Saturday, August 23, live news on the conflict between Ukraine and Russia. The Ukrainian president discusses important defense agreements with the Netherlands.
- It's the 1,277th day of war in Ukraine
- Trump: I'd rather not be at the Putin-Zelensky meeting. Lavrov: The Ukrainian president has rejected all of the tycoon's proposals. Air alert in Kiev during Rutte's surprise visit
- Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni postpones her mission to Asia to follow developments in the conflict
6:11 PM|August 23
Salvini: Macron is too touchy, 80% of French people don't like him
Macron is a bit too touchy. And yet, polls say 80 percent of French people don't like him. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Matteo Salvini, said this while speaking in Pinzolo at the traditional summer meeting of the Lega Trentino.
5:23 PM | August 23
Zelensky signs two decrees on new sanctions, fully synchronized with Canada
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that he has signed two decrees on new sanctions measures against individuals and entities linked to the Russian war in Ukraine. The first concerns the synchronization of sanctions against our partners in Ukraine, particularly those against Canada. This is 100 percent alignment with this year's Canadian sanctions, which target 139 individuals and legal entities serving the Russian war, Zelensky wrote on X. He added that decisions are being prepared to synchronize Ukrainian measures with those of other partner jurisdictions. The second decree, he explained, introduces sanctions against 28 citizens of various countries who are also helping the Russians maintain the occupation regime on our lands and, in effect, sponsoring the Russian state. For each of these names, Zelensky emphasized, Kiev is cooperating with the judicial authorities of partner countries. All accomplices of the Russian occupiers will, in one way or another, be held accountable for their actions against Ukraine and Ukrainians.
4:50 PM | August 23
Zelensky: Major defense agreements with the Netherlands soon
We discussed security guarantees with the acting Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Dick Schoof, and how the Netherlands can increase its involvement in this process. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote this in a post on X, thanking Schoof following a telephone conversation between the two leaders on National Flag Day. During the call, Zelensky explained, we also discussed our joint projects and investments in Ukraine's defense production. We are preparing important agreements and an upcoming meeting.
4:39 PM | August 23
Zelensky: Developments on guarantees in the coming days
Regarding security guarantees, the teams of Ukraine, the United States, and European partners are working on their architecture: all developments will be ready in the coming days. This was stated by President Volodymyr Zelensky in a post on X, published after his meeting with Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof. Now there is a real chance of ending this war, and Ukraine is ready to take constructive steps that can bring about real peace. However, Russia shows no intention of peace on its part and continues to bomb our cities. We interpret all the signals coming from Moscow these days in the same way. Pressure is needed to change their position, as well as a meeting at the highest level to discuss all issues, Zelensky wrote on social media. With Prime Minister Schoof, we also discussed how the Netherlands can increase its involvement in this process and help ensure security guarantees. We also discussed our joint projects and investments in Ukraine's defense production. We are preparing important agreements and a meeting soon, the Ukrainian president concluded.
4:19 PM | August 23
Ambassador to Ankara: Türkiye Considers Sending Troops as Part of Security Guarantees
Turkey is ready to participate in Black Sea mine clearance and is considering sending troops to Ukraine as part of security guarantees. Ukrainian Ambassador to Ankara Nariman Dzhelyal stated this in a televised address cited above. I met with Turkish Defense Minister Yaafar Guler yesterday, and we had an excellent conversation. Turkey is ready to participate in Black Sea mine clearance in the near future, Dzhelyal stated. In addition to maritime mine clearance, Ankara is also considering participating in humanitarian land mine clearance operations. Turkey is one of ten countries potentially ready to send military personnel to Ukraine as part of security guarantees. We welcome these steps, the ambassador added. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had already signaled Ankara's willingness to participate in security guarantees, particularly for maritime security. Along the same lines, Romania has stated its readiness to make its military bases available to NATO allies.
4:17 PM | August 23
Kubilius: Putin has no veto over Kiev's choice
Ukraine has the right to choose its own destiny, without anyone—not even (Russian President Vladimir) Putin—being able to veto it. This was stated by European Commissioner for Defense and Space Andrius Kubilius during the unfurling ceremony of the Ukrainian flag in front of the European Parliament in Brussels, marking Ukrainian National Flag Day. Kubilius recalled that today marks the 86th anniversary of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, which marked the beginning of World War II and the fifty-year slavery of the Baltic states and Central Europe. Hence the call to learn the lessons of history: no division of Europe into zones of influence. Every country has the right to choose to be a member of NATO or the EU. Including Ukraine. The Ukrainian flag is a symbol of the Maidan and the struggle for independence. Ukrainians die under this flag, defending their country. That is why it has a special meaning. Not just for Ukraine, the Commissioner said, emphasizing that European democracy and freedom are impossible without Ukrainian independence."Your flag is also our flag, the flag of peace and the dream of living in a united, free, and peaceful Europe," Kubilius added.
4:15 PM | August 23
Stubb: Zelensky-Putin meeting unlikely, Trump is losing patience with Putin
Finnish President Alexander Stubb said he currently sees no sign of Russia's willingness to sit down at the negotiating table to discuss a ceasefire or peace with Ukraine, the newspaper Ukrainska Pravda reports. If the goal was a bilateral meeting two weeks after Washington, that is, a week after Monday, then I find it highly unlikely. Russia's delaying tactics continue, the Finnish president said, asserting that Russia intends to continue hostilities against Ukraine at least until the fall to maximize its territorial gains. He added:"There is only one person who can force Putin to make peace, and that is President Trump. He is the only person Putin listens to and, frankly, the only person Putin fears."
3:38 PM | August 23
Media: China ready to send peacekeeping troops to Kiev
China would be willing to send peacekeeping troops to Ukraine on a UN mandate, according to Welt am Sonntag, citing European diplomatic sources who learned the information from Chinese government officials. The Chinese government would only be willing to do so if the troops were deployed on a UN mandate, the sources emphasized.
1:10 PM | August 23
Salvini slams Macron on Ukraine. The opposition attacks:"International embarrassment, Meloni should clarify."
By the Political Editorial Staff
Taches al tram, clinging to the tram in Milanese, Salvini said on the sidelines of an event on the possibility of sending troops, go if you want. Put on your helmet, your jacket, your rifle, and go to Ukraine. And now that it's confirmed that France has summoned its ambassador to Paris, Emanuela D'Alessandro, for Thursday, the opposition is attacking the deputy prime minister and leader of the League.
We advised Giorgia Meloni to clarify her position immediately, so as not to expose our country to a bad international image," protests Enrico Borghi, vice president of Italia Viva and member of COPASIR."She didn't do so, and now our ambassador to Paris has been summoned by the French government, opening an embarrassing chapter for Italy.
Continue reading the full article.
12:47 PM | August 23
Ukrainian flag raised in front of the European Commission in Brussels
In honor of Ukrainian National Flag Day, the Ukrainian flag was raised in front of the European Commission headquarters in Brussels. The European Commission press office reported this on X, and the news was relaunched by Ukrainian media, including the website Ukrinform. Courage. Resilience. Freedom. The Ukrainian flag carries them all. On Ukrainian Flag Day, it proudly flies in front of our headquarters in Brussels, the message reads. The European Commission emphasized that this gesture is a sign that Europe stands united alongside Ukraine for a just and lasting peace. Today and every day. We are with you, the message, written partly in Ukrainian, reads. On the occasion of the commemoration, President Volodymyr Zelensky congratulated the Ukrainians and emphasized that Ukraine will not cede its territory to the occupiers. Yesterday, Ukraine received €4.05 billion from the European Union, including €1 billion under the ERA loans, financed by frozen Russian assets, and €3.05 billion under the Recovery and Integration Fund of Ukraine. Thus, the total amount transferred to Ukraine from the EU reached nearly €170 billion.
12:45 PM | August 23
Zelensky: We will not give up our land to the occupier
Today is an important day, the day of one of our strongest emotions: the feeling of being at home or of recognizing our belonging. And wherever you are in the world, whatever country you arrive in, when you see the Ukrainian flag, you understand that beside you, perhaps you don't know people personally, but they are certainly familiar hearts. This flag is the feeling of salvation for the people returning from Russian captivity. When they see the Ukrainian colors, they understand: evil is over. This flag is the goal and dream of many of our citizens in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. And they protect this flag, they protect it because they know: we will not surrender our land to the occupier. Thus, on National Flag Day, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. This flag symbolizes the most precious asset for hundreds of thousands of our soldiers, men and women from across our Ukraine, who defend not just this or that particular direction, not just Vovcansk or Dobropillya, but all of our Ukraine and, risking their lives, fight for the right to life for our entire state. And may all those who have contributed to this force of Ukrainian colors hear these words today. And these words are, first and foremost, words of gratitude. It is absolutely deserved. Long live Ukraine. May our blue and yellow flag always stand proud. Happy Flag Day, dear Ukrainians. Glory to Ukraine, Zelensky concludes.
12:42 PM | August 23
Meloni postpones mission to Asia
It's official: Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has postponed her Indo-Pacific trip, scheduled to visit five Asian countries between August 31 and September 8. The possibility of postponing the mission had already emerged in recent days, due to developments related to the Ukraine peace process and ongoing international talks.
11:39 AM | August 23
League: Issue closed if Macron denies sending European troops to Ukraine
If Macron denies his intention to invite European soldiers to fight in Ukraine, the matter is closed. And continuing to bring up the European nuclear umbrella, European armies, European missiles and bazookas isn't helpful at this time: let's allow the glimmers of peace to continue, let's let Trump and those who truly want peace work. This is what Massimiliano Romeo, leader of the League group in the Senate, said.
8:01 AM | August 23
Salvini's statements on Macron:"He should go himself, with a helmet and a rifle."
During a meeting in Milan, Salvini—responding to a question about a possible deployment of Italian troops to Ukraine—suggested that Macron should go there himself, equipped with a helmet and a rifle. According to French diplomatic sources, the ambassador was reminded that those words go against the climate of trust and the historic relationship between the two countries, as well as recent bilateral developments that have shown strong convergence, particularly on support for Ukraine. The League leader had already called Macron a madman last March, accusing him of pushing Europe toward confrontation with Russia. France and the United Kingdom lead a coalition of volunteers ready to send troops to Ukraine as a guarantee of security following a potential peace agreement, while Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has expressed her opposition.
7:18 AM | August 23
Matteo Salvini slams President Emmanuel Macron for his support for sending troops to Ukraine. The Italian ambassador has been summoned.
France has summoned the Italian ambassador to France, Emanuela D'Alessandro, following unacceptable remarks by Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini against President Emmanuel Macron for his support for the deployment of troops to Ukraine. The ambassador [summoned on Thursday, ed.] was reminded that these words were contrary to the climate of trust and the historic relationship between our two countries, as well as to recent bilateral developments, which have highlighted strong convergences between the two countries, particularly regarding unwavering support for Ukraine, a diplomatic source said, confirming a report from France Inter radio.
7:01 AM | August 23
Kiev to Belarus: No to reckless provocations
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has warned the Belarusian government against reckless provocations, advising Minsk not to approach the country's borders, Ukrainska Pravda reports.
The warning comes ahead of scheduled military exercises in Belarus. We warn Minsk against reckless provocations, advise you to remain cautious, not to approach the borders, and not to provoke the Ukrainian Defense Forces, according to the statement released ahead of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) military exercises scheduled for the coming weeks in Belarus.
In particular, these are the Interaction-2025, Search-2025, Echelon-2025, and the joint strategic exercises West-2025 of the Belarusian and Russian armed forces.
6:48 AM | August 23
Russian Defense: Seven Ukrainian drones shot down overnight
Russian air defenses shot down seven Ukrainian drones over three regions of the country last night, the Russian Defense Ministry announced on Telegram. Four unmanned aerial vehicles were destroyed in the Rostov region, two in the Volgograd region, and one in the Krasnodar region.
6:30 AM | August 23
Ukraine, the United States, and their European partners are gradually making progress on security guarantees, despite Moscow's attempts to derail the peace process. At the same time, Russian President Vladimir Putin is not ready for meaningful negotiations, nor for a bilateral or trilateral meeting, Ukrainian First Deputy Foreign Minister Serhiy Kyslytsia stated this in an interview with NBC News.
Kyslytsia emphasized that last Monday's meeting at the White House—attended by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, European leaders, and US President Donald Trump—was the main event of recent months. I truly believe that things are moving forward, and that they are moving forward gradually... and this (meeting, ed.) is an important achievement in which President Trump played a decisive role, Kyslytsia said.
However, the deputy minister added that he sees no signs that Putin is ready for meaningful negotiations or a meeting, either bilateral (with Zelensky, ed.) or trilateral with Zelensky and Trump. Russia, he added, continues to manipulate the United States and Trump personally, but the US administration is gradually becoming increasingly aware of Russian manipulations, he commented.
1:23 AM | August 23
Tass: Russian forces have captured the western part of Konstantinovka
Russian forces have captured the western part of Konstantinovka, in Kramatorsk District, Donetsk Oblast, according to the Russian news agency TASS.
0:29|August 23
Paris summons the Italian ambassador: Salvini's comments about Macron are unacceptable.
France has summoned the Italian ambassador to Paris, Emanuela D'Alessandro, following Matteo Salvini's unacceptable comments against Emmanuel Macron for his support of sending troops to Ukraine.
Reported by AFP, the summons to the Quai d'Orsay, the French Foreign Ministry, came just hours after the League leader, last Thursday, had invited the French president - in Milanese dialect - to taches al tram, that is, to attack the tram, polemically urging him to go to Ukraine himself: Put on your helmet, your jacket, your rifle and go to Ukraine, Salvini had said on the sidelines of an inspection in Via Bolla in Milan, commenting on France's proposal to send troops there. Salvini had also praised Donald Trump's policies—with his sometimes seeming brusque or unconventional manner, he is succeeding where everyone else has failed—while criticizing the macro-strategies that, he accuses, include European armies, European rearmament, and joint European debts to purchase missiles. This led to the diplomatic incident, which forced Paris—as reported by a source at France Presse—to point out that these comments are contrary to the climate of trust and historic relations between the two countries, as well as to recent bilateral developments that have highlighted strong convergences, particularly regarding their unwavering support for Ukraine. The decision and the urgency of summoning the ambassador were most likely influenced by the Northern League deputy prime minister's habitual attacks on Macron, whom he has often publicly labeled a warmonger and bomber. Terms were also reused last Thursday, when, however, that phrase about the clear no to Italian troops in Ukraine was said specifying his position as vice president of the Council, as minister, and as secretary of the League.
The news then goes back to early March, to record another attack by Salvini against the occupant of the Elysée Palace and, again, to contest the idea of a European army: there will never be, the League leader said then, a European army commanded by that madman Macron who talks about nuclear war. He, Macron, desperately needs to give meaning to his still-brief tenure as leader of France. But let's not do it at our expense, he said, to contest the offer of a nuclear umbrella to Kiev. But the"chronology" doesn't stop there. And on other occasions, Salvini has addressed the French president in many ways: hypocrite, chatterbox, polite gentleman who overindulges in champagne, criminal. In an escalation that started last June when the invitation was: put on your helmet, go fight and don't be a pain in the ass.
