Ukraine-Russia war latest: Russian strike on medical centre kills 6 after ‘awkward’ Trump and Zelensky meeting
At least six people were killed today in a Russian airstrike on a medical centre in northeastern Ukraine’s Sumy.
The first attack killed one person and damaged the ceilings of several floors of the hospital, Ukraine’s interior minister Ihor Klymenko said on Telegram.
The medical centre was struck after Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky met with Donald Trump in what led to an awkward exchange.
Mr Trump met the Ukrainian leader at Trump Tower in New York yesterday. After arriving together at a conference room on Friday, Mr Trump said: “The fact that we’re even together today is a very good sign.”
But the meeting turned awkward when Mr Trump said he and Mr Zelensky had a “very good relationship” before adding: “I also have a very good relationship with President Putin.”
Mr Zelensky said in response: “I hope we have a better relationship.”
The rest of the meeting appeared productive, with Mr Zelensky saying: “I think we have a common view that the war in Ukraine has to be stopped and Putin can't win.”
It has been reported that Mr Zelensky extended his stay in the US to meet Mr Trump.
Key Points
Trump meets Zelensky in New York
Ukraine will win war, Biden insists
Russia attack Zelensky’s home town
Trump touts strong relationships with Zelensky – and Putin – in awkward exchange
08:00 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Donald Trump boasted of a “very good relationship” with both Volodymyr Zelensky and Vladimir Putin as he hosted the Ukrainian leader for a meeting at his New York City skyscraper.
The former president also repeated a bizarre boast that he could, if re-elected in November, negotiate an end to the nearly three-year Russian war against Ukraine.
Trump, who was impeached in 2019 for using American defense assistance to pressure Zelensky to launch sham investigations into President Joe Biden and his son, was being briefed on Kyiv’s latest plan for victory against Putin.
Andrew Feinberg reports.
Trump touts strong relationships with Zelensky – and Putin – in awkward exchange
Six killed as Russia attacks medical centre in Ukraine
07:58 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Two consecutive Russian attacks on a medical centre in Sumy in northeastern Ukraine this morning killed six people, Ukraine’s interior minister said.
“The first attack killed one person and damaged the ceilings of several floors of the hospital. The evacuation of patients and staff began,” Ihor Klymenko said on Telegram.
The US is giving Ukraine billions more in weapons. Here's how they will help
07:30 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
The Biden administration’s latest infusion of more than $2.7bn in military aid for Ukraine and the promise of billions more will give Kyiv a massive boost in air defences, but much of the aid is in long-range contracts for weapons that won’t be seen on the battlefield for some time.
Included in a $2.4bn long-term assistance package announced Thursday — just before meetings between Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky and president Joe Biden and vice president Kamala Harris — is another Patriot missile battery and additional munitions for the system.
Patriots are critical air defense systems that the U.S. military uses around the world to protect American forces and allies. It is a high-demand air defense capability, and the U.S. has a limited number of them and the missiles they fire.
More here.
The US is giving Ukraine billions more in weapons. Here's how they will help
Russia's adaptability to US sanctions stymied their effectiveness, economists say
07:00 , Tom Watling
Russia's adaptability to US sanctions stymied their effectiveness, economists say
Ukraine says it downed 69 drones, 2 missiles during overnight Russian attack
06:48 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Ukraine’s air force shot down 69 out of 73 drones during an overnight Russian attack today, it said in a statement on Telegram.
Russian forces also used two ballistic and two cruise missiles during the attack, the air force added. Ukrainian forces downed two cruise missiles, they said.
Antony Blinken says talk of Ukraine peace plan ‘doesn’t add up’
06:30 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
US secretary of state Antony Blinken underscored strong concerns about China’s support for Russia’s defence industrial base in talks with Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi, saying Beijing’s talk of peace in Ukraine “doesn’t add up”.
In a meeting with Mr Wang on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, Mr Blinken said he also raised China’s “dangerous and destabilising actions” in the South China Sea and discussed improving communication between their militaries.
About 70 per cent of the machine tools Russia is importing and 90 per cent of the microelectronics come from China and Hong Kong, Mr Blinken said.
That was materially helping Moscow to produce the missiles, rockets, armored vehicles and munitions needed to perpetuate its war, he added.
“So when Beijing says that, on the one hand, it wants peace, it wants to see an end to the conflict, but on the other hand, is allowing its companies to take actions that are actually helping Putin continue the aggression, that doesn’t add up.”
Russia strikes Zelensky’s hometown of Kryvyi Rih, killing one - in pictures
06:01 , Tom Watling
China and Brazil push for Ukraine peace plan
05:30 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
China and Brazil pressed ahead with an effort to gather developing countries behind a plan to end Russia’s war in Ukraine, despite Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky’s dismissal of the initiative as serving Moscow’s interests.
Seventeen countries attended a meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly chaired by China’s foreign minister, Wang Yi, and Brazilian foreign policy adviser Celso Amorim.
Mr Wang told reporters they discussed the need to prevent escalation in the war, avoid the use of weapons of mass destruction and prevent attacks on nuclear power plants.
“Russia and Ukraine are neighbors that cannot be moved away from each other and amity is the only realistic option,” Mr Wang said, adding that the international community should support a peace conference involving both Russia and Ukraine.
Orban pushes back on aide’s comment that Hungary wouldn’t have fought a Russian invasion
05:05 , Tom Watling
Orbán pushes back on aide's comment that Hungary wouldn't have fought a Russian invasion
The US is giving Ukraine billions more in weapons. Here's how they will help
04:00 , Tom Watling
The US is giving Ukraine billions more in weapons. Here's how they will help
The Russian glide bombs changing the face of the war in Ukraine
03:00 , Tom Watling
The Russian glide bombs changing the face of the war in Ukraine
A Ukrainian author turned soldier has a stark warning for the West: ‘Be prepared for war with Russia’
02:00 , Tom Watling
Ukrainian author and soldier warns the West: ‘War is coming to you’
Putin’s fall is inevitable, says freed prisoner Vladimir Kara Murza
01:00 , Tom Watling
The fall of Putin is inevitable, says freed dissident Vladimir Kara Murza
Zelensky urges world leaders to stand with Ukraine in address to UN
Saturday 28 September 2024 00:00 , Tom Watling
Zelensky urges world leaders to stand with Ukraine as he presents victory plan to UN
Russia has secret war drone project in China, report alleges
Friday 27 September 2024 23:00 , Tom Watling
Russia has secret war drone project in China, report alleges
I’ve witnessed the horrific cost of Putin’s war – as casualties hit 1m
Friday 27 September 2024 22:02 , Tom Watling
I’ve witnessed first-hand the horrific cost of Putin’s war – as casualties hit 1m
Mapped: Ukraine’s incursion into the Russian Kursk region explained
Friday 27 September 2024 21:01 , Tom Watling
Mapped: Ukraine’s incursion into the Russian Kursk region explained
Vladimir Kara-Murza: How I survived 11 months in Putin’s gulag
Friday 27 September 2024 20:01 , Tom Watling
Vladimir Kara-Murza: How I survived 11 months of torture in Putin’s gulag
Orbán pushes back on aide's comment that Hungary wouldn't have fought a Russian invasion
Friday 27 September 2024 19:03 , Tom Watling
Orbán pushes back on aide's comment that Hungary wouldn't have fought a Russian invasion
Ukraine will fight street to street to keep Russia out of key city
Friday 27 September 2024 17:59 , Tom Watling
Ukraine will fight street to street to keep Russia out of key eastern city
New British leader vows his nation will reengage on global leadership
Friday 27 September 2024 17:02 , Tom Watling
New British leader vows his nation will reengage on global leadership
The US is giving Ukraine billions more in weapons. Here's how they will help
Friday 27 September 2024 16:01 , Tom Watling
The US is giving Ukraine billions more in weapons. Here's how they will help
Trump meets Zelensky in New York - in pictures
Friday 27 September 2024 15:42 , Tom Watling
Trump and Zelensky meet in New York amid rising questions about US support for Ukraine
Friday 27 September 2024 15:26 , Tom Watling
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has arrived for a meeting with Donald Trump as public tensions have been rising between the two over Ukraine‘s defense against Russia’s invasion.
“I think we have a common view that the war in Ukraine has to be stopped and Putin can’t win,” Zelensky said, referring to Russian president Vladimir Putin.
After arriving together at a conference room on Friday, Trump said “the fact that we’re even together today is a very good sign.”
But the meeting turned awkward when Mr Trump said he and Mr Zelensky had a “very good relationship” before adding: “I also have a very good relationship with President Putin.”
Mr Zelensky said in response: “I hope we have a better relationship.”
The visit is taking place at Trump Tower in New York, a day after Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump’s Democratic opponent, met with the Ukrainian leader and expressed unwavering support.
The meeting is highly anticipated and comes as Election Day nears, with Trump and Harris taking sharply different positions on backing Ukraine in the third year of its war with Russia.
Trump has in recent days praised Russia’s historic military victories and insisted the US needs “to get out” and end its involvement with Ukraine.
Donald Trump about Zelenskyy: We have a good relationship... And I also have a good relationship with president Putin.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy: I hope we have a better relationship. pic.twitter.com/1QiD9JAVgy— Ostap Yarysh (@OstapYarysh) September 27, 2024
Nato to set up northern land command in eastern Finland
Friday 27 September 2024 15:03 , Tom Watling
Nato will set up a new land command in Finland near the Russian border next year, tasked with leading the alliance’s land force operations in northern Europe in the event of a military conflict, the Finnish defence minister has announced.
Finland joined the Nato alliance last year, in response to neighbouring Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine that began in 2022, and is organising the alliance’s presence on its territory.
“This morning, I have decided that we will propose to Nato to establish the command in conjunction with the Army Headquarters in Mikkeli,” said the minister, Antti Hakkanen, following up on his June announcement that all Nato member states had given their political consent for the plan.
The centre, which Nato calls Multi Corps Land Component Command, will operate under the alliance’s US-based Norfolk Joint Force Command and jointly with Finland’s own land force command that is already located in Mikkeli, about two hour’s drive from the Finnish-Russian border.
Hakkanen, speaking at a news conference, said the unit would initially have an annual budget of 8.5 million euros (£7.1 million) and consist of a few dozen international officials.
EU concerned by report of Russia producing attack drones in China
Friday 27 September 2024 14:41 , Tom Watling
A report that Russia is developing a China-backed attack drone programme for the war in Ukraine is “deeply concerning”, a European Union spokesperson said on Friday.
Reuters reported on Wednesday that IEMZ Kupol, a subsidiary of Russian state-owned arms company Almaz-Antey, has developed and flight-tested a new drone model called Garpiya-3 (G3) in China with the help of local specialists.
It cited two sources from a European intelligence agency and reviewed documents about the programme.
“We have noted the deeply concerning reports alleging that Russia is developing attack drones in China for the use in its war of aggression against Ukraine,” said Nabila Massrali, a spokesperson for the EU’s diplomatic service.
“If these reports are accurate, this would mean that Chinese companies are providing Russia with lethal assistance,” she added.
“It would go against China’s official narrative that it does not provide lethal weapons to support Russia in its war of aggression against Ukraine and therefore we expect the allegations to be thoroughly and immediately examined and addressed by the Chinese authorities.”
The EU has repeatedly urged all countries, including China, not to provide material or other support for Russia’s war against Ukraine, Massrali said.
China’s foreign ministry has told Reuters it was not aware of the project, adding that Beijing had strict control measures on the export of drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
Russia hits Zelensky’s hometown of Kryvyi Rih
Friday 27 September 2024 14:06 , Tom Watling
Biden and Harris meet with Zelensky after Trump snubs Ukrainian leader
Friday 27 September 2024 13:41 , Tom Watling
Biden and Harris both meet with Zelensky after Trump snubs Ukrainian leader
UPD: Russian missile kills one, damages buildings in central Ukrainian city
Friday 27 September 2024 13:09 , Tom Watling
A Russian missile attack on the central Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih struck a five-storey building housing the regional police department on Friday, killing at least one person and injuring five others, officials said.
Several people are feared buried under the rubble, officials said.
The body of a woman was found under the rubble, the regional governor Serhiy Lysak later said on the Telegram messaging app.
He added that 23 private houses, three apartment blocks and an educational facility had been damaged in the attack.
Ukraine‘s emergency services said the attack had partially destroyed the building housing the police directorate for the Dnipropetrovsk region.
Orbán pushes back on aide's comment that Hungary wouldn't have fought a Russian invasion
Friday 27 September 2024 12:32 , Tom Watling
Orbán pushes back on aide's comment that Hungary wouldn't have fought a Russian invasion
Russia takes control of village in eastern Ukraine, says defence ministry
Friday 27 September 2024 12:01 , Tom Watling
Russia has claimed that its forces have taken control of the village of Marynivka in Ukraine‘s eastern Donetsk region.
Russian forces have in recent weeks accelerated their progress in Donetsk, taking a series of towns and villages.
The Independent could not independently confirm the battlefield report.
Biden to host Ukraine defence group next month
Friday 27 September 2024 11:29 , Tom Watling
US president Joe Biden is set to host a Ukraine defence group in Germany next month following talks with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky.
The Ukraine Defence Contact Group will take place on 12 October in Germany and bring together international partners to coordinate additional assistance for Ukraine.
The White House said in a statement that “President Biden is determined to provide Ukraine with the support it needs to win”.
Putin’s fall is inevitable, says freed prisoner Vladimir Kara Murza
Friday 27 September 2024 10:54 , Tom Watling
The fall of Putin is inevitable, says freed dissident Vladimir Kara Murza
Ukraine will fight street to street to keep Russia out of key city
Friday 27 September 2024 10:29 , Tom Watling
Ukraine will fight street to street to keep Russia out of key eastern city
We have some pictures from Izmail after Russia attack
Friday 27 September 2024 09:58 , Tom Watling
Earlier, we reported that a Russian drone attack on the southern town of Izmail in the Odesa region killed three people and injured 14, including three children.
Below, we have some pictures released by the local emergency services as they tackled the fires caused by the attack.
Russian attack on Ukraine's Kryvyi Rih strikes police department, national police says
Friday 27 September 2024 09:33 , Tom Watling
A Russian missile attack on the central Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih on Friday struck a local police department, Ukraine‘s national police said in a statement via the Telegram messaging app.
The police said the rescue operation was underway and that the attack dealt injuries to people without providing additional details.
The US is giving Ukraine billions more in weapons. Here's how they will help
Friday 27 September 2024 09:08 , Tom Watling
The US is giving Ukraine billions more in weapons. Here's how they will help
Russian attack on southern town of Izmail kills 3, injures 14
Friday 27 September 2024 08:48 , Tom Watling
A Russian drone attack on the southern town of Izmail killed three people and injured 14, including three children, Odesa regional prosecutors said on Friday.
The “large-scale terror attack” in the early hours of Friday caused several fires besides damaging homes, Odesa regional governor Oleh Kiper said on the Telegram messaging app.
Overnight Russian missile attack on the central city of Dnipro also damaged an industrial facility and caused a fire, Dnipropetrovsk regional governor Serhiy Lysak said on Telegram.
Drone and shelling attacks on the region damaged infrastructure, Lysak said, adding that no casualties had been reported in the attacks.
The Ukrainian air force said it shot down 24 out of 32 drones during Russia’s overnight attack on Telegram. One of the drones entered the Romanian air space, it said.
Russian forces also used one ballistic and two cruise missiles during the attack, the air force added.
Russian drone may have breached Romanian air space during overnight atack on Ukraine
Friday 27 September 2024 08:23 , Tom Watling
Romania’s national airspace was likely breached for under three minutes by a Russian drone during an overnight attack on neighbouring Ukraine, the defense ministry said on Friday.
NATO member Romania scrambled four fighter jets to monitor the attack from the air, the ministry said, adding military personnel were looking for potential fragments.
Photos from the frontline
Friday 27 September 2024 07:56 , Tom Watling
Russia attack on Odesa kills 3, injures 11
Friday 27 September 2024 07:30 , Arpan Rai
A Russian drone attack on the southern town of Izmail killed three people and injured 11, including a child, authorities in the region of Odesa said this morning.
The “large-scale terror attack” in the early hours today also caused several fires besides damaging homes, Odesa regional governor Oleh Kiper said on his Telegram channel.
The US is giving Ukraine billions more in weapons. Here's how they will help
Friday 27 September 2024 07:11 , Arpan Rai
The Biden administration’s latest infusion of more than $2.7bn in military aid for Ukraine and the promise of billions more will give Kyiv a massive boost in air defences, but much of the aid is in long-range contracts for weapons that won’t be seen on the battlefield for some time.
Included in a $2.4bn long-term assistance package announced yesterday — just before meetings between Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky and president Joe Biden and vice president Kamala Harris — is another Patriot missile battery and additional munitions for the system.
The US is giving Ukraine billions more in weapons. Here's how they will help
