Putin cautioned Trump against supplying Tomahawks to Kyiv, Kremlin says

Putin warned Trump that supplying Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine would harm peace prospects and damage US-Russia relations, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters.

Zelensky is visiting Trump at the Oval Office on Friday where he is expected to push for the supply of Tomahawks.

Trump told reporters travelling with him to Israel on Sunday that he planned to discuss providing Kyiv with the weapons as a way to pressure Putin to end the war.

“Do they want to have Tomahawks going in that direction? I don’t think so,” Trump said on Sunday.

“I think I might speak to Russia about that.”

Harriette Boucher16 October 2025 19:33

Hungarian PM says Putin and Trump’s planned meeting in Budapest is ‘great news’

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has applauded Trump and Putin’s plans to meet in Budapest in a post on X.

The planned meeting between the American and Russian presidents is great news for the peace-loving people of the world. We are ready!

— Orbán Viktor (@PM_ViktorOrban) October 16, 2025

Harriette Boucher16 October 2025 18:54

UK and EU try very hard to derail peace, says Russia

Following Putin’s phone call with Trump, Putin’s special envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, said in a post on X: “UK and EU warmongers try very very hard to derail peace prospects.

“But dialogue and peace and the US-Russia cooperation will prevail.”

Trump announced he would soon be meeting Putin in Budapest to discuss bringing an end to the war in Ukraine.

In a separate post, Mr Dmitriev said: “Hungary has been the voice of reason in Europe and a peacemaker.”

Harriette Boucher 16 October 2025 18:50

Trump believes Putin and Zelensky could still meet

Trump still thinks it could be possible for Putin and Zelensky to meet, his spokeswoman said after their phone call on Thursday.

Following Trump’s two-hour call with Putin, Karoline Leavitt said the president was trying to move the ball forward on peace, Sky News reported.

Trump had hoped that Putin and Zelensky could talk after he met with Putin in Alaska in August, and Zelensky said he was ready to do so. However, Russia has not committed to a meeting.

Harriette Boucher16 October 2025 18:38

Trump says phone call with Putin was ‘very productive’ as pair to meet in Budapest soon

Trump has ended his phone call with Putin, saying it was “very productive” and that the pair will meet in Budapest soon to discuss bringing the war in Ukraine to an end.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said Putin congratulated him on bringing “peace to the Middle East”, which he said had been “dreamed of for centuries.”

Trump said the “success” of the peace deal in Gaza would help bring an end to the Ukraine war.

High-level advisors from Russia and the US, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, are meeting next week. Trump and Putin will then meet again in Budapest.

No precise date was given for either meeting.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky will visit Trump in the Oval Office on Friday to discuss the future of the conflict, including the potential supply of Tomahawks to Kyiv.

Harriette Boucher16 October 2025 18:25

Ukraine imposes emergency power cuts across every region

Ukraine’s national energy operator, Ukrenergo, has imposed emergency power cuts across all regions following Russia’s continuous attacks on its energy system.

It announced the cuts on Thursday following a large Russian attack overnight, which targeted the energy sector, alongside civilians and civilian infrastructure.

Harriette Boucher16 October 2025 17:20

EU reveals five-year plan to defend against Russian attack

The European Union has unveiled its plan to ensure that it can defend itself from a Russian attack by the end of the decade, as Russia continues to test its defences through airspace violations across Europe.

It will include the European Drone Defence Initiative, which aims to build counter-drone capabilities to detect, track, and disable rogue drones.

The system is expected to be initially operational by December 2026 and fully functional in late 2027.

As she unveiled the European Commission’s plan, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said danger would not disappear, even if the Ukraine war were to end.

“Russia has no capacity to launch an attack on the European Union today, but it could prepare itself in the years to come.”

The drone system is part of the broader ‘Defence Readiness Roadmap 2030’, which proposes four flagship European defence projects.

Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission president, said: “The recent threats have shown that Europe is at risk. We have to protect every citizen and square centimetre of our territory.”

Harriette Boucher16 October 2025 16:57

Trump confirms call with Putin has begun

Donald Trump has confirmed that his call with Vladimir Putin is now underway.

He wrote on Truth Social: “I am speaking to President Putin now. The conversation is ongoing, a lengthy one, and I will report the contents, as will President Putin, at its conclusion.”

Daniel Keane16 October 2025 16:31

Recap: What are Trump’s most recent comments on Ukraine?

Ending the wars in Ukraine and Gaza were central to Donald Trump’s reelection pitch in 2024.

In the Middle East, a fragile ceasefire between Hamas and Israel is holding – despite a row over the return of hostages held by the militant group.

Now Trump will turn his attention to Ukraine. He had told reporters traveling with him to Israel on Sunday that he had planned to discuss the provision of Tomahawks to Kyiv with Putin as a way to pressure him to end the war.

“Do they want to have Tomahawks going in that direction? I don’t think so,” Trump said on Sunday. “I think I might speak to Russia about that.”

Daniel Keane16 October 2025 16:17

Pictured: A residential building is seen on fire after a Russian strike in Nizhyn, Chernihiv(AP)

Bryony Gooch16 October 2025 16:00