Weekend in Kyiv

3:43 AM

EU considering ending Georgia's visa-free access over ruling party's democratic backsliding.

"All options are on the table" if Georgia does not reverse its trend toward authoritarianism, "including the potential temporary suspension of the visa liberalization scheme," a spokesperson for the European Commission told Politico.

3:32 AM

Bulgarian far-right party’s foreign agent bill fails in committee vote.

Founded in 2014 and described by some as pro-Russian, Revival came in third in Bulgaria's snap parliamentary election in June, gaining 41 seats in the 240-seat parliament. Revival has supported maintaining Bulgaria's "deep ties" with Russia.

2:44 AM

Delivering more weapons to Ukraine will help ‘end the war’ sooner, Stoltenberg says.

"The paradox is that the more weapons for Ukraine we are able to deliver, the more likely it is that we can reach a peace and end to the war," Stoltenberg said. "The more credible our long-term military support, the sooner the war will end."

1:52 AM

Germany plans additional $445 million in aid for Ukraine in 2024, AFP reports.

According to the document seen by AFP — a letter to the parliamentary budget committee — additional funds are needed to "fulfill the German government's support commitments to the Ukrainian armed forces."

12:47 AM

Trump's campaign appearance with Polish President Duda canceled, sources tell Reuters.

The reasons for the cancelation were not specified. It is unknown if Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and Polish President Andrzej Duda planned to meet elsewhere on the campaign trail.

12:14 AM

US sanctions Russian individuals, entities engaging in prohibited transactions with North Korea.

"The U.S. remains strongly committed to leveraging all our available tools to disrupt this and other schemes intended to support Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine and enable (North Korea's) illicit access to the international financial system," said Treasury official Bradley Smith.

10:38 PM

Interview

US Ambassador Brink: ‘We have some sense of contours of Zelensky’s victory plan’

10:21 PM

Georgia

Georgian leader's 'apology' for 2008 war could be a win for Russia, experts say

10:06 PM

Bulgaria to ask EU to suspend egg imports from Ukraine.

"When the import of a certain type of product or commodity — vegetables, meat, eggs — reaches certain limits that the European Commission has outlined in advance, then we can activate the mechanism of banning their import. We are currently doing this in terms of eggs," Bulgarian Agriculture Minister Georgi Takhov said.

9:46 PM

War update

Ukraine war latest: Russian airstrike on Sumy retirement home kills 1, injures 14

9:06 PM

Russia redeploys 40,000 troops to Kursk Oblast as Kyiv's incursion continues, Zelensky says.

The number of Russian troops pulled over to Kursk Oblast, announced by President Volodymyr Zelensky in early September, was higher — 60,000.

9:01 PM

Zelensky to meet Biden, Harris in White House on Sept. 26.

"The leaders will discuss the state of the war between Russia and Ukraine, including Ukraine’s strategic planning and U.S. support for Ukraine in its defense against Russian aggression," White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement.

8:21 PM

EU aims to cover 25% of Ukraine's energy needs in winter, von der Leyen says ahead of Kyiv visit.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will visit Kyiv on Sept. 20 to discuss Ukraine's energy needs with President Volodymyr Zelensky, she said on Sept. 19.

6:06 PM  (Updated:  September 19, 2024 7:29 pm)

Russian attack on retirement home in Sumy kills at least 1, injures 14.

Russian forces attacked a retirement home in the city of Sumy with a guided aerial bomb on Sept. 19, killing one person and injuring at least 14 others, regional officials said.

7:24 PM

Russia mining dams in Belgorod Oblast, Ukraine's military claims.

Russia is placing explosives at dams in its own Belgorod Oblast, possibly preparing provocations to accuse Ukraine of causing environmental damage, a spokesperson of Ukraine's Kharkiv group of forces said on Sept. 19.

7:18 PM

Russia aims to increase drone production tenfold in 2024, Putin claims.

In 2023, the Russian army received about 140,000 drones of different types, according to Russian President Vladimir Putin. This year, Moscow is planning to produce 1.4 million, he claimed.

7:18 PM

Ukraine's victory delayed by West's fears of Russian defeat, Canadian-Ukrainian lawyer turned soldier says

7:11 PM

War analysis

Ukrainian drones are burning Russia’s oil refineries, but not its economy

6:58 PM

Economy

With few easy options, Ukraine votes to raise taxes on stressed citizens

6:43 PM

‘An evil axis’ — JP Morgan CEO issues stark economic warning over Russia, Iran, North Korea.

Jamie Dimon said Russia is in cahoots with Iran and North Korea "working every day on how to make it worse for the Western world and for America."

6:03 PM

Moldova's ex-military chief charged with treason over alleged espionage for Russia.

The Prosecutor's Office for Combating Organized Crime and Special Cases said on Sept. 18 that Igor Gorgan stands "accused in the case concerning alleged espionage on behalf of Russia."

5:23 PM

Germany delivers over 20 Leopard 1 tanks, Gepard anti-aircraft guns, other aid to Ukraine.

Berlin has handed over 22 Leopard 1 A5 tanks, 61,000 155mm rounds of ammunition, three Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft guns with spare parts, and other aid in its latest delivery of military aid to Ukraine, the German government said on Sept. 19.

5:00 PM

Polish FM reportedly suggests UN mandate and referendum in Crimea.

"We could put it under a U.N. mandate with a mission to prepare a fair referendum after checking who the legal residents are and so on... And we could postpone it for 20 years," Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski suggested as one possible option, according to Interfax-Ukraine.

3:58 PM

EU allocates over $100 million from Russian frozen assets to support Ukraine in winter.

"Russia must pay for the destruction it caused," von der Leyen said.

3:13 PM

MEPs vote in support of Ukrainian strikes inside Russia, Taurus missiles delivery.

The European Parliament passed a resolution on Sept. 19 calling for EU member states to lift restrictions on Ukraine's use of Western-supplied weapons inside Russia, and accelerate weapons deliveries, "including Taurus missiles."