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French President Emmanuel Macron has sharply condemned Russia’s latest wave of missile and drone attacks on Ukraine, accusing Moscow of locking itself into a strategy of escalation that defies peace efforts and threatens the wider security of Europe.  Image Source: Visegrad24 The renewed violence comes just days before Macron travels to London for a high-level meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, British Prime Minister, and German Chancellor to assess the status of U.S.-led mediation efforts for a possible ceasefire. I condemn in the strongest possible terms the massive strikes that targeted Ukraine this night, particularly its energy and railway infrastructure, Macron said in a social media post, warning that Russia “is not seeking peace” and must be pressured into negotiations.  The French president stressed that Ukraine could rely on the "unwavering support" of France and its partners, reiterating the role of the Volunteers’ Coalition in advancing discussi...

The European Commission on Wednesday unveiled a long-anticipated plan to provide Ukraine with a multibillion-euro loan backed by profits from frozen Russian assets. This move is framed as both an economic lifeline for Kyiv and a geopolitical message to Moscow that prolonging war will carry escalating costs. Image Source: Visegrad24 Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the bloc is aiming to provide €90 billion to cover two-thirds of Ukraine’s estimated funding needs for 2026 and 2027, using a dual structure: EU market borrowing and cash balances generated by Russian assets immobilised in European financial institutions. “Pressure is the only language the Kremlin responds to,” von der Leyen told reporters. “We want peace, but peace must come from a position of strength.” The proposal, released ahead of a decisive EU summit later this month, comes amid signs of deadlock in international peace efforts.  Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed Wednesday that President V...

European leaders have issued a unified but cautious response to the newly revealed 28-point United States peace proposal for Ukraine, voicing support for diplomatic efforts while warning that the current framework is deeply flawed and risks undermining both Ukrainian sovereignty and European security.  Image Source: Zelenskyy The plan, widely reported to have been crafted by the Trump-led administration, has alarmed key capitals across the EU and G7 due to its heavy concessions to Russia, including recognition of annexed territories and long-term restrictions on Ukraine’s military capabilities. French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed Washington’s engagement but asserted that the proposal must be significantly strengthened.  “No border can be changed by force, and Ukraine must never be left vulnerable,” Macron said. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen echoed this view, stating that while the draft contains elements essential to a future settlement, any agreeme...

Russia launched what is being dubbed as one of the most devastating air offensives since the start of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, targeting multiple regions overnight with a barrage of over 800 drones and 13 missiles.  The coordinated strikes hit civilian infrastructure and government buildings, including Ukraine's Cabinet of Ministers, prompting swift and forceful condemnation from world leaders. Image Source: Mylovanov Ukrainian authorities reported widespread destruction across the capital and several regions. In Kyiv, residential buildings suffered major structural damage, with at least two people killed--one of them a child--and dozens injured.  A fire broke out on the upper floors of the Cabinet building following a direct missile hit. Other affected regions included Zaporizhzhia, where a kindergarten and 20 homes were damaged, and Kryvyi Rih, where warehouses were destroyed.  Civilian casualties were also confirmed in Safonivka and the Chernihiv region. 💬 ...

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced the launch of a joint weapons production facility with Denmark, marking the first time in Ukraine’s history that such a plant will be built in partnership on foreign soil.  The facility, to be constructed in Denmark, will focus on producing components for missiles and drones already in use on the battlefield. Image Source: Volodymyr Zelenskyy The move underscores Ukraine’s ongoing efforts to expand domestic and allied defense manufacturing, with Zelenskyy stating that 60% of weapons used by Ukrainian forces are now produced domestically.  In a social media statement, he described the expansion as part of a broader plan to elevate Ukraine's standing in global weapons production. President @ZelenskyyUa arrived in #Denmark to meet with Prime Minister @Statsmin and hold talks with leaders of Northern European and Baltic countries. pic.twitter.com/ClS2r3wXJH — Aurora Borealis 🤫 (@aborealis940) September 3, 2025 ...

Shabana Mahmood, the newly appointed Home Secretary in the UK government, is expected to announce plans to move asylum seekers out of hotels and into military barracks, in a decisive first move to reshape the UK’s migration and asylum policy.  The initiative follows a summer of protests at hotel sites and signals a significant shift in the government’s approach to managing irregular migration. Image Source: UK Home Office According to reports by trusted news sources, dozens of hotels currently housing asylum seekers are set to close, as the Ministry of Defence prepares to repurpose sites for accommodation.  The decision reflects growing pressure to reduce the visibility and cost of hotel-based arrangements, which have drawn public backlash and political scrutiny in recent months. The announcement is anticipated as part of a broader policy recalibration under Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s administration, which undertook a major cabinet reshuffle this week.  Mahmood’s new ...

Russia has sharply condemned the United Kingdom’s use of proceeds from frozen Russian state assets to fund military aid to Ukraine, calling the move illegal and warning of retaliatory measures. In a strongly worded statement issued by the Russian embassy in London, Moscow accused the UK government of engaging in “criminal seizure” of foreign property. The statement followed remarks by UK Defence Secretary John Healey on September 3, confirming that Kyiv has already used £1 billion worth of UK-backed funds to purchase military equipment and weapons. File Photo Source: Russian Embassy in India “UK Defense Secretary John Healey admitted that the UK government appropriated more than one billion pounds from the proceeds of ‘frozen’ Russian state assets and spent it on military aid to Ukraine. Such actions are considered illegal in any jurisdiction,” the Russian embassy said. The embassy warned that these actions could seriously damage London’s global credibility and deter foreign investor...

In what may have been her first official engagement as the United Kingdom’s newly appointed Foreign Secretary, Yvette Cooper placed a call to her Ukrainian counterpart Andrii Sybiha, stating Britain’s continued support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and defense. Image Source: @FCDOGovUK on X The swift outreach came just hours after Cooper's appointment was confirmed, signaling what Ukrainian officials interpreted as a deliberate and symbolic prioritization of UK–Ukraine ties amid the ongoing war with Russia. “I had a warm and meaningful conversation with Yvette Cooper just a few hours after she was appointed,” Sybiha posted on X. “We take it as a sign of respect and priority in sustaining the UK’s unwavering support.” Cooper responded publicly: “Good to talk to Andrii Sybiha to reinforce unwavering UK support for Ukraine. We continue to do all we can to end the war and secure a just peace.” Sybiha, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, also acknowledged Cooper’s history of advocacy for Ukraine...

French President Emmanuel Macron and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a telephonic conversation on Saturday following the Paris summit of the "Coalition of the Willing" -- a diplomatic initiative aimed at securing international commitments for post-war security guarantees to Ukraine. Image Source: PM NaMo Macron said he briefed Modi on the outcomes of discussions held with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other participating nations during the summit, which focused on coordinated support for Ukraine and pathways toward a ceasefire. “I presented the result of the work we conducted with President Zelensky and our partners,” Macron said in a post on social media platform X.  “India and France share the same will for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine,” he added, affirming that both countries would continue to work together “to chart the path to peace.” Je viens de m’entretenir avec le Premier ministre @NarendraModi . Je lui ai présenté le résultat des trava...

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday issued a stark warning that any foreign military personnel deployed to Ukraine -- even in the context of a post-ceasefire mission -- would be treated as “legitimate targets for defeat,” escalating tensions as international partners push forward with plans for postwar security guarantees for Kyiv. Image Source: MFA Russia Speaking at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Putin said that any Western deployment into Ukraine, especially during active hostilities, would violate Russian red lines and be met with force.  “If any troops appear there, especially during the ongoing hostilities, we assume they will be legitimate targets for defeat,” he stated. His comments follow a summit in Paris where 26 nations, including NATO and Indo-Pacific allies, pledged long-term military and economic commitments to Ukraine.  French President Emmanuel Macron announced the formation of a “Coalition of the Willing” that could deploy forces “by land,...

United States First Lady Melania Trump  hosted a high-level meeting of the White House Task Force on Artificial Intelligence Education.  The meeting, according to the White House,  brought together education leaders, industry stakeholders, and federal officials to push forward the Trump administration’s national agenda on AI literacy and ethical innovation. Image Source: White House Archives In her opening remarks, she framed the meeting as both a policy imperative and a generational responsibility, warning that while artificial intelligence holds immense potential, it must be developed and deployed with moral clarity and safeguards -- especially where young Americans are concerned.  “We must manage AI’s growth responsibly. During this primitive stage, it is our duty to treat AI as we would our own children—empowering, but with watchful guidance,” said the First Lady.  “We are living in a moment of wonder, and it is our responsibility to prepare America’s childr...

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that he held an extended phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump following the Paris meeting of the Coalition of the Willing , where 26 countries pledged post-ceasefire troop deployments to support Ukraine.  European leaders reportedly participated in the call, marking it as a multi-party consultation on the next steps toward peace and deterrence . Image Source: BFMTV In a public statement, Zelenskyy described the call as “long and very detailed,” with discussions focused on the conditions required to bring the ongoing war to an end, particularly by leveraging economic pressure against Russia.  “We talked about how to push the situation toward real peace. The most important element is pressure — strong economic measures to deprive Russia’s war machine of money and resources,” Zelenskyy stated. Zelenskyy Proposes U.S.-Backed Format to Shield Ukraine’s Skies A significant portion of the call reportedly focused on Ukraine...

Russia has publicly stated its position again, that any future peace settlement in Ukraine must include formal recognition of the territorial changes resulting from the taking over of Crimea and four other Ukrainian regions.  Addressing a plenary session of the UN General Assembly , Russia’s Permanent Representative Vasily Nebenzya said that ignoring these "new territorial realities" would render any agreement unsustainable.  File Photo Source: Nick Sortor “For peace to be truly durable, all interested parties must acknowledge the new territorial realities that emerged after Crimea and four regions joined Russia. This acknowledgment is essential,” Nebenzya told the Assembly in New York. The remarks come as Western allies, led by France, confirmed the formation of a 26-nation “Coalition of the Willing”, which plans to deploy military contingents to Ukraine in a support role immediately following a ceasefire or peace agreement. Coalition Formed to Guarantee Ukraine’s Post-Wa...

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a joint telephone conversation on Wednesday with European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The leaders stated the shared commitment to conclude the long-pending India–EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and to deepen the strategic partnership across key sectors. Image Source: Ursula von der Leyen The call comes amid intensifying geopolitical realignments and ahead of the planned India–EU Summit expected to be held in New Delhi in early 2026. Both sides agreed to work toward finalising a joint strategic agenda, with trade, technology, security, and sustainability at the core of bilateral cooperation.  “We also remain fully committed to concluding the Free Trade Agreement negotiations by the end of the year. To achieve this, progress is needed now,” von der Leyen said in a post on X, formerly Twitter. Had a very good conversation with European Council President António Costa and European ...

Russian President Vladimir Putin declared that a multipolar world order “has taken shape” and warned that any Western move to confiscate Russia’s frozen assets would amount to “economic suicide,” in wide-ranging remarks to the press at the conclusion of his four-day official visit to China. Image Source: Fox News on X Speaking after meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping and other Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) leaders in Tianjin and Beijing, Putin positioned Russia, China, and India as the key poles of a post-Western international system.  “Multipolarity does not mean new hegemons,” he said. “It means equality in global governance.” Putin dismissed the notion that multipolarity remains aspirational. “Its contours have already formed,” he stated, pointing to platforms like BRICS and the SCO as realigning forces. He emphasized that sovereignty and equality--not bloc politics--should define international cooperation. Also Read:  India, Russia, and China Signal New ...

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said he is open to direct talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky but questioned the Ukrainian leader’s constitutional legitimacy and rejected any notion of territorial concessions in exchange for security guarantees. Speaking to Russian and international media at the close of his four-day official visit to China, Putin dismissed as “false framing” the idea of a "land-for-peace" formula that would see Russia give up or secure territory in exchange for broader diplomatic settlements.  Image Source: The Spectator Index “We have never raised the issue in this way, nor have we ever discussed it in such terms,” he said. Putin’s remarks came just days after trilateral meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, and amid public signs of a shifting diplomatic atmosphere following private discussions with former U.S. President Donald Trump during their Alaska summit.  Also Read:  Russia–China Pipeli...