What security guarantees may look like
International “reassurance” forces could be deployed in Ukraine after a ceasefire or peace deal:
Jane Dalton21 August 2025 03:55
Key territories Putin wants handed over
Russia occupies nearly 20 per cent of Ukraine already. See our map of occupied territories that it wants:
Jane Dalton21 August 2025 02:00
Is the UK ready to put boots on the ground in Ukraine?
See how Britain’s military equipment and defence spending have changed over time:
Jane Dalton21 August 2025 00:30
Russian allies Belarus and Iran agree to boost defence ties
The Belarus leader said he backed Iran’s “legitimate right to develop peaceful nuclear energy”:
Jane Dalton20 August 2025 22:58
Allies working on new plan, says Zelensky aide
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky’s chief of staff says Ukraine is working on a plan with its allies if Russia prolongs the war or disrupts agreements on leaders’ meetings.
Andrii Yermak said the allies had already begun active work on a military component of security guarantees for his country.
Jane Dalton20 August 2025 21:39
UK military chief meets Nato counterparts for Ukraine talks
The head of Britain’s armed forces has met with his Nato counterparts as Europe continues to push for security guarantees for Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire.
Admiral Sir Tony Radakin met senior US defence officials alongside other European military chiefs in Washington DC on Wednesday to discuss military options to secure peace in Ukraine.
He later attended a virtual meeting of Nato’s military committee, described by its chairman Italian Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone as “candid”.
On Tuesday evening, Admiral Radakin, the chief of the defence staff, had dined with his US counterpart General Dan Caine.
Daniel Keane20 August 2025 21:00
Watch: Firefighters battle Ukrainian energy facility blaze after Russian drone strike
Russian drone strike sees firefighters battle huge blaze at Ukrainian energy facility
An overnight Russian drone strike caused a huge fire at an energy facility in Odesa, Ukraine on Wednesday (20 August), Volodymyr Zelensky said. Footage shared by the Ukrainian president shows firefighters tackling the massive blaze, whilst emergency service workers appear to help individuals climb down from the wreckage. The State Emergency Service of Ukraine confirmed that one person was injured in the attack. Posting the footage, Mr Zelensky said: “All of these are demonstrative strikes that only confirm the need to put pressure on Moscow, the need to impose new sanctions and tariffs until diplomacy is fully effective.”
Jane Dalton20 August 2025 20:35
Military chiefs in US talks on security guarantees
A small group of military leaders is talking to Washington about options for security guarantees for Ukraine, a Western official has said, shortly after a bigger virtual meeting ended.
The source said US General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was holding the talks that also involved around half a dozen other Nato chiefs of defence.
The official said they expected further meetings of the chiefs of defence in a broader format to be called, to discuss any options worked out in the smaller group.
No time frame has been set as the final decision will lie with political leaders, the official said.
Reuters | Jane Dalton20 August 2025 19:35
Watch: Lavrov warns West over excluding Moscow
Russian foreign minister warns West over excluding Moscow from security discussions
Russia’s foreign minister has sent the West a warning over excluding Moscow from security discussions on Ukraine. Speaking on Wednesday (20 August), two days after Donald Trump hosted Volodymyr Zelensky and other western leaders in the White House, Sergei Lavrov said alienating the Kremlin is a “road to nowhere”. “We cannot agree with the fact that now it is proposed to resolve questions of security, collective security, without the Russian Federation. This will not work,” he said. Lavrov said that Russia will continue to express its “legitimate interests fairly and harshly”, and that the US must understand that excluding Moscow is futile.
Jane Dalton20 August 2025 18:59
Lithuania would contribute troops to a Ukraine peacekeeping mission, says president
Lithuania’s President Gitanas Nausėda has said that the country would contribute troops and equipment to a future peacekeeping mission in Ukraine.
His comments come after the US said it would only provide limited air support to Kyiv as a security guarantee.
European countries have pledged to provide military assistance to Ukraine in the event of a peace agreement.
Daniel Keane20 August 2025 18:06
