Polish President Karol Nawrocki declared discussions about Ukraine’s future membership in the European Union and NATO “premature,” prompting a swift response from Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry that such talks are strategically necessary.

In an interview with Lithuanian broadcaster LRT, Nawrocki explained his position on NATO membership: “I believe that a country at war cannot join NATO, because that would mean that Poland and Lithuania would also be at war, so this discussion should be postponed – it’s simply impossible.”

Regarding EU accession, the Polish president referenced the lengthy membership processes of Poland and Lithuania, which lasted “many years” and required consideration of “many factors, including impact on economy and business sectors.”

“Of course, I believe that Ukraine should be part of civilization in the future, if we want to look for adjectives, let’s say Latin or Western civilization. However, in my opinion, today’s discussion about Ukraine’s membership in the European Union is premature,” Nawrocki said, adding that he personally does not participate in such discussions.

When Russia launched its full-scale invasion against Ukraine, Poles were the first to provide Ukraine with significant assistance in military equipment and accepted a million Ukrainians into Poland.

Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry responded to Nawrocki, emphasizing that the country’s security future is inseparably linked with NATO, while its political and economic future lies with the EU. The ministry stated that Ukraine’s membership in these alliances serves as “a guarantee of security not only for Ukraine, but for all of Europe.”

The Foreign Ministry said that this position has received confirmation “both in NATO and EU decisions, and in numerous statements by leaders of partner countries, including Poland.” Therefore, the ministry emphasized that discussions about Ukraine’s future membership in NATO and the EU are not premature, but rather “strategically necessary in the context of the Russian-Ukrainian war.”

The ministry thanked Poland for the leadership it has demonstrated in supporting Ukraine since 2022.

During his presidential campaign, Nawrocki frequently referenced the Volyn tragedy, stating that Ukraine had no place in NATO or the EU until it “answered for crimes in Volyn.”

The Volyn tragedy refers to the mass killings of Polish civilians by the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) in Volhynia and adjacent regions during 1943-1944, part of an ethnic conflict causing tens of thousands of deaths. The number of Polish victims is estimated between 35,000 and 60,000, with Ukrainian casualties also resulting from retaliatory actions.

In the LRT interview, when asked about historical issues between neighboring countries, Nawrocki addressed the Volyn massacre: “My position on this issue is clear: 80 years ago, women, children and elderly people killed by Ukrainian nationalists and their loss of life was also a very painful experience.” He added that Poles “do not demand revenge, they demand graves, memory, names and surnames, and naturally, the President of Poland demands justice.”

In 2025, Ukraine conducted joint exhumation and reburial efforts with Poland for victims of the Volyn tragedy, notably reburial ceremonies held in places like Puzhnyky village in Ternopil Oblast. Ukraine is cooperating closely with Polish authorities to respectfully exhume victims’ remains, perform DNA testing for identification, and reinter them in local cemeteries, in a process seen as a step toward historical reconciliation.

The Polish president also discussed regional security concerns, stating that Russia “remains a constant threat” regardless of changing political regimes.

“We know that Putin is very attached to Soviet traditions, the longing for the Soviet empire in his heart is really strong,” Nawrocki said.

Regarding hybrid warfare from Belarus, Nawrocki confirmed that both Lithuania and Poland face “hybrid attacks from the East,” with concrete numbers and facts supporting this assessment.

The United States has terminated joint efforts with European allies to combat disinformation campaigns from Russia, China and Iran, the Financial Times reported on 9 September, citing three European officials familiar with the matter.

Russia has conducted extensive disinformation campaigns in recent years aimed at undermining support for Ukraine and the western-led global order.

European countries received notification from the State Department last week that the US is ending memoranda of understanding signed under the Biden administration in 2023. The agreements aimed to create a unified approach to identifying and exposing malicious information spread by foreign governments.

The move represents the final step in dismantling the Global Engagement Center (GEC), a State Department agency that tracked disinformation campaigns overseas by US adversaries and terror groups. The center was closed in December after Republican lawmakers blocked efforts to extend its mandate.

“Far from spiking a single plan, we were proud to spike the entire GEC,” said Darren Beattie, acting under-secretary of state for public diplomacy. “Not only was GEC’s infamous censorship activity profoundly misaligned with this administration’s pro-free speech position, it was woefully and embarrassingly ineffective on its own terms.”

James Rubin, who headed the center until December, criticized the decision as a “unilateral act of disarmament” in the information war with Russia and China. “Information warfare is a reality of our time and artificial intelligence is only going to multiply the risks from that,” Rubin said.

The Global Engagement Center was established in 2011 to counter terrorist propaganda and violent extremism online. Its mission later expanded to tracking disinformation campaigns overseas, but it became controversial among Republicans who accused it of censorship and stifling conservative voices.

Approximately 22 countries in Europe and Africa had signed agreements with the US over the past year, according to Rubin’s estimates. The memoranda formed part of the Biden administration’s framework to counter foreign state manipulation and develop coordinated responses with partner countries.

The center had actively tracked Russian disinformation efforts, including accusations in September that Russian-state broadcaster RT was acting on behalf of intelligence agencies and attempting to manipulate presidential elections in Moldova. The US has imposed sanctions on RT and other Russian-state broadcasters over their role in spreading disinformation.

Rubin denied that the center ever engaged in censorship during its operations.

RT was banned across continental Europe and the UK following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Russian forces launched drone attacks on Zaporizhzhia during the night of 9 September, resulting in a fire and one civilian casualty, according to Zaporizhzhia Oblast Governor Ivan Fedorov.

“Russian troops carried out at least two strikes on Zaporizhzhia,” Fedorov said.

The attacks ignited a private house in the city and left a 66-year-old woman injured.

This marks the latest in a series of drone assaults on the southeastern Ukrainian city. On 4 September, Russian forces struck Zaporizhzhia with an unmanned aerial vehicle, injuring four people, reports the regional administration.

The attacks are part of an intensified drone campaign across Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on 6 September that “Russians have used more than 1,300 strike drones against Ukraine since the beginning of the month.”

The night of 6-7 September saw one of the war’s largest drone barrages, with occupying forces directing 805 drones, 13 cruise missiles and ballistic missiles at Ukrainian oblasts, according to official reports. During that attack, the Cabinet of Ministers building in Kyiv was hit for the first time since the war began.

The repeated strikes on Zaporizhzhia demonstrate the ongoing targeting of civilian infrastructure in the region, which lies partially under Russian occupation while remaining a strategic front-line area.

On the night of 9 September, the Russian army attacked with 84 Shahed, Gerbera and other types of attack UAVs. Ukraine’s air defense shot down 60 Russian targets.

Chinese President Xi Jinping announced that China will strengthen strategic communications and deepen cooperation with North Korea in a congratulatory message to D​PRK leader Kim Jong Un, North Korean state news agency KCNA reports.

In his letter, Xi stated that “successfully protecting, strengthening and developing relations between China and the D​PRK” remains the consistent and unchanging policy of the Chinese party and government, according to KCNA.

The Chinese leader referenced Kim’s September 3 visit to Beijing and participation in a military parade, noting they jointly “presented a plan for the development of relations between the two countries in the coming years.”

“The Chinese side is ready to join hands in promoting the friendship between China and the D​PRK and the socialist cause of the two countries through enhanced strategic communication, active exchanges and close cooperation with the D​PRK,” Xi stated in the message.

The September 3 military parade in Beijing marked the first public meeting between Xi Jinping, Kim Jong Un, and Russian President Vladimir Putin, KCNA reported.

The United States responded to the Beijing parade by announcing that President Trump had ordered the revival of the army due to the growing alignment between Russia and China. On September 5, Trump declared that the world had “lost India and Russia” through these countries’ rapprochement with China.

President Donald Trump offered condolences to the family of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska during a White House Commission on International Religious Freedom address, after she was fatally stabbed on Charlotte’s light rail system on 22 August.

Zarutska, 23, came to the United States following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and was killed while riding home from work. The suspect, 34-year-old Decarlos Brown Jr., had served time in prison and been briefly committed for schizophrenia.

Trump said he reviewed surveillance footage of the attack, calling it unwatchable due to its severity.

“We’re all people of religion but there are evil people and we have to confront that,” Trump said. “I just give my love and hope to the family of the young woman who was stabbed this morning or last night in Charlotte by a madman, a lunatic just got up and started. It’s right on the tape. Not really watchable because it’s so horrible, but just viciously stabbed. She’s just sitting there.”

The President connected the incident to broader violent crime patterns in American cities.

“They’re evil people. We have to be able to handle that. If we don’t handle that, we don’t have a country,” Trump said during the religious freedom commission meeting.

Trump announced the creation of what he described as “the first ever Department of Justice task force to eradicate anti-Christian bias.” He characterized anti-Christian prejudice as widespread but underreported.

“For those people that are a little bit naive or not well read, there is a tremendous anti-Christian bias. We don’t hear about it. We don’t think about it. You hear about anti-semitic, but you don’t hear about anti-Christian. Now, you have a strong anti-Christian bias, but we’re ending that rapidly.”

The President said that his administration’s position on violence: “The Trump Administration will not tolerate terrorism or political violence, including hate crimes against Christians, Jews or anyone else. We will not allow this.”

Brown faces first-degree murder charges and has 14 prior criminal cases on his record. Zarutska suffered three stab wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene at 10:05 pm. The motive for the attack remains unknown as the investigation continues.

A ceremony to re-bury the remains of 42 people discovered during exhumation work in the former village of Puzhnyky has commenced in Ternopil Oblast, with Ukrainian and Polish officials and approximately 40 descendants of former village residents participating, reports Ukrinform correspondent from the scene.

The Ukrainian delegation includes acting Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications Tetyana Berezhna, Deputy Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada Olena Kondratiuk, Deputy Foreign Minister Oleksandr Mishchenko, and Ukrainian Institute of National Memory head Oleksandr Alfyorov.

Poland’s delegation is led by Senate Marshal Malgorzata Kidawa-Blonska and includes Culture and National Heritage Minister Marta Cenkowska, Acting Charge d’Affaires Piotr Lukasevich, and Consul General in Lutsk Anna Nowakowska.

“Today we are not talking about history, not about politics – today we are talking about humanity and that we are taking a step towards each other in an extremely complex historical topic. Ukraine ensures dignified commemoration of all war victims – regardless of nationality or the antiquity of the tragedy,”  UINM head Oleksandr Alfyorov said.

The ceremony included a Roman Catholic holy mass. Memorial markers will remain unnamed for now as DNA research continues, according to Professor Andrzej Ossowski, a geneticist from the Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin who leads the Polish scientific team.

“We should receive the first identification results by the end of this year. We have DNA profiles of all remains, we are still examining individual ones, and we also have DNA from their family members living in Poland. Given that there are close relatives among the victims, personal identification of remains requires very complex mathematical calculations,” Ossowski explained.

The geneticist noted that while they know they have remains from specific families, personal identification requires time.

“Further identification results will depend on whether we find their relatives (meaning living ones), because without them there will be no way to identify everyone. We don’t have relatives of all victims and are currently searching for their families,” he added.

The discovered remains will be re-buried at the original burial site where exhumation work was conducted – at the old cemetery in the former village of Puzhnyky.

Exhumation operations in the territory of former Puzhnyky village lasted from 23 April to 5 May 2025. The joint Ukrainian-Polish expedition worked under professional and security supervision of the Ukrainian side. DNA research on the remains was conducted in Poland.

Negotiations between Ukraine and Poland regarding the exhumation work continued from the previous year. In late November 2024, during a joint press conference by Polish and Ukrainian Foreign Ministers Radoslaw Sikorski and Andrii Sybiha, the lifting of the moratorium on searching for and exhuming remains of Polish citizens buried on Ukrainian territory was announced. The moratorium had been in effect since 2017.

In January 2025, Ukraine’s Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications granted permission for the Puzhnyky exhumation.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has once again declared that Budapest will not support Ukraine’s EU membership, emphasizing that the state is not interested in Moscow’s opinion on this matter. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha called for dialogue.

Szijjarto outlined Hungary’s position following a meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European Council President António Costa on 5 September.

The politicians’ meeting included discussions about EU accession. During a briefing, Zelenskyy said: “If even Putin does not object [to Ukraine’s EU membership], then the positions of some countries, especially Hungary, really look strange.”

According to the Hungarian diplomat, the Ukrainian president was presenting his own reasoning. “Unlike him, our position is not determined from abroad. We are not interested in what they think in Moscow about Ukraine’s EU membership,” he declared.

The minister added that Budapest is interested in what Hungarians think. Szijjarto referenced a referendum by the Hungarian government, in which the country’s citizens allegedly opposed Ukraine’s membership in the bloc due to supposed threats to farmers, the labor market, and security.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha responded to this statement. He emphasized that Ukraine’s EU accession poses no threat to Hungary.

According to him, the Hungarian farmers mentioned by Szijjarto have never blocked the Ukrainian-Hungarian border, and this year they are actively purchasing Ukrainian corn.

EU accession also does not threaten the Hungarian labor market, since before the full-scale invasion by Russia, Hungary’s government actively invited Ukrainians to work to compensate for the shortage of skilled labor.

Furthermore, the Hungarian community of Zakarpattia also supports joining the bloc.

“Instead of quarrels on Twitter, let’s meet and have a meaningful discussion. I am confident that we can reach pragmatic solutions in good faith — for the sake of our peoples’ common interests of peace and security in a united Europe,” Sybiha emphasized.

Ukraine’s EU accession

All 27 EU member states have already given the “green light” to begin negotiations with Ukraine on joining the bloc, however, Hungary is blocking them.

Last year, Budapest presented Ukraine with a list of 11 demands to unblock the path to the European Union. All of them are aimed at strengthening protection of national minority rights in Ukraine.

The Ukrainian side traveled to Budapest with additional proposals for resolving the entire complex of issues. Ukraine and Hungary then agreed from 12 May to organize regular consultations to work on the stated demands. However, Budapest postponed such consultations due to the detention of Hungarian spies by Ukraine’s Security Service in early May.

Hungarian authorities conducted a so-called consultative referendum in their country regarding Ukraine’s EU membership, following which they announced that 95% of votes were against. Orbán himself claimed that Ukraine’s EU membership would cause “the destruction of the European Union” and war with Russia on EU territory.

Lithuania proposed starting negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova on the first chapter of EU membership without Hungary’s consent. It is proposed that after approval by 26 member states, negotiations would take place at a technical level, de facto, and later an official agreement would be reached legally when all 27 EU states approve it, if Viktor Orbán’s position or that of the entire Hungarian government changes.

Polish protesters have ended their blockade of truck traffic at the Medyka-Shehyni border crossing, according to State Border Guard Service spokesman Colonel Andriy Demchenko.

“The Polish side reported the cessation of truck traffic blockade by protesters and the resumption of truck processing at their checkpoint at 15:30,” Demchenko told Ukrainska Pravda.

The blockade began Saturday at 12:50 Kyiv time when Polish demonstrators launched an action blocking traffic before the Medyka checkpoint, opposite Ukraine’s Shehyni crossing point.

Restrictions will reportedly last at least 6 hours with possible extension.

The protest site was located approximately one kilometer from the Polish Medyka checkpoint. Movement restrictions applied only to freight vehicles – passenger cars and buses continued crossing in normal mode.

At the time of the blockade, 681 freight vehicles were registered in the electronic queue for departure from Ukraine. Around 100 trucks waiting to enter Ukraine were already stationed at a specially equipped parking area, with their processing unaffected by the protest.

Border guards promised to provide additional updates on any changes or complications to traffic flow. The blockade lasted approximately 2.5 hours before Polish authorities announced its termination.

British intelligence has analyzed Russia’s systematic propaganda campaign targeting Ukrainian youth in temporarily occupied territories, according to a September 6 analysis reported by European Truth.

“The forcible political education of Ukrainian youth by the Russian authorities in the illegally occupied territories of Ukraine continues,” the intelligence assessment states. “The Russian Ministry of Defence youth organisation Yunarmiya and the Kremlin youth organisation Movement of the Firsts are amongst those organisations teaching Ukrainian children military skills, and indoctrinating them with pro-Russian and anti-Ukrainian propaganda.”

The British intelligence noted that Russian education authorities aim at countering purported extremism, a term defined broadly by Russian authorities. “A 2022 Russian Ministry of Education manual titled ‘Preventing conflicts, manifestations of extremism and terrorism in a poly-cultural educational environment’ claimed the expression ‘Slava Ukraine’ (Glory to Ukraine) to be an indicator of extremism,” according to the analysis.

Since 2022, Russian authorities have implemented what they call “University Sessions” programme, transporting children from occupied Ukrainian regions to Russian universities for so-called patriotic education. “This aims to inculcate the children with an anti-Ukrainian outlook, as well as glorifying Russian military exploits. Since 2022, around 50,000 Ukrainian children have attended these sessions at 116 Russian universities,” the intelligence report reveals.

British intelligence recently reported that Russia conscripts young Ukrainians into the Russian army upon reaching age 18, with many having been abducted from occupied Ukrainian territories during childhood.

In related developments, the British government imposed sanctions on September 3 against individuals involved in the abduction of Ukrainian children by Russia.

Russia has reached monthly production capacity of 2,700 Shahed-type drones, according to Andriy Yusov, representative of Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate, in an interview with Novyny.LIVE.

The intelligence official specified that Russia manufactures “Geran-2” drones, which are modified versions of standard Shaheds equipped with warheads. Most production takes place at the Alabuga Special Economic Zone in Yelabuga, Republic of Tatarstan, Yusov reported.

Despite this production volume, Russia cannot deploy thousands of drones daily. “They cannot physically launch such quantities toward the country every day. But we see these hundreds of Shaheds and combined missile-drone strikes they carry out – these are truly massive attacks. This is a serious challenge for our air defense and anti-missile defense forces,” Yusov said.

The intelligence representative addressed claims by military radio technology specialist Serhiy Flesh that Russian forces launch Shaheds equipped with cameras and radio control systems. According to Yusov, such modifications remain experimental.

“They can modify something, but going from such limited quantities to mass production is also a certain path. Therefore, they try different means. How much they will be able to put them into full mass production depends, among other things, on access to foreign components and many other factors,” he explained.

Previous intelligence reports indicate Russia’s broader drone ambitions. In September, Ukrainian intelligence disclosed Russia’s current stockpile of “Grom-1” hybrid missiles and annual production plans. On 21 August, LIGA.net reported that Russia plans to manufacture 4,000 turbojet drones by the end of 2025, according to intelligence sources.

Russian forces scattered leaflets disguised as 100-hryvnia banknotes ($2.42) across a Chernihiv district on the morning of 6 September, urging residents to share coordinates and assist in directing artillery fire at Ukrainian Armed Forces positions in exchange for money, according to Chernihiv region police.

“These leaflets were dropped by Russians using a drone,” police reported. The fake currency contained calls for locals to collaborate with Russian forces by providing intelligence on Ukrainian military movements and positions.

Law enforcement dispatched an investigative team to the scene immediately after discovering the propaganda materials. Police have registered the incident and are determining appropriate legal charges for the case.

The Chernihiv police issued warnings about criminal liability for collaborating with Russian forces, specifically highlighting penalties for “spreading information about the location and movement of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.” Authorities instructed residents to destroy any Russian leaflets they encounter.

The incident represents another attempt by Russian forces to recruit local informants through monetary incentives, using deceptive materials designed to resemble legitimate Ukrainian currency. Police emphasized that cooperation with occupying forces carries severe legal consequences under Ukrainian law.

US President Donald Trump clashed with Polish journalist Marek Wałkuski during a press conference, suggesting he “find a new job” after the reporter questioned why no concrete actions had been taken to end the war in Ukraine despite repeated promises, reports Polsat News.

Wałkuski asked why Trump had repeatedly said he would quickly end the war in Ukraine but had not taken measures to do so. Trump responded by citing sanctions against India, “the largest buyer [of Russian products] after China,” which he said cost Moscow “hundreds of billions of dollars.”

“Is this a lack of action? We have not yet moved to the second and third phases, but if you say there are no actions, then you should probably find a new job,” Trump said.

The journalist told The Hill he appreciated the president’s advice, but Trump’s reaction justified his career choice. “I got an answer from the US president to my question that is worthy of media attention, and that’s my job as a journalist. But I’m grateful for his advice,” Wałkuski said.

Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski defended the journalist, saying his question to Trump was one “that we all ask ourselves.”

“I would not fire you from your job,” Sikorski added during a press conference in Washington.

Wałkuski is the author of four books about the White House and the United States. He previously served as president of the White House Foreign Press Group from 2024 to 2025 and has been a member of the White House press corps since 2018.

In February, Wałkuski asked a question that provoked a dispute between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Trump, and US Vice President JD Vance. The journalist asked Trump to comment on being “too closely associated with Putin.” Trump replied that he was not associating with anyone and wanted to bring Russia and Ukraine to the negotiating table.

Vance then intervened, praising Trump’s diplomatic efforts. When the Ukrainian leader said that diplomacy with Putin was pointless, the situation escalated into an argument.

Sikorski commented on Karol Nawrocki’s visit to the White House, saying he would have an argument the next day at the Pentagon. “I will tell [Under Secretary of Defense] Colby: Listen, your president has already decided,” the foreign minister said, referring to Trump’s assurance that US troops would remain in Poland.

During Wednesday’s meeting between Nawrocki and Trump, the American leader assured that the United States would not withdraw troops from Poland and was ready to increase its presence if Poland expressed such a desire.

President Donald Trump stated that European countries should take the lead in providing security guarantees for Ukraine while confirming Washington’s willingness to assist, according to his remarks to journalists at the White House.

The US president emphasized that America will not abandon Ukraine but stressed the primary role of European partners in the process. “We’ll help them. But we want to save a lot of lives, so we’ll do something with that. I think people expect that. We’ll help them,” Trump said.

However, he underscored that Europe should be first in providing guarantees. “Europe will be first in, by far. And they want to be first in. They want to see it end. Europe wants to see it end,” the American president declared.

Trump’s comments follow recent developments in European security discussions. On 4 September, French President Emmanuel Macron announced after a meeting of the “coalition of the willing” that 35 leaders were ready to provide Ukraine with security guarantees, with 26 countries expressing willingness to either send troops or provide certain means to support guarantee forces.

Macron indicated that the US contribution would be finalized in the coming weeks. The following day, NBC News reported, citing several sources, that the United States might take a leading role in controlling a large buffer zone created to protect Ukraine from Russian aggression in case of a peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia.

Meanwhile, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz believes that Russian President Vladimir Putin currently has no grounds for ending the war or concluding a peace agreement with Ukraine.

The statements come as international discussions intensify around potential frameworks for Ukrainian security arrangements and the respective roles of transatlantic partners in any future peace process.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said during a September 5 briefing that US President Donald Trump expressed dissatisfaction with European countries continuing to purchase Russian gas and oil, thereby supporting Russia’s military machine. Hungary and Slovakia are among such countries, according to Zelensky.

European Council President António Costa emphasized that the EU has already reduced purchases of Russian energy resources by 80%. A significant portion of the remaining 20% falls on Hungary, which is currently blocking Ukraine’s EU accession.

Hungary explains this position by stating it disagrees with accepting Ukraine into the EU during wartime. But in that case, peace must be accelerated and the war stopped, Costa stressed.

“And for this it is necessary to continue supporting the Armed Forces of Ukraine, not to block the use of the Ukraine Facility fund. On the other hand, as President [of the US Donald] Trump said — it is very important to stop allowing the Russian Federation to continue waging this war by buying oil and gas,” Costa said.

Costa reported he will visit Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in the near future. President Zelensky also assured that contacts exist between Kyiv and Budapest.

Zelensky stated he sees no foundation for Hungary’s accusations but emphasized that Ukraine is ready for dialogue.

“We are ready to meet with Orban. To discuss what else they are dissatisfied with. And how else we can help so that they are finally satisfied. President Trump heard a signal from our side regarding the blockade. America and President Trump said they would work to unblock this process, to help Ukraine with this,” Zelenskyy said.

Costa emphasized that Ukraine must meanwhile continue working on EU accession.

“The negotiation process continues. Ukrainian authorities continue working with the European Commission. We cannot lose this path. We must continue working on reforms, because in any case this must be done. We don’t need to wait for Hungary, or anyone, to continue our work. Because Ukraine’s future is in the EU,” he said.

Costa believes the Russian-Ukrainian war will end before Ukraine’s EU accession negotiations conclude, so “there are no reasons to waste time in this process.”

“If even Putin does not object [to Ukraine’s EU membership], then the positions of some countries, especially Hungary, really look strange,” Zelenskyy said.

EU membership process

All 27 EU member states have given the “green light” to begin negotiations with Ukraine on joining the bloc, however, Hungary is blocking them.

Last year Budapest presented Ukraine with a list of 11 demands to unblock the path to the European Union. All are aimed at strengthening protection of national minority rights in Ukraine.

The Ukrainian side traveled to Budapest with additional proposals for resolving the entire complex of issues. Ukraine and Hungary then agreed from 12 May to organize regular consultations to work on the stated demands. However, Budapest postponed such consultations due to the Security Service of Ukraine’s detention of Hungarian spies in early May.

Hungarian authorities conducted a so-called consultative referendum in their country regarding Ukraine’s EU membership, based on which they announced that 95% of votes were against. Orban himself claimed that Ukraine’s EU membership would mean “destruction of the European Union” and war with Russia on EU territory.

Lithuania proposed starting negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova on the first chapter of EU membership without Hungary’s consent. It is proposed that after approval by 26 member states, negotiations would take place at a technical level, de facto, and later an official agreement would be reached legally when all 27 EU states approve it, if Viktor Orban’s position or that of the entire Hungarian government changes.

The main pyramid at Burning Man festival in Nevada featured Ukrainian symbols including sunflowers, wheat, and blue and yellow colors through an AI-generated video created by director Olha Navrotska, Suspilne Culture reported on 4 September.

The audiovisual animation was conceived by philanthropist and initiator of educational projects “Skarb” and “War Diaries: Unheard Voices of Ukrainian Children” Khrystia Khranovska and displayed on the festival’s central pyramid structure used for projections, performances and light shows.

“My idea was to make Ukraine visible even in the middle of the Nevada desert. With this video, I wanted to show our country as modern, noble, intelligent, authentic, unique and understandable to the world. We must be heard everywhere,” Khranovska said.

Director Olha Navrotska brought the concept to life using artificial intelligence. The video incorporated Ukrainian cultural symbols: blue sky colors, sunflowers as signs of life, wheat ears and horses as images of freedom and fertility, along with figures of Ukrainian women and brave men.

The musical component features an ethno-house track “Skarb” by Fahot, leader of the band TNMK.

“This video is another opportunity to remind the world about ourselves, and to do it at a huge international festival. We chose yellow-blue colors both because it’s our flag and because it’s an incredibly powerful color combination that should immediately be associated with us and create a bright picture in the night,” Navrotska explained.

According to Suspilne Culture, the animation on Burning Man’s main pyramid served as a tribute to the 34th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence.

Burning Man, an annual eight-day independent art event in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert, runs from 24 August to 1 September under this year’s theme “Tomorrow Today.” Organizers define it as an experiment in creating a community of radical self-expression, culminating in burning a massive wooden human statue on the final day.

Forbes reported that Ukraine was represented by five artworks at the festival: “Black Cloud” by Oleksiy Say, “The Point of Unity” by Mykola Kabluka, “Death Conquered Death” by Volodymyr Semkiv, “Merman” by Merman Team, and “Blue Bull” by “Workshop of Wonders.”

Pragmatika reported that an additional installation called “HeyDay” by Kharkiv artist Volodymyr Ponomarenko – a mirrored flower made of stainless steel.

Say’s original installation was destroyed by a storm on the festival’s first day, leading the artist to transform it into a new work titled “No Fate” – shortened from the phrase “No fate but what we make,” borrowed from Sarah Connor’s line in the “Terminator” franchise.

The new installation continues the message “Get Ready!” from “Black Cloud”: invisible threats are real, but the future is not predetermined and remains in human hands, emphasizing the choice to resist threats rather than become accustomed to them.

Russian President Vladimir Putin told the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok that he was ready for contact with Ukraine but questioned whether Kyiv has the political will to reach agreements on key issues, according to Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation.

Putin claimed Ukraine had previously excluded direct contacts with Russia but now “asks for them.” He dismissed peace negotiations in a third country as an “excessive request from Kyiv” and suggested Moscow as the preferred meeting location.

“Ukraine wants a meeting, I’m ready, come, we will provide working conditions and security,” Putin said at the forum.

The Russian leader declared that Russia would consider any foreign troops on Ukrainian territory “legitimate targets for destruction.” He added that security guarantees for both Ukraine and Russia had not been seriously discussed with Moscow at a high level.

Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation said Putin’s statements confirmed he rejects peace proposals while using rhetoric about readiness to negotiate as a stalling tactic.

“Putin continues to stall, putting forward deliberately unacceptable demands for negotiations, but almost no longer hides that he does not intend to agree on anything. Sanctions and pressure on Russia must be strengthened,” the Center concluded.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded that Putin pretends he does not need peace or agreements, but global pressure can shape Russia’s interest in ending the war.

Zelenskyy reacted to Putin’s Moscow invitation, saying: “If you want there to be no meeting, invite me to Moscow.”

Recent diplomatic developments include Donald Trump’s 25 August statement that he would observe for two weeks before intervening “very decisively” in potential Zelenskyy-Putin talks. On 4 September, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that 26 countries would provide peacekeepers or assistance as part of security guarantees for Ukraine.

Trump said he plans to speak with Putin soon after his conversation with Zelenskyy, calling Russia’s war against Ukraine “the most difficult of everything” for him.

Russian forces launched 157 drones and 7 missiles of various types against Ukraine during the night of 5 September, according to the Air Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. All seven missiles reached their targets.

The missile arsenal included six S-300 surface-to-air guided missiles and one X-59 guided aviation missile, the Air Forces reported. Ukrainian aviation, anti-aircraft missile forces, electronic warfare units, unmanned systems, and mobile fire groups of the Defense Forces repelled the air attack.

By 9:00 AM, Ukrainian military forces had shot down or suppressed 121 Russian Shahed-type UAVs and various decoy drones in the northern and eastern oblasts of the country. However, 7 missiles and 35 strike drones hit 10 locations. One enemy drone remained airborne at the time of the report.

The Dnipropetrovsk Regional Military Administration reported that their region bore the brunt of the massive Russian drone attack. In Dnipro, Russian forces hit an enterprise, causing fires that emergency services have since extinguished. No casualties were reported.

“Defenders of the sky eliminated 15 of them,” the Air Defense Command said regarding the drones targeting Dnipropetrovsk Oblast overnight.

The attack pattern varied across the oblast. In Dnipro, “the aggressor hit an enterprise. Fires broke out there, and rescuers quickly began extinguishing them,” according to regional authorities. Meanwhile, “the enemy struck the Pokrovsk community in Nikopol district with an FPV drone.”

The strikes caused significant property damage beyond the targeted enterprise. Private houses near the drone impact sites in Dnipro were damaged, with windows shattered in apartment buildings. Specialists are now inspecting the homes and documenting the damage while accepting residents’ claims to calculate losses accurately.

Local charities are distributing building materials at the sites, providing OSB boards and film for residents to temporarily cover damaged roofs, doors, and windows. The state assists in rebuilding through the “eRecovery” program, with applications available through the Diia platform.

All relevant emergency services are working at the affected locations alongside local volunteers providing immediate assistance to residents.

Ukrainian forces attacked an oil refinery in the Russian city of Ryazan and an oil depot in occupied Luhansk during the night of 5 September, Robert Brovdi, commander of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces, said.

The Ryazan Oil Refinery, one of Russia’s four largest refineries, was struck by Ukraine’s 14th Unmanned Systems Regiment together with Special Operations Forces, Main Intelligence Directorate, and other Defense Forces components. The same regiment targeted the Luhansk oil depot.

Russian Telegram channel Astra earlier cited eyewitnesses reporting that the Ryazan refinery was burning following drone strikes. Ryazan region governor Pavel Malkov claimed that eight drones were shot down over the region overnight, with debris falling on an industrial facility.

Russian media and Telegram channels reported a large fire in occupied Luhansk on the evening of 4 September. The strike reportedly hit a key oil depot that supplies fuel to Russian forces.

Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian oil refineries have occurred regularly since the beginning of 2024. Some facilities have sustained damage to primary oil processing units requiring repairs.

Ukraine’s General Staff has confirmed most attacks, stating that the Defense Forces “systematically implement measures aimed at reducing the combat potential of Russian occupation forces, as well as forcing the Russian Federation to cease armed aggression against Ukraine.”

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Uzhhorod on 5 September, with energy infrastructure set as the primary agenda item, the Slovak government’s press service reported to the TASR agency.

The meeting in Uzhhorod represents a critical juncture for Slovak-Ukrainian relations, particularly as both countries navigate competing energy security priorities while maintaining their positions on the ongoing war.

The Slovak government press service confirmed that Fico will arrive in Uzhhorod on 5 September. Besides meeting with Zelenskyy, he will also hold talks with Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko. His delegation includes Economy Minister Denisa Sakova and Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar, with energy infrastructure discussions expected to dominate the talks.

“The Slovak premier and Ukrainian president will inform about the meeting’s conclusions at a joint press conference,” the government added, according to the report.

This marks the first bilateral meeting between Fico and Zelenskyy since the Slovak premier returned to office in 2023. The timing comes amid escalating tensions over energy transit routes that directly affect Slovakia’s oil supplies.

Hungary and Slovakia continue receiving Russian oil through the Druzhba pipeline, which Ukraine has targeted in recent attacks. Slovak and Hungarian foreign ministers have complained to the European Commission about these attacks, highlighting the regional energy security concerns.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban escalated the diplomatic response by writing to Trump about Ukraine’s attacks on the Druzhba pipeline, with the former president reportedly expressing anger over the situation. However, on 4 September, American President Donald Trump told European leaders that Europe “should stop purchasing Russian oil,” which he said helps Moscow finance the war against Ukraine.

NATO member countries will contribute to the construction of new air bases where F-35 fighters will be stationed, Yle reported on 4 September.

The NATO Investment Committee will decide the size of each country’s contribution. Defence Properties CEO Matias Warsta expressed hope that the funding will reach over 100 million euros ($116 mn)

“I hope that we reach a three-digit figure, over one hundred million euros,” Warsta said, emphasizing this was his personal assessment.

Finland’s Ministry of Defence declined to provide forecasts on the amount other NATO countries might contribute.

According to Yle’s calculations, the potential 100 million euros ($116 mn) would represent one-fifth of the construction program worth approximately half a billion euros. The plan includes building shelters, maintenance facilities, and storage for new F-35 fighters in Rovaniemi, Siilinjärvi, and Tikkakoski.

NATO approved almost the entire Finnish F-35 infrastructure construction program as eligible for funding earlier this spring. The first F-35 fighters are expected to arrive at the Rovaniemi air base in late 2026, where construction work has already begun.

Finland has ordered 64 new F-35s from Lockheed Martin to replace aging F/A-18 Hornets.

Finland receives NATO co-financing for the first time

NATO provides funding through its investment program when a project is deemed to generate capabilities for the entire defense alliance and exceed national needs. According to Warsta, access to NATO co-financing was not guaranteed when construction began.

“This is an educated expert assessment. But the sum could be larger or smaller,” Warsta said.

Special adviser Arjo Kaarre from the Ministry of Defence noted that determining which aspects of fighter base equipment exceed Finland’s needs is not straightforward.

“It’s a matter of negotiation and partly interpretative,” Kaarre said.

Each NATO country’s payment share is determined in the same proportion as membership fees. Kaarre indicated the first funding decisions will likely be made next year.

Finland has not previously received NATO co-financing for its construction projects.

Manufacturer sets new requirements mid-construction

The first F-35 fighters will arrive at the Lapland Squadron in Rovaniemi in late 2026. Construction work continues at the site.

Cost estimates for the Rovaniemi base have increased from 150 million to 200 million euros (from $174 mn to $232 mn), though Warsta said they remain within agreed frameworks.

“In addition to rising construction costs, the equipment manufacturer (Lockheed Martin) has also set additional requirements for the work,” Warsta explained.

Both Lockheed Martin and the US administration have imposed strict security requirements and regularly inspect compliance.

Construction at Rovaniemi includes underground spaces for fighters and information systems, a 3,000 square meter storage facility for spare parts, maintenance facilities, and training facilities with simulators.

The airfield will see increased use as training activities with NATO allies intensify. In real situations, allied fighters could also rely on Finnish bases.

The employment gap between men and women in the Czech Republic has narrowed to a record low, with experts attributing the shift primarily to Ukrainian refugee women entering the workforce, Novinky reported on 4 September.

Czech Statistical Office data shows that as of June 2025, employment among men stood at 80.2%, while women’s employment reached 71.2% – a difference of nine percentage points.

This marks a dramatic change from July 2023, when women’s employment was 68.2% compared to men’s 81.5%, representing a gap of over 13 percentage points.

“We are seeing things that have never happened historically,” Dalibor Holý, director of the labor market statistics and equal opportunities department at the Czech Statistical Office, told Novinky.

The statistics reveal the scale of Ukrainian women’s integration into the Czech labor market. In June 2025, nearly 166,000 refugees were legally employed in the country, with 101,000 of them women. According to Jakub Augusta, spokesman for the Czech Ministry of Labor, “this is the highest number since the beginning of the war.”

Holý explained that Ukrainian refugee women “have a very high employment rate, which contributes to the growth of women’s employment.”

Beyond refugee integration, experts point to broader economic factors driving the employment shift. The rising cost of living has pushed more women into the workforce, while traditional male-dominated industries have shed jobs. Manufacturing, historically employing more men, has contracted, while the service sector – where women are more represented – has remained stable.

The employment pattern also reflects changes in work arrangements. Experts suggest that support for part-time employment, which women use more frequently than men, has contributed to the narrowing gap.

The Czech Republic has taken other steps toward gender equality in recent months. The country recently allowed women to use the masculine form of their surnames in official documents.

However, Czech intelligence services have warned of potential challenges ahead. They cautioned about a scenario where thousands of Ukrainian war veterans might travel to the Czech Republic to reunite with their families after the war ends, though the implications for the labor market remain unclear.

The employment figures represent a significant shift in Czech demographics and labor patterns, with Ukrainian refugee women emerging as a key factor in reshaping the country’s workforce composition.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte warned that geographical distance provides no security guarantee against Russian threats, citing missile technology that can reach European capitals within minutes.

“We are all very close, particularly in the context of the latest Russian missile technologies. For example, the difference now between Lithuania and Luxembourg, The Hague or Madrid is five to ten minutes – that’s how long it takes for a missile to reach these parts of Europe,” Rutte said during a joint press conference in Luxembourg with Prime Minister Luc Frieden and Defense Minister Yuriko Backes, according to Ukrinform.

The NATO chief emphasized that member states should abandon any sense of safety based on distance from Russia. “We are all under direct threat from the Russians. We are all now on the eastern flank, regardless of whether we live in London or Tallinn – there is no longer any difference,” he added.

Rutte’s comments came as he confirmed US commitment to NATO interests and Washington’s recognition of “the existence of a long-term Russian threat to the entire Alliance, to the entire Euro-Atlantic.”

The Secretary General described deep American understanding of interconnected security concerns. “They deeply understand, and I feel this from all my conversations in Washington, that safe United States needs a safe Atlantic, safe Europe and safe Arctic, because otherwise the United States itself, even the mainland, will be under threat,” he said.

Rutte also addressed the incident involving European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s aircraft, which experienced navigation problems due to suspected Russian interference. The NATO chief stressed that the Alliance takes this “very seriously” and is “strengthening the response to hybrid and cyber threats.”

Financial Times and Reuters reported that on 31 August, the aircraft carrying von der Leyen to the Bulgarian city of Plovdiv lost electronic navigation systems while approaching the city airport. According to unnamed officials, the GPS signal in the entire airport zone was disabled, which was interpreted as a Russian interference operation.

Luxembourg Prime Minister Luc Frieden announced his country’s intention to join NATO’s PURL initiative (Priority Ukraine Requirements List) to purchase weapons in the US and transfer them to Ukraine, Ukrinform reported.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz escalated his criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin, calling him “perhaps the most serious war criminal of our time” in an interview with Sat.1 television, according to ntv.

“He is a war criminal. He is perhaps the most serious war criminal of our time that we are currently seeing on a large scale,” Merz said in the interview. “And we must simply be clear about how to deal with war criminals. There is no place for leniency here.”

The CDU leader’s characterization represents a new level of personal condemnation of the Russian president. While Merz has previously accused Russia as a state of “serious war crimes” and “terrorism against the civilian population” during his tenure as chancellor, his direct personal labeling of Putin as potentially the era’s worst war criminal marks an unprecedented escalation in his rhetoric.

The comments come as international legal proceedings against Putin continue. In March 2023, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for the Russian president in connection with the illegal deportation of children from Ukraine.

The arrest warrant has complicated diplomatic efforts. Austria’s Foreign Ministry recently stated the country would be willing to host negotiations between Ukrainian and Russian leaders to end the war. Vienna indicated it could conduct consultations with the International Criminal Court to coordinate issues regarding Putin’s arrest warrant and avoid his detention during any potential visit.

Merz’s remarks reflect the ongoing international debate over how to engage with Russian leadership while war crimes proceedings remain active. His insistence that “leniency” has no place in dealing with war criminals signals Germany’s hardening stance toward diplomatic accommodation with Moscow.

The interview represents one of the strongest personal condemnations of Putin by a major European leader since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began.

Ukrainian forces have successfully cleared Russian troops from the village of Udachne in Donetsk Oblast and raised the Ukrainian flag over the settlement, the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces announced on 2 September.

The village sits approximately 10 kilometers west of Pokrovsk, a strategic town that has emerged as one of the most contested areas along Ukraine’s eastern front line.

“Defense forces ‘cleared’ the village of Udachne on the Pokrovsk direction and installed the Ukrainian flag,” the General Staff reported on Facebook.

Military officials confirmed that all Russian strongpoints in the area were destroyed during the operation.

“Over two weeks, assault groups gradually cleared house by house and raised the Ukrainian flag over the village,” according to a video statement released by the armed forces.

The liberation of Udachne comes amid intense fighting across the Pokrovsk direction, where Ukrainian forces repelled 46 assault attempts near the settlements of Volodymyrivka, Zapovidne, Novoekonomichne, Myrolyubivka, Lysivka, Zvirove, Kotlyne, Udachne, and Dachne, the General Staff reported in its morning briefing on Facebook.

The village belongs to the Udachne territorial community, which has been under severe pressure from Russian forces. As of 11 June 2024, fighting was already underway in Udachne, Novoserhiivka, and Novomykolaivka, according to Valeriy Duhelny, head of the Udachne village military administration, as reported by Suspilne Donbas.

Duhelny had told Suspilne Donbas on 8 June that combat operations and the “gray zone” had reached the borders of Udachne and Novoserhiivka, though none of the seven settlements in the community were officially occupied at that time. He described the eastern part of Udachne as completely destroyed, with no intact buildings remaining after Russian shelling.

A 39-year-old man crashed his white SUV through the gates of the Russian consulate in Sydney’s eastern suburbs on the morning of 1 September after police attempted to question him about his unauthorized presence on the property, according to New South Wales Police.

Officers responded to reports of a suspicious vehicle parked in the consulate’s driveway in Woollahra around 8:30 AM. When police tried to speak with the driver, “the man allegedly drove his vehicle into the gates of the property” and continued onto the lawn, police said, according to The Guardian.

Helicopter footage captured the aftermath: the vehicle with doors open and smashed front windows positioned near a large flagpole on the consulate grounds.

An eyewitness described the confrontation to local media: “I came out and I saw a policeman with a gun, his glock, pointing at the man in the car, asking him to get out of the car. He didn’t [get out], rammed through the gates, drove onto the property and stopped again.”

The incident injured a 24-year-old constable who sustained a hand injury and received treatment from NSW Ambulance paramedics, according to police reports.

Pro-Kremlin influencer Simeon Boikov, known online as Aussie Cossack, witnessed the events from inside the consulate where he has been staying for 1,000 days while facing assault charges. “From my side, it looks like a diplomatic asylum attempt,” Boikov told reporters from within the building.

The driver was arrested and taken to Surry Hills police station for questioning. Federal police detectives launched an investigation, with the Australian Federal Police’s Diplomatic Protection Unit also involved. The vehicle was towed from the premises around 10 AM.

Minor damage to the front gate was quickly repaired, and federal police officers maintained security around the area. The Russian consulate has not responded to requests for comment, reports Guardian Australia and ABC News.

Boris Kragen, a 77-year-old Russian national from Moscow, arrived at the consulate for paperwork but found the leafy street cordoned off with police tape and multiple patrol cars blocking access. 

Video footage from witnesses captured police shouting commands at the driver: “Get out of the car immediately” and “Get on the ground,” according to media reports. The damaged driver-side windows suggested police used batons to gain access to the vehicle.

New South Wales Police confirmed the investigation remains ongoing.

Jens Spahn from the CDU/CSU and Matthias Miersch from the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) arrived in Kyiv on 1 September, DW reported.

The visit marks the first joint trip to Ukraine by the parliamentary group leaders of the CDU/CSU and SPD. Both Spahn and Miersch are making their inaugural visits to Ukraine.

The German politicians plan to discuss continued German support for Ukraine and diplomatic efforts to end the war during their stay in Kyiv, according to the report.

“Matthias Miersch and I are here to send a clear signal: the government factions CDU/CSS and SPD stand now and in the future on the side of Ukraine, the brave Ukrainians who defend their homeland, their country, and also Europe,” Spahn said.

When asked about possible security guarantees for Ukraine, Spahn emphasized that the best guarantee is a well-equipped Ukrainian army. “The first and most important security guarantee for Ukraine is the Ukrainian army. Above all, we want to equip it as well as possible,” he said.

The visit follows German Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil’s trip to Kyiv on 25 August. During that visit, Klingbeil announced Germany’s commitment to provide Ukraine with nine billion euros annually over the coming years.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto announced on 30 August that Budapest will block the opening of substantive negotiations on Ukraine’s EU membership, citing concerns over agriculture, security, and energy costs.

Hungary, led by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó, has been actively vetoing Ukraine’s accession process to the European Union. Viktor Orbán is widely regarded as a close ally of Vladimir Putin, positioning Hungary as a key supporter of Russian interests within the EU. 

Speaking after an informal EU foreign ministers meeting in Copenhagen, Szijjarto said Hungary “will not allow the substantive part of the accession negotiations, i.e., the specific rounds of the negotiations, to be opened,” according to Hungarian media reports.

The minister justified the position by claiming Ukraine’s EU membership “would destroy Hungarian farmers, Hungary’s food security, and allow the Ukrainian mafia to enter Hungary.”

Szijjarto accused Brussels and most EU member states of prioritizing war continuation over peace negotiations.

“Brussels and most European Union member states are preparing for the long-term continuation of the Ukrainian war, are not interested in the success of peace negotiations, and are ready to send many more thousands of billions of forints to Ukraine,” he said.

The Hungarian official criticized the European Commission for acting “practically as a Ukrainian Commission, completely representing Ukraine’s interests, contrary to the interests of member states” during the Copenhagen discussions.

Hungary outlined four specific areas where it will maintain opposition to EU policy on Ukraine. The country will continue supporting US President Donald Trump’s peace efforts, as “only an American-Russian agreement can bring about a settlement,” Szijjarto said.

Ukraine applied for EU membership shortly after Russia’s invasion in 2022 and received candidate status within months. However, Hungary’s veto power as an EU member allows it to block further progress.

The Hungarian position comes amid broader EU discussions about Ukraine’s integration path and continued financial support. Hungary has consistently opposed aid packages to Ukraine and sanctions against Russia throughout the conflict.

On 13 August, Szijjarto condemned a Ukrainian drone strike on a distribution station of the Druzhba oil pipeline in Russia’s Bryansk Oblast. Hungary relies on this pipeline for most of its crude oil imports and remains one of two EU countries, along with Slovakia, still importing Russian oil via Druzhba under EU sanctions exemptions.

Polish Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński announced the deportation of a Ukrainian citizen who posted video threats of arson attacks online.

“A Ukrainian citizen who threatened to commit arson in videos posted on the Internet was forcibly taken and deported to Ukraine by border service officers,” Kierwiński wrote on X.

The minister published footage showing the Ukrainian being handed over to Ukrainian border guards. Polish authorities had detained the individual on 29 August, according to Kierwiński’s earlier statements.

The deportation comes amid broader Polish security measures targeting Ukrainian nationals. On 30 August, Poland expelled 15 Ukrainian citizens who authorities claimed posed threats to public safety.

Border service officials reported that several of the deported Ukrainians had prior criminal convictions. The charges included possession of narcotic and psychotropic substances, theft, robbery, document forgery, drunk driving, and organizing illegal border crossings into Poland.

The cases highlight growing tensions as Polish authorities increase scrutiny of Ukrainian residents amid ongoing security concerns.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia of deliberately choosing war over peace negotiations as Vladimir Putin traveled to China for a regional security summit. The Ukrainian leader criticized Moscow for ignoring widespread international calls for a ceasefire that have emerged from leaders across multiple continents.

Zelenskyy said in his evening adress that peace talks at the leadership level were proposed in Washington two weeks ago, adding Ukraine remains prepared for such discussions. However, he said Russia has chosen a different path by continuing to invest in military operations rather than diplomacy.

“All signals from Russia indicate only the continuation of aggression,” Zelenskyy said, according to his statement. “During his visit to China, Putin will again seek ways to avoid responsibility – this is his usual tactic.”

The Ukrainian president emphasized the breadth of international opposition to the war, citing calls for peace from major global powers and religious leaders.

“The world unanimously demands a ceasefire: China says this, and India’s Prime Minister, and the leaders of Türkiye, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan. Today an important statement was made by the Pope. The only one who wants war is Russia,” Zelenskyy said.

Putin’s visit to China comes amid what sources describe as a “crunch moment” in peace talks over the Ukraine war, with the Russian leader attending a regional security summit alongside other leaders.

Zelenskyy argued that international pressure on Moscow must intensify, warning that the war’s continuation destabilizes the global situation. Ukraine expects firm positions from the United States, European Union, and G20 nations, he said.

The Ukrainian president also thanked partners who joined the PURL special program, which enables weapons purchases in the United States for Ukrainian defense forces. He announced that the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Canada, Belgium, and Latvia joined the initiative in August.

“The total amount in the program has already exceeded $2 billion. Our goal is to add at least one billion monthly. These are funds for purchasing modern weapons – Patriot missiles, HIMARS and other systems that protect our cities,” Zelenskyy said.

The president previously reported that Ukrainian Defense Forces are containing Russian advances in Donetsk Oblast and toward Pokrovsk.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned that Ukrainian capitulation would lead to Russian aggression against other states, according to his interview with ZDF channel.

Merz said the war between Russia and Ukraine could continue for an extended period. “We are trying to end it as quickly as possible. But certainly not at the price of Ukraine’s capitulation,” he added.

The Chancellor explained that while the war could end tomorrow if Ukraine surrenders and loses its independence, such an outcome would have dangerous consequences. “Only then the day after tomorrow it will be the turn of the next country. And then the day after that it will be our turn. That is not an option,” Merz said.

The German leader emphasized his government’s position on avoiding Ukrainian surrender despite the war’s potential duration. 

Regarding the possibility of a ceasefire next year, Merz expressed cautious optimism: “I don’t give up hope that we can make it happen. But I’m also not deluding myself.”

On the question of ground troops in Ukraine, Merz opposed such deployment at present. “Nobody is talking about ground troops in Ukraine at this time,” he said. 

This interview follows Merz’s earlier statements on Ukraine. On 27 August, the Chancellor argued that Ukrainian capitulation would only give the Russian dictator time to prepare for a new war. Two days later, on 29 August, Merz said Russia’s war against Ukraine could last “many months” as Putin refuses negotiations.

Most Ukrainians favor ending combat operations through negotiated settlement while demanding concrete security assurances from Western allies, according to new polling data from the Rating Sociological Group.

The survey, conducted 21-23 August, found 59% of respondents support “cessation of hostilities and search for compromise,” while 20% back continuing the war until Donbas and Crimea are returned and 13% favor fighting until 23 February 2022 borders are restored.

Security guarantees emerge as the central precondition for any ceasefire agreement. When asked whether Ukraine should agree to stop fighting, 75% said “Yes, but only if Ukraine receives security guarantees from the USA and European countries,” according to the polling firm. Just 19% said Ukraine “should not agree under any conditions,” while 3% supported an unconditional ceasefire.

Ukrainians identified three priority security mechanisms: continued military financing and weapons supplies from partners (52%), allied commitments to enter combat if Russia attacks again (48%), and international air and sea patrols (44%).

The preference for multilateral negotiations over bilateral talks with Moscow was pronounced. The Rating group found 62% view “search for compromise with involvement of other countries” as realistic, compared to 20% who favor “direct negotiations with Russia.” Only 11% support rejecting talks entirely and “fighting until liberation of all territories.”

When asked about current priorities, 58% chose securing Western commitments for future army financing and adequate weapons supplies, while 31% prioritized territorial recovery.

Respondents most commonly said Ukraine fights Russia for “children’s future” (60%) and “freedom” (44%).

The telephone survey interviewed 1,600 adults across all oblasts except occupied Crimea and Donbas territories and areas without Ukrainian mobile coverage. The margin of error is 2.5% with 95% confidence level.

A forest fire that burned for four days near Russian President Vladimir Putin’s reported Black Sea residence has been extinguished, according to Krasnodar Oblast Governor Veniamin Kondratyev. The blaze, which spread to 41.5 hectares, started after drone debris fell in the area during Ukrainian strikes on 28 August.

The fire occurred near the village of Krynitsa, located approximately 10 kilometers from Putin’s palace on Cape Idokopas, Medusa and Astra reported, citing local authorities. One fire center burned less than one kilometer from Putin’s Krynitsa winery, according to The Insider.

“Through the fall of debris, one of the oil refinery installations caught fire, and forest fires also occurred in the area of Krynitsa village,” the Krasnodar Oblast operational headquarters said.

The Ukrainian General Staff confirmed that Ukrainian forces attacked Russian oil refineries overnight on 28 August, including the Afipsky refinery in Krasnodar Oblast. The forest fire began on the morning of 28 August, expanding from its initial size to 41.5 hectares by 29 August.

NASA FIRMS mapping data shows the blaze located just 850 meters from the winery facility, The Insider reported. The winery gained attention in a 2021 Anti-Corruption Foundation investigation, where it appeared under the name Old Provence. The FBK documentary detailed luxury purchases for the facility, including “gilded Italian toilet brushes.”

Governor Kondratyev announced on August 31 that the forest fires in Gelendzhik had been extinguished. More than 500 people, more than 100 units of equipment, including BE-200 aircraft, IL-76 and 2 Mi-8 helicopters were involved in extinguishing, he said.

Russian media outlet Important Stories reported that the fire center may have been 3-4 kilometers from the presidential residence. The palace complex became widely known in January 2021 following the FBK investigation, though journalists noted that Putin has largely stopped flying to Sochi, where he previously spent much of spring and autumn.

The drone attack was part of broader Ukrainian strikes on 28 August, with Russian authorities reporting drone attacks across multiple oblasts and local residents documenting fires at two oil refineries and a railway junction

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk visited the Polish-Belarusian border to demonstrate European solidarity, according to Tusk’s statement on X.

The Polish Prime Minister said that Belarusian border guards “listened attentively” to their press conference at the frontier. Tusk wrote that the European Commission head had the opportunity to see the situation at the EU’s eastern border firsthand.

Since 2021, self-proclaimed Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has refused to control the flow of refugees through his country to EU states, triggering a migration crisis. Poland responded by constructing a 5-meter electronic barrier along the Belarus border, equipped with thousands of cameras and surveillance technology designed to prevent illegal border crossings.

“I am here today to express Europe’s full solidarity with Poland as a frontline state. For many years now, you and the Polish people have faced deliberate and cynical hybrid attacks. I want to emphasize that Europe supports you in every possible way,” von der Leyen said during the visit.

The Commission President announced that the EU’s budget proposal for the next seven years would triple investments in migration, border management and protection. EU member states that share borders with Russia and Belarus will receive additional EU funding under the plan.

“I want to emphasize: Europe’s borders are a shared responsibility. Here we are at the Polish border, but also at the European border, and this is a shared responsibility,” von der Leyen said.

The visit comes as Poland continues to manage migration pressure along its eastern border, where the electronic barrier system represents one of the EU’s most technologically advanced border protection measures.

Several hundred people gathered in Kyiv to bid farewell to 24-year-old Nadiya Halych and her two-year-old daughter Angelina, who died in Russia’s massive attack on the capital on the night of 28 August, reports Suspilne Kyiv.

The funeral service drew residents from the destroyed building in Darnytskyi district, neighbors, relatives, friends and classmates of the deceased Nadiya. 

Nadiya’s former homeroom teacher Natalia remembered her as a good student. “She was a cheerful and kind person who loved her younger sister,” the teacher said.

Near the damaged building, Kyiv residents created an improvised memorial where they bring flowers and toys alongside other tributes.

The attack occurred during Russia’s massive strike on Ukrainian cities on the night of 28 August, when Moscow deployed 629 aerial attack weapons. Residential high-rises in Kyiv sustained damage, particularly in Dniprovskyi district, where the attack destroyed an entire building entrance.

In the capital, 21 adults and four children died. Dozens more sustained injuries.

Russian forces targeted Kyiv with drones and missiles during the nighttime assault. The Darnytskyi district suffered the heaviest damage, with an entire entrance of a five-story building completely destroyed.

Rescue operations at the partially destroyed five-story building in Darnytskyi district concluded on the morning of 29 August. Search and rescue teams worked for over 30 hours. Twenty-two building residents died, including four children. The total death toll from the Russian attack in Kyiv reached 25 people.

On the evening of 29 August, the State Emergency Service announced that consequences of the rocket-drone strike in Kyiv had been eliminated. Rescuers operated at 19 locations across six districts of the capital, involving over 700 rescue workers, nearly 150 pieces of equipment and seven dogs. They managed to save 15 people, including four children.

A fire broke out at warehouse facilities in Balashikha, a Moscow suburb, with the blaze covering 4,000 square meters, according to Russia’s Ministry of Emergency Situations.

The affected buildings belong to the Balashikha Experimental Chemical Plant and TDK company, which sells household chemicals, Baza reported.

Over 80 specialists and 30 units of equipment have been deployed to combat the fire, along with Mi-8 and Ka-32 helicopters.

Eyewitnesses report that flames have spread to neighboring buildings.

“Firefighters have not yet been able to extinguish the fire in the warehouse premises in Balashikha,” according to local observers.

No casualties have been reported, according to the Emergency Ministry. The warehouse facilities housed operations of both the Balashikha Experimental Chemical Plant and TDK, a company specializing in household chemical products sales.

The fire response involves aerial support, with helicopters assisting ground crews in the firefighting operation across the 4,000-square-meter area.

Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi reported to President Zelensky on 31 August that Russian forces have sustained over 290,000 killed and injured across the entire front line since the start of 2025.

The heaviest Russian casualties occurred in Donetsk Oblast, particularly on the Pokrovske direction where Moscow concentrated its main efforts but failed to achieve any strategic objectives, according to Syrskyi.

“Throughout the front, in just eight months of this year, the Russians lost over 290 thousand of their military personnel killed and seriously wounded,” Syrskyi said in his report. “They suffered the heaviest losses precisely in Donetsk region, without realizing any of their strategic tasks.”

Ukrainian units continue executing assigned missions in Donetsk Oblast and systematically destroying occupying forces. Stabilization measures are currently underway on certain sections of the front.

President Zelenskyy highlighted that Ukrainian units weekly replenish the “exchange fund” with Russian prisoners of war. The briefing also analyzed the situation on the Zaporizhzhia direction and in border areas of Sumy and Kharkiv oblasts, with Ukrainian forces prepared for new attacks.

“We analyzed in detail the situation on the Zaporizhzhia direction and the Russian intentions. Also the situation in the border areas of Sumy Oblast and in Kharkiv Oblast,” Zelenskyy said. “We will continue our active actions exactly as needed for Ukraine’s defense. Forces and means are prepared. We have also planned new diplomatic strikes.”

The report comes after Ukraine’s General Staff previously said that Russia’s seasonal offensive campaign ended with no results.

Vice Admiral Jan Christian Kaack, Inspector of the German Navy, has warned of “increased aggressiveness” from Russian units and their potential consequences, according to Spiegel as reported by Evropeyska Pravda.

“There are drone overflights, we have infiltration attempts, sabotage attempts,” Kaack said, Deutschlandfunk reported on 30 August. He added that Bundeswehr soldiers are being specifically contacted outside of duty hours, alongside threats to maritime infrastructure.

The warning comes after The New York Times reported that Russia or Russian supporters are using reconnaissance drones to monitor routes in eastern Germany used by the US and allies to transport military cargo to Ukraine, citing sources from US agencies and other Western states.

Kaack emphasized the risk of unintended escalation. “All this also carries the danger that there could be an escalation by accident,” he said. The navy has significantly strengthened its security measures in response, with precise rules of engagement designed to prevent such scenarios.

“We are working to better protect these bases in the air, underwater and above water, including with our own drone systems,” the inspector stated. Reports about increased flights of Russian spy drones serve as “a small wake-up call that we need to do more,” according to Kaack.

“The services assume that by 2029 at the latest, a potential adversary would be ready to cause trouble,” the Vice Admiral said, referring to intelligence findings. “And we want to prevent that by being defense-ready and capable of deterrence.” This applies to the Baltic Sea region as well.

In recent months, underwater cables have been repeatedly damaged by ships dragging anchors across the seabed. Ships from Russia’s so-called shadow fleet are primarily blamed for such incidents, though Chinese vessels have also faced accusations.

The German military has documented escalating drone activity throughout 2024. In February, German forces detected suspicious drones over a base where Ukrainian soldiers were training and investigated possible espionage. In May, unofficial reports indicated unknown drones circled near a German police patrol vessel in the North Sea that was monitoring a Russian cargo ship.

By early July, German government agencies finally began acquiring countermeasures against unknown drones occasionally spotted near sensitive facilities. In early August, reports indicated that 536 drones were detected over important facilities in Germany between January and March of this year.

Kaack praised the planned military service model approved by the cabinet on Wednesday. He expressed confidence that the planned voluntary military service solution would massively help the navy address its recruitment problems. “The new military service will be the game-changer,” Kaack said.

The inspector acknowledged being “always a friend of military conscription” but noted that the time since conscription was suspended in 2011 cannot be undone. The Bundeswehr will need time to restore capabilities abandoned at that time. The goal is to develop into a training navy that massively and regularly inspires large numbers of young people to commit for longer periods. “And that also takes time,” he said.

The German Navy is also investing in new equipment for enhanced security. The first Boeing Poseidon P-8 reconnaissance aircraft is scheduled for delivery in September, Kaack announced. Eight aircraft of this type have been ordered so far, with four additional orders under discussion. The navy will also soon have an underwater drone at its disposal.

However, Kaack warned that complete protection would never be possible.

Former Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian Parliament) Andriy Parubiy was shot and killed in Lviv on 30 August, according to confirmation from Lviv Oblast Governor Maksym Kozytskyi.

The victim died at the scene from his injuries, police confirmed. The National Police reported that the shooting occurred around noon in the Sykhiv district of the city at 12 pm.

“Sincere condolences to the family of the deceased,” Kozytskyi wrote.

The assailant who shot at Parubiy was dressed as a delivery service courier, Suspilne sources report.

The manhunt for the shooter continues across the Lviv Oblast, with all security services mobilized for the search operation.

President Zelenskyy confirmed Parubiy’s death, with Interior Minister Klymenko and Prosecutor General Kravchenko briefing on the initial circumstances of the killing.

The incident marks another high-profile killing in Lviv, following the July 2024 assassination of former MP Iryna Farion in the same city.

The 54-year-old politician served as Speaker of Ukraine’s parliament from April 2016 to August 2019 and played a key role during the 2014 Ukrainian revolution as Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council. 

Parubiy gained prominence during the 2013-2014 Euromaidan protests as commandant of the tent camp and head of self-defense detachments. During the February 2014 revolution, after the ousting of pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych, Parubiy led forces that took control of the government quarter in Kyiv, including the Verkhovna Rada, Presidential Administration, Cabinet of Ministers, and Interior Ministry buildings.

Poland’s border guard has expelled 15 Ukrainian nationals from the country, citing repeated criminal convictions and threats to public order, according to RMF 24 and official statements from Polish authorities.

The expelled citizens had been repeatedly convicted of theft, robbery, and driving under the influence, reports the border guard service. 

“The persons covered by the procedure were repeatedly punished for crimes and misdemeanors. These include possession of narcotic and psychotropic substances, theft, robbery, forgery, driving vehicles while intoxicated, as well as organizing illegal crossing of the Polish border,” the border guard reported in an official communication.

One individual was already listed in the registry of persons whose stay in Poland is considered undesirable, according to the border service announcement. The authorities placed all expelled individuals on this registry and imposed re-entry bans ranging from five to ten years.

The Ministry of Interior Affairs defended the deportations through spokesperson Karolina Gałecka, who emphasized Poland’s stance on law enforcement regardless of nationality.

“Poland is a country friendly and open to foreigners. However, there is no and will never be consent to breaking the law by them, regardless of the country of origin. The Ministry of Interior Affairs services will firmly respond in cases of violations of our legal order,” Gałecka said.

The deportations represent part of a broader enforcement pattern. Since the beginning of 2025, 1,100 foreigners have been forcibly expelled from Poland, the ministry reported.

The border guard cited national security concerns as the primary justification for the expulsions, pointing to the individuals’ criminal histories spanning drug possession, property crimes, document fraud, and human trafficking activities related to border crossings.

As of February, the Office for Foreigners reported nearly 1 million Ukrainian citizens, predominantly women and children, using temporary protection in Poland. A total of 1.55 million Ukrainians held valid residence permits.

Ukrainians represent the largest foreign population in Poland, comprising 78% of all foreigners who have settled in the country, according to official data.

The State Department has approved a potential $179.1 million Foreign Military Sale to Ukraine for Patriot Air Defense System sustainment equipment and services, according to an announcement from the Defense Security Cooperation Agency on 29 August.

The package includes classified and unclassified spare parts, maintenance support, software updates, system modifications, test equipment, and communication accessories. Additional components cover integration services, repair capabilities, technical assistance, training programs, and engineering support.

“This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a partner country that is a force for political stability and economic progress in Europe,” the State Department stated in its transmittal notice.

The deal aims to enhance Ukraine’s air defense capabilities through sustained operational readiness of existing Patriot systems. RTX Corporation of Arlington, Virginia, and Lockheed Martin of Bethesda, Maryland, will serve as principal contractors for the program.

Implementation requires approximately five US Government representatives and fifteen contractor personnel to travel to US European Command for training and coordination meetings. The State Department emphasized that “there will be no adverse impact on US defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.”

In a separate approval, the State Department authorized a $150 million sale of Starlink satellite communication services and related equipment to Ukraine, according to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency announcement.

The Patriot sustainment package represents ongoing US efforts to maintain Ukraine’s defensive systems rather than expanding its arsenal.

Actual costs may be lower than the estimated $179.1 million depending on final requirements and budget authority. The State Department indicated that “Ukraine will have no difficulty absorbing these articles and services into its armed forces.”

The announcement specified that no offset agreements are currently proposed, though any such arrangements would be negotiated between Ukraine and the contractors. Congress received the required certification notice as part of the standard Foreign Military Sale process.

Poland’s Ministry of Internal Affairs confirmed on 29 August that work is underway on new legislation to regulate the legal status of Ukrainian citizens following President Karol Nawrocki’s veto of an amendment that would have extended temporary protection.

Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Maciej Duszczyk met with Ukrainian Ambassador Vasyl Bodnar on 29 August at the Ukrainian side’s initiative, according to ministry spokesperson Karolina Gałecka.

“The minister informed the Ambassador that the Polish side is working on a bill to regulate the legal situation of Ukrainian citizens. He also presented the Ukrainian side with a schedule of work on the bill,” Gałecka told PAP.

The meeting followed Ambassador Bodnar’s Facebook post stating that “the rights of Ukrainians to stay, work, education, social assistance and medical care in Poland will be guaranteed also after 1 October 2025.”

Bodnar emphasized that Polish officials assured him “the rights of Ukrainian citizens to stay, work, education, social assistance and medical care will be guaranteed also after 1 October 2025,” though some practical issues would require clarification.

The ambassador said that legal uncertainty surrounding Ukrainian lives in Poland had generated significant response in both countries. He added that “Ukrainian citizens who legally reside in Poland will still remain within the legal framework of this state and the entire EU. Even in the case of no new law, transitional solutions will be adopted that will allow avoiding a legal vacuum.”

However, the Polish ministry spokesperson cautioned that “what the legal situation of Ukrainian citizens will look like after 1 October, we will know after the decision of President Karol Nawrocki,” according to PAP.

Presidential veto triggers legislative scramble

President Nawrocki vetoed the amendment to Ukraine assistance law on 25 August. The blocked amendment would have extended temporary protection for Ukrainian refugees until 4 March 2026.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned that blocking the legislation could have destructive consequences for Polish companies, reports PAP.

The stakes are considerable for Poland’s economy. According to TVN24, Ukrainian citizens living in Poland contributed approximately 18.7 billion zloty to the Polish budget in 2024 through taxes and insurance contributions. Their presence also boosted Poland’s GDP by over 2% – nearly 99 billion zloty.

Despite the economic impact, polling conducted for Onet portal showed majority Polish support for Nawrocki’s veto decision.

Ukrainian presence in Poland by numbers

As of February, the Office for Foreigners reported nearly 1 million Ukrainian citizens, predominantly women and children, using temporary protection in Poland. A total of 1.55 million Ukrainians held valid residence permits.

Ukrainians represent the largest foreign population in Poland, comprising 78% of all foreigners who have settled in the country, according to official data.

Estonia handed over to the United States an Estonian citizen accused of illegally supplying strategic goods to Russian defense enterprises and government agencies, according to ERR.

Estonian police and border service transferred Estonian citizen Andrey Shevlyakov to the US on 28 August 2025, who faces charges of illegally transporting strategic goods from the US to Russia using complex supply chains and networks of shell companies.

The US has charged Shevlyakov with 18 counts related to acquiring and supplying US electronics to Russia in violation of sanctions. The charges stem from his alleged role in helping Russian government and military entities procure American-made electronics through deceptive practices.

Shevlyakov was added to the Entity List in 2012, after the US government identified him as a procurement agent charged with pursuing US technology for Russian government and military end users. The designation prohibited him from exporting any goods from the US without proper licensing.

According to the report, Shevlyakov was detained in March 2023 in a joint operation by the FBI and Estonia’s Constitutional Protection Service. He remained under electronic surveillance from May 2024 until his extradition. Legal proceedings against Shevlyakov are ongoing in the United States.

Authorities allege Shevlyakov used false names and a web of front companies to evade Entity List restrictions, misleading suppliers and circumventing federal Department of Commerce restrictions and US export controls. The scheme allegedly involved travel between Russia, Estonia and Finland to make deliveries.

When apprehended in Estonia, authorities found inbound shipments that included about 130 kilograms of radio equipment, demonstrating the scale of the alleged operation.

The extradition represents part of Estonia’s broader security efforts. In late May, Estonia expelled and transferred to Ukrainian authorities a Ukrainian citizen who maintained contacts with the Russian FSB. In July, Estonian internal security services expelled a Russian citizen who potentially posed a security threat to the country.