Ukraine-Russia war latest: US ‘ends intelligence sharing’ with Kyiv as Starmer insists Trump is ‘reliable ally’

Russian drones struck energy infrastructure in Ukraine’s southern region of Odesa during a massive overnight attack, its governor said this morning.

At least two people were injured in the attack which targeted civilian and energy infrastructure, governor Oleh Kiper said on his Telegram channel.

Russia has lost 1,140 soldiers killed and over 200 weapons and pieces of military equipment over the past day, the Ukrainian military officials said.

The General Staff of the Ukraine Armed Forces shared the daily casualties toll in its update this morning, adding that it takes total Russian losses to more than 881,800.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky is likely to participate in the European Council meeting in Brussels today, his spokesperson said.

Mr Zelensky also plans to meet Nato secretary general Mark Rutte, the Austrian chancellor and the Belgian leadership during the visit, the spokesperson said.

The White House has defended Elon Musk’s choices of attire during his appearances in the Oval Office, after Volodymyr Zelensky was ambushed by Republicans over his decision not to wear a suit.

Asking for clarity on the dress code inside the White House, Fox News journalist Peter Doocy asked the White House press secretary Koreline Leavitt: “We know that some officials here were miffed that Zelensky showed up last week without a suit for his meeting in Oval office, but Elon Musk never wears a suit…”

He was interrupted by Ms Leavitt who said that “Elon Musk wore a suit last night”, referring to one occasion when the SpaceX owner showed up in formal attire.

The White House press secretary did not address the fact that the billionaire has appeared many times wearing a cap and a T-shirt under a jacket during his visits to the Oval Office and White House.

The White House said it is reconsidering its pause in funding for Ukraine and talks between the United States and Ukraine over a minerals deal are ongoing.

“I believe what the National Security Council told me in regards to that was… that they are reconsidering the funding for Ukraine, the pause in the funding,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters.

The Institute for the Study of War has said that the suspension of all US intelligence sharing with Ukraine would also allow Russian forces to intensify their drone and missile strikes against the Ukrainian rear, affecting millions of Ukrainian civilians and the growth of Ukraine’s defence industrial base.

The US-based think tank highlighted that the American intelligence has “contributed to Ukraine’s early warning system against Russian strikes against Ukrainian cities, allowing Ukrainian authorities and civilians to prepare once Russian forces launch missiles and drones”.

“The suspension of US intelligence on Russian strikes against the Ukrainian rear, coupled with the US suspension of supplies of Patriot air defence missiles that Ukraine relies upon to defend against Russian ballistic missiles, would have severe impacts on the safety of Ukrainian rear areas,” the ISW said.

The halt of US intelligence sharing with Ukraine will have a significant impact on Ukrainian forces ability to defend themselves against Russian attacks, a US-based think tank has said.

“The suspension of US intelligence sharing with Ukraine will damage Ukraine’s ability to defend itself against ongoing Russian attacks against military and civilian targets,” the Institute for the Study of War said.

“Ukrainian forces have leveraged their ability to strike within Russia and destroy significant amounts of material in order to increase pressure on Russia,” it said.

Four senior members of Donald Trump’s entourage have held discussions with some of Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky’s top political opponents, Politico has reported.

Discussions were held on whether Ukraine could have quick presidential elections, according to the report.

Talks were held with Ukrainian opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko and senior members of the party of former president Petro Poroshenko, Politico reported, citing three Ukrainian lawmakers and a US Republican foreign policy expert.