Since his return to the White House, Donald Trump has been urging Moscow and Kiev to cease hostilities. This Monday, he will make a new attempt with a call to Vladimir Putin in which, as reported, he will try to "achieve a ceasefire" and "put an end to this very violent war, a war that should never have happened."
However, so far his efforts have not made significant progress in resolving the conflict triggered by the Russian invasion, which has caused tens of thousands of deaths, both civilian and military, over more than three years. "The president is determined to get results" in Ukraine, said Donald Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, before warning: "If he can't achieve it, no one can."
The Kremlin maintains its maximalist demands: that Ukraine renounce its accession to NATO, cede four of its regions partially controlled by Russia, in addition to Crimea, annexed in 2014, and cease the shipments of Western weapons.
Ukraine firmly rejects these demands and demands the withdrawal of the Russian army, which still occupies nearly 20% of its territory. To prevent another Russian invasion in the future, Kyiv also says it demands strong "security guarantees."
Denmark had a "frank conversation" with Beijing about its "problematic" support for Russia
Denmark's Foreign Minister had a "frank conversation" with his Chinese counterpart about Beijing's "problematic" support for Russia in the war in Ukraine, he said on Monday during a trip to China, reports Afp.
"I had a frank conversation with my Chinese counterpart, in which I also asked him to end China's deeply problematic support for Russia's aggression in Ukraine and, instead, use its influence on Moscow to end the war," said Lars Løkke Rasmussen in a statement from his ministry.
Russia claims to have taken two more Ukrainian villages
The Russian Ministry of Defense reported on Monday that its forces had taken the village of Novoolenivka in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk, along with Marine, a settlement in the northern Sumy region, according to the state news agency RIA, Reuters reports.
Russia has been advancing through the industrial east of Ukraine since the start of the large-scale conflict in February 2022, while Moscow recently began moving towards the Sumy region after expelling Kiev's forces from the neighboring Russian region of Kursk.
Finland to use funds from frozen Russian assets to supply ammunition to Ukraine
Finland will supply ammunition to Ukraine using funds from frozen Russian assets, the Finnish Ministry of Defense reported on Monday, according to Reuters.
"Finland has been selected as one of the states implementing EU measures to supply defense material to Ukraine using funds from frozen Russian assets," the ministry said in a statement.
The ammunition will be purchased from Finnish suppliers and is valued at 90 million euros.
Eight minors and one adult arrested for planning attacks in southern Russia
The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) announced today the arrest of eight minors and one adult who were planning a series of attacks against police in the southern Stavropol region, reports Efe. "...nine local residents, Russian citizens, followers of an international terrorist organization, were detected and detained," the FSB statement said.
According to security forces, the detainees, who have been arrested, planned to carry out attacks against police officers on the 9th, during the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the Victory over Nazi Germany, in one of the municipalities in the Stavropol region.
Ukrainian drones destroy Russian radar on Black Sea gas platforms
Aerial and maritime drones from the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) destroyed a Russian radar and infrastructure on gas processing platforms in the Black Sea, the Ukrainian espionage structure said in a statement released on Monday, reports Efe.
"First, one of the towers was hit by a drone from the air, and then it was hit by a maritime drone," the statement reads, describing this combined operation as "unique" and explaining that it is part of Ukraine's efforts to expel Russian forces from the Black Sea.
In the attack, a 'Neva' radar that Russia used to monitor the airspace and surface of the Black Sea waters was destroyed, as explained in the note. Storage facilities and a residential building dedicated to housing personnel operating on the platforms were also destroyed.
Russia launches 112 drones against Ukrainian territory
Russia launched 112 drones, including attack drones and replicas used to confuse enemy defenses, against Ukrainian territory last night, the Ukrainian Air Force reported on Monday, reports Efe.
Ukraine's defenses neutralized 76 of the attack drones, with 41 shot down and the rest diverted from their path with electronic interference.
As a result of the attack, damage occurred in the Ukrainian regions of Sumy and Kharkiv (northeast), Donetsk (east), Cherkasy, and Kirovohrad (center).
Pope Leo XIV and JD Vance meet before Trump's call to Putin
Two prominent Catholics, Pope Leo XIV and US Vice President JD Vance, met on Monday amid a series of US-led diplomatic efforts to advance a ceasefire in the Russian war in Ukraine, reports AP.
Vance's convoy was seen entering the Vatican shortly after 7:30 a.m. Vance, a convert to Catholicism, had led the US delegation at the formal pontifical inauguration mass of the first American pope.
Accompanying Vance in the Vatican was Secretary of State Marco Rubio, also a Catholic, according to Vance's spokesperson, Luke Schroeder.
Vance's delegation was the first in a series of private meetings scheduled by Leo on Monday with people who came to Rome for his first mass as pope, such as other Christian leaders and a group of faithful from his former diocese in Chiclayo, Peru.
Russian units destroy 35 Ukrainian drones overnight
Russian anti-aircraft defenses shot down 35 Ukrainian drones over two regions of the country and the annexed Crimean peninsula last night, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported on its Telegram channel on Monday, reports Efe.
According to the military report, Ukraine concentrated the bulk of its aerial attacks last night on the Crimean peninsula, where 26 unmanned aerial vehicles were shot down.
In addition, during the night, Russian military destroyed eight drones over the Bryansk region and one over the Belgorod region, both bordering Ukraine.
Zelensky celebrates having Romania as a "reliable partner" after Nicusor Dan's victory
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky congratulated the new president of Romania, pro-EU mayor of Bucharest Nicusor Dan, for his "historic victory" in Sunday's elections against populist candidate and critic of aid to Ukraine George Simion, highlighting the importance of continuing to have Romania as a "reliable partner" for Kyiv, reports Efe.
"For Ukraine - as a neighbor and friend - it is important to have Romania as a reliable partner. And we trust that it will be. By working together, we can strengthen our two countries and Europe," Zelensky said on his X account.
The Ukrainian president told Romanians that they can count on Ukraine "as a good neighbor and ally." "We can overcome any challenge if we are united and strong," he added.
Merz, Macron, Starmer, and Meloni speak with Trump before the call to Putin
The leaders of Germany, France, Italy, and the United Kingdom spoke on the phone with US President Donald Trump to prepare for the latter's call on Monday with the Kremlin chief, Vladimir Putin, a five-way conversation that will be repeated later today, the German Chancellery reported, according to Efe.