Russia and Ukraine have traded fresh strikes amid mounting international pressure to end the ongoing conflict, as the Kremlin confirms that President Vladimir Putin will meet with U.S. President Donald Trump in the coming days.
The developments mark a significant moment in the protracted war, with Trump pushing for what he has called a “breakthrough” to bring about a resolution. Fighting, however, shows no sign of slowing.
Rail hub struck and drones launched
On Thursday, Russia announced it had hit a key railway hub in Ukraine’s central Dnipropetrovsk region. Moscow claimed the railway station was being used by Ukrainian forces to transport weapons and military equipment to the Donbas front lines.
Ukraine, in response, reported a series of drone attacks on Russian military targets, including landing craft, radar systems, and air defence facilities in occupied Crimea. Kyiv officials said the strikes were part of a coordinated drone campaign aimed at degrading Russian logistics and defensive capabilities.
The tit-for-tat strikes come just days before the anticipated meeting between the Russian and U.S. presidents, signalling the ongoing volatility on the ground despite high-level diplomatic moves.
Putin–Trump talks confirmed
The Kremlin officially confirmed that President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump will meet “in the coming days.” The announcement follows growing speculation over the U.S. president’s increasingly assertive stance on ending the war.
Trump has expressed frustration with Putin’s unwillingness to engage in negotiations and recently threatened to impose new sanctions- not only on Russia but also on countries purchasing Russian exports if Moscow does not agree to terms aimed at de-escalation. The sanctions are reportedly scheduled to take effect on Friday.
Putin, meanwhile, suggested that preparations for the talks are being supported by a number of countries. He specifically mentioned the United Arab Emirates as one of the mediating parties, after meeting UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan at the Kremlin on Thursday.
Zelenskyy holds firm
While Trump has stated that Putin does not need to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy directly, Kyiv has remained firm on its position. President Zelenskyy confirmed that he spoke with Trump earlier this week and that both sides “share a clear and common position that the war must end.”
Zelenskyy has repeatedly maintained that no negotiations can succeed without Ukraine’s direct involvement. Ukrainian officials have also called for guarantees on sovereignty and territorial integrity before any ceasefire or agreement is considered.
The latest diplomatic push follows a three-hour meeting earlier this week in Moscow between President Putin and Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff. Details of the discussion remain confidential, but officials suggest it laid the groundwork for the upcoming presidential summit.
A pivotal moment
As airstrikes continue and tensions simmer on the battlefield, the scheduled Putin–Trump meeting may represent one of the most significant diplomatic openings since the outbreak of the full-scale war.
Whether the talks will yield substantive results or merely serve as another symbolic gesture remains to be seen. But with threats of renewed sanctions, growing war fatigue, and intensified international mediation, global eyes are now firmly fixed on the days ahead.
The World Food Programme has called for more food aid to be allowed in to Gaza to quell widespread starvation....
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is highlighting Türkiye’s push for homegrown air defence, as the country develops new systems and deepens d...
Bulgaria reported outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza on three farms in the southern part of the country, the World Organisation for Animal...
The United Kingdom has summoned the Russian envoy over its latest attack on Kyiv which killed civilians and damaged buildings including the EU delegat...
Pakistan’s eastern towns of Chiniot and Hafizabad are at risk of devastating floods if an irrigation barrage on a major upstream river collapses aft...
The United Kingdom has summoned the Russian envoy over its latest attack on Kyiv which killed civilians and damaged buildings including the EU delegation and the British Council.
The Kremlin said on Thursday it was still interested in pursuing peace talks over Ukraine, despite a large overnight Russian strike on Kyiv that Ukrainian officials said killed at least 15 people, including four children.
China is preparing to host the largest Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in its history, with more than 20 heads of state set to gather in Tianjin from 31 August to 1 September.
Kyiv calls on allies to accelerate commitments while signalling openness to talks in neutral countries, even as fighting intensifies on the eastern front.
A powerful eruption at Japan’s Shinmoedake volcano sent an ash plume more than 3,000 metres high on Sunday morning, prompting safety warnings from authorities.
According to the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ), a magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck the Oaxaca region of Mexico on Saturday.
The UK is gearing up for Exercise Pegasus 2025, its largest pandemic readiness test since COVID-19. Running from September to November, this full-scale simulation will challenge the country's response to a fast-moving respiratory outbreak.
Kuwait says oil prices will likely stay below $72 per barrel as OPEC monitors global supply trends and U.S. policy signals. The remarks come during market uncertainty fueled by new U.S. tariffs on India and possible sanctions on Russia.
The World Food Programme has called for more food aid to be allowed in to Gaza to quell widespread starvation.
The United Kingdom has summoned the Russian envoy over its latest attack on Kyiv which killed civilians and damaged buildings including the EU delegation and the British Council.
China plans to triple Artificial Intelligence (AI) chip production within a year, boosting self-sufficiency for firms such as Huawei, despite U.S. export curbs, reducing reliance on foreign suppliers and bolster domestic innovation, in a move that could reshape global tech competition.
The Kremlin said on Thursday it was still interested in pursuing peace talks over Ukraine, despite a large overnight Russian strike on Kyiv that Ukrainian officials said killed at least 15 people, including four children.
At least 15 people died and nine were injured after a building collapsed in Palghar, near Mumbai in India, with police arresting the builder on charges of negligence and attempted murder.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment