Ukraine war live: German jets intercept Russian plane as Trump vows to defend Poland

Volodymyr Zelensky is planning to meet with US president Donald Trump this week, he said in a post on social media.

As world leaders gather in New York for the UN General Assembly, Zelensky said it would be an “intense week of diplomacy”.

“We can accomplish a lot if our partners hear us and support proposals that truly bring the end of the war closer,” he added.

Russia is urging the UN civil aviation agency to ease sanctions on spare parts and overflights, dismissing its response to the war in Ukraine as “unlawful coercive measures,” according to working papers and a source familiar with the matter.

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Western sanctions have cut off access to foreign-made aircraft and spare parts, leaving Russian airlines to source parts for more than 700 mostly Airbus and Boeing jets on complex, indirect import routes.

Russian authorities are now trying to negotiate relief from sanctions, particularly on spare parts, which they say are critical for flight safety, a source in Russia’s aviation sector told Reuters news agency.

Overnight Russian strikes targeted a school, kindergarten, and factory, according to Ukrainian prime minister Yulia Svyrydenko.

In a post on X, she wrote: “Again last night, Russians terrorized our civilian population, launching more than 140 drones onto the people of Ukraine.

“They targeted schools, kindergartens, a bread factory, and homes in Sumy, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and other regions. Three lives were lost in Zaporizhzhia, many injured, dozens of buildings destroyed. Rescue services are working non-stop.

“And while leaders meet in New York for the UN General Assembly, Russia answers diplomacy with terror.

“This is why strong joint action is needed – sanctions that bite, pressure that isolates, and justice for war crimes. Ukraine will continue to insist on it together with our partners.”

World leaders are arriving in New York on Monday for a gathering of the UN General Assembly.

The meeting will bring presidents, prime ministers and monarchs from about 150 of the 193 UN member nations to the organisation’s headquarters, where they will discuss the world’s most pressing issues.

One of those, of course, will be the war in Ukraine, as well as conflicts in Gaza and Sudan.

In a post on X on Monday morning, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky highlighted the importance of the meeting: “The UN General Assembly is now effectively beginning its work, with leaders gathering in New York,” he posted.

“And it’s for the fourth time in a row that Russia accompanies one of the world’s highest-level annual diplomatic events with killings. That is precisely why it is so important for this diplomatic week to be productive.

“Action must be taken so that murder and war do not become routine. Real, powerful pressure on Russia is needed; new joint steps from everyone in the world who believes that international law must work again. Europe, the United States, the G7 and the G20 countries — all who have real influence on Russia.

“Strong sanctions, strong political pressure, and accountability for Russia’s war — all of this is needed. All of this will come. I thank everyone who is helping.”

The UK sent fighter jets to Poland last week in a bid to send a clear message to Putin.

It comes after multiple incursions by Russian drones into Polish and Estonian airspace, and marks the country’s first Nato policing mission over Poland.

Defence secretary John Healey said the use of British fighter planes sent “a clear signal: Nato airspace will be defended”.

And David Lammy warned Putin Britain can “of course” face his military down. “Combined with 27 countries, of course, we can face down Putin, he knows that, and I want to reassure you that whilst we take this seriously, he understands that he will be up against a very, very serious effort,” the deputy prime minister said.

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More than 140 drones were launched at Ukraine overnight, including a strike in Zaporizhzhia that left three dead, according to Zelensky.

In a post on X, the Ukrainian leader said rescue efforts were ongoing in the southeastern city after bombs “targeted civilian infrastructure” and “ordinary homes”.

He added the attacks showed why it was so important for UN leaders to “be productive” as they gather in New York on Monday.

German and Swedish fighter jets were scrambled to intercept and monitor a Russian surveillance aircraft operating unannounced over the Baltic Sea, military officials have confirmed.

Two Swedish Gripen and two German Eurofighter jets were deployed into international airspace yesterday to track the Russian IL-20 reconnaissance plane.

The German Luftwaffe said its jets had initially followed the Russian plane before handing off monitoring to the fighters from Nato ally Sweden, and then returning to Rostock-Laage airfield in northern Germany.

The aircraft had been flying without providing a flight path or establishing radio contact, according to air force officials from both countries.

The monitoring operation concluded without incident, taking place as Nato and European Union member states maintain heightened alert for Russian military and reconnaissance activities in and around their airspace.

Donald Trump has said the US would come to the defence of Poland and the Baltic states if Russia continued to escalate its attacks.

Speaking to reporters ahead of Charlie Kirk’s funeral, the US president was asked by reporters: “Will you help defend Poland and the Baltic states from Russia if Russia keeps escalating?”

“Yeah, I would,” Trump responded.

It follows increased incursions from Moscow in Nato territory, after Russian drones and fighter jets have entered Estonian, Polish and Romanian air space in recent weeks.

Nato’s North Atlantic Council will meet tomorrow to discuss Russia’s violation of Estonian airspace, two officials familiar with the matter told Reuters, specifying the date that so far has only been described as early next week.

Tallinn said three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets entered Estonian airspace without permission on Friday and stayed for a total of 12 minutes before they were forced to withdraw.

Estonia requested consultations under Article 4 of the Washington Treaty after the incident that it described as an “unprecedentedly brazen” incursion.

A Russian attack on Ukraine’s southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia has killed three people and injured two more, officials said this morning.

“Monday morning in Zaporizhzhia began with explosions and fires,” governor Ivan Fedorov wrote.

He said that Russian forces used at least 10 aerial bombs in the attack on the city of around 700,000 residents.

The attack damaged 15 apartment buildings and 10 private homes as well as non-residential buildings, he said.

Ukraine’s air force said it downed 132 drones launched by Russia overnight and recorded hits of nine drones at seven locations.

In the northeastern region of Sumy, various drone attacks injured two people over the past day, in addition to damaging civilian infrastructure and private homes, governor Oleh Hryhorov said.

The attack on Kyiv region injured one person and damaged apartment buildings and private homes, according to the emergency services.

Lithuanian Defence Minister Dovilė Šakalienė said NATO’s borders were being tested for a reason.

In a post on X, she said: “Three russian fighter jets over Tallinn is one more hard proof that #EasternSentry is long due.

“PS. Türkiye set an example 10 years ago. Some food for thought.”

In 2015, a Russian aircraft was shot down by the Turkish air force after it was claimed to have violated its airspace.