Ukraine's reported counteroffensive in the Kharkiv region comes as its forces have gained new momentum and altered the battlefield this month.

Russia-Ukraine War: Ukraine's two-front war: A strategic dilemma

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi began his one-day visit to war-torn Ukraine on Friday (Aug 23). This is the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Ukraine since its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. Modi's visit also comes as the war between Russia and Ukraine rages on.

Show goes on in Kyiv's Opera House: Ballet and Opera provide solace amid war

The NATO air base in the German town of Geilenkirchen remained at high alert on Friday, a spokesperson said, after the security level was raised overnight "based on intelligence information indicating a potential threat".

NATO airbase in Germany remains at high alert

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday (August 22) said that Ukraine attempted to attack the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant, located in the country's region near the border.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday (August 22) said that Ukraine attempted to attack the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant, located in the country's region near the border. This area experienced an incursion by Kyiv's forces over two weeks ago. What did Putin claim about the Kursk nuclear power plant? During a meeting in Moscow concerning the Russian border regions of Belgorod, Bryansk, and Kursk, Putin stated, “The enemy tried to strike the (Kursk) nuclear power plant last night.” He also noted that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) had been informed and had agreed to send experts to assess the situation at the plant. Also read: Chinese man invades North Korea in a never-thought way, flies drone across the border What is the current situation at the plant? During the meeting in Moscow, the acting Governor of Kursk, Alexey Smirnov assured that the plant's situation remained stable. Earlier, the Russian defence ministry reported intercepting a Ukrainian drone over the Kursk region during an overnight attack. Ukrainian officials have not yet responded to these claims. Accusations between Ukraine and Russia regarding nuclear safety Throughout the 2.5-year conflict, Ukraine and Russia have traded accusations regarding threats to nuclear safety. Russian forces initially took control of the abandoned Chernobyl plant and Europe’s largest nuclear facility, the Zaporizhzhia plant, at the start of their large-scale military offensive. Members of Indian Diaspora expressed optimism on PM Modi's visit to Ukraine × Russia continues to control the Zaporizhzhia site and has faced accusations of "nuclear blackmail" from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Moscow, however, claims Ukrainian forces have attempted multiple drone strikes on the plant. Indian PM’s message ahead of his Ukraine visit Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, speaking in Poland on Thursday, stressed that conflicts cannot be resolved through combat. His upcoming visit to Kyiv is the first by an Indian premier. Also read: Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim goes all Indian, sings Hindi song at his farewell in Delhi Modi is expected to advocate for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict that began with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The Indian government has avoided directly condemning Russia unlike the West and has instead promoted dialogue between both sides. “It is India’s strong belief that no problem can be resolved on a battlefield,” the Indian PM said. He added that India supports “dialogue and diplomacy for restoration of peace and stability as soon as possible” and condemned “the loss of innocent lives in any conflict.” Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on Ukraine-Russia war on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos (With inputs from agencies)

Russia accuses Ukraine of attempting to attack Kursk nuclear plant

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday (Aug 18) that the Ukrainian military's invasion into Russia's Kursk region aimed to create a buffer zone to prevent further attacks by Moscow across the border.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday (Aug 18) that the Ukrainian military's invasion into Russia's Kursk region aimed to create a buffer zone to prevent further attacks by Moscow across the border. This was the first time that President Zelensky clearly stated the aim of the operation, which was launched on August 6, a report by the news agency Associated Press said. Previously, he had said the operation aimed to protect communities in the bordering Sumy region from constant shelling. 'Our primary task...' In his nightly address, Zelensky said, "It is now our primary task in defensive operations overall: to destroy as much Russian war potential as possible and conduct maximum counteroffensive actions." Also read | Russia and Ukraine were close to ceasefire talks until this happened... "This includes creating a buffer zone on the aggressor’s territory -– our operation in the Kursk region,” he added. The Ukrainian president pointed out that the military achieved good and much-needed results. Citing analysts, the Associated Press report said that although Ukraine could try to consolidate its gains inside Russia, it would be risky, given Kyiv’s limited resources, because its supply lines extending deep into Kursk would be vulnerable. The incursion has proven Ukraine’s ability to seize the initiative and has boosted its morale, which was sapped by a failed counteroffensive last summer and months of grinding Russian gains in the eastern Donbas region. In the latest news from the incursion, Ukrainian air forces destroyed another strategic bridge over the Seym River, limiting the supply capacity of a Russian group opposing Kyiv's advance. Permission to strike deeper into Russia On Saturday, Zelensky sought permission from Ukraine's allies to lift remaining restrictions on using Western weapons to attack targets deeper in Russia, including in Kursk, saying his troops could deprive Moscow “of any ability to advance and cause destruction” if granted sufficient long-range capabilities. “It is crucial that our partners remove barriers that hinder us from weakening Russian positions in the way this war demands. … The bravery of our soldiers and the resilience of our combat brigades compensate for the lack of essential decisions from our partners,” Zelensky said in a post on X. (With inputs from agencies)

Ukraine war: Zelensky mentions the aim of Kyiv's Kursk invasion

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which is the nuclear watchdog of the United Nations (UN), warned on Saturday (Aug 17) that the safety situation at Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant was “deteriorating” after a nearby drone strike.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which is the nuclear watchdog of the United Nations (UN), warned on Saturday (Aug 17) that the safety situation at Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant was “deteriorating” after a nearby drone strike. The plant, which was seized by Russia’s forces early in the war, has come under repeated attacks that both sides have accused each other of carrying out. Also read | Ukraine war: What is Kyiv's daring 'White Triangle' invasion? Earlier on Saturday, Russia accused Ukraine of dropping an explosive charge on a road near the occupied plant in southern Ukraine, a report by the news agency AFP said. IAEA calls for maximum restraint from all sides IAEA experts on the site were informed of the detonation near essential plant facilities on Saturday and immediately visited the area, the agency said in a statement. Experts reported that the damage seemed to have been caused by a drone equipped with an explosive payload, affecting the road between the plant's two main gates. “Yet again we see an escalation of the nuclear safety and security dangers facing the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant,” the IAEA head, Rafael Grossi, said in the statement. “I remain extremely concerned and reiterate my call for maximum restraint from all sides,” he added. The UN watchdog also pointed out that the nuclear safety situation at the plant was deteriorating. Intense military activity reported near the plant The IAEA team on site also reported intense military activity over the past week in the area, including very close to the Zaporizhzhia plant. “The team has heard frequent explosions, repetitive heavy machine-gun and rifle fire and artillery at various distances from the plant,” it said. Since the Ukraine war began in late February 2022, the IAEA has repeatedly urged restraint, saying it fears reckless military action could trigger a serious nuclear accident at the plant. Last weekend, Kyiv and Moscow traded blame after a fire broke out at a cooling tower at the plant. (With inputs from agencies)

Ukraine war: Safety at Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant is deteriorating, UN agency warns

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday (August 17)&nbsp;said&nbsp;that his army is "strengthening" their positions in Russia's Kursk region, where Ukraine has been conducting a major ground offensive for over 11 days.

His remarks followed Moscow's accusation that Kyiv&nbsp;had destroyed a key bridge in the border region, as part of Ukrainian&nbsp;efforts to disrupt supply lines and troop movements in the area.

<h2>Russian officials accuse&nbsp;Ukraine of targeting key&nbsp;bridge</h2>

On Friday (August 16), Russian officials accused Ukraine of targeting a strategically important bridge in the Kursk region, close to the ongoing conflict. The region's governor, Alexei Smirnov, stated that the bridge, located in the Glushkovsky district about 11 kilometres (seven miles) from the border, had been destroyed.

Aerial footage released by Ukrainian Air Force commander Mykola Oleshchuk appeared to show the bridge being struck by a high-speed projectile, collapsing in a cloud of smoke. "Ukrainian pilots are executing precise strikes on enemy strongholds, equipment concentrations, as well as on enemy logistics centers and supply routes," he said on Telegram.

<h2>Germany&nbsp;to cut&nbsp;military assistance to Kyiv by half in 2025: Report</h2>

Germany, the second-largest donor of aid to Ukraine, plans to cut its bilateral military assistance&nbsp;by half in 2025, according to a report by news agency AFP citing&nbsp;a parliamentary source on Saturday.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/idf-kills-27-in-separate-attacks-in-gaza-lebanon-hamas-dismisses-truce-claims-750987">IDF kills 27 in separate attacks in Gaza, Lebanon; Hamas dismisses truce claim</a>

Instead, Chancellor Olaf Scholz's government plans to rely on funds generated from frozen Russian assets to continue supporting Ukraine, with no plans for additional aid beyond the four billion euros ($4.4 billion) already allocated in next year's budget. This year's aid from Berlin reportedly totalled eight billion euros.

To make up for the difference, Germany is looking to create a financial instrument using frozen Russian assets within the framework of the G7 and the European Union, the&nbsp;finance ministry source told AFP.

<h2>Russia&nbsp;captures another village </h2>

On Friday, Russia claimed its forces had captured another village near Pokrovsk, a key Ukrainian-held logistics hub that is crucial for supplying troops and towns along the eastern front.

Russian forces have been slowly advancing towards the town for months reportedly&nbsp;capturing a series of small villages in recent weeks.

Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on Ukraine-Russia war on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

(With inputs from agencies)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday (August 17) said that his army is "strengthening" their positions in Russia's Kursk region, where Ukraine has been conducting a major ground offensive for over 11 days.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday (August 17) said that his army is "strengthening" their positions in Russia's Kursk region, where Ukraine has been conducting a major ground offensive for over 11 days. His remarks followed Moscow's accusation that Kyiv had destroyed a key bridge in the border region, as part of Ukrainian efforts to disrupt supply lines and troop movements in the area. Russian officials accuse Ukraine of targeting key bridge On Friday (August 16), Russian officials accused Ukraine of targeting a strategically important bridge in the Kursk region, close to the ongoing conflict. The region's governor, Alexei Smirnov, stated that the bridge, located in the Glushkovsky district about 11 kilometres (seven miles) from the border, had been destroyed. Aerial footage released by Ukrainian Air Force commander Mykola Oleshchuk appeared to show the bridge being struck by a high-speed projectile, collapsing in a cloud of smoke. "Ukrainian pilots are executing precise strikes on enemy strongholds, equipment concentrations, as well as on enemy logistics centers and supply routes," he said on Telegram. Germany to cut military assistance to Kyiv by half in 2025: Report Germany, the second-largest donor of aid to Ukraine, plans to cut its bilateral military assistance by half in 2025, according to a report by news agency AFP citing a parliamentary source on Saturday. Also read: IDF kills 27 in separate attacks in Gaza, Lebanon; Hamas dismisses truce claim Instead, Chancellor Olaf Scholz's government plans to rely on funds generated from frozen Russian assets to continue supporting Ukraine, with no plans for additional aid beyond the four billion euros ($4.4 billion) already allocated in next year's budget. This year's aid from Berlin reportedly totalled eight billion euros. To make up for the difference, Germany is looking to create a financial instrument using frozen Russian assets within the framework of the G7 and the European Union, the finance ministry source told AFP. Russia captures another village On Friday, Russia claimed its forces had captured another village near Pokrovsk, a key Ukrainian-held logistics hub that is crucial for supplying troops and towns along the eastern front. Russian forces have been slowly advancing towards the town for months reportedly capturing a series of small villages in recent weeks. Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on Ukraine-Russia war on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. (With inputs from agencies)

Ukraine tightens grip in Russia's Kursk; Germany slashes military aid to Kyiv

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko stated that the Belarus-Ukraine border is currently severely mined, and any effort by Ukrainian soldiers to cross it will result in significant losses.

Russia-Ukraine war: Military build-up on Ukraine-Belarus border

Amid ongoing offensive in Russia’s Kursk region, Ukrainian authorities have ordered evacuation in the eastern city of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region. As Kyiv forces claim to have occupied around 1,150 sq km of Russian territories, Moscow&nbsp;is pressing ahead with its own offensive and making steady gains in Donetsk. Ukraine’s top military official in Pokrovsk urged people to leave their homes as Russian forces had advanced within 10 km of the city.

“Don’t delay,” the official said on Telegram. “The enemy ruthlessly hits critical infrastructure and residential neighbourhoods.”

Deepstate, a military analysis outlet with links to Ukraine’s defence ministry, reported Wednesday (Aug 14) that Russian forces were forcefully hitting the Ukrainian cities of Pokrovsk and Toretsk and occupied parts of Niu York.

Watch:&nbsp;Russia-Ukraine war: Ukraine claims capturing 100 Russian soldiers in Kursk region

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Russian forces were “maintaining their relatively high offensive tempo in Donetsk region, demonstrating that the Russian military command continues to prioritise advances in eastern Ukraine,” the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War was quoted as saying by the Financial Times.

<h2>Why is Pokrovsk so significant for Ukraine?</h2>

Pokrovsk, located just 70 km northwest of Russian-held Donetsk city, is a key logistics hub for the war-torn country.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwip27bq3vmHAxWokK8BHdB7G1wQxfQBKAB6BAgOEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-strikes-russia-with-drones-says-it-is-advancing-deeper-750022" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-strikes-russia-with-drones-says-it-is-advancing-deeper-750022&amp;ved=2ahUKEwip27bq3vmHAxWokK8BHdB7G1wQxfQBKAB6BAgOEAE">Ukraine strikes Russia with drones, says it is advancing deeper</a>

The city sits on a key intersection that links the eastern front to the rest of the city and is used to provide supplies to the frontline soldiers.

<h2>Ukrainian offensive ‘will lead to negotiations’</h2>

Meanwhile, a top advisor to Ukrainian&nbsp;President Volodymyr Zelensky said Friday (Aug 16),&nbsp;that the purpose of the Kursk offensive was to force Russia to initiate peace negotiations.

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Incredible footage released by the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Ukrainian?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Ukrainian</a> Ministry of Defence shows early hours of the successful offensive operation of the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Ukraine?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Ukraine</a> Army in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Kursk?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Kursk</a> Oblast of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Russia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Russia</a> on August 6, 2024. <a href="https://t.co/yke5V3pryO">pic.twitter.com/yke5V3pryO</a>
— Babak Taghvaee - The Crisis Watch (@BabakTaghvaee1) <a href="https://twitter.com/BabakTaghvaee1/status/1824388759007137862?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 16, 2024</a></blockquote>
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"Ukraine is not interested in occupying Russian territories," said Mykhailo Podolyak in a statement on social media. "But if we are talking about potential negotiations – I emphasize potential – we will have to put [Russia] at the table opposite. On our own terms," he added.

Ukraine launched its surprise Kursk offensive on August 6 with targeted attacks in three border regions: Bryansk, Belgorod, and Kursk.

(With inputs from agencies)

Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

Amid ongoing offensive in Russia’s Kursk region, Ukrainian authorities have ordered evacuation in the eastern city of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region. As Kyiv forces claim to have occupied around 1,150 sq km of Russian territories, Moscow is pressing ahead with its own offensive and making steady gains in Donetsk.

Amid ongoing offensive in Russia’s Kursk region, Ukrainian authorities have ordered evacuation in the eastern city of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region. As Kyiv forces claim to have occupied around 1,150 sq km of Russian territories, Moscow is pressing ahead with its own offensive and making steady gains in Donetsk. Ukraine’s top military official in Pokrovsk urged people to leave their homes as Russian forces had advanced within 10 km of the city. “Don’t delay,” the official said on Telegram. “The enemy ruthlessly hits critical infrastructure and residential neighbourhoods.” Deepstate, a military analysis outlet with links to Ukraine’s defence ministry, reported Wednesday (Aug 14) that Russian forces were forcefully hitting the Ukrainian cities of Pokrovsk and Toretsk and occupied parts of Niu York. Watch: Russia-Ukraine war: Ukraine claims capturing 100 Russian soldiers in Kursk region × Russian forces were “maintaining their relatively high offensive tempo in Donetsk region, demonstrating that the Russian military command continues to prioritise advances in eastern Ukraine,” the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War was quoted as saying by the Financial Times. Why is Pokrovsk so significant for Ukraine? Pokrovsk, located just 70 km northwest of Russian-held Donetsk city, is a key logistics hub for the war-torn country. Also read: Ukraine strikes Russia with drones, says it is advancing deeper The city sits on a key intersection that links the eastern front to the rest of the city and is used to provide supplies to the frontline soldiers. Ukrainian offensive ‘will lead to negotiations’ Meanwhile, a top advisor to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Friday (Aug 16), that the purpose of the Kursk offensive was to force Russia to initiate peace negotiations. Incredible footage released by the #Ukrainian Ministry of Defence shows early hours of the successful offensive operation of the #Ukraine Army in #Kursk Oblast of #Russia on August 6, 2024. pic.twitter.com/yke5V3pryO — Babak Taghvaee - The Crisis Watch (@BabakTaghvaee1) August 16, 2024 × "Ukraine is not interested in occupying Russian territories," said Mykhailo Podolyak in a statement on social media. "But if we are talking about potential negotiations – I emphasize potential – we will have to put [Russia] at the table opposite. On our own terms," he added. Ukraine launched its surprise Kursk offensive on August 6 with targeted attacks in three border regions: Bryansk, Belgorod, and Kursk. (With inputs from agencies) Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

Russia launches its own offensive after Kursk attack, forces evacuation in Ukraine’s Pokrovsk

The Russia-Ukraine war has been going on for more than two years now. In the latest news from the ongoing war, thousands of troops of the Ukrainian military supported by tanks and aircraft pushed more than 30 kilometres into Russia, attacking the regions of Kursk and Belgorod.

The Russia-Ukraine war has been going on for more than two years now. In the latest news from the ongoing war, thousands of troops of the Ukrainian military supported by tanks and aircraft pushed more than 30 kilometres into Russia, attacking the regions of Kursk and Belgorod. Ukraine's offensive in Kursk appeared to catch the Kremlin off guard, with the Russian Army rushing in reserve troops, tanks, aviation, artillery and drones in a bid to quash it. This was Ukraine's largest incursion into Russian territory since the start of the war in late February 2022, leaving southwestern parts of Russia vulnerable before reinforcement started arriving. Also read | Ukraine war: Aim of Kursk offensive is to destabilise situation in Russia, says Kyiv Russian authorities rushed to evacuate thousands of residents in Kursk and announced a local state of emergency in the region. A similar situation was seen in Belgorod, with Russian authorities evacuating thousands of residents. The White Triangle Armoured vehicles of the Ukrainian military have been seen rolling across the border sporting a "White Triangle" symbol. This is the first time that Russia has been invaded since the Second World War, and also the first time anyone invaded a nuclear-armed state. Ukraine's operations in Kursk and Belgorod have led to some branding this offensive as "operation Triangle," a report by The Telegraph on Monday (Aug 12) said. The report said that in Ukraine's Sumy region, a T64 tank with a triangle on its frontal armour was seen edging down a dirt road near the border. More than 20 kilometres inside Russia, near the town of Cherkasskoe Porechnoe, a tank and other armoured vehicles carried the mark, the report added. Also watch | WION Fineprint: Has Ukraine's incursion changed the dynamics of the war? × The report also said that when Ukrainian troops drove into Kursk region's Guevo village to replace the Russian flag with their own, they drove in on a pickup truck carrying the white triangle symbol. 'A way to avoid friendly fire' Ukrainian sources told The Telegraph that the tactical marking was no more than a way for the military to avoid friendly fire as they operated behind enemy lines in a chaotic, fast-paced mission. Symbols such as the white triangle are a common part of modern warfare, especially when both sides use much of the same equipment and wear similar uniforms. When Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, many armoured vehicles had a "Z" symbol in white paint. This symbol, back in Russia, has become synonymous with support for President Vladimir Putin’s war. (With inputs from agencies)

Ukraine war: What is Kyiv's daring 'White Triangle' invasion?

When the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, a group whose founders included Robert Oppenheimer and Albert Einstein, reset its famous Doomsday Clock earlier this year, it issued a dark warning: “Ominous trends continue to point the world towards global catastrophe.”

The Bulletin’s board, which lists nine Nobel laureates, set the clock at 90 seconds to midnight, the theoretical deadline of an apocalypse. It was unchanged from the previous year but the closest to midnight since the Bulletin issued its first doomsday clock.&nbsp;

That was in 1947, two years after the end of World War II and the first, and so far only, use of nuclear weapons – the American bombs dropped on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The bombings killed an estimated 140,000 people in Hiroshima and 74,000 in Nagasaki.&nbsp;

In 1947, the doomsday clock stood at seven minutes to midnight. Two years later, after the Soviet Union exploded a nuclear device, prompting the US-Soviet nuclear arms race, the clock was set to three minutes. The farthest it was from midnight – 17 minutes – was in 1991 at the end of the Cold War and the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/the-awakening-748700">Opinion: The Awakening</a>

What prompted the Atomic Scientists to push the clock’s minute hand closer to 12? They listed a variety of threats, including Russia’s war of choice against Ukraine, the decline of nuclear arms reduction agreements, the climate crisis and the advance of Artificial Intelligence that could change the nature of future wars and magnify disinformation that could make it harder to solve the world’s existential challenges.

Since the annual presentation of the Doomsday scenario, at the beginning of the year, clouds over the future have become darker. Israel’s war on Gaza has laid waste to large parts of the enclave and killed an estimated 40,000 Palestinians. Negotiations with Hamas, the group that started the war with a massacre in October 2023, have so far been fruitless.

Tensions in the Middle East prompted fears of a wider war, involving Iran, after the assassination of the Hamas leader who led negotiations while on a visit to Iran. Ismail Haniyeh was killed in a government guest house in Tehran just hours after he attended the inauguration of Iran’s new president. The Iranian government blamed Israel and vowed retaliation.&nbsp;

Haniyeh died in July. A few weeks later, things took a turn for the worse on another flashpoint of geopolitical confrontation. 
In the first week of August, Ukrainian tanks and infantry stormed across the Russian border and captured territory in the Kursk region. It was the first

Ukrainian cross-border operation and the first time since World War II that a foreign army pushed into Russia. Within a few days, the Ukrainians advanced 30 kilometres and Russian authorities ordered the evacuation of 76,000 civilians.&nbsp;

The assault shocked the Kremlin. Videos showing Russian troops surrendering enraged Russian &nbsp;President Vladimir Putin. The unexpected Ukrainian action looked certain to make a bloody war even bloodier.

There have been dark warnings from the Kremlin on the possibility of using nuclear weapons in the confrontation with Ukraine. That is a prospect of deep worry not only for Western governments but also for the most authoritative publicly available source on the state of nuclear arsenals around the world – the Stockholm International Peace Institute (SIPRI).

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tit-for-tat-putin-declares-russia-to-resume-production-of-intermediate-range-nuclear-weapons-744964">Tit for tat? Putin warns Russia may resume production of intermediate-range nuclear weapons</a>

SIPRI publishes an annual assessment on international security, the state of armaments, and disarmament. The institute’s annual yearbooks are usually published a few months after the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. The latest, in June, paints a bleak picture of the dangers facing the world.

SIPRI’s assessment of the nuclear scene comes in the introduction to its yearbook. “The nine nuclear-armed states – the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, China, India, Pakistan, North Korea and Israel – continued to modernise their nuclear arsenals and several deployed new nuclear-armed or nuclear-capable weapon systems in 2023.”

It singled out India, Pakistan and North Korea for pursuing the capability to deploy multiple warheads on ballistic missiles to catch up with the countries that already have such weapons – the US, Russia, France, Britain and most recently China, which is said to plan to double its nuclear arsenal to 1,000 in the next five years.

The drive for more lethal weapons comes against the background of major arms-control setbacks in 2023. Russia suspended its participation in the 2010 Treaty on Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Nuclear Arms, also known as New START. It was the last remaining nuclear arms control treaty limiting Russian and US&nbsp;strategic nuclear forces.

New START is set to expire in February 2026, by which time there will be no major treaty limits on the number of strategic weapons the United States and Russia deploy. Already, the two nations disclose virtually no information about their arsenals to each other.

“We have not seen nuclear weapons playing such a prominent role in international relations since the Cold War,” said Wilfred Wan, who heads SIPRI’s Weapons of Mass Destruction Programme. “It is hard to believe that barely two years have passed since the leaders of the five largest nuclear-armed states jointly reaffirmed that a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought."

Also watch |&nbsp;US intel warns against Iran's nuclear efforts

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During the Cold War, the then Soviet Union and the United States, holders of the largest nuclear arsenals by far, subscribed to the concept of MAD – Mutually Assured Destruction. That acknowledged that a nuclear strike that devastated one superpower would trigger a counter-strike that would wipe out the other.

Just a few weeks after the SIPRI comment on the prominent role in international relations of nuclear weapons, China said it had halted nuclear arms-control talks with Washington in protest against American sales of weapons to Taiwan, a self-governing democratic island Beijing considers a breakaway province.&nbsp;

China has not ruled out military force to bring the island, 100 miles from the Chinese mainland, under control. The Chinese leadership’s decision to halt talks with Washington, and join Russia, highlights the ever-tightening links between China and Russia.

That brings to mind an observation by the American political theorist Francis Fukuyama, who became famous with a book entitled The End of History which argued that with the spread of &nbsp;Western liberal democracy humanity had reached the end of history.&nbsp;

It was published after the end of the Cold War, at a time when Western leaders were fond of talking about the “peace dividend” that would allow them to spend less on the military and more on social programmes.

History took a different course and three decades after “the end of history”, Fukuyama, now a professor at Stanford, sees a geo-political combination of forces that could lead to “the ultimate nightmare.”

In a 2022 interview, he listed the main elements of that nightmare: 1) China backing Russia’s war on Ukraine and 2) Beijing invading Taiwan. One of the elements became reality on February 24, 2022, when Russia invaded Ukraine and China, according to Western officials, began shipping to Russia machine tools, semiconductors and “dual use” parts that have become vital to Russia’s arms industry.&nbsp;

China’s role was branded as that of a “decisive enabler” of the Russian war by a meeting of the North Atlantic Treaty Alliance (NATO) &nbsp;in Washington in July. The Kremlin shrugged off the criticism.

The one part missing from “The Ultimate Nightmare” is a Chinese invasion of US-backed Taiwan. If the United States and the rest of the West couldn’t stop that happening, Fukuyama said, “then that &nbsp;really is the end of history.” &nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The writer's views do not represent those of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)&nbsp;

When the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, a group whose founders included Robert Oppenheimer and Albert Einstein, reset its famous Doomsday Clock earlier this year, it issued a dark warning: “Ominous trends continue to point the world towards global catastrophe.

When the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, a group whose founders included Robert Oppenheimer and Albert Einstein, reset its famous Doomsday Clock earlier this year, it issued a dark warning: “Ominous trends continue to point the world towards global catastrophe.” The Bulletin’s board, which lists nine Nobel laureates, set the clock at 90 seconds to midnight, the theoretical deadline of an apocalypse. It was unchanged from the previous year but the closest to midnight since the Bulletin issued its first doomsday clock. That was in 1947, two years after the end of World War II and the first, and so far only, use of nuclear weapons – the American bombs dropped on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The bombings killed an estimated 140,000 people in Hiroshima and 74,000 in Nagasaki. In 1947, the doomsday clock stood at seven minutes to midnight. Two years later, after the Soviet Union exploded a nuclear device, prompting the US-Soviet nuclear arms race, the clock was set to three minutes. The farthest it was from midnight – 17 minutes – was in 1991 at the end of the Cold War and the collapse of the Soviet Union. Also read | Opinion: The Awakening What prompted the Atomic Scientists to push the clock’s minute hand closer to 12? They listed a variety of threats, including Russia’s war of choice against Ukraine, the decline of nuclear arms reduction agreements, the climate crisis and the advance of Artificial Intelligence that could change the nature of future wars and magnify disinformation that could make it harder to solve the world’s existential challenges. Since the annual presentation of the Doomsday scenario, at the beginning of the year, clouds over the future have become darker. Israel’s war on Gaza has laid waste to large parts of the enclave and killed an estimated 40,000 Palestinians. Negotiations with Hamas, the group that started the war with a massacre in October 2023, have so far been fruitless. Tensions in the Middle East prompted fears of a wider war, involving Iran, after the assassination of the Hamas leader who led negotiations while on a visit to Iran. Ismail Haniyeh was killed in a government guest house in Tehran just hours after he attended the inauguration of Iran’s new president. The Iranian government blamed Israel and vowed retaliation. Haniyeh died in July. A few weeks later, things took a turn for the worse on another flashpoint of geopolitical confrontation. In the first week of August, Ukrainian tanks and infantry stormed across the Russian border and captured territory in the Kursk region. It was the first Ukrainian cross-border operation and the first time since World War II that a foreign army pushed into Russia. Within a few days, the Ukrainians advanced 30 kilometres and Russian authorities ordered the evacuation of 76,000 civilians. The assault shocked the Kremlin. Videos showing Russian troops surrendering enraged Russian President Vladimir Putin. The unexpected Ukrainian action looked certain to make a bloody war even bloodier. There have been dark warnings from the Kremlin on the possibility of using nuclear weapons in the confrontation with Ukraine. That is a prospect of deep worry not only for Western governments but also for the most authoritative publicly available source on the state of nuclear arsenals around the world – the Stockholm International Peace Institute (SIPRI). Also read | Tit for tat? Putin warns Russia may resume production of intermediate-range nuclear weapons SIPRI publishes an annual assessment on international security, the state of armaments, and disarmament. The institute’s annual yearbooks are usually published a few months after the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. The latest, in June, paints a bleak picture of the dangers facing the world. SIPRI’s assessment of the nuclear scene comes in the introduction to its yearbook. “The nine nuclear-armed states – the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, China, India, Pakistan, North Korea and Israel – continued to modernise their nuclear arsenals and several deployed new nuclear-armed or nuclear-capable weapon systems in 2023.” It singled out India, Pakistan and North Korea for pursuing the capability to deploy multiple warheads on ballistic missiles to catch up with the countries that already have such weapons – the US, Russia, France, Britain and most recently China, which is said to plan to double its nuclear arsenal to 1,000 in the next five years. The drive for more lethal weapons comes against the background of major arms-control setbacks in 2023. Russia suspended its participation in the 2010 Treaty on Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Nuclear Arms, also known as New START. It was the last remaining nuclear arms control treaty limiting Russian and US strategic nuclear forces. New START is set to expire in February 2026, by which time there will be no major treaty limits on the number of strategic weapons the United States and Russia deploy. Already, the two nations disclose virtually no information about their arsenals to each other. “We have not seen nuclear weapons playing such a prominent role in international relations since the Cold War,” said Wilfred Wan, who heads SIPRI’s Weapons of Mass Destruction Programme. “It is hard to believe that barely two years have passed since the leaders of the five largest nuclear-armed states jointly reaffirmed that a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought." Also watch | US intel warns against Iran's nuclear efforts × During the Cold War, the then Soviet Union and the United States, holders of the largest nuclear arsenals by far, subscribed to the concept of MAD – Mutually Assured Destruction. That acknowledged that a nuclear strike that devastated one superpower would trigger a counter-strike that would wipe out the other. Just a few weeks after the SIPRI comment on the prominent role in international relations of nuclear weapons, China said it had halted nuclear arms-control talks with Washington in protest against American sales of weapons to Taiwan, a self-governing democratic island Beijing considers a breakaway province. China has not ruled out military force to bring the island, 100 miles from the Chinese mainland, under control. The Chinese leadership’s decision to halt talks with Washington, and join Russia, highlights the ever-tightening links between China and Russia. That brings to mind an observation by the American political theorist Francis Fukuyama, who became famous with a book entitled The End of History which argued that with the spread of Western liberal democracy humanity had reached the end of history. It was published after the end of the Cold War, at a time when Western leaders were fond of talking about the “peace dividend” that would allow them to spend less on the military and more on social programmes. History took a different course and three decades after “the end of history”, Fukuyama, now a professor at Stanford, sees a geo-political combination of forces that could lead to “the ultimate nightmare.” In a 2022 interview, he listed the main elements of that nightmare: 1) China backing Russia’s war on Ukraine and 2) Beijing invading Taiwan. One of the elements became reality on February 24, 2022, when Russia invaded Ukraine and China, according to Western officials, began shipping to Russia machine tools, semiconductors and “dual use” parts that have become vital to Russia’s arms industry. China’s role was branded as that of a “decisive enabler” of the Russian war by a meeting of the North Atlantic Treaty Alliance (NATO) in Washington in July. The Kremlin shrugged off the criticism. The one part missing from “The Ultimate Nightmare” is a Chinese invasion of US-backed Taiwan. If the United States and the rest of the West couldn’t stop that happening, Fukuyama said, “then that really is the end of history.” (Disclaimer: The writer's views do not represent those of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

In an unstable world, a new nuclear arms race without constraints

Russia launched a "counter-terror operation" on Saturday (August 10) across three border regions — Belgorod, Bryansk, and Kursk — as Ukrainian forces launched their largest cross-border offensive since the conflict began two and a half years ago. The development coincided with Russia's evacuation of more than 76,000 people from border areas in its western Kursk region since Tuesday (August 6), when Ukraine launched a surprise cross-border offensive.

The Russian operation, triggered after Ukrainian units made a surprise incursion into Russia's western Kursk region on Tuesday morning, has involved the deployment of additional troops, including tanks, rocket launchers, and aviation units, to halt the advancing Ukrainian forces.

Also watch |&nbsp;Russia-Ukraine War: What's behind Ukraine's surprise incursion into Russia's Kursk?

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The Russian National Anti-Terrorism Committee announced late Friday (August 9) the start of the "counter-terror operations," to ensure the safety of citizens and neutralising purported terrorist threats posed by Ukrainian sabotage groups.

Under Russian law, the declaration of a "counter-terror" operation grants security forces and the military emergency powers. These include restricting movement, seizing vehicles, monitoring communications, designating no-go zones, establishing checkpoints, and bolstering security at critical infrastructure sites.

The committee described Ukraine's actions as an "unprecedented attempt to destabilize the situation" in the affected regions and labelled the incursion a "terrorist attack." They also claimed that Ukrainian forces had injured civilians and caused significant damage to residential buildings.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-advances-in-ukraines-kharkiv-region-to-create-buffer-zone-720105">New front opens in Russia-Ukraine war as Moscow launches surprise offensive</a>

While Ukrainian officials have remained largely silent on the operation, President Volodymyr Zelensky hinted at the success of his troops. He said earlier this week that Russia must "feel" the consequences of its full-scale offensive against Ukraine, which began in February 2022.&nbsp;

The United States, a key ally of Ukraine, said that it was not informed of the operation in advance.

On Saturday, Russia's defence ministry released footage of tank crews firing on Ukrainian positions in the Kursk region, along with footage of an overnight air strike. The ministry also claimed that 26 Ukrainian drones attempting to attack the region were shot down overnight.

(With inputs from agencies)

Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on Ukraine-Russia war on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos&nbsp;

Russia launched a "counter-terror operation" on Saturday (August 10) across three border regions — Belgorod, Bryansk, and Kursk — as Ukrainian forces launched their largest cross-border offensive since the conflict began two and a half years ago.

Russia launched a "counter-terror operation" on Saturday (August 10) across three border regions — Belgorod, Bryansk, and Kursk — as Ukrainian forces launched their largest cross-border offensive since the conflict began two and a half years ago. The development coincided with Russia's evacuation of more than 76,000 people from border areas in its western Kursk region since Tuesday (August 6), when Ukraine launched a surprise cross-border offensive. The Russian operation, triggered after Ukrainian units made a surprise incursion into Russia's western Kursk region on Tuesday morning, has involved the deployment of additional troops, including tanks, rocket launchers, and aviation units, to halt the advancing Ukrainian forces. Also watch | Russia-Ukraine War: What's behind Ukraine's surprise incursion into Russia's Kursk? × The Russian National Anti-Terrorism Committee announced late Friday (August 9) the start of the "counter-terror operations," to ensure the safety of citizens and neutralising purported terrorist threats posed by Ukrainian sabotage groups. Under Russian law, the declaration of a "counter-terror" operation grants security forces and the military emergency powers. These include restricting movement, seizing vehicles, monitoring communications, designating no-go zones, establishing checkpoints, and bolstering security at critical infrastructure sites. The committee described Ukraine's actions as an "unprecedented attempt to destabilize the situation" in the affected regions and labelled the incursion a "terrorist attack." They also claimed that Ukrainian forces had injured civilians and caused significant damage to residential buildings. Also read | New front opens in Russia-Ukraine war as Moscow launches surprise offensive While Ukrainian officials have remained largely silent on the operation, President Volodymyr Zelensky hinted at the success of his troops. He said earlier this week that Russia must "feel" the consequences of its full-scale offensive against Ukraine, which began in February 2022. The United States, a key ally of Ukraine, said that it was not informed of the operation in advance. On Saturday, Russia's defence ministry released footage of tank crews firing on Ukrainian positions in the Kursk region, along with footage of an overnight air strike. The ministry also claimed that 26 Ukrainian drones attempting to attack the region were shot down overnight. (With inputs from agencies) Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on Ukraine-Russia war on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos

Russia launches 'counter terror operation' to halt Ukrainian advances

Russia on Saturday (August 10) denied being engaged in any "public or obscure campaigns" in "fraudulent schemes" to recruit Indian nationals in the country's military amid the ongoing war in Ukraine. The Russian embassy in New&nbsp;Delhi stated: "The Embassy expresses deep condolences to the Government of India and the families of the deceased."

Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government said in the country's parliament that eight Indian nationals had died while serving in the Russian military.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/putins-actions-in-ukraine-do-not-make-indians-anti-russia-heres-why-613578">Putin’s actions in Ukraine do not make Indians anti-Russia. Here’s why</a>

"The agencies concerned in both countries work in close coordination for early identification and discharge of Indian nationals who voluntarily contracted for military service in Russia. All contractual obligations and due compensation payments will be fulfilled in full measure," the Russian embassy statement added.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-to-release-indians-from-army-after-pm-modi-raises-issue-with-putin-739131">Russia to release Indians from army after PM Modi raises issue with Putin</a>

"Since April this year, the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation has stopped the admission of citizens of several foreign countries, including India, to military service in the Russian Armed Forces. The Embassy outlines that the Russian Government has at no point of time been engaged in any public or obscure campaigns, more so in fraudulent schemes to recruit Indian nationals for military service in Russia," the statement read.

On Friday (August 9), External Affairs Minister Dr S&nbsp;Jaishankar&nbsp;told Lok Sabha, the lower house of the Indian parliament, that the government is awaiting the release of 69 Indian citizens recruited into the Russian army. He also said&nbsp;that in many cases there are suggestions that Indians&nbsp;were misled into joining the Russian military.

Also watch |&nbsp;Russia-Ukraine War: Russia's bold incursion into Russia's Kursk

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"We should not jump the gun and say Russians are not serious on this matter. I think it is important to hold the Russian government to their word and most important for us, we are not here to score points or enter into debates. We are here to get back those 69 people because Indian citizens should not be serving in the army of foreign countries," Jaishankar&nbsp;said in reply to queries by All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader and Member of Parliament, Asaduddin Owaisi.

(With inputs from agencies)

Russia on Saturday (August 10) denied being engaged in any "public or obscure campaigns" in "fraudulent schemes" to recruit Indian nationals in the country's military amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Russia on Saturday (August 10) denied being engaged in any "public or obscure campaigns" in "fraudulent schemes" to recruit Indian nationals in the country's military amid the ongoing war in Ukraine. The Russian embassy in New Delhi stated: "The Embassy expresses deep condolences to the Government of India and the families of the deceased." Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government said in the country's parliament that eight Indian nationals had died while serving in the Russian military. Also read | Putin’s actions in Ukraine do not make Indians anti-Russia. Here’s why "The agencies concerned in both countries work in close coordination for early identification and discharge of Indian nationals who voluntarily contracted for military service in Russia. All contractual obligations and due compensation payments will be fulfilled in full measure," the Russian embassy statement added. Also read | Russia to release Indians from army after PM Modi raises issue with Putin "Since April this year, the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation has stopped the admission of citizens of several foreign countries, including India, to military service in the Russian Armed Forces. The Embassy outlines that the Russian Government has at no point of time been engaged in any public or obscure campaigns, more so in fraudulent schemes to recruit Indian nationals for military service in Russia," the statement read. On Friday (August 9), External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar told Lok Sabha, the lower house of the Indian parliament, that the government is awaiting the release of 69 Indian citizens recruited into the Russian army. He also said that in many cases there are suggestions that Indians were misled into joining the Russian military. Also watch | Russia-Ukraine War: Russia's bold incursion into Russia's Kursk × "We should not jump the gun and say Russians are not serious on this matter. I think it is important to hold the Russian government to their word and most important for us, we are not here to score points or enter into debates. We are here to get back those 69 people because Indian citizens should not be serving in the army of foreign countries," Jaishankar said in reply to queries by All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader and Member of Parliament, Asaduddin Owaisi. (With inputs from agencies)

Russian embassy in Delhi says Indian nationals 'voluntarily contracted for military service'

Not just the Western armaments, Russian forces may soon encounter an unconventional, unprecedented challenge on the battlefield in Ukraine: Robot dogs. Kyiv might soon deploy these machines on the frontlines to carry out perilous missions, such as spying on Russian forces and detecting mines.

A recent demonstration showed the dog, known as model “BAD One”, standing up, running and jumping as per the operator’s commands. Ukraine is hopeful of reducing war casualties by deploying more of these robots on the frontlines.

“We have surveillance soldiers who get sent on reconnaissance missions (who) are most of the time very highly trained people, very experienced people (and) always exposed to risks,” the operator of the dog was quoted as saying by news agency AFP.

“This dog limits the risk for soldiers and increases operational capabilities. This is the core function of the dog,” the operator added, who is an employee of a British firm.

AFP reported that an advanced version of the dog, BAD two, was not shown to its journalists due to security reasons.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwjU59q-oeiHAxVIU2wGHVjuD4kQvOMEKAB6BAgSEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-war-russia-must-feel-consequences-of-its-invasion-says-zelensky-748724" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-war-russia-must-feel-consequences-of-its-invasion-says-zelensky-748724&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjU59q-oeiHAxVIU2wGHVjuD4kQvOMEKAB6BAgSEAE">Ukraine war: Russia must feel consequences of its invasion, says Zelensky</a>

The robot is powered by a battery and can last for two hours.

The machine can also be used to transport up to seven kilos of ammunition or medicines to hot spots on the battlefield.

“I can’t say how many we deployed” in Ukraine, operator Yuri said, adding: “But it will have a significant impact on the operations and increase the safety of soldiers.”

If these dogs even end up in Russian hands, operators would have the ability to erase all data in one go.

Deployment of these robots is being seen as an attempt by Ukraine to bridge the technological gap between its own and Russian forces.

Earlier, a former adviser to the head of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence Sergei Kuzan had complained that the Ukrainian Armed Forces have an extremely limited amount of such equipment.

(With inputs from agencies)

Not just the Western armaments, Russian forces may soon encounter an unconventional, unprecedented challenge on the battlefield in Ukraine: Robot dogs. Kyiv might soon deploy these machines on the frontlines to carry out perilous missions, such as spying on Russian forces and detecting mines.

Not just the Western armaments, Russian forces may soon encounter an unconventional, unprecedented challenge on the battlefield in Ukraine: Robot dogs. Kyiv might soon deploy these machines on the frontlines to carry out perilous missions, such as spying on Russian forces and detecting mines. A recent demonstration showed the dog, known as model “BAD One”, standing up, running and jumping as per the operator’s commands. Ukraine is hopeful of reducing war casualties by deploying more of these robots on the frontlines. “We have surveillance soldiers who get sent on reconnaissance missions (who) are most of the time very highly trained people, very experienced people (and) always exposed to risks,” the operator of the dog was quoted as saying by news agency AFP. “This dog limits the risk for soldiers and increases operational capabilities. This is the core function of the dog,” the operator added, who is an employee of a British firm. AFP reported that an advanced version of the dog, BAD two, was not shown to its journalists due to security reasons. Also read: Ukraine war: Russia must feel consequences of its invasion, says Zelensky The robot is powered by a battery and can last for two hours. The machine can also be used to transport up to seven kilos of ammunition or medicines to hot spots on the battlefield. “I can’t say how many we deployed” in Ukraine, operator Yuri said, adding: “But it will have a significant impact on the operations and increase the safety of soldiers.” If these dogs even end up in Russian hands, operators would have the ability to erase all data in one go. Deployment of these robots is being seen as an attempt by Ukraine to bridge the technological gap between its own and Russian forces. Earlier, a former adviser to the head of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence Sergei Kuzan had complained that the Ukrainian Armed Forces have an extremely limited amount of such equipment. (With inputs from agencies)

Ukraine to unleash ‘BAD’ robot dogs on Russian forces in attempt to mitigate losses

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday (Aug 8) said that Russia must feel the consequences of its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. In his evening address, President Zelensky said, "Russia brought the war to our land and should feel what it has done.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday (Aug 8) said that Russia must feel the consequences of its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. In his evening address, President Zelensky said, "Russia brought the war to our land and should feel what it has done." "Ukrainians know how to achieve their goals. And we did not choose to achieve our goals in the war," Zelensky added. The Ukrainian president also said, "Everyone can see that the Ukrainian army knows how to surprise (and) achieve results." Ukraine presses on with major offensive Zelensky's remarks came as the Ukrainian military pressed on with a major cross-border incursion into Russia on Friday, which included a significant air attack on a Russian airfield hundreds of kilometres behind the front lines. Also read | Ukraine acknowledges raid into Russia’s Kursk as Putin presses emergency button A report by the news agency AFP said that the Ukrainian offensive into Russia's western Kursk region appears to be the most significant attack on Russian soil since Moscow invaded in February 2022. This offensive has been going on since Tuesday (Aug 6), and Kyiv has not officially taken responsibility for the operation. On Friday (Aug 9), the Ukrainian military said that it had carried out a massive air strike on a Russian military base in the Lipetsk region, around 280 kilometres (175 miles) from the Russia-Ukraine border. The local Russian governor Igor Artamonov reported a "massive" drone attack, and state media said that the airfield was on fire. Russia destroys multiple Ukrainian drones The Russian defence ministry said that it destroyed 75 Ukrainian drones overnight, including 19 over the Lipetsk region and seven over Kursk. The ministry said that several nautical drones headed for the annexed peninsula of Crimea were also destroyed, AFP reported. Moscow has also not presented detailed information on the extent of the Ukrainian incursion of Kursk. However, the independent United States-based Institute for the Study of War said Ukraine had made significant territorial advances. (With inputs from agencies) Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on Ukraine-Russia war on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos

Ukraine war: Russia must feel consequences of its invasion, says Zelensky

Ukraine on Thursday (Aug 8) publicly acknowledged for the first time its attack on Russia's Kursk region, as the fighting on the Russian border region entered its third day. Earlier media reports claimed Ukrainian forces were targeting a village 20 km deep inside the Russian territory. Mykhailo Podolyak, a senior aide to Ukrainian&nbsp;President Volodymyr Zelensky, justified the attack by saying that “the root cause of any escalation” was “unequivocal aggression” shown by Russia.

“War is war, with its own rules, where the aggressor inevitably reaps corresponding outcomes,” Podolyak added.

<h2>Russia declares emergency</h2>

Meanwhile, Russian military bloggers reported that fighting was going on along the highway east of Korenevo, 13 miles north of the border. They claimed that Ukrainian forces had effectively taken control of the western part of Sudzha, around six miles inside Russian territory.

Moscow declared a state of emergency in the Kursk region, prompting the evacuation of more than 3,000 people from the area. Acting Deputy Governor Andrei Belostotsky added that at least four people had died in the offensive.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwjd05r32eWHAxUxkq8BHR_PCikQxfQBKAB6BAgSEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/difficult-situation-as-russia-claims-its-battling-major-ukrainian-offensive-747841" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/world/difficult-situation-as-russia-claims-its-battling-major-ukrainian-offensive-747841&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjd05r32eWHAxUxkq8BHR_PCikQxfQBKAB6BAgSEAE">‘Difficult’ situation as Russia claims it’s battling ‘major Ukrainian offensive’</a>

Russia earlier claimed around 1,000 Ukrainian troops entered Russian territory on Tuesday, backed by tanks and armoured vehicles. The country’s defence ministry on Telegram claimed Ukraine’s losses since the start of the Kursk operation amounted to 660 troops and 82 armoured vehicles including “eight tanks, 12 armored personnel carriers, six infantry fighting vehicles, 55 armored fighting vehicles, and one counter obstacle vehicle.”

<h2>Russia caught off guard?</h2>

Russia, on Thursday, claimed it was continuing to “destroy armed formations” from Ukraine but it seems the Kremlin may have been caught off guard with the sudden offensive.

Earlier on Wednesday,&nbsp;President Vladimir Putin accused Kyiv of carrying out “yet another large-scale provocation” at the Russian border.

Watch:&nbsp;Russia-Ukraine War: Russian border region sounds emergency amid Ukrainian blitz

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Russia was reportedly using air and missile strikes, along with artillery to repel the large military offensive. Valery Gerasimov, the chief of Russia’s general staff, earlier claimed the offensive was successfully halted by soldiers.

“The enemy’s advance deep into territory in the Kursk direction was stopped by the actions of the units covering the state border together with border guards and reinforcement units, with air strikes, missile and artillery fire,” Gerasimov said in a televised address.

Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

(With inputs from agencies)

Ukraine on Thursday (Aug 8) publicly acknowledged for the first time its attack on Russia's Kursk region, as the fighting on the Russian border region entered its third day.

Ukraine on Thursday (Aug 8) publicly acknowledged for the first time its attack on Russia's Kursk region, as the fighting on the Russian border region entered its third day. Earlier media reports claimed Ukrainian forces were targeting a village 20 km deep inside the Russian territory. Mykhailo Podolyak, a senior aide to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, justified the attack by saying that “the root cause of any escalation” was “unequivocal aggression” shown by Russia. “War is war, with its own rules, where the aggressor inevitably reaps corresponding outcomes,” Podolyak added. Russia declares emergency Meanwhile, Russian military bloggers reported that fighting was going on along the highway east of Korenevo, 13 miles north of the border. They claimed that Ukrainian forces had effectively taken control of the western part of Sudzha, around six miles inside Russian territory. Moscow declared a state of emergency in the Kursk region, prompting the evacuation of more than 3,000 people from the area. Acting Deputy Governor Andrei Belostotsky added that at least four people had died in the offensive. Also read: ‘Difficult’ situation as Russia claims it’s battling ‘major Ukrainian offensive’ Russia earlier claimed around 1,000 Ukrainian troops entered Russian territory on Tuesday, backed by tanks and armoured vehicles. The country’s defence ministry on Telegram claimed Ukraine’s losses since the start of the Kursk operation amounted to 660 troops and 82 armoured vehicles including “eight tanks, 12 armored personnel carriers, six infantry fighting vehicles, 55 armored fighting vehicles, and one counter obstacle vehicle.” Russia caught off guard? Russia, on Thursday, claimed it was continuing to “destroy armed formations” from Ukraine but it seems the Kremlin may have been caught off guard with the sudden offensive. Earlier on Wednesday, President Vladimir Putin accused Kyiv of carrying out “yet another large-scale provocation” at the Russian border. Watch: Russia-Ukraine War: Russian border region sounds emergency amid Ukrainian blitz × Russia was reportedly using air and missile strikes, along with artillery to repel the large military offensive. Valery Gerasimov, the chief of Russia’s general staff, earlier claimed the offensive was successfully halted by soldiers. “The enemy’s advance deep into territory in the Kursk direction was stopped by the actions of the units covering the state border together with border guards and reinforcement units, with air strikes, missile and artillery fire,” Gerasimov said in a televised address. Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. (With inputs from agencies)

Ukraine acknowledges raid into Russia’s Kursk as Putin presses emergency button

Russia on Tuesday (Aug 6) alleged that Ukraine had launched a major offensive on its&nbsp;southern border region of Kursk involving hundreds of fighters, and it had rushed troops to repel the attack. Moscow claimed the fighters were backed by military tanks.

Earlier, the Russian regional governor said the attackers had been pushed back but a statement by the&nbsp;defence ministry later stressed that the fighting was still going on.

The statement gave details about the troops and personnel that Russia was mobilising to thwart the alleged offensive.

Watch:&nbsp;Russia-Ukraine War: Ukraine receives first batch of US-made F-16 fighter jets

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"Troops covering the state border, together with units of the border troops of the FSB (security service) of Russia, are repelling attacks and inflicting fire on the enemy in the area of ​​the state border and on (Ukrainian) reserves in the Sumy region," the statement said.

The statement claimed that Russia had deployed warplanes to take down Ukrainian armoured vehicles.

Moscow said around 300 Ukrainian fighters, 11 tanks and more than 20 armoured combat vehicles took part in the attack Tuesday, which targeted Russian border units in Nikolayevo-Daryino and Oleshnya.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwiYjZv-8OCHAxV5cGwGHWGvNh8QxfQBKAB6BAgSEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/russia-amasses-40000-troops-bulk-of-its-weaponry-near-strategic-pokrovsk-city-747481" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/videos/russia-amasses-40000-troops-bulk-of-its-weaponry-near-strategic-pokrovsk-city-747481&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiYjZv-8OCHAxV5cGwGHWGvNh8QxfQBKAB6BAgSEAE">Russia Amasses 40,000 Troops, Bulk of Its Weaponry Near Strategic Pokrovsk City</a>

Alexei Smirnov, the acting governor of the Kursk region, described the situation as “difficult”, saying two Russian nationals had been killed by shelling and drone attacks. He also said dozens of Ukrainian drones were shot down overnight.

Russia added that six Ukrainian tanks, four armoured personnel carriers and six other armoured vehicles were destroyed in the counter-offensive.

Since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war, there have been several incursions into Russian territory by volunteer fighters enlisted under the Ukrainian flag.

In May 2023, Ukrainian-based Freedom of Russia Legion launched raids in Russia’s Belgorod.

Earlier in March 2023, a group called the Russian Volunteer Corps allegedly raided the Russian border region of Bryansk.

Russian claims couldn’t be verified by WION independently. News agency AP tried reaching the Ukrainian General Staff and Ministry of Defence for comments but no response was received.

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

Russia on Tuesday (Aug 6) alleged that Ukraine had launched a major offensive on its southern border region of Kursk involving hundreds of fighters, and it had rushed troops to repel the attack.

Russia on Tuesday (Aug 6) alleged that Ukraine had launched a major offensive on its southern border region of Kursk involving hundreds of fighters, and it had rushed troops to repel the attack. Moscow claimed the fighters were backed by military tanks. Earlier, the Russian regional governor said the attackers had been pushed back but a statement by the defence ministry later stressed that the fighting was still going on. The statement gave details about the troops and personnel that Russia was mobilising to thwart the alleged offensive. Watch: Russia-Ukraine War: Ukraine receives first batch of US-made F-16 fighter jets × "Troops covering the state border, together with units of the border troops of the FSB (security service) of Russia, are repelling attacks and inflicting fire on the enemy in the area of the state border and on (Ukrainian) reserves in the Sumy region," the statement said. The statement claimed that Russia had deployed warplanes to take down Ukrainian armoured vehicles. Moscow said around 300 Ukrainian fighters, 11 tanks and more than 20 armoured combat vehicles took part in the attack Tuesday, which targeted Russian border units in Nikolayevo-Daryino and Oleshnya. Also read: Russia Amasses 40,000 Troops, Bulk of Its Weaponry Near Strategic Pokrovsk City Alexei Smirnov, the acting governor of the Kursk region, described the situation as “difficult”, saying two Russian nationals had been killed by shelling and drone attacks. He also said dozens of Ukrainian drones were shot down overnight. Russia added that six Ukrainian tanks, four armoured personnel carriers and six other armoured vehicles were destroyed in the counter-offensive. Since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war, there have been several incursions into Russian territory by volunteer fighters enlisted under the Ukrainian flag. In May 2023, Ukrainian-based Freedom of Russia Legion launched raids in Russia’s Belgorod. Earlier in March 2023, a group called the Russian Volunteer Corps allegedly raided the Russian border region of Bryansk. Russian claims couldn’t be verified by WION independently. News agency AP tried reaching the Ukrainian General Staff and Ministry of Defence for comments but no response was received. (With inputs from agencies) Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

‘Difficult’ situation as Russia claims it’s battling ‘major Ukrainian offensive’

The wife of a Ukrainian prisoner of war alleged that Russia has been stealing and selling the organs of dead prisoners, Daily Mail reported on Thursday.&nbsp;

As quoted, Larysa Salaeva, wife of a Ukrainian prisoner and head of the Freedom to Defenders of Mariupol campaigning group, said: "It is already well-known that we receive the bodies of tortured prisoners during body exchanges."&nbsp;

"We receive not only tortured bodies but also bodies, unfortunately, without organs," she added.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/netanyahu-arrives-at-white-house-for-high-stakes-first-meeting-with-biden-744233">Netanyahu arrives at White House for high-stakes first meeting with Biden</a>&nbsp;

Salaeva was speaking in Ankara&nbsp;at a meeting which was held among representatives of the families of prisoners of war and&nbsp;Ukraine's Ambassador&nbsp;to Turkey, Vasyl Bodnar.&nbsp;

She alleged that she believes that the current scenario confirms that the black market for organ transplantation in the Russian Federation is active.&nbsp;

"And, unfortunately, it operates with our prisoners of war. Therefore, I believe that this must be made known to the whole world to stop this crime," Salaeva&nbsp;added.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/fbi-director-unsure-if-bullet-hit-trump-says-it-couldve-been-shrapnel-744237">FBI director unsure if bullet hit Trump, says it could've been shrapnel</a>&nbsp;

As quoted in the Daily Mail report, the mother of a serviceman revealed the&nbsp;appalling state that troops are in when they are returned to Ukraine in PoW swaps.&nbsp;

She said, "We see the state of health in which our boys return. It's indescribable: they are thin, they need medical help. Every time, their health deteriorates in captivity. It's the third year now."&nbsp;

<h2>Russia, Ukraine exchange prisoners&nbsp;</h2>

In July, Russia and Ukraine conducted a major exchange of prisoners, 190 in all, in their third such swap over the past seven weeks, following negotiations mediated by the United Arab Emirates.&nbsp;

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said all 95 Ukrainians who were freed were from the military, and thanked the UAE for its help.&nbsp;

In a statement on Telegram, Russia's defence ministry said that the returning soldiers would receive medical examinations and physical and psychological rehabilitation.&nbsp;

Moscow said the freed troops had faced "mortal danger" in Ukrainian captivity.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on Ukraine-Russia war on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos&nbsp;

The wife of a Ukrainian prisoner of war alleged that Russia has been stealing and selling the organs of dead prisoners, Daily Mail reported on Thursday. As quoted, Larysa Salaeva, wife of a Ukrainian prisoner and head of the Freedom to Defenders of Mariupol campaigning group, said: "It is already well-known that we receive the bodies of tortured prisoners during body exchanges.

The wife of a Ukrainian prisoner of war alleged that Russia has been stealing and selling the organs of dead prisoners, Daily Mail reported on Thursday. As quoted, Larysa Salaeva, wife of a Ukrainian prisoner and head of the Freedom to Defenders of Mariupol campaigning group, said: "It is already well-known that we receive the bodies of tortured prisoners during body exchanges." "We receive not only tortured bodies but also bodies, unfortunately, without organs," she added. Also read: Netanyahu arrives at White House for high-stakes first meeting with Biden Salaeva was speaking in Ankara at a meeting which was held among representatives of the families of prisoners of war and Ukraine's Ambassador to Turkey, Vasyl Bodnar. She alleged that she believes that the current scenario confirms that the black market for organ transplantation in the Russian Federation is active. "And, unfortunately, it operates with our prisoners of war. Therefore, I believe that this must be made known to the whole world to stop this crime," Salaeva added. Also read: FBI director unsure if bullet hit Trump, says it could've been shrapnel As quoted in the Daily Mail report, the mother of a serviceman revealed the appalling state that troops are in when they are returned to Ukraine in PoW swaps. She said, "We see the state of health in which our boys return. It's indescribable: they are thin, they need medical help. Every time, their health deteriorates in captivity. It's the third year now." Russia, Ukraine exchange prisoners In July, Russia and Ukraine conducted a major exchange of prisoners, 190 in all, in their third such swap over the past seven weeks, following negotiations mediated by the United Arab Emirates. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said all 95 Ukrainians who were freed were from the military, and thanked the UAE for its help. In a statement on Telegram, Russia's defence ministry said that the returning soldiers would receive medical examinations and physical and psychological rehabilitation. Moscow said the freed troops had faced "mortal danger" in Ukrainian captivity. (With inputs from agencies) Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on Ukraine-Russia war on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos

Ukrainian soldier's wife alleges Russia is 'stealing and selling organs of dead prisoners'

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Thursday said it was "extremely important" that the United States maintains its backing for Ukraine, after former president Donald Trump chose a sceptic of aiding Kyiv as his election running mate.&nbsp;

"European allies and Canada can of course do more, but it's extremely important that the United States continues to provide support to Ukraine," the head of the Western military told AFP on the sidelines of a European summit in Britain.&nbsp;

"This has to be a joint effort between North America and Europe, and the United States is by far the biggest ally. So, I expect them to continue to support Ukraine."

Also watch |&nbsp;NATO at 75 as alliance faces uncertain future

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Trump -- who is challenging incumbent Joe Biden at elections in November -- set alarm bells ringing across Europe this week by selecting JD&nbsp;Vance as his pick for vice president.&nbsp;

Vance is a staunch opponent of aid for Kyiv, and fiercely argued against the approval of $61 billion in new US military aid for Ukraine earlier this year.&nbsp;

Stoltenberg insisted that "it is in the security interest of the United States to support Ukraine".

"If President Putin wins in Ukraine, it will not only be a tragedy for the Ukrainians, it will also make the world even more dangerous and more vulnerable," he said.&nbsp;

The United States has provided tens of billions of dollars in military assistance for Kyiv since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.&nbsp;

But Vance and other Trump allies in Congress argue that Washington cannot continue to fund the war indefinitely, and a Trump victory would throw future US assistance for Ukraine into doubt.

Trump has said he would quickly end the conflict, raising the spectre that Kyiv could be pushed to negotiate with Moscow from an unfavourable position.

"If we really want to negotiate a solution where Ukraine prevails as a sovereign, independent nation, the way to get there is to provide more support to Ukraine," Stoltenberg said.&nbsp;

"Now, President Putin believes that he can win on the battlefield, and we need to convince him that he will not win on the battlefield -- that's when he will be willing to sit down and agree a solution."

Concerned about potential political changes in the US, NATO decided, at a summit last week in Washington, that the alliance would take over coordination of weapons deliveries to Ukraine from the United States.

Stoltenberg said that this will see a new NATO command overseeing some 700 personnel from across the alliance begin working in Germany in September.&nbsp;

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION&nbsp;audience.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Thursday said it was "extremely important" that the United States maintains its backing for Ukraine, after former president Donald Trump chose a sceptic of aiding Kyiv as his election running mate.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Thursday said it was "extremely important" that the United States maintains its backing for Ukraine, after former president Donald Trump chose a sceptic of aiding Kyiv as his election running mate. "European allies and Canada can of course do more, but it's extremely important that the United States continues to provide support to Ukraine," the head of the Western military told AFP on the sidelines of a European summit in Britain. "This has to be a joint effort between North America and Europe, and the United States is by far the biggest ally. So, I expect them to continue to support Ukraine." Also watch | NATO at 75 as alliance faces uncertain future × Trump -- who is challenging incumbent Joe Biden at elections in November -- set alarm bells ringing across Europe this week by selecting JD Vance as his pick for vice president. Vance is a staunch opponent of aid for Kyiv, and fiercely argued against the approval of $61 billion in new US military aid for Ukraine earlier this year. Stoltenberg insisted that "it is in the security interest of the United States to support Ukraine". "If President Putin wins in Ukraine, it will not only be a tragedy for the Ukrainians, it will also make the world even more dangerous and more vulnerable," he said. The United States has provided tens of billions of dollars in military assistance for Kyiv since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. But Vance and other Trump allies in Congress argue that Washington cannot continue to fund the war indefinitely, and a Trump victory would throw future US assistance for Ukraine into doubt. Trump has said he would quickly end the conflict, raising the spectre that Kyiv could be pushed to negotiate with Moscow from an unfavourable position. "If we really want to negotiate a solution where Ukraine prevails as a sovereign, independent nation, the way to get there is to provide more support to Ukraine," Stoltenberg said. "Now, President Putin believes that he can win on the battlefield, and we need to convince him that he will not win on the battlefield -- that's when he will be willing to sit down and agree a solution." Concerned about potential political changes in the US, NATO decided, at a summit last week in Washington, that the alliance would take over coordination of weapons deliveries to Ukraine from the United States. Stoltenberg said that this will see a new NATO command overseeing some 700 personnel from across the alliance begin working in Germany in September. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

'Extremely important' that US keeps backing Ukraine: NATO chief

Russia on Tuesday (July 16) restricted access to 14 villages in southern Belgorod region bordering Ukraine, citing the "extremely difficult" situation there due to Ukrainian shelling.

Russia on Tuesday (July 16) restricted access to 14 villages in southern Belgorod region bordering Ukraine, citing the "extremely difficult" situation there due to Ukrainian shelling. In a post on Telegram, Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said that from next week, only adult men accompanying military or government officials would be allowed into the settlements. The men must travel in armoured vehicles and wear bulletproof vests and helmets, Governor Gladkov said. "I hope you will agree that it is unacceptable to let women and children into settlements that are shelled every day. We have already lost a lot of civilians, we have a lot of wounded. And, of course, our task is to maximise security measures," he added. A constant frustration for Kremlin Belgorod comes under frequent fire from Ukrainian shelling and drones, with four civilians injured overnight on Tuesday, the news agency Reuters reported. The routine attacks on the region have been a source of constant frustration for the Kremlin. Also read | Ukraine war: China slams NATO's accusation that Beijing is helping Russia Last week, Ukrainian strikes in the Belgorod region killed four people in 24 hours, while 20 more were injured, the news agency AFP reported. More than 200 civilians have been killed in the Belgorod region since the start of the war between Russia and Ukraine in late February 2022. More than 1,100 have been wounded. The timing of the announcement The announcement of the restrictions came a day after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signalled he would welcome Russia to attend a future peace summit on ending the conflict, now in its third year. The invitation marked a change of tone from last month when Kyiv excluded Moscow from a high-level peace conference in Switzerland. Reacting to Zelensky's invitation, the Kremlin said, "The first peace summit was not a peace summit at all. So perhaps it is necessary to first understand what he means." (With inputs from agencies)

Ukraine war: Russia restricts civilian access to 14 villages in southern Belgorod

The Chinese government on Friday (July 12) slammed the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) over the accusation that Beijing was helping Russia in its war in Ukraine.

The Chinese government on Friday (July 12) slammed the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) over the accusation that Beijing was helping Russia in its war in Ukraine. The comment was made by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi during a telephone conversation with his Dutch counterpart on Thursday (July 11). Wang's comments came hours after the NATO summit was held in Washington. NATO members accused China of being a decisive enabler of Russia through its "large-scale support for Russia's defence industrial base." They called on China to stop "all material and political support" to Russia's war effort, said a BBC report. During the call with Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp, Wang said that NATO's accusation was biased and was "sowing discord". The Chinese foreign minister also warned Western alliances against stirring up confrontation. Not the first time fingers were pointed at China Previously, Western countries have accused China of transferring drone and missile technology and satellite imagery to Moscow. China has also been accused of conducting malicious cyber and hybrid activities, including disinformation on NATO states. Also read | Turkey's Erdogan issues warning against NATO-Russia conflict Addressing a press conference on Thursday, United States (US) President Joe Biden said, "China has to understand that if they are supplying Russia with information and capacity, working with North Korea and others to help Russia and [their] armament, that they're not going to benefit economically as a consequence of that." "I think you'll see that some of our European friends are going to be curtailing their investment in China," President Biden added. Latest news from Ukraine war In the latest news from the Ukraine war, Kyiv's air defences shot down five cruise missiles and 11 drones overnight, the commander of the country’s air forces said. In a post on Telegram, Lt Gen Mykola Oleschuk said the missiles were fired from the Saratov region of southern Russia and down over the Ukrainian regions of Khmelnytskyi, Sumy, and Cherkasy. A total of 19 drones were fired and 11 of these were shot down over Ukrainian cities like Mykolaiv, Kyiv, Vinnytsia, Khmelnytskyi, Kherson, and Sumy, he added. (With inputs from agencies)

Ukraine war: China slams NATO's accusation that Beijing is helping Russia

NATO leaders on Wednesday (Jul&nbsp;10) labelled China a "decisive enabler" of Russia's war against Ukraine, accusing it of playing a key role in helping Moscow's assault. Beijing in response warned the alliance against "provoking confrontation" over China's ties with Russia.

<h2>"Decisive enabler" of Russia-Ukraine war</h2>

In a declaration shared from their summit in Washington, NATO leaders expressed "deep concern," over China's deepening ties with Russia, reports news agency AFP. They said that China "has become a decisive enabler of Russia's war against Ukraine through its so-called 'no limits' partnership and its large-scale support for Russia's defence industrial base."

The communique called on China to "cease all material and political support to Russia's war effort," including "the transfer of dual-use materials, such as weapons components, equipment, and raw materials that serve as inputs for Russia's defence sector."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nato-summit-ukraine-gets-f-16-jets-irreversible-path-to-bloc-membership-739654">NATO summit: Ukraine gets F-16 jets, 'irreversible' path to bloc membership</a>

As per Reuters, it also expressed concern about Beijing's expanding space capabilities and referred to the nation's rapid expansion of its nuclear arsenal, urging China to engage in strategic risk reduction talks.

The NATO leaders also warned China that it "cannot enable the largest war in Europe in recent history without this negatively impacting its interests and reputation."

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told the press later that this was the first time the 32 NATO allies had come together to label China this way, and that it was an important message.

"I think the message sent from NATO from this summit is very strong and very clear, and we are clearly defining China's responsibility when it comes to enabling Russia's war," said the outgoing Secretary-General.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/zelensky-says-cant-predict-what-trump-would-do-if-he-wins-pushes-leaders-to-make-strong-decisions-now-739503">Zelensky says can't predict what Trump would do if he wins, pushes US leaders to 'make strong decisions' now</a>

<h2>China slams NATO</h2>

Reacting to the NATO declaration on its ties with Russia, China warned the alliance against "hyping up the so-called China threat".

"NATO should stop hyping up the so-called China threat and provoking confrontation and rivalry, and do more to contribute to world peace and stability," a spokesperson for Beijing's mission to the European Union said in a statement on its website.

(With inputs from agencies)

NATO leaders on Wednesday (Jul 10) labelled China a "decisive enabler" of Russia's war against Ukraine, accusing it of playing a key role in helping Moscow's assault.

NATO leaders on Wednesday (Jul 10) labelled China a "decisive enabler" of Russia's war against Ukraine, accusing it of playing a key role in helping Moscow's assault. Beijing in response warned the alliance against "provoking confrontation" over China's ties with Russia. "Decisive enabler" of Russia-Ukraine war In a declaration shared from their summit in Washington, NATO leaders expressed "deep concern," over China's deepening ties with Russia, reports news agency AFP. They said that China "has become a decisive enabler of Russia's war against Ukraine through its so-called 'no limits' partnership and its large-scale support for Russia's defence industrial base." The communique called on China to "cease all material and political support to Russia's war effort," including "the transfer of dual-use materials, such as weapons components, equipment, and raw materials that serve as inputs for Russia's defence sector." Also read | NATO summit: Ukraine gets F-16 jets, 'irreversible' path to bloc membership As per Reuters, it also expressed concern about Beijing's expanding space capabilities and referred to the nation's rapid expansion of its nuclear arsenal, urging China to engage in strategic risk reduction talks. The NATO leaders also warned China that it "cannot enable the largest war in Europe in recent history without this negatively impacting its interests and reputation." NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told the press later that this was the first time the 32 NATO allies had come together to label China this way, and that it was an important message. "I think the message sent from NATO from this summit is very strong and very clear, and we are clearly defining China's responsibility when it comes to enabling Russia's war," said the outgoing Secretary-General. Also read | Zelensky says can't predict what Trump would do if he wins, pushes US leaders to 'make strong decisions' now China slams NATO Reacting to the NATO declaration on its ties with Russia, China warned the alliance against "hyping up the so-called China threat". "NATO should stop hyping up the so-called China threat and provoking confrontation and rivalry, and do more to contribute to world peace and stability," a spokesperson for Beijing's mission to the European Union said in a statement on its website. (With inputs from agencies)

China warns NATO against provoking confrontation after alliance labels it 'decisive enabler' of Russia's war

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has made an unexpected visit to China, following his trips to both Ukraine and Russia to discuss a peace settlement for Ukraine. Watch in for more details!

Hungarian PM Viktor Orban peace mission 3.0

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday (Jul 4) that he believed Donald Trump was sincere about wanting to end the war in Ukraine. Putin further added that he doesn't know how the presumptive Republican presidential nominee&nbsp;planned to do so if elected this year.&nbsp;

While speaking at a news conference in Kazakhstan at the end of a regional security conference, Putin was asked about Trump's statements that he could end the Ukraine war. Russia refers to the war&nbsp;on Ukraine as a "special military operation".&nbsp;

Putin commented, "The fact that Mr Trump, as a presidential candidate, declares that he is ready and wants to stop the war in Ukraine, we take this completely seriously."&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/putin-xi-tout-russia-china-partnership-at-sco-summit-countering-western-influence-737888">Putin, Xi tout Russia-China partnership at SCO Summit countering Western influence</a>&nbsp;

"I am not, of course, familiar with possible proposals for how he plans to do this. This is the key question. But I have no doubt that he means it sincerely, and we support it (the idea of ending the war)," the Russian president added.&nbsp;

During a debate with President Joe Biden last week, Trump had said that if elected, he would have the conflict "settled" before he took office in January 2025.&nbsp;

This is not the first time as&nbsp;Putin has previously claimed to be open to talks on ending the conflict. However, last month he demanded Ukraine effectively capitulate as a precondition of a ceasefire.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sco-summit-xi-meets-old-friend-putin-duo-vows-to-fast-track-power-of-siberia-2-gas-pipeline-project-737590">SCO summit: Xi meets 'old friend' Putin, duo vows to fast-track Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline project</a>&nbsp;

The head of the Kremlin had said that if Ukraine wanted Russia's offensive to stop, its soldiers must leave the country's east and south and give up any area they now control.&nbsp;

Putin's comments Russian troops have made modest advances on the battlefield this year after a Ukrainian counter-offensive in 2023 was largely unsuccessful.&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;Ukraine's F-16s: A sitting duck or a game changer?

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<h2>Putin says Taliban 'our allies'&nbsp;</h2>

Meanwhile, Putin said that the Taliban, which is a banned group in Russia, are Moscow's "allies" in fighting terrorism because they are in control of Afghanistan.&nbsp;

Although the Taliban has been outlawed in Russia since 2003, Moscow has long supported ties with them, and Putin recently demanded that Moscow "build up" ties with the Taliban regime.&nbsp;

Putin said in Astana, "We must assume that the Taliban control the power in the country. And in this sense, the Taliban are, of course, our allies in the fight against terrorism, because any authorities are interested in stability in the state they govern."&nbsp;

Putin said that the Taliban have "taken on some responsibilities" but that there are still "issues that need constant attention inside the country and from the international community".&nbsp;

"I am sure that the Taliban are interested in everything being stable in Afghanistan," he added.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday (Jul 4) that he believed Donald Trump was sincere about wanting to end the war in Ukraine. Putin further added that he doesn't know how the presumptive Republican presidential nominee planned to do so if elected this year.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday (Jul 4) that he believed Donald Trump was sincere about wanting to end the war in Ukraine. Putin further added that he doesn't know how the presumptive Republican presidential nominee planned to do so if elected this year. While speaking at a news conference in Kazakhstan at the end of a regional security conference, Putin was asked about Trump's statements that he could end the Ukraine war. Russia refers to the war on Ukraine as a "special military operation". Putin commented, "The fact that Mr Trump, as a presidential candidate, declares that he is ready and wants to stop the war in Ukraine, we take this completely seriously." Also read: Putin, Xi tout Russia-China partnership at SCO Summit countering Western influence "I am not, of course, familiar with possible proposals for how he plans to do this. This is the key question. But I have no doubt that he means it sincerely, and we support it (the idea of ending the war)," the Russian president added. During a debate with President Joe Biden last week, Trump had said that if elected, he would have the conflict "settled" before he took office in January 2025. This is not the first time as Putin has previously claimed to be open to talks on ending the conflict. However, last month he demanded Ukraine effectively capitulate as a precondition of a ceasefire. Also read: SCO summit: Xi meets 'old friend' Putin, duo vows to fast-track Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline project The head of the Kremlin had said that if Ukraine wanted Russia's offensive to stop, its soldiers must leave the country's east and south and give up any area they now control. Putin's comments Russian troops have made modest advances on the battlefield this year after a Ukrainian counter-offensive in 2023 was largely unsuccessful. Watch: Ukraine's F-16s: A sitting duck or a game changer? × Putin says Taliban 'our allies' Meanwhile, Putin said that the Taliban, which is a banned group in Russia, are Moscow's "allies" in fighting terrorism because they are in control of Afghanistan. Although the Taliban has been outlawed in Russia since 2003, Moscow has long supported ties with them, and Putin recently demanded that Moscow "build up" ties with the Taliban regime. Putin said in Astana, "We must assume that the Taliban control the power in the country. And in this sense, the Taliban are, of course, our allies in the fight against terrorism, because any authorities are interested in stability in the state they govern." Putin said that the Taliban have "taken on some responsibilities" but that there are still "issues that need constant attention inside the country and from the international community". "I am sure that the Taliban are interested in everything being stable in Afghanistan," he added. (With inputs from agencies)

Vladimir Putin believes Donald Trump is sincere about ending Ukraine war

Chinese and Russian companies are developing and testing an attack drone based on the Iranian-made Shahed amid the war against Ukraine, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday (Jul 2) citing anonymous European officials familiar with the situation.&nbsp;

The report mentioned that the companies held talks about collaborating to replicate Iran's Shahed drone in 2023.&nbsp;

Ukraine has often claimed that its air defence systems intercepted Iranian-style Shahed attack drones, but the Chinese drones have yet to be used in the war.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/vladimir-putin-believes-donald-trump-is-sincere-about-ending-ukraine-war-737958">Vladimir Putin believes Donald Trump is sincere about ending Ukraine war</a>&nbsp;

China claimed that it had a neutral stand in the war despite Western officials saying that Beijing provided equipment and other aid to President Vladimir Putin's forces.&nbsp;

The&nbsp;unmanned aircraft, which is under development, is called the "Sunflower 200", as per Chinese defence websites and media outlets.&nbsp;

Russia has not officially commented but according to the state-run TASS news agency, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Wednesday that "we don't react in any way" to the report.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sco-summit-xi-meets-old-friend-putin-duo-vows-to-fast-track-power-of-siberia-2-gas-pipeline-project-737590" target="_blank">SCO summit: Xi meets 'old friend' Putin, duo vows to fast-track Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline project</a>&nbsp;

As quoted by the Bloomberg report, Liu Pengyu, who is the spokesman for China's embassy in the US, said in a statement Beijing doesn't provide weapons to the parties of the Ukraine conflict. Liu added that China strictly controls exports of dual-use articles.&nbsp;

"On the Ukraine crisis, it is quite clear to the international community who is calling for dialogue and striving for peace, and who is fueling the fight and inciting confrontation,” said Liu.&nbsp;

"We urge the relevant countries to immediately stop fueling the fight and inciting confrontation," Liu added.&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;Ukraine's F-16s: A sitting duck or a game changer?

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In connection to the report, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in an interview on Wednesday with Bloomberg Television, said: "We don't have 100% evidence that Chinese weapons are shipped to Russia. The Chinese leader told me that he won't do that."&nbsp;

"Some components are there — like for drones. Some dual-use, they are probably there. But those are not only Chinese. They are also shipped from some European countries, unfortunately. And one can fight that. I think that if the Chinese leader wanted this not to happen, it would not happen," Zelensky added as quoted.&nbsp;

Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on Ukraine-Russia war on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Chinese and Russian companies are developing and testing an attack drone based on the Iranian-made Shahed amid the war against Ukraine, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday (Jul 2) citing anonymous European officials familiar with the situation.

Chinese and Russian companies are developing and testing an attack drone based on the Iranian-made Shahed amid the war against Ukraine, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday (Jul 2) citing anonymous European officials familiar with the situation. The report mentioned that the companies held talks about collaborating to replicate Iran's Shahed drone in 2023. Ukraine has often claimed that its air defence systems intercepted Iranian-style Shahed attack drones, but the Chinese drones have yet to be used in the war. Also read: Vladimir Putin believes Donald Trump is sincere about ending Ukraine war China claimed that it had a neutral stand in the war despite Western officials saying that Beijing provided equipment and other aid to President Vladimir Putin's forces. The unmanned aircraft, which is under development, is called the "Sunflower 200", as per Chinese defence websites and media outlets. Russia has not officially commented but according to the state-run TASS news agency, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Wednesday that "we don't react in any way" to the report. Also read: SCO summit: Xi meets 'old friend' Putin, duo vows to fast-track Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline project As quoted by the Bloomberg report, Liu Pengyu, who is the spokesman for China's embassy in the US, said in a statement Beijing doesn't provide weapons to the parties of the Ukraine conflict. Liu added that China strictly controls exports of dual-use articles. "On the Ukraine crisis, it is quite clear to the international community who is calling for dialogue and striving for peace, and who is fueling the fight and inciting confrontation,” said Liu. "We urge the relevant countries to immediately stop fueling the fight and inciting confrontation," Liu added. Watch: Ukraine's F-16s: A sitting duck or a game changer? × In connection to the report, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in an interview on Wednesday with Bloomberg Television, said: "We don't have 100% evidence that Chinese weapons are shipped to Russia. The Chinese leader told me that he won't do that." "Some components are there — like for drones. Some dual-use, they are probably there. But those are not only Chinese. They are also shipped from some European countries, unfortunately. And one can fight that. I think that if the Chinese leader wanted this not to happen, it would not happen," Zelensky added as quoted. Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on Ukraine-Russia war on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos (With inputs from agencies)

China developing and testing Shahed-like attack drone for Russia: Report

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Tuesday (Jul 2) arrived in Kyiv for his first visit to Ukraine since the outbreak of war and called for a speedy ceasefire in Ukraine to facilitate peace talks as he met Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky. 
 
The Hungarian leader addressed a press conference alongside Zelensky. He said that the ceasefire he expects would be time-bound. He said, "I asked the president to consider whether... a quick ceasefire could speed up the peace talks."&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pm-modis-visit-could-deepen-russian-trade-ties-with-india-says-kremlin-737172">Kremlin says trade, economy on agenda during PM Modi's 'very important' visit to Russia</a>&nbsp;

Orban is the only European Union (EU) leader who has maintained ties with Moscow since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022. He had not visited Kyiv since the war began.&nbsp; 
 
He had in fact met with Russian President Vladimir Putin at a summit in Beijing in October 2023, becoming the first EU leader to do so since the start of the war.&nbsp; 
 
The Hungarian PM regularly criticises Europe's financial and military support for Kyiv, temporarily blocking a $53-billion aid package for weeks.&nbsp;

He also openly opposes&nbsp;holding EU membership talks with Kyiv as well as Brussels' sanctions on Moscow.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/russian-cannons-found-in-bahamas-shock-researchers-how-did-they-reach-there-736619">Russian cannons found in Bahamas shock researchers. How did they reach there?</a>&nbsp;

However, during his visit to the war-ravaged nation, Orban appreciated Kyiv's efforts to advance Zelensky's peace vision at a recent international summit in Switzerland. He also praised Ukraine's plans to host a follow-up summit later this year.&nbsp; 
 
"My first trip led here because the question of peace is not only paramount for Ukraine but also for Europe. This war that you're suffering from is deeply affecting European security. We very much appreciate those initiatives that President Zelensky did for peace,"&nbsp;Orban said during the press conference.&nbsp; 
 
"I shared my opinion with the president that such initiatives take time, due to the rules of international diplomacy being slow and complicated," he added.&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;Ukraine says there is no practical way to defence against Russian Glide bombs

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US to announce weapons package for Ukraine&nbsp; 
 
US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin on Tuesday confirmed that the United States will soon announce more than $2.3 billion in new security assistance for Ukraine. 
 
At next week's NATO summit in Washington DC, Austin said: "We will take steps to build a bridge to NATO membership for Ukraine."&nbsp;

Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on Ukraine-Russia war on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Tuesday (Jul 2) arrived in Kyiv for his first visit to Ukraine since the outbreak of war and called for a speedy ceasefire in Ukraine to facilitate peace talks as he met Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Tuesday (Jul 2) arrived in Kyiv for his first visit to Ukraine since the outbreak of war and called for a speedy ceasefire in Ukraine to facilitate peace talks as he met Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky. The Hungarian leader addressed a press conference alongside Zelensky. He said that the ceasefire he expects would be time-bound. He said, "I asked the president to consider whether... a quick ceasefire could speed up the peace talks." Also read: Kremlin says trade, economy on agenda during PM Modi's 'very important' visit to Russia Orban is the only European Union (EU) leader who has maintained ties with Moscow since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022. He had not visited Kyiv since the war began. He had in fact met with Russian President Vladimir Putin at a summit in Beijing in October 2023, becoming the first EU leader to do so since the start of the war. The Hungarian PM regularly criticises Europe's financial and military support for Kyiv, temporarily blocking a $53-billion aid package for weeks. He also openly opposes holding EU membership talks with Kyiv as well as Brussels' sanctions on Moscow. Also read: Russian cannons found in Bahamas shock researchers. How did they reach there? However, during his visit to the war-ravaged nation, Orban appreciated Kyiv's efforts to advance Zelensky's peace vision at a recent international summit in Switzerland. He also praised Ukraine's plans to host a follow-up summit later this year. "My first trip led here because the question of peace is not only paramount for Ukraine but also for Europe. This war that you're suffering from is deeply affecting European security. We very much appreciate those initiatives that President Zelensky did for peace," Orban said during the press conference. "I shared my opinion with the president that such initiatives take time, due to the rules of international diplomacy being slow and complicated," he added. Watch: Ukraine says there is no practical way to defence against Russian Glide bombs × US to announce weapons package for Ukraine US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin on Tuesday confirmed that the United States will soon announce more than $2.3 billion in new security assistance for Ukraine. At next week's NATO summit in Washington DC, Austin said: "We will take steps to build a bridge to NATO membership for Ukraine." Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on Ukraine-Russia war on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos (With inputs from agencies)

Hungary PM Viktor Orban visits Ukraine, calls for ceasefire, peace talks

Russian President Vladimir Putin signaled his country is likely to resume the production of short and intermediate-range missiles in what he called a response to the US deployment of the nuclear-capable weapons in various regions of the world.

Russia-Ukraine war: Russia to make N-Capable missiles

Two key advisers to Donald Trump have presented him with a plan to end Russia's war in Ukraine - if he wins the presidential election - that involves telling Ukraine it will only get more U.S. weapons if it enters into peace talks.

The United States would at the same time warn Moscow that any refusal to negotiate would result in increased U.S. support for Ukraine, retired Lieutenant General Keith Kellogg, one of Trump's national security advisers, said in an interview.

Under the plan drawn up by Kellogg and Fred Fleitz, who both served as chiefs of staff in Trump's National Security Council during his 2017-2021 presidency, there would be a ceasefire based on prevailing battle lines during peace talks.

They have presented their strategy to Trump, and the former president responded favorably, Fleitz said. "I'm not claiming he agreed with it or agreed with every word of it, but we were pleased to get the feedback we did," he said.

However, Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung said only statements made by Trump or authorized members of his campaign should be deemed official.

The strategy outlined by Kellogg and Fleitz is the most detailed plan yet by associates of Trump, who has said he could quickly settle the war in Ukraine if he beats President Joe Biden in the Nov. 5 election, though he has not discussed specifics.

The proposal would mark a big shift in the U.S. position on the war and would face opposition from European allies and within Trump's own Republican Party.

The Kremlin said that any peace plan proposed by a possible future Trump administration would have to reflect the reality on the ground but that Russian President Vladimir Putin remained open to talks.

"The value of any plan lies in the nuances and in taking into account the real state of affairs on the ground," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Reuters.

"President Putin has repeatedly said that Russia has been and remains open to negotiations, taking into account the real state of affairs on the ground," he said. "We remain open to negotiations."

Ukraine's foreign ministry did not respond to requests for comment on the plan.

NATO MEMBERSHIP ON HOLD

The core elements of the plan were outlined in a publicly available research paper published by the "America First Policy Institute," a Trump-friendly think tank where Kellogg and Fleitz hold leadership positions.

Kellogg said it would be crucial to get Russia and Ukraine to the negotiating table quickly if Trump wins the election.

"We tell the Ukrainians, 'You've got to come to the table, and if you don't come to the table, support from the United States will dry up,'" he said. "And you tell Putin, 'He's got to come to the table and if you don't come to the table, then we'll give Ukrainians everything they need to kill you in the field.'"

According to their research paper, Moscow would also be coaxed to the table with the promise of NATO membership for Ukraine being put off for an extended period.

Russia invaded neighboring Ukraine in February 2022. Until some gains by Russia in recent months, the front lines barely moved since the end of that year, despite tens of thousands of dead on both sides in relentless trench warfare, the bloodiest fighting in Europe since World War Two.

Fleitz said Ukraine need not formally cede territory to Russia under their plan. Still, he said, Ukraine was unlikely to regain effective control of all its territory in the near term.

"Our concern is that this has become a war of attrition that's going to kill a whole generation of young men," he said.

A lasting peace in Ukraine would require additional security guarantees for Ukraine, Kellogg and Fleitz said. Fleitz added that "arming Ukraine to the teeth" was likely to be a key element of that.

"President Trump has repeatedly stated that a top priority in his second term will be to quickly negotiate an end to the Russia-Ukraine war," Trump spokesperson Cheung said. "The war between Russia and Ukraine never would have happened if Donald J. Trump were president. So sad."

The Biden campaign said Trump is not interested in standing up to Putin.

"Donald Trump heaps praise on Vladimir Putin every chance he gets, and he's made clear he won't stand&nbsp;against Putin or stand up for democracy," campaign spokesperson James Singer said.

UPPER HAND

Some Republicans will be reticent to pay for more resources to Ukraine under the plan. The U.S. has spent more than $70 billion on military aid for Ukraine since Moscow's invasion.

"What (Trump's supporters) want to do is reduce aid, if not turn off the spigot," said Charles Kupchan, a senior fellow at the Council of Foreign Relations.

Putin said this month that the war could end if Ukraine agreed to drop its ambitions to join NATO and hand over four eastern and southern provinces claimed by Russia.

During a meeting of the United Nations Security Council last week, French and British ambassadors reiterated their view that peace can only be sought when Russia withdraws from Ukrainian territory, a position Kyiv shares.

Several analysts also expressed concern that the plan by Kellogg and Fleitz could give Moscow the upper hand in talks.

"What Kellogg is describing is a process slanted toward Ukraine giving up all of the territory that Russia now occupies," said Daniel Fried, a former assistant secretary of state who worked on Russia policy.

During a podcast interview last week, Trump ruled out committing U.S. troops to Ukraine and appeared skeptical of making Ukraine a NATO member. He has indicated he would quickly move to cut aid to Kyiv if elected.

Biden has consistently pushed for more Ukraine aid, and his administration supports its eventual ascension to NATO. Earlier in June, Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy signed a 10-year bilateral security agreement

Two key advisers to Donald Trump have presented him with a plan to end Russia's war in Ukraine - if he wins the presidential election - that involves telling Ukraine it will only get more U.

Two key advisers to Donald Trump have presented him with a plan to end Russia's war in Ukraine - if he wins the presidential election - that involves telling Ukraine it will only get more U.S. weapons if it enters into peace talks. The United States would at the same time warn Moscow that any refusal to negotiate would result in increased U.S. support for Ukraine, retired Lieutenant General Keith Kellogg, one of Trump's national security advisers, said in an interview. Under the plan drawn up by Kellogg and Fred Fleitz, who both served as chiefs of staff in Trump's National Security Council during his 2017-2021 presidency, there would be a ceasefire based on prevailing battle lines during peace talks. They have presented their strategy to Trump, and the former president responded favorably, Fleitz said. "I'm not claiming he agreed with it or agreed with every word of it, but we were pleased to get the feedback we did," he said. However, Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung said only statements made by Trump or authorized members of his campaign should be deemed official. The strategy outlined by Kellogg and Fleitz is the most detailed plan yet by associates of Trump, who has said he could quickly settle the war in Ukraine if he beats President Joe Biden in the Nov. 5 election, though he has not discussed specifics. The proposal would mark a big shift in the U.S. position on the war and would face opposition from European allies and within Trump's own Republican Party. The Kremlin said that any peace plan proposed by a possible future Trump administration would have to reflect the reality on the ground but that Russian President Vladimir Putin remained open to talks. "The value of any plan lies in the nuances and in taking into account the real state of affairs on the ground," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Reuters. "President Putin has repeatedly said that Russia has been and remains open to negotiations, taking into account the real state of affairs on the ground," he said. "We remain open to negotiations." Ukraine's foreign ministry did not respond to requests for comment on the plan. NATO MEMBERSHIP ON HOLD The core elements of the plan were outlined in a publicly available research paper published by the "America First Policy Institute," a Trump-friendly think tank where Kellogg and Fleitz hold leadership positions. Kellogg said it would be crucial to get Russia and Ukraine to the negotiating table quickly if Trump wins the election. "We tell the Ukrainians, 'You've got to come to the table, and if you don't come to the table, support from the United States will dry up,'" he said. "And you tell Putin, 'He's got to come to the table and if you don't come to the table, then we'll give Ukrainians everything they need to kill you in the field.'" According to their research paper, Moscow would also be coaxed to the table with the promise of NATO membership for Ukraine being put off for an extended period. Russia invaded neighboring Ukraine in February 2022. Until some gains by Russia in recent months, the front lines barely moved since the end of that year, despite tens of thousands of dead on both sides in relentless trench warfare, the bloodiest fighting in Europe since World War Two. Fleitz said Ukraine need not formally cede territory to Russia under their plan. Still, he said, Ukraine was unlikely to regain effective control of all its territory in the near term. "Our concern is that this has become a war of attrition that's going to kill a whole generation of young men," he said. A lasting peace in Ukraine would require additional security guarantees for Ukraine, Kellogg and Fleitz said. Fleitz added that "arming Ukraine to the teeth" was likely to be a key element of that. "President Trump has repeatedly stated that a top priority in his second term will be to quickly negotiate an end to the Russia-Ukraine war," Trump spokesperson Cheung said. "The war between Russia and Ukraine never would have happened if Donald J. Trump were president. So sad." The Biden campaign said Trump is not interested in standing up to Putin. "Donald Trump heaps praise on Vladimir Putin every chance he gets, and he's made clear he won't stand against Putin or stand up for democracy," campaign spokesperson James Singer said. UPPER HAND Some Republicans will be reticent to pay for more resources to Ukraine under the plan. The U.S. has spent more than $70 billion on military aid for Ukraine since Moscow's invasion. "What (Trump's supporters) want to do is reduce aid, if not turn off the spigot," said Charles Kupchan, a senior fellow at the Council of Foreign Relations. Putin said this month that the war could end if Ukraine agreed to drop its ambitions to join NATO and hand over four eastern and southern provinces claimed by Russia. During a meeting of the United Nations Security Council last week, French and British ambassadors reiterated their view that peace can only be sought when Russia withdraws from Ukrainian territory, a position Kyiv shares. Several analysts also expressed concern that the plan by Kellogg and Fleitz could give Moscow the upper hand in talks. "What Kellogg is describing is a process slanted toward Ukraine giving up all of the territory that Russia now occupies," said Daniel Fried, a former assistant secretary of state who worked on Russia policy. During a podcast interview last week, Trump ruled out committing U.S. troops to Ukraine and appeared skeptical of making Ukraine a NATO member. He has indicated he would quickly move to cut aid to Kyiv if elected. Biden has consistently pushed for more Ukraine aid, and his administration supports its eventual ascension to NATO. Earlier in June, Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy signed a 10-year bilateral security agreement

Donald Trump given plan to halt US military aid to Kyiv unless it talks peace with Moscow: Report

At least three people were killed and 52 others&nbsp;injured after Russian guided bombs hit an apartment building in Ukraine’s second-largest city of Kharkiv, on Saturday. Moscow and Kyiv on Sunday (Jun 23) also accused each other of launching several air attacks.&nbsp;

<h2>Russia launches missile attacks on Kyiv</h2>

Russia launched three missiles overnight on Ukraine, out of which air defence systems over Kyiv destroyed two, said Ukrainian Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshchuk, on Sunday, in a post on Telegram. However, he did not say what happened to the third missile.&nbsp;

The Ukrainian capital, its surrounding region and several others across the war-torn country were under air raid alerts for about an hour on Sunday morning, starting at 4:50 am (local time), reported Reuters.&nbsp;

<h2>Ukraine launches drone attack</h2>

Ukraine launched dozens of drones overnight targeting several Russian regions, said local officials on Sunday.&nbsp;

At least 30 drones were destroyed over the Russian region of Bryansk, which borders Ukraine, said the regional governor.&nbsp;

Several drones were also destroyed over the Smolensk region, Vasily Anokhin, governor of the region in Russia’s west said.&nbsp;

As per preliminary information, there were no casualties or destruction in either region, the governors said.

<h2>Apartment building in Kharkiv attacked</h2>

Ukrainian officials said four Russian guided bombs hit an apartment building in Kharkiv. Images from the site show parts of the five-storey building in ruins with windows smashed, balconies wrecked and rubble scattered around a crater created on the ground due to the attack.&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/russia-ukraine-war-3-killed-29-injured-in-kharkiv-attack-734252/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The prosecutors in Kharkiv said at least three were killed and 52 others, including three children, were injured in the mid-afternoon attack. They also said Russia used its new UMPB D-30 SN guided bombs, launched from the Belgorod region, for the attack on Kharkiv.

Kharkiv Police Chief Serhiy Bolvinov, as per Reuters, told public broadcaster Suspilne that three floors had collapsed, but they believe no one was trapped under the rubble.&nbsp;

<h2>Zelensky calls for military aid</h2>

The attack prompted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to call for more military aid for Kyiv to help deal with the growing threat of such weapons.

“This Russian terror through guided bombs must be stopped and can be stopped,” Zelensky wrote in a post on Telegram after the attack.&nbsp;

He added, “We need strong decisions from our partners to enable us to stop the Russian terrorists and Russian military aviation right where they are.”&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-man-trying-to-drown-his-two-children-on-connecticut-beach-stopped-by-cops-734276">US man trying to drown his two children on Connecticut beach stopped by cops</a>

In his nightly address, on Saturday, the Ukrainian president said that Russian forces have used more than 2,400 guided bombs on Ukrainian targets in June alone, out of which some 700 were aimed at Kharkiv. He added, “This is calculated terror.”

<h2>Deadly attacks across Ukraine</h2>

A report by news agency AFP citing the regional military administration said Russian artillery shelling killed a civilian in Zaporizhzhia. A policeman manning a checkpoint was killed in a drone attack in the southern Kherson region, said the police.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, in Donetsk, regional head Vadym Filashkin said five civilians were killed by shelling in frontline areas.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia war on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos

At least three people were killed and 52 others injured after Russian guided bombs hit an apartment building in Ukraine’s second-largest city of Kharkiv, on Saturday.

At least three people were killed and 52 others injured after Russian guided bombs hit an apartment building in Ukraine’s second-largest city of Kharkiv, on Saturday. Moscow and Kyiv on Sunday (Jun 23) also accused each other of launching several air attacks. Russia launches missile attacks on Kyiv Russia launched three missiles overnight on Ukraine, out of which air defence systems over Kyiv destroyed two, said Ukrainian Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshchuk, on Sunday, in a post on Telegram. However, he did not say what happened to the third missile. The Ukrainian capital, its surrounding region and several others across the war-torn country were under air raid alerts for about an hour on Sunday morning, starting at 4:50 am (local time), reported Reuters. Ukraine launches drone attack Ukraine launched dozens of drones overnight targeting several Russian regions, said local officials on Sunday. At least 30 drones were destroyed over the Russian region of Bryansk, which borders Ukraine, said the regional governor. Several drones were also destroyed over the Smolensk region, Vasily Anokhin, governor of the region in Russia’s west said. As per preliminary information, there were no casualties or destruction in either region, the governors said. Apartment building in Kharkiv attacked Ukrainian officials said four Russian guided bombs hit an apartment building in Kharkiv. Images from the site show parts of the five-storey building in ruins with windows smashed, balconies wrecked and rubble scattered around a crater created on the ground due to the attack. The prosecutors in Kharkiv said at least three were killed and 52 others, including three children, were injured in the mid-afternoon attack. They also said Russia used its new UMPB D-30 SN guided bombs, launched from the Belgorod region, for the attack on Kharkiv. Kharkiv Police Chief Serhiy Bolvinov, as per Reuters, told public broadcaster Suspilne that three floors had collapsed, but they believe no one was trapped under the rubble. Zelensky calls for military aid The attack prompted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to call for more military aid for Kyiv to help deal with the growing threat of such weapons. “This Russian terror through guided bombs must be stopped and can be stopped,” Zelensky wrote in a post on Telegram after the attack. He added, “We need strong decisions from our partners to enable us to stop the Russian terrorists and Russian military aviation right where they are.” Also Read | US man trying to drown his two children on Connecticut beach stopped by cops In his nightly address, on Saturday, the Ukrainian president said that Russian forces have used more than 2,400 guided bombs on Ukrainian targets in June alone, out of which some 700 were aimed at Kharkiv. He added, “This is calculated terror.” Deadly attacks across Ukraine A report by news agency AFP citing the regional military administration said Russian artillery shelling killed a civilian in Zaporizhzhia. A policeman manning a checkpoint was killed in a drone attack in the southern Kherson region, said the police. Meanwhile, in Donetsk, regional head Vadym Filashkin said five civilians were killed by shelling in frontline areas. (With inputs from agencies) Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia war on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos

At least 3 killed, 52 injured after Russian guided bombs hit apartment building in Ukraine’s Kharkiv

As Ukraine faces a series of losses on the frontlines amid its ongoing war with Russia, a report by the New York Times said Kyiv has ramped up conscription efforts and while many Ukrainian men have answered the call to serve, thousands are either hiding or fleeing the country.&nbsp;

<h2>Thousands try to evade conscription</h2>

Vladyslav, a 45-year-old Ukrainian who went into hiding, told the NYT that officers serving draft notices are “everywhere now,” forcing thousands who are trying to evade conscription to either stay in hiding or flee the war-torn country.&nbsp;

According to the report, even before the latest mobilisation push thousands of Ukrainian men fled the country, including some who swam across the river separating Ukraine and Romania.&nbsp;

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Currently, Ukrainian officials are scouring the country to find draft men of military age, which is 25 to 60, as of now. However, many including Vladyslav fear that the conscription would be a “one-way ticket to the front line,” the NYT reported.&nbsp;

The report noted that while the number of men trying to avoid being drafted is unclear, tens of thousands of men are part of social media groups which alert other members about the movements of draft officers.&nbsp;

NYT citing military analysts said that Kyiv is having a difficult time holding its lines because the Ukrainian troops often lack proper and enough training as Ukraine is quick to send personnel to the battleground to replace losses.&nbsp;

However, Colonel Volodymyr Novosiadlyi, an official responsible for conscription in Kyiv told the newspaper that those drafted are trained for at least a month and that the military is also trying to treat draftees with fairness and empathy.&nbsp;

He added, “Every citizen should understand the need to fulfill their duties” in defending their country.

The mobilisation law passed in April made it compulsory for all draft-age men to register their details on a government website based on which the draftees would be chosen. Failure to register by July 16 will be a criminal offence.&nbsp;

<h2>Ukraine sends criminals to front lines</h2>

Earlier this year, the Ukrainian parliament also adopted a law which authorised certain convicts to fight on the frontlines. The move, which Russia was once criticised for, led thousands of prisoners to trade their prison jumpsuits for Ukrainian army uniforms.&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/at-least-3-killed-52-injured-after-russian-guided-bombs-hit-apartment-building-in-ukraines-kharkiv-734278">At least 3 killed, 52 injured after Russian guided bombs hit apartment building in Ukraine’s Kharkiv</a>

More than 2,750 convicts have been released from Ukrainian prisons since the law was adopted in May, according to a report by the Washington Post.&nbsp;

The law authorised certain convicts including those jailed for dealing drugs and committing armed assaults and murders were allowed to enlist.&nbsp;

However, it does not allow those convicted of crimes against the foundations of national security of Ukraine, or particularly serious corruption offences.

After the law was passed, the Ukrainian justice ministry said that the inmates, who must sign up of their own free will, would serve in separate units. &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

As Ukraine faces a series of losses on the frontlines amid its ongoing war with Russia, a report by the New York Times said Kyiv has ramped up conscription efforts and while many Ukrainian men have answered the call to serve, thousands are either hiding or fleeing the country.

As Ukraine faces a series of losses on the frontlines amid its ongoing war with Russia, a report by the New York Times said Kyiv has ramped up conscription efforts and while many Ukrainian men have answered the call to serve, thousands are either hiding or fleeing the country. Thousands try to evade conscription Vladyslav, a 45-year-old Ukrainian who went into hiding, told the NYT that officers serving draft notices are “everywhere now,” forcing thousands who are trying to evade conscription to either stay in hiding or flee the war-torn country. According to the report, even before the latest mobilisation push thousands of Ukrainian men fled the country, including some who swam across the river separating Ukraine and Romania. Currently, Ukrainian officials are scouring the country to find draft men of military age, which is 25 to 60, as of now. However, many including Vladyslav fear that the conscription would be a “one-way ticket to the front line,” the NYT reported. The report noted that while the number of men trying to avoid being drafted is unclear, tens of thousands of men are part of social media groups which alert other members about the movements of draft officers. NYT citing military analysts said that Kyiv is having a difficult time holding its lines because the Ukrainian troops often lack proper and enough training as Ukraine is quick to send personnel to the battleground to replace losses. However, Colonel Volodymyr Novosiadlyi, an official responsible for conscription in Kyiv told the newspaper that those drafted are trained for at least a month and that the military is also trying to treat draftees with fairness and empathy. He added, “Every citizen should understand the need to fulfill their duties” in defending their country. The mobilisation law passed in April made it compulsory for all draft-age men to register their details on a government website based on which the draftees would be chosen. Failure to register by July 16 will be a criminal offence. Ukraine sends criminals to front lines Earlier this year, the Ukrainian parliament also adopted a law which authorised certain convicts to fight on the frontlines. The move, which Russia was once criticised for, led thousands of prisoners to trade their prison jumpsuits for Ukrainian army uniforms. Also Read | At least 3 killed, 52 injured after Russian guided bombs hit apartment building in Ukraine’s Kharkiv More than 2,750 convicts have been released from Ukrainian prisons since the law was adopted in May, according to a report by the Washington Post. The law authorised certain convicts including those jailed for dealing drugs and committing armed assaults and murders were allowed to enlist. However, it does not allow those convicted of crimes against the foundations of national security of Ukraine, or particularly serious corruption offences. After the law was passed, the Ukrainian justice ministry said that the inmates, who must sign up of their own free will, would serve in separate units. (With inputs from agencies)

Thousands of Ukrainians go into hiding as Kyiv expands military draft: Report

British politician Nigel Farage made a huge claim&nbsp;that, while the Ukraine conflict is Russian President Vladimir Putin's fault, the West "provoked this war".&nbsp;

Speaking at the BBC Panorama show, the Reform UK leader said he had been warning about conflict with Russia since 2014. He also added that the expansion of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the European Union gave Putin "an excuse" to go to war with Ukraine.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mocking-spree-unleashed-after-boris-johnson-announces-his-new-unrestrained-memoir-733993">Mocking spree ‘unleashed’ after Boris Johnson announces his new, ‘unrestrained’ memoir</a>&nbsp;

The Russia-Ukraine War, which started on February 24, 2022, is an ongoing conflict that has dramatically reshaped the global geopolitical landscape. The war started after Moscow launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.&nbsp;

So far in the war, tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians have been killed. The humanitarian crisis has deepened with millions of Ukrainians being displaced, both internally and as refugees in neighboring countries and beyond.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/britains-labour-party-woos-banks-but-risks-profit-squeeze-733828">Britain's labour party woos banks but risks profit squeeze</a>&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;Gravitas: Why are Russians drinking more? Highest consumption of Vodka in Russia in a decade

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Farage said during the interview: "I stood up in the European Parliament in 2014 and I said, and I quote, 'there will be a war in Ukraine'. Why did I say that? It was obvious to me that the ever-eastward expansion of NATO and the European Union was giving this man [Putin] a reason to his Russian people to say, 'They're coming for us again, and to go to war."&nbsp;

He added, "Hang on a second, we provoked this war. It's – you know, of course, it's his fault, he's used what we've done as an excuse."

On being specifically asked by the interviewer if he meant that "we provoked the invasion of Ukraine", Farage replied: "Yes."&nbsp;

UK politicians and several experts have accused Farage of being an apologist for Putin. He was even asked about his beliefs over the invasion of Ukraine and his stated admiration for Putin.

Farage said that he disliked the Russian president personally. However, he admitted that he "admired him as a political operator" because of the&nbsp;extent of his control over Russia.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

British politician Nigel Farage made a huge claim that, while the Ukraine conflict is Russian President Vladimir Putin's fault, the West "provoked this war". Speaking at the BBC Panorama show, the Reform UK leader said he had been warning about conflict with Russia since 2014.

British politician Nigel Farage made a huge claim that, while the Ukraine conflict is Russian President Vladimir Putin's fault, the West "provoked this war". Speaking at the BBC Panorama show, the Reform UK leader said he had been warning about conflict with Russia since 2014. He also added that the expansion of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the European Union gave Putin "an excuse" to go to war with Ukraine. Also read: Mocking spree ‘unleashed’ after Boris Johnson announces his new, ‘unrestrained’ memoir The Russia-Ukraine War, which started on February 24, 2022, is an ongoing conflict that has dramatically reshaped the global geopolitical landscape. The war started after Moscow launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. So far in the war, tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians have been killed. The humanitarian crisis has deepened with millions of Ukrainians being displaced, both internally and as refugees in neighboring countries and beyond. Also read: Britain's labour party woos banks but risks profit squeeze Watch: Gravitas: Why are Russians drinking more? Highest consumption of Vodka in Russia in a decade × Farage said during the interview: "I stood up in the European Parliament in 2014 and I said, and I quote, 'there will be a war in Ukraine'. Why did I say that? It was obvious to me that the ever-eastward expansion of NATO and the European Union was giving this man [Putin] a reason to his Russian people to say, 'They're coming for us again, and to go to war." He added, "Hang on a second, we provoked this war. It's – you know, of course, it's his fault, he's used what we've done as an excuse." On being specifically asked by the interviewer if he meant that "we provoked the invasion of Ukraine", Farage replied: "Yes." UK politicians and several experts have accused Farage of being an apologist for Putin. He was even asked about his beliefs over the invasion of Ukraine and his stated admiration for Putin. Farage said that he disliked the Russian president personally. However, he admitted that he "admired him as a political operator" because of the extent of his control over Russia. (With inputs from agencies)

West 'provoked' Russia-Ukraine war, says UK's Nigel Farage