Ukraine-Russia war latest: Zelensky seeks to ‘push Putin to peace’ as more prisoners of war exchanged

Finland’s President Alexander Stubb has mentioned that establishing relations between Russia and the remainder of Europe in a method or one other will solely be attainable after a simply and lasting peace has been achieved in Ukraine.

Russia and Ukraine exchanged 146 prisoners of struggle from either side yesterday after mediation by the United Arab Emirates, the Russian defence ministry and the Ukrainian president mentioned.

The Russian ministry mentioned all the freed Russians have been in Belarus receiving psychological and medical help.

Ukraine additionally returned to Moscow eight Russian residents, residents of the Kursk area, the ministry mentioned.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, writing on the Telegram messaging app, introduced that the change had taken place, however gave no figures.

The president posted photos of smiling returnees, saying most of them had been in captivity since 2022, when Russia invaded its smaller neighbour. He mentioned a journalist taken prisoner a month after the invasion was amongst them.

Russian president Vladimir Putin ought to be conscious that Germany’s assist for Ukraine is just not waning, German finance minister and vice chancellor Lars Klingbeil mentioned as we speak upon arriving in Ukraine’s capital Kyiv on an unannounced go to.

“Putin should not have any illusions that Germany’s assist for Ukraine might crumble,” mentioned Klingbeil, chief of the Social Democratic Celebration that’s the junior companion in chancellor Friedrich Merz’ conservative-led coalition authorities.

“Quite the opposite: We stay Ukraine’s second-largest supporter worldwide and the most important in Europe,” mentioned Klingbeil. “Ukraine can proceed to depend on Germany.”

Klingbeil urged Putin to display an curiosity in a peace course of in Europe’s deadliest struggle in 80 years that broke out in February 2022.

US president Donald Trump has pressed for a fast finish to the struggle, however Kyiv and its allies are involved he might search to pressure an settlement on Russia’s phrases.

In a message posted on X, the King spoke of his “best and deepest admiration” for the Ukrainian folks as they proceed defending their nation in opposition to Russian invasion, and known as for a “simply and lasting peace” in Ukraine.

“I preserve feeling the best and deepest admiration for the unbreakable braveness and spirit of the Ukrainian folks,” King Charles wrote.

Vance instructed NBC’s Kristen Welker, in a pre-taped interview, that each side had signaled their openness to accepting “important concessions” in latest days, and mentioned that the president was open to growing stress if one aspect was seen as an impediment to peace.

“That is the energetic diplomacy that’s going to carry this struggle to an in depth,” Vance mentioned. “We typically really feel like we’ve made nice progress with the Russians, and typically, because the president has mentioned, he’s been very pissed off with the Russians. We’re going to maintain on doing what now we have to do to carry this factor to an in depth.”

However as his remarks aired on NBC’s Meet the Press Sunday, Russia’s prime diplomat was making that prospect look unlikely — whereas strolling again progress made between Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, Volodymyr Zelensky and a number of European leaders in a whirlwind sequence of conferences over the previous two weeks.

John Bowden experiences from Washington DC:

Volodymyr Zelensky has vowed to “to push Russia to peace” as Kyiv marked its Independence Day on Sunday.

The ceremony in Kyiv was attended by US envoy Keith Kellogg as Zelensky insisted {that a} assembly with Russian president Vladimir Putin is “the simplest method ahead” to finish the struggle in Ukraine.

The commemoration of Ukraine’s 1991 declaration of independence from the Soviet Union got here as Russia accused Kyiv of launching an enormous drone assault that sparked fireplace at a nuclear energy plant within the western Kursk area.

President Volodymyr Zelensky delivered remarks in a video deal with from Kyiv’s Independence Sq., emphasizing the nation’s resolve.

“We’re constructing a Ukraine that can have sufficient power and energy to reside in safety and peace,” Zelenskyy mentioned, calling for a “simply peace.”

“What our future can be is as much as us alone,” he mentioned, in a nod to the US-Russia summit in Alaska earlier in August, which many feared would depart Ukrainian and European pursuits sidelined.

“And the world is aware of this. And the world respects this. It respects Ukraine. It perceives Ukraine as an equal,” he mentioned.

US particular envoy Keith Kellogg was additionally awarded the Ukrainian Order of Advantage of the first diploma.

Russian international minister Sergei Lavrov has mentioned the ‘subsequent steps’ in repairing US-Russia relations rely on US management.

In a publish on Telegram, he said: “President #Putin: @realDonaldTrump & I had an excellent, constructive & frank dialogue in Alaska.

“I actually hope the primary steps made are only the start of a full-scale restoration of #RussiaUS relations.

“The following steps rely on the US management.”

Ukraine has revealed its plans to maneuver forward with a brand new cruise missile that may have the flexibility to strike deep into Russian territory.

The Flamingo FP-5 missile can carry a warhead weighing multiple tonne, and may fly greater than 3,000 kilometres.

Manufactured by Ukraine’s Hearth Level defence firm, the missile is reportedly sooner than any the nation at the moment use and took simply 9 months to develop.

US vp JD Vance has insisted Donald Trump would be the one to carry an finish to struggle in Ukraine as he praised his “energetic diplomacy”.

In remarks made on NBC’s Meet the Press Sunday, Vance instructed Kristen Welker each side had proven openness to accepting “important concessions” in latest days.

He added Trump can be prepared to pile the stress onto one aspect if mandatory.

Earlier this week, the US president mentioned he would “see whose fault it’s” earlier than taking additional motion in the direction of peace talks.

Veteran Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko, an in depth ally of Vladimir Putin, mentioned that he had undergone the primary bodily of his life and was discovered to be in good well being.

Questions have periodically been raised about Lukashenko’s well being up to now few years

“Not too long ago, for the primary time in my life, I underwent a whole bodily over two days,” Lukashenko, 70, instructed journalists on Belarusian tv in feedback posted on his Pul Pervogo Telegram channel.

“Goodness is aware of what they did not do to me. They even bought into my mind. They x-rayed each little bit of me… Contact wooden, I’m comfortable. All the things is regular.”

Doubts about his well being intensified throughout a go to to Moscow in 2023 on the anniversary of the 1945 Soviet victory over Nazi Germany throughout which he missed occasions, appeared unsteady and didn’t make an deal with.

Lukashenko mentioned even intelligence providers from nations pleasant to Belarus had inquired about his well being.

“I’m saying that I’m pleased with that,” he mentioned. “Hand over the take a look at outcomes, these examinations and allow them to be revealed.”

In energy since 1994, Lukashenko allowed Putin to make use of his nation’s territory to launch the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, however has mentioned he’ll play no direct function within the battle.