NATO war planes scrambled after latest Russian attack on Ukraine
NATO war planes have been scrambled overnight as Vladimir Putin launched another round of attacks on Ukraine, despite telling Donald Trump he is in favour of peace.
The brutal attacks followed the US president's claims that Putin had agreed to peace talks with Volodymyr Zelensky, with hopes for a meeting by the end of this month.
The Russian premier's commitment to peace was immediately questioned due to both overnight air strikes on Ukraine, and his aide Yury Ushakov failing to confirm that he would personally participate in talks with Zelensky, the Mirror reports.
The NATO jets were launched due to the intensity of the latest attacks, which saw strategic bombers release cruise missiles while flying over the Caspian Sea.
A statement from military headquarters in Warsaw, Poland read: 'On the night of August 18-19, 2025, long-range aviation of the Russian Federation once again launched missile attacks on Ukrainian territory.
'To ensure the security of Polish airspace, the Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces (RFAF) has activated all necessary procedures.
'Polish and allied aircraft have commenced operations, and ground-based air defence and radar reconnaissance systems have reached the highest level of alert.'
The move was 'preventative in nature and aimed at securing airspace and protecting citizens, especially in areas adjacent to the threatened area'.
In a phone call between Putin and Trump lasting 40 minutes, the Russian premier said he was in favour of seeking peace, despite striking the city of Kremenchuk with ballistic and cruise missiles. At least 10 huge explosions occurred across the city as a result, with 30 across the entire Poltava region, cutting electricity in thousands of homes.
One report warned: 'The entire Kremenchuk is in smoke - close your windows. Terrible consequences after one of the most massive attacks on the city.'
Administrative buildings for the energy sector, as well as gas storage facilities, were hit. Regional governor Volodymyr Kohut said: 'The enemy launched a massive strike on the Poltava region.
'Hits and debris falls were recorded in the Kremenchuk and Lubny districts. Administrative buildings of local energy sector enterprises were damaged. In the Lubny district, as a result of the attack, 1,471 residential and 119 legal subscribers were left without electricity. Emergency Service and energy units are working to eliminate the consequences of the attack.'
The Chernihiv region was also struck in a drone attack. In the city of Dnipropetrovsk, an apartment block and a school were damaged.
Donald Trump said on his Truth Social platform he had spoken to Putin and preparations were underway for a meeting between the Russian and Ukrainian leaders.
He said: 'I called President Putin, and began the arrangements for a meeting, at a location to be determined, between President Putin and President Zelensky.'
This would be followed by a further meeting which would involve Trump, which they are hoping to organise for the end of August.
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However, Putin's foreign affairs aide Ushakov was less positive, although he admitted the conversation had been "frank" and "constructive".
He said: 'Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump expressed support for continuing direct negotiations between the delegations of Russia and Ukraine.
'In this regard, in particular, the idea was discussed that it would be necessary to study the possibility of raising the level of representatives of the Ukrainian and Russian sides.'
He did not say Putin had agreed a meeting, only that the Kremlin could "study" the "possibility" of future discussions involving more senior representatives.
He added: 'Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump agreed to continue to closely contact each other on the Ukrainian and other pressing issues of the international and bilateral agenda.
'The Russian President once again noted the importance of Donald Trump's personal efforts to find solutions that lead to a long-term settlement in Ukraine. The conversation was frank and very constructive.'
Retaliation from Ukraine saw the Lukoil refinery in the city of Volgograd burst into flames, with the roof of City Hospital No. 16 also struck by a downed drone. Over 15 explosions also rang out across the city and its suburbs during the night.
Russia's Ministry of Defence said 13 drones had been destroyed over the whole Volgograd region. The oil refinery - one of the largest in the country - is essential to the war effort.
In total, around 270 drones and up to 10 missiles were launched on Ukraine following the White House peace talks. Ukraine said 230 enemy Shahed drones were brought down, as well as two ballistic missiles and four cruise missiles.
Zelensky thanked Trump 11 times in less than five minutes during discussions, as Trump pledged to US security guarantees for Ukraine after the war.
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