Ukraine-Russia war latest: Putin’s bombing campaign puts ‘all options on the table’, says Trump official – UK Times

Pupils across Ukraine returned to school on Monday, embarking on a new academic year under the shadow of Russia’s ongoing invasion, with many lessons now taking place underground.

Since the war began in February 2022, schools have innovated to keep education alive.

In Bobryk, a village in the northern Sumy region, close to the front line, one school moved its classrooms into a basement two years ago.

This drastic step was taken as air raid alerts could stretch for up to 20 hours, paralysing surface-level classes.

Principal Oleksii Korenivskyi emphasised the critical importance of their work, stating: “We must do everything so this generation is not lost. Time is the only thing you cannot make up.

“This is our future, and we must give it everything we have.”

France will host a meeting of the “Coalition of the Willing,” a group of countries supporting Ukraine, on Thursday, the French presidency has said.

The meeting, which will be held in hybrid format, will focus on security guarantees for Ukraine and on Russia’s refusal to make peace, the Elysee added.

“Following the meeting held between Europeans and Americans in Washington on August 18, the heads of state and government will discuss the work on security guarantees for Ukraine conducted in recent weeks and will take stock of the consequences of Russia’s persistent refusal to make peace,” President Emmanuel Macron’s office said in a statement on Monday.

President of Ukraine Volodymr Zelensky met with German leaders today to discuss “financial and defense support for Ukraine, as well as the next steps in diplomacy.”

In a post on X he wrote: “In recent weeks, Russia has shown no intention of being ready for a meeting at the level of leaders and has continued striking our people. That is why we count on Germany’s support in increasing pressure on Russia. Only strong actions can change Russian behaviour.”

So much for the Ukraine peace process. So much for ending the war there in 24 hours flat, metaphorically or otherwise. So much for Donald Trump’s Nobel Peace Prize.

Patience is one of the many virtues President Trump lacks, and so, not quite a whole week on from the “historic” Alaska summit, he has seemingly lost interest in getting the deal of the century brokered.

As Ukrainians gathered to mark Independence Day across the country last Sunday, Russia accused Kyiv of launching dozens of drones at a nuclear power plant in Kursk.

The attack, which sparked a large fire and destroyed parts of the plant’s infrastructure, was one of the most audacious attacks on Russian territory so far this year.

But experts have said that Ukraine has one of the best combat-ready armies in Europe.

Ukrainian officials have discussed with Nato representatives Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities and Kyiv’s need for better air defences and long-range weaponry, Ukraine’s foreign ministry says.

“The Ukrainian side urged Nato member states to provide Ukraine with assistance in strengthening air defences, particularly Patriot systems and missiles for them,” the ministry said after an extraordinary meeting of the Nato-Ukraine Council.

“Separately, the need was stressed for long-range missiles.”

The statement said Nato member states denounced the Russian attacks in the past week, including a drone and missile assault on the capital Kyiv that killed 25 people and caused considerable destruction of homes and other buildings.