Topic: Diplomacy
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Trump signs 'hellish sanctions' law against Russia; Ukraine pushes for full implementation
President Donald Trump signed a U.S. sanctions law — dubbed the "hellish sanctions" — about a week before publication, codifying existing measures against Russia across energy, the shadow fleet, finance, the defense-industrial complex and sanctions circumvention. The law imposes tariffs of up to 500% on Russian goods and up to 100% on goods from third countries that buy significant volumes of Russian oil or gas, and sets an 18 October deadline for the administration to act. Ukraine, which has already submitted detailed proposals including lists of traders, tankers, captains and intermediaries, is engaging Congress to press the White House toward full implementation.
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Russian drone strikes Kyiv's National Academy of Sciences building, killing at least two
On 28 September 2026, a Russian jet-powered drone struck the Presidium building of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (NASU) in central Kyiv around 13:30, causing a large fire and partially destroying the second and third floors of the historic structure. At least two people were killed — including the personal assistant of NASU Vice-President Volodymyr Horbulin — and multiple others were injured; some NASU staff remained unreachable after the strike. President Zelensky promised a Ukrainian response, Foreign Minister Sybiha called on UNESCO to strip Russia of voting rights, and the strike drew condemnation from European leaders and institutions.
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Ukraine says Russia used civilians, including children, as cover while retreating through gas pipeline near Kupiansk
Ukraine's National Guard 'Khartiia' corps says reconnaissance drones recorded Russian forces on 27 September leading nine civilians — including children, elderly people and one person on crutches — out of the Kupiansk community in Kharkiv Oblast through the 'Shebelinka — Ostrohozk' gas pipeline. Khartiia says men of military age in civilian clothes walking alongside the group were Russian soldiers who had removed their uniforms, and that the children and elderly were forced to walk more than 10 kilometres inside the pipe. Ukrainian forces saw the group but did not open fire because of the civilians present; the military says the footage will be passed on for a war crimes investigation. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha publicly characterized the actions as the use of Ukrainian civilians as a 'human shield' and as gross violations of international humanitarian law.
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EU drafts individual membership roadmaps for Ukraine, Moldova, Montenegro and Albania
The EU is preparing four individual accession "roadmaps" for Montenegro, Ukraine, Moldova and Albania that would set out indicative timelines for completing accession negotiations and for closing negotiating clusters, alongside a separate pre-enlargement policy review due on 6 October. Two senior EU officials described the plans to Politico, and a European Commission spokesperson confirmed the roadmaps would define the path to completing membership talks with a clear list of priorities, timelines and results. Seven other candidates are excluded from this round.
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Zelenskyy: Russia launched over 2,200 strike drones at Ukraine in one week, calls de-escalation signals "fake"
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported on September 27 that Russia launched more than 2,200 strike drones, approximately 1,650 aerial bombs, and 38 missiles — many ballistic — at Ukraine over the past week. In a single recent day Russia used 277 strike drones, 155 of them jet-powered. Zelenskyy called Russia's diplomatic signals about de-escalation fake, said the strikes on kindergartens and schools amount to terrorism, and announced that new sanctions packages and the U.S. Lindsay Graham law are being prepared for October.
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Several detained near US Fairford airbase in UK on suspicion of explosives offences
Several people were detained in the UK on 27 September near the US Fairford airbase in Gloucestershire on suspicion of offences under the Explosives Act. Residents of the nearby village of Welford were evacuated, and a military bomb disposal unit was deployed to examine vehicles. US President Donald Trump said the suspects had been under surveillance for an extended period and had planned to cause major harm to the airbase, but authorities have not confirmed any link to Iran.
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Budanov: Ukraine needs expanded Starlink access and Patriot interceptors to counter Russian missile strikes
Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine's Presidential Office, said in an interview with Newsforce that Ukraine urgently needs expanded access to Starlink and Starshield satellite communications as well as interceptor missiles for Patriot air defence systems, in order to counter and strike Russian missile systems. A fragment of the interview was published on Budanov's Telegram channel on Sunday, 27 September.
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Ukrainian forces deliver 4 tonnes of food by drone to occupied Oleshky as humanitarian crisis deepens
Ukrainian forces used drones to deliver about 4,000 kg of food to 100 locations in Russian-occupied Oleshky, Kherson Oblast, one of the largest such operations since systematic drone deliveries across the Dnipro began in March. Head of the Kherson Oblast Military Administration Oleksandr Prokudin said Russian forces shoot down delivery drones, seize or resell the food, and detain and beat residents who receive aid. The situation has been raised at the UN Security Council, with Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha comparing the blockade to the 1932–1933 Holodomor.
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Poland offers to host Patriot missile production for Ukraine, citing safety of its own territory
Poland has offered to host on its territory the production of interceptor missiles for U.S. Patriot air-defense systems intended for Ukraine, if Washington grants Kyiv the relevant license. The proposal was made by Polish Deputy Minister of National Defense Magdalena Sobków-Czarniecka in a TVN24 interview, and was framed as a response to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's 25 September claim that U.S. President Donald Trump has made a "final decision" to license Ukrainian Patriot production. Poland simultaneously confirmed it is negotiating with the U.S. on a permanent American military base, expected to accommodate around 5,000 troops and their families.
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Trump pushes for Ukraine-Russia deal before winter; Zelenskyy says Putin shows no intent to end war
After a September 22 meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, US President Donald Trump said on September 26 he expects Zelenskyy and Vladimir Putin to "make a deal before the difficult winter." In an evening address the same day, Zelenskyy countered that Putin is not planning to end the war and keeps finding excuses to avoid meetings and a trilateral format.
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Ukraine proposes Oleshky evacuation, accuses Russia of blocking it as starvation reports mount
Ukraine has proposed a temporary ceasefire and land corridor to evacuate civilians from Russian-occupied Oleshky in Kherson Oblast, but says Russia has rejected the plan. Ukrainian officials describe a humanitarian catastrophe with no food deliveries since late May, cases of starvation, and civilians trapped by mines and shelling, while Kyiv appeals to the UN, ICRC, Council of Europe and Pope Leo XIV for help.
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Council of Europe rights chief calls for ceasefire, evacuation in occupied Oleshky
Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Michael O'Flaherty has called for an immediate local ceasefire, unhindered humanitarian access, and the evacuation of civilians from the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky in Kherson region, where residents face severe hunger, lack of medicine, water, and electricity. No food deliveries have reached the town since late May, and the only road in is mined and monitored by drones. O'Flaherty cited the Fourth Geneva Convention in holding Russia, as the occupying power, responsible for providing for the population.
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Ukraine says ready for US-mediated trilateral with Russia; Zelensky names UAE as proposed venue
President Volodymyr Zelensky said on September 25 that the United States has proposed a trilateral meeting with Ukraine and Russia at the technical level, with the United Arab Emirates suggested as the venue. Ukraine is waiting for Washington to propose a date. The Kremlin confirmed contacts are underway. Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha said Ukraine is ready for the format but saw no signals of Russian willingness to engage.
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EU member states agree on how to release €6.6 billion from European Peace Fund for Ukraine
EU member states agreed on conditions for releasing €6.6 billion from the European Peace Fund for Ukraine, ending a freeze imposed since spring 2023 by Hungary's veto. The announcement was made on 25 September by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas, who called the deal "good news for Ukraine and bad news for Russia." The deal still requires formal adoption by EU defense ministers.
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Swiss to vote September 27 on enshrining stricter neutrality in constitution
Swiss voters head to the polls on Sunday, September 27 to decide whether to enshrine a stricter definition of the country's centuries-old neutrality in the constitution. A 'yes' vote would effectively bar Switzerland from imposing sanctions on Russia unless approved by the UN Security Council and rule out military cooperation with alliances like NATO outside cases of direct attack. Polls indicate nearly two-thirds of voters oppose the initiative.
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Finnish President Stubb asks Musk to expand Starlink coverage so Ukraine can strike Russian missile launchers
Finnish President Alexander Stubb said in a Reuters interview in New York that he has asked Elon Musk to allow Starlink satellite internet to operate in areas where Russian ballistic missile launchers are based — including on occupied Ukrainian territory and inside Russia — arguing it would save lives. He framed Starlink as a partial substitute for the air-defence assets Ukraine lacks ahead of winter, and said allies are preparing a winter aid package because he does not see the war ending before then.
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Macron proposes "double moratorium" linking halt on Russian refinery strikes and Black Sea hostilities
French President Emmanuel Macron said he intends to propose a "double moratorium" as part of diplomatic efforts to ease energy-market strain, coupling a halt to strikes on Russian oil refineries with a halt to hostilities in the Black Sea. He also outlined broader measures: working to restore shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and urging G7 countries to reuse strategic oil reserves.
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Trump hosts Xi at White House; Ukraine pushes to draw China into effort to end Russia's war
US President Donald Trump hosted Chinese leader Xi Jinping at the White House on September 24 in a lavish summit that produced no visible breakthroughs on artificial intelligence, trade, Taiwan, or the war with Iran. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky asked Trump to press Xi to influence Russian leader Vladimir Putin to end or de-escalate the war, while US Democratic senators urged Trump to raise the "Graham Law" on Russia sanctions with Xi.
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Finland approves Special Tribunal on Russian aggression and Compensation Commission, sends proposals to parliament
Finland's government endorsed the creation of a Special Tribunal for the crime of aggression against Ukraine and an International Compensation Commission for Ukraine, transmitting its proposals to the Finnish parliament. The Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the decisions on X. Finland becomes the 21st state to join the tribunal agreement.
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Ukrainian citizen attacks Benedictine monastery in Poland, killing at least one priest
A 31-year-old Ukrainian citizen carried out a knife attack on the morning of 24 September at a Benedictine sisters' monastery in Jarosław, in southeastern Poland, killing at least one priest and injuring five other people. The attacker was detained at the scene. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk both responded, with Zelensky calling it a "horrible crime" and Tusk pledging full enforcement of Polish law.