Wednesday, August 13th's live news on the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Meloni: Pressure on Moscow. The US president: If the summit goes well, there will be a meeting between Putin and Zelensky. The Russian army advances in Donetsk.

19:44 | 13 August

The Pope: Trump and Putin? Let's find an agreement, let's stop the violence.

We must always seek dialogue and diplomatic work, not violence, adds Leone, who reiterates that, as the Holy See, we are working towards this. Pope Leo was greeted at the entrance to Villa Barberini in Castel Gandolfo by a small, enthusiastic crowd and gladly greeted those, including some children, who had gathered in the sun a couple of hours before his arrival.

7:43 PM | August 13

Pole arrested in Estonia for wanting to join Russian army

Estonian police arrested a Polish citizen today near the city of Narva who was attempting to illegally enter Russia with the intention of enlisting in the Russian army, Estonian state television reported. The man, a 49-year-old arriving from Serbia, was detained because, according to Tallinn authorities, his desire to join the Russian armed forces would pose an indirect threat to the security of Estonia and the European Union as a whole.

7:22 PM | August 13

Media, US seeks location for Trump-Putin-Zelensky summit

The Trump administration is seeking a venue for trilateral talks involving Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin, CBS News reports. According to the American broadcaster, negotiations between Washington, Kiev, and Moscow are expected to take place at the end of next week. The television station did not provide further details. Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin will meet at the Elmendorf-Richardson military base in Anchorage, Alaska's largest city, on Friday. Trump has also said he wants to organize a trilateral meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky. Putin stated in early August that he had no objection to a meeting with the Ukrainian leader, but that certain conditions must be met first, and that is still far from being possible.

7:02 PM | August 13

Germany Funds Third NATO Package of US Weapons for Kiev

Germany has announced it will finance the third $500 million package of U.S. military equipment and munitions for Ukraine, under NATO's new Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) initiative. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte welcomed the initiative:"This delivery will help Ukraine defend itself against Russian aggression." Germany is Europe's largest donor of military aid to Ukraine, and today's announcement further underscores its commitment to helping the Ukrainian people defend their freedom and sovereignty, he added.

6:51 PM | August 13

How the secret room in the German Chancellery where Zelensky held discussions with Trump works

by Chiara Buratti 

​

​The German Federal Chancellery is located in the heart of Berlin, on Willy-Brandt-Straße. It is separated from the Bundestag by the Republique Square. Facing the Spree River, its exterior is characterized by large windows and reinforced concrete, which distinguish its silhouette against the city center skyline. The government building, also called by Berliners "the federal washing machine", is considered one of the largest in the world.Here, today, August 13, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky
arrived to meet via video conference with US President Donald Trump, along with European leaders.
The meeting was held in an environment of maximum secrecy and security,
on the
fourth floor also known as the secret floor. ​

6:44 PM | August 13

Sanchez: Ceasefire now in Ukraine, then just peace

An immediate ceasefire is needed in Ukraine to facilitate the conditions for a just and lasting peace, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sínchez stated on X, announcing his participation in a televised meeting of the Volunteers coalition on the future of the country invaded by Russia. Ukraine must be part of any decision on its future, Sínchez also reiterated, confirming Spain's support for Kiev.

6:37 PM | August 13

Trump: I don't think I can convince Putin not to target civilians.

I don't think I can convince Putin not to bomb civilians, because I've done so in past conversations, and he's continued to launch missiles. Donald Trump said so."I want the war to end," the president added.

6:31 PM | August 13

Trump: Serious consequences if Russia does not agree to end the war

There will be serious consequences if Russia does not agree to end the war. When asked if Russia will face consequences for not reaching a peace agreement on Ukraine, Trump replied,"Yes, it will." When asked what the retaliation would be, Trump replied,"There will be, needless to say, very serious consequences," he added.

6:21 PM | August 13

Trump: Excellent call with European leaders and Zelensky, rating 10

The call with the leaders and President Zelensky was excellent, I'd give it a 10. We'll meet with Putin, and then I'll call President Zelensky and then the other leaders. US President Donald Trump said this during a ceremony at the Kennedy Center.

6:17 PM | August 13

Vance: We will bring peace to Europe again

Under Donald Trump's administration, the United States is committed to restoring peace to Europe, as it did after World War II. Vice President J.D. Vance said this while addressing American soldiers deployed at the British RAF base in Gloucestershire, on the sidelines of a family vacation he is taking in the United Kingdom. This is a mission, he added, noting that he spoke with Trump today two days before the August 15 summit in Alaska with Russian President Vladimir Putin, a potentially crucial meeting for the war in Ukraine and for Kiev's future.

6:14 PM | August 13

Trump: If the summit goes well, there will be a Putin-Zelensky one.

If the first meeting with Putin goes well, there will be a second soon with Putin and Zelensky, which I will also attend if they want. Donald Trump said so. The first meeting is preparatory, the president added.

6:06 PM | August 13

Meloni: Leaders unite for ceasefire and pressure on Moscow

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, along with the leaders of Ukraine, Finland, France, Germany, Poland, the United Kingdom, the European Union, and NATO, held a telephone call with President Trump today ahead of his meeting with President Putin in Alaska on August 15. The summit was preceded by a European coordination meeting, again at the Leader level, and followed by a new meeting of the"coalition of the willing." The discussion, according to a statement from Palazzo Chigi, revealed strong unity of opinion in reaffirming that a just and lasting peace cannot exist without a ceasefire, continued support for Ukraine, maintaining collective pressure on Russia, including through sanctions, and solid and credible security guarantees anchored in the Euro-Atlantic context.

5:25 PM | August 13

Zelensky reiterates: We will not cede territory in Donbass

Any issue concerning Ukraine's territorial integrity cannot be discussed like this, without considering our constitution and the will of our people. This is what Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said at a press conference following his telephone conversation with President Trump, responding to a specific question about the possibility of ceding territory to Russia. As for our territorial integrity, it will ultimately be decided at the leadership level. Without Ukraine at the table, it is impossible to reach an agreement. My position remains unchanged.

5:21 PM | August 13

Starmer: Unwavering support for Kiev, no to changing borders by force

The United Kingdom reaffirmed its unwavering support for Ukraine, ruling out forcibly altering Kyiv's borders, in a statement released by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's spokesman. The leaders agreed that this week marks an important moment for Ukraine's future and thanked Donald Trump for his efforts in bringing Putin to the negotiating table for a ceasefire to end the ongoing bloodshed, according to the statement, which was reported by the Guardian. The statement added:"The Prime Minister made clear that our support for Ukraine is unwavering, international borders must not be altered by force, and Ukraine must have robust and credible security guarantees to defend its territorial integrity as part of any agreement. The UK confirmed that Europe stands ready to support this initiative and will continue to work alongside Trump and President Volodymyr Zelensky for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine."

4:56 PM | August 13

Rutte: United against the war, the ball is in Putin's court.

Excellent call with Trump, Zelensky, and European leaders ahead of the US president's meeting with Putin in Alaska. We are united in our commitment to ending this terrible war against Ukraine and achieving a just and lasting peace. I appreciate Donald Trump's leadership and close coordination with allies. Now the ball is in Putin's court. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte wrote on social media.

4:40 PM | August 13

Zelensky: Moscow cannot veto Kiev's move in the EU and NATO

Russia cannot veto Ukraine's plans regarding its membership in the European Union and NATO, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said at a press conference with Chancellor Friedrich Merz following a teleconference with other European leaders and President Trump. Zelensky then added:"Putin doesn't want peace; he wants to occupy all of Ukraine. We need to put further pressure on Putin, with sanctions, to secure an immediate ceasefire."

4:33 PM | August 13

Zelensky: We're waiting for the results of the Alaska summit.

We'll see what the results of the Alaska summit are and then we'll decide. We're not making any predictions; we're just waiting to see what happens. Ukrainian President Zelensky said this at a press conference after the call with Trump and EU leaders, responding to a question about a territory swap that Kiev might accept.

4:25 PM | August 13

Zelensky: I told Trump that Putin is bluffing. The first thing? An immediate ceasefire.

It's very important that everything related to Ukraine be discussed with Ukraine. Putin is bluffing, trying to push himself beyond the front line. Russia shouldn't have the final say on borders. First, there must be a ceasefire to negotiate. Zelensky said this during the press conference with Merz after the call with Trump. He added: Putin doesn't want peace; that must be clear to everyone. I hope the talks in Alaska will result in a ceasefire.

4:18 PM | August 13

Merz: Ukraine's security guaranteed by the Alaska summit, Kiev must sit at the negotiating table

In the call with Trump, we made it clear that Ukraine must sit at the negotiating table and the country's security must be guaranteed. German Chancellor Merz said this after the call with Trump. Legal recognition of the Russian occupation is not up for discussion, and the principle that borders must not be altered by force must be preserved. She added:"The US president shares our concerns; there is hope that something is moving. We are working towards this. We wish Trump all the best for the summit with Putin."

4:17 PM | August 13

The Zelensky-Merz press conference is underway, following the call with Trump and EU leaders.

4:16 PM | August 13

The Trump-Zelensky-EU call is over.

4:13 PM | August 13

Macron: Trump said any territorial swap must be negotiated by Kiev

Trump wants to secure a ceasefire with Putin. French President Macron said this at a press conference, adding that Trump had said any territorial swap must be negotiated by Ukraine. He also added: It's important that Europe be heard before the Alaska summit.

Macron: Trump has made it clear that territorial issues will be discussed only with Zelensky.

3:50 PM | August 13

Bild: Trump-Zelensky video conference classified due to leak concerns

The video conference between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, attended by European leaders, is taking place under the utmost secrecy for fear of leaks, according to the German newspaper Bild. The highest level of security will be ensured for the video conference with Trump and other heads of government in the Federal Chancellery. The fourth floor of the Chancellery, where the situation center is located—a windowless room protected from eavesdropping—is classified as a"secret floor," the newspaper reports. German Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Zelensky are participating in the meeting in person from a secure room. According to Bild, no interpreters were allowed, and participants had to hand over their phones before entering the room, where, therefore, only Merz's and Zelensky's closest advisers are present.

3:15 PM | August 13

Media, call underway between Trump, Zelensky and European leaders

A call is underway between US President Donald Trump, his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky, and European leaders attending Friday's summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Axios journalist Barak Ravid reported this on X.

2.57pm|

Kiev: Russia aims to produce 79,000 Shahed drones by 2025

The Russian Federation plans to produce up to 79,000 Shahed kamikaze drones by 2025, aiming to gradually replace imported foreign components and increase industrial self-sufficiency in the unmanned aerial vehicle sector. This was stated by Vadym Skibitsky, deputy head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense (GUR), in an interview with the Suspilne television station. According to Skibitsky, the Russian production plan includes: 40,000 units of the Geran-2 type (the Russian version of the Shahed-136), 5,700 Harpy-1 drones, and approximately 34,000 decoy flying targets such as the Gerbera model, used to deceive air defenses. Skibitsky stated that the increased production capacity was made possible by the activation of new industrial lines in the cities of Izhevsk and Yelabuga. Moscow is also trying to replace imported components: Today the glider is already Russian-made, as is the internal combustion engine.

2:56 PM | August 13

Kiev: Russia recruits 30,000-35,000 soldiers per month

The Russian Armed Forces continue to maintain a high level of personnel thanks to an effective recruitment strategy, allowing them to achieve 105-110 percent of their targets each month. This was stated by Vadym Skibitsky, deputy head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense (GUR), in an interview with Suspilne. According to Skibitsky, Moscow has operational reserves that are used for rotations, reinforcements in critical areas, and to compensate for losses on the battlefield. All troop groups are 98 percent staffed by active personnel, a very high figure, he noted. Every month, Russia recruits between 30,000 and 35,000 new personnel, the Ukrainian general explained, noting that approximately 25 percent of these recruits come from prison, judicial proceedings, or ongoing investigations. Overall, 67 percent of the 343,000 military personnel expected for 2025 have already been conscripted. We have preliminary indications that this number could be increased by 15-17%, but the decision has not yet been formally adopted, he added.

2:38 PM | August 13

Dozens of localities in Donetsk evacuated

Ukrainian authorities have ordered the mandatory evacuation of families with children from dozens of localities in the Donetsk region, in the east of the country, where the Russian army has been rapidly advancing in recent days. The region's governor, Vadym Filashkin, ordered families to leave several localities, particularly the small town of Bilozerske. According to him, approximately 1,150 children remain in the area. The evacuation order confirms the worsening security situation in the area.

2:33 PM | August 13

In 24 hours, Russia made its biggest advance in Ukraine in a year.

The Russian army has made its largest 24-hour advance into Ukrainian territory in over a year, while its progress has been accelerating for several weeks, according to an AFP analysis of data provided by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). A few days before the summit between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, scheduled for Friday in Alaska, Moscow's troops advanced or claimed more than 110 kilometers further than the previous day, something they haven't done since the end of May 2024. In recent weeks, according to the analysis, it typically took them six days to advance that far.

2:08 PM | August 13

Zelensky: Six of 18 occupied villages in Sumy have been liberated.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukrainian forces have liberated six of the 18 villages occupied by the Russians in the northern Ukrainian region of Sumy, reaching the border with Russia in two places. Quoted by Ukrainska Pravda, Zelensky said at a press briefing yesterday:"In the Sumy region, there were 18 occupied villages or important localities. Six have been liberated. So we are making progress, and that is good news. We have reached the border with the Russian Federation in two places. I think the situation there is more or less positive."

2:05 PM | August 13

Trump: Putin Didn't Win, Media Is Spreading Fake News

The media is being very unfair about my meeting with Putin. They cite fired losers and stupid people like John Bolton, who said that despite the meeting being on American soil,"Putin has already won." What is he saying? We're winning on everything, Donald Trump wrote in Truth.

2:05 PM | August 13

Axios: Without an agreement, the US will continue to supply weapons to Kiev.

If ceasefire negotiations with Russia fail, the United States will continue to supply weapons to Ukraine through NATO, a senior American official assured Axios. Even if diplomatic efforts fail, Trump will continue to sell weapons to NATO countries for Ukraine, the source explained.

1:50 PM | August 13

US sources: Trump is still angry with Putin. The US could destroy the Russian economy tomorrow.

US President Donald Trump is still angry with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, who has failed to stop the aggression against Ukraine despite Washington's efforts. He told Axios A senior American official. The source emphasized that Trump's rhetoric sometimes sounds pro-Russian because the US president believes this kind of public communication makes it easier to reach an agreement with Moscow, which is far from a given. Trump may not succeed, but he will do his best, the official added.

​

According to the official, the Trump administration's general view is that we can collapse the Russian economy overnight if the Kremlin persists in pursuing war in Ukraine. There are multiple ways to destroy Ukraine. But if it were to choose a side, it would start by destroying the Russian economy. It's truly had enough.

1:22 PM | August 13

The EU has provided Kiev with €500 million to purchase gas for the winter.

Today, the European Commission signed a guarantee agreement with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) to provide an unprecedented €500 million loan for Ukraine's energy security. This financing will enable the Ukrainian state-owned company Naftogaz (NAK) to finance emergency gas purchases. The Commission will guarantee 90% of the loan under the modified Hi-Bar program, funded by the EU Investment Framework for Ukraine. This financing follows serious Russian attacks against the company's gas production and processing facilities. These attacks on civilian infrastructure, which intensified in the first half of 2025, have caused significant production losses and stressed the country's reserves ahead of the coming winters. Replenishing Ukraine's depleted gas reserves with the help of this financing package will be crucial to ensuring critical infrastructure and the country's population have access to energy sources during the winter. Naftogaz will procure natural gas on competitive terms. Upon repayment of the two-year loan, the EBRD and the Commission will reallocate the available guarantee coverage to capital investment projects that enable long-term private and public investment, for example in the renewable energy sector.

1:22 PM | August 13

Russians advance in Donetsk, Ukrainians counterattack in Stepnohirsk

Russian forces have made further advances in the Donetsk region, capturing positions near the settlements of Nykanorivka, Shcherbinivka, and Petrivka. This was reported by the military analysis portal DeepState, which also reported that Ukrainian troops managed to push the enemy back in the Stepnohirsk area, in the Zaporizhia region. According to DeepState, the Russian advance continues along the Dobropillya-Kramatorsk axis, where Kremlin units are attempting to consolidate two strategic wedges already visible on the front maps. The Ukrainian General Staff stated that targeted defensive actions are underway to contain the offensive in the Dobropillya and Pokrovsk directions.

The First Azov National Guard Corps announced it has taken control of a defense zone in the Pokrovsk direction, considered crucial to holding the front in Donetsk. The Ukrainian Defense Ministry confirmed that operations are focused on protecting the Dobropillya-Kramatorsk road, a strategic logistical hub for both sides.

1:07 PM | August 13

Zelensky arrived in Berlin, received by Merz in the Chancellery

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Berlin and was welcomed at the Federal Chancellery by Friedrich Merz. The two will participate in video conferences scheduled for this afternoon: first with European leaders, then with President Trump, and finally, in the late afternoon, a new conference call in the so-called coalition of the willing format.

12:52 PM | August 13

Moscow: For Kiev, negotiations are a way to prolong the war.

Russian Foreign Ministry Deputy Spokesperson Alexei Fadeyev accused Ukraine of viewing peace talks as a means of prolonging hostilities. Fadeyev, in particular, singled out Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's recent meeting with Kiev's security chief Vasily Malyuk regarding the authorization of new military initiatives. This clearly amounts to attempts to orchestrate new sabotage and terrorist attacks, including with the use of Western weapons, the Russian official stated. This demonstrates that the Kiev regime has not considered peace and is not doing so now, but views any negotiations as a means of prolonging hostilities and maintaining power. Fadeyev then complained that Kiev has yet to respond to Russia's request to create three working groups to continue negotiations.

12:45 PM | August 13

Italian F-35s based in Estonia intercept Russian jets

For the first time, two Italian F-35s took off in Estonia in response to Russian aircraft as part of NATO's air patrol mission.

The Italian Air Task Force, detachment of the 32nd Wing at

Ämari Air Base is on 24/7 rapid alert, demonstrating the Alliance's commitment to safeguarding NATO airspace, according to NATO Air Command.

12:29 PM | August 13

Moscow: Our demands for peace remain unchanged

Russia's principled position on peace in Ukraine remains unchanged from what President Vladimir Putin announced last year. This includes the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the four regions claimed by Moscow (Donetsk, Lugansk, Zaporizhia, and Kherson) and Kiev's refusal to join NATO. This was stated by Alexei Fadeyev, Deputy Director of the Foreign Ministry's Information and Press Department, as quoted by the Tass news agency. Russia's position remains unchanged, having been expressed on June 14, 2024, the diplomat said, recalling a speech Putin gave at the Foreign Ministry.

12:18 PM | August 13

Lavrov will also be present at the Trump-Putin summit in Alaska.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will also attend the summit between US and Russian presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, which will be held this Friday in Anchorage, Alaska. Russian Foreign Ministry Deputy Spokesperson Alexey Fadeyev made the announcement at a press conference, according to Tass.

12:17 PM | August 13

USA: Flights to Alaska canceled due to volcano ash

Alaska Airlines has canceled some flights due to ash from the eruption of the Klyuchevskoy volcano on the Kamchatka Peninsula, according to Alaska Public Media. Meteorologists predict the ash will persist for at least the next 18 hours; the summit on Ukraine between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin—who will both fly to Anchorage—is scheduled for August 15.

12:17 PM | August 13

Berlin: Zelensky's presence is a signal to Putin that the EU and Kiev are united.

Today, we want to make the Europeans' position clear. That's why it's important for Zelensky to be here today. It's also a sign that President Putin's attempts to drive a wedge between Europe and Ukraine, which we've witnessed repeatedly, have been unsuccessful, and that both sides are very united in this process. This was stated by German Deputy Government Spokesperson Steffen Meyer at a press conference regarding Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's visit to Berlin today to participate in video conferences with EU leaders and US President Donald Trump, ahead of the tycoon's meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

12:15 PM | August 13

Zelensky has arrived in Berlin

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has arrived in Berlin, according to the news agency. AFP .

12:15 PM | August 13

Ukrainian Foreign Minister to Barrot: Complete ceasefire essential

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha is insisting on a complete ceasefire ahead of the meeting in Alaska between US President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin. In X, Sybiha writes that he met with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, reporting an exchange of views on diplomatic developments and coordinated efforts to achieve peace through force. A complete ceasefire is a crucial step along this path, the Ukrainian Foreign Minister adds, thanking Paris for its support in restoring a just peace and stability in Europe.

12:11 PM | August 13

Moscow: If the EU uses Russian goods, the response will be painful.

Russia reserves the right to take countermeasures in light of the EU's use of Russian resources to assist Kiev, said Alexey Fadeyev, deputy director of the Russian Foreign Ministry's information and press department. Ria Novosti. Any attack on our property will result in a painful response for the expropriators. Russia reserves the right to take countermeasures in full compliance with the principle of reciprocity in international relations, he stated.

12:10 PM | August 13

Inozemtsev (Case): There will be an agreement in Alaska, Russia is exhausted, the timing of negotiations is favorable.

Inozemtsev, director of the Center for Research on Post-Industrial Societies, elaborates on the possible territorial implications of the agreement: If the decision were to remain at the current front line, there would be a good chance that the Ukrainians would accept it. But if Trump agreed to give Putin the entire territory of Donetsk in exchange for small areas elsewhere, this would not hold water. It would be unacceptable for Kiev to give up the part of Donetsk it still controls, as it would mean giving up a significant and symbolically important slice. Donetsk, which remains in Ukrainian hands, represents more than just a portion of territory: it is a symbol of resistance and sovereignty. The analyst acknowledges, however, that Russia also faces limitations and difficulties: If the agreement were limited to recognizing the areas already occupied, without further concessions, perhaps Ukraine would accept, especially since the options are limited. Russia is exhausted, its economic problems are piling up, and Putin is not in ideal condition, but he is still managing to carry out military operations and advance. For him, the timing of the negotiations is favorable, because he can come to the negotiating table with a margin of strength.

12:08 PM | August 13

Moscow denounces Kiev's terrorist actions to sabotage the Alaska summit

Ukraine is intensifying its terrorist activities against Russian territory ahead of the August summit between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump, according to Alexei Fadeyev, deputy director of the Russian Foreign Ministry's press department. As the Russian-American summit in Alaska approaches, the Kiev regime is intensifying its terrorist activities against our regions, Fadeyev said, quoted by the Tax Earlier, the Russian Defense Ministry accused the Ukrainian military of preparing a provocation immediately before the summit in the northeastern Ukrainian region of Kharkiv. The operation, according to the Russian military, was supposed to involve drone and missile strikes on densely populated areas and a hospital, resulting in a high number of civilian casualties, to be filmed by Western journalists specially brought to the scene.

11:07 AM | August 13

Orban: Kiev lost the war, Russia won. Those who demonize Putin are blocking the only path to peace.

The Ukrainians have lost this war. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is convinced of this, speaking as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is in Berlin today, joining German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in a video conference with European leaders and U.S. President Donald Trump ahead of the tycoon's meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday. They're speaking as if this were an open war situation, Orbán said in an interview published by the news site `mandiner.hu´ in which he stated that this was a flawed assessment. The Ukrainians lost this war, Russia won the war, he added, after withdrawing from the joint statement of European leaders yesterday. Many European leaders cling to the fantasy that a prolonged war will lead to regime change in Moscow. Instead of facing reality and negotiating, they demonize President Putin and block the only path to peace. Europe's self-sabotage leaves us helpless while others decide our fate. Enough, he concluded.

11:05 AM | August 13

Zelensky: Six of 18 occupied villages in Sumy have been liberated.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukrainian forces have liberated six of the 18 Russian-occupied villages in the northern Ukrainian region of Sumy, even reaching the Russian border at two points. Quoted from 'Ukrainska Pravda Zelensky said at a press briefing yesterday: In Sumy Oblast, 18 villages or important localities were occupied. Six have been liberated. So we are making progress, and that's good news. We've reached the border with the Russian Federation at two points. I think the situation there is more or less positive.

11:04 AM | August 13

Zelensky: Work to prevent Russia from deceiving us

We must end this war. We must pressure Russia to achieve an honest peace. We must learn from the experience of Ukraine and our partners to prevent Russia from deceiving us. Volodymyr Zelensky wrote this on his Telegram channel. There is no sign that the Russians are preparing to end the war. Our coordinated efforts and joint actions—by Ukraine, the United States, Europe, all countries that want peace—can certainly force Russia to achieve peace. Thank you to everyone who helps us! Over 30 talks and consultations with partners have taken place in recent days. Different parts of the world, different visions, but common positions—this was the premise of his Telegram post. The post is accompanied by a video made by sequential editing of images from several diplomatic meetings held by the Ukrainian leader with foreign heads of state and politicians, including Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

11:03 AM | August 13

Moscow: 46 Kiev drones destroyed

The Russian defense ministry claims responsibility for destroying 46 Ukrainian drones overnight in Russian regions and the Sea of Azov. In Volgograd, debris from one drone fell on an apartment building, and the same thing happened in Slavyansk-on-Kuban, where debris fell into the courtyards of four buildings.

10:56 AM | August 13

According to the Financial Times, Trump will meet Putin in Alaska without Russia experts on his team.

More than 1,300 State Department officials were laid off last month, and diplomatic staff specializing in Russia and Ukraine have suffered significant cuts. No acting ambassador has been appointed to Moscow or Kiev, and there is also no assistant secretary of state for European affairs. It is false to assume that more staff equals better results., the State Department announced, while White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly assured that President Trump always receives feedback from his competent national security team. Kelly also asserted that the NSC is more relevant and influential than ever under the leadership of Secretary of State and acting National Security Advisor Marco Rubio.

9:44 AM | August 13

IAEA: Smoke from Zaporizhia power plant, no increase in radiation

IAEA personnel at the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant observed smoke coming from the plant's administration building on Tuesday, but no increase in radiation levels or impact on nuclear safety was detected. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) announced this in a post on the X platform. Director General Rafael Grossi confirmed that no increase in radiation levels had been recorded, that there had been no impact on nuclear safety, and that there were no casualties. According to the Ukrainian Energy Ministry, the smoke was detected in the area of the plant's cargo port, currently under Russian occupation and located outside the plant's patrolled perimeter. The Ukrainian nuclear power operator Energoatom later clarified that the fire was caused by burning dry cane in the Kakhovka reservoir, near the plant's power units. Ukrainian sources emphasize that fires at the occupied nuclear power plant have now become systemic. On August 11, 2024, cooling tower number one of the technical water supply system completely burned down, while on July 19, 2025, another smoke episode caused by a forest fire was recorded.

9:24 AM | August 13

Russia lost over a million soldiers in the war. 11,099 tanks, 28 ships, and a submarine were also destroyed.

Russia has lost 1,066,110 soldiers in Ukraine since the beginning of its full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022. This estimate comes from the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the Kyiv Independent reports. The number includes the 890 casualties suffered by Russian forces yesterday. According to the report, Russia has also lost 11,099 tanks, 23,127 armored combat vehicles, 58,265 vehicles and fuel tanks, 31,429 artillery systems, 1,465 multiple launch rocket systems, 1,207 air defense systems, 421 aircraft, 340 helicopters, 50,852 drones, 3,558 cruise missiles, 28 ships, and one submarine.

9:22 AM | August 13

Zelensky in Berlin for video call with European leaders and Trump

Volodymyr Zelensky will be in Berlin today to participate, along with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, in a video conference with European leaders and Donald Trump ahead of the US president's meeting with Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday, German government sources reported.

8:54 AM | August 13

Kiev, Moscow lost over a million soldiers in the war

Russia has reportedly lost over a million soldiers in the war against Ukraine, according to the Kiev Independent, citing the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The total death toll is 1,066,110.

8:15 AM | August 13

Kiev neutralizes 32 drones and 2 missiles launched from Moscow

Overnight, Russian forces attacked Ukraine with 49 drones and two Iskander ballistic missiles. The drones, the Kiev Air Force announced, attacked the regions of Donetsk, Sumy, and Chernihiv, while the missiles targeted the Poltava region. The two missiles were intercepted, as were 32 drones.

6:54 AM | August 13

Defense official charged with corruption over $1.3 million bribe

A Kiev Ministry of Defense official has been charged with accepting a bribe from a construction contractor worth more than $1.3 million. The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office announced the news, according to the Kiev Independent. The tender, it is explained, concerned the construction of military personnel housing. The bribe was allegedly paid in three installments: an initial payment of $100,000 after the tender process was launched, a second payment of $400,000 upon signing the construction contract, and a final payment of $800,000 upon completion of the first phase of construction.

6:16 AM | August 13

Vance will also participate in the virtual meeting between Trump, Zelensky and European allies.

US Vice President J.D. Vance will also participate in today's virtual meeting between Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and European allies, two US officials confirmed to ABC News.

6:14 AM | August 13

Rubio: Trump-Putin Meeting Is Not a Victory for Moscow

The meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin in Alaska does not represent a victory for the Kremlin and should not be seen as a concession to Russia, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in an interview with Sid Rosenberg on the podcast Sid & Friends in the Morning. The meeting will be exploratory, during which Trump will try to convey his assessment of the situation by looking the man in the eye, Rubio added, noting that Trump hasn't achieved the desired outcome in his phone calls with Putin, which is why the president decided to meet in person.

5:55 AM | August 13

Podolyak: A three-way meeting or no dialogue. The tsar is deceiving the Americans. A truce? Let's start from the skies.

by Marta Serafini

​

Without a direct trilateral meeting between Trump, Zelensky, and Putin, not only will the war not end, but we won't even begin to discuss the issue. Mykhailo Podolyak, top adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, holds his ground as the US and Russian presidents prepare to meet in Alaska to outline the future fate of Ukraine in the absence of a representative from Kiev.

​

Read the full article here

5:53 AM | August 13

Tajani: Ceasefire now. And for negotiations to take place, Kiev and the EU must be present.

by Monica Guerzoni

​

Antonio Tajani look at the Trump and Putin's August 15 face-to-face meeting as a first step. But the Foreign Minister is also convinced that an agreement cannot be reached without Zelensky sitting at the table of the negotiations. The tenant of the Farnesina analyses with the Courier the three war fronts which Italy is facing with the weapons of diplomacy, Kiev, Gaza and the tariffs The deputy prime minister and leader of Forza Italia, who will be in Bern on August 19 to speak to Swiss ambassadors around the world, denies that the government has different lines in foreign policy, scales down Crosetto's position against Netanyahu and assures that the Meloni government is doing everything possible to convince Israel to stop the slaughter of innocents.

​

Read the full article here

5:52 AM | August 13

Russia sends signals: US-USSR documentary airs on state TV

by Marco Imarisio

​

Hi, I'm Burt Lancaster. The alliance that won World War II was formed by these three men: Winston Churchill, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and Joseph Stalin. .

But look at the coincidence. To the delight of film buffs and history buffs, late on Monday and Tuesday evenings, the channel Otr of national diffusion, Russian public television broadcast an episode of the famous 1978 Soviet-American co-production, Unknown War , The Unknown War. A documentary conceived at the time to make the Western public aware of the exploits of the USSR in the Second World War, with the great actor of the Leopard , who served as a private in Africa and Italy, in the part of the narrator. And not just any episode, among the twenty produced using unreleased footage filmed by the directors following the Red Army. The seventeenth was chosen, which is titled Allies , and tells of the troubled opening of the Second Front in Europe, also showing a massive transport of American aircraft from Alaska to assist the Soviet troops.

​

Read the full article here

5:46 AM | August 13

Kiev: Alaska a Putin victory. Russian tightens grip on Pokrovsk.

by Marta Serafini

​

A dialogue between the President of the United States ie the Russian President It may be important for their bilateral negotiations, but they can't decide anything about Ukraine without us. I believe and hope the US president understands this. Try again, Ukrainian President V olodymyr Zelensky to fit in at the summit in Alaska between the head of the White House and that of the Kremlin while hopes for any glimmer of peace are increasingly fading.

While waiting for what the same White House defines a listening exercise and that for Kiev is a personal victory Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov spoke yesterday with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, while today Trump will meet in a virtual meeting promoted by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz with Zelensky , European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President António Costa, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and European leaders, including Prime Minister Georgia Meloni European leaders will meet earlier, meeting again with the US and Ukrainian presidents to assess the outcome of their discussions.

​

Read the full article here

5:36 AM | August 13

Orban: Russia won the war

Russia has won the war, Hungarian President Viktor Orban said, according to Reuters. The statement comes on the eve of Friday's summit between US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, aimed at reaching peace with Ukraine, which was invaded in February 2022.

3:37 AM | August 13

Egypt mediators working to reach a 60-day truce in Gaza

Egypt has announced it is working with Qatar and the United States to secure a 60-day ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, where the Israeli army is preparing to take control of the Palestinian territory's largest city.

2:07 AM | August 13

Trump-Putin meeting to be held at Anchorage military base

The meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin will be held at the Elmendorf-Richardson military base, less than ten kilometers from Anchorage, CNN reports. According to the US broadcaster, the base is the only one in Alaska to meet security requirements, although the White House hoped to avoid giving the impression of hosting the Russian president at an American military base. White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt yesterday simply stated that the meeting would be held in Anchorage, without specifying the location.

01:38|August 13

UN: We welcome the upcoming summit between Trump and Putin

The United Nations welcomes the upcoming summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump and reiterates its call for a lasting ceasefire in Ukraine, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said Tuesday. We welcome constructive dialogue among Member States. Regarding Ukraine, we naturally reiterate our urgent call for an immediate, comprehensive, and unconditional ceasefire.

1:37 AM | August 12

Putin and Kim Jong Un hold phone call to strengthen Russia-North Korea axis

Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un have promised to strengthen cooperation between the two countries, just days before Putin's summit in Alaska with Donald Trump, Pyongyang's state media reported today. Putin and Kim spoke on the phone yesterday in a warm and friendly atmosphere and confirmed their willingness to strengthen cooperation in the future, KCNA news agency reported.

August 13, 1:37 AM - Updated August 13, 7:57 PM