Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky with Donald Trump’s envoy Keith Kellogg in Kyiv, August 25, 2025

EA on CBC: Canada’s Vital Support for Ukraine

Sunday’s Coverage: Ukrainians Stand on Independence Day

UPDATE 1243 GMT:

One worker has been killed and three injured by a Russian attack, and 146 miners are being brought to the surface in the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine.

The strike damaged buildings and equipment of the DTEK energy company, cutting power and trapping the miners.

UPDATE 1031 GMT:

As Russians face gasoline shortages (see 0821 GMT), Ukrainian strikes on 10 oil refineries have disrupted at least 17% of Moscow’s refining capacity, equivalent to 1.1 million barrels per day.

A large fire at the Novoshakhtinsk oil refinery in the Rostov region was only extinguished on Tuesday, five days after it was struck by Ukrainian drones.

Ukraine’s military estimates that long-range strikes in 2025 have cost Russia around $74.1 billion, or 4.11% of its annual projected gross domestic product.

UPDATE 0959 GMT:

Germany has pledged €9 billion ($10.48 billion) in aid to Ukraine across 2025 and 2026.

Visiting Kyiv on Monday, Vice Chancellor and Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil said alongside Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky, “As long as this war continues, we will stand by Ukraine’s side….Germany will not duck its responsibility….Ukraine can continue to rely on Germany.”

During Russia’s 42-month full-scale invasion in February 2022, Germany has provided Ukraine with almost €44 billion ($51 billion) in assistance.

Klingbeil also emphasized the importance of “a really strong Ukrainian army” and increased arms production in Ukraine.

He added, “We need reliable security guarantees that ensure lasting peace for Ukraine.”

After a joint call with European Union foreign policy head Kaja Kallas, European foreign ministers, and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday, Ukraine Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha posted:

We all share the conviction that the Ukrainian army is the fundamental level of any such guarantees, therefore, its maximum strengthening is our top priority.

I reiterated Ukraine’s position that security guarantees must be concrete, legally binding, and effective. They should be multidimensional, including military, diplomatic, legal, and other levels.

Moscow must know that it cannot drag its feet forever. If Russia continues to reject meaningful, constructive steps toward peace, it must face consequences: severe increase in sanctions and strengthening for Ukraine’s capabilities.

UPDATE 0821 GMT:

Russia’s gasoline shortage, caused in part by Ukrainian drone strikes on refineries, is now headline news amid long queues and rationing in some areas of the country and occupied Ukraine.

UPDATE 0658 GMT:

One civilian has been murdered and 15 injured by Russian attacks across Ukraine over the past day.

Air defenses downed 47 of 59 drones launched by Russia overnight.

The fatality was in the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine, where six people were injured.

Casualties were also reported in the Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, and Sumy regions.

UPDATE 0642 GMT:

Residents of Russian-occupied areas in eastern Ukraine are facing a water crisis, as Moscow’s forces fail to capture a canal in the Donetsk region.

People are queuing at water trucks for limited supplies. They say shortages make the completion of simple daily tasks difficult.

A group of residents sent an open letter to Vladimir Putin last month asking him to intervene in “a humanitarian and ecological catastrophe”.

Denis Pushilin, the Russian-installed head of the “Donetsk People’s Republic”, acknowledged that tap water is only available for several hours every three day.

He said water tankers and repair crews from Moscow have been brought in and a pipe built to bring water from the River Don, “but the situation is really difficult as it has no quick solutions”.

“Our reserve reservoirs are almost empty,” he noted.

He said the only solution is for Russia to seize the 25% of Donetsk that is controlled by Ukraine, including the 83-mile Soviet-era canal that beginning in an Ukrainian area and ends in occupied territory.

In the queue for water, Irina said no water had come through her taps at home for the last 12 days: “Some people buy [bottled] water; some search for it in other places. Some people get water brought to them by people from a well and by car.”

Lyubov, a pensioner, was visibly upset. “I am 78. How am I supposed to come here, collect water, and bring it back home? I need to go to the toilet and wash.”

ORIGINAL ENTRY: Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky has hailed a “good meeting” with Donald Trump’s envoy Keith Kellogg, as Kyiv seeks US involvement in security guarantees amid Russia’s 42-month full-scale invasion.

Kellogg participated in Saturday’s ceremonies for Ukraine Independence Day and conferred with Ukrainian officials throughout the weekend.

Zelensky began his summary with the requisite flattery of Trump, “We value that President Trump is so determined to achieve real peace”, referring to last week’s meetings in Washington alongside seven European leaders.

He and Kellogg discussed the security guarantees and tactics to halt the invasion.

We discussed how we can influence the Russians, compel them to engage in real negotiations, and end the war. Sanctions, tariffs—everything must remain on the agenda. We are ready to engage in a format of leaders. This is the format needed to resolve the key issues. Now, the same readiness is needed from Moscow.

Military cooperation is important for both Ukraine and the United States, and there are two strong opportunities—an agreement on arms procurement and an agreement on drones that could significantly strengthen our arsenals.

They also considered humanitarian issues. Zelensky emphasized the return of all children abducted by Russia, citing Melania Trump’s letter to Vladimir Putin — wanted by the International Criminal Court over the forced deportations — appealing for all juveniles to be returned home.