Miriam Braun
Putin: We were actually ready for peace talks
According to Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin, Ukraine made the path to resuming peace talks more difficult with drone attacks during the Russian State Duma election. Moscow was ready to resume negotiations on Ukraine on September 21, one day after the State Duma elections, Putin told international experts in Moscow at the Valdai political discussion forum.
Nevertheless, Russia remains ready to begin negotiations and conclude them as quickly as possible. “But of course on conditions that are also acceptable for the Russian Federation, for our people and for the Russian people.” However, Kiev, its Western allies and observers strongly doubt that Moscow is genuinely willing to talk.
Tom Körkemeier
Putin wants to conquer Donbass in less than a year and a half
Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin has announced the complete conquest of Ukraine's Donbas region in less than a year and a half. At the same time, he assumes that “given the advance of our troops, this will happen much sooner,” Putin said at the international Valdai discussion forum in Moscow. According to this, around eleven percent of the region currently remains under Ukrainian control.
He also accused Kiev of senselessly sacrificing people in the fight for Ukrainian territory. “If the loss of these territories is inevitable, does it make sense to hold on to it and sacrifice people, their safety and their lives?” the president asked.
Eva Glaser
Putin does not rule out nationalization of Western assets
Kremlin boss Vladimir Putin wants to hand over the Russian business of Western trading groups, which he recently placed under external management, back to the owners if the situation improves. There are no plans to nationalize these companies, Putin told international experts at the Valdai political discussion forum in Moscow. But the external administration also creates the opportunity to react “in a mirror image” to the theft of Russian company assets in the West, he said.
The president recently placed the subsidiaries of the trading groups Metro and Auchan and the food giant Nestle under receivership. He dismissed allegations that Russia wanted to transfer foreign assets into state ownership as a “lie.” “We don’t take anything from anyone, we don’t steal and we don’t nationalize,” Putin said. “We don’t want to punish anyone,” he replied to a journalist who asked why Nestlé was affected. The company, like others, remained active in Russia even after the start of the war of aggression against Ukraine ordered by Putin.
Eva Glaser
Wadephul calls for quick end to grain blockade
Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul calls on Russia to quickly end the blockade of Ukrainian grain exports across the Black Sea. Moscow should enable exports “so that even more people don’t have to starve and die, especially in regions where things are already bad enough,” said the CDU politician during a visit to Rome.
Wadephul also raised the issue of blocked grain exports during his unsuccessful meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. Now he said: “It would be a big step forward if there was an agreement on grain exports, because these are urgently needed in the Global South.” He once again called on Moscow to “think about at least this question in the near future.”
Eva Glaser
Ukraine deploys new ballistic missile for the first time
Ukraine is using its new FP-7 tactical ballistic missile in combat for the first time, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky. "Ukrainian tactical ballistic missile FP-7. First combat use," writes Zelensky on Telegram. "Thanks for the result. Next - production." He did not say where or against which target the missile was used.
Russia frequently uses ballistic missiles in attacks on Ukrainian targets. According to military analysts, the FP-7 has a range of about 200 kilometers. The missile is also being developed by the manufacturer Fire Point as an interceptor missile for the European Freyja missile defense program.
Eva Glaser
Ukrainian attacks cost Russia one percent of GDP
According to President Vladimir Putin, the Ukrainian attacks on oil refineries cost Russia one percent of its gross domestic product (GDP). With these attacks, Ukraine “partially achieved its goals,” Putin said at the Valdai Forum in Moscow. Russia is now reacting accordingly. According to Putin, Ukraine also damaged more than 100 Russian ships in the Black Sea. He rejects suggestions to stop the attacks there.
Lara Dehari
Putin warns of ongoing international conflicts
Russian President Vladimir Putin believes that a continuation of international conflicts is very likely. The reason for this is the fundamental shifts in the world, says Putin. However, the situation will improve if what he calls Western hegemony weakens. The Russian President explains that catastrophic scenarios must be avoided.
Eva Glaser
Merz: “We are working hard to create a credible deterrent.”
Chancellor Friedrich Merz has accused Russia of threatening Europe. “Today our continental peace order is being challenged by violent revisionism from Russia,” he said on Thursday during a visit to the German-Dutch corps in Münster.
Moscow has unleashed a murderous war in Ukraine and disregards and despises law and order. “The security of our part of Europe where we live is also at stake in Ukraine,” emphasized the Chancellor. That's why they are ready for a diplomatic solution, even if Moscow doesn't want to come to the negotiating table. That is why Ukraine is supported together in NATO and “with all our might”. They will not be deterred by Russia's hybrid attacks on Europe. We are working hard to create a credible deterrent.
Eva Glaser
Rutte: Stay calm and continue to support Ukraine
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has called for calm and continued support for Ukraine in the face of Russian provocations. “Stay calm, carry on and continue to support Ukraine,” said Rutte during a visit to Münster. Russia is testing NATO across Europe with airspace violations, sabotage and hybrid attacks.
“While we do not see an immediate military attack on NATO, we must be prepared for Russia's campaign of hostile actions against its allies to continue,” explains the NATO chief. Addressing Russian President Vladimir Putin, Rutte said: “He fails on the battlefield, and he fails to intimidate us.” Rutte accepts the Peace of Westphalia Prize for the alliance in Münster. Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz gives the laudatory speech.
Mark Rutte speaks during his visit to Münster. AFP
Julie Leduc
Russian drones hit school in Kyiv
In a Russian airstrike, a drone hit a school building in the Ukrainian capital Kiev. “The Russian freaks continue to attack the lives of our country, Ukrainian children, our schools,” President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on social networks. Since all students and teachers went to a shelter in good time, there were no injuries.
According to Zelensky, a fire broke out on the second floor of the school building, damaging windows and doors. An outer wall was partially destroyed. The head of state promised counterattacks and called on allies to increase pressure on Russia and support for Ukraine.
According to a report by the Hromadske news portal, this was not the first impact at the school. The majority of students took part in classes online due to the constant threat of Russian air strikes.
Marie Boms
Drone attack stops traffic on Dnipro bridge
A Russian drone attack forces the Kiev city government to suspend road and subway traffic on a bridge over Dnipro. This is explained by the mayor of the capital, Vitali Klitschko. Local media publish photos showing flames near one of the bridge pillars.
Julie Leduc
Authorities: One dead in Ukrainian drone strike in Belgorod region
A man dies when a Ukrainian drone explodes in the town of Graivoron in Russia's Belgorod region. This is reported by the local authorities.
Julie Leduc
Estonia blocks transit of Russian and Belarusian grain
Estonia has banned the transit of Russian and Belarusian grain through its territory. Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna announced this on the online platform X. According to insiders, Russian companies are now increasingly using terminals in Baltic Sea and Arctic ports for grain exports that are actually designed for fertilizer, coal and other goods. The background is Ukrainian drone attacks that have affected maritime transport across the Black Sea. Tsahkna says Estonia will not support Russia in maintaining its trade despite the war of aggression against Ukraine. The Baltic country will neither help finance the Russian war nor encourage the aggression of the leadership in Moscow. Belarus is a close ally of Russia.
Julie Leduc
Russia attacks Kyiv and Odessa again – two injured
According to Ukrainian authorities, one person was injured in Russian air strikes in Kiev and Odessa during the night. Infrastructure was also damaged in Odessa, as the head of the region's military administration, Serhiy Lyssak, said on the short message service Telegram. He doesn't give any details. The Russian Defense Ministry said on Telegram that the armed forces hit a logistics center in the Ukrainian capital Kiev, a data center in Odessa and a cargo ship in the nearby Black Sea port of Chornomorsk. The targets were used for military purposes.
Julius Stockheim
Estonia's secret service: Russia is targeting arms companies
According to the Estonian secret service, Russia is increasingly targeting arms companies in its attacks or sabotage attempts. “Russia’s actions in Europe are clearly systematic,” security police chief Margo Palloson said on Estonian television. Unlike before, the focus is now no longer on symbolic objects, but on companies in the defense industry. This is intended to prevent military aid to Ukraine, said the head of Estonia's domestic intelligence service.
Russia rejected the allegations from Tallinn. “Significant” number of sabotage and attack attempts “We strongly recommend that all defense industry companies, especially those supplying Ukraine, strengthen their cyber defenses,” Palloson said. According to him, there are currently companies in the defense sector in Estonia that are specific targets.
Julius Stockheim
South Korea estimates the number of North Korean soldiers in Russia at 9,000
According to South Korean intelligence estimates, North Korea still has around 9,000 soldiers deployed in Russia's Kursk region. The soldiers were involved in reconnaissance operations in the Russian invasion war against Ukraine, South Korean intelligence told parliamentarians on Wednesday.
In return, Russia gave North Korea weapons technologies to modernize its military, said lawmaker Yun Kun Young, who attended the meeting. However, Russia is cautious when it comes to the latest technology for building nuclear-powered submarines and intercontinental ballistic missiles. North Korea and Russia confirmed for the first time last year that North Korean soldiers fought alongside Russian troops against Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region.
Julius Stockheim
Ukraine complains about massive Russian attacks on its energy network
According to information from Kiev, Russia is launching massive attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure. After nightly attacks on energy facilities in the capital Kiev and other regions, Prime Minister Serhiy Koretskyj wrote on Telegram that this was the first such massive and combined attack since the end of the previous heating season.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj spoke on X about 190 Russian attack drones and ballistic missiles that Moscow fired into Ukraine that night. Five people were therefore killed. Zelensky also shared a video showing firefighting efforts after the overnight attacks.
Luke Bay
Ukraine estimates war costs in 2026 at $155 billion
According to government figures, Ukraine's war costs this year total $155 billion. Kyiv is also working to close a $27 billion funding gap. This is intended to ensure that the country can continue the fight against the Russian war of aggression at the beginning of 2027, as Prime Minister Serhiy Koretskyj further announced. The government wants to cover seven billion dollars through strict austerity measures in the budget and reallocation of funds. Ukraine is negotiating with partners over the remaining $20 billion. It is the first time that Ukraine has published an estimate of its annual war costs. There are no comparable figures for 2025.
Luke Bay
Russia extends diesel export ban until the end of October
Russia is exacerbating the tense situation on the global energy market by extending its diesel export ban. The government announced in Moscow on Wednesday that the export ban for fuel manufacturers will now apply until the end of October. The measure is likely to further increase pressure on the global energy market, which is already burdened by ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and supply bottlenecks.
With the repeated export restrictions on gasoline and diesel, the Russian government wants to curb rising fuel prices in its own country and combat shortages. These were triggered by Ukrainian drone attacks on oil refineries. At the end of August, Moscow extended the diesel export ban until the end of September. However, deliveries to countries such as former Soviet republics and Mongolia under trade agreements are excluded. Russia is usually the second largest diesel exporter in the world after d
