RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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Andy Burnham's first trip abroad as prime minister includes co-chairing a meeting of the Coalition of the Willing and holding talks with Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The visit comes on Ukraine's Independence Day. DW has more.
https://p.dw.com/p/5JI7g Advertisement Skip next section What you need to know What you need to know Andy Burnham visits Kyiv on his first overseas trip since becoming the UK's prime minister Burnham says Ukraine keeps 'flame of European freedom' alive EU approves €6.1 billion ($7.1 billion) for air defense systems, missiles, ammunition and radar systems for Ukraine Burnham is set to co-chair a meeting of the Coalition of the Willing and meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy Russia accuses the UK of 'adding fuel to the fire' of the war in Ukraine EU approves €6.1 billion ($7.1 billion) for air defense systems, missiles, ammunition and radar systems for Ukraine Ukraine hits facilities belonging to Russia's second-biggest e-commerce website Ozon Here is a roundup of the main developments related to Russia's war in Ukraine on Monday, August 24, 2026:
08/24/2026 August 24, 2026 Putin authorizes infrastructure takeovers Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a presidential decree that will allow the Russian state to take control of critically important infrastructure facilities if they are deemed to be inadequately protected against Ukrainian attacks.
Ukraine has stepped up drone attacks on oil refineries and warehouses.
Overnight, Ukraine targeted four of Ozon's logistics hubs, Russia's second-largest online retailer said.
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Over the past few weeks Ukraine also targeted warehouses belonging to the country's largest online marketplace, Wildberries.
While Kyiv argues that the retailer helps supply Russia's military, Moscow maintains that it serves only civilian purposes.
Putin last week ordered the government to rebuild commercial warehouses damaged or destroyed in Ukrainian attacks in recent weeks.
08/24/2026 August 24, 2026 Ukraine and Russia release 10 captives each in prisoner swap Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says 10 Ukrainian prisoners of war, previously listed as missing in action, have been released in a prisoner exchange.
Zelenskyy says the soldiers returned via Belarus. The Belarusian state news agency BELTA separately reported the swap, which also saw 10 people returned to Russia.
According to Kyiv, the Ukrainians fought in Donetsk and were officially considered missing.
Prisoner swaps remain among the few areas of cooperation between Ukraine and Russia, with thousands of captives exchanged since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022.
08/24/2026 August 24, 2026 UK's Burnham hails Ukraine as 'Europe's protector' UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham said Ukraine was "Europe's protector, not a drain on our security but the front line in keeping Europe safe."
Speaking in Kyiv alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European Council President Antonio Costa, Burnham compared Ukraine's resistance to Russia to the UK's fight against Nazi Germany.
"My nation kept the flame of European freedom alive in the 20th century, you hold that flame in the 21st."
Burnham, making his first visit to the Ukrainian capital as prime minister, was due to announce British support to help Kyiv boost its domestic production of long-range missiles, a move the Kremlin has criticized while also warning the UK of "consequences" for supplying drones to Kyiv.
"Despite Russia's outrageous threats to my country, we will continue our support for Ukraine's defence," Burnham said.
08/24/2026 August 24, 2026 Costa says Ukraine's EU future is key to long-term security President of the European Council Antonio Costa has said the European Union will continue supporting Ukraine for as long as necessary, "during the war, in future peace negotiations and in reconstruction."
Speaking in Kyiv at a ceremony marking the 35th anniversary of Ukraine's independence, Costa has said Ukraine's future in the European Union is the strongest guarantee of long-term security and democratic stability.
He has said Ukraine's accession process will be challenging but should not be blocked by political hesitation.
Costa has said Russia has failed to achieve its objectives after more than four years of full-scale war, despite the heavy human and economic costs.
Costa has added the EU wants to see a peaceful resolution of the conflict.
"We support all serious initiatives aimed at achieving peace in Ukraine. But ultimately, it is Ukraine - and only Ukraine - that must define the terms of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace," he said.
"That peace must affirm Ukraine's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. And it must guarantee Ukraine's long-term security and its ability to defend itself," Costa added.
08/24/2026 August 24, 2026 Kremlin says UK 'preventing peace' in Ukraine Russia accused the UK of being a participant in the war on Ukraine's side.
The accusation comes as UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham reportedly plans to provide Ukraine with plans to build its own SCALP long-range cruise missiles, capable of hitting targets deep into Russia.
"Britain is involved in this war on the side of the Kyiv regime. Britain methodically and regularly adds fuel to the fire and methodically and regularly hatches schemes to prevent even the slightest progress in the peaceful settlement process," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters in Moscow.
He added Russia would target and "destroy" facilities producing the missiles in Ukraine.
08/24/2026 August 24, 2026 Ukraine wants peace but won't surrender, Zelenskyy says Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says his country wants peace, but will not surrender territory to Russia to end the war.
"Ukraine absolutely wants peace, but it's not ready...
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