The US president is trying to persuade Ukraine to accept a peace agreement with Russia that includes territorial concessions in Donbass, offering Kiev economic benefits in exchange: the NYT writes. The US special envoy for the Middle East and Jared Kushner will go to Oslo to meet Zelensky, who in the US Congress defines the situation as "the most difficult since the beginning of the war". The Pope calls Zelensky after the phone call with Putin and insists on the "serious situation" in Oleshky, a Ukrainian town on the front line for which he calls for "a humanitarian truce and the collaboration of both sides to allow the arrival of aid and the evacuation of the population". Kiev says that a plan is being studied with Moscow to evacuate the almost 2,000 trapped civilians. The Tsar meanwhile proposed a three-way summit with Trump and Xi to end the war on Moscow's terms at the Apec summit in November in Shenzhen. Ukraine complains that it was not warned by the US of the missiles that rained down on the capital during the night and that in various sectors of the front the connection to Starlink continues to be "limited". Raid on a playground in Kharkiv, 6 dead including 3 children.
Axios: "Witkoff will go to Moscow after the Oslo summit"
In addition to Ukrainian President Volodymye Zelensky and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, representatives of the E4 countries (United Kingdom, France, Germany and Poland) and EU and NATO officials will participate in the Oslo talks. Axios writes it. The US official said that after Oslo, Witkoff also plans to travel to Russia, where he hopes to meet President Vladimir Putin and present ideas developed in close cooperation with Ukraine and European partners. Trump advisor Jared Kushner has the flu and will not attend the Oslo meeting in person, but will speak virtually.
NYT: "Trump wants an agreement from Zelensky, to cede territories and obtain benefits"
Donald Trump is trying to persuade Ukraine to accept a peace deal with Russia that includes territorial concessions in Donbass. In exchange, Washington promises Kiev potential economic benefits. The New York Times writes it. Trump - according to the NYT - is determined to impose a deal on Zelensky, telling him that holding out to keep the occupied portions of the country's eastern provinces is not worth it, and that there would be money to be made for Ukraine too, if only he would abandon his objections to an agreement, even if drawn up largely on Russia's terms.
Russian attack on Kramatorsk: at least 3 civilians killed and 2 injured
At least three civilians have been killed and two others injured in a Russian attack on the eastern Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk. The Donetsk regional prosecutor's office reported this on social media, specifying that the bombings damaged three residential buildings. Investigators are still working to determine the type of weapon used in the attack. Kramatorsk, an important industrial center located about 15 kilometers from the front line, is part of a network of heavily fortified cities that constitute one of the last bastions of Ukrainian defense in the areas of the Donetsk region still under Kiev's control.
Kallas: American negotiators push for surrender, EU does not
"It is precisely thanks to European support that Ukraine has not surrendered to Putin's conditions, despite the fact that American negotiators have been trying, for a year and a half, almost two, to push it to surrender." This was stated by the EU High Representative for Foreign Policy, Kaja Kallas, who spoke in the debate on the intensification of Russian attacks in the EU, and in particular in the Black Sea, in the plenary session of the European Chamber in Strasbourg. "We have no other choice. However, we must be extremely clear in saying that we also have demands on Russia: we will not give anything for free, because the goal is not just to achieve any peace, but a lasting and just peace", added Kallas. "We have seen ceasefires in the past. Over the last hundred years, Russia has attacked numerous countries, some of them three or four times. We must therefore make sure that something like this never happens again," he concluded.
Kremlin: urgent to resume negotiations on nuclear weapons with the USA
It is "necessary" for the USA and Russia to "urgently resume dialogue" on nuclear weapons". This was said by Kremlin spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, after US President Donald Trump said yesterday that he was ready to meet Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping in November to discuss denuclearisation, on the sidelines of an APEC summit in China. "Currently, we are practically without a legal basis in this sector", underlined Peskov, quoted by Tass. “This is extremely dangerous and it is necessary to start negotiations,” he added.
Merz: Europe underestimates the Russian threat, Putin wants more of Ukraine
"Europe is underestimating the threat of Russia": this was stated by the German Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, in an interview with the Bloomberg agency, underlining how Putin "wants more than Ukraine".
Kremlin: We hope to organize a Putin-Witkoff meeting soon
The Kremlin hopes to soon organize a meeting between President Vladimir Putin and US envoy Steve Witkoff. The spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said this, quoted by Russian agencies.
Kiev: "Drone on distribution station and petrol station in the capital, one dead"
In Kiev's Holosiivskyi neighborhood, one person died and six others were injured after a drone crashed near a gas station. Kiev mayor Vitali Klitschko stated this on social media.
New York Times: "Tomorrow Witkoff and Kushner at Putin's in St. Petersburg"
US President Donald Trump's envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, will fly to St. Petersburg, Russia tomorrow to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in his hometown. This was reported by the New York Times, according to which the talks could also include the release of an American citizen detained in Russia, as part of the Trump administration's efforts to favor an agreement with Moscow.
The only American citizen that the State Department classifies as "unjustly detained" in Russia is Stephen Hubbard, accused by Moscow of having fought as a mercenary alongside Ukraine. Hubbard, who is about 75 years old, was arrested in 2022 and sentenced to more than six years to be served in a penal colony.
The mission of the American emissaries to Russia would take place after today in Oslo Kushner and Witkoff met, together with the leaders of Norway and Finland, the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky.
Vance: "In a certain sense with Ukraine we are partners but there are differences"
US Vice President JD Vance, in an interview with 2way Tonight, said that "in a certain sense, Ukraine is certainly a partner but I think sometimes we have divergences of interests." “For example,” he said, “do I think they should bomb Russian diesel plants, which increases the cost of energy for Americans? No. But, of course, we cooperate with them on some issues and will continue to collaborate. But I think they should stop bombing Russian energy plants." Asked whether the concept of "partner" was less narrow than that of "ally", Vance replied that the United States "does not have an official alliance with Ukraine". "They are not part of NATO - he explained - I don't think they should be part of it. I think it's a very respectable country, a beautiful country with many amazing people. We will cooperate on some issues, but we will also have opposing positions on others."
Medvedev: "The Graham Act compromises US-Russia relations for decades"
“Relations between Russia and the United States are “compromised for decades to come,” said Security Council Deputy Chairman and former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, commenting on US President Donald Trump's suspension of the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act. “This law (the Graham Act) is absolutely illegal from the point of view of the fundamental principles of international law and represents an unlawful violation of the rights of Russia and Russian citizens, which can even be classified as an act of genocide,” Medvedev wrote on the platform Max. "The decisions to freeze the application of some of its parts (the so-called waiver) will turn into a ten-year series of attempts at blackmail and bargaining with Russia on various issues - wrote Medvedev - I remember how Trump's 'best friend', (former president) Obama, in some conversations with me, took credit for having implemented the 'waiver' provided for by the infamous Jackson-Vanik law, and then for having repealed it. This happened 35 years after its approval." "We must admit that relations between Russia and the United States are again compromised for the next decades. We have been, are and will remain systemic adversaries,” the former Russian president said.
Stubb also in Oslo for talks with Zelensky and US envoys
The Finnish president, Alexander Stubb, will also participate in meetings in Oslo with the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, the Norwegian prime minister, Jonas Gahr Store, and European representatives to discuss the war in Ukraine and European security. US President Donald Trump's envoys will also take part in the talks.
Stubb said the focus of the meetings would be "Russia's illegal war of aggression against Ukraine and the overall security situation in Europe."
Zelensky asked Norway and Finland to organize the meeting as part of ongoing diplomatic efforts, at a crucial time for Ukraine, as Store highlighted. A press conference is expected at the end of the talks.
Company on fire in Tambov, Nikolskoye distribution station hit
According to independent media reports, a pumping station of the Druzhba oil pipeline was hit in the attack. According to Ukrainian monitoring channels Exilenova+, Supernova+ and Krymsky Veter, which refer to the testimonies of local residents, the attack affected the Nikolskoye distribution station, which is part of the Druzhba oil pipeline system. The Ukrainian army had already attacked this station on August 18 last year.
Zelensky: "Italy is also a victim of Putin's hybrid war"
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed strong bitterness over Washington's recent decisions, while reiterating his gratitude towards the American people. In an interview with Corriere della Sera, the head of state denounced that the restrictions decided by the USA are now concrete: "The limitations on the sharing of intelligence and the reduction of Starlink's speed are no longer simple threats, but a reality - he declared - It is unfair towards us. We remain grateful to the American people and Trump's team. But there must be honesty between partners." Speaking about the diesel pact made between Trump and Putin, the Ukrainian leader says he is open to dialogue: "Yesterday we spoke with Trump's negotiating group. I said that we are ready: if they want to discuss negotiations and a peace agreement with Putin, we are always open." And, regarding the hypothesis of a summit between the United States, Russia and China without the presence of Kiev, he added: "If we talk about Ukraine, we would like Ukraine to be consulted. I won't comment on the rest."
Zelensky also focused on security guarantees and the role of NATO, identifying, for a secure ceasefire that counters Moscow's territorial claims, a precise formula based on three pillars: the Ukrainian army, the European Union and the Atlantic Alliance. "The best format includes three elements - he proposed - the Ukrainian army, the European Union and NATO. If it is not NATO, what alternative is offered to us? We are ready to discuss equivalent guarantees, even with another name, but they must have the same legal force". "Some countries have Patriot missiles - he added - we need to help us prepare for the winter. It is in everyone's interest. If the skies are protected, people will stay in Ukraine as much as possible".
The Ukrainian president also spoke about relations with Italy and Giorgia Meloni, describing the bond with the prime minister as excellent and underlining that military support is not non-repayable, but represents a bilateral technological and economic exchange, citing the cooperation with the Leonardo group. "I have an excellent relationship with Giorgia and I respect her a lot - he declared - But it is not a relationship in which Italy helps and Ukraine gives nothing in return. We share experience on weapons. This exchange also helps Italian technology grow. Italians work in the factories in Italy: they are jobs, not just aid to Ukraine". "Russia has been waging a hybrid war against Europe for some time - added Zelensky - including against Italy, France, Great Britain and Germany. It is not a large-scale war that it wages against us, but it passes through television, the media, the Internet and social networks. Citizens have the right to be satisfied or dissatisfied with their governments".
