Russia<\/a>\u2019s defence ministry has announced it is preparing \u201cmassive strikes\u201d on Ukraine\u2019s energy infrastructure in retaliation for a drone campaign by Kyiv<\/a> attacking warehouses and oil and gas facilities. <\/p>\n Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the move would be an \u201cappropriate response\u201d to Ukraine\u2019s \u201cpath of escalation\u201d and said that Moscow had been \u201cfairly systematic\u201d in attacking Kyiv\u2019s military infrastructure. <\/p>\n Ukraine has targeted online retailers Wildberries – often referred to as Russia\u2019s Amazon – and Ozon, accusing the companies of selling goods that have aided the military, claims that they deny.<\/p>\n This comes as a missile attack killed two people and injured 16 in the city of Belgorod close to \u2060the Russian border with Ukraine, acting governor Alexander Shuvayev said.<\/p>\n Sunday’s deaths followed Ukraine’s hit on a commercial facility, which also set ablaze seven warehouses in the city, he added.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, CIA<\/a> director John Ratcliffe is reported to have floated a trilateral meeting between Vladimir Putin<\/a>, Volodymyr Zelensky<\/a>, and Donald Trump<\/a> during his mysterious visit to<\/a> Moscow, according to two sources briefed on the matter cited by Axios. <\/p>\n Talks between Ukraine and Russia were paused in February when the US invaded Iran, and little progress has been made since.<\/p>\n <\/a>Zelensky to speak to Trump envoys as Russia prepares ‘massive strikes’<\/p>\n We are preparing for new communication with envoys of the U.S. President. More details will follow tomorrow. We are doing everything to ensure that war doesn\u2019t remain the only option for what comes next.<\/p>\n Importantly, America shares many of our views on the situation both on the\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/4TNipFXh2U<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Volodymyr Zelenskyy \/ \u0412\u043e\u043b\u043e\u0434\u0438\u043c\u0438\u0440 \u0417\u0435\u043b\u0435\u043d\u0441\u044c\u043a\u0438\u0439 (@ZelenskyyUa) August 30, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Harriette Boucher31 August 2026 08:00<\/p>\n <\/a>Ukraine’s new defence chief seeks to close $27bn funding gap<\/p>\n Ukraine\u2019s new defence minister Yevhen Khmara said the ministry has options for closing the $27bn funding gap he inherited from his predecessor, including seeking more contributions from allies.<\/p>\n Khmara made the remarks at his first briefing with reporters since taking the post Saturday.<\/p>\n His appointment followed weeks of protests after Mykhailo Fedorov’s dismissal that sparked a military reset in Kyiv and culminated in a video in which Fedorov called for a new presidential election.<\/p>\n Khmara’s comments were released for publication on Sunday.<\/p>\n Khmara, a former special forces officer, takes over as Kyiv’s war effort faces mounting financial pressures.<\/p>\n He said a priority will be avoiding battlefield shortages while ensuring soldiers are paid and other essential needs are met.<\/p>\n The ministry is considering bringing forward part of a \u20ac90bn (\u00a376.9bn) European loan planned for next year, and has identified partners for separate talks on financing specific defense needs, he said.<\/p>\n \u201cUkraine will show its partners a clear vision and a clear plan,\u201d he vowed, adding he planned to preserve much of the existing ministry team. <\/p>\n Arpan Rai31 August 2026 07:15<\/p>\n <\/a>Watch: Moment Putin launches nuclear-capable missile in warning to WestMoment Putin launches nuclear-capable missile in warning to West<\/p>\n Arpan Rai31 August 2026 07:00<\/p>\n <\/a>Navy tracks Russian warships in English Channel during \u2018intense\u2019 operation<\/p>\n Russian warships have been tracked by the Navy<\/a> through UK waters in an \u201cintense\u201d 72-hour operation.<\/p>\n A task group was shadowed by Type 45 destroyer HMS Duncan, Type 23 frigate HMS St Albans and patrol vessel HMS Severn as it made its way from the North Sea through the English Channel<\/a>.<\/p>\n Russian destroyer Admiral Levchenko was watched escorting sanctioned cargo vessels General Skobelev and Sparta, with a Merlin helicopter extending the UK\u2019s surveillance as the ships approached the Strait of Dover.<\/p>\n In response to the tracking, Russia deployed other military resources including the Neustrashimy frigate to guard the illegal shipment, UK officials said.<\/p>\n First Sea Lord General Sir Gwyn Jenkins said there was \u201cno room for complacency\u201d as shadow fleet vessels continue to pose \u201can unacceptable risk\u201d to maritime security and the environment.<\/p>\n \u201cAlongside our allies, this approach is forcing Moscow to divert Russian warships away from their core purpose. That is because Russia knows we stand ready to act again, should it be required,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Arpan Rai31 August 2026 06:37<\/p>\n <\/a>CIA director proposed summit between Trump, Putin and Zelensky<\/p>\n The director of the CIA had proposed a meeting between the leaders of Russia, Ukraine, and the US when he visited Moscow, sources say.<\/p>\n During his secret meeting with Russian officials, CIA director John Ratcliffe had floated a summit with Vladimir Putin, Volodymyr Zelensky, and Donald Trump, Axios reported.<\/p>\n It comes after talks between Ukraine and Russia were paused in February, when the US invaded Iran.<\/p>\n The US has held talks with negotiators from both sides in recent months, but little progress has been made.<\/p>\n Kyrylo Budanov, Ukraine\u2019s head of office, said this week that talks with Russia could resume in September.<\/p>\n Ratcliffe\u2019s visit to Moscow on Tuesday, which was not announced in advance, has sparked much speculation.<\/p>\n President Trump played down the visit, saying it was \u201csemi-routine\u201d.<\/p>\n Arpan Rai31 August 2026 06:35<\/p>\n <\/a>Nato sees no imminent threat of attack, official says<\/p>\n A Nato official has said that Russia is stepping up hybrid acts in Europe, but that at this time the alliance sees no imminent threat of attack.<\/p>\n “Even as the Russians are facing very substantial resistance from Ukraine, they are stepping up attacks on Ukraine as well as hybrid acts in Europe,” the official said on Sunday.<\/p>\n “As always, Nato remains vigilant and alert to the variety of threats we face. At this time, we see no imminent threat of attack,” the official said, adding: “We continue to stand with Ukraine. And Nato continues to work around the clock to keep our one billion people safe”.<\/p>\n CIA Director John Ratcliffe flew to Russia on Tuesday to meet briefly with intelligence counterparts.<\/p>\n Two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters that Ratcliffe brought \u200cup \u2060the possibility of a Russian operation against a Nato member during that meeting, though it was unclear if that was the sole purpose of the trip.<\/p>\n On Saturday Poland\u2019s prime minister Donald Tusk said that Nato must be prepared for various scenarios and that a provocation against an alliance member could not be ruled out.<\/p>\n The Kremlin had called the reports \u201cscare-stories\u201d earlier in the week.<\/p>\n Arpan Rai31 August 2026 06:32<\/p>\n <\/a>Two killed in missile attack on Russia’s Belgorod<\/p>\n A missile attack killed two people and injured 16 in the city of Belgorod close to \u2060the Russian border with Ukraine, acting governor Alexander Shuvayev said.<\/p>\n Sunday’s deaths followed Ukraine’s hit on a commercial facility, which also set ablaze seven warehouses in the city, he added.<\/p>\n Russian online retailer Ozon said on Telegram that a logistics \u2060hub and a sorting facility in Belgorod \u200balso \u2060came under attack, triggering \u200ca fire and injuring people.<\/p>\n It was not immediately clear whether Shuvayev and Ozon were referring to the same facilities.<\/p>\n Arpan Rai31 August 2026 06:09<\/p>\n <\/a>Russia vows \u2018massive strikes\u2019 against Ukraine’s energy sector<\/p>\n Russia\u2019s defence ministry in Moscow said yesterday it is preparing “massive strikes\u201d on Ukraine\u2019s energy infrastructure.<\/p>\n It described the planned strikes as retaliation for Kyiv’s drone campaign against Russian online retailers Wildberries and Ozon, as well as the country’s oil and gas sector.<\/p>\n Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said large-scale strikes against Ukraine’s energy sector would be \u201can appropriate response\u201d to what he called Ukraine\u2019s \u201cpath of escalation\u201d and targeting of Russia\u2019s civilian economy.<\/p>\n Peskov told Russian state TV that Moscow has been launching \u201cfairly systematic\u201d strikes on what he called Kyiv’s military and war-related infrastructure. <\/p>\n During the war\u2019s previous winters, Russia systematically battered Ukraine\u2019s power grid, depriving thousands of heat and light.<\/p>\n Ukrainian officials have repeatedly warned that the coming winter may prove to be the most challenging since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022.<\/p>\n Arpan Rai31 August 2026 04:33<\/p>\n\n
![\"Ukraine's](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/2291309742...jpeg\")
Ukraine’s defence minister Yevgeniy Khmara talks to Britain’s prime minister Andy Burnham during a meeting with patients wounded in the war at the Main Military Hospital in Kyiv (Getty)<\/p>\n