Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (Felipe Dana/AP/File)

EA on TVP World: Will Trump’s Newfound Support for Ukraine Last?

Thursday’s Coverage: Zelensky to UN — “No One But Ourselves Can Guarantee Security”

UPDATE 0736 GMT:

Ukraine’s latest drone strikes have hit one of the largest oil refineries in southern Russia.

The Afipsky refinery in Krasnodar Krai processes 9.1 million tons of oil annually, about 2.1% of Russia’s total output.

Russian authorities said drone debris fell on one of the refinery’s units, but maintained that a fire over 30 square meters (323 square feet) was soon extinguished with no casualties or significant infrastructure damage.

The refinery, about 200 km (125 miles) from the frontline in Ukraine, is key logistics hub for diesel fuel and aviation kerosene for the Russian military.

Ukrainian drones previously hit Afipsky on August 7 and 28, forcing the shutdown of one facility.

UPDATE 0620 GMT:

India has told the Trump Administration that it may curb imports of Russian oil if it can purchase sanctioned Iranian and Venezuelan supplies.

“Sources familiar with the talks” said Indian officials suggested the arrangement in a meeting with US counterparts on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.

India’s purchases of Russian oil have surged during Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, making Delhi the second-largest customer behind China.

The Trump Administration raised its tariff on India from 25% to 50%, citing the Russian imports.

UPDATE 0610 GMT:

Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz has called for the use of up to €140 billion ($164 billion) in frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine’s military resistance.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has proposed a “reparations loan”, drawn from the assets.

Merz said, “We should also invite partners around the world that have frozen Russian assets to join the instrument. To this end, we will co-ordinate closely with our partners in the G7.”

UPDATE 0604 GMT:

Russia is responsible for “widespread and systematic violations” of international law in its “arbitrary killings” of Ukrainian prisoners of war.

The OSCE report by three experts cites “torture, ill-treatment, denial of fair trial rights, and unsafe detention and transfer conditions.”

The mission documented a high number of arbitrary killings and executions attributable to the Russian Federation, occurring both on the battlefield and in detention.

The experts noted that Russia’s refusal to recognize the status of Ukrainian soldiers “opens the door for criminal prosecution of PoWs for mere participation in hostilities”.

UPDATE 0549 GMT:

A drone was downed and detonated about 800 meters (875 yards) from the perimeter of the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in southern Ukraine, the International Atomic Energy Agency said on Thursday.

Twenty-two drones were observed in the monitoring zone of the plant, seized by Russia in March 2022, late Wednesday and early Thursday. Some flew as close as 500 meters.

IAEA head Rafael Grossi warned, “Once again drones are flying far too close to nuclear power plants, putting nuclear safety at risk.”

Nearby metal structures had been hit by shrapnel and the windows of vehicles close to the impact area were shattered.

A power line also came down, though it was not connected to the plant….Fortunately, last night’s incident did not result in any damage to the South Ukraine nuclear power plant itself. Next time we may not be so lucky.

The plant was without power for more than 48 hours after Russian shelling downed external power lines for the 10th time during Moscow’s invasion. Emergency diesel generators were in operation to maintain the cooling of the fuel for the six dormant reactors.

ORIGINAL ENTRY: Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky says he is ready to step down from office once Russia’s invasion is halted.

In an interview with Axios, to be published in full on Friday, Zelensky said, “My goal is to finish the war,” not to run for re-election. He will ask Parliament to organize the vote when a lasting ceasefire is established.

The President said he understood people may want “a leader with…a new mandate” to make decisions for a long-term peace. He told Donald Trump on Tuesday that, if there is a ceasefire, “we can use this period of time, and I can give this signal to the Parliament”.

Zelensky suggested that the Trump Administration may give Kyiv long-range weapons, via sale to NATO members, and permission for their use inside Russia.

[Russia’s leaders] have to know where the bomb shelters are. They have to know that we in Ukraine will answer. If they attack us, we will answer them.

The Russian sites include energy infrastructure and weapons production facilities. Ukraine will not target civilians because “we are not terrorists,” but centers of power, including the Kremlin, could be legitimate targets.

Zelensky asserted that Donald Trump expressed support for the strikes, saying, “We will work on it.”