Saturday, August 9th's live news on the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. This afternoon, US and EU leaders meet in London. Zelensky: We won't give away land to the Russians; without Kiev, there will be no peace agreement.

8:08 PM | August 9

WSJ: Confusion over Putin's Ukraine plan, Europeans demand clarification

European countries on Friday asked envoy Steve Witkoff for clarification on Vladimir Putin's proposal for a ceasefire in Ukraine after widespread confusion about what the leader had actually offered the Kremlin. According to reports from the Wall Street Journal, Donald Trump, shortly after Witkoff and Putin met, told European leaders that Russia would be willing to withdraw from the area south of Zaporizhia and Kherson in exchange for full control of Donetsk. In a subsequent phone call with the Europeans, however, Witkoff suggested that Russia would withdraw and freeze the front line. On Friday, European officials requested a third call with Witkoff to clarify what Putin had actually proposed, and on that occasion, Trump's envoy said that the only offer on the table was Ukraine's unilateral withdrawal from Donetsk in exchange for a ceasefire. Once Putin's plan became clear, it was immediately rejected by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European officials.

"The proposal is much worse than what Trump said during the call," one European official told the Wall Street Journal."It's about giving Putin what he wants for nothing," another added.

3:26 PM | August 9

Putin awarded Witkoff CIA officer honor

Vladimir Putin presented Steve Witkoff, Donald Trump's special envoy, with an award to a senior CIA official whose son was killed in Ukraine while fighting alongside Russian forces. CBS reported, citing sources who said the award was intended for Juliane Gallina, the CIA's deputy director for digital innovation. Her son, Michael Gloss, was killed in 2024.

2:52 PM | August 9

In Alaska, the first US-China summit of the Biden era was a brawl

Donald Trump will host Vladimir Putin in Alaska, the state also chosen by the previous administration for the first high-level US-China meeting of the Biden era. The summit turned into a diplomatic brawl, with accusations and attacks exchanged. The meeting was held at the Captain Cook Hotel in Anchorage. Observers hope the face-to-face meeting between Trump and Putin will not be of the same tone and hope for progress on Ukraine. It is not yet clear where the meeting will be held, whether in Anchorage or on one of the state's islands.

2:37 PM | August 9

UK Intelligence: Russia conquered 500 square kilometers in July

In July, Russia reportedly took control of approximately 500 square kilometers of Ukrainian territory. This is according to the latest intelligence update on the conflict released via X by the British Ministry of Defence. According to the assessment, Russian ground forces will most likely have conquered approximately 500-550 square kilometers of Ukrainian territory by July 2025. A similar advance was reported for June. Russian ground forces continued tactical advances in Donetsk, primarily northeast and southwest of the city of Pokrovsk, it says, while Russian forces continue to attempt to encircle the city. Russian forces, the update confirms, have now occupied almost all of the territory of Donetsk Oblast south of Pokrovsk. In the Sumy region in northern Ukraine, bordering the Russian regions of Kursk and Belgorod, no overt Russian gains have been reported in the last two weeks. Continued losses and Ukrainian counterattacks have likely thwarted Russia's attempt to establish a buffer zone in the Sumy region, the assessment says, citing reports that units of the Russian 51st Airborne Regiment in Sumy are refusing to follow orders.

2:35 PM | August 9

Zelensky speaks to Macron: Moscow must no longer deceive anyone

It's truly important that the Russians no longer deceive anyone. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote this in X, reporting on a telephone conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron, with whom he exchanged views on the diplomatic situation. Ukraine, France, and all our partners are ready to work as productively as possible for the sake of true peace. We all need a real end to the war and a solid security foundation for Ukraine and other European nations.

1:45 PM | August 9

Von der Leyen in contact with leaders about the summit with Kiev in London

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has been in contact with EU leaders in preparation for this afternoon's meeting between British, European, Australian, and US officials. She will remain in regular contact with them regarding the outcome of the meeting, according to a spokesperson for the EU executive.

1:45 PM | August 9

Vance and Italy also at the European summit with Kiev

US Vice President J.D. Vance will be present at the meeting between Europeans and Ukrainians with the US, taking place this afternoon in London (organized ahead of the Trump-Putin summit on August 15). Representatives of Italy (including Ambassador Fabrizio Saggio, diplomatic advisor to Giorgia Meloni), France, Germany, and Poland are also reportedly attending.

1:42 PM | August 9

EU: Peace only with Kiev at the negotiating table and sovereign in its choices

The EU continues to support peace negotiations to end Russia's war of aggression, with Ukraine at the table and in which Ukraine can make independent and sovereign decisions, which the EU will support. A European Commission spokesperson told Ansa this regarding the summit between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin and possible territorial concessions by Ukraine.

1:41 PM | August 9

Yermak: The Russians are deceiving everyone, pretending to be ready to stop the war.

So this is how Russia wants peace. An attack on a regular bus in the suburbs of Kherson, where Russia hunts civilians every day. This is what Andriy Yermak, head of the office of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, wrote in a post on X, following reports of two drone strikes that killed at least two people and injured 19. People killed. For what? The Russians are deceiving everyone, pretending to be ready to stop the war, but in reality they're doing nothing about it, he accuses.

1:00 PM | August 9

Zelensky speaks to Starmer: We share the same opinion on the danger of the Russian plan to reduce negotiations to a discussion about the impossible.

I spoke with UK Prime Minister Starmer. I am grateful for his support. We share the same view on the need for a truly lasting peace for Ukraine and the danger of Russia's plan reducing everything to a discussion of the impossible. Ukrainian President Zelensky wrote this on X. He added: Clear steps are needed, as well as maximum coordination between us and our partners. We appreciate the determination of the UK, the US, and all our partners to end the war. We are actively working towards constructive diplomacy and to ensure that decisions can work.

12:49 PM | August 9

UK summit with US, EU, and Kiev ahead of Trump-Putin meeting

The United Kingdom will host a meeting this afternoon between senior officials from the United States, the EU, Ukraine, and several European countries to define a common position ahead of the summit between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin scheduled for August 15 in Alaska. A European Commission spokesperson announced the news, confirming that a European Commission representative will attend the meeting.

12:27 PM | August 9

Moscow denounces titanic efforts to sabotage the Alaska summit

Moscow has warned that titanic efforts will be made to derail the summit between Russian and US Presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump, scheduled for August 15 in Alaska. The alarm was raised by Russia's chief negotiator for the resumption of economic relations with the US, Kirill Dmitriev. Certainly, several countries interested in continuing the conflict will make titanic efforts (provocations and disinformation) to derail the scheduled meeting between Presidents Putin and Trump, Dmitriev wrote on his Telegram channel.

12:26 PM | August 9

Kiev: Ready to work with the US and partners for a just peace

Ukraine is ready to work with the United States and all our international partners to achieve a just and lasting peace together, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha wrote today in X. Ukraine remains open to meaningful dialogue and real solutions negotiated together with Ukraine, respecting the will of our people, the head of Kyiv's diplomacy emphasized."We need a lasting peace that will not be destroyed by Moscow's next move. Ukrainians deserve a just peace based on international law and respect for our territorial integrity and the borders defined by our Constitution," the minister added."Russia must not be rewarded for starting this war. Despite the tireless efforts of the United States and Ukraine's continued willingness to seek a just peace, Russia continues its terror against civilians, ignores deadlines, and shows no sincere interest in ending the war.

12:24 PM | August 9

Moscow: Yablonovka town in Donetsk region captured

Russian forces from the Center Group have captured the town of Yablonovka in the Donetsk Region, the Russian Defense Ministry reported. Units from the Center Group of Forces decisively liberated the settlement of Yablonovka in the Donetsk People's Republic, the ministry reported.

11:55 AM | August 9

Russian drone hits minibus in Kherson, killing 2 and injuring 16

Two people were killed and 16 were injured today after a Russian drone struck a minibus on the outskirts of the Ukrainian city of Kherson, regional governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported. Two more people were killed in the Zaporizhia region after a Russian drone struck their car, according to governor Ivan Fedorov.

11:41 AM | August 9

US Ambassador: Thank Berlin for Patriots in Kiev

As we advance peace through the power of NATO, we thank Germany for its commitment to supply Patriot systems, high-quality American equipment, to Ukraine. These defenses will help protect critical infrastructure and save civilian lives, US Ambassador to NATO Matt Whitaker said in a video published on X, applauding Berlin's announcement last week of the supply of two Patriot anti-missile batteries to Kiev.

10:45 AM | August 9

Donbass, the front line, and Crimea: what are the key issues in a possible agreement between Moscow and Kiev?

by Marta Serafini

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​Washington and Moscow - the source is Bloomberg - are aiming to reach an agreement for Ukraine that would freeze the situation on the ground, paving the way for a ceasefire and technical discussions on a lasting peace agreement. This preliminary agreement would envisage leaving Russia the territories occupied during the invasion and thus freezing the front line. According to the Wall Street Journal, Putin would be willing to cease hostilities in exchange for the Donetsk region, a claim the Russian president had already put on the table, along with Crimea, which his forces illegally annexed in 2014. But this would require Zelensky to order the Kiev-controlled areas of Lugansk and Donetsk, giving Russia a victory that its army has failed to achieve on the ground. Moscow, on the other hand, would halt its offensive in the Kherson and Zaporizhia regions along the current front lines as part of the agreement.

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​Read the article here

10:44 AM | August 9

Axios: Kiev, US and European officials to meet in UK ahead of Trump-Putin summit

Senior officials from the United States, Ukraine, and several European countries plan to meet in the United Kingdom this weekend to try to reach a common position ahead of the meeting between US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, scheduled for August 15 in Alaska. Three sources familiar with the matter told Axios that the idea of an in-person meeting in the UK emerged yesterday during a video call between US, Ukrainian, and European officials, the third such meeting in a matter of hours. According to the same sources, the logistics of the proposed meeting are still being discussed, including the selection of participants. According to the same sources cited by Axios, last Wednesday Trump held a conference call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and several European leaders to inform them of the meeting between his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and Putin. Two sources reported that Witkoff told participants that Putin agreed to end the war if Ukraine agreed to cede its Luhansk and Donetsk regions, which Russian forces mostly occupied after the invasion, as well as Crimea.

9:59 AM | August 9

Moscow: Another 21 Ukrainian drones shot down this morning

Russian air defenses shot down another 21 Ukrainian drones this morning between 5:10 and 8:00 (4:10 and 7:00 in Italy), the Russian Defense Ministry announced on Telegram. Seven unmanned aerial vehicles were destroyed over the Sea of Azov, six in the Bryansk region, four in the Kaluga region, three over the Black Sea, and one in occupied Crimea, according to a press release. Overnight, the Russians had downed 97 Ukrainian drones.

9:15 AM | August 9

UNICEF Ukraine: One child killed in the first seven days of August

During the first week of August, one child was reportedly killed and at least 14 injured in Ukraine. The ongoing attacks targeting populated areas are having a devastating effect on children and families. End the attacks. Protect every child. UNICEF Ukraine writes in X.

9:13 AM | August 9

Kiev: 16 of 47 Russian drones shot down overnight

Russian forces attacked Ukraine last night with two Iskander-K cruise missiles and 47 drones of various types, including Shahed kamikaze drones, the Kiev Air Force announced on Telegram. The attack drones struck border areas in the Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, and Donetsk regions, while the missiles targeted the city of Dnipro, a press release said. Ukrainian air defenses shot down or neutralized with electronic warfare systems one Iskander-K missile and 16 kamikaze and decoy drones in the north and east of the country.

8:40 AM |

Zelensky: We will not give our land away to the Russians.

Ukrainians are defending what's theirs. Of course, we won't give Russia any recompense for what it has done. The answer to Ukraine's territorial issue is already enshrined in the Ukrainian Constitution. Ukrainians will not give away their land to the occupier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on Telegram.

According to reports in the Wall Street Journal, Russian President Putin has presented the Trump administration with a ceasefire proposal that includes significant territorial concessions from Kiev and a commitment to global recognition of its claims.

Zelensky on the Trump-Putin summit: Decisions made without us are stillborn, we will not cede our territory to the occupiers.

8:36 AM | August 9

From the Cold War to détente and the new phase since the 1990s: all the summits between American and Russian (or Soviet) presidents

by Armando Di Landro

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​Summits between the American president and the Russian or Soviet president have often marked historic transitions and geopolitical turning points. Will this be the case on August 15, 2025, in Alaska, when Donald Trump tries to convince Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine? It's hard to predict. Here are the previous summits in history.

​Read the article here

8:30 AM | August 9

Ukrainian historian Hrytsak: Trump is thinking about the Nobel Prize. But peace isn't marketing.

by Marta Serafini 

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​Trump's meeting with Putin? The US president is only interested in one thing: receiving the Nobel Peace Prize. And I certainly don't say this as a Trump fan. Yaroslav Hrytsak's bitter irony is that—explains Ukraine's most important historian—it's difficult to be optimistic about the White House's ability to convince the Kremlin to sign a lasting ceasefire.

Trump has always said he wants peace in Ukraine, and yesterday he reiterated the need to support every effort at dialogue, including this face-to-face meeting between him and Putin. Why are you so skeptical about his intentions?

Because I think Trump is pursuing his own personal agenda that doesn't take the rest of the world into account. Of course, he also manages to pull off good things, like yesterday's meeting between the presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia. An event that was difficult to conceive and imagine until recently. But it's not just a matter of organizing meetings. It's not enough. Trump has limited capabilities, his understanding of what's happening in the world is very limited. Marketing isn't enough. Peace needs a solid foundation. And these foundations are the legitimate aspirations of the parties that must sustain it.

​​Read the interview here

The US and Russia are working on an agreement that would leave the occupied territories to Moscow.

Washington and Moscow are working on a ceasefire agreement in Ukraine that would sanction Russia's occupation of the territories it conquered during its military invasion. This is according to Bloomberg, later confirmed by the White House (see 12:56 AM clip). American and Russian officials are negotiating territorial borders. Washington is seeking the consent of Kiev and its European allies, although the agreement remains highly uncertain. Putin demands that Ukraine cede the entire Donbass and recognize the annexation of Crimea, which Russia illegally occupied in 2014. This would require Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to order a withdrawal from areas of the Luhansk and Donetsk regions still controlled by Kiev, something Moscow has failed to achieve by force since the beginning of its full-scale invasion in February 2022. For Putin, such an agreement would be the culmination of a strategy aimed at direct negotiations with the United States, excluding Ukraine and Europe from the negotiating table. Zelensky, for his part, risks facing an ultimatum: accept the loss of territory or reject an imposed agreement.

8:10 AM | August 9

Zelensky: Any solution without Ukraine will not be a peaceful solution.

Ukraine is ready to make concrete decisions that can lead to peace. Ukrainian President Voldymyr Zelensky wrote this on X, publishing a video. He emphasized: Any decision that doesn't involve Ukraine is also a decision against peace. It won't lead to anything. These are stillborn decisions. Impractical. And we all need true and authentic peace. A peace that people respect.

7:57 AM | August 9

All of Putin's men (and women)

by Paolo Valentino

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​A great seasonal change is brewing in the Kremlin. Much, almost everything, is destined to change in the Moscow nomenklatura in the coming years, except one thing. According to a report written by Russian-born American journalist Mikhail Zygar for the Atlantic Council, Putin is gradually sidelining old allies and comrades-in-arms, many of them over seventy, to make room for a new generation. But the tsar naturally has no intention of stepping aside, considering himself invested with a mission to save Russia and therefore irreplaceable. In any case, Putin can still be re-elected for a new term, which would expire in 2036. But as in a feudal system, the emerging elite is composed mostly of the children of current leaders, friends and friends of the president, as well as his closest relatives, starting with his two daughters. The list of departed is long. Read the full article here.

7:43 AM | August 9

Moscow: 97 Ukrainian drones shot down overnight

Air defense forces intercepted and destroyed 97 Ukrainian drones over Russian regions overnight, including one over the Moscow region. The Russian Defense Ministry reported this, according to TASS. Between 10:41 PM (Moscow Time) on August 8 and 5:05 AM (Moscow Time) on August 9, active air defense systems destroyed and intercepted 97 Ukrainian drones.

7:43 AM | August 9

Russian missiles hit Dnipro River, three injured

Three people were injured this morning following a Russian missile attack on the Dnipro River in eastern Ukraine, according to the head of the Dnipropetrovsk Regional Administration, Sergiy Lysak, as reported by Ukrainian media. The attack caused damage to civilian infrastructure and started fires. Three people were injured: a 41-year-old woman and two men, aged 21 and 29, Lysak said, adding that an industrial facility, an unused building, and several cars were damaged.

7:42 AM | August 9

Moscow: After Alaska, Putin and Trump will meet again in Russia.

The Kremlin expects the next meeting between Russian and US Presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump, after Alaska, to take place on Russian soil. This was stated by the Russian leader's advisor, Yuri Ushakov, commenting on the choice of Alaska as the venue for the August 15 summit of the Russian and US heads of state. Looking ahead, we should aim to ensure that the next meeting between the presidents takes place on Russian soil. The corresponding invitation has already been extended to the US president, the Kremlin spokesman stated. Regarding the choice of Alaska as the site of the first meeting, Ushakov noted that Russia and the United States are neighbors, neighbors. And it seems entirely logical that our delegation would simply cross the Bering Strait and that such an important and eagerly awaited summit of the leaders of the two countries would be held in Alaska.

1:57 AM | August 9

The Kremlin confirms: Alaska is a logical solution.

The Kremlin has confirmed that Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Donald Trump will meet in Alaska for talks next Friday, calling the choice of location quite logical. Russia and the United States are neighbors, said Yuri Ushakov, Kremlin advisor and aide. It seems quite logical that our delegation would simply fly across the Bering Strait and that such an important and anticipated summit between the leaders of the two countries would be held in Alaska.

1:32 AM | August 9

Putin returns to the US after nearly 10 years

With a visit to Alaska (the territory the US purchased from Russia more than a century and a half ago) Putin will return to the United States for the first time in nearly ten years. It dates back to September 2015. The Kremlin leader's last visit to the US. Putin is now returning to meet Donald Trump in Alaska.

The last meeting between Putin and an American president was in Geneva in 2021, before the invasion of Ukraine, when he met Joe Biden in Geneva. Putin met Trump six times during the American president's first term, while he met Barack Obama nine times. Putin and George W. Bush met 28 times during the former American president's two terms, and the Kremlin leader was the first to call him after the September 11 attacks.

12:56 AM | August 9

The meeting in Alaska. On August 15th.

US President Donald Trump on his social media post: The long-awaited meeting between me and Russian President Putin will take place on Friday, August 15, in Alaska.

In a meeting with journalists at the White House, the President of the United States Donald Trump had hinted, during the evening of August 8, at an agreement that would involve an exchange of territories."...to the benefit of both Ukraine and Russia. This is a disputed territory for three and a half years," Trump added."A lot of Russians are dead, a lot of Ukrainians are dead, so we're evaluating the situation. We're trying to recover some and exchange some. It's complicated, actually, it's not easy at all. We'll recover some, we'll exchange some."

August 9, 12:55 AM - Updated August 9, 8:09 PM