Vladmir Putin demanded that Ukraine surrender key territory in a call with US president Donald Trump earlier this week, according to reports.The Russian president wants Kyiv to give up Donetsk, a key military objective in eastern Ukraine that has been fiercely defended throughout the conflict,

The video—mocking draft-dodgers, and reminding viewers that men who join the armed forces are in some cases allowed to travel abroad during their leave, surprising though that might seem—is the latest from the media team of one of Ukraine’s three most feted military units: the Azov, the Third Assault and the Khartiia.

Trump said the Ukraine leader would be on standby to join the talks with Putin in Budapest, Hungary, in case a chance for a breakthrough emerges.

Russia launched a large armoured assault on Thursday with more than 20 armoured vehicles near the eastern Ukrainian town of Dobropillia, Ukraine's Azov brigade said, adding that its forces had repelled the attack.

The United States has reportedly begun to provide Ukraine with intelligence support to aid Kyiv’s campaign against Russian energy infrastructure. More F-16s to Ukraine: Belgium is set to transfer F-16 combat aircraft to the Ukrainian Air Force as Brussels prepares to receive US-made F-35s.

The defense secretary said NATO commitments to Kyiv "will soon translate into capabilities" but didn't directly mention Tomahawks sought by Ukraine.

Military aid to Ukraine saw a sharp decline in July and August 2025, despite the introduction of NATO's Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) initiative. — Ukrinform.

Russian forces are still edging forward along several parts of the long front line in Ukraine – despite yet another call from US President Donald Trump for a combat freeze along existing lines.

Direct conflict between Russia and NATO was once unthinkable, but preparations and defense spending have been stepped up in nervous Baltic states.