𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Ukraine has issued evacuation orders for 11 more villages in the northeastern Sumy region amid fears that Russia may launch a new offensive.

“(Russia) continues its terror of the borderlands, and our shared task is to save every life,” regional governor Oleh Hryhorov said in a statement. “I urge residents not to delay the decision to evacuate. Staying in a zone of constant danger is a direct threat to your life and health.”

Our world affairs editor Sam Kiley reports:

• German Chancellor Friedrich Merz indicated that Germany might send Taurus long-range missiles to Ukraine, potentially enabling Kyiv to strike deeper into Russian territory.
• This potential move marks a shift from former Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s stance, who was against sending such weaponry due to concerns about direct involvement in the war.
• The Taurus missiles, with a range of up to 310 miles and stealth technology, could significantly enhance Ukraine’s ability to target Russian forces and assets, including in the Black Sea region.
• Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has already criticised the potential delivery as a “very dangerous trend”, while German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock defended Ukraine’s right to defend itself.
• The discussion around sending Taurus missiles follows a leak of a German military conversation about their potential use in Ukraine, which has raised security concerns and drawn threats from Moscow.

The Trump administration’s sympathy for Moscow’s anti-Nato demands has been likened to Nazi appeasement as parts of the alliance’s eastern bloc warn that the US is priming non-members for invasion.

Top officials from four Eastern European countries have hit out after Donald Trump’s special envoy to Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, appeared to support Vladimir Putin’s reported demand to have in writing that Nato will not accept any new members from the region.

In an interview with US network ABC News, Mr Kellogg described Putin’s latest position as a “fair” one that was likely to include not just Ukraine but also Georgia and Moldova.

His comments prompted the Kremlin on Friday to say they were “glad” that Putin’s opposition to Nato was finally “being met with understanding” from Washington.

Read the full exclusive report from my colleague Tom Watling:

Russian forces captured two villages in eastern Ukraine – Novopil in Donetsk region and Vodolagy in Sumy region, Russian state news agency RIA Novosti reported citing the Defence Ministry.

The Independent could not confirm the battlefield report.

Hundreds of foreign companies left Russia after it invaded Ukraine, including major firms like Coca-Cola, Nike, Starbucks and Ford.

But after more than three years of war, US president Donald Trump has held out the prospect of restoring US-Russia trade if there’s ever a peace settlement.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said foreign companies could return under certain circumstances.

“Russia wants to do large scale TRADE with the United States when this catastrophic ‘bloodbath’ is over, and I agree,” Trump said in a statement after a phone call with Putin.

“There is a tremendous opportunity for Russia to create massive amounts of jobs and wealth. Its potential is UNLIMITED.”

The president then shifted his tone toward Putin after heavy drone and missile attacks on Kyiv, saying Putin “has gone absolutely crazy” and threatening new sanctions.

That and recent comments from Putin warning Western companies against reclaiming their former stakes seemed to reflect reality more accurately — that it’s not going to be a smooth process for businesses going back into Russia.

That’s because Russia’s business environment has massively changed since 2022. And not in ways that favour foreign companies.

And with Putin escalating attacks and holding on to territory demands Ukraine likely isn’t going to accept, a peace deal seems distant indeed.