Norway selects British-made frigates for its navy, Norwegian government says
Norway will purchase a fleet of British-built frigates to reinforce its naval strength, the government confirmed on Sunday. The move marks a decisive ...
U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that Russia and Ukraine will begin immediate negotiations for a ceasefire, following a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. However, the Kremlin has declined to set any deadlines, saying talks will take time and involve complex negotiations.
Trump, who relayed the outcome to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and top European leaders in a group call, stated on social media:
“Russia and Ukraine will immediately start negotiations toward a Ceasefire and, more importantly, an END to the War.”
While Trump hailed the move as a sign of “some progress,” Russia was more cautious. Speaking in Sochi, Putin confirmed that Moscow was ready to work on a memorandum with Ukraine outlining principles for a future peace deal but added, “there are no deadlines and there cannot be any.”
Kremlin: Talks Will Be "Complex"
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said both sides faced “complex contacts” to develop a ceasefire and peace framework. “The devil is in the details,” he added, indicating that any meaningful breakthrough would take time.
Putin’s aide, Yuri Ushakov, noted that the leaders also discussed a prisoner exchange involving nine Russians and nine Americans. Trump reportedly described future U.S.–Russia relations as having “impressive potential.”
European Leaders Push for Sanctions, Trump Holds Back
Following Trump’s briefing, EU leaders—including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz—opted to tighten sanctions on Russia. Trump, however, signaled reluctance to apply new economic pressure.
“There could be a time where that’s going to happen,” he told reporters, but warned that sanctions might also “make it much worse.”
He added: “There are some big egos involved. If there’s no progress, I’m just going to back away. This is not my war.”
Zelenskyy Proposes High-Level Summit
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed readiness for direct talks “in any format that brings results.” He suggested that a high-level meeting involving Ukraine, Russia, the U.S., the EU, and the UK could take place in Türkiye, the Vatican, or Switzerland.
Trump said Pope Leo XIV had expressed interest in hosting talks at the Vatican, though the Holy See has not yet commented.
Analysts: Putin Gains Time, Avoids Pressure
Former Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt called the development “undoubtedly a win for Putin,” noting that Russia continues military operations while appearing open to talks.
Putin has rejected a 30-day truce proposed by Trump and remains firm on Russia’s demands, which include the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from four occupied regions.
“The main thing for us is to eliminate the root causes of this crisis,” Putin said, adding that the proposed memorandum would set out “the principles of settlement, the timing of a possible peace agreement.”
Outlook
While both sides have agreed to continue direct contact for the first time since March 2022, no major breakthroughs have been achieved. The U.S. remains cautious, the EU is pushing for tougher measures, and Ukraine continues to press for tangible commitments from Moscow.
As Trump seeks to broker a ceasefire without alienating either side, the next steps in the negotiation process remain uncertain—and time is still a critical factor in ending Europe’s deadliest conflict in decades.
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.
A Polish Air Force pilot was killed on Thursday when an F-16 fighter jet crashed during a training flight ahead of the 2025 Radom International Air Show.
Norway will purchase a fleet of British-built frigates to reinforce its naval strength, the government confirmed on Sunday. The move marks a decisive step in what is expected to be the country’s largest-ever military procurement and a significant boost to NATO’s northern maritime defences.
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto on Saturday cancelled a planned visit to China as nationwide protests spread beyond Jakarta, with several regional parliament buildings set on fire.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 31th of August, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in the northern Chinese port city of Tianjin on Sunday for a regional security summit, Chinese and Russian state media reported.
China’s largest city and global financial hub, Shanghai, has set a new heat record, state media reported on Saturday. Temperatures in the city exceeded 35°C (95°F) for 25 consecutive days, breaking the previous record set in 1926.
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