Ukraine-Russia latest: Kremlin accuses NATO of stoking nuclear tensions as drill with 2,000 troops launched

Remember when an appearance, virtual or real, by the president of Ukraine was the hottest of hot-ticket events in London? When MPs and peers jostled for a standing-room-only place in parliament to see and hear him? When the one-time TV actor turned democratically elected president turned war leader drew rapt attention with his gritty determination and allusions to Churchill? Well, those heady days of Britain reliving its finest hour by association are over.

There was no fanfare on Thursday – barely an announcement, in fact – of Volodymyr Zelensky’s latest visit to London. There was a red carpet, a handshake and an embrace with Sir Keir Starmer at the famous Downing Street door. It was followed by around two hours of talks behind closed doors, which included UK military and security officials and Mark Rutte, the new Nato secretary general. Then Zelensky left for whistle-stop visits to France and Italy, before setting off back to Kyiv. As for UK media interest, the London leg of his tour was thoroughly eclipsed by coverage of a category 3 hurricane in Florida and only fleetingly reached the front page of the BBC News website.

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Ukrainian president has accused North Korea of supplying troop to Russia to aid Vladimir Putin in his war against Ukraine.

“We see an increasing alliance between Russia and regimes like in North Korea,” Mr Zelensky said, adding “it is no longer just about transferring weapons.

“It is actually about the transfer of people from North Korea to the occupier’s military forces.”

Seeking evolution of relationship with its Western partners “under such conditions” he demanded more front line support.

“We are talking about more long-range capabilities for Ukraine and more sustained supplies for our forces rather than a simple list of military hardware.”

Foreign secretary David Lammy is to meet with EU ministers to discuss the UK’s co-operation on the Middle East crisis and the war in Ukraine.

Mr Lammy will reinforce closer UK-EU cooperation on global issues by attending the Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg on Monday.

It is the first time in two years a foreign secretary will join the group of 27 EU ministers, with the government aiming to signal their reset of European relations.

The talks will focus on the main challenges facing European security, including discussions on how the UK and EU can work together to tackle continued Russian aggression and interference across the continent, as well as the escalating crisis in the Middle East, including the ongoing threat posed by Iran.

Report:

Ukraine’s human rights ombudsman urged international organizations Sunday to respond to a claim that several Ukrainian prisoners of war were executed in Russia’s Kursk region, where Kyiv had launched an incursion in August.

DeepState, a Ukrainian battlefield analysis site close to Ukraine’s Defense Ministry, said that Russian troops shot and killed nine Ukrainian “drone operators and contractors” on Oct. 10 after they had surrendered.

Dmytro Lubinets said on Telegram that he sent letters to the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross regarding the case, calling it “another crime committed by the Russians.”

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BBC director-general Tim Davie will warn that the retreat of its World Service due to funding cuts has helped Russia and China broadcast “unchallenged propaganda”.

In a speech at the Future Resilience Forum, a non-partisan meeting attended by international political figures, Mr Davie will discuss the global importance of the BBC World Service, which operates across more than 40 languages.

While addressing the war in Ukraine and unrest in the Middle East, Mr Davie is expected to say: “This is a critical moment of challenge for stability and democracy worldwide.”

Hannah Roberts reports:

The Russian Defence Ministry has said that 13 Ukrainian drones were shot down over three regions of Russia.

It said on Sunday that six drones were shot down in each of the Belgorod and Kursk regions, while one was in the Bryansk region – all of which border Ukraine.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has appealed to Ukraine's allies to "provide the necessary quantity and quality of air defense systems" and "make decisions for our sufficient range".

In the post on X on Sunday, he added: “Time must not be wasted – a clear signal of resolve must be sent.”

Kyiv is still awaiting word from its Western partners on its repeated requests to use the long-range weapons they provide to hit targets on Russian soil.

Russia launched around 900 guided aerial bombs against Ukraine over the past week, Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said.

The Ukrainian President also said on Sunday that Moscow had launched more than 40 missiles and 400 drones at Ukraine.

The Ukrainian air force has said its air defenses shot down 31 of 68 drones launched at Ukraine by Russia overnight into Sunday in the regions of Kyiv, Poltava, Chernihiv, Sumy and Cherkasy.

A further 36 drones were "lost" over various areas, it also said on Sunday, likely having been electronically jammed.

The air force added that ballistic missiles struck Odesa and Poltava while Chernihiv and Sumy came under attack by a guided air missile. Local authorities didn't report any casualties or damage.