President Donald Trump says it's possible that Ukraine can defeat Russia, but he's doubtful that it will happen. The latest comments from Trump added a fresh layer of skepticism toward Kyiv as he plans to meet again with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss ending the war. Trump on Monday said Ukrainians "could still win it" but added, "I don't think they will." Trump last month reversed his long-held position that Ukraine would have to concede land and said it could win back all the territory it has lost to Russia. But he changed his position again last week after holding a call with Putin and meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned the United States that supplies of long-range missiles to Ukraine will seriously damage relations between Moscow and Washington but will not change the situation on the battlefield. At the same time, Putin hailed U.S. President Donald Trump's efforts to help negotiate peace in Ukraine and described their August summit in Alaska as productive. Speaking Thursday at a forum of foreign policy experts in Russia's southern resort of Sochi, Putin appeared to appeal to Trump and his conservative supporters, hailing Charlie Kirk as a hero assassinated for promoting the same conservative values that Russia shares.

Estonia has summoned a Russian diplomat to protest after three Russian fighter jets entered its airspace without permission. The Foreign Ministry said the incursion on Friday lasted 12 minutes. This is the fifth time this year that Russia has violated Estonian airspace, but the Foreign Minister called this incident "unprecedentedly brazen." The airspace violation comes just over a week after NATO planes downed Russian drones over Poland, raising concerns about the war in Ukraine spilling over. Russian officials have not yet commented on the incident.

Ukrainian officials have led 60 foreign diplomats on a tour of damaged government offices in Kyiv. This follows Russia's largest aerial attack on Ukraine since its full-scale invasion began over three years ago. On Sunday, more than 800 drones and decoys were used in the assault, killing four people, including a mother and her infant. The attack hit Kyiv's main government building for the first time. Ukrainian Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko condemned the attack as a mockery of diplomatic efforts. Ukraine and European leaders are urging Washington to increase economic sanctions on Russia.

Russian President Vladimir Putin says that any foreign troops deployed to Ukraine, particularly while its invasion is still ongoing, would be considered "legitimate targets" by Moscow's forces. Putin's comments on Friday came hours after European leaders repledged their commitment to a potential peacekeeping force. Putin said that "we assume that they will be legitimate targets" if any foreign troops are deployed to Ukraine "especially now while fighting is ongoing." Putin made the remarks at an economic forum in the far eastern Russian city of Vladivostok. Putin also dismissed the idea of peacekeeping forces in Ukraine after any final peace deal.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will make a rare trip abroad next week to attend a military parade in the Chinese capital, North Korean and Chinese state media said Thursday. With Russian President Vladimir Putin also coming for the parade, the event will underline the three-way alignment among Beijing, Moscow and Pyongyang. China will hold the parade on Wednesday to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. No leaders from the United States or major Western European countries are expected, in part because of their differences with Putin over the war in Ukraine. China borders North Korea and is its closest ally.

Authorities say a mass Russian drone and missile attack on Ukraine's capital has killed at least 21 people and wounded 48. The attack early Thursday on Kyiv was the first major Russian combined attack on Kyiv in weeks as U.S.-led peace efforts struggle to gain traction. A Ukrainian official says Russia launched decoy drones, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles and struck at least 20 locations across seven districts of Kyiv. This is the first major combined attack on Kyiv since U.S. President Donald Trump met Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier this month to discuss ending the three-year war in Ukraine.