Sam Okonkwo

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy and US President Trump will meet in New York on 22 September during the UN General Assembly after a phone call that discussed de-escalation steps and energy security. The meeting is the highest-level contact since a tense White House encounter in July and signals a diplomatic push amid rising civilian casualties in Ukraine.

Seven months into the US-Israel war, Iranian civilians face economic collapse from a naval blockade and constant strikes. A massive Tehran rally showed defiance, but Tehran also signalled peace conditions via Qatar.

Seven months into the US-Israel war on Iran, civilians face economic collapse while a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz threatens global energy markets. A report links the US to a February school strike, and Trump claims direct talks with Tehran — contradicted by Iranian leaders. European capitals, already supporting Ukraine, face higher energy costs and a diverted US military focus.

President Zelenskyy says Ukraine is ready for an energy ceasefire only if Russia halts all attacks on Ukrainian power infrastructure, not just refineries. He also assures domestic food supplies are secure. No formal agreement exists despite U.S. mediation efforts.

The Hague court sentenced ex-Kosovo president Hashim Thaci to 25 years for war crimes committed during the 1998-99 war, convicting him on specific atrocities but rejecting broader 'systematic attack' charges. The partial verdict sets a nuanced precedent for command responsibility that Ukraine's future war crimes prosecutors will need to study.

A Russian drone strike on an ammunition depot in Myla, near Kyiv, killed 38 people, destroyed homes, and sparked local fury over storing weapons near residential areas. The attack also destroyed a warehouse storing props from President Zelenskyy’s production studio. A separate drone attack in Kherson killed a utility worker.

A CBO report finds the US war on Iran has cost $38bn, adds to inflation, and will take years to replenish munitions. Trump and Vance downplay the conflict as 'small potatoes' ahead of midterms.

Ukraine's parliament has set up a voting system in an underground shelter to continue sessions during air-raid warnings. MPs also voted 317-0 to dismiss Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko amid a NABU probe into scam call centres.

Seven months into the US-Israel war on Iran, civilians face a grinding blockade, daily strikes, and economic collapse. A fisherwoman from Hengam Island describes how her family's livelihood has been destroyed. Diplomacy is stalled, and the conflict is widening to include Houthi-Saudi clashes over the Bab al-Mandeb strait.

US President Donald Trump again asked Ukraine to stop striking Russian diesel refineries, citing global shortages. He described his recent call with Putin as 'great' but blamed stalled talks on personal animosity between Putin and Zelenskyy.

Iran-backed Houthis have captured the strategic port of Mocha and Mayun Island in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, giving them control of Yemen's entire Red Sea coast. Government forces are counterattacking with Saudi air support, while tens of thousands flee. The escalation threatens global shipping and gives Iran new leverage.

Six months into the US-Israel war on Iran, civilians face collapsed livelihoods, 18 confirmed deaths, and a paralysed Strait of Hormuz. The story of a fisherwoman from Hengam Island illustrates the human cost of a conflict that shows no sign of de-escalation.

Fighting between Yemeni government forces and Houthi rebels has intensified, killing 194 in two weeks. Houthis target coastal al-Makha to gain Red Sea access, while Saudi-backed forces launch counteroffensive after Houthi attacks on Saudi cities. The escalation threatens shipping lanes and risks a return to full-scale war.

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy faces mounting domestic pressure as a corruption probe ensnares a former deputy head of his office, and a Russian strike on a poorly-sited ammunition warehouse kills 37 civilians. With the EU demanding zero tolerance on graft and calls for wartime elections growing, Zelenskyy replaces his ground forces commander and meets anti-corruption chiefs.

Ukraine unveiled the Magura V11 naval drone, a new FPV strike drone, and a jet-powered UAV set for European production, while striking a Russian oil refinery, a Wildberries hub, and a $100m radar system. The developments show a rapidly industrialising drone sector with increasingly sophisticated capabilities.

Commodity shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has dropped to its lowest level since May. As Iran's oil industry struggles under a US blockade, civilians like fisherwoman Khadijeh Bandari see their livelihoods destroyed and daily life become a struggle for survival.

As the US-Israel war on Iran enters its seventh month, civilians face daily hardship while diplomatic talks remain blocked. A new wave of US strikes and Iranian retaliations has killed 18 people, including two children. The US refuses negotiations until Iran halts ship attacks, but Iran's establishment is united against capitulation.

President Trump declares Iran 'dead' on Truth Social and vows retaliation for a base attack, while calling media 'treasonous scum' over reports of munitions shortages. The war enters its seventh month with no end in sight, and the human cost includes a school strike that killed 170 people six months ago.

President Zelenskyy orders investigations into a shooting between SSU and DIU units in Kyiv, calls it 'shameful'. Personnel changes and internal probes are underway. The incident may be linked to the abduction of a Russian Volunteer Corps commander.

Six months into the US-Israel war on Iran, coastal communities like Hengam Island are devastated. Fisherwoman Khadijeh Bandari describes losing her livelihood as military strikes escalate around the Strait of Hormuz. The war has shattered tourism, fishing and small businesses, while political leaders remain deadlocked.

Six months into the US-Israel war on Iran, civilians face economic collapse and daily scarcity. A new military clash on Aug 31 – US strikes on Larak Island and IRGC attacks on US bases in Jordan – threatens further escalation as President Trump vows a harsh response.

Ukraine's President Zelenskyy faces a corruption probe that led to the arrest of a former deputy, as the EU warns of zero tolerance on graft. Simultaneously, he orders a major escalation of drone strikes inside Russia. The twin pressures test his wartime leadership and Ukraine's EU ambitions.

Six months after US-Israel strikes on Iran, Trump has posted 319 Iran-related messages on Truth Social — one every 14 hours. The administration's attrition strategy is showing mixed results, while a US strike on a school that killed 170 children remains unaccountable.

Four EU countries urge Brussels to revive a plan to use €200bn+ in frozen Russian assets for Ukraine, as Kyiv faces a €27bn defence shortfall. Meanwhile, the CIA director makes an unannounced Moscow visit, NATO plans a September meeting on military support, and pro-Russian hackers hit Norway.

Zelenskyy restructures Donetsk command under Prokopenko and Biletskyi as Ukraine liberates 7.5 sq km in Kharkiv. Russian claims of capturing Pysarivka are denied. Over 200 clashes reported; Polish support for refugees drops to 52%.

Ukrainian drones destroyed a Wildberries logistics centre in Kotovsk and struck the Lukoil refinery in Kstovo on 25-26 August. The attacks coincide with the unveiling of new Ukrainian drone systems — the F5 FPV strike drone, the HV VTX Pro range-extending transmitter, and the Magura V11 naval mothership — showing how rapid innovation is enabling deeper strikes inside Russia.

Zelenskyy rejects wartime election calls as the Operation Forrest Gump probe snares ex-deputy Iryna Mudra. Meanwhile, Ukraine strikes 16 targets inside Russia in a single day as the White House pushes for a negotiated end to the war.

Ukraine's 35th Independence Day saw European leaders in Kyiv, but a €27bn defence shortfall, Polish tensions over historical disputes, and an unconfirmed CIA visit to Moscow complicate the picture. Costa begins EU capital tour; NATO meets in Copenhagen in September.

Ukrainian forces liberated 7.5 sq km in Kharkiv Oblast while repelling 60 Russian attacks on the Pokrovsk and Kostiantynivka fronts. Meanwhile, a Polish poll shows 52% oppose accepting Ukrainian refugees, signalling a shift in one of Kyiv's key allied nations.

Three Ukrainian firms unveiled new drones on 25 August: a 2,200 kg naval mothership, a compact FPV, and a transmitter boosting range by 50%. The shift: larger platforms and EW resilience.

European leaders rallied in Kyiv for Ukraine's 35th Independence Day, but behind the show of unity, Kyiv faces a €27bn defence budget shortfall and 22 companies involved in Su-35S production remain unsanctioned. Ukraine's UN envoy says Russia is losing the war economically.

European leaders visited Kyiv for Ukraine's 35th Independence Day, with UK PM Andy Burnham joining almost a dozen counterparts. EU Council President Costa began a tour of capitals to discuss air defence missiles and enlargement. Ukraine's UN envoy claimed Russia is losing the war, citing economic strain, while DIU published a list of 79 companies in Su-35S production, 22 still unsanctioned.

Zelenskyy rejects wartime election calls as a former senior official faces corruption charges, while Trump's Independence Day message mixes praise with a push for peace. The cases highlight the political pressures on Kyiv alongside the military fight.

UK PM Andy Burnham joined nearly a dozen European leaders in Kyiv for Ukraine's 35th Independence Day, laying a wreath alongside European Council President António Costa. The visit signals continued Western support amid a grinding war.