Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump at a joint press conference at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson near Anchorage, Alaska, August 15, 2025 (Jae C. Hong/AP)

EA on Times Radio: UK Politics Sinks Amid Reform Party’s Damaging Spectacle; Trump’s “Department of War”; Ukraine; and St. Carlo

Sunday’s Coverage: Russia’s Record Attack Kills 11+, Injures 75

UPDATE 1301 GMT:

Two explosions have killed and wounded members of a Russia military unit accused of carrying out war crimes during the Battle of Kyiv in 2022, says a Ukrainian military intelligence official.

The explosives were detonated at 9 a.m. in a parking lot in the far-eastern Russian city of Khabarovsk, as troops were arriving for duty.

The Military Unit 6912 of the 748th Separate Operational battalion of the Russian Guard is stationed in Khabarovsk, more than 6,000 km (3728 miles) from Ukraine.

The unit was involved in fighting near Kyiv in the early weeks of Russia’s full-scale invasion when Russian forces massacred hundreds of civilians in towns such as Bucha and Irpin.

UPDATE 1254 GMT:

Complementing the remarks of US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent (see Original Entry), Energy Secretary Chris Wright has said the Trump Administration may toughen sanctions on Russia once European countries halt imports of Russian oil and gas.

If the Europeans drew a line and said: ‘We’re not going to buy more Russian gas, we’re not going to buy Russian oil.’ Would that have a positive influence on the US leaning in more aggressively as well? Absolutely.

The European Union is planning to cut off all imports of Russian energy by the end of 2027. The initiative is being hindered by the objections of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, an ally of Donald Trump.

Wright said the cutoff would fulfill a US-EU framework requiring Europe to purchase $750 billion worth of American energy resources by the end of 2028.

UPDATE 1239 GMT:

Amid surging inflation, Russian prosecutors have investigated more than 400 cases of rising consumer prices and issued warnings to more than 5,000 companies in the first half of 2025.

Prosecutor General Igor Krasnov said he is investigating “economically unjustified” increases in wholesale prices for basic goods such as raw milk and butter, with warnings to 12 major agricultural enterprises.

“Potatoes, eggs, milk, and butter are becoming more expensive… But some unscrupulous producers, suppliers, or sellers are allowing themselves to profit in this way,” he said.

Russia’s annual inflation slowed to 8.8% in July, compared to 9.4% in June, but is well above the Central Bank’s 4–5% target.

In a June survey, 58% of Russians named rising prices as their top worry, rather than concern over the invasion of Ukraine.

The Russian government is preparing to cap prices from March 2026 on key staples, including vegetables, dairy, and poultry.

UPDATE 0901 GMT:

A photo of the young mother killed with her newborn son in Russia’s record missile and drone attack early Sunday:

UPDATE 0657 GMT:

At least six civilians were murdered and 21 injured, including three children, by Russian strikes across Ukraine over the past 24 hours.

Ukraine air defenses intercepted 112 of 142 drones launched by Russia overnight. Seven locations were struck by 26 UAVs.

In the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine. Four civilians were killed and 10 injured, including three children.

In the Zaporizhzhia region in the south, two people were killed and one injured amid 449 strikes on 17 settlements.

Casualties were also reported in the Dnipropetrovsk, Kherson, Kharkiv regions.

UPDATE 0644 GMT:

Russia murdered five civilians and injured 44 in its record missile and drone attacks on Ukraine early Sunday.

In Kyiv, three people were killed, including a mother and her newborn child, and 20 wounded. Seven were hospitalized, three in serious condition with burns.

A pregnant woman who was injured gave birth through induced labor. Doctors are fighting to save the baby’s life.

Russia fired 810 drones and 13 missiles on nine Ukrainian regions. It damaged the Cabinet of Ministers building in Kyiv.

ORIGINAL ENTRY: Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky has noted that Donald Trump gave Vladimir Putin “what he wanted” when he rolled out the red carpet for the Russian leader in Alaska last month.

In a televised interview with the US outlet ABC News, Zelensky said, “It’s a pity that Ukraine was not there….Putin doesn’t want to meet with me, but he wants very much to meet with the President of the United States, to show everybody video and images that he is there.”

The President added that “Putin is playing games with the United States”.

With the August 15 summit, Trump dropped the priority of a ceasefire of Russia’s invasion and his threat of toughened sanctions against Moscow.

But three days later, as Russia continued to attack Ukraine’s civilians, Zelensky and seven European leaders visited the White House. They obtained Trump’s agreement to discussion of US involvement in security guarantees for Ukraine once the Russian invasion is halted.

Putin continues to stall over any meeting with Zelensky, saying it must take place in Moscow, and Russia is maintaining its ultimata for Ukraine to give up territory; for the rest of the country to be weak and demilitarized; and for sanctions to be lifted on Moscow.

Zelensky emphasized, “We all understand that pressure needs to increase on Putin. We need pressure from the United States.”

He pointed to some countries still buying oil and gas from Russia: “We can’t have any deals….You need to take [away] the killer’s weapon. Energy is his weapon.”

Will Trump Return to Sanctions?

After Russia’s record assault with missiles and 810 drones on Ukraine early Sunday, US Treasury Scott Bessent says the Trump Administration is prepared to work with European allies on new sanctions targeting countries that buy Russian oil.

“We are prepared to increase pressure on Russia, but we need our European partners to follow us,” Bessent said. “We are in a race now between how long can the Ukrainian military hold up, versus how long can the Russian economy hold up.”

Bessent did not point to direct US sanctions against Russia, as the European Union preparing a 19th package on sanctions over the full-scale invasion.

Instead, the Administration has raised its tariffs on India’s goods from 25% to 50%, citing Indian purchases of Russian oil.

It has not broached the possibility of measures against China, Russia’s largest customer, as the Administration and Beijing are in talks over US tariffs.

Asked by a reporter at the White House if he is ready to move to a “second phase” of sanctions on Russia, Trump responded, “Yeah, I am.” He did not say what a second phase might entail.

Posting the video of Ukraine Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko in the damaged Government building in Kyiv, Trump’s envoy Keith Kellogg wrote: