The second Oval Office meeting in six months between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy went off smoothly, in sharp contrast to their disastrous encounter in February.

Russia's illegal seizure of the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine in March 2014 was quick and bloodless, and it sent Moscow's relations with the West into a downward spiral unseen since the Cold War. It also paved the way for Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022,

The European Union's 19th package of sanctions against Russia is expected to be ready in September, top EU diplomat Kaja Kallas announced on Aug. 19, as the EU ramps up its pressure on Moscow in hopes that it will push Russia to end its war in Ukraine.

Kyiv does not want to incur Trump’s wrath, given that Trump could set back Ukraine’s war effort by abandoning it. (In his February meeting with Trump, Zelensky came perilously close to telling Trump he was delusional,

Kyiv sees Russia’s proposed Donbas takeover as a capitulation that would reward Putin’s violent ambitions and lay the groundwork for future attacks on the rest of the country.

Chinese refineries have purchased 15 cargoes of Russian oil for October and November delivery as Indian demand for Moscow's exports falls away, two analysts and one trader said on Tuesday.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed Moscow as the venue for a potential summit with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy, according to

State news agency RIA Novosti has reported that a gunpowder workshop at the facility caught fire and triggered an explosion.