The Kremlin is hopeful for another meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump as soon as necessary preparations are finalized. Additionally, the presidential spokesperson has described as "very negative" the U.S. Congress's initiative to impose sanctions on any country doing business with Russia.
On the front lines, a missile attack launched by Russia on the Ukrainian city of Balaklia, in the Kharkiv region, has resulted in three civilian deaths and at least ten injuries, including three teenagers, as reported by local authorities. The bombardment hit residential buildings and destroyed dozens of vehicles in the city center.
Authorities also reported that parts of the southern region, including the city of Izyum, were left without electricity overnight following Russian attacks on Sunday, which injured a 14-year-old boy.
Russia Claims to Have Repelled Two Counterattacks on the Siege of Kupiansk
Russian troops repelled two Ukrainian counterattacks aimed at unblocking the besieged units in the stronghold of Kupiansk, the Ministry of Defense reported on Monday.
"In the last 24 hours, two counterattacks were repelled (...) near the village of Blahodatne and the village of Velyka Shapivka, in the Kharkiv region, which were attempting to free the besieged units," reads the military statement cited by Efe.
Both locations are just a couple of kilometers northwest and southwest of Kupiansk, situated on the Oskil River and serving as a crucial Ukrainian stronghold on the way to the regional capital of Kharkiv.
The Russian side claims to have taken down up to 50 Ukrainian soldiers and eight vehicles, including a U.S.-made M113 armored transport vehicle and a Canadian-made Senator armored combat vehicle.
Kremlin Anticipates Summit Between Putin and Trump Upon Completion of Preparations
The Kremlin spokesperson stated on Monday that they anticipate another summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump to take place as soon as the necessary preparations are finalized, as reported by Reuters.
Putin and Trump last met in August at a summit in Alaska, where they failed to reach a resolution on the war in Ukraine. Last month, they announced plans for a summit in Budapest, which Trump later canceled.
Dmitry Peskov also expressed Moscow's strong disapproval of a bill that Trump mentioned Republicans in the U.S. were preparing, which would impose sanctions on any country doing business with Russia.
Sabotage on Polish Railway Targeted Aid Route to Ukraine
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated on Monday in a video posted on the X platform that the sabotage carried out today on a Polish railway line targeted a "key route for aid shipments to Ukraine" and emphasized that the culprits will be caught "regardless of who their instigator is," as reported by Efe.
Tusk confirmed in previous messages that an explosive device was detonated on the Warsaw-Lublin train line, causing "damage" at another point along that route.
In another written message on X, the Polish Prime Minister described the events as an "unprecedented act of sabotage aimed at the security of the Polish state and its citizens" and promised "firm action against those responsible." "As we have done in previous cases of this kind, we will catch the perpetrators, regardless of who their masterminds are," Tusk wrote.
Von der Leyen Considers Three Options to Finance Ukraine
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated in a letter addressed to EU members on Monday that there are three options to cover Ukraine's financing needs, including a loan backed by frozen Russian assets, although a combination of options is also possible.
"We have identified three main options: member state-funded support through grants; a limited resource loan funded by the Union through borrowing in financial markets; or a limited resource loan linked to cash balances of immobilized assets," von der Leyen noted in the letter, obtained by Reuters.
In an attachment to the letter, von der Leyen added that "the three options are not mutually exclusive. They can be combined or applied sequentially."
Russian Forces Capture Three Villages in Ukraine
Russian troops captured three villages in three Ukrainian regions, as reported by the Ministry of Defense on Monday.
The villages are Hai, in the Dnipropetrovsk region; Platonivka, in the Donetsk region; and Dvorichanske, in the Kharkiv region.
Russia Highlights Rapid Advances of Troops in Zaporizhia Region
Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov praised the rapid advances of Russian troops in the Ukrainian region of Zaporizhia and congratulated the units that captured the town of Mala Tokmachka on the outskirts of the strategic stronghold of Orikhiv.
"You have taken a significant step towards victory and achieving the objectives of the special military operation. There is no doubt that more successes will come," Belousov stated in a message to the command and personnel of Motorized Division No. 42 published on Telegram.
Since the start of the war in 2022, Russian forces have been attempting to take Orikhiv, where due to the intensity of the fighting, over 80% of the homes, according to independent sources, have been destroyed. Orikhiv is located about 50 kilometers southeast of the city of Zaporizhia, the capital of the eponymous region controlled by Ukrainian forces.
Zelensky and Macron Visit Headquarters of "Multinational Force of Ukraine" in Paris
Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in France on his ninth official visit to strengthen "energetic, economic, and defense ties" and visit the headquarters of the "Multinational Force of Ukraine," composed of 35 countries and already operational near Paris for deployment in the event of a peace agreement, along with Emmanuel Macron.
The Ukrainian president arrived early on Monday and was received with all the honors of a State visit by Macron at Villacoublay Air Base for an initial bilateral exchange and a meeting with representatives of the French arms industry.
Russia Targets Energy Infrastructure in Chernihiv as Well
Russia attacked two energy sector facilities and a gas station in the Chernihiv region, in northern Ukraine, early this morning, as reported on Telegram by the region's governor, Viacheslav Chaus. "A fire broke out in one of them," said Chaus, explaining that several localities were left without electricity due to the Russian bombardment.
Additionally, a gas station in the region was attacked, and one of the employees was hospitalized due to injuries sustained.
The attack also affected the facilities of an agricultural company where around 40 tons of sunflower pellets - pressed material often used as fuel in boilers and stoves - caught fire.
Zelensky to Meet with King Felipe VI at the Zarzuela Palace
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will meet with the king at the Zarzuela Palace on Tuesday, during his third visit to Spain, where he will also hold a meeting with the Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez.
The Government Presidency confirmed on Monday Zelensky's agenda, starting on Tuesday at 13:30 at the Zarzuela, where he will have a meeting with Felipe VI, followed by a lunch.
The Ukrainian president will then be received at 17:00 by the Prime Minister at La Moncloa to discuss matters of common interest. Both leaders will subsequently address the media, as indicated by the Government, emphasizing that Zelensky's new trip to Madrid will be an opportunity to reaffirm Spain's commitment to Ukraine in all areas. Efe reports.
Ukrainian Drones Leave Half a Million People Without Electricity in Russian-Controlled Donetsk Region
Ukrainian drone attacks left nearly half a million people without electricity in the Ukrainian region of Donetsk, annexed by Russia in 2022, the Moscow-backed authorities reported on Monday.