Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has rejected calls for a wartime election, arguing that holding a vote while Russia's full-scale invasion continues would divide the country and undermine national unity.
⦿ 14:19 GMT | UPDATE
Zelenskyy rejects wartime election call, says vote would 'split Ukraine'
Reuters
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has rejected calls for a wartime election, warning that holding a vote while the country remains at war with Russia would "destroy" Ukraine and divide society.
Speaking after former Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov called for elections last week, Zelenskyy said a wartime poll would be a "tsunami for the state" and could split the country. He added that his priority remains ending the war and preserving Ukraine's independence and sovereignty.
Elections are currently prohibited under Ukrainian law during wartime, and recent polling shows a majority of Ukrainians prefer to hold elections only after the fighting ends.
⦿ 10:46 GMT | UPDATE
Photos: Ukraine marks National Flag Day in Kyiv
Reuters
Foreign military attaches salute during a ceremony to mark Ukraine's National Flag Day, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine, 23 August 2026.
Reuters
European leaders listen to Ukraine's Parliament Speaker after a ceremony marking National Flag Day in Kyiv, Ukraine, 23 August 2026.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy delivers a speech during a National Flag Day ceremony in Kyiv, Ukraine, 23 August 2026.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomes Estonia's Prime Minister Kristen Michal while Latvia's Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs, Finland's President Alexander Stubb, Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, Lithuania's President Gitanas Nauseda, and Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen stand behind the podiums before a ceremony to mark the National Flag Day, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine, 23 August 2026.
Reuters
⦿ 10:25 GMT | UPDATE
Putin, Trump could meet at APEC summit
Anadolu
Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump are likely to meet on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in China in November if both attend, Kremlin foreign policy aide Yury Ushakov said Sunday.
“If the leaders are at the same event, then it seems to me they will inevitably meet and talk,” Ushakov said in an interview with Russian broadcaster VGTRK.
⦿ 11:36 GMT | UPDATE
Zelenskyy says Ukraine faces $27 billion defence funding gap
Reuters
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the country’s Defence Ministry is facing a $27 billion funding shortfall this year after earlier spending decisions brought forward resources initially planned for later in 2026.
The funding gap comes as Kyiv seeks to strengthen its military capabilities and secure additional air defence supplies amid intensified Russian attacks.
⦿ 08:55 GMT | UPDATE
Norway to give more than $9 billion to Ukraine in 2027
Reuters
Norway plans to give another 85 billion Norwegian crowns ($9.2 billion) in financial support to Ukraine in the 2027 fiscal year, in line with the amount given in 2026, the Nordic country's government said in a statement on Sunday.
The funding will support both military and humanitarian needs, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said in a speech released by the government in Oslo.
“Supporting and rebuilding Ukraine is not assistance alone. It is an investment in Europe's own security,” Støre said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre before a meeting of the "Coalition of the Willing", amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine, 24 February 2026.
Reuters
⦿ 08:49 GMT | UPDATE
Nordic and Baltic leaders arrive in Kyiv for Ukraine Flag Day
Reuters
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha welcomed the leaders of Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania and Norway, along with other senior representatives, at Kyiv's railway station.
The visiting officials are due to hold talks with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Sybiha said on X, adding that "important decisions and announcements" were expected.
Ahead of our Independence Day, we feel we are not alone. Our allies are with us.
Today in the morning, I was pleased to welcome leaders of Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, alongside other high representatives, at the Kyiv Railway Station.
Putin to draft 300,000 troops after September election
Reuters
Ukraine believes Russia is planning to mobilise an additional 300,000 troops for its war effort after parliamentary elections in September, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
In comments to reporters released on Sunday, Zelenskyy added that Russia could draft hundreds of thousands more in 2027 for its key goal of capturing the rest of Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region.
⦿ 07:08 GMT | UPDATE
Ozon warehouse in Russia hit by drone attack
Anadolu
The governor of Russia's Orenburg region said on Sunday that two industrial facilities were hit by drone debris, including a warehouse owned by Ozon, a major Russian online retailer.
Governor Yevgeny Solntsev said that the Russian Defence Ministry had repelled six drones over the region, adding that no one had been injured. He did not name the second damaged facility.
Ozon, Russia's second-largest online retailer, said in a statement on Telegram that the company had evacuated more than 300 people and that work at its Orenburg region logistics centre had been halted.
A woman visits a pickup point for the online retailers Wildberries and Ozon in Moscow, Russia, 23 July 2026.
Reuters
⦿ 04:22 GMT | UPDATE
Debris reported after drones downed near Moscow
Anadolu
"Air defence forces of the Russian Defence Ministry shot down six drones flying toward Moscow," Sobyanin wrote on Max, a Russian social media and messaging platform.
Emergency services were working at the site where debris from the drones fell, Sobyanin added.
Ukraine has yet to comment on the reported drone attack.
Iran on Saturday denounced U.S. plans to announce new sanctions that could put further strain on the Islamic Republic's economy and have an impact on its most important trading partners including China.
A large-scale drone attack has hit Russia's Samara region, damaging facilities and disrupting operations at an Ozon logistics complex, according to regional authorities and the company.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has rejected calls for a wartime election, arguing that holding a vote while Russia's full-scale invasion continues would divide the country and undermine national unity.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Iran was not ready to make what he called the "right deal" with Washington as tensions persisted over the war and the Strait of Hormuz.
Türkiye said on Thursday it would continue helping Syria strengthen its military, despite rising tensions with Israel over Ankara’s role in the country.
Syria expects negotiations with Israel over a security agreement to resume soon despite deep mistrust between the two sides, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani said in an interview with Reuters, urging Israel to seize an "historic opportunity" as the door for diplomacy is open.
India's Coast Guard and Navy continued search-and-rescue operations off the eastern coast on Sunday after a Panama-flagged cargo vessel carrying 24 crew sank, with two Chinese nationals rescued, a senior official said.
Taiwan President Lai Ching-te has called for continued military strength and national unity during a visit to the sensitive frontline island of Kinmen, saying peace must be protected "through strength."
The European Union’s Civil Protection Mechanism sent helicopters and firefighters to help Serbia fight a massive wildfire in a nature reserve in the northeast of the country, the head of the European Union mission to Belgrade said.
TikTok and its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, have agreed to pay $400 million to settle U.S. government allegations that the popular video-sharing app failed to properly protect children’s privacy.
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