Ukraine war latest: Moscow 'planned terror attacks' on airlines across the world (2025)

War latest
  • Keir Starmer to sign 100-year 'friendship' deal with Ukraine in first Kyiv visit since becoming PM
  • Moscow 'planned terror attacks' on airlines across the world
  • Ukraine peace deal months away, Trump advisers say
  • Analysis: No surprise Ukraine ramping up strikes on Russia before Trump return

08:54:32

What's been happening over the past day

We're not providing rolling coverage today, so here's a quick update on what's happened over the past 24 hours.

The most significant development off the battlefield came during Sir Keir Starmer's surprise visit to Kyiv, where he signed alandmark 100-year partnership agreement to deepen security ties - as we reported in the post below.

During his visit, Starmer said his government would deliver a new mobile air defence system to Ukraine, which will be "developed to meet Ukraine's needs".

He added the UK will play its "full part" in helping to guarantee Ukraine's security, with conversations to continue for months to come.

"We will work with you and all of our allies on steps that would be robust enough to guarantee Ukraine's security," Starmer said.

"We will play our full part."

Elsewhere:

  • Reacting to the treaty between the UK and Ukraine, the Kremlin said it will analyse how the agreement will be implemented - with Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov warning against NATO infrastructure on Russian borders;
  • Turning attention to the US, Peskov said Moscow does not expect "fundamental changes" to Washington's position on the conflict, adding "there is no need to indulge in any excessive expectation here";
  • Donald Trump's pick for treasury secretary, Scott Bessent, said he would "100%" support raising sanctions on Russian oil producers, describing the war in Ukraine as "one of the greatest tragedies" of his adult life;
  • Germany's foreign minister appeared to indirectly criticise the country's premier Olaf Scholz for his reluctance to approve further military aid, telling Politico today that "to be honest, it hurts me a lot";
  • On the battlefield, a Ukrainian official said a major Russian gunpowder factory was attacked - but didn't directly claim responsibility;
  • Ukraine's air force said it downed 33 of 50 drones launched by Russia overnight.

07:31:09

Sir Keir Starmer to sign 100-year 'friendship' deal with Ukraine in first Kyiv visit since becoming PM

Sir Keir Starmer has just arrived in Kyiv for his first trip to Ukraine as prime minister.

The prime minister was greeted at Kyiv railway station by the UK ambassador to Ukraine, Martin Harris, and Ukraine's envoy to London, Valerii Zaluzhnyi.

Sir Keir plans to sign a new long-term partnership deal with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy later today.

We won't have a Ukraine blog today - instead you can follow live coverage of Starmer's visit in our excellent Politics Hub...

15:45:01

Thanks for following

We're pausing our coverage of the war in Ukraine for now, thanks for following along.

Before we go, here's a round-up of the key events from today:

  • Russia hit Ukraine with a massive air attack this morning, targeting energy infrastructure and forcing widespread power cuts;
  • Poland's president claimed Russia had planned terror attacks on airlines across the globe;
  • Joe Biden announced new sanctions on Russia-related individuals and entities in the dying days of his presidency;
  • It comes as analysts say the outgoing leader is trying to put Donald Trump and Ukraine in a stronger position to negotiate a peace deal with Russia;
  • But advisers close to Trump said any such deal would take months to come together, despite the Republican's claim he would solve the crisis in a day.

15:40:01

In pictures: Ukrainian PoWs return home

We can bring you some images of Ukrainian prisoners of war returning home now, after a swap with Russia that we reported on earlier (see 12.16pm post).

"Today, 25 more of our people are returning home to Ukraine. These are our military and civilians," Volodymyr Zelenskyy said of the swap.

"The guys have serious injuries and illnesses. Each of them will receive all the necessary medical care," he said.

He also thanked the United Arab Emirates for its help in mediating the deal.

15:30:01

Biden era drawing to a close - and with it his strong support for Kyiv

Joe Biden will mark the end of his term this evening when his final major speech as president is broadcast.

Biden has consistently called on the incoming Donald Trump to keep up funding for Ukraine after the Democrat leaves, but the Republican has signalled his stance is to seek peace as soon as possible.

Under his premiership, the US has committed nearly $200bn in weapons, aid, or ammunition for Ukraine since Russia's invasion in 2022.

Analysts have noted that the outgoing Biden has "left it late" to push through a series of new bills and sanctions on the Russian regime.

A wave of sanctions hit Russian oil tankers and producers last week, and fresh sanctions were announced just this afternoon (see previous post).

Donald Trump will be inaugurated as president next Monday.

You can read more about what that may mean in our 9.57am post, or ask a question for one of our experts by clicking on the link in our 1.45pm post.

15:16:13

US announces new Russia-related sanctions in dying days of Biden presidency

The US has issued fresh Russia-related sanctions, according to the Treasury.

Multiple individuals, a China-based entity and a bank in Kyrgyzstan have all been named in the latest wave of sanctions - which come in the dying days of Joe Biden's premiership.

Analysts have noted that the outgoing Biden has "left it late" to push through a series of new bills and sanctions on the Russian regime in anticipation of Donald Trump's imminent return to the White House.

A wave of sanctions hit Russian oil tankers and producers just last week.

"The new team is setting up for a negotiation, and in a negotiation, you need leverage, and part of that leverage has to come from the kind of economic pressure that makes Putin see he's going to continue to pay a significant price economically," security adviser Jake Sullivan said on Monday.

14:55:01

Return of Russian-occupied regions 'not even up for discussion' in peace deal, Putin aide says

The return of Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine to Kyiv in a potential peace deal is "not even up for discussion", a senior Putin aide has said.

Nikolai Patrushev rejected the suggestion that Russia could be persuaded to cede any parts of the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhia, and Kherson oblasts it currently holds.

In an interview published yesterday in Russian outlet Komsomolskaya Pravda, he said the idea was "not even up for discussion".

He repeated long-standing Russian claims that sham elections in the regions in September 2022 made them effectively Russian territory.

He also appeared to suggest that international recognition of the territories, as well as Crimea, as Russian may be central to any future peace deal.

14:31:01

Putin chairs committee meeting

Over at the Kremlin, Russian President Vladimir Putin has been chairing a meeting of the Pobeda organising committee via videoconference.

The Pobeda (meaning "victory") is the Russian annual parade in which Soviet success again Nazi Germany in the Second World War is celebrated.

14:05:01

Zelenskyy to speak with Starmer about foreign troops in Ukraine

More from Poland, where Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Donald Tusk are hosting a news conference.

The Ukrainian leader was asked about reports that foreign troops could be sent to enforce a ceasefire line should some sort of peace deal be reached.

Zelenskyy said that deployment of foreign troops in Ukraine could only be a part of security guarantees and would not be enough alone.

He also said he would discuss the issue with Sir Keir Starmer.

13:45:01

Trump to be inaugurated next week - but what does it mean for Ukraine? | Ask our experts

Donald Trump will be inaugurated as US president for the second time on Monday.

We'll be covering the event live - starting with a live Q&A with our correspondents on Friday afternoon.

Do you have questions about how the returning Trump could affect the war in Ukraine?

Submit a question by clicking the link below.

Ukraine war latest: Moscow 'planned terror attacks' on airlines across the world (2025)
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