Trump promises 'major statement' on Russia and says US will supply weapons to Kyiv via NATO

'Positive trend' in Russia-US relations continues, Moscow claims

The positive trend in Russia-US relations continues and has not faded, although the US administration is acting in a zigzag manner, Russian deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov has told the RIA news agency.

"No, I do not agree that the positive trend in relations between Moscow and Washington is fading," RIA cited Ryabkov as saying.

"I think that the current US administration acts in a zigzag manner on this and many other issues. 

"I wouldn't say they are firmly following a set course once and for all. We don't dramatise over this."

Ryabkov also said a new round of talks between Russia and the US on bilateral problems may take place before the end of the summer.

Ukraine drone attacks targeted Moscow, Russia says

Ukraine's drone attack on Russia overnight and into this morning killed two people and attempted to hit targets in Moscow, Russian authorities have said. 

Russian air defences downed 155 Ukrainian drones, including 11 bound for Moscow, Russia's defence ministry has said this morning.

Three of the four airports serving the Russian capital, Domodedovo, Vnukovo and Zhukovsky, temporarily suspended operations but later resumed, Russia's aviation authority Rosaviatsia said.

A drone crashed onto the territory of an agricultural enterprise in the Lipetsk region, killing one person and injuring another, regional governor Igor Artamonov said.

And one person was killed and another injured in the Ukrainian attack on the Tula region (see post from 7.09am).

Kyiv says its attacks on Russian territory are aimed at destroying infrastructure key to Moscow's war efforts and are in response to Russia's continued strikes on Ukraine throughout the war.

Moscow has escalated its attacks on Ukraine in recent weeks, launching a record number of drones that have targeted Kyiv and cities throughout Ukraine.

Both sides deny targeting civilians in the war.

Rubio told Lavrov 'not enough progress has been made' to end war

As world leaders descended on Rome for the Ukraine Security Conference yesterday, over in Malaysia US Secretary of State Marco Rubio sat down for a meeting with Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov.

But Rubio has since expressed frustration following the meeting about Russia's lack of progress towards ending the war in Ukraine.

Rubio stated after the meeting that he conveyed Donald Trump's frustration with Russia's insufficient "flexibility" to end the war.

"We shared some ideas and comments which I'll take back to Washington as early as this evening… I expressed what the president has said publicly, which is that we feel as if we've dedicated a lot of time and energy to this matter and just not enough progress has been made," Rubio said.

"We need to see a roadmap moving forward."

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) notes that Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov claimed yesterday the war continues and the "realities on the ground" are changing every day.

"Kremlin officials often call for Ukraine to recognise the 'realities on the ground' (a reference to the frontline in Ukraine) to allude to the idea that Russia is in a stronger negotiating position given the battlefield situation and to demand that Ukraine concede to Russia's unwavering demands amounting to complete capitulation to Russia," the US-based thinktank said.

Drone attack in Kharkiv

Images of damaged and burnt-out buildings are emerging from Kharkiv, in northeast Ukraine, this morning after a Russian drone strike.

Russia has recently intensified its airstrikes on civilian areas after more than three years of war.

In the past week, Russia launched over 1,000 drones at Ukraine.

One person killed after Ukraine drone attack in Russian region

One person had been killed and another is injured after a Ukrainian drone attack on Russia's Tula region, around 124 miles south of Moscow, the local governor has said.

Russian defence ministry air defence units destroyed 13 drones during the night combat operations to protect the region's airspace, Tula's regional governor, Dmitry Milyaev, said on Telegram.

Russia and Ukraine have been increasing their drone attacks over recent months but both sides claim they only target military infrastructure.

US will supply weapons to Ukraine via NATO

Further to our last post, Donald Trump has also said the US will supply weapons to Ukraine via NATO.

In recent days, Trump has expressed frustration with Vladimir Putin over the lack of progress towards ending the war.

As well as teasing a "major statement" in his interview with NBC News, Trump also said a new deal had been struck between the US, NATO allies and Ukraine over American weapons shipments.

"We're sending weapons to NATO, and NATO is paying for those weapons, 100%. So what we’re doing is the weapons that are going out are going to NATO, and then NATO is going to be giving those weapons (to Ukraine), and NATO is paying for those weapons," Trump said.

"We send weapons to NATO, and NATO is going to reimburse the full cost of those weapons," he added.

The Trump administration has so far only sent weapons

authorised by former President Joe Biden, who was a staunch supporter of Kyiv.

While Trump had pledged to swiftly end the war, months into his presidency, little progress has been made. 

He has at times criticised US spending on Ukraine's defence but he has also voiced support for Kyiv and expressed frustration with Vladimir Putin at the same time.

Trump promises 'major statement' on Russia

Donald Trump has said he will make a "major statement" on Russia on Monday.

In an interview with our partner network NBC News, the US leader spoke about Russia's war with Ukraine.

"I'm disappointed in Russia, but we'll see what happens over the next couple of weeks," he said. 

"I think I'll have a major statement to make on Russia on Monday."

The president did not elaborate on the details of this announcement.

But he has been showing growing frustration with Vladimir Putin over the war in Ukraine and this week said he was considering supporting a Senate bill that would impose stiff sanctions on Russia, including eye-watering 500% tariffs on nations that buy Russian oil, gas, uranium, and other exports.

-SKY NEWS