Thursday, October 16th's live news on the conflict between Ukraine and Russia. Ukrainian drones attack Russian infrastructure in Volgograd. Merz: Putin miscalculated, we won't be intimidated.

• It's the 1,331st day of war in Ukraine
• Zelensky and Trump will meet tomorrow at the White House. The Ukrainian president will arrive in Washington today. According to Ukrainian sources, the two leaders will discuss the Tomahawk missiles
• Putin's adviser: Trump is bluffing about the Tomahawks, Europe is not ready for war
• US Secretary Hegseth: Moscow must stop or it will pay. Germany wants to lead the air shield
8:19 PM|October 16

The Kremlin: Putin warned Trump that Tomahawk attacks on Ukraine would undermine the chances of peace and US-Russia relations.

President Vladimir Putin told US President Donald Trump in a phone call that providing US Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine would harm the peace process and US-Russian relations, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters.

Ushakov added that a new summit planned between the two presidents will be preceded in the coming days by a phone call between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. The call between Putin and Trump was at Russia's initiative, Ushakov said.

7:59 PM | October 16

Moscow: Trump-Putin phone call positive and productive

Kremlin special envoy Kirill Dmitriev described today's phone call between US and Russian presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin as positive and productive on X. Dmitriev added that the next steps in the negotiations are clear and accused warmongers in the UK and EU of doing everything they can to undermine the prospects for peace. But dialogue, peace, and cooperation between the US and Russia will prevail, Putin's envoy added.

7:58 PM | October 16

Trump-Putin phone call lasted over two hours

The telephone conversation between the presidents of the United States and Russia, Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, lasted over two hours, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt told reporters.

7:48 PM | October 16

Orban: Trump-Putin meeting is great news, we're ready.

The planned meeting between the American and Russian presidents is great news for peace-loving people around the world. We are ready!: this is how Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban commented on X about US President Donald Trump's announcement of an upcoming meeting in Budapest with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin.

7:37 PM | October 16

Orban: Europe consumed by pro-war psychosis

Europe is consumed by a pro-war psychosis. Instead, leaders must wake up and take responsibility for achieving real peace. The time to negotiate is now! This is what Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban wrote in X, before US President Donald Trump announced an upcoming meeting in Budapest with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, to negotiate a solution to the conflict in Ukraine.

In his post, Orban once again pointed the finger at European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who travels the world talking about war without any mandate, while the EU treaties clearly assign foreign and security policy to the member states.

7:34 PM | October 16

Trump: Putin thanked Melania for her commitment to children

Russian President Vladimir Putin thanked US First Lady Melania Trump for her commitment to the children taken from Ukraine during the war. US President Donald Trump wrote this on Truth Social after his phone call with Putin today. He expressed his appreciation and said this commitment will continue, he added.

7:32 PM | October 16

Trump: Bilateral trade discussed with Putin after the war is over

US and Russian presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin also discussed trade between the two countries once the war in Ukraine is over. Trump wrote this in a post on Truth Social.

7:32 PM | October 16

Trump: Putin and I will meet in Budapest

President Putin and I will then meet at an agreed-upon location, Budapest, Hungary, to assess whether we can end this

"inglorious" war between Russia and Ukraine, Donald Trump writes in Truth after his telephone conversation with Putin.

7:31 PM | October 16

Trump: Rubio and Moscow officials to hold high-level meeting next week

A high-level meeting between representatives of the United States and Russia will take place next week. US President Donald Trump announced this after today's phone call with his Moscow counterpart, Vladimir Putin. The US delegation attending the meeting, which will take place at a location yet to be determined, will be led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, along with other representatives yet to be appointed.

7:21 PM | October 16

Trump: I will meet Putin in Budapest

US President Donald Trump has announced that he will meet with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Budapest, Hungary, to try to end the war in Ukraine. He wrote this on Truth Social after today's phone call with the Russian president, without providing a date.

7:20 PM | October 16

Trump: Talk with Putin was productive, he complimented me on peace in Mosul

Donald Trump described his phone call with Vladimir Putin as very productive, and Putin also congratulated the American president on his major achievement in the Middle East, something he said had been dreamed of for centuries."I believe success in the Middle East will help us end the conflict between Russia and Ukraine," Trump added in a post on Truth Social.

7:20 PM | October 16

Trump: Gaza deal could help peace talks between Moscow and Kiev

The truce agreement in the Gaza Strip can help our negotiations to end the war between Russia and Ukraine. US President Donald Trump wrote this on Truth Social after his phone call today with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin.

7:17 PM | October 16

White House: Trump-Putin talks were good and productive

7:14 PM | October 16

Media, Trump-Putin phone call concluded

US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin ended their telephone conversation on the eve of Volodymyr Zelensky's visit to the White House, Fox News reports.

6:53 PM | October 16

Kiev imposes nationwide power cuts

Ukraine has imposed nationwide power outages for the second day in a row as Russia intensifies its attacks on the country's energy grid ahead of winter, the state grid operator said. Due to the difficult situation in the energy system, emergency power outages have been implemented in all regions of Ukraine, Ukrenergo said in a statement.

6:50 PM | October 16

Putin tightens law on 'foreign agents'

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a law that allows criminal proceedings to be initiated against individuals listed by the Kremlin on its foreign agents register if they are accused of even a single administrative violation, rather than two in a year, as previously reported by the Moscow Times, RIA Novosti, and other Russian media. The measure comes at a time when the Kremlin is increasingly cracking down on dissent. The infamous foreign agents register is considered a tool for the Kremlin to target individuals and organizations that are inconvenient to those in power. Listings on the foreign agents register impose strict administrative oversight and require the organization to present itself with this infamous label, which has effectively forced several organizations to close. According to the Moscow Times, individuals listed by Moscow as foreign agents now face up to two years in prison if accused of failing to comply with their obligations. In 2022, the European Court of Human Rights condemned Russia for enacting the 2012 law on foreign agents, arguing that it violated the right to freedom of association and freedom of expression.

6:31 PM | October 16

Kiev imposes nationwide power cuts

For the second consecutive day, power outages have been imposed across Ukraine due to the damage caused by Russian attacks on the country's infrastructure, the grid operator announced Thursday evening. Due to the difficult situation in the power system, emergency power outages have been implemented in all regions of Ukraine, Ukrenergo stated on Telegram. Russia has recently intensified its attacks on the Ukrainian power grid as winter approaches.

6:31 PM | October 16

Peskov confirms Putin-Trump phone call

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump are currently holding telephone talks, Russian media reported.

6:07 PM | October 16

Street musicians sing against the war in Ukraine, three arrested in St. Petersburg

Three young Russian street musicians were arrested in St. Petersburg for performing songs by artists opposed to the war in Ukraine in front of a small crowd. Videos shared on social media show dozens of people singing and dancing while the small band plays songs by Monetotchka, Noize MC, and Pornofilmy, singers known for their opposition to the conflict with Kiev. The St. Petersburg court press office announced that Diana Loginova, Vladislav Leontiev, and Alexander Orlov were sentenced to between 13 and 12 days in prison for disturbing public order. Loginova, just 18, is under investigation for organizing a simultaneous public gathering of at least 70 people and is also under investigation for discrediting the army. This latter charge, often used by authorities to repress dissidents, could carry a more severe sentence.

5:40 PM | October 16

Russian missiles on training base for Kiev forces

Two Russian missiles struck a Ukrainian forces training base this morning, according to Ukrainian media reports. The Southern Operational Command reported the strike, but the exact location of the military base was not disclosed. Details of the casualties are unknown, despite precautionary measures.

5:39 PM | October 16

The youngest Russian soldier was killed at the front, he was a former prisoner and was 18 years old.

The independent news site Mediazona has discovered the death of the youngest Russian soldier to date at the front: Maksim Nasilovsky, a native of Murmansk. Born on October 20, 2006, he was killed on November 30, 2024, the month after turning 18. He had been recruited from prison, where he was serving a five-year sentence for the murder of his mother.

5:35 PM | October 16

Trump: Phone call with Putin underway, it will be long

The phone call between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, on the eve of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's visit to the White House, is currently underway. The American president announced this in a post on Truth Social, anticipating that the conversation will be lengthy, and I will report on its contents once it's concluded.

5:20 PM | October 16

Chernihiv Names Square After Trump: He Will Bring Us Peace

On the eve of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's new visit to the White House, the Chernihiv city council has named a square after US President Donald Trump. The local newspaper Suspilne Chernihiv reports. Chernihiv residents express their sincere hope that, faced with new international challenges, Donald Trump will succeed in making the necessary efforts to stop another major war and achieve lasting peace."We believe he could rightfully win the Nobel Peace Prize for this," reads a statement issued by Marina Semenenko, a member of the European Solidarity party, which initiated the initiative. The next step, she wrote on Facebook, will be to contact the White House and invite Trump and his family to visit our heroic city in northern Ukraine. Chernihiv was designated a"Hero City" in 2022—along with Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Mariupol—for its resistance in the early stages of the war.

5:03 PM | October 16

Phone call in progress between Trump and Putin

U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are holding a phone call regarding Ukraine ahead of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's arrival in Washington on Friday, White House sources told CBS.

4:42 PM | October 16

Massive Russian attack on Kiev's energy infrastructure

Over the past 24 hours, Russian attacks against Ukraine have intensified. Among the main actions carried out by the Moscow armed forces were an attack on the gas infrastructure supporting the operation of Ukraine's military-industrial complex and a combined strike, including two ballistic missiles, which hit the territory of a training unit of the Ukrainian Ground Forces. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure used high-precision, long-range weapons, launched from land, air, and sea, including"Kinzhal" hypersonic aeroballistic missiles, as well as attack drones.

The objective of the attack was achieved. All designated targets were hit, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense's Telegram channel.

Regarding the Russian attack on the Ukrainian Ground Forces training unit, a facility that, according to Ukrinform, is located in a remote and relatively quiet area of the country, the Southern Operational Command released a statement stating that the attack resulted in injuries and several deaths.

3:36 PM | October 16

Oil: Putin among major producers despite sanctions

Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomed the fact that his country remains one of the world's leading oil producers, despite Western sanctions and pressure from his American counterpart Donald Trump on Moscow's customers. Russia maintains its position among the world's leading oil producers, despite the unfair competition mechanisms used against us, the Russian leader stated at an energy forum in Moscow. According to Putin, Russia accounts for 10% of global production.

3:13 PM | October 16

Russians deploy North Korean soldiers in Sumy region

The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces issued a statement today highlighting the Russian army's deployment of North Korean soldiers to support operations in the Sumy region. The Russian occupation forces command is deploying North Korean units to support operations in the Sumy region, the statement states. Operating from the Kursk region, these units are conducting aerial reconnaissance missions using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), identifying Armed Forces of Ukraine positions, and helping to adjust fire against Ukrainian positions in the Sumy region, the Kyiv Armed Forces said.

2:49 PM | October 16

Kremlin: We will do everything for our security if the US delivers Tomahawk missiles to Kiev.

Russia will do everything to ensure its security if the United States transfers long-range Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. The statement comes a day before President Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Donald Trump meet in Washington, where the two leaders are expected to discuss Ukraine's request for the missiles. The possible transfer of the Tomahawks to Kiev has prompted a warning from the Kremlin of a new level of escalation."Our military knows what to do; they have the military potential and all the necessary capabilities. We will do everything possible to ensure the security of our country," Peskov told Russian media.

The United States is considering supplying Ukraine with Tomahawks, which have a range of up to 2,500 kilometers and would allow Kiev to strike targets deep inside Russian territory. The missile, designed for precision strikes, would give Ukraine the ability to strike command centers, logistics centers and other military targets in western Russia and even the Urals.

2:14 PM | October 16

Kubilius: EU anti-drone defense at 360°, including for the southern flank

We will work with Southern Europe with the same intensity as we do with the countries on the Eastern flank. I know there are concerns about air security and drones that could threaten civilian infrastructure such as airports. It's easy to imagine such provocations, as we've already seen. EU Commissioner Andrius Kubilius said this during the presentation of the EU defense roadmap, emphasizing the concept of 360-degree security, not only geographically but also operationally: land, air, and sea. Many countries on the Southern flank are also maritime, and maritime security is crucial: we've learned a lot from the Ukrainians about the effectiveness of naval drones in defense, but we also know they can be used for provocation, he emphasized.

2:12 PM | October 16

One person killed by a Ukrainian drone in the Belgorod region

One civilian was killed and three others were injured in Ukrainian drone strikes in Russia's Belgorod region, according to Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov. In the village of Ustinka, Gladkov reported on his Telegram channel, a drone struck a car, killing a man inside. Two women and a man were injured in strikes on two other towns in the region.

1:48 PM | October 16

Kallas: Danger from Russia remains even if war ends

This Roadmap for Defense Readiness is a plan to maintain peace in the coming years, which requires a significant strengthening of European defense capabilities. Russia does not have the capacity to launch an attack against the European Union today, but it could prepare in the years to come. The danger will not disappear, even if the war in Ukraine ends. This was stated by the EU High Representative for Foreign Policy, Kaja Kallas, when presenting the 2030 Defense Roadmap. Member states have identified nine capability areas, aligned with NATO objectives. The roadmap is a plan to fill these gaps with clear objectives, timelines, and work indicators. The European Defense Agency will be instrumental in this. It connects member states, aggregates demand, provides advice, and connects member states with defense companies. Our goal is to close all current gaps by 2030. Member states are in the driving seat. They decide what to purchase or develop, when, and from whom, she specified.

1:47 PM | October 16

Defense Minister: Ramstein Meeting Agrees to $422 Million in Purl Contributions

During the latest Ramstein format meeting, Ukraine's partners announced hundreds of millions of dollars in defense support. Ukrainian Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal wrote this on Telegram. According to the minister, during the meeting, new contributions to the PURL initiative totaling at least $422 million were agreed upon. Thus, Shmyhal emphasized, more than half of NATO member states have already made or declared their contributions to the PURL initiative. The minister specified that new funds for purchases from Ukrainian industry amount to $715 million: Norway - $600 million (for drones, electronic warfare systems, and explosives), the Netherlands - $106 million (for attack and reconnaissance drones), Canada - $8 million (for interceptor drones), Iceland - $4 million (under the Danish model).

​

Shmyhal stated that during Ramstein it was possible to agree on the following military aid: Sweden - $8 billion (for security assistance to Ukraine for the period 2026-2027), the Czech Republic - a new package of $72 million, Canada - $20 million (for winter equipment and missile components), Portugal - $12 million for the British fund for the purchase of armaments for Ukraine, Finland - is preparing the 13th military aid package. Shmyhal concluded:"I thank British Defense Secretary John Healey and German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius for their leadership, support, and development of the Ramstein format meetings. I am sincerely grateful to NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and every country participating in the Ramstein format for their contribution to saving lives and bringing lasting peace closer."

1:43 PM | October 16

Putin: If our energy industry is rejected, the EU will collapse.

The European Union's decision to cut off energy supplies from Russia has led to a decline in the EU's industry, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated in his speech at Russian Energy Week, TASS reports. Among the consequences, he added, are rising prices.

1:39 PM | October 16

Putin: Oil production expected to reach 510 million tons by the end of 2025

Russia plans to produce 510 million tons of oil by the end of the year, 1 percent less than last year. Russian President Vladimir Putin stated this during the plenary session of Russian Energy Week. We expect 510 million tons of oil to be extracted in our country by the end of the year. This is approximately 1 percent less than last year. But I would like to draw your attention to the fact that this is in accordance with the agreements under the OPEC+ (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) pact. That is, it is a voluntary reduction, Putin said.

1:37 PM | October 16

Putin: We are facing unfair competition in the oil sector

Russia remains a major oil producer, despite the unfair competition it faces, President Vladimir Putin said, quoted by TASS.

1:37 PM | October 16

City council head proclaims himself mayor of Odessa

Odessa City Council Speaker Ihor Koval has appointed himself interim mayor of the city, the Kyiv Independent reports. The self-appointment came after President Volodymyr Zelensky stripped elected mayor Hennadiy Trukhanov of his Ukrainian citizenship by decree because he allegedly holds a Russian passport. In place of Trukhanov, who has long been accused of sympathizing with Moscow, Zelensky only yesterday established a military administration in Odessa headed by Serhii Lysak. But the affair has drawn considerable criticism from the president, first for having turned a blind eye to Trukhanov for too long, then for having removed him by decree without judicial proceedings, a procedure considered bordering on the legality of the law. And today it was Koval, politically close to Zelensky, who resolved the matter. The law stipulates that the city council speaker assumes the role of mayor, pro tempore, in the event of the mayor's dismissal or death, or if the mayor is unable to exercise his powers. Koval, the former rector of Odessa National University, applied the law to the letter and issued a decree proclaiming himself mayor.

1:21 PM | October 16

Lavrov: We will not join anyone against anyone, least of all against China.

Russia will not unite with anyone against anyone, least of all against China. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated this in an interview with the Kommersant newspaper. Russia will not unite with anyone against anyone, least of all against the People's Republic of China. This cannot even enter our minds, Lavrov said. The minister was thus responding to a question about the likelihood that, during the Russia-US-China trilateral consultations on strategic stability, long requested by Washington, Russia and the United States could unite against China."We and China have a solid contractual legal basis that clearly demonstrates our relationship, which is aimed at supporting each other, helping each other strengthen our economies and defense capabilities, and consolidating our positions on the international stage," Lavrov emphasized.

1:12 PM | October 16

The EU presents its roadmap on defense, move now

The European Commission presents its defense roadmap, aiming to help the 27 EU member states close the gaps by 2030. To do so, Europe must act now, the joint communication begins. The document proposes four strategically important flagship projects, including the so-called anti-drone wall, as well as the establishment of coalitions between countries, led by a capital city, around nine prioritized capabilities (e.g., missiles and munitions). The roadmap proposes stringent implementation deadlines, quotas for joint procurement, and a leading role for the Defense Agency.

12:52 PM | October 16

Kremlin: Kiev does not want to negotiate

Kiev does not want to negotiate or respond to the working groups' proposals, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated today. The Kiev regime does not want to engage in dialogue, it does not want to negotiate through the three working groups we proposed creating, it does not want to analyze and respond to the draft documents we submitted to it, Peskov told reporters. The Russian military knows what to do, and its troops are doing everything they can to protect the country's interests and continue carrying out their missions, Peskov added. Ukraine is being provoked in every way by the Europeans to continue the conflict, the spokesman added. If there is an opportunity to move the process to a political and diplomatic channel, then we will do so, Peskov concluded.

11:54 AM | October 16

The European Parliament's first yes vote on a ban on Russian energy from 2027.

The European Parliament wants to accelerate the ban on Russian energy imports into Europe. In a joint vote, the Committees on Industry and Energy (ITRE) and International Trade (INTA) approved, with 83 votes in favor, 9 against, and one abstention, the negotiating mandate for the REPowerEU roadmap presented in June by the European Commission, advancing the deadline for terminating all long-term gas and LNG contracts with Moscow by one year—from the beginning of 2028 to the beginning of 2027.

11:38 AM | October 16

Norway opens new training camp for Ukrainian troops in Poland

Norway has established a new training camp for Ukrainian troops in Poland. Called Camp Jomsborg, it already hosts over 200 Norwegian Army instructors and a significant number of Ukrainian military trainees, NATO reported. According to the Norwegian Ministry of Defense, the camp will be used for both general soldier training and advanced courses for officers and specialists. Norway is the lead nation in Operation Legio, an initiative to train and equip the Ukrainian armed forces involving seven other NATO allies: Denmark, Estonia, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Sweden. Oslo has allocated approximately 10 billion Norwegian kroner to Operation Legio.

11:34 AM | October 16

Moscow: Massive attack on gas infrastructure in Ukraine

Russia said last night it carried out a massive attack on Ukraine's gas and energy infrastructure, which supports the operation of the Ukrainian military-industrial complex. The strikes also used Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, the Defense Ministry reported, stating that the attacks were carried out in response to Ukrainian terrorist attacks against civilian targets on Russian soil. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had previously stated that the Russians used 37 missiles and 300 drones in the strikes (see 9:24 a.m. timeframe).

10:55 AM | October 16

Kiev sources: Zelensky-Trump meeting will be about Tomahawk missiles

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will meet his American counterpart Donald Trump in Washington tomorrow to discuss the possible supply of Tomahawk cruise missiles to his army, the main topic of the trip, a senior Ukrainian official told AFP on Thursday.

Zelensky will arrive in the US capital today to meet with defense industry representatives, the official specified on condition of anonymity. It remains to be seen when the supplies will actually be possible, he said.

10:42 AM | October 16

Moscow: India will continue to buy Russian oil

India will continue to purchase oil from Russia, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said."Our energy resources are in demand. It is economically advantageous and appropriate. And I am sure that our partners will continue to work with us, cooperate, and develop energy cooperation," he said."Today, we only see signs in the press that our partners are saying that no one can dictate to them and that they will choose their own path," he added. Since June 2022, Russia has been India's main oil supplier. In the first seven months of 2025, Russian crude oil exports reached 87.5 million tonnes, accounting for 36.4 percent of India's total oil imports.

10:40 AM | October 16

In Donetsk, one dead and six wounded by"Russian invaders"

At least one person has been killed and six others injured by Russian invaders in the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine. The website Ukrinform reported this, citing the head of the Donetsk Regional State Administration, Vadym Filashkin. In a Facebook post, Filashkin stated that one person was killed in Dobropillia and that six more people in the Donetsk region were injured yesterday. According to the same source, the total number of Russian casualties in the Donetsk region—3,689 dead and 8,329 injured—excludes Mariupol and Volnovakha. As Ukrinform reported, on October 15, rescuers extracted the body of a man from the rubble of a residential building destroyed by a Russian airstrike in Dobropillia.

10:24 AM | October 16

Merz: An action plan to defend ourselves from hybrid warfare

We will not allow our free society to be rendered insecure by hybrid warfare. We will defend ourselves now and in the future. The National Security Council we founded will work on a comprehensive action plan to defend against the hybrid threat as early as its first session. This was announced by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, speaking to the Bundestag. The council will also address how to further increase pressure on Russia to force it to negotiate, as part of a new European sanctions package. Merz cited the drone threat that has affected European skies in recent weeks, including Germany, where flying objects have disrupted air traffic in Munich and Frankfurt.

10:24 AM | October 16

Merz: $140 billion of frozen Russian assets used for loans to Kiev

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, in his speech to the Bundestag, proposed using the frozen assets of the Russian Central Bank to grant Ukraine a total of €140 billion in interest-free loans. These additional funds will be used exclusively to finance military equipment, Merz explained, adding that Ukraine would repay the loans only after Russia had paid reparations.

9:38 AM | October 16

Merz: Putin miscalculated, we won't let ourselves be intimidated

Putin is launching an insecurity offensive, his goal being to paralyze us with fear to reduce support for Ukraine. But Putin is miscalculating; we will not be intimidated. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said this when, speaking to the Bundestag on the European situation, he cited Moscow's destabilization efforts."We will support Ukraine for as long as necessary," he made clear."This decision stands." "We do not want to do anything to prolong this war; we want to end it as quickly as possible," he insisted.

9:27 AM | October 16

Bessent calls on Japan to halt energy imports from Russia

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent met with Japanese Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato to discuss plans to mobilize Japan's strategic investments in the United States through the U.S.-Japan Trade and Investment Agreement. Bessent wrote in X, adding that they discussed important issues related to U.S.-Japan economic relations and the administration's expectation that Japan stop importing energy from Russia.

9:25 AM | October 16

Putin's advisor: Trump is bluffing about Ukraine; he won't provide Tomahawk missiles. Europe isn't ready for war, and the drone scandal proves it.

by Paolo Valentino

​

​Donald Trump is bluffing about the Tomahawks for Ukraine, Dmitry Suslov, deputy director of the Center for European and International Studies at the Higher School of Economics and a trusted Kremlin foreign policy advisor, tells Corriere della Sera.

So, in your opinion, Trump has no concrete intention of providing Tomahawks to Ukraine?
It's difficult for Moscow to assume that the US will supply land-based cruise missiles, because that's what happens in the case of Ukraine, which doesn't have suitable ships or submarines. To date, in fact, they have never supplied them to any European allied country. Only next year, according to a decision taken by the Biden administration, are the Tomahawks expected to be delivered to Germany.

​
​Read the article here

Zelensky: Moscow used over 300 drones and 37 missiles overnight. Strong decisions must be made; I'll discuss this in Washington.

Russia launched more than 300 attack drones and 37 missiles, many of them ballistic, against Ukraine overnight. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote about this on X, posting a photo. Infrastructure in the Vinnytsia, Sumy, and Poltava regions was attacked. In the Chernihiv region, the city of Nizhyn was hit: the post office was damaged and one person was injured. In the Kharkiv region, the enemy targeted critical infrastructure and a State Emergency Service department. There are injuries. Rescue operations are underway everywhere. Emergency services are operational. And there is confirmation that the Russians are using a double terror: attacking with"shaheds" armed with cluster munitions and launching repeated attacks to injure firefighters and energy workers working to restore damaged facilities.

And again: This fall, the Russians are using every single day to attack our energy infrastructure. Putin has turned a deaf ear to everything the world says, so the only language that can still reach him is the language of pressure: pressure through sanctions and pressure through long-range capabilities. Strong decisions must be made (...). And this depends on the United States, Europe, all the partners whose strength directly determines whether the war ends. There is now a significant momentum toward peace in the Middle East. In Europe, too, this is possible. This is exactly what I will be talking about today and tomorrow in Washington.

7:40 AM | October 16

Six soldiers arrested for torture and civilian abuse

Ukrainian police have arrested six soldiers, also Ukrainian, for kidnapping, torturing, and blackmailing civilians in the Ternopil region. According to investigators, they are accused of driving the victims out of the city, beating them, and demanding money or goods. A car obtained by these means by the suspects was recovered in the Kyiv region. Police also revealed that the group targeted a soldier on duty, shooting him while he was walking in the street, then loading him into a minibus and demanding the equivalent of €1,000 for his release. The police statement refers to two other similar cases: in one, the victim was kidnapped for three days. In addition to Ternopil, arrests were made in the Kyiv and Kharkiv regions. The arrested soldiers belong to the Third Assault Brigade, originally from the Azov Regiment and recently elevated to the rank of Army Corps.

6:00 AM | October 16

Ukrainian drones attack energy infrastructure in Volgograd

A massive Ukrainian drone attack on energy infrastructure has occurred in the Volgograd region of Russia. TASS reported that falling debris from an unmanned aerial vehicle, hit by anti-aircraft fire, caused a fire at the Balashovskaya power substation. Governor Andrei Bocharov said the blaze has been extinguished.

4:05 AM | October 15

Trump: Kiev wants to go on the offensive, I will make a decision

Ukraine wants to go on the offensive in the war with Russia. US President Donald Trump said this at a press conference, as he meets with his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, at the White House on Friday."We will have to make a decision on this," he added.