US Official: Ukraine’s NATO bid 'should be taken up at a different time'

Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in Kyiv's Independence Square the evening of Sept. 5 to protest parliamentary bills that would impose tougher criminal penalties on soldiers for disobedience.

"Such lines will be opened with other European countries," Zelensky said at a press conference alongside European Council President Antonio Costa.

Ukrainian drones struck multiple Russian oil facilities overnight on Sept. 5, including Russia's largest Rosneft refinery in Ryazan and an oil depot in occupied Luhansk Oblast, Ukraine's top drone warfare commander Robert "Madyar" Brovdi reported.

The soldiers had been injured in combat and had been hiding in the occupied territories in a hospital where "sympathetic doctors" helped them avoid Russian secret services.

At a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing on Sept. 2, Fico pledged to discuss with Zelensky attacks on energy infrastructure, a reference to recent Ukrainian strikes on the Druzhba oil pipeline, which supplies Russian crude to Hungary and Slovakia.

"I don't see much point in them, (...) because it will be practically impossible to reach an agreement with the Ukrainian side on key issues: even if there is political will, which I doubt, there are legal and technical difficulties," Putin said.

Oleksii "Leo," a Ukrainian battalion commander with the legendary Azov Brigade, discusses Russia's rapid advances in the east, Ukraine's manpower shortage, and potential scenarios for the future of the war.

"Gasoline (in Russia) is becoming scarce, while gas and oil are quickly running out," Ukraine's top drone warfare commander, Robert "Madyar" Brovdi, wrote.

"I'm sure many people sitting in this room will say 'yes, this is outrageous,'" Russian President Vladimir Putin said.

"We are working with the United States and other partners to intensify our pressure through additional sanctions — both direct and secondary sanctions," European Council President Antonio Costa said.

"May they have a long and prosperous future together," U.S. President Donald Trump said.

Current proposals envision these measures taking effect only after a ceasefire.

Ukraine's Air Force said Russian forces launched 157 Shahed-type attack and decoy drones overnight, along with six S-300 guided missiles and an X-59 air-launched missile.

"If any troops appear there, especially now, during the fighting, we assume that they will be legitimate targets for destruction," Russian President Vladimir Putin said.