Ukraine-Russia war latest: Moscow airports briefly shut after Russia claims it downed hundreds of drones

Key Points

• Moscow airports briefly shut after Russia claims it downed hundreds of drones
• Pope ready to host Ukraine peace talks, says Italian PM
• Putin visits Kursk after claiming his troops expelled Ukrainian forces
• Britain announces fresh sanctions against Russia
• Ukrainian ex-politician shot dead in Madrid, sources say
• Trump refusing sanctions on Putin over business opportunities – report

Moscow airports briefly shut after Russia claims it downed hundreds of drones

Airports in Moscow were briefly shut on Wednesday after Russia claimed it shot down hundreds of Ukrainian drones.

In a series of announcements, Russia's Defence Ministry said on Telegram that at least 376 Ukrainian drones were intercepted or destroyed on Wednesday.

Most were over Russia's western regions bordering Ukraine and central Russia. There were no reports of casualties.

The latest tally issued by the ministry said 77 drones were downed in the period from 8pm to 11.50pm

According to a separate count issued by Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, 27 drones were destroyed or intercepted en route to the capital.

The region's three major airports briefly halted flights twice during the day before resuming operations.

Passenger at Moscow Domodedovo airport in 2018 (Simon Calder)

‘This is what death feels like’: The terrifying reality of Ukraine’s landmine crisis

Dmytro Guzha was returning home with his wife Elena when he felt the explosion beneath his feet – and then nothing.

“After that, I didn’t hear or see anything at all,” the 49-year-old says. He regained consciousness a few minutes later and his focus turned to Elena.

“I was really worried about my wife because I saw her and she didn’t move. Then I wanted to try to get closer to her but I couldn’t because my leg didn’t move.” That was the result of the explosion that had ripped through his lower half.

Trump says Putin call went ‘very well’ and suggests talks between Russia and Ukraine will start ‘immediately’

Moscow and Kyiv will “immediately” begin ceasefire talks with the aim of bringing an end to the war, US President Donald Trump claims as he divulged details of his phone calls with leaders of the two nations on Monday.

Who is Andriy Portnov, the ex-Ukrainian politician killed in Spain?

Andriy Portnov, 51, was gunned down on Wednesday morning outside the gates of the American School in Madrid's affluent neighbourhood of Pozuelo.

Read below about who the figure was and why he is so controversial in Ukraine.

Finland completes first 35 km of fence on Russian border

Finland has completed the first 35 km (22 miles) of a 4.5-metre (15-ft) high fence it is building on its closed eastern border with Russia to stop migrants from crossing via the wilderness, the Finnish Border Guard said on Wednesday.

Finland began constructing the fence, which will eventually cover 200 km (124 miles) of the border's total 1,344 km (835 miles) length, last year in response to migration via Russia through the border in 2023, which it believes was deliberately orchestrated by Moscow.

"The main purpose of the fence is to control a large mass of people if they are trying to enter from Russia to Finland," the deputy commander of Southeast Finland Border Guard District, Antti Virta, told Reuters.

Zelensky talks to Nato chief about pressuring Russia on ceasefire

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has held a conversation with Nato chief Mark Rutte.

The pair discussed how to keep up pressure on Russia to broker a ceasefire.

You can see a handout from the call below.

Russia’s new sanctions explained: Ukraine’s allies target Moscow as peace talks stall

Kyiv's European allies slapped new sanctions Tuesday on Moscow, a day after a phone call between US president Donald Trump and Russian president Vladimir Putin failed to produce a breakthrough on ending the 3-year-old war in Ukraine.

We have the latest below.

Mapped: Russia makes advances in eastern Ukraine

Russian forces have made small gains in Ukraine’s eastern region of Donetsk.

See below for the latest.

Who is Andriy Portnov? Former Ukrainian politician killed on school run in Spain

We have an explainer on who exactly is Andriy Portnov, the former Ukrainian politician who was killed this morning in Madrid.

Read the piece below.

Putin makes shock nuclear plant visit in Kursk after Ukrainian troops ejected

Below, we have footage of Russian president Vladimir Putin’s visit to a factory in the Kursk region, on the border with Ukraine.

UK and allies warn of Russian cyber activity targeting support to Ukraine

Britain and allies, including the United States, have issued an advisory on Wednesday, warning of a Russian state-sponsored cyber campaign targeting the delivery of support to Ukraine and Western logistics entities and technology companies.

“This malicious campaign by Russia's military intelligence service presents a serious risk to targeted organisations, including those involved in the delivery of assistance to Ukraine,” Paul Chichester, Director of Operations at Britain's National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), said.

EU, Germany in talks with all US players on Russia sanctions - spokesperson

Germany and the European Union are in talks with all concerned parties in the United States on new sanctions against Russia over Moscow's war in Ukraine, a German government spokesperson said on Wednesday.

“I cannot comment on these internal American debates, but rest assured that Europe and the (German) federal government are also talking to all the players in the USA,” the spokesperson said at a regular government press conference.

North Korean defectors urge the UN to hold the country's leader accountable for rights abuses

Two Moscow's airports suspend flights, Russian aviation watchdog says

Moscow's Domodedovo and Zhukovsky airports have temporarily halted flight arrivals and departures, Russia's aviation watchdog Rosaviatsia said on Wednesday via its channel in Telegram, without specifying the reasons.

Russia denies stalling peace talks, says no decision yet on venue

Russia on Wednesday rejected Ukrainian and European accusations it was trying to drag out the peace process around Ukraine, but said that no decision had yet been made on a venue for talks when asked if they could be hosted by the Vatican.

US President Donald Trump said on Monday “it would be great” for Russia and Ukraine to hold ceasefire talks at the Vatican, saying it would add extra significance to the proceedings.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Tuesday that Pope Leo had confirmed to her that he was willing to host the next round of negotiations.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia welcomed “the readiness and efforts of all parties who want to contribute to a speedy settlement”, but nothing had been decided yet about where the next meeting should be held.

Moscow had not received any specific proposals from the Vatican, he said.

The warring sides met in Istanbul last week for their first face-to-face negotiations since March 2022 and agreed a swap of 1,000 prisoners on each side, but Russia did not agree to an immediate, unconditional ceasefire that Ukraine was seeking.

President Vladimir Putin spoke by phone to Trump on Monday and said Russia and Ukraine would work on a memorandum relating to a peace accord, prompting new accusations from Kyiv and European governments that Moscow was stalling and had no serious interest in peace.

Peskov rejected that. “Nobody is interested in delaying the process. Everyone is working dynamically. We will keep you informed. Of course, most of this work is being done in a discrete mode, and it should not, for obvious reasons, be open to the public,” he said.

Mapped: Former Ukrainian politician shot dead in Madrid

Moscow mayor says air defences downed three approaching drones

Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin said on Wednesday that air defence systems had downed three drones en route to Russia's capital.

“The Defence Ministry's air defence forces repelled an attack by three drones flying towards Moscow. Emergency services specialists are working at the site where the debris fell,” he said on Telegram.

Russia's defence ministry said on Wednesday that air defense shot down 159 Ukrainian drones over Russian regions, and at least six were shot down over the Moscow region, which has a population of over 20 million.

Putin addresses Russia Ukraine ceasefire hopes after phone call with Trump

Ukraine calls for improved sanctions enforcement

Ukraine has called for its backers to focus on enforcing sanctions against those who aid Russian efforts to avoid penalties.

Andriy Sybiha, the country’s foreign minister, wrote on X: “From now on, individuals and entities who assist such activities face the threat of sanctions themselves. The EU no longer needs to prove that a specific Russian oligarch should be sanctioned, but rather that oligarchs must prove the opposite.”

You can read his full statement below.

Ukrainian ex-politician shot dead outside Madrid's American school, source says

An unidentified gunman or gunmen shot and killed former Ukrainian politician Andriy Portnov on Wednesday morning outside the gates of the American School in Madrid's affluent neighbourhood of Pozuelo, a source close to the investigation said.

Police received the call about the shooting at 9.15 am (0715 GMT) local time, the Madrid police told Reuters, without identifying the victim.

Radio station Cadena SER said the man was taking his children to the school when he was shot.

Portnov was a senior aide to Ukraine's former President Viktor Yanukovich who was ousted in 2014.

Putin will never agree to reasonable peace terms, says Trump’s former Ukraine advisor

Donald Trump must “ratchet up pressure on Russia’s finances” if he is to have any chance of getting Vladimir Putin to agree to a ceasefire, the US president’s former Ukraine envoy has told The Independent.

Kurt Volker, who served as US Special Representative for Ukraine Negotiations from 2017 to 2019, says he believes Putin shows no sign of agreeing to a deal despite Trump’s demands.

Trump has vowed to slap further sanctions on Russia should Putin refuse to end the war, but, thus far, those threats have proved empty.

“I think [negotiations to end the war] will drag out for many more months. Putin does not want to do a ceasefire now, and will never agree to any reasonable peace terms,” says Mr Volker.

“So we have to ratchet up pressure on Russia’s finances, and maybe sometime this fall there will be a chance to get a ceasefire.”

Last week, Trump claimed that only a direct meeting between himself and Putin could lead to an end to the war, but nothing substantive came of a subsequent, two-hour phone call earlier this week.

The UK and the European Union announced additional sanctions on Russia this week following further objections from the Kremlin to a peace deal. The US, however, declined to join the efforts.

Former US special envoy to Ukraine Kurt Volker says Trump must 'ratchet up' financial pressure on Russia (REUTERS)

‘This is what death feels like’: The terrifying reality of Ukraine’s landmine crisis

Trump administration continues to object to G7 statement on Ukraine

Donald Trump’s administration has renewed its objections to a joint Group of Seven statement condemning Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, sources have claimed.

Politico reports that the US is opposing including the phrase “further support” for Ukraine, in a G7 statement being drawn up by finance ministers in Canada, who hold the group’s presidency this year. The publication cited two officials involved in the negotiations.

The sources added that Washington is also reluctant to describe Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as “illegal”.

Trump’s administration opposed a previous attempt by the G7, intended to be published on the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion, to issue a statement describing Moscow as the aggressor.

Trump’s negotiations with Putin mean Europe needs to prepare for a second cold war

In pictures: International soldiers on exercise in Ukraine's Kharkiv region

A foreign servicewoman of 13th Operative Purpose Brigade 'Khartiia' of the National Guard of Ukraine, from Colombia with the call sign 'Diamond', 23, attends an exercise, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kharkiv region (REUTERS)

(REUTERS)

(REUTERS)

Putin attends meeting in Kursk

Russian president Vladimir Putin has sat down with volunteers in Kursk in the wake of his forces largely ousting Ukrainian troops in the region.

Russia’s presidential service posted a picture of Putin’s meeting with volunteers.

(AP)

With little progress after phone calls and talks, Ukraine's allies hit Russia with new sanctions

Trump eyes foreign aid funds to remove migrants including Ukrainians who came to the US from war zones: report

The Trump administration is considering using foreign aid funds to remove migrants — including Ukrainians — who came to the US fleeing violence and returning them to active war zones, according to a report.

Hundreds of thousands of migrants, including those from Ukraine and Haiti, are being considered in the plans that would see the administration spend up to $250 million earmarked for foreign assistance, according to The Washington Post.

In draft documents obtained by the newspaper, Afghans, Palestinians, Libyans, Sudanese, Syrians and Yemenis could also be targeted in the administration’s voluntary deportation program. Afghans are likely to be the first group targeted with the voluntary packages, despite the risk they face at home from the Taliban, according to the Post.

Trump misjudged his influence on Putin, says German defence minister

US president Donald Trump misjudged his influence on Russian President Vladimir Putin, Germany's defence minister Boris Pistorious has said.

"I suspect he assessed his negotiating position incorrectly," Mr Pistorius told the Deutschlandfunk radio broadcaster yesterday, following Mr Trump's now-abandoned efforts to pressure Putin into accepting an unconditional 30-day ceasefire.

A phone call between the two leaders on Monday yielded no progress in Ukraine peace talks and has prompted Europe to announce new Russia sanctions.

The European Union is currently working on its next package of sanctions against Russia over the war in Ukraine. Mr Pistorius said it remained to be seen whether Washington would join those measures as talks continue via the usual diplomatic channels.

Russian missile attack kills six servicemen and injured 10

A Russian missile attack killed six servicemen and injured at least 10 more during training yesterday, Ukraine's national guard said in a statement this morning.

The national guard said an internal investigation was underway and the commander of the military unit had been suspended

Putin visits Kursk region for first time since ejecting Ukrainian forces

Russian president Vladimir Putin visited the Kursk region, the Kremlin said, announcing his visit for the first time since Russia claimed its forces ejected Ukrainian troops from the area.

The Kremlin said that Mr Putin met volunteer organisations in the region and visited the Kursk-II nuclear power plant.

File: Russian president Vladimir Putin meets soldiers during a visit at a military training centre outside the town of Ryazan (Sputnik/AFP via Getty Images)

Ukraine attacks Moscow in overnight attacks as 159 drones downed

Russia's defence ministry said its air defences shot down 159 Ukrainian drones over Russian regions.

The majority were over Russia's western regions but at least six were shot down over the Moscow region, which has a population of over 20 million, the ministry said.

Zelensky says he and Merz discussed Ukraine’s post-war recovery

Volodymyr Zelensky has said he and German chancellor discussed matters surrounding Ukraine’s recovery after the war in a phone call yesterday.

The Ukrainian president said: “We must already be thinking about this and have a clear plan that can help bring genuine peace closer now and provide support later. We will work together to make it all happen. I am grateful for the support.”

Starmer speaks to Zelensky after announcing sanctions

Sir Keir Starmer has spoken to Volodymyr Zelensky after the UK announced 100 new sanctions on Russia in a bid to ramp up pressure on Vladimir Putin.

A Downing Street spokesperson said: “The prime minister spoke to president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, this evening.

“The leaders began by reflecting on their meeting in Tirana, Albania, on Friday before discussing the UK’s latest package of sanctions on Russian military, energy and financial sectors announced today.

“It was vital to keep the pressure on Russia while they continued their illegal invasion of Ukraine, the leaders agreed.

“Looking ahead to further peace talks, the Prime Minister reiterated the UK’s support for Ukraine and said he was steadfast in his commitment to helping Ukraine secure a just and lasting peace.

“The leaders agreed to stay in close touch.”

Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer and Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky speak during the family photo at the European Political Community Summit in Tirana (PA Wire)

Russia outlaws Amnesty International in latest crackdown on opposition

Russia has outlawed Amnesty International, designating it an "undesirable organisation" and criminalising involvement with the human rights group in the country.

This move, announced on Monday by the Russian Prosecutor General’s office, further intensifies the Kremlin’s crackdown on dissent, which has escalated dramatically since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

The ban effectively shuts down Amnesty’s operations within Russia and threatens anyone cooperating with or supporting the organisation with prosecution.

Albert Toth reports:

Trump will ‘do a runner’ from peace efforts, ex-defence secretary says

Donald Trump will “do a runner” from brokering peace in Ukraine soon, a former British defence secretary has said.

Former Tory MP Ben Wallace told Times Radio: “I’m not very hopeful, I’m afraid. Throughout this Donald Trump has consistently let Putin off the hook”, despite repeatedly threatening tougher sanctions.

“The reality is Donald Trump has no interest. It’s one of the deals that he will move on from – most of his career in business has been about ‘make a deal and do a runner before it actually unravels’. I think that’s what we’re going to see,” he added.

Laying the blame for the millions of people killed, injured and displaced in the war solely at Mr Putin’s feet, he said: “Donald Trump seems to think spending a lots of time on the telephone to him and being constantly humiliated by him – when he just refuses to do anything that Trump requests – is somehow the way to proceed and let’s move on to a trade deal.”

Mr Wallace, who was defence secretary for the first 18 months of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, added: “No doubt there’ll be a golf resort somewhere near St Petersburg, I suspect, soon.”

Sir Ben Wallace (PA Wire)

Former Ukrainian politician shot dead dropping off his children outside American school in Madrid

Spain’s interior ministry confirmed Andriy Portnov, 51, a senior aide to Ukraine’s former president Viktor Yanukovych, died after he was shot taking his children to school in the affluent neighbourhood of Pozuelo at 9.15am (8.15 UK time) local time.

Trump refusing sanctions on Putin over business opportunities – report

US president Donald Trump is refusing to impose sanctions on Russia over concerns of future business and trade opportunities being impacted, a White House official has said.

Imposing sanctions could impede Mr Trump's goal of "maximising economic opportunities for Americans,” a White House official familiar with the call between Mr Trump and Russian president Vladimir Putin told the New York Times.

Shortly after his call with Mr Putin, the US president took to Truth Social and said a peace deal would be a "tremendous opportunity for Russia to create massive amounts of jobs and wealth. Its potential is UNLIMITED”.

"Likewise, Ukraine can be a great beneficiary on Trade, in the process of rebuilding its country," he added.

President Donald Trump speaks during a Kennedy Center board dinner in the State Dining Room at the White House (AP)

Trump’s calls with Putin are worth nothing – no matter how much the US president enjoys them

Vladimir Putin was quick on the draw with an announcement that said nothing after his two-hour phone call with Donald Trump, as the Russian president grabbed the narrative before the Oval Office had figured out what the story even was.

The call, the White House hoped, would show how much influence the US president had in the Kremlin. But they were sorely disappointed. Instead it showed that it is, again, Putin who pulls the strings.

"We have agreed with the president of the United States that Russia will propose and is ready to work with the Ukrainian side on a memorandum on a possible future peace accord, defining a number of positions, such as, for example, the principles of settlement, the timing of a possible peace agreement," Putin told reporters near the Black Sea resort of Sochi.

Pope ready to host Ukraine peace talks, says Italian PM

Pope Leo XIV has confirmed his willingness for the Vatican to host the next round of Ukraine peace talks, Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni said.

"Finding in the Holy Father confirmation of the readiness to host the next talks between the parties in the Vatican, the prime minister expressed deep gratitude (to) Pope Leo XIV for his unceasing commitment to peace," a statement from Ms Meloni's office said.

Ms Meloni's office said she welcomed remarks from US president Donald Trump that Pope Leo had expressed an interest in hosting talks between Kyiv and Moscow, though the Vatican did not immediately confirm any such offer.

(AP)

Zelensky hails ‘important’ phone call with German chancellor Merz

Volodymyr Zelensky has said he and Friedrich Merz are “coordinating all our contacts and steps as closely as possible”, following an “important conversation” with the German chancellor today.

The Ukrainian president said: “I thanked him for his strong and constructive position on supporting Ukraine. We discussed our conversation yesterday with President Trump, as well as today’s talks with European leaders.

“We are coordinating all our contacts and steps as closely as possible. It is crucial to maintain unity among all partners and to seek solutions that can truly bring this war to an end with a just peace.”

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky and German chancellor Friedrich Merz shake hands during their meeting in Kyiv (AP)

Zelensky's top aide warns ‘status quo has not changed’ despite Trump-Putin call

Volodymyr Zelensky’s chief of staff has warned that, “unfortunately, following the Trump–Putin phone call, the status quo has not changed”.

Writing on social media, Mikhailo Podolyak warned that Russia “still seeks war, destruction, and killing – believing them to be the only means of preserving its current state,” accusing Moscow of being “unwilling and categorically refusing” to accept a ceasefire.

The chief presidential aide added: “There is also this obsessive search for the so-called ‘root causes of the war’, even though the only real cause is the simple fact of Russia’s unprovoked aggression.”

“Ukraine continues to offer the only realistic path out of the war – through an immediate and unconditional ceasefire – comprehensive, long-term, and binding,” said Mr Podolyak.

“The United States remains a global mediator – still assuming that Russia is capable of negotiating and willing to end the war for the sake of business or strategic interests,” he added.

Britain announces fresh sanctions against Russia

The UK has announced 100 new sanctions against Russia, targeting multiple ways in which Moscow supports its war in Ukraine.

The sanctions target “entities supporting Russia’s military machine, energy exports and information war, as well as financial institutions helping to fund Putin’s invasion of Ukraine”, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office said in a statement.

The UK has said its new raft of sanctions will “protect Ukrainian lives, and our collective security by disrupting Russia’s military machine”.

According to the Foreign Office, the new measures sanction the supply chains of deadly Russian weapons systems, including the Iskander missiles used in the Palm Sunday attack on Sumy which killed 34 people.

They also target 46 financial institutions accused of aiding Russian attempts to evade sanctions, as well as the St Petersburg Currency Exchange, and the Russian Deposit Insurance Agency which insures Russian banks.

“These new sanctions will further isolate the Russian economy and disrupt Russia’s revenue streams,” the Foreign Office said.

The UK is also sanctioning 18 more ships in the so-called “shadow fleet” carrying Russian oil, along with the fleet’s enablers, the Foreign Office said, in a move which follows 110 shadow fleet-related sanctions previously announced by Sir Keir Starmer ahead of his visit to Kyiv earlier this month.

Britain is also levelling sanctions against 14 further members of Russia’s Social Design Agency across all levels of the organisation, which the Foreign Office accused of carrying out Kremlin-funded information operations “designed to undermine sovereignty, democracy, and the rule of law in Ukraine and across the world”.

Zelensky accuses Putin of trying to ‘buy time’ to continue Russia’s war

Vladimir Putin is “trying to buy time” to continue his war in Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky has warned.

Writing on social media after a phone call with his Finnish counterpart, in which they discussed Donald Trump’s phone call with Mr Putin, the Ukrainian president said that “diplomacy aimed at peace must be well-coordinated and focused on tangible outcomes”.

Mr Zelensky said: “It is obvious that Russia is trying to buy time in order to continue its war and occupation. We are working with our partners to ensure that pressure forces Russians to change their behavior. Sanctions matter, and I am grateful to everyone making them more biting for those responsible for this war.

“There is no doubt that the war must end at the negotiating table. The proposals on the table must be clear and realistic. Ukraine is ready for any negotiation format that delivers results,” he said on X, adding that Russia should face “tough consequences” for its “unrealistic conditions”.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky speaks during a briefing in Kyiv (AP)