Vladimir Putin made a surprise visit to an army training ground. He spoke on Russian state television about the major Russian-Belarusian exercise"Zapad." According to Belarus, the exercise also included practicing the use of a tactical nuclear weapon. More in the live ticker.
For five days, Moscow and Minsk trained the joint deployment of their armed forces. The"Zapad" exercise sparked concern in the West, and even after the exercise's conclusion, it remains unanswered.
All events related to the Ukraine war in the live ticker:
7:28 p.m. – In army uniform, Putin gives details of the large-scale exercise “Sapad”
According to Russian President Vladimir Putin, 100,000 troops participated in the recent joint military exercises between Russia and Belarus."Today we are conducting the final part of the strategic exercise Zapad-2025 (West-2025)," Putin said on Russian state television during a surprise visit to the exercises. Putin further stated that"100,000 troops" were participating in the exercises, some of which were held not far from NATO's borders.
Putin, accompanied by his Defense Minister Andrei Belousov and members of the General Staff, appeared at the Mulino training ground in the Russian region of Nizhny Novgorod. He wore an army uniform—an extremely rare occurrence. The drills were taking place at 41 training grounds, Putin said."Approximately 10,000 weapons systems and items of military equipment were being used." Referring to the alliance between Russia and Belarus, Putin added that the drills were aimed at deterring"potential aggression against the Union State."
The state news agency Tass reported, citing the Kremlin, that “army contingents” from Bangladesh as well as soldiers from Burkina Faso, Congo and Mali also took part.
4:20 PM – Belarus pardons another 25 prisoners
According to state media, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has pardoned 25 more prisoners. Among them are some who had been imprisoned for extremism, reports the official news agency Belta. Almost a week ago, the regime in Minsk had already released 52 prisoners following an appeal by US President Donald Trump.
1:37 p.m. – Lukashenko: Use of tactical nuclear weapons practiced during maneuvers
According to Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko, Russia and Belarus also practiced the use of tactical nuclear weapons during their large-scale joint exercise."We are practicing everything there," the state news agency Belta quoted Lukashenko as saying on Tuesday, the last day of the"Zapad" exercise.
The spectrum ranged from exercises with conventional small arms to the use of nuclear warheads. The West is also aware of this."But we have no intention of threatening anyone with this," Lukashenko added.
According to the Belarusian Ministry of Defense, the five-day exercise also included a rehearsal for the Russian Oreshnik hypersonic medium-range missile. Russia first used this weapon in the war against Ukraine in November 2024.
12:10 p.m. – Steinmeier: Question of reparations to Poland closed
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has rejected Polish President Karol Nawrocki's demand that Germany pay reparations to its EU neighbor. From Germany's perspective, this issue has been"finally and legally resolved," Steinmeier's spokeswoman said on Tuesday after a meeting between the two presidents in Berlin. However, promoting commemoration and remembrance remains a shared concern.
11:45 a.m. – Italian court orders extradition of suspected Nord Stream saboteur
Three years after the attacks on the Nord Stream gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea, one of the alleged masterminds can be extradited to Germany. The Italian judiciary has given the green light for the extradition of the 49-year-old Ukrainian to the German authorities, as his lawyer confirmed to the German Press Agency. A date for the extradition has not yet been set. The decision of the court in the northern Italian city of Bologna may be reconsidered by Italy's highest court.
The Ukrainian was arrested on the Adriatic coast at the end of August. He apparently did not expect an international arrest warrant to be executed. According to the Federal Prosecutor's Office, Serhij K. was part of a group that placed explosives on the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines near the Baltic Sea island of Bornholm in September 2022. They accuse him of conspiring to detonate explosives and unconstitutional sabotage.
09:28 – Dead and injured after Russian attacks in Ukraine
Russia has once again attacked Ukraine overnight. According to preliminary information, Moscow's military launched ten strikes with a multiple rocket launcher on the city and the Zaporizhzhia region, the Ukrainian National Police reported.
According to authorities, a 41-year-old man was killed. Thirteen people were injured, including two minors aged 4 and 17. According to military governor Ivan Fedorov, ten apartment blocks and twelve houses were damaged.
08:07 – Ziemiak rejects Polish reparations demands
Today, Poland's new President Karol Nawrocki will meet with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and later with Merz. CDU politician Paul Ziemiak reiterates the German government's position on Poland's reparations demands."This issue has already been legally resolved for us, but we are aware of our responsibility," said the head of the German-Polish parliamentary group in Politico's Berlin Playbook podcast.
With regard to reparations demands, Ziemiak called for clarity."We should meet as equals and take the Polish claims very seriously," Ziemiak said."But we must also be clear in our position. We say that matters have been settled."
Ziemiak pointed to irritations in Warsaw over German debates on the colonial era: "When, at the same time, debates are being followed in Germany about Germany being willing to pay reparations for times that go back even further—for example, colonial rule in Africa—some in Poland say: That's strange. World War II has been dealt with, but things that happened much earlier are still being discussed."
02:32 – Moscow aims for new talks with the US in the fall
According to a media report, Russia is aiming for a new round of talks with the United States in the fall. Deputy Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said this, according to a report by the Tass news agency. One reason for the delay in agreeing on a new date for talks between the United States and Russia is the desire of both sides to avoid a meeting without significant results.
"It is therefore better, as long as there is political will on both sides, to continue working behind the scenes so that perhaps a basis can be laid for the next step or steps and all logistical and organizational aspects can be clarified quickly," Ryabkov said.
Monday, September 15
8:31 p.m. – Poland neutralizes drone over Warsaw
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced that the drone that flew over government buildings in the capital, Warsaw, had been"neutralized" by state security. It had been operating over sensitive government buildings, Tusk announced on"X." Two Belarusian citizens have been arrested. Police are investigating the circumstances of the incident.
18:31 – Great Britain also sends fighter jets to Poland
British fighter jets are to participate in the protection of Polish airspace as part of NATO's"Eastern Sentry" mission, according to the British government. Last week, several Russian drones flew into Poland. NATO subsequently decided to strengthen its eastern flank. Typhoon jets from the Royal Air Force are to join the allied forces, including those from Denmark, France, and Germany, in the coming days, the government in London announced.
2:29 p.m. – Sweden plans to increase defense spending by almost a fifth
Sweden plans to significantly increase its defense budget next year. Funding for the armed forces is to be increased by the equivalent of approximately €2.4 billion (26.6 billion kroner), Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson announced on Monday."We are now taking the next major step in equipping Sweden's defense system," Kristersson announced at a press conference. Since 2022 – when Russia invaded Ukraine – the defense budget has been increased by 100 billion kroner (around €9.2 billion)."This is unprecedented, unless you go back to the worst days of the Cold War."
The increase represents an 18 percent increase compared to the current 2025 budget. This would bring Swedish defense spending to 2.8 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) next year, bringing it closer to the NATO target of 3.5 percent. The additional funds will be used to procure new equipment—including air defense, rocket artillery, combat ships, and tactical transport aircraft. In addition, salaries for officers and conscripts will be increased.
2:02 p.m. – EU emphasizes cooperation with the US
Following US President Donald Trump's move to impose sanctions against Russia, the EU has emphasized the importance of cooperation with Washington. Coordination with other countries,"especially with the US," is "essential to ensure these sanctions are as effective as possible," EU Commission spokesperson Olof Gill said in Brussels on Monday. The EU will continue to strive to coordinate with the US as"effectively as possible."
Trump agreed on Saturday to impose tougher sanctions against Russia for its war of aggression in Ukraine. However, he made this conditional on all NATO allies stopping the purchase of Russian oil.
