state of Florida to Washington.
Before 2014, the industrial region of Donbass had a population of approximately 6.5 million and, with its coal and iron production, was the core of Ukraine's heavy industry. However, many mines and factories were already outdated by then. Abandoning the Donetsk and Luhansk regions would mean Russia gaining territory without a fight that it could never conquer militarily. Furthermore, Kyiv would lose a well-fortified defensive perimeter with the part of Donbass still controlled by Ukraine.
Trump denies report of conversation with Zelensky
Before Trump's comments, the Financial Times, citing unnamed sources, reported that at the meeting on Friday, he urged Zelensky to surrender the entire Donbass region in exchange for an end to the war. This would allow Russian President Vladimir Putin to achieve one of his most important goals in the war, which has been ongoing since 2022.
A journalist asked Trump during the flight whether he had actually told Zelensky on Friday that Ukraine had to give up the Donbass. Trump replied that this had not been discussed at the meeting. (DPA)
October 20, 2025
Mon 04:26
Russian authorities: Two dead in Ukrainian attack on Belgorod region
According to authorities, two people were killed in a Ukrainian drone strike in the western Russian border region of Belgorod. The two civilians were killed in the village of Yasnye Zori after a drone dropped explosives on a farm, regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov announced on the online service Telegram on Monday night. Another civilian was injured.
Since the beginning of its offensive around three and a half years ago, Russia has fired drones and missiles at Ukraine almost daily. Kyiv regularly responds with attacks on Russian territory, particularly on energy infrastructure facilities.
Russia has intensified its attacks on Ukraine's civilian infrastructure in recent weeks, leaving thousands of people without electricity and heating as winter approaches. In response, Ukraine has intensified its attacks on Russia's western border regions and its oil and gas facilities. (AFP)
October 19, 2025
Sun 08:56
Russia and Ukraine continue drone war
Ukraine says it shot down 40 Russian drones overnight. A total of 62 unmanned aerial vehicles of various types were used by the Russian military, the Ukrainian Air Force reported on Telegram. 19 combat drones landed in seven different locations.
The Russian Defense Ministry, for its part, reported 45 Ukrainian drones downed. According to the statement, the majority were intercepted over the Samara and Saratov regions along the Volga River. However, the ministry did not provide details on impacts, possible damage, or casualties.
According to Governor Yevgeny Solntsev, drone attacks on a gas factory in the Orenburg region in the Urals, more than 900 kilometers from Ukraine, led to a fire in a factory hall. (DPA)
October 19, 2025
Sun 04:21
Putin demanded control over Donetsk in Trump call – a step forward for the US
According to a media report, Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin demanded the cession of the strategically important Donetsk region from Ukraine as a condition for an end to Russia's war of aggression in his phone call with US President Donald Trump. In return, Moscow is said to be willing to give up parts of two other regions partially occupied by Russia, Zaporizhia and Kherson, the Washington Post reported, citing two people familiar with the content of Thursday's phone call.
In the course of the invasion that began more than three and a half years ago, Russia has almost completely occupied the eastern Ukrainian region of Luhansk and partially occupied the Donetsk, Zaporizhia and Kherson regions claimed by the Kremlin.
Previously, Putin had reportedly demanded that Kyiv completely abandon the Luhansk and Donetsk regions in exchange for freezing the front in Zaporizhia and Kherson.
According to the newspaper report, some White House officials therefore presented the new demand for Donetsk as progress, since it now only concerned Donetsk. Kyiv has not yet commented publicly on the matter. Russia has controlled the Crimean peninsula, which is also claimed by Moscow, since 2014. (DPA)
October 17, 2025
Fri 16:34
Hungary guarantees Putin immunity from prosecution for meetings
The Hungarian government has assured Russian President Vladimir Putin that it will not enforce the existing arrest warrant if Putin travels to the country."We also await President Vladimir Putin with respect," Szijjártó said at a press conference in Budapest, according to Hungarian media reports.
The Hungarian government guarantees the Russian president unhindered entry and exit into Hungary, as well as the successful conduct of his negotiations. This does not require any coordination with anyone, as we are a sovereign country, the minister continued.
How Putin is supposed to get to the Hungarian border is currently unclear: Although Orban's government has now assured him that the International Criminal Court's penal order will not be enforced, Putin would have to enter the territory of other European states that are also members of the ICC to make the trip.
October 16, 2025
Thu 22:01
Moscow resorts to dialogue as soon as it hears of Tomahawks
Zelensky has arrived in Washington. A meeting with Trump is planned for Friday. However, the US president had previously spoken with Putin by phone. The two have agreed to meet in Hungary.
In an X-post, Zelensky commented: Putin is certainly no braver than Hamas or other terrorists. The language of strength and justice will inevitably be directed against Russia as well. We can already observe that Moscow is rushing to resume dialogue as soon as it hears of Tomahawks.
October 16, 2025
Thu 20:26
We are ready!: Orban welcomes Trump-Putin meeting
The planned meeting between the American and Russian presidents is great news for the peace-loving people of this world. We are ready! writes Viktor Orban on X. Trump had previously announced the meeting on his Truth Social platform in the struggle to end Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine.
Hungary is still officially a member of the International Criminal Court. Although the country announced its withdrawal on April 3, 2025, the withdrawal will not take effect until June 2, 2026, according to the International Criminal Court. Since there is an arrest warrant against Putin, Orban should actually have the Russian president arrested during a visit to Budapest.
The International Criminal Court cannot enforce compliance with its arrest warrants militarily. Enforcement depends on the willingness of states to cooperate.
October 16, 2025
Thu 19:58
Pause in fighting for repairs at Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant
According to Russian officials, a decision on a pause in the fighting at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant could be made as early as Friday. This decision is intended to allow for repairs to the power lines at the Russian-controlled nuclear power plant in Ukraine, according to Russian state media.
Alexei Likhachev, head of the state-owned nuclear company Rosatom, was quoted as saying that the introduction of a quiet period could allow work on two damaged power lines to the power plant. This is a very difficult decision that requires a balanced approach. It is very preliminary, very preliminary, and it is possible that such a decision could be implemented as early as tomorrow, Likhachev was quoted as saying on Thursday.
October 16, 2025
Thu 19:21
Meeting between Putin and Trump
In the struggle to end the war in Ukraine, US President Donald Trump has announced a personal meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Hungary. The date has not yet been set, the Republican said on Thursday. (DPA)
October 16, 2025
Thu 16:37
Telephone conversation between Trump and Putin planned for Thursday
According to media reports, US President Donald Trump plans to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin today. The topic of the conversation will be the war in Ukraine, the portals Axios and The Hill reported, citing a person familiar with the plans and the White House.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected at the White House on Friday. There, he hopes to obtain approval from Trump for the sale of long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles to his country. The deal could be financed by NATO partners. The Kremlin has strongly warned the US government against such a delivery. Russia's former president and Security Council deputy head Dmitry Medvedev even hinted at a possible retaliation with nuclear weapons. (DPA)
October 16, 2025
Thu 03:50
EU drone defence to be launched by the end of 2026
The European Commission aims to ensure that EU member states make significant progress in drone defense by the end of next year. According to information from the German Press Agency, the Brussels agency's upgrade plans envisage that the heads of state and government will approve a corresponding initiative this year, primarily designed to protect against Russian drones. After that, the joint procurement of surveillance systems and defense technology could begin. The first parts of the system are expected to be operational by the end of 2026, and the entire system by the end of 2027.
Recent repeated violations of EU member states' airspace have highlighted the urgency of creating a flexible, responsive, and modern European capability to counter unmanned aircraft, according to the roadmap to be presented this Thursday by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas and EU Defence Industry Commissioner Andrius Kubilius. (DPA)
October 16, 2025
Thu 01:32
Trump: India will no longer buy oil from Russia
According to US President Donald Trump, India will no longer purchase oil from Russia, thereby giving in to a US demand. The Republican told the White House that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had assured him that the country would no longer purchase oil from Russia. The US imposed punitive tariffs on India in August because the country trades energy with Russia. The US wants to stop this trade in order to weaken Russia economically and thus make it more difficult to finance the war in Ukraine.
Energy deals are an important source of income for Russia. Trump said India's halt to purchasing oil from Russia was a major step. The process would soon be completed. Now it's time to get China to do the same.
India is so far Russia's only trading partner against which the US has imposed tariffs in the context of the war. The US is imposing additional tariffs of 25 percent on Indian products.
In recent weeks, Trump had softened his tone toward India and announced that he would resume talks with the country about trade relations. He described Modi as a very good friend. (DPA)
October 15, 2025
Wed 1:10 PM
Ukrainian delegation meets manufacturer of Tomahawk cruise missiles
A Ukrainian government delegation met with representatives of several defense companies during its visit to the United States. Presidential Chief of Staff Andriy Yermak announced on Wednesday that they had held talks with representatives of Lockheed Martin and Raytheon.
Raytheon manufactures the Tomahawk cruise missile. US President Donald Trump recently considered threatening Moscow with a delivery of Tomahawks to Kyiv if Russia did not cease its attacks on Ukraine. The Kremlin warned that this would represent a completely new level of escalation.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky plans to meet with US President Donald Trump in Washington on Friday to discuss continued support for Ukraine in its defensive war against Russia. Zelensky had already discussed the use of long-range weapons in two phone calls with Trump. (AFP)
October 15, 2025
Wed 03:02
Airspace violation: NATO discusses better deterrence
In light of the recent airspace violations by Russian fighter jets and kamikaze drones, the defense ministers of the NATO states are meeting this Wednesday to discuss joint efforts for better deterrence and defense.
Some member states believe that NATO should demonstrate an even stronger presence in the eastern Alliance territory in the future – also to make it difficult for Russia to concentrate militarily on the war against Ukraine.
New announcements for Ukraine?
Between the NATO and EU meetings, further military aid for Ukraine, which has been attacked by Russia, will be coordinated on Wednesday afternoon under the leadership of Germany and Great Britain. Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umyerov is also expected to attend the meeting of the so-called Ukraine Contact Group. He is expected to provide an update on the situation at the front and outline which defense equipment his armed forces currently need most urgently.
New deployment for the eastern flank is already underway
The new NATO mission to secure airspace on the eastern flank was launched in September in response to suspected deliberate airspace violations by Russian kamikaze drones in Poland. The initiative, called Eastern Sentry (roughly translated: Guardian of the East), is primarily intended to mobilize additional surveillance and air defense capabilities. (DPA)
October 14, 2025
Tue 19:23
Selensky expels mayor of Odessa
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has denaturalized the mayor of the port city of Odessa, Hennady Trukhanov. The existence of Russian citizenship has also been confirmed for several individuals, and corresponding decisions regarding them have been prepared. The decree has been signed, Zelensky announced on Telegram after a meeting with intelligence chief Vasyl Malyuk, without naming names. Trukhanov could even face deportation.
Shortly afterwards, the SBU (Security Service of the Russian Federation) confirmed that the revocation of citizenship concerned the Odessa mayor. A copy of the Russian passport allegedly belonging to him was published, which was apparently valid until December. It cannot be independently verified whether the image is a genuine document.
Trukhanov himself has repeatedly denied the accusation."I have never held a Russian passport," he told public television after the revocation of his Ukrainian citizenship became known. Trukhanov intends to sue, citing an intelligence background check on him in 2022.
With the loss of citizenship, the elected mayor is effectively removed from office. Nevertheless, Trukhanov stated that he intends to continue to perform his duties until the city council makes a corresponding decision.
In a video address that evening, Zelensky announced the appointment of a military administrator for the port city. Far too many security questions in Odessa have gone unanswered for far too long, the head of state said, without providing any specific details. Odessa needs stronger protection and more support. (DPA)
October 13, 2025
Mon 19:33
Selensky hopes for Trump meeting
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced he will travel to Washington later this week to meet with US President Donald Trump. He will join a Ukrainian delegation holding talks with politicians and businesses in the US, Zelensky said on Monday during a visit by EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas to Kyiv. He hoped to meet with Trump on Friday.
The Ukrainian delegation has already left for the United States, Zelensky said. During his visit, he also intends to meet with representatives of US defense companies.
Zelensky further stated that he had spoken with Trump twice by phone in recent days. They discussed the challenges facing Ukraine in light of Russian attacks on its energy infrastructure and the situation on the battlefield.
Trump said on Sunday that he could threaten Russian President Vladimir Putin with a delivery of long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles to Kyiv if Russia did not stop its attacks on Ukraine.
Since his meeting with Putin in Alaska in August, which failed to achieve progress toward peace, Washington has been discussing a possible delivery of the cruise missiles to Kyiv via its European allies. (DPA)
October 13, 2025
Mon 16:36
Selensky hopes for a solution for Ukraine after Gaza ceasefire
Following the breakthrough in the Gaza war, Ukrainian President Zelensky also hopes for peace for his war-torn country. Russian aggression remains the last global source of instability, and if a ceasefire and peace for the Middle East can be achieved, the leadership and determination of global actors can also work for and in Ukraine, the head of state wrote on social media.
Zelensky specifically addressed US President Donald Trump, whose mediation between Israel and the Islamist Hamas made peace in the Middle East possible. (DPA)
October 13, 2025
Mon 16:26
Selensky is scheduled to travel to Washington on Friday
According to information from the Financial Times, Zelensky is scheduled to fly to Washington on Friday and meet with Trump at the White House. The two heads of state spoke twice by phone last week, discussing the sale of Tomahawk missiles and how to end the war. According to the Financial Times' Ukraine correspondent, a Ukrainian delegation has already arrived in Washington. Negotiations are expected to continue throughout the week.
October 13, 2025
Mon 04:35
Trump: Could use delivery of Tomahawk cruise missiles as leverage against Putin
US President Donald Trump has said he could threaten Russian President Vladimir Putin with delivering long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles to Kyiv if Russia doesn't stop its attacks on Ukraine."I might talk to him. I might say, 'Listen, if this war doesn't stop, I'm going to send them Tomahawks,'" Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday before departing for the Middle East.
Tomahawks are a new level of aggression, added Trump, who traveled to Israel and Egypt to attend an international peace summit for the Gaza Strip on Monday.
Do they want Tomahawks flying in their direction? I don't think so, Trump added.
Since his meeting with Putin in Alaska in August, which failed to make progress toward peace, Washington has been discussing a possible delivery of the cruise missiles to Kyiv – via its European allies.
In this context, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov warned on Sunday of a truly dramatic moment of rising tensions on all sides. The Tomahawk issue is a matter of extreme concern, Peskov said on state television. Putin also recently stated that the delivery of Tomahawk cruise missiles to Kyiv would represent a completely new level of escalation.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke with Trump twice in two days, urging him to mediate peace for his country as well. Zelensky said on X that the talks focused primarily on air defense, long-range weapons, and the protection of Ukraine's energy sector, which has been repeatedly attacked by Russia. He did not specify whether he had also asked Trump for Tomahawk cruise missiles. (AFP)
October 13, 2025
Mon 02:09
Report: Ukrainian attack hits oil depot in Crimea
According to Russian sources, a Ukrainian drone attack has set fire to a large tank farm on the Russian-annexed Crimean peninsula. A drone struck an oil depot in the city of Feodosia overnight, sparking the fire, the Russian news agency TASS reported, citing Moscow's governor in Crimea, Sergei Aksyonov. There are currently no reports of injuries.
A total of more than 20 drones were shot down over Crimea, it added. The Russian Defense Ministry had previously reported on Sunday evening that 37 drones had been shot down over several Russian regions, the Black Sea, and the Sea of Azov. The fuel depot had already been set ablaze by a Ukrainian drone attack last year.
In its strategy to repel the Russian invasion, Ukraine repeatedly attacks oil facilities behind the front lines to disrupt the enemy's fuel supply. Russia also attacks Ukraine with combat drones and missiles.
On Sunday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that in the past week alone, Russia had used more than 3,100 drones, 92 missiles, and around 1,360 glide bombs against Ukraine. (DPA)
