Displaying items by tag: War

Donald Trump has described talks on 6 August between his envoy Steve Witkoff and Vladimir Putin as ‘highly productive’, claiming that ‘great progress’ has been made toward ending the Ukraine war. The Kremlin issued a vague statement confirming the exchange of ‘signals’ but did not give further details. The meeting occurred days ahead of Trump’s ceasefire deadline, amid mounting frustration over stalled peace efforts. Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders were briefed on the talks and reiterated the need to end the war. Despite Trump’s threats of increased sanctions, including raising the tariff on India to 50% for buying Russian oil, Russia has continued its attacks on Ukrainian cities. Three years into the invasion, peace talks have repeatedly failed, and Russia’s preconditions remain unacceptable to Kyiv. Meanwhile, the USA has approved $200 million in military support to Ukraine, with Trump still open to meetings with both Putin and Zelensky. The humanitarian toll of Russian strikes remains devastating and ongoing.

Volodymyr Zelensky has announced that Ukraine and Russia will engage in another round of talks on 23 July in Turkey. This comes at a time of intensified Russian drone attacks and continued escalation in the long-running conflict, now in its fourth year. While earlier talks have led to prisoner exchanges, little progress has been made toward achieving a lasting peace. Russia’s conditions for ending the war include Ukraine’s full withdrawal from the regions of the country now occupied by Russia, and international recognition of territories it has claimed since 2014, including Crimea. Ukraine, on the other hand, seeks a ceasefire, restoration of its borders (to 2013), return of all abducted children, release of civilians, and the exchange of prisoners of war. Donald Trump has voiced support for increased sanctions on Russia to pressure a resolution, urging both sides to reach an agreement swiftly. The world watches closely as diplomatic efforts resume amid deep divisions and ongoing violence.

US defence secretary Pete Hegseth has paused a planned shipment of advanced munitions to Ukraine amid growing concern over the country’s depleted stockpiles of weapons. The delay, stemming from a defence department review, affects key systems including Patriot interceptors and Hellfire missiles. This reassessment follows years of military aid to Ukraine and operations in the Middle East. While the Biden-era packages had approved these shipments, some are now being withheld, even after arriving in the region. The White House defended the move as prioritising US interests, but Ukrainian officials expressed frustration, calling the decision painful and warning that delays embolden Russian aggression. With Russia intensifying missile and drone attacks - launching the largest aerial assault since the 2022 invasion - Ukrainian leaders stressed the urgency of air defence support. Donald Trump has expressed a desire to supply Patriot missiles but acknowledged shortages. The pause comes as the USA also works to broker a ceasefire in the ongoing war.

NATO allies, including the USA, have reaffirmed their ‘ironclad commitment’ to collective defence at a brief summit in The Hague. The final five‑paragraph communiqué emphasised unity, describing Russia as a ‘long‑term threat’ but stopping short of explicitly condemning its invasion of Ukraine, marking a shift from prior statements. In the only reference to the war, it said: ‘Allies reaffirm their enduring sovereign commitments to provide support to Ukraine, whose security contributes to ours.’ It also reaffirmed NATO’s founding tenet, that an attack on one is an attack on all, despite Trump hinting at differing definitions. A notable commitment was a pledge to raise defence investment to 5% of GDP by 2035. The toned‑down language and ambitious new spending target reflect tensions within the alliance. Meanwhile, on 24 June seventeen people were killed and over a hundred injured in a daytime Russian airstrike: see

Evangelist David Karcha has said that even in the midst of war, Ukraine is seeing a profound spiritual awakening.  He has described how churches have become sanctuaries of hope, drawing countless people to Christ. When Russia invaded in 2022, Ukrainian evangelicals chose not to flee but to remain, share in the suffering, and witness through faith. Karcha declared that while the Gospel is powerful in peace, it becomes ‘unstoppable’ in war. Across the country, churches are seeing thousands profess faith and be baptised, driven by deep spiritual hunger. Their acts of faith have created a unified movement no war can halt. Evangelicals minister on the frontlines, in hospitals, to widows, orphans, and the broken. The church serves not only physical needs but also hearts seeking hope. Thanking European churches for their love and support, Karcha says, ‘We listen. We pray. We help. Then, when we see how we can help and what can be gone, we speak Jesus.’

Following Ukraine’s audacious deep strikes on Russian strategic bomber bases, Moscow is facing mounting internal pressure to retaliate. While the Kremlin remains publicly silent pending investigation, media figures and bloggers have erupted with calls for harsh responses, including nuclear retaliation. Though such threats are not new in Russian rhetoric, the recent attacks - possibly disrupting Russia’s nuclear response capabilities - may challenge the limits of Moscow’s stated nuclear doctrine. An actual nuclear strike remains unlikely due to the immense diplomatic fallout it would trigger, particularly with key partners like China and India. A more probable reaction will take the form of intensified missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure. As Ukraine’s Western allies ease restrictions on weapons use, the Kremlin may feel compelled to escalate, risking unpredictable consequences in an already volatile war. Meanwhile, the two sides have failed to make progress in ceasefire talks in Istanbul: see

In Rodynske, Ukraine, devastation and fear hang in the air after a Russian glide bomb destroyed the town’s administrative centre and residential blocks. Russian attacks have surged, with Rodynske now facing direct strikes and drone assaults. Journalists encountered deadly surveillance and attack drones, evidence of Russian advances. Russia’s increasing use of fibre optic drones - immune to electronic jamming - gives it a tactical edge, making troop movements perilous. Ukrainian forces are racing to develop similar technology. Soldiers have described the extreme mental and physical toll, with deployments now stretching to months due to constant drone threats. Front lines are no longer clearly defined; infiltrations occur with motorcycles and quad bikes, creating fragmented, shifting battle zones. Civilians, returning to destroyed homes, bear witness to worsening conditions. With diplomatic efforts stalled, this evolving conflict grows more deadly by the day. Meanwhile, Volodymyr Zelensky, on a visit to Germany (where chancellor Friedrich Merz has promised more financial and military help), has warned that 50,000 Russian troops are massing on Ukraine’s eastern border, preparing for a massive new offensive. See

Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov has acknowledged delays in weapons deliveries to Armenia due to the strain of the war in Ukraine. Armenia, a long-time Russian ally, has historically depended on Russian arms amid its bitter decades-long conflict with Azerbaijan. However, as Moscow struggles to meet military commitments, Armenia is increasingly turning to Western partners like France and India for defense support. Lavrov said that these shifts were worrying, especially given France’s strong opposition to Russia's actions in Ukraine. But Armenia has expressed deepening frustration with Moscow, particularly after Russian peacekeepers failed to prevent the mass exodus of over 100,000 ethnic Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh during Azerbaijan’s swift military campaign in September 2023. As Armenia rethinks its security alliances, the region remains volatile, with historical wounds and unresolved tensions continuing to shape its strategic decisions.

Peace efforts between Russia and Ukraine took a cautious step forward as Russian delegates arrived in Istanbul on 15 May for proposed negotiations. Volodymyr Zelensky had invited Vladimir Putin to meet in person, but Putin declined, appointing aide Vladimir Medinsky to lead Russia’s delegation. The absence of top Russian officials, including foreign minister Sergey Lavrov, cast doubt on Moscow’s seriousness. Ukraine, emphasising the need for high-level talks, questioned the format and substance of the meeting. Zelensky said he would decide Ukraine’s response after seeing Russia’s true intentions. Ukraine and its allies had urged an unconditional ceasefire from 12 May, a proposal Moscow ignored. Donald Trump, who at one stage expressed interest in attending, will not participate, though Marco Rubio, Steve Witkoff, and NATO secretary Mark Rutte could do so. The situation remains fluid, with uncertainty surrounding whether the talks will lead to meaningful de-escalation or remain another missed opportunity.

Vladimir Putin has announced a new three-day unilateral ceasefire, to run from 8 to 10 May, coinciding with Russia’s World War II commemorations. It follows a previous thirty-hour Easter ceasefire, which critics say Moscow repeatedly violated. The Kremlin frames these brief pauses as humanitarian gestures; Ukrainian officials argue that if Russia truly sought peace, it would halt hostilities immediately. Foreign minister Andrii Sybiha called for a thirty-day truce instead. Observers question whether Putin’s moves are sincere peace efforts or merely an attempt to influence Donald Trump, who has recently voiced frustration with both Russia and Ukraine. Trump has criticised Putin for continuing attacks on civilian areas and floated harsher sanctions. When in March he proposed a thirty-day ceasefire, Ukraine agreed, but Russia did not. In another development, the much-anticipated natural resources agreement between the USA and Ukraine has been signed: see