Ukraine-Russia war latest: Zelensky says he will discuss long-range missiles with Trump ‘for sake of peace’

President Volodymyr Zelensky has said he believes that Russian leader Vladimir Putin can be forced to make peace in Ukraine.

Speaking at the Nato Parliamentary Assembly, Zelensky said that the war in Ukraine remains the biggest source of global instability despite the end of the conflict in Gaza.

“Putin can be forced to make peace – like any other terrorist. Even Hamas is now preparing to release hostages. If this is possible, then Putin can also be forced to restore peace,” Zelensky said.

He went on: “Before winter, Putin hopes to use this terror to break our resistance regime. We cannot allow this.”

For Juliet Grover, the daughter of a Jewish refugee who escaped the Nazis, the decision to become a host was personal. She signed up to the “Homes for Ukraine” scheme as soon as the war began in February 2022, firmly believing that providing refuge to those in need was important.

Yet immediately she says she was struck by the difficulties facing host families, with little to zero information and advice given by the UK government.

Around 30,000 people across three districts are without power after Russian forces attacked Kharkiv with guided bombs, local officials said.

Regional governor Oleh Syniehubov said Russian forces used guided bombs to attack Nemyshlianskyi and Slobidskyi districts in the southeast and Shevchenkivskyi district in the north of the city.

Mayor Ihor Terekhov, interviewed on local television, said the three bombs damaged a hospital and hit power transmission lines. Nearly 30,000 customers had been hit by power cuts.

He said four people had been injured, most by flying glass, with some patients being transferred to different wards.

“Unfortunately, the hospital was quite badly damaged and there were patients inside. Four people were injured to various degrees and about 200 windows were smashed,” Terekhov said.

“Attacks are generally on energy targets – generation transmission, the power network. The aim is to have the power transmission network stop working,” he said.

US president Donald Trump reiterated his belief that Turkish president Rcep Tayyip Erdogan could play a pivotal role in ending the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

“He’s respected by Russia. Ukraine – I can’t tell you about. But he is respected by (Vladimir) Putin, and he’s a friend of mine,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One.

On being asked if Erdogan particularly could help in the war between Russia and Ukraine, Trump said: “Yeah, Erdogan can”.

Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky said he will be meeting the US president Donald Trump on Friday, when the two will discuss long-range missile capabilities to pressure Russia.

Announcing the departure of the Ukrainian delegation, Zelensky said: “I will also have the opportunity to come to Washington and meet with president Trump on Friday. I believe we will discuss a series of steps that I intend to propose. I am grateful to president Trump for our dialogue and his support.”

He said the long-range missile capabilities will be discussed to exert pressure on Moscow “for the sake of peace”.

“I will also meet with energy companies. This is necessary – it was President Trump’s proposal – and I will meet with these companies because there are pressing needs linked to various formats of attacks, not even the attacks that Russia has already carried out. In any case, we must be prepared. So, it will be helpful. Therefore, the main focus of the visit is air defence and our long-range capabilities aimed at exerting pressure on Russia for the sake of peace,” he said.

“Yeah, I might tell him (Putin), if the war is not settled, we may very well do it,” Trump said.

“We may not, but we may do it… do they want to have Tomahawks going in their direction? I don’t think so.”

Medvedev, an arch-hawk who has repeatedly goaded Trump on social media, said it is impossible to distinguish between Tomahawk missiles carrying nuclear warheads and conventional ones after they are launched – a point that president Vladimir Putin‘s spokesperson has also made.

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas said Europe is ready to further support Ukraine amid intensifying attacks from Russia.

The former Estonian prime minister met with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday, later stating that “new measures are in the works”.

The “significant threat” posed by Chinese and Russian hackers has contributed to a record number of serious online attacks, the UK’s cyber security agency has warned.

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), which is part of the GCHQ intelligence agency, recorded a 50% increase in “highly significant” incidents in the year to the end of August.

The attacks on household names including Marks and Spencer, Co-op and Jaguar Land Rover have shown the real world impact of cyberattacks, the NCSC said.

Russia attacked Kharkiv with guided bombs on Monday, shutting off power to nearly 30,000 customers across three districts, according to Reuters.

The mayor of Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, said four people were injured as three guided bombs damaged a hospital and struck a power transmission line.

He said: “Unfortunately, the hospital was quite badly damaged and there were patients inside. Four people were injured to various degrees and about 200 windows were smashed.

“Attacks are generally on energy targets – generation transmission, the power network. The aim is to have the power transmission network stop working.”

Russia’s defence ministry announced earlier on Monday that its forces have taken control of two villages in eastern Ukraine. According to a statement posted on the ministry’s Telegram channel, troops captured Borivska Andriyivka in the Kharkiv region.

The ministry also reported the seizure of Kulykivske in the neighbouring Donetsk region.