Ukraine-Russia war latest: Trump claims peace deal ‘very close’ after Putin test-fires nuclear-capable missile

US president Donald Trump has echoed the Kremlin and said the war in Ukraine could end soon but did not elaborate on his remarks, even as the attacks on Kyiv continued.

“The end of the war in Ukraine I really think it’s getting very close,” Trump said before heading out of the White House for a state visit to China yesterday.

His remarks closely followed those by Russian president Vladimir Putin on Saturday, who claimed that the “matter is coming to an end” while similarly providing few details.

Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesperson, said a certain amount of trilateral work with Ukraine and the United States had been ​done towards winding down the war.

Meanwhile hostilities resumed on Tuesday, ending hopes that a three-day ceasefire could be extended further.

Russia test-fired a new intercontinental ballistic missile, which Putin hailed as the “world’s most powerful” missile. He claimed the nuclear-armed Sarmat missile would enter combat service at the end of the year.

And Russian attacks on Zelensky’s home town Kryvyi Rih yesterday killed two and injured four, including a nine-month-old girl whose leg was severed, the regional governor said.

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• Putin let his desperation show with unexpected claim his war with Ukraine is ending
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• How big is Ukraine’s corruption problem as Zelensky’s ex-chief of staff charged
• Scottish man who spied on Ukraine military for Russia jailed for eight years

Student recruited into Russian drone unit dies in combat – ISW

A Russian university student who was recruited into the Russian Unmanned Systems Forces (RSF) died in combat, potentially in an assault unit, said a US-based think tank the Institute for the Study of War, citing open-source reporting.

The student, Valery Averin, signed a contract with the Russian defence ministry earlier this year in January to serve in the drones unit of Russia.

He completed his drone operator training on 24 March and contacted his mother for the last time on 2 April, and was killed in action by 8 April, only two weeks after completing his training, reported ISW, citing the BBC Russian service.

The student’s mother said Russian forces “threw him [Averin] into an assault, right into the meat grinder” and that a Ukrainian “mortar strike” killed Averin.

The BBC report indicated that this was the first known death of a Russian university student recruited into the drone unit.

Arpan Rai13 May 2026 07:29

Watch: Russia will deploy new Sarmat nuclear missile this year, says Putin

Arpan Rai13 May 2026 07:20

Fighting rages on Ukraine-Russia borders as 170 clashes reported

The General ‌Staff of the Ukrainian military, in a late evening bulletin, said 170 combat clashes had been recorded over the past 24 hours along the 1,250-km (775-mile) front.

The report said the heaviest fighting had occurred near two key points in Ukrainian defences in the east of the country - the towns of Kostiantynivka and Pokrovsk.

Russian forces, it said, had conducted 25 and 24 combat operations respectively.

Although neither side reported large-scale airstrikes during the weekend ceasefire, both said fighting continued along the front line, accusing each other of drone and artillery attacks.

Arpan Rai13 May 2026 06:53

Russia says it has downed 286 Ukrainian drones overnight

Russian forces have intercepted and downed at least 286 Ukrainian drones overnight, the Russian defence ministry said this morning.

It did not detail the damage caused by the massive swarm of Ukrainian drones.

Russia typically reports only how many drones its air defences say they downed, not how many Ukraine launched, and rarely discloses the full extent of damage unless civilians are killed or civilian sites are hit.

However, damage was reported by local officials.

In the ‌southern Krasnodar ‌region, drone ⁠fragments fell on the territory of an industrial facility, ‌causing ​a ‌fire, ⁠local authorities ⁠said on their Telegram channel.

Arpan Rai13 May 2026 06:30

Putin hails Russia's test launch of 'world's most powerful' new ballistic missile

Russia has test-fired a new intercontinental ballistic missile as part of efforts to modernise the country's nuclear forces, a launch hailed by president Vladimir Putin just days after his claim that the fighting in Ukraine is nearing an end.

Putin said that the nuclear-armed Sarmat missile would enter combat service at the end of the year. It was built to replace the aging Soviet-built Voyevoda.

The Sarmat — designated “Satan II” in the West — is meant to replace about 40 Soviet-built Voyevoda missiles. Its development began in 2011 and before Tuesday, the missile had only one known successful test and reportedly suffered a massive explosion during an abortive test in 2024.

“This is the most powerful missile in the world,” Putin declared, adding that the combined power of the Sarmat’s individually targeted warheads is more than four times higher than that of any Western counterpart.

The Russian leader has repeatedly brandished the nuclear sword after sending troops into Ukraine in February 2022 to try to deter the West from ramping up support for Ukraine.

Arpan Rai13 May 2026 05:51

Scottish man who spied on Ukraine military for Russia jailed for eight years

A Scottish man who worked as a military instructor in Ukraine has been jailed for eight-and-a-half years after pleading guilty to spying for Russia.

Ross David Cutmore, from the city of Dunfermline in Fife, was recruited by a member of the Russian special services and transmitted information about the Ukrainian military in return for payment.

The Ukrainian prosecutor general’s office said that he had “acted out of selfish motives and with the intent to transmit this data to the aggressor country”.

Cutmore was jailed for eight years and six months after admitting his guilt in a plea deal at the Kyiv district court of Odesa on 30 April.

Cutmore arrived in the country in January 2024, according to prosecutors. He ran classes for Ukrainian service personnel in the city of Mykolaiv.

Scottish man who spied on Ukraine military for Russia jailed for eight years

Ross David Cutmore was recruited by a member of the Russian special servicesArpan Rai13 May 2026 05:45

Kyiv working with European allies to defend against ballistic missiles, says Zelensky

Volodymyr Zelensky has said Kyiv was working with its allies in Europe to develop technologies to defend against ballistic missiles, adding that 13 countries and Nato representatives had participated in talks on the issue on Tuesday.

“We are steadily advancing the issue of anti-ballistic capabilities production in Europe – we are forming an anti-ballistic coalition. This is something worth doing, and right now we are closer to a result than ever before,” he said in his nightly address.

Zelensky added that at least 13 countries and the Office of the Nato secretary general were represented at yesterday’s meeting at the level of NSAs on anti-ballistic solutions.

“Overall, Ukraine’s positions right now – on the frontline, in our long-range sanctions, and in our joint results with partners – are the strongest they have been in years,” he said.

Arpan Rai13 May 2026 05:30

Vladimir Putin ‘stages dressed-down encounter with public’ in bizarre video

Vladimir Putin appeared to stage a friendly encounter with a member of the public in a bizarre video shared by the Kremlin on Monday.

The Russian president was filmed making friendly small talk with a man in a hotel lobby during a planned meeting with an old schoolteacher in Moscow.

Putin, 73, cut a casual figure as he paraded the city, dressed down and with a small security detail in an apparent rebuttal of claims that security around him has been tightened amid fears of an assassination attempt or coup.

Vladimir Putin ‘stages meeting with the public’ in bizarre video

Putin released footage of the ‘chance’ meeting just days after it was claimed he was hiding in underground bunkers, detached from civilian affairs, amid fears of assassinationArpan Rai13 May 2026 05:25

How big is Ukraine’s corruption problem as Zelensky’s ex-chief of staff charged

Volodymyr Zelensky’s former chief of staff was charged with corruption and money laundering on Monday as Ukraine’s galvanised watchdog pressed on with its widening investigation.

Andriy Yermak, who was until late last year the president’s closest advisor, was accused of laundering some UAH 460 million (£7.73m) through luxury accommodation near Kyiv. He denies ownership in the project.

Ukraine’s top anti-corruption agencies announced today they had charged six suspects in connection to the probe, which they said was linked to Operation Midas, the growing crackdown on an alleged plot to skim $100m from the country’s energy sector.

How big is Ukraine’s corruption problem as Zelensky’s ex-chief of staff charged

Anti-corruption bodies continue to scalp high-ranking Ukrainian officials amid a widening graft probeArpan Rai13 May 2026 05:11

Putin let his desperation show with unexpected claim his war with Ukraine is ending

Pausing, turning and pointing, like hounds catching a new scent, Europe’s leaders are picking up a blood trail from the Kremlin. Vladimir Putin’s forces were once the hunters – now they are bleeding and Ukraine has the whiff of victory in its nose.

In the latest sign that Ukraine’s systematic new policy of trying to kill at least 50,000 Russians a month is working, Putin has told his people that the end of the war he started is near.

And, in an act that was both desperate and doomed, he suggested that Gerhard Schröder, the former German chancellor, could act as Europe’s envoy in talks.

Putin let his desperation show with unexpected claim his war with Ukraine is ending

Russia’s leader is showing increasing signs of weakness, while Ukraine is growing in confidence as the war turns Kyiv’s way, writes world affairs editor Sam KileyArpan Rai13 May 2026 05:07NewerOlder

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