Ukraine-Russia war latest: Trump and Putin say they could attend China peace summit without Zelensky

Trump rants against Zelensky and says he is open to summit with Putin and XiAmerican and Russian officials say arrangements are being made for Ukraine peace talks in China next month involving Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping, but without any Ukrainian representation.Asked whether he would meet Putin and Xi without Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky, Trump said he would do "anything I can do to end the war, whether somebody is there or not".Secretary of state Marco Rubio confirmed there had been "talk of a meeting", and Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that while the prospect of such a meeting had been mentioned, "no substantive proposals or agreements” have been discussed.Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha criticised the idea of peace talks without Kyiv, saying it would only embolden Putin.Trump was also asked about Zelensky saying the president was “on the wrong side of history” with the Russia diesel deal, to which he responded: “Zelensky doesn’t know what he’s talking about. Zelensky’s a man that should have this war settled a long time ago.“To be honest, I think it’s time for someone else to negotiate on behalf of Ukraine.” US yet to authorise delivery of latest Nato weaponry package to Ukraine – sourcesSecretary of defence Pete Hegseth has yet to authorise delivery of the latest package of US weaponry purchased by Nato allies under a program known as PURL, a source told Reuters.The source could not confirm whether the shipment included Patriots.Pete Hegseth announced the decision to livestream the execution of Nidal Hasan by firing squad earlier last week (AFP/Getty)The relationship between the US and Ukraine has nosedived in recent weeks, after Donald Trump announced a deal to purchase Russian diesel and temporarily waived some sanctions in a bid to lower fuel prices ahead of the midterm elections.The US president has accused Zelensky of refusing to hold peace talks with Russia and in ‌his latest broadside on Monday said that maybe it was time that the Ukrainian leader "get somebody else to ​negotiate." Zelensky has consistently said he is ready for talks. Namita Singh20 October 2026 06:00US officials plan to travel to Norway, Russia for Ukraine talks, say sourcesUS president Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff is set to travel ⁠to Norway this week for the next round of negotiations on ending the war in Ukraine, according to three people familiar with the matter.Two of the people said they expected Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky to attend the meetings. Another person familiar with the matter said Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, who was expected to take part in the talks, was sick and would attend virtually.File: Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky, US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, US president Donald Trump's son-in-law, after a joint news conference, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine (Reuters)The Oslo discussions are ⁠expected to include Zelensky, Norwegian prime minister Jonas Gahr Store, representatives of ​the ⁠E4 – made up of Britain, France, Germany, and Poland – the European Union, and Nato.Witkoff is also set to travel to Russia to meet president Vladimir Putin, two of the people familiar with the matter ⁠said. The Russian conversations are going to focus on a range of topics related to Ukraine as well as ​the ⁠release of American citizen Stephen Hubbard, who was jailed ‌in Russia in 2022. Namita Singh20 October 2026 05:03Senators hold call with Ukrainian president Volodymyr ZelenskySenators who organised a call with Volodymyr Zelensky said he confirmed that critical Starlink services remain degraded, impeding Ukraine's ability to intercept Russian drones.Republican senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina and Democratic senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut said in a statement that Zelensky also reported disruptions to US intelligence sharing concerning early warning of Russian ballistic missile launches."As a result of these disruptions, civilians - children - are dying," the senators said.FILE PHOTO: US President Donald Trump meets with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky during the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York City, US, September 22, 2026 (Reuters)The senators participated in the call after the Trump administration waived sanctions against Russia approved recently by Congress.The senators said that Democrats and Republicans understand what will happen if Russian president Vladimir Putin faces no consequences, and they remain committed to Ukraine and European allies trying to end "the slaughter in Russia's war of aggression"."Zelensky reiterated his willingness to halt strikes on Russian energy facilities as President Trump has proposed, but only if Putin agrees to the same - a fair request," they said. Namita Singh20 October 2026 04:03Russia strikes 28 energy critical energy facilitiesRussia has struck 28 substations and other critical energy facilities across Ukraine in another wave of attacks.At least 550,000 households lost power overnight, Volodymyr Zelensky said. “Restoration work is underway everywhere, and electricity is gradually being restored to people. “Grateful to every repair crew, all employees of energy companies—men and women alike.” Both Russia and Ukraine have ramped up attacks on energy facilities after Donald Trump’s energy ceasefire collapsed.Harriette Boucher20 October 2026 03:00Comment: Why a mysterious Russian satellite is threatening to spark a space warIf Russia were to detonate a nuclear weapon in low orbit, it would be a game-changer – an escalation in conventional military strategy that would kill no one directly. More alarming still, it would not require the industrial capacity Moscow lacks, but rely on technology it already possesses, says missile defence expert Dr Sidharth KaushalWhy a mysterious Russian satellite is threatening to spark a space warIf Russia were to detonate a nuclear weapon in low orbit, it would be a game-changer – an escalation in conventional military strategy that would kill no one directly. More alarming still, it would not require the industrial capacity Moscow lacks, but rely on technology it already possesses, says missile defence expert Dr Sidharth KaushalHarriette Boucher20 October 2026 02:00Trump claims Zelensky ‘never wanted to end war’ as rift deepens with KyivDonald Trump has claimed that Volodymyr Zelensky “never wanted to end” the war with Russia as he escalated his attacks on the Ukrainian president.The rift between the two powers deepened on Sunday when Trump posted on Truth Social that Zelensky “doesn’t want to end this war”.He said: “Frankly, with all of the money that Europe is famously giving him, and that crooked Joe Biden gave him in the past, he doesn’t want to end this war, and probably never did.”Read more: Harriette Boucher20 October 2026 01:00Watch: Ukrainian drone attack on St Petersburg and Leningrad regionUkrainian drone attack on St Petersburg and Leningrad regionHarriette Boucher20 October 2026 00:00Bulgarian court approves arrest warrant for two Germans over Starlink fireA Bulgarian court approved the issuance of a European arrest warrant for two German citizens accused of setting fire to SpaceX Starlink antennas near Sofia, a spokesperson told Reuters.Prosecutors allege the two entered Bulgaria from Serbia on 9 October 9, spent several hours in the country and later returned to Serbia. They are accused of setting fire to Starlink antennas at the Plana Teleport facility south of Sofia.If convicted, they ‌face between three and 12 years in prison, Bulgarian state news ⁠agency BTA reported. The ruling can be appealed within three daysUkraine uses Starlink terminals extensively for battlefield communications and installs Starlink receivers in many of its drones ‌as part of their ​guidance systemsOther countries ‌have blamed Russia-linked ⁠sabotage for similar fire incidents. ⁠Moscow says such accusations are baseless and ‌the result ​of anti-Russian hysteriaHarriette Boucher19 October 2026 23:00Zelensky discusses speeding up supplies of Patriots with Lockheed MartinVolodymyr Zelensky has discussed ways of speeding up supplies of the Patriot system, vital to countering Russia ballistic missiles, with representatives of the US company Lockheed Martin. The Ukrainian leader said it is the company’s “Patriot systems and F-16 ‌planes that ‌play an important role in defending ⁠against Russian ballistic missiles and jet-powered drones.“And things are not easy ‌on both fronts ​right now. ‌We talked about ⁠how we ⁠can expand and ‌increase ​supplies,” he added.“The company is currently ramping up production of ballistic missile interceptors. We count on the opportunity to purchase some of them to protect more lives. “We are also trying to do everything possible to ensure that F-16 maintenance and repairs are carried out in Ukraine.”Harriette Boucher19 October 2026 22:00Homeland Security grants temporary deportation reprieve for more than 100K Ukrainians and SudaneseMore than 100,000 people from Ukraine and Sudan can stay in the United States without immediate risk of deportation, the Department of Homeland Security said, in what amounts to a temporary reprieve after their right to stay in the country was set to expire Monday.Temporary Protected Status was set to end Oct. 19 for about 101,000 Ukrainians and 1,800 Sudanese. But DHS said an announcement “will be made at the appropriate time.” Until then, the department said in a written statement, Ukrainians and Sudanese in the U.S. covered by those temporary measures “retain protection.” The Department did not indicate how long they could stay or when a final announcement would be made on their status.DHS did not respond to a question about whether they can keep their work permits, but TPS generally allows people to work while their protections remain in effect.Harriette Boucher19 October 2026 21:15