As Russian troops continue their advance into eastern Ukraine, Russia on Monday ruled out talks with Ukraine “at this stage” after a cross-border offensive launched by Kyiv nearly two weeks ago. In a declaration of war between Moscow and Kiev, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky promised his forces would “achieve (their) objectives” in the Russian region of Kursk, where they launched an unprecedented large-scale operation on August 6.
He controls over 1,250 km2 of his forces and 92 locations in Russian territory, slightly more than at the end of last week. Mr. Zelensky also confirmed that he had not informed his Western allies in advance of preparations for an attack on Russian territory, believing that their “innocent and delusional” concerns about an escalation with Moscow were now “in pieces”. “We must force Russia, with all our might, to make peace with our allies,” he vowed, adding that one of the aims of the surprise attack was to get the Kremlin to sit down for “reasonable” talks.
“At this stage, given this adventure, we will not discuss,” Russian President Vladimir Putin’s diplomatic adviser Yuri Ushakov told Russian media outlet Shot on Monday. “At this time, it is completely inappropriate to start a negotiation process,” he added. Since the spring of 2022, peace talks between Moscow and Kiev have not taken place and the first round of negotiations has failed.
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Volodymyr Zelensky calls to authorize the use of long-range weapons to “stop the Russian advance” in the east.
The Ukrainian president called on his Western allies to allow Kyiv to attack Russia with supplied long-range weapons to “halt the advance” of the Russian military in eastern Ukraine. “Ukraine can stop the advance of the Russian military only with a decision that we expect from our partners: a decision on long-range capabilities,” Zelensky told Ukrainian diplomats in Kyiv.
Denmark offers new military aid to Kyiv
“Denmark has announced 783 million Danish kroner ($116 million) in military support to Ukraine,” the Ukrainian Defense Ministry said on Monday afternoon at X, adding that the program allocates 112 million Danish kroner to the equipment donations of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is concerned about the situation in Zaporizhia
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) warned on Saturday that security at Ukraine’s nuclear power plant, Europe’s largest, is “deteriorating”, after a nearby drone attack.
Kremlin vows no talks with Ukraine after attack on Kursk
Russia “will not speak” The Kremlin said on Monday, after Kyiv launched an unprecedented attack on the Russian border region of Kursk with Ukraine nearly two weeks ago. “At this point, regarding this adventure, we will not discuss” Vladimir Putin’s diplomatic adviser, Luri Ushakov, told Russian media outlet SHOT.
The German government vows to remain “absolute” in its support of Ukraine despite cuts in financial aid
The German government on Monday pledged to remain “absolutely committed” to military support for Ukraine, despite its intention to cut budget spending in 2025 for the benefit of Kyiv.
“Germany is fully committed (…) support to Ukraine will continue as long as needed, and no one, least of all the Russian president, has any reason to believe that we will relax (attempt, editor’s note)”, assured government spokesman Wolfgang Büchner at a press conference.
Already planned credits will still be respected, but they will be halved between the 2024 (€8 billion) and the 2025 budget (€4 billion). According to a German newspaper, Frankfurter Allgemeine, Berlin is only considering a ceiling of 3 billion euros for 2026. Further reductions are planned for 2027 and 2028 with a budget of half a billion a year.
Volodymyr Zelensky assures that the Ukrainian army is achieving its objectives in the Kursk region.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Monday that the Ukrainian army is achieving its objectives in the Russian border region of Kursk, where it launched an unprecedented offensive almost two weeks ago.
“We are achieving our objectives,” the head of state announced about the cross-border operation launched on August 6, surprising Moscow. He said on Sunday that the move in the Kursk region was aimed at creating “a buffer zone” between Russia and Ukraine.
Towards a broken dialogue between Moscow and Kiev?
The Kremlin confirmed on Monday (August 19) that it would “not talk” with Kiev after the attacks, which Ukraine has been waging for ten days in the Kursk region of Russia. “At this stage, given this adventure, we will not discuss,” Vladimir Putin’s diplomatic adviser Yuri Ushakov told Russian media outlet Shot. “At this time, it is completely inappropriate to start a negotiation process,” he added.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang visits Russia and Belarus
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang will visit Russia and Belarus this week, the Foreign Ministry announced on Monday. During the trip, which runs from Tuesday to Friday, Li Qiang will participate in the “29th meeting between the heads of state of China and Russia,” the ministry said in a press release.
Indian Prime Minister’s visit to Ukraine
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will soon visit Ukraine, Indian diplomacy announced on Monday, after meeting Vladimir Putin in early July, as New Delhi traditionally maintains friendly relations with Russia. Mr. India’s foreign ministry did not specify a date for Modi’s “Poland and Ukraine” trip, but Indian media suggested it would take place later this week.
5 killed in Russian attack
Yesterday, the Donetsk Oblast Prosecutor’s Office announced that four people had died after the Russian attacks. 4 more people were injured in this area. Further afield, the city of Polophelia also came under attack. According to the regional prosecutor’s office, the strikes targeted civilian infrastructure, killing one person and injuring three others.
Russia says it has captured a new village near the Pokrovsk logistics hub
Russia said on Sunday it had captured a village about fifteen kilometers from the city of Pokrovsk, an important logistical hub in eastern Ukraine that it has targeted for months. “Through active operations,” Russian forces “liberated the village of Svyrydonivka in the Donetsk People’s Republic,” the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement.
Ukraine says new strategic bridge destroyed
Kyiv said on Sunday it had destroyed a second strategic bridge in the Kursk region, where its troops have been waging an unprecedented 12-day offensive for the Pokrovsk logistics hub, as the Russian military continues its push into eastern Ukraine. Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshchuk welcomed the destruction of this second critical bridge for the Russian military, two days after the first similar claim. “The Air Force continues to take away the enemy’s logistical capabilities through precision airstrikes,” he said, posting a video of the attack on Telegram. The official did not say when the strike took place, but it appears to have hit a bridge over the Seam River, fifteen kilometers north of the Ukrainian border.
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