Ukraine-Russia war latest: Trump says it ‘takes two to tango’ over lack of progress on Putin-Zelensky talks – UK Times

New research has identified some 210 sites where Ukrainian children are believed to have been taken for military training by Russia.

The research, funded by the USA, found that the children also took part in drone manufacturing and other forced re-education as part of the large-scale deportation programme.

Yale’s School of Public Health said in the report that more than 150 new locations had been discovered since it published findings last year, In 2024, it alleged that Russian presidential aircraft had been used to transport children.

Russia’s oil pipeline monopoly Transneft has warned producers they may have to cut output following Ukraine’s drone attacks on critical export ports and refineries.

Kyiv has stepped up attacks on Russian energy assets since August in a bid to reduce the Kremlin’s revenues to finance its war in Ukraine.

Transneft, which handles more than 80% of all the oil extracted in Russia, has in recent days restricted oil firms’ ability to store oil in its pipeline system, two industry sources close to Russian oil firms told Reuters.

Transneft has also warned producers it may have to accept less oil if its infrastructure sustains further damage, the two sources said.

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said in post on X following Tuesday’s call that she and Trump discussed “strengthening our joint efforts to increase economic pressure on Russia through additional measures.”

Trump earlier in the day once again called on Europe to stem its purchase of Russian oil and urged Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky to get a deal done with Russia’s Vladimir Putin to end the war.

Putin, however, has shown scant interest in Trump’s effort to arrange one-on-one talks with Zelensky.

“Zelensky is going to have to make a deal, and Europe has to stop buying oil from Russia,” Trump said.

Von der Leyen said the commission will soon present its 19th package of sanctions against Russia since the start of the war.

She added that the new sanctions will target Russian interests in crypto, banks and energy.

The International Atomic Energy Agency said on Tuesday its team at the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southeastern Ukraine heard shelling close to the site and observed black smoke rising from three nearby locations.

The team from the UN’s nuclear watchdog was informed that multiple artillery shells struck an area outside the plant’s perimeter, around 400m from its off-site diesel fuel storage facility, the IAEA said in a statement.

“While there were no reports of casualties or equipment damage, the incident once again underlined the constant dangers to nuclear safety and security,” IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said.

There were no statements on the incident from either Russian or Ukrainian officials.

The European Union has agreed on a plan for the “sustainable return and reintegration into Ukraine” of those displaced by Russia’s invasion.

The European Council press service said on Tuesday (16 September) that the framework would be implemented “when conditions allow”.

Millions of Ukrainian citizens have been displaced and resettled across Europe.

Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko has said they are “not planning to threaten anyone”, following the end of five days of joint war games with Russia.

“We are practising everything there,” he told Belarusian state agency Belta on Tuesday (16 September).

“They (the West) know this too, we are not hiding it. From firing conventional small arms to nuclear warheads. Again, we must be able to do all this. Otherwise, why would they be on Belarusian territory?

“But we are absolutely not planning to threaten anyone with this.”

“I am grateful to His Majesty King Willem-Alexander for the words of steadfast support in his Speech from the Throne,” the Ukrainian president wrote on X/Twitter.

“Ensuring guaranteed peace and security for Ukraine and Europe is our shared goal, and we deeply value the Kingdom of the Netherlands’ tangible contributions to this worthy cause.”

During his diplomatic tour, he also accepted letters of credence and welcomed the newly appointed Ambassadors of Cyprus, Latvia, and Pakistan.

Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia launched more than 3,500 drones and nearly 190 missiles against Ukraine since the start of September.

“There have also been provocations against our partners,” he wrote in a statement on X/Twitter.

“This is precisely the kind of aerial terror against which Ukraine is calling for joint defence – so that no one has to scramble combat aircraft in haste and feel Russia’s pressure on their borders.

His remarks came hours after Russia struck civilian areas in Zaporizhzhia, killing one and injuring at least 13 people.

“They struck deliberately to terrorise our people – 13 were wounded, including two children. Many residential buildings were damaged,” he said.