As the war in Ukraine grinds through its fourth year, a flurry of diplomatic maneuvers, military escalations, and economic measures marked the weekend of October 24–26, 2025. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, speaking from London at a summit hosted by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, issued a blunt call for the United States and its allies to ramp up sanctions against Russia’s oil industry, arguing that only sweeping economic pressure can curb Moscow’s ability to finance its ongoing invasion.
"Russia can signal to the world all it wants that sanctions supposedly don’t affect its economy, but everyone can see the truth," Zelenskyy declared in a message posted on X, formerly Twitter, as reported by PGurus. He insisted that Western sanctions are eroding Russia’s financial and industrial strength, despite the Kremlin’s public bravado. Zelenskyy’s appeal comes on the heels of a new round of U.S. sanctions targeting Rosneft and Lukoil, Russia’s two largest oil companies. Yet for Zelenskyy, that’s not enough. “We have to apply pressure not only to Rosneft and Lukoil, but to all Russian oil companies,” he urged at a press conference in London, according to BBC and PGurus.
The London summit, attended by over two dozen European leaders—among them Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof—focused on reinforcing international support for Ukraine and deterring further Russian aggression. The coalition, dubbed the “Coalition of the Willing,” also sought to address Ukraine’s immediate needs: protecting its vulnerable power grid from near-daily Russian drone and missile attacks as winter looms, enhancing air defenses, and securing supplies of long-range missiles, including the much-coveted Tomahawks. “We are carrying out our own campaign of pressure with drones and missiles specifically targeting the Russian oil sector,” Zelenskyy said, highlighting Ukraine’s efforts to hit back.
Behind the summit’s closed doors, the mood was one of urgency and resolve, but also of uncertainty. As Europe’s largest conflict since World War II drags on, questions about postwar security guarantees, future funding for Ukraine’s battered economy, and the extent of Washington’s long-term commitment loom large. According to The Associated Press, the potential “reassurance force” under discussion would likely consist of air and naval support, rather than the deployment of Western ground troops in Ukraine. U.K. Defense Secretary John Healey explained, “It would be a force to help secure the skies, secure the seas, a force to help train Ukrainian forces to defend their nation.”
Meanwhile, the war’s brutality was on full display. On the night of October 25–26, Russia unleashed a major aerial assault across Ukraine. The Ukrainian air force reported downing four out of nine missiles and 50 of 62 drones launched in the attack, but five direct missile hits and 12 drone strikes still landed on 11 sites around the country, according to BBC. The strikes killed at least four people and wounded 16, with casualties in Kyiv and the Dnipropetrovsk region. Buildings, including a kindergarten and several cars, were damaged. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko posted during the onslaught: “Explosions in the capital. The city is under ballistic attack.”
Elsewhere, Russian artillery struck a residential block in the southeastern city of Kherson on October 24, killing two people and injuring 22, as reported by The Associated Press. In Kharkiv, Russian planes dropped at least five powerful glide bombs, injuring six people and damaging homes. For the first time, Russia fired glide bombs on Ukraine’s southern Odesa region, which local officials described as “a new, serious threat.” Glide bombs, experts note, are significantly cheaper than missiles and can carry heavier payloads, making them a worrisome addition to Russia’s arsenal.
The violence was not one-sided. Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed it had captured ten Ukrainian villages in the Donetsk region and downed 111 Ukrainian drones overnight, while Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported that air defenses intercepted three drones heading for the city, forcing the suspension of flights at two major airports. Russia also claimed to have downed 121 Ukrainian drones over its own territory in recent days.
Even as the fighting raged, the diplomatic front was active. Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev traveled to the United States for talks with officials, including U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, as confirmed by Axios and CNN. Dmitriev emphasized the importance of ongoing dialogue: “Such dialogue is vital for the world and must continue with the full understanding of Russia’s position and respect for its national interests.” Despite the recent imposition of wide-ranging sanctions by U.S. President Donald Trump, Dmitriev told CNN that Russia, the United States, and Ukraine are “close to a diplomatic solution to war.”
Yet peace remains elusive. President Trump, speaking to reporters on Air Force One, stated he would only meet Russian President Vladimir Putin “if there is willingness to make a deal to end the war in Ukraine.” He added, “I am going to have to know that we’re going to make a deal. I’m not going to be wasting my time.” The Trump administration and the Kremlin both downplayed the likelihood of an imminent summit, particularly after Trump postponed a proposed meeting in Budapest, citing a lack of progress.
On the ground, the terms for any peace remain a sticking point. Putin continues to demand that Ukraine cede the entire eastern Donetsk region—a condition that Zelenskyy has flatly rejected. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer echoed this sentiment, saying, “Putin has rejected the opportunity for talks once again, instead making ludicrous demands for Ukrainian land which he could not and has not taken by force. That is a complete non-starter.”
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, present at the London summit, remarked that while Putin’s objectives remain unchanged, he “is running out of money, troops and ideas.” Western officials, including Rutte, have accused Moscow of exploiting loopholes in the sanctions regime, diluting its impact, but insist that the economic pressure is mounting.
The war’s psychological toll was not lost on visiting dignitaries. German Economy and Energy Minister Katherina Reiche, in Kyiv on a three-day trip, was forced to shelter in a bunker during the overnight air strikes. “That night showed me once again very clearly that Russia’s attacks on the Ukrainian population are aimed at wearing them down,” she told reporters, reflecting on the resilience required of ordinary Ukrainians.
As the conflict barrels toward its fourth anniversary, the road ahead appears fraught with peril and uncertainty. The weekend’s events underscored both the intractability of the battlefield and the high stakes of diplomatic brinkmanship. For now, the world watches and waits—wondering if the next round of sanctions, the next shipment of weapons, or the next diplomatic overture will finally tip the balance toward peace.
