Kyiv has expressed strong disapproval following U.S. President Donald Trump's recent summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, which marked a notable shift in Washington's approach to the Ukraine conflict. Senior Ukrainian officials described Trump's acceptance of Putin's terms as a "stab in the back," emphasizing that the U.S. appears to be prioritizing a quick deal over Ukraine's interests. Ukrainian parliament foreign affairs chair Oleksandr Merezhko and other officials voiced concerns that the U.S. is pressuring Ukraine to accept terms dictated by the aggressor, Russia. This stance contrasts with the more measured language from official European Union representatives. Ukrainian political analyst Oksana Melnitchouk criticized Trump for effectively playing the role of "useful idiot" for Putin, aligning with Russian demands. The abrupt pivot from advocating a ceasefire to pushing for a peace deal under Russia's conditions has triggered alarm and a sense of betrayal in the Ukrainian capital.

Russia’s Ministry of Defense alleged that Ukraine is preparing a “false-flag” attack aimed at derailing an upcoming summit in Alaska between President Vladimir Putin and former U.S. President Donald Trump. The ministry claimed Kyiv intends to strike a civilian target and blame Moscow in order to sour the talks, but provided no supporting evidence. The accusation coincided with a fresh wave of Ukrainian drone attacks inside Russia. Regional authorities in Rostov-on-Don said an explosive-laden unmanned aircraft hit a residential building early Thursday, wounding at least 13 people—two of them critically—and damaging more than ten apartments on Telman and Lermontovskaya streets. Emergency crews were deployed and an investigation is under way. In the nearby Belgorod region, Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov reported multiple drone incursions over the past 24 hours. One strike on a car outside a government building left three civilians injured, while local officials said more than 30 UAVs were intercepted or crashed, forcing shops and public events to close temporarily. Earlier in the week, a Ukrainian long-range drone struck the Alabuga Deng Xiaoping logistics complex in Tatarstan, a key hub for Russian-Chinese trade, underscoring Kyiv’s ability to reach targets hundreds of kilometres from the front line. Kyiv has not publicly responded to Moscow’s sabotage allegations. The claims and the escalating cross-border drone campaign have added to tensions ahead of the first face-to-face Putin-Trump meeting since 2024, expected in Alaska in mid-August.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump said on 11 August that the Javelin anti-tank missiles his administration supplied to Ukraine were decisive in slowing Russia’s February 2022 advance on Kyiv. According to Trump, Russian forces could have reached the Ukrainian capital “in four hours” had they remained on the main highway. Trump told an audience that a Russian general instead diverted tanks through farmland, where they became bogged down in mud. He added that he does not know the officer’s identity but suggested, given President Vladimir Putin’s track record, the commander is likely “not around any longer.”

Ukraine’s biggest mobile operator Kyivstar has conducted the country’s first field test of SpaceX’s Starlink direct-to-cell satellite service, successfully exchanging text messages over ordinary smartphones in the Zhytomyr region. Kyivstar said the demonstration was carried out by its chief executive Oleksandr Komarov and Digital Transformation Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, marking the inaugural use of the technology in Eastern Europe. The direct-to-cell service turns Starlink satellites into space-based cell towers, providing connectivity when terrestrial networks are damaged or jammed—a recurring problem as Russian strikes target communication infrastructure. Starlink has struck similar agreements with carriers in 10 countries, but Ukraine is set to become the first in Europe to deploy the capability. Kyivstar and SpaceX plan to begin commercial messaging services in the fourth quarter of 2025, with mobile broadband data slated for early 2026. Parent company VEON is also in talks with other satellite providers, including Amazon’s Project Kuiper, to expand resilient mobile coverage as the war keeps terrestrial networks under threat.

The White House said President Donald Trump was “not happy” but “not surprised” by Russia’s overnight missile-and-drone barrage on Kyiv that killed at least 19 people in one of the largest single attacks of the war. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters the president is monitoring the situation and will deliver an additional statement later, while urging both Moscow and Kyiv to pursue an end to the conflict. Hours after the strikes, the U.S. State Department notified Congress of a proposed foreign-military-sale package worth about $825 million for Ukraine. The deal would provide up to 3,350 Extended Range Attack Munition (ERAM) air-launched cruise missiles, associated GPS/INS guidance kits, spare parts and technical support. The weapons have a stated range of roughly 150–280 miles and are intended to bolster Ukraine’s long-range strike capability. According to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, the purchase will be financed through a mix of U.S. Foreign Military Financing and contributions from Denmark, the Netherlands and Norway. The transaction still requires congressional approval but reflects Washington’s continued military backing for Kyiv even as Trump presses Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky to resume stalled peace talks.

European leaders intensified their condemnation of Moscow after Russian missiles and drones hit Kyiv overnight, killing 14 civilians and damaging the European Union’s local delegation and other civilian facilities, according to Ukrainian and French reports. French President Emmanuel Macron denounced the assault as an act of “terror” and “barbarity,” vowing to oppose what he called Russia’s “senseless” violence. He spoke shortly before hosting German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Toulon for the 25th Franco-German Ministerial Council. Merz said the strikes showed Russia’s “true colours,” while Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni argued the attack demonstrated that Moscow has “no intention of negotiating an end to the war.” UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also issued a statement deploring the targeting of civilians. The coordinated rebuke underscored a tightening European front as Macron and Merz used their cabinet gathering to pledge continued support for Ukraine and to safeguard EU digital sovereignty. In Moscow, the Foreign Ministry reacted angrily, labelling Macron’s earlier description of President Vladimir Putin as an “ogre” and “predator” a set of “vulgar insults.”

The White House said Thursday that President Donald Trump was "not happy" but "not surprised" by Russia’s overnight missile and drone barrage on Kyiv, which killed at least 15 people—local officials and some media put the toll as high as 19—and damaged several buildings, including the British Council and a European Union mission. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that Trump is monitoring the situation and will issue an additional statement later in the day. She reiterated the administration’s position that both Moscow and Kyiv must be willing to end the conflict, noting that Ukraine’s recent strikes on Russian oil refineries have further escalated tensions. Trump entered office vowing to end the war within 24 hours, but a mid-August summit with President Vladimir Putin in Alaska yielded no breakthrough, and plans for a direct Putin–Zelensky meeting remain stalled. Leavitt said the president is considering further economic pressure on Moscow but provided no specifics.

Russia launched one of its largest aerial assaults in months against Ukraine in the early hours of 28 August, firing 31 missiles and deploying roughly 600 drones, according to the Ukrainian Air Force. Kyiv officials said the barrage, which struck residential areas, rail facilities and foreign diplomatic premises, left at least 21 people dead and about 63 injured across the capital. Local authorities described the attack as the second-biggest of the war and reported damage to energy infrastructure that triggered temporary power cuts. The White House condemned the strikes. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that President Donald Trump was “not happy” but “not surprised” by Moscow’s actions and is closely monitoring developments. Trump, who has positioned himself as a mediator since taking office in January, is expected to issue a fuller statement later in the day. U.S. Special Envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg said the assault “flies in the face” of Trump’s peace initiative and jeopardises ongoing diplomacy aimed at ending the conflict that began with Russia’s 2022 invasion. UK Ambassador Peter Mandelson offered a similar assessment, calling the bombardment a “mockery” of international efforts to secure a cease-fire. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy urged Washington and European allies to impose additional sanctions on Russia, while the European Union and the United Kingdom summoned Russian envoys in protest. The Kremlin said its forces hit military-industrial targets and reiterated that it remains open to negotiations.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to return to the negotiating table following a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump. This appeal comes amid escalating tensions after a recent Russian attack on an EU office in Kyiv, which Ukraine reported resulted in at least 21 fatalities. Von der Leyen characterized Putin as a "predator," accusing him of orchestrating hybrid and cyber attacks against European societies for years, as well as weaponizing migrants. The call underscores the EU's demand for renewed diplomatic engagement to end the ongoing conflict. Additionally, Putin faces a rare opportunity to meet with his two key energy partners this weekend, a critical moment as he seeks support from both.

Russia launched one of its largest missile-and-drone barrages of the war overnight, firing 31 missiles and 598 unmanned aircraft at Ukraine, according to Kyiv’s air force. In the capital, a strike damaged the European Union’s delegation building and severely hit the British Council’s office. Ukrainian officials said the attack killed ten people and wounded at least 38, with residential blocks in seven districts also struck. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen confirmed that delegation staff were unharmed and demanded an end to what she called Russia’s “indiscriminate” attacks on civilian infrastructure. Hours later, Ukraine extended its own long-range drone campaign deep into Russian territory. Explosive UAVs ignited major fires at the Kuibyshev oil refinery in Samara Oblast—about 800 km from the Ukrainian border—and at the Afipsky refinery in Krasnodar Krai. Russian regional authorities said 21 drones were downed over Samara and that fires at both plants were later contained. The latest hits continue a month-long effort by Kyiv to disrupt Russia’s fuel network. Reuters calculations indicate attacks on ten refining and export installations have already knocked out roughly 17% of Russian processing capacity, or 1.1 million barrels a day. Moscow imposed a gasoline export ban in late July to ease domestic shortages, underscoring the economic pressure created by the strikes.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said recent Russian strikes on Kyiv have again damaged civilian infrastructure and hit a delegation from the European Union, underscoring what he called Moscow’s willingness to escalate attacks beyond military targets. Asked about reports of Russian intelligence activity in Europe, Rutte said he could not comment on the latest espionage allegations but warned that, from Russia’s perspective, assassination attempts could also be considered if Moscow deemed them necessary. The comments come amid heightened concern among NATO members over Russian covert operations on the alliance’s territory.

The Kremlin has reiterated Russia's continued interest in negotiations with Ukraine, emphasizing the use of politics and diplomacy to achieve its objectives. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that while Russia remains committed to the negotiating process, it will persist with its military operations in Ukraine. No agreements have been reached regarding an air ceasefire, and Russia continues to conduct strikes on Ukrainian military infrastructure, including a recent deadly attack on Kyiv. The Kremlin also indicated that any measures that could contribute to peace should be discussed discreetly. Despite ongoing conflict, Russian officials maintain that their strategy involves simultaneous negotiation efforts and military actions.