Around 19:25, NATO sets up a command center situated barely 200 kilometers away from Russia's border.
18:51 Trump after meeting with Zelensky: "It's a intricate riddle"Following a meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US presidential nominee Donald Trump in New York, the Republican displays a measured optimism about ending the conflict. "It's a intricate riddle," he mentions, "but we'll unravel it." Trump maintains his well-established stance that he has a resolution for the Ukrainian conflict. The former president is a firm critic of the US billion-dollar funds to Kyiv and could substantially modify US Ukrainian policy after a re-election. Trump has consistently advocated for the leadership in Kyiv to finalize a deal with Russia and has harshly criticized Zelensky. Prior to today's meeting, Trump mentioned about his relationship with Zelensky: "We have a strong bond, and as you're aware, I also possess a powerful bond with President Putin." Zelensky reacted, slightly taken aback, "I hope that ours is the superior one."
17:56 More Ukrainian refugees in Germany acquiring jobsThe search for employment for Ukrainian refugees in Germany is currently more successful. In September alone, 8,500 Ukrainian nationals secured employment in the primary labor market, training, or self-employment, according to Federal Labor Minister Hubertus Heil (SPD). This is more than double the number in September 2023: "These figures prove that the job boost is clearly effective," Heil mentions. The "job boost" assists refugees in obtaining jobs after completing an integration course and acquiring fundamental German linguistic skills. As of July 2024, around 266,000 of the approximately 700,000 Ukrainians who have come to Germany are employed; 213,000 of them are subject to social security contributions, and 53,000 are engaged in mini-jobs. Challenges persist with the validation of foreign professional qualifications, according to the Federal Employment Agency.
17:20 Russia reports capturing of towns in DonbassThe Russian military is progressing on the front in eastern Ukraine and has apparently seized two more settlements in the industrial region of Donbass. The towns of Marynivka and the village of Ukrajinske have reportedly been overtaken, the Russian Defense Ministry in Moscow announced. This was not verified by the military leadership in Kyiv. The Ukrainian General Staff report for Friday morning describes Marynivka as contested. The situation is more clear with Ukrajinske, which has been identified as Russian-controlled by Ukrainian military observers for several days. Both locations are in the Donetsk region on the front section between the major cities of Pokrovsk, Kurakhove, and Vuhledar. Russian troops have made inroads there in recent months. The defenders are lacking in soldiers and material.
16:43 Zelensky Meets Trump in New York: "Sharing a Common Aim"During his visit to the US, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky meets with Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump for a discussion in New York. "We share the belief that the conflict in Ukraine must cease," Zelensky says before the meeting. Zelensky and the former president encounter at the Trump Tower in Manhattan. Trump is a staunch critic of US billion-dollar funding to Ukraine and exerts pressure on the leadership in Kyiv to sign a treaty with Russia. Critics accuse the former president of effectively surrendering Ukraine, adopting Russian President Vladimir Putin's position. The last engagement of the two was around five years ago. Zelensky had already conferred with US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris in Washington on Thursday.
16:02 Kyiv Forced to Impose Higher War Taxes on Its CitizensUkrainian Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko describes the tax increases under consideration in parliament as a "compulsory step." Kyiv proposes escalating a war tax from 1.5 to 5 percent. This year, this is anticipated to bring in around 1.2 billion euros, and subsequent year around 3 billion euros. "This decision will affect the economy, but all other alternatives are virtually depleted," the minister says. Revenue from newly issued domestic bonds would only cover existing bond debts. Foreign financial assistance is dwindling in security. In the first quarter, Ukraine obtained only around 10 percent of the required foreign aid. Republican obstruction in the US Congress delayed its provision. Despite receiving over 37 billion euros this year, Kyiv still anticipates over 34.5 billion euros from abroad next year. "But that doesn't mean these payments will be stable," cautions Marchenko.
15:24 Norway Restricts Asylum for Ukrainian RefugeesNorway will no longer automatically grant asylum to refugees from Ukraine. The Norwegian government mentions it will now assess each case individually for Ukrainians originating from the west of the country. The western part of Ukraine, which is far from the front, is considered safe by Norwegian authorities. After the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Norwegian authorities granted Ukrainian refugees "collective protection" and issued them automatic asylum. Since then, the 5.6 million-strong country has welcomed around 85,000 Ukrainians, surpassing any other Nordic country.
14:22 Ramstein Hosts Ukraine Meeting with BidenThe gathering of nations backing Ukraine during US President Joe Biden's visit to Germany will occur on October 12 at the US Air Force base in Ramstein, Rhineland-Palatinate. This was disclosed by government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit. As per him, Germany intends to facilitate the meeting of the so-called Contact Group for Ukraine's Defense alongside the USA. In this setting, over 50 nations come together to coordinate assistance for Ukraine, Hebestreit mentioned. The attendance of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the venue remains uncertain.
13:56 Lithuania Plans to Acquire German Leopard 2 TanksLithuania seeks to procure Leopard 2 main battle tanks for a new division in its army. The contract is anticipated to be finalized in November, following the National Security Council's final decision, declares Defense Minister Laurynas Kasciunas. He refrained from disclosing the number of units or the variant of the tank, originating from Germany, that will be acquired by Lithuania, a NATO and EU member. This nation shares borders with Russia's exclave of Kaliningrad and its ally, Belarus. The Ukrainian conflict is viewed as an immediate threat to national security, prompting the Lithuanian government to extensively arm its army. A new military division is being built, which includes a tank battalion. In the future, a permanent German Armed Forces mechanized brigade is slated to be stationed in Lithuania.
13:20 Discord Blockage Possible in RussiaThe communication platform Discord might be completely restricted in Russia in the near future. This is stated by the Russian daily newspaper "Kommersant" and an individual from the gaming industry who is well-versed in the matter. The Russian media monitoring authority is contemplating this measure due to alleged infringements of Russian law, they said. No specific allegations are mentioned in the newspaper report. Toward the beginning of the month, Russian users reported outages on Discord. According to "Moscow Times," between 29 and 40 million individuals in Russia are actively using Discord. The platform is particularly popular among gamers, students, and cryptocurrency traders.
13:04 No Long-Range Weapons Approval: "Biden Warned by Intelligence Services Before Decision"US President Biden has agreed to grant another billion-dollar aid package to Ukraine. However, the US will not comply with Zelenskyy's request to waive restrictions on Western-supplied weapons to target locations deep inside Russia. Corroborating this explanation is political scientist Thomas Jäger.
12:36 US Citizen Charged with 'Mercenary' Activities in RussiaAs per a report by Russia's state news agency RIA Novosti, a US citizen has been charged with alleged "mercenary" activities in Russia since last Friday. The suspect is identified as 72-year-old Stefan Hubbard, hailing from Michigan, who relocated to Ukraine in 2014. It remains unclear from the report when and where the US citizen was arrested. According to RIA Novosti, he was escorted to a Moscow court trial by the military police.
12:01 Kryvyj Rih: Russian Rocket Strikes Police StationReports from southern and central Ukraine indicate further Russian attacks. This morning, a rocket struck a police station in Kryvyj Rih, according to local authorities. The body of a woman was discovered beneath the debris, and at least five others sustained injuries. Rescue crews are still searching for survivors. Residential buildings were also damaged. The Dnipropetrovsk Regional Prosecutor's Office has released images of the rocket strikes in Kryvyj Rih.
According to Ukrainian reports, there was another rocket attack on the city of Dnipro last night, striking an industrial facility. In the Kherson region, at least eight individuals were harmed in Russian air strikes, as reported by local authorities.
11:27 Potential NATO Airspace Intrusion by Russian DroneA Russian drone may have momentarily entered NATO member Romania's airspace last night, according to Romania's Defense Ministry. It is speculated that the drone "briefly for a period of less than three minutes" traversed Romanian airspace in the border area. The drone is believed to have been utilized in an attack on the southern Ukrainian city of Izmail. According to Ukrainian authorities, Izmail was attacked by a drone early Friday morning, resulting in three casualties and approximately a dozen injuries. The Ukrainian Air Force claims to have downed 24 of 32 Russian attack drones the previous night.
10:57 USA Dispatches First Glide Bombs to UkrainePresident Zelenskyy travels to the USA to present his "victory plan" and request further military aid. Biden vows a weapons package valued at nearly $8 billion to Ukraine. In comparison to previous deliveries, "that's a significant increase," says ntv reporter Gordian Fritz.
10:20 Report: American Intel Agencies Anticipate Harsh Retribution if Ukraine is Permitted to Fire Long-Range MissilesAccording to a report by the "New York Times," American intelligence agencies have expressed concerns about the potential consequences if Ukraine is permitted by the West to launch long-range missiles at targets within Russian territory. This could provoke a harsh response from Russia, possibly involving lethal attacks on US and European military support bases. The agencies suspect that Russia may carry out such retaliations surreptitiously through covert intelligence operations. Additionally, the report states that US intelligence agencies believe Ukraine does not possess sufficient long-range missiles to significantly alter the war's trajectory. The decision for US President Biden reportedly presents a challenging predicament due to the high risk and uncertain outcome.
09:57 Munz on New Putin Threat: Stopping Resource Exports "Won't Hurt the West Much"Russia has threatened the US with consequences if it grants permission for long-range weapons to be used against targets within Russian territory. President Putin is considering enforcing export restrictions on strategic resources such as uranium as retaliation against the West. ntv reporter Munz elaborates on the background and implications.
08:40 Ukrainian Navy Baffled by Russia's Structure near Crimea BridgeAn unidentified Russian structure near the Crimea Bridge has perplexed the Ukrainian Navy. Ukrainian Navy spokesman Dmytro Pletenchuk, as reported by "The Kyiv Independent" on Ukrainian TV, states that the structure is being constructed, but its purpose remains unclear. "It could serve as a defensive installation, another crossing, or another hydrotechnical structure, but it's premature to draw any conclusions," Pletenchuk speculates. He doubts that the Russians will successfully complete the project due to the worsening weather conditions. "They regularly attempt to place something new in the Kerch Strait to construct various hydrotechnical structures or barriers, but after each storm, they are left stranded on shore." The bridge links Russia to the Ukrainian Crimea peninsula, which Russia annexed.
08:08 Ukrainian City near Romanian Border Hit, Several DeadThe city of Ismajil in southern Ukraine was struck. Three people were killed in a Russian drone attack this morning, according to the governor of Odessa Oblast, Oleh Kiper. All the victims were elderly, including an elderly woman in her 90s. Eleven others, including a child, were wounded. The city of Ismajil is located near the border with Romania, on the northern edge of the Danube River. [Read more here.]
07:40 Roth Urges More European Weapons Aid for Ukraine to Foster NegotiationsSPD foreign policy expert Michael Roth is advocating for more European arms support for Ukraine. "In order to ensure that Ukraine remains a free and democratic country, the major European countries must significantly strengthen their military commitment," Roth told the "Tagesspiegel." "Now is the time to marshal all available resources to place Ukraine in an optimal position for potential negotiations." The chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the Bundestag argues that "those who seek to end the war as quickly as possible must supply Ukraine with what it requires." Military capability and diplomacy are intertwined. "Russia will only be willing to engage in negotiations if Putin is convinced that a victory over Ukraine is a pipe dream."
07:09 Baerbock Warns Against Waning Support for Ukraine and its Defenseless HospitalsForeign Minister Baerbock defends the West's arms transfers to Ukraine and cautions against diminishing support for Kyiv. "The notion that war and deaths in Ukraine would cease if Ukraine discontinued its defensive weapons is as fallacious as it is straightforward," Baerbock stated during the UN General Debate in New York on Thursday. "If Russia stops its assault, the conflict is over. If Ukraine ends defending itself, then Ukraine is gone." Russian President Putin responded to an invitation for a peace conference in June with a bombing of a children's hospital. With Putin's unwillingness to attend the negotiating table, discontinuing our support would imply that "the Ukrainian hospitals and their children are defenseless. It might result in additional war crimes, potentially even in other nations." Baerbock underscores that Russia has "repeatedly challenged the inviolability of the Baltic states and Poland's borders."
06:45 Slovenia Advises Against Premature Decisions on Long-Range Missiles for UkraineSlovenia's government cautions against rash decisions concerning the use of long-range Western missiles on Russian territory, given German skepticism. "It's rarely wise to declare that certain topics are off-limits beforehand," says Prime Minister Robert Golob during the UN General Debate in New York. "It's a challenging topic, but I believe that, at this juncture, all potential solutions should be explored, and then the one that best fits the current situation should be selected." The US and Germany are particularly reluctant about this issue, with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz recently ruling out the delivery of long-range precision weapons to Ukraine, even for the future.
06:01 Trump and Zelenskyy Meeting ScheduledFormer U.S. President Donald Trump has arranged a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on a Friday in New York. The venue for this meeting is set to be Trump Tower in Manhattan, according to Trump's statement. It's been reported that Zelenskyy, who met with President Joe Biden the day prior, has extended his stay in the U.S. to interact with Trump. Prior to his US visit, Zelenskyy had expressed his intention to meet Trump, along with Democratic President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, to discuss his "victory plan" to conclude the Ukraine conflict. Learn more about this here.
04:25 Harris Assures Support to Zelensky, Subtly Warns Against Trump
During her visit to Washington, Democratic U.S. presidential candidate Kamala Harris promised unwavering support to Ukrainian President Zelensky. Although she did not mention Trump directly, her statement indirectly cautioned against Trump's potential victory. "My commitment to Ukraine remains steadfast. (...) I will remain a staunch ally to Ukraine, working tirelessly to ensure it emerges victorious and lives in stability and prosperity," Harris declared. She hinted at certain individuals in the U.S. who were inclined to hastily conclude the conflict, demanding Ukraine to relinquish a significant portion of its territory, embrace neutrality, and push aside security guarantees from other nations. These proposals closely resemble those from Russian President Putin, representing a call for capitulation.
02:08 Ukraine Reports Shelling in Tomyna Balka
On Thursday, Russian forces repeatedly attacked the settlement of Tomyna Balka, located west of the Ukrainian-controlled city of Kherson. According to local governor Prokrudin, a woman lost her life, and another person sustained injuries as a result of this assault, as reported on Telegram.
00:55 UK Delivers More AS90 Artillery Systems to Ukraine
The UK has announced plans to dispatch an additional batch of self-propelled artillery systems, AS90s, to the Ukrainian military. Ten such systems have already been delivered to Ukraine, with another six due for delivery in the coming weeks, as per the British Ministry of Defense.
23:33 UN Warns of Insufficient Funding for Ukrainians This Winter
The UN states that it lacks the necessary financing to help those impacted by the conflict in Ukraine this winter. "Our funding levels are significantly below what's required for this period," UNHCR Ukraine Representative Karolina Lindholm Billing comments. According to the UNHCR, they only have 47% of the funds they need to support the millions of Ukrainians displaced or affected by the conflict within their own country. Last winter, they were 70% funded.
22:13 Biden Vows to Boost Aid to Ukraine
U.S. President Joe Biden has announced plans to strengthen assistance to Ukraine throughout the remainder of his term. This will empower the Kyiv government's negotiating position, Biden adds. Their meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Washington serves as a backdrop to this announcement. Biden's term ends in January, with the possibility of either Vice President Kamala Harris or Republican Donald Trump succeeding him.
21:34 Ukraine Warns of Intensified Russian Attacks in Saporizhzhia Region
Ukrainian intelligence reports suggest an impending escalation of attacks in the Saporizhzhia region, as per a spokesperson for southern Ukraine troop forces. "The situation in the combat zone of the Saporizhzhia region is showing a trend towards escalation," the spokesperson stated on national television. Over the past 24 hours, there have been five Russian attacks, and the number could potentially rise, as the enemy is mobilizing attack groups near the settlement of Pryiutne, they added. Armored vehicles have also been introduced on the Russian side, according to the spokesperson. "This implies that they are preparing for a new offensive."
21:00 Biden and Zelensky's Meeting: Ukraine Will Not Concede to Russia
Kicking off their meeting in Washington, U.S. President Joe Biden assured Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of unwavering U.S. support. "Russia will not emerge victorious, Ukraine will," Biden said as he welcomed Zelensky to the Oval Office at the White House: "We are committed to supporting you at every step of the way." Read more here.
You can access previous developments here.
After their meeting with Donald Trump, Volodymyr Zelensky and Trump both express optimism about resolving the Ukrainian conflict, with Trump calling it a "intricate riddle" that they will "unravel". However, Trump maintains his stance that he has a resolution for the conflict and has been critical of US funding to Kyiv in the past.
In another context, the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is meeting with various international leaders during his visit to the US, including former president Donald Trump. Zelensky and Trump share a common goal of ending the conflict in Ukraine, but Trump has frequently criticized US funding to Ukraine and has pressured the leadership in Kyiv to sign a treaty with Russia.
