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Putin says he won’t deal with Ukrainian ‘terrorists’ but praises U.S. mediators

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Russian President Vladimir Putin showered praise on U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner early Wednesday, saying they were “always welcome” in Moscow, but accused Ukraine of “state terrorism,” adding that “one does not negotiate with terrorists.”

Putin’s remarks, at a 3 a.m. news conference in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, following a regional security summit — and Russia’s intensifying drone and missile strikes on Kyiv — suggested that he sees little chance of a deal to end his war in Ukraine.

In recent days, Trump administration officials have seemed to make an effort to reengage with Moscow. CIA Director John Ratcliffe visited Moscow to meet with counterparts in Russian intelligence. And Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent welcomed Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov at a Group of 20 finance ministers’ meeting in North Carolina.

Bessent used the gathering in part to seek support for a new U.S. pressure campaign against Iran called “Operation Economic Outcast” — the latest effort by the Trump administration to force the Iranians to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway vital to oil shipments.

But at the meeting in Bishkek, a gathering of leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization that included Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Putin pledged continued support for Tehran. At the news conference Wednesday, he also vowed that Russia would keep pummeling Ukraine and dismissed a warning by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that Russia’s skies are no longer safe for aviation because of Ukrainian drones.

“If this has been voiced, it amounts to nothing less than a call for state terrorism,” Putin told reporters. “And I would point out that they are asking us to resume negotiations and requesting face-to-face meetings. One does not negotiate with terrorists.”

In response to a question about Ratcliffe’s visit, Putin said contacts between intelligence services are routine and continued “even during the most difficult times of the Cold War, and all the more so now.”

It was the first time Putin had publicly addressed Ratcliffe’s appearance in Moscow, the first known visit to Russia by a CIA director since late 2021, shortly before Putin ordered the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The visit came after new U.S. intelligence indicated the Kremlin views Washington as weakened by the Iran war, potentially seeing an opening to escalate provocations against U.S. interests or allies.

Putin said that peace talks on Ukraine are “frozen to a certain extent” but that Moscow would welcome “someone who could bring some positivity to the process.”

“That said, we are perfectly comfortable working with people we know well and whom we generally trust — individuals close to President Trump,” Putin continued. “In my view, they are sincere people who strive to imbue our work with concrete substance.”

He added: “President Trump trusts them, which is crucial. … That is why Mr. Kushner and Mr. Witkoff are always welcome guests here, and we enjoy working with them.”

The comments followed a familiar pattern. In response to Washington’s on-again, off-again attempts to draw Moscow back to the negotiating table, Putin showed little appetite to move away from his maximalist goals in Ukraine or his military campaign to achieve them.

Putin lashed out at Ukraine’s threats to devastate the Russian economy, suggesting that Kyiv has little interest in negotiations.

“We need some people to talk to — provided they realize they want to resolve issues peacefully — rather than simply ‘destroying’ our economy ‘in 40 days,’ ‘bringing Russia to its knees,’ or dealing us ‘yet another strategic blow,’” he said.

Putin’s appearances after major international events have become one of the few remaining venues for media access to the Russian president, albeit one that is tightly staged.

At the news conference, Putin also dismissed rumors that Russia would undertake a new general military mobilization. Rumors of a mass conscription, perhaps after parliamentary elections in Russia this fall, have swirled against the backdrop of an intensifying war in Ukraine. Putin called the speculation nonsense.

On Tuesday, hours before Putin spoke, Germany formally blamed Russia for an attempted drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport early last month, where a device packed with military-grade explosives was found next to a Ukrainian cargo plane. The airport is also used by European and NATO military aircraft.

In retaliation, Germany moved to shut down a Russian Consulate in Bonn and the Russia House in Berlin. The Kremlin has denied any involvement in the incident, saying Germany provided no evidence and accusing Berlin of “proceeding down a path of further escalation.”

Dmitry Medvedev, a former Russian president who is more recently known for provocative statements on social media, threatened Germany with a “direct strike” on its military production facilities over the Leipzig accusations.

Germany’s leaders, Medvedev, who now serves as deputy chair of Russia’s security council, wrote, “deserve a direct strike on all German military equipment production facilities ... and quite possibly on several other locations in Berlin as well.”

Last week, Russia warned it could strike British military targets inside and outside Ukraine in response to Kyiv’s use of long-range British Storm Shadow cruise missiles against targets inside Russia.

Maria Zakharova, the spokesman for Russia’s Foreign Ministry, said Britain was “one step away” from becoming legally complicit in what she called “terrorism” against Russian civilians, warning of “inevitable catastrophic consequences” unless London changes course.

Asked in Bishkek whether Russia was seriously considering strikes on British military facilities, Putin said it was “a military secret.”

Zelensky issued his warnings during his nightly address on Tuesday, saying that “the safe days in Russia’s skies are over.”

“Today, we want to warn every airline that uses Russian airspace, every insurer and everyone who still uses Russia’s key airports: Russian airspace is becoming completely unsafe,” he said.

Russian authorities, he added, “are not properly informing people about this” — but Russian airspace, in effect, is closing, “the war started by Russia is closing its skies.”

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Putin Embarrassed on Battlefield as Troops Trapped

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“They do not want to go there because it means death,” a Ukrainian commander said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin

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Vladimir Putin has been dealt a fresh battlefield blow as Ukraine says it trapped around 2,500 Russian troops on a strategic Black Sea peninsula.

Ukrainian troops said Moscow’s forces on the occupied Kinburn Peninsula had become largely isolated as drone attacks and remotely laid mines made it increasingly difficult to bring in ammunition, fuel and food, according to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s Crimea.Realities

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Ukraine war latest: Russia responds to Zelenskyy's civil aviation threat

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Kyiv urges ICAO to stop flights from using Russian airspace

Ukraine ‌has urged ​the International Civil Aviation ​Organisation ‌to ​prevent member states from using ​Russian ⁠airspace.

That's ⁠according to ‌a letter from the ‌government to ICAO, which has been seen by the Reuters news agency. 

It comes as Russia's transport minister Andrei Nikitin said Moscow will not allow Ukraine to seriously disrupt its civil aviation operations despite Zelenskyy's threat (see post at 10:41).

Zelenskyy warned airlines and insurance companies yesterday that the presence of Ukrainian drones had made Russian airspace dangerous to use, adding it was effectively closed.

Nikitin said the threats were being taken "into account" and Russia is "constantly improving flight safety and airport security requirements".

Flightradar24 data showed today there were disruptions at Moscow's main airport while ‌some airlines cancelled flights - though they did not give a reason for doing so.

Britain is 'better' prepared at repelling a potential Russian attack after renewed threat

In the wake of the attempted drone attack in Leipzig and subsequent condemnation of Russia by Germany and its partners, Europe is now on guard about possible escalation by Moscow.

In our latest Q&A on the Ukraine war, military analyst Michael Clarke was asked whether Russia could target British airports:

Could Russia target UK airports, as they did in Germany? Is Heathrow at risk?
Ronald

In his response, Clarke said "yes", adding that cyber attacks and sabotage were possible.

He added that Russia could attempt to distance itself from events by "paying other people to do it, paying dissident groups to do it or kids to do it".

"All of us in Europe are at a bigger risk now of these sorts of events," Clarke said.

A police officer in protective clothing works at Leipzig/Halle Airport

But he said the "good news" for the UK is that "we are pretty well better than anyone else in Europe at detecting this and stopping it".

That's despite Clarke admitting that Russia "would like to target us more than anyone else" and the UK having "some egregious failures in the past".

"We've lived with these sort of threats over the last 50 or 60 years... we've had threats on the go in Britain since the mid-1960s," he added.

"We're actually better at counterterrorism and counter-sabotage than most other countries; we're more geared up to it and I think our airports are much more vigilant."

But Clarke said it's important that the UK continues "being good and lucky" to avoid a possible "mass casualty event".

Want more from Michael Clarke and other experts on defence, conflicts and national security? Click here to register your interest for Sky News Defence Insider - launching with a free trial soon.

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Zelenskyy discusses Leipzig incident with German chancellor

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has discussed the attempted attack on the airfield in Leipzig with Friedrich Merz, describing last month's incident as "yet another Russian escalation".

The Ukrainian president said it was "important that Germany responded" and that Merz has briefed him on the measures taken by Berlin.

"For my part, I assured him that Ukraine is ready to help - with expertise, experience, or in other areas where Germany may need it," he added.

"Our teams are already finalising the text of the Drone Deal, and this will, among other things, definitely provide both Germany and Ukraine with additional defense capabilities."

Zelenskyy said Ukraine will receive air defence packages this month from Germany - with Berlin itself describing the country as "Ukraine’s biggest supporter", including in the military sphere.

Russian attack leaves 350,000 Ukrainian families without power

More than 350,000 families were temporarily without power after Russia attacked energy infrastructure in the southern Ukrainian region of Odesa (see post at 9:29).

That's according to Ukraine's largest private investor in the country's energy sector, DTEK.

The company said it has restored electricity to 177,000 households so far. 

"The enemy also damaged a DTEK Odesa Grids production site, including transport and office buildings," it added in a Telegram post.

"Energy workers are doing everything possible to restore power to homes as quickly as possible."

Large Russian oil refinery shut down after drone attack, sources say

One of Russia's largest oil refineries has stopped crude processing after a drone attack at the end of last month damaged facilities, two industry sources told the Reuters news agency.

Alexander ‌Drozdenko, governor of the northwest Russian region of Leningrad, said a fire broke out in an industrial zone in the town of Kirishi following a drone raid. He did not provide details about the damage or the name of the facility. 

But according to sources, the attack on 30 August damaged two operating primary crude distillation ​units at Surgutneftegaz's Kirishinefteorgsintez (KNIEF). 

Damage to one unit represented 40% of the plant's total capacity and another unit represented 8%, while two other units were offline at the time of the attack.

As a result, the refinery has suspended all crude processing operations, according to the sources.

Surgutneftegaz did not immediately respond to ​a Reuters request for comment.

Vladimir Putin at the refinery in 2011

Moscow has grown 'increasingly reckless' in its war with Ukraine

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte says Russia has "grown increasingly reckless" in its war with Ukraine.

He declares the alliance stands in "full solidarity with Germany" alongside the European Union.

"We are working around the clock to make sure that we are prepared to keep our people safe," he adds.

Rutte says Russia should know Europe won't be divided by threats.

"Our support to Ukraine is clear," he adds.

That includes providing funds as well as "vital air defence".

The news conference has now ended.  

Reuters

Europeans must face 'harsh truth' of Russian attacks outside of Ukraine, EU says

The European Commission president is continuing, warning Russia that if the attack was intended to stop support for Ukraine, it hasn't worked. 

Standing alongside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Ursula Von der Leyen says: "We are united, Europe and NATO will not just maintain our pressure on Russia, we will increase it."

"We will not stop, not until Russia stops bombing and killing innocent children, men and women in Ukraine," she adds.

Von der Leyen says repeated incursions in European airspace and interference with critical infrastructure mean "Europeans are faced with the harsh truth that this is the new normal".

"We must treat our everyday infrastructure as frontline targets and protect them accordingly," she adds.

"We will support any member state Russia targets."

Attempted Leipzig drone attack could have resulted in deaths, Von der Leyen says

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that if the attempt to attack cargo planes at Leipzig Airport had been successful, it would have "resulted in enormous damage" and possibly deaths.

She added that it was an attack "using military-grade material" and carried out by Russian operatives on European Union soil.

"We will not tolerate it," she said.

"We stand in full solidarity with Germany."

Reuters

Von der Leyen and Rutte speak in Brussels

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen is speaking with visiting NATO secretary general Mark Rutte during a joint news conference in Brussels.

The two leaders are discussing their joint response to Moscow's hybrid threats after Germany concluded that Russia was behind an attempted drone attack in Leipzig last month.

Watch the news conference here... 

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Has a 'secret Russian missile programme' been helping Iran?

Iran has been getting secret help from Russia to develop supersonic cruise missiles, according to a new report by the Financial Times.

The newspaper says the secret missile programme has been running for years to help Tehran with the technology required for advanced cruise missiles. 

The FT says the programme is codenamed C430L, and some of Russia's most experienced missile specialists have been assigned to help Iran develop a new class of weapon capable of threatening US aircraft carriers and other warships.

The Kremlin did not respond to requests for comment on the FT story, the paper says.

The Iranian government, contacted through its London embassy, also did not respond to the FT's questions, the paper adds.

But its report points out that Vladimir Putin told his Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian yesterday that Moscow was "trying to give you the help you need in this difficult period" during the war with the US and "supplying you with the goods you need", without elaborating.

Pezeshkian and Putin yesterday

Is Iran-Russia collaboration new?

The exposure of the secret programme is significant, but it's also evidence of close strategic ties between Russia and Iran, which were already known. 

Shahed attack drones have been provided to Russia by Iran for Moscow's war in Ukraine for years.

Ukraine and Western officials have also accused Russia of helping Iran during its war with the US and Israel by providing satellite imagery, drone support and weapons components.

What is the 'secret missile programme' for?

The main purpose of C430L is to help Iran to develop a ramjet propulsion system, an engine that allows a cruise missile to sustain flight at several times the speed of sound, the FT report says.

Missile and military experts said the technology was almost certainly intended for anti-ship and land-attack cruise missiles.

A US aircraft carrier in the Iran war

"For the Iranians, this would give them a qualitatively new strategic weapon system that could threaten US Navy vessels," Jim Lamson, a former Iran-focused military analyst with the CIA, tells the FT.

Supersonic cruise missiles combine speed with the ability to fly at low altitude, shortening the time available for sophisticated air and missile defences to detect and engage them, the FT report adds. 

It says this is especially relevant for Iran in the Gulf, where the US and its regional allies operate advanced land- and sea-based defensive systems.

'Clearance from the very top'

"This is the transfer of a highly strategically sensitive military technology from Russia that the Iranians have wanted to acquire for decades," said Fabian Hinz, an expert on Iranian missiles and senior analyst with Conflict Armament Research, a UK-based weapons-tracing organisation.

"A programme like this would require political clearance from the very top in Russia."

Russia won't allow Ukraine to disrupt civil aviation operations, minister says

Moscow will not allow Ukraine to seriously disrupt its civil aviation operations despite a threat by Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Russia's transport minister has said.

Zelenskyy warned airlines and insurance companies yesterday that the presence of Ukrainian drones had made Russian airspace dangerous to use, adding it was effectively closed.

"Of course, we are preparing for this ​and taking all these threats ⁠into account," Andrei Nikitin said, according to the Interfax news agency.

"We are ⁠constantly improving flight safety and airport security requirements, and we ‌have solutions for all of this. We have solutions for all the threats ‌that terrorists are voicing."

He added that his department is working in "close contact" with the defence ministry and the Russian National Guard.

"I believe ​that we will not allow any significant ⁠disruption to civil aviation."

Vladimir Putin said yesterday Zelenskyy's warning sounded ⁠like Ukraine intended to ​commit "state terrorism" and Moscow would find a way to respond.

Planes parked at Sheremetyevo International Airport outside Moscow in July

Ukraine calls for discussion over using Russian frozen assets

Ukraine's foreign minister has said it was time to restart talks on using frozen Russian assets for the country.

Andrii Sybiha said in a meeting of foreign ministers in Ireland: "I ​think this is a fair approach to ​start ⁠[a] serious discussion [on] how ⁠we could use immobilised frozen ‌assets." 

Four European Union countries - ⁠the Netherlands, Poland, Spain ​and Sweden - late last month ​urged the bloc ⁠to reopen discussion on using ⁠Russia's frozen assets ​for Ukraine. 

Belgium, where the majority of the funds are held, blocked the initiative to fund Ukraine using more than €200bn in Russian central bank assets held in the EU under sanctions.

But a coalition of states wrote to the European Commission to call for work to restart on the concept, four people briefed on the document told the Financial Times.

Andrii Sybiha

Explosions heard in Kyiv after Russian attacks

At least three large explosions rocked the centre of Kyiv today, witnesses have told the Reuters news agency.

Authorities in Ukraine's capital issued an air raid alert earlier in reaction to a drone threat, adding that air defence units were repelling the attack.

A column of black smoke rose from a neighbourhood near the national university building, according to reports.

Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko wrote on Telegram that four people were injured in the city after Russia's attacks.

He said two were hospitalised and the other two were receiving medical assistance. 

Russia attacked energy infrastructure in Odesa, Ukrainian transmission operator says

Moscow carried out a "massive" missile and drone attack on Ukraine's energy infrastructure in the country's southern Odesa region overnight.

That's according to transmission system operator Ukrenergo.

The company said on Telegram that a substantial number of its consumers in the region were left without electricity.

It added that there were new power cuts in four other regions.

Washington and Moscow see grounds for financial ties, Russian minister says

Dialogue between Washington and Moscow should continue to seek common ground in economics, according to Russian finance minister Anton Siluanov, who was quoted by the Interfax news agency.

He added that it would make it easier for the two countries to then discuss political issues.

Asked about ‌a meeting with US treasury secretary Scott Bessent, the Russian minister ⁠said both ​countries ​agreed ​there are grounds for ⁠improving financial ties ⁠despite complications, Interfax reported. 

Anton Siluanov

Attempted Leipzig attack looks like state-sponsored terrorism, EU says

The alleged Russian attempted drone attack in Leipzig had all the hallmarks of state-sponsored terrorism, according to the EU's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas.

She said Europe needs to coordinate on what more can be done due to Moscow's escalation of attacks in Ukraine.

The German government said yesterday that it had concluded Moscow was responsible ‌for the attempted drone attack last month.

Speaking before an informal gathering of ⁠European foreign ministers in ​Ireland, Kallas added that work ​is ongoing on 1,600 sanctions ⁠listings related to Russia's military complex and "maybe ⁠there are more ​to be added".

Welcome back

Good morning and welcome back to our live coverage of the war in Ukraine.

The European Union says last month's attempted drone strike in Leipzig had all the hallmarks of state-sponsored terrorism after Germany concluded Moscow was responsible.

Meanwhile, Russia carried out a "massive" missile and drone attack on Ukraine's energy infrastructure in the southern Odesa region, according to a state-owned transmission system operator.

We'll have more details on those strikes shortly - stay with us for live updates throughout the day.

'Military secret' if Russia planning to strike UK sites, Putin says

It's a "military secret" how Russia will respond to the UK's decision to provide Ukraine with Storm Shadow blueprints.

That was Vladimir Putin's response to a question on whether Russia was weighing up possible strikes on British military sites.

He made no further comment, but it comes as tensions escalate between the two countries.

Russia said last week that the UK was "playing with fire" after Andy Burnham approved letting Ukraine access classified long-range cruise missile tech.

The prime minister had a rather glib response while visiting Kyiv... 

'The enemy will crumble'

Elsewhere, giving his fullest remarks on the war in weeks, the Russian president acknowledged that Ukraine's strikes inside his country have inflicted real damage – in particular when they use drones.

However, he said that Russia continued to make advances on the battlefield.

"I have no doubt ⁠the enemy will crumble," Putin added, without explaining how that would happen.

'Utter nonsense' mobilisation order

Reports from The Economist recently said that Putin was mulling a mobilisation of between 300,000 and 400,000 soldiers – leaving the orders to local governments to avoid backlash.

He's rubbished those and other similar reports as "utter nonsense", denying a new mobilisation order. 

It's worth noting, though, that according to The Economist, the first mobilisation order never expired.

Pics: Reuters

Ukraine threatening 'state terrorism'

Meanwhile, Volodymyr Zelenskyy issued a warning to civilian airliners using Russian airspace, saying "the safe days in Russia’s skies are over".

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He meant that Ukrainian drones would effectively halt the safe use of air traffic routes over the countries.

Putin said, however, that those comments sounded like "state terrorism" and vowed a response.

He also said that Russia was open to "concrete" talks on settling the Ukraine conflict ​if new momentum could be injected.

Russia and Ukraine exchange strikes on energy infrastructure

Russia and Ukraine have been exchanging strikes on energy infrastructure in their latest series of attacks.

A Russian drone and missile attack damaged a thermal power plant in Ukraine's southern Odesa region, state energy company Naftogaz said.

Meanwhile, a Ukrainian attack damaged oil-processing units at Russia's Novatek Ust-Luga complex.

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Ukraine-Russia war latest: Moscow threatens direct strike on Germany in fresh escalation against Europe and UK

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Zelensky declares Russian airspace ‘completely unsafe’ in warning to airlines and passengers

Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev has threatened Germany with a “direct strike” on its military production facilities after Berlin accused Moscow of being behind a drone attack on Leipzig Airport last month.

Medvedev, the deputy chair of Russia’s security council and a routinely outspoken provocateur, wrote on Telegram that Germany’s leadership “deserve a direct strike on all German military equipment production facilities ... and quite possibility on several other locations in Berlin as well”.

In an ominous addendum he suggested: “Every terror has sponsors. At the moment, these are the heads of Western countries, primarily European ones. And they often travel to Kyiv by train...”

Airport workers last month found a drone laden with explosives and a detonator at the airport, an important civilian freight and NATO logistics hub in eastern Germany that is also a base for several giant Ukrainian Antonov An-124 cargo planes.

Germany has blamed Moscow for the attack, characterising it as part of hybrid warfare meant to intimidate and cause divisions in countries that have supported Ukraine over the Russian invasion.

Russia denies involvement and has vowed to respond to what its foreign ministry spokesperson called "anti-Russian action".

7 minutes ago

The latest: Putin issues new threat over Russian attacks on UK sites

Vladimir Putin has said it is a "military secret” whether or not Russia is weighing up possible strikes on British military sites, in an ominous new warning over the UK’s support for Ukraine.

The UK last month agreed to provide Ukraine with blueprints for the Scalp weapon, a version of the British Storm Shadow missile, which Britain has already provided to Kyiv and can be used to hit more targets within Russia itself.

Asked how Russia will respond to the decision – and whether he is weighing up possible strikes on UK military sites on British territory – the Russian president said: “That's a secret, a military secret”.

Read the full story:

James Reynolds2 September 2026 14:00

38 minutes ago

Watch: Zelensky declares Russian airspace ‘completely unsafe’ in warning to airlines and passengers

Zelensky declares Russian airspace ‘completely unsafe’ in warning to airlines and passengers

James Reynolds2 September 2026 13:30

1 hour ago

Germany airport attempted attack had hallmarks of state sponsored terrorism, says EU's Kallas

The attempted attack in Leipzig had all the hallmarks of state sponsored terrorism, the European Union's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said this morning

She added that Europe needs to coordinate on what more can be done given the escalation of Russia's attacks on Ukraine.

The German government said on Tuesday ‌that it had ‌concluded that Russia was responsible for the attempted ⁠drone attack last month.

Speaking ahead of an informal gathering of European foreign ministers in Ireland, Kallas also said that work is ongoing on 1,600 sanctions listings related to Russia's military complex and "maybe there are more to be added".

Arpan Rai2 September 2026 13:00

1 hour ago

Former Russian president threatens 'direct strike' on Nato member Germany

Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev has threatened Germany with a “direct strike” on its military production facilities after Berlin accused Moscow of being behind a drone attack on Leipzig Airport last month.

Medvedev, the deputy chair of Russia’s security council and a regularly outspoken provocateur of the West, wrote on Telegram that Germany’s leadership “deserve a direct strike on all German military equipment production facilities ... and quite possibility on several other locations in Berlin as well”.

In an ominous addendum he suggested: “Every terror has sponsors. At the moment, these are the heads of Western countries, primarily European ones. And they often travel to Kyiv by train...”

Airport workers last month found a drone laden with explosives and a detonator at the airport, an important civilian freight and NATO logistics hub in eastern Germany that is also a base for several giant Ukrainian Antonov An-124 cargo planes.

Germany has blamed Moscow for the attack, characterising it as part of hybrid warfare meant to intimidate and cause divisions in countries that have supported Ukraine over the Russian invasion.

Russia denies involvement and has vowed to respond to what its foreign ministry spokesperson called "anti-Russian action".

James Reynolds2 September 2026 12:48

1 hour ago

Russia suggests possible three-way meeting between Trump, Putin and Xi

Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov has said there could be a trilateral meeting between Russian president Vladimir Putin, US president Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

China is set to host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Shenzhen in November.

The possibility of a three-way meeting between the leaders is being considered ahead of the summit, he said.

Arpan Rai2 September 2026 12:40

1 hour ago

Germany expects Russia to respond after blaming Moscow for Leipzig drone incident

The German government expects Moscow to respond with measures after it blamed Russia for an attempted drone attack on a major air freight hub last month, a government spokesperson said on Wednesday, adding that Berlin is prepared for those measures.

"At the same time, we assume that the Kremlin has understood yesterday's message loud and clear. These hybrid attacks will not achieve their political objective," the spokesperson added.

Berlin said on Tuesday that it had concluded that Russia was responsible for the attempted drone attack at Leipzig/Halle airport and ordered a series of measures in response, including the closure of a consulate and a Russian cultural centre in Germany.

James Reynolds2 September 2026 12:33

1 hour ago

Putin says it's a 'military secret' whether Russia could strike UK facilities

President Vladimir Putin said Russia's thinking on possible strikes against UK military facilities was "secret".

Asked at a press conference in Kyrgyzstan whether Russia was considering strikes on British military assets, Putin said simply: “It is a military secret.”

Last week, Russia warned that it could strike British military ​targets inside and outside Ukraine in response to Ukrainian attacks on targets inside Russia using long-range British cruise missiles.

Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said Britain was just "one step away" from becoming legally complicit in what she called "terrorism" against Russian civilians, and warned of "inevitable catastrophic consequences" unless the UK changed course.

(AFP/Getty)

Arpan Rai2 September 2026 12:20

2 hours ago

Russia and US see grounds for financial ties, says finance minister

Dialogue between Russia and the US should continue to find common ground in economics, which should make it easier ⁠to discuss political issues, Russian finance minister Anton Siluanov said.

Siluanov said both nations agree that there are grounds for developing financial ties despite complications, after his bilateral meeting with US treasury secretary Scott Bessent on Monday.

Siluanov, who said he was meeting with Bessent for ‌the first time, said he ‌believed that people from the financial world sometimes may find common understanding faster than politicians.

“So we must always keep talking; we need to continue the dialogue. If we find strong points of common interest – and they do exist – we need to develop them. Then political issues will also be easier to resolve," he said,

However, a source ‌familiar with the ministers' meeting ⁠said Bessent made clear to Siluanov ⁠no economic relief for Russia or agreements on other ‌issues were possible ​until its war ‌in Ukraine ends, reported Reuters.

Arpan Rai2 September 2026 12:00

2 hours ago

Explosion heard in Kyiv

An explosion has been heard in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv on Wednesday morning, witnesses said.

Renewed Russian strikes would make this the seventh consecutive day of attacks on the city.

Arpan Rai2 September 2026 11:40

2 hours ago

Zelensky confirms Trump's request to pause strikes on Russia

Volodymyr Zelensky has said his forces held back on attacks on Russia last week in response to a request from the Trump administration.

“When the Americans asked us to pause strikes on Moscow and St. Petersburg on 25, 26 and 27 August, we observed that pause. There were no strikes on Russia, while strikes on Ukraine continued,” he said.

Stating that Ukraine supports every move in the direction of peace, Zelensky said: “When another global power asked us to pause strikes in the direction of Vladivostok for a specified period of time, we agreed to ensure that as well. New meetings in Moscow are now being prepared, and we will take that into account.”

Zelensky declares Russian airspace ‘completely unsafe’ in warning to airlines and passengers

Arpan Rai2 September 2026 11:20

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Exclusive: Musk opposes allowing Ukraine to use Starlink for strikes on Russia, despite recent media reports, sources say

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SpaceX CEO Elon Musk remains opposed to allowing Ukraine to use Starlink for strikes deep inside Russia, despite recent media reports suggesting otherwise, three sources familiar with the matter told the Kyiv Independent.

Kyiv has long sought U.S. approval to use the technology to strengthen its campaign against Russia, including to target ballistic missile launchers. President Volodymyr Zelensky raised the issue during a closed-door meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump on July 28, but Ukraine has yet to receive approval.

The Financial Times reported on Aug. 30 that Musk was open to Ukraine using Starlink-equipped drones to strike targets in Russia, but said the decision would ultimately be a political one requiring approval from the White House.

One of the sources said Musk does not believe allowing Ukraine to use Starlink for operations inside Russia would help bring the war to an end.

"Musk wants a deal in this war, not escalation," the source said.

Musk allegedly held talks with former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov that were "extremely unsuccessful," after which the SpaceX CEO became convinced that he did not want to grant Ukraine permission to use Starlink for such operations, the source added.

Ukraine's relationship with Musk has traditionally been entwined with the figure of Fedorov, who had worked with SpaceX to supply Starlink to the Ukrainian military in the first phases of the full-scale war.

Fedorov, who was controversially dismissed from his post in mid-July, initiated talks with Musk over restricting Starlink access for Russian forces operating in Ukrainian territory. After leaving office, Fedorov said on Aug. 7 he was still in talks with Musk, but did not elaborate on the nature of the discussions or what had been achieved.

Fedorov said that restricting access to the terminals is crucial, warning that Starlink access could give Russia "the ability to control operations from Moscow, fly over roads, change flight paths beyond the reach of our radars and acoustic sensors, take out all the F-16s and Patriots, and strike all military targets."

President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Aug. 22 that an alleged miscommunication between Ukraine's Defense Ministry, Musk, and U.S. President Donald Trump failed to secure Starlink access over Russia and also damaged Kyiv's painstakingly recovered relationship with the White House.

Zelensky said he had previously been told by the Defense Ministry that Musk had approved the use of Starlink over Russia and that he only needed to secure the blessing of U.S. President Donald Trump.

Then, after convincing the U.S. president and agreeing on a funding package with EU leaders Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa, Zelensky learned that Musk had given no such approval.

"He (Trump) said that I kind of tricked him because Musk denied Ukraine the use of Starlink on the territory of Russia," Zelensky said.

"I went back to our defense ministry, and they said that maybe that's how it was indeed."

Despite the setback, Zelensky said that his team, together with members of the Trump administration, has been continuing talks with Musk in the hope of a breakthrough.

"So far, (Elon Musk) has said that this constitutes an escalation," Zelensky said. "However, he may change his mind once he sees further arguments."

"And we have already begun to receive different, more encouraging feedback. We are awaiting relevant meetings and so on. If no one makes a big fuss about this, I think we might see results," Zelensky added.

After the conversation with Fedorov, Musk's representatives said the decision on whether Ukraine should be allowed to use Starlink-equipped drones for strikes inside Russia should be addressed by the Trump administration. However, the administration indicated that SpaceX should decide whether to allow such use, a Ukrainian official told the Kyiv Independent.

An antenna of the Starlink satellite-based broadband system stands in a yard next to the wooden posts on which shoes are dried on April 7, 2024 in Kupiansk, Ukraine. (Yan Dobronosov/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)

Musk's decision in February 2026 to cut off use of the service for Russian forces was crucial to Ukraine's battlefield successes this year.

According to Zelensky, providing Starlink to Ukraine could reduce "precisely those capabilities that Russia is relying on to drag out the war."

On top of allowing flawless high-speed communications between combat positions and command posts, Starlink internet, when mounted on drones, allows for an almost unjammable connection not constrained by the limits of traditional radio antennas.

In 2026, Ukrainian forces have increasingly used Starlink-enabled drones to strike targets in Russian-occupied territory, particularly within the "middle-strike" range of 50-200 kilometers (30-125 miles) from the front line, where Ukrainian attacks have disrupted Russian logistics routes.

The terminals do not, however, work over Russian territory, where Ukraine's ongoing deep strike campaign against Russian military targets, oil infrastructure, and logistics facilities aims to enact strategic offensive pressure on Moscow.

Using Starlink-equipped drones over Russia has also been touted as a potentially effective counter against Russian ballistic missile attacks on Ukraine, by quickly striking the launchers of Russian Iskander and North Korean ballistic missiles when they move out to launch locations.

Ballistic missiles are among the most dangerous threats to Ukraine, as the U.S.-made Patriot is currently the only air defense system in the country's arsenal capable of intercepting them, and Ukrainian forces face a critical shortage of Patriot missiles. Russia launched nearly 70 ballistic missiles at Ukraine in the first 10 days of August, with only one intercepted, according to Ukraine's Air Force.

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Starlink для ударов по территории путинской России: радостные сплетни и суровые реалии

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