Zelensky: Russia is tapping into oil reserves amidst fuel shortageYour support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Read more
US president Donald Trump on Sunday threatened to send long-range Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine unless Vladimir Putin “settled” the war soon.
“I might say, ‘Look: if this war is not going to get settled, I’m going to send them Tomahawks’. The Tomahawk is an incredible weapon, very offensive weapon. And honestly, Russia does not need that,” said Trump, adding he mentioned possibly sending it during a conversation with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky.
“I really think Putin would look great if he got this settled,” he said, warning, “it’s not going to be good for him” if not.
His comments came after Russia attacked Ukraine’s power grid overnight, part of an ongoing campaign to cripple Ukrainian energy infrastructure before winter.
Moscow also expressed “extreme concern” over the US potentially providing Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine.
Zelensky described his latest call with Trump as “very productive”, and that he is “waiting” for the president to approve the missile supply.
“Of course we count on such decisions, but we will see. We will see,” the Ukrainian leader told Fox News.
G7 to discuss sanctions on Russia and Ukraine aid options
Finance ministers from the Group of Seven industrial democracies are expected to meet on Wednesday to discuss efforts to step up sanctions pressure on Russia that is aimed at ending Moscow’s war against Ukraine.
A British government source said that chancellor Rachel Reeves wants to ensure joint action with G7 and European Union countries to cut Russia’s energy revenues and access to overseas assets that comply with international law.
Among these options that G7 ministers will discuss is a European Union plan to use Russian frozen sovereign assets to back a loan of $162bn to Ukraine.
Finance chiefs gathering in Washington this week are also expected to discuss the global economy’s surprising resilience in the face of Donald Trump’s tariff assaults – until the US-China trade war erupted again with the US president threatening 100 per cent duties on Chinese imports and sending markets into a tailspin.
Namita Singh13 October 2025 06:11
Ukraine’s power grid targetted again by Russia
Russia has attacked Ukraine’s power grid in a major overnight operation, as part of an ongoing campaign to cripple energy infrastructure before winter.
The incident came as Moscow expressed “extreme concern” over the United States potentially providing Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine.
Kyiv regional governor Mykola Kalashnyk said two employees of Ukraine’s largest private energy company, DTEK, were injured in Russian strikes on a substation in the region.
File: Fire at a cooling tower of the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Energodar, Southern Ukraine (AFP via Getty)
Ukraine’s energy ministry said energy infrastructure was also attacked in the regions of Donetsk, Odesa, and Chernihiv.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky highlighted that Russia has launched “more than 3,100 drones, 92 missiles, and around 1,360 glide bombs” against Ukraine over the past week, and said on X: “Russia continues its aerial terror against our cities and communities, intensifying strikes on our energy infrastructure.”
He called for tighter secondary sanctions on buyers of Russian oil.
“Sanctions, tariffs, and joint actions against the buyers of Russian oil – those who finance this war – must all remain on the table,” he said.
Namita Singh13 October 2025 05:26
North Korea likely received help from Russia on submarines, South Korea minister says
North Korea has likely received technical help from Russia for its submarine development, South Korean defence minister Ahn Gyu-back told parliament on Monday.
North Korea has vowed to develop submarines that can launch ballistic missiles and has test-fired such missiles from submerged platforms, but it is not clear whether Pyongyang has succeeded in mastering a launch from submarines.
It is also pursuing the development of nuclear-powered submarines.Ahn told parliament’s Defence Committee hearing that it appeared true that the North was receiving “various technologies” for its submarine development.
The minister said, however, it was premature to conclude Pyongyang had test-launched a SLBM (submarine-launched ballistic missile) from a submarine.
North Korea and Russia have dramatically upgraded military cooperation in the past two years, with Pyongyang deploying more than 10,000 troops to fight in the war against Ukraine in return for economic and military technology assistance, according to South Korean intelligence assessments.
Namita Singh13 October 2025 05:16
Zelensky hails ‘very productive’ call with Trump
Volodymyr Zelensky described his latest call with US president Donald Trump as “very productive”, and said the pair had discussed strengthening Ukraine’s “air defence, resilience, and long-range capabilities”, along with “details related to the energy sector”.
In an interview with Fox News Channel’s The Sunday Briefing after his call with the US president, Mr Zelensky was asked whether Mr Trump had approved the Tomahawks and said, “we work on it”.
Volodymyr Zelensky urges Donald Trump to broker peace in Ukraine like he did in the Middle East during a phone call on 11 October 2025 (AFP via Getty Images)
“I’m waiting for president to yes,” Zelensky said. “Of course we count on such decisions, but we will see. We will see.”
The Ukrainian president said on Friday that he was in talks with US officials about the possible provision of various long-range precision strike weapons, including Tomahawks and more ATACMS tactical ballistic missiles.
Namita Singh13 October 2025 05:09
Moscow expresses ‘extreme concern’ over Trump’s Tomahawk missile warning
Russia has expressed “extreme concern” over the US potentially providing Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine.
Vladimir Putin has previously suggested that the United States supplying long-range missiles to Ukraine will seriously damage relations between Moscow and Washington.
File: A dummy Tomahawk land attack missile is seen onboard HMS Artful, the third of the Royal Navy’s Astute class submarines (Reuters)
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said in remarks published on Sunday that “the topic of Tomahawks is of extreme concern”.
Trump, who has been frustrated by Russia in his efforts to end the war, said last week that he has “sort of made a decision” on whether to send Tomahawks to Ukraine, without elaborating.
A senior Ukrainian delegation is set to visit the US this week.
Namita Singh13 October 2025 04:37
Trump: Ukraine may get Tomahawk missiles if Putin doesn’t come to the table
Donald Trump told reporters on board Air Force One on Sunday that he is considering giving Kyiv Tomahawk cruise missiles as the war continues to drag on and the U.S. president increasingly sours on Russia’s Vladimir Putin.
Speaking as he traveled to Tel Aviv for a ceremony marking a peace deal aimed at ending the war between Israel and Hamas, Trump said: “I might say, ’Look: if this war is not going to get settled, I’m going to send them Tomahawks.’”
“The Tomahawk is an incredible weapon, very offensive weapon,” added the president. “I might tell them that if the war is not settled — that we may very well [send Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine].”
Trump added that it was a prospect he’d likely raise with the Russian leader himself, indicating that he’d use it as leverage in his own personal negotiations with Putin.
John Bowden13 October 2025 03:03
Moscow ‘exploiting’ world’s attention on Middle East, Zelensky says
Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russia of “exploiting” the fact that world leaders and international media are focused on the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas to ramp up their attacks on Ukraine.
He said that over the course of the last week, more than 3,100 drones, 92 missiles, and around 1,360 glide bombs have been used against Ukraine.
In a post on X, he said: “Moscow allows itself to escalate its strikes, openly exploiting the fact that the world is focused on ensuring peace in the Middle East.
“That is precisely why no weakening of pressure can be allowed. Sanctions, tariffs, and joint actions against the buyers of Russian oil – those who finance this war – must all remain on the table.”
Holly Evans13 October 2025 02:00
German Airlines call for drones threatening airports to be shot down
Germany’s leading airlines are demanding stronger action against rogue drones that disrupt airport operations, calling for police to be authorised to shoot down threatening unmanned aircraft, Der Spiegel reported on Saturday.
The appeal follows a spike in drone sightings near airports in Germany and across Europe, incidents that have forced temporary shutdowns and flight delays, raising concerns about aviation safety and economic losses.
“In a threatening situation, drones must be able to be shot down,” said Peter Gerber, president of the German Aviation Association and CEO of Condor Airlines. “It annoys me that the urgency of drones is only now being recognised. We’ve been pointing out the problem for ten years.”
Gerber added that each hour of flight disruption costs airlines millions, and urged the federal government to give federal police authority to stop or destroy drones that pose a threat to civilian airports.
The decision came after two consecutive disruptions at Munich International Airport on 2 and 3 October, when flight operations were suspended following multiple drone sightings in the vicinity.
Holly Evans13 October 2025 01:00
UK hosts of Ukrainian refugees hit out at ‘horrendous’ support from Home Office
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.
Read the full article here:
Holly Evans13 October 2025 00:00
Ukrainian refugee who fled war-torn home is now sumo’s rising star
Holly Evans12 October 2025 23:00