{"id":161369,"date":"2025-08-20T18:24:00","date_gmt":"2025-08-20T18:24:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/ukraine-war-latest-moscow-hits-out-at-clumsy-europe-and-launches-counter-sanctions-against-uk-sky-news\/"},"modified":"2025-08-20T18:24:00","modified_gmt":"2025-08-20T18:24:00","slug":"ukraine-war-latest-moscow-hits-out-at-clumsy-europe-and-launches-counter-sanctions-against-uk-sky-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/ukraine-war-latest-moscow-hits-out-at-clumsy-europe-and-launches-counter-sanctions-against-uk-sky-news\/","title":{"rendered":"Ukraine war latest: Moscow hits out at 'clumsy' Europe and launches counter-sanctions against UK – Sky News"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sergei Lavrov says Russia is well aware of “clumsy” European attempts to change Donald Trump’s position on Ukraine – and warned against leaving the Kremlin out of security discussions. Follow the latest.
Wednesday 20 August 2025 19:07, UK
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Security guarantees for Ukraine have been at the forefront of talks as leaders try to put an end to Russia’s war on the country.
Western leaders have promised security guarantees to protect any peace agreement in Ukraine and prevent Russia from a future attack.
So far, there has been no clear detail around what that might entail and what, if anything, the US might contribute.
The Ukraine-Russia border is huge, making a troop deployment extremely difficult – but this isn’t the only option available.
So what could these guarantees look like? Here’s our military analyst Sean Bell<\/b><\/a> to break it down…
By Simone Baglivo, <\/b>Europe producer<\/b>
A NATO official has told us that the organisation is not “directly involved” in working up the specifics of security guarantees for Ukraine.
They added that there is “constant collaboration”, but the alliance is working to ensure “any efforts by some allies do not detract from NATO’s defence”.
This is a careful tightrope Ukraine’s allies are trying to walk.
The coalition of the willing – a group led by Sir Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron – has taken on the main work of the security guarantee planning, along with the US.
This is because Russia is refusing to countenance the idea that Ukraine would ever become a NATO member.
Donald Trump has also ruled out the possibility, while Moscow has repeatedly warned against the idea of alliance troops on the ground in Ukraine.
Separate meetings<\/b>
Because of this, the same countries that are members of NATO have to work outside the alliance to organise support for Ukraine.
In addition, some NATO members are more cautious than others on support for Kyiv.
This has led to today, where there are separate meetings between the coalition of the willing defence chiefs in person in Washington, and NATO defence chiefs meeting virtually.
In our latest Q&A on the war in Ukraine, security and defence analyst Michael Clarke<\/a><\/b> was asked about the Alaska summit between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin – and how the Russian leader seemed “in control”.
Clarke said a number of retired intelligence officers believe Putin has compromising material on Trump “far beyond hookers in Moscow hotel rooms”.
“About something longer-lasting and deeper and more financial – I don’t know if that’s true or not.”
Others say Trump was “very impressed” by Putin’s nuclear weapon threats and “frightened” by his cunning.
“It gave Trump a clear sense that if you push me too hard, I will use nuclear weapons and Trump has never been ever to get over that,” said Clarke.
He added: “Trump is frightened of him, he’s frightened of him intellectually and he’s frightened of him because he thinks he might use nuclear weapons.”
Clarke goes on: “The rest of us might say that you shouldn’t be frightened of it.
“If ever there was a country that didn’t need to feel frightened, it’s the United States.”
Did Putin look like he was in control? Or was Trump dominant? Watch an expert analyse their body language…<\/b>
Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has said he wants to help provide security guarantees for Ukraine.
In comments made to Swedish radio SR, he said this could take the role of air surveillance and potentially maritime resources, depending on overall needs.
Meanwhile, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said Tokyo is considering what role it could play.
The Japan Times reports he said: “We’ll watch the ongoing discussions closely, and while carefully considering what Japan can and should do – including various legal and capability aspects – we’ll play an appropriate role.”
One more person has been killed after Russian attacks, a local official has said.
The latest death relates to a daylight attack that came after Ukraine’s air force said Russia launched almost 100 drones and missiles overnight.
Kherson governor Alexander Prokudin said an attack at midday Ukraine time (around 10am in the UK) killed a 39-year-old man.
Diplomacy continues to take centre stage on both sides of the Atlantic, as Ukraine’s allies mull potential security guarantees.
NATO military chiefs had a “great, candid discussion” on Ukraine talks today, according to the alliance’s military committee chair.
Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone offered the update on the virtual meeting, which took place earlier.
That was one of three meetings that took place today.
Defence chiefs of the so-called coalition of the willing nations met in Washington DC in person.
Meanwhile, the EU Commission cabinet also met today – see our 14.00 post – to brief members on the last two days of diplomacy over Ukraine.
Our military analyst Sean Bell<\/a><\/b> says the defence chief meetings are likely to be focused on figuring out details of the security guarantees.
Our military analyst Sean Bell<\/a><\/b> explains the latest from the frontlines in Ukraine.
He outlines why Russia has seemingly changed its tactics when it comes to Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
Bell also runs through the latest attacks and how, on the frontline, Moscow’s forces are still pushing to capture one strategically important city.
Watch his latest here…
A Russian drone reportedly crash-landed in eastern Poland overnight.
An unidentified object landed in a cornfield near the village of Osiny, at around 2am.
Local police said they found burned metal and plastic at the scene.
A spokesperson for Poland’s foreign ministry said the object was a Russian version of a Shahed drone – which is made in Iran.
The country’s news agency PAP reports an explosion damaged nearby houses, but adds nobody was injured.
Poland’s Armed Forces Operational Command said its airspace wasn’t violated from neighbouring Ukraine or Belarus.
Poland’s foreign minister Radoslaw Sikorski said: “Another violation of our airspace from the East confirms that Poland’s most important mission towards NATO is the defence of our own territory.
“There will be a protest from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs against the perpetrator.”
The country’s defence minister told reporters: “Once again, we are dealing with a provocation by the Russian Federation, with a Russian drone.
“We are dealing in a crucial moment, when discussions about peace are under way.”
We brought you the news earlier today of the British sanctions, and Russian counter-sanctions.
These are the latest in a long-running tit-for-tat diplomatic row.
Our chief political correspondent Jon Craig<\/a><\/b> explains the latest sanctions…
At least three people have reportedly been killed in Russian strikes in the eastern region of Donetsk.
The city of Kostyantynivka was hit by eight Smerch missiles, according to local governor Vadym Filashkin.
He adds four people were also injured.
“I emphasise once again: it is dangerous to stay in the Donetsk region! The Russians are deliberately striking in such a way as to kill and maim as many civilians as possible,” he said.
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