Cancelling the Putin-Trump Budapest summit ends the fantasy the US president can deliver peace in Ukraine

Putin had reason to believe that he’d renewed backing from the US president for his demand that Ukraine must hand over more territory than Russia has already stolen as part of a deal to stop the shooting – because Trump had earlier said as much.

But now that the Europeans and the UK have made it clear that, alongside Ukraine, a ceasefire can only happen where the fighting actually is going on at the moment, Putin has decided to snub the summit in the Hungarian capital, which had been expected in the next few weeks.

Maira Butt22 October 2025 12:40

Putin holds strategic nuclear drills

Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced the country is holding strategic nuclear drills.

“We have planned drills on management of nuclear forces,” he said on Wednesday.

Maira Butt22 October 2025 12:20

Ukraine hits Russian chemical plant with British Storm Shadow missiles

“A massive combined missile and air strike was carried out, including the use of air-launched Storm Shadow missiles, which successfully penetrated the Russian air defence system. The outcome of the strike is being assessed,” the General Staff of the Ukraine Armed Forces said in a post on X.

“The Bryansk chemical plant is a key facility of the aggressor state’s military-industrial complex”, the Ukrainian military said.

Alexander Bogomaz, the governor of Bryansk, where the plant is situated, acknowledged that Ukraine was attacking the region with drones and missiles on Tuesday afternoon. He said no one was injured in the attack and no damage was reported.

Maira Butt22 October 2025 12:15

In pictures: The aftermath of overnight Russian strikes

Police officers stand guard near an apartment building damaged by a Russian drone strike, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine on 22 October 2025.

(REUTERS)(REUTERS)(REUTERS)

Maira Butt22 October 2025 11:48

Russia attacked Ukraine with 405 drones and 28 missiles overnight

Overnight attacks across Ukraine saw Russia launch 405 drones and 28 missiles at the country’s infrastructure, Ukraine’s air force said on Wednesday.

Ukraine downed 16 missiles and 333 drones, and other missiles directly hit targets, it added.

Maira Butt22 October 2025 11:26

What is a Storm Shadow missile?(The Independent)

Maira Butt22 October 2025 11:11

Zelensky says Trump suggestion for freeze at current frontlines ‘good compromise’

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said that President Donald Trump’s suggestion to end the Russia-Ukraine war at the current frontlines is a “good compromise”, on Wednesday.

However, he added that he doubted Russian President Vladimir Putin would support it.

Trump had previously suggested that Ukraine give up the Donbas region and make territorial concessions. A statement signed by European leaders on Wednesday said that negotiations should begin at “the current line of contact”.

Maira Butt22 October 2025 10:55

Slovakia likely to back 19th sanctions package, says PM

Slovakia is likely to support the European Union’s 19th sanctions package against Russia, Prime Minister Robert Fico said on Wednesday.

Speaking to a parliamentary committee before a summit of the bloc’s leaders this week, Fico said he would meet German Chancellor Friedrich Merz ahead of the event.

If the country’s demands are included in the summit’s conclusions, Slovakia will support the package, he said.

“So if we see the conclusions that we pushed through, I will go over it again this evening, and I will probably tell Chancellor Merz that we agree with the 19th package,” Fico said.

Maira Butt22 October 2025 10:30

Kremlin hits back at Trump comments: ‘Nobody wants to waste time’

Russia has responded to US President Donald Trump’s comments about “wasted time” after he called off long-awaited summit with President Vladimir Putin.

“Nobody wants to waste time,” the Kremlin said on Wednesday.

“Preparation is necessary. It takes time.”

Maira Butt22 October 2025 10:17

Mapped: The crucial Ukraine region Trump says should be ‘cut up’ between Zelensky and Putin

A critical region of Ukraine became the centre of a heated debate between Volodymyr Zelensky and Donald Trump during a White House meeting, according to reports.

Vladimir Putin has long demanded that Ukraine cede the Donbas to Moscow, a chunk of eastern Ukraine the majority of which has been occupied by Russian forces since its February 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

At an explosive meeting in Washington, DC on Friday, the US president is said to have told Zelensky to accept Russia’s terms or risk facing destruction.

President Zelensky’s visit to the Oval Office allegedly turned into a “shouting match”, with Trump resorting to profanity, sources told the Financial Times.

Trump reportedly aside maps of the Ukrainian frontline, urging Zelensky to surrender the Donbas region to Russia, seemingly adopting points Vladimir Putin made to Trump in their call the day before.

But it was reported that Zelensky succeeded in bringing Trump back to endorsing a freeze of the current front lines.

Click here to see the map of the Donbas region, and where the frontline cuts through it.

Maira Butt22 October 2025 10:10