Nato fighter jets were scrambled early on Tuesday as at least four people were killed in a sixth consecutive night of Russian aerial attacks on Ukraine. Nato's Baltic air policing mission said it was responding and Finland and Latvia restricted air and maritime traffic close to Russia as the attack on Ukraine unfolded. Border crossings into Romania were also affected as Russia targeted Ukraine's Izmail region.
Russia's latest aerial attack involved both missiles and drones, wounding over a dozen people in the war-hit nation. Ukraine responded with its own attacks, with Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin saying more than a dozen drones were shot down as they headed for the Russian capital. In Russia's northwestern Leningrad region, home to major export ports, officials said Russian air forces were shooting at drones.
This is despite Volodymyr Zelensky’s message last night that said he held a “detailed and constructive” call with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to agree on dates for their visit to Kyiv for peace talks. Nato is reacting swiftly and exactly as planned and the alliance is “vigilant and ready” to protect its territory, Estonian foreign minister Margus Tsahkna said on X, after Nato scrambled fighter jets following alerts. The Nato Baltic air policing mission briefly activated jet fighters in Latvia, and Finland has restricted air and maritime traffic close to Russia, armed forces of both countries said separately on X.
US treasury secretary Scott Bessent has made clear to Russian finance minister Anton Siluanov that there will be no economic relief for Russia or agreements on other issues until its war in Ukraine ends, a source familiar with the ministers' bilateral meeting told . Bessent met bilaterally with Siluanov on the sidelines of a G20 finance leaders meeting in Asheville, North Carolina. The Russian finance minister's first in-person G20 appearance since Russia invaded Ukraine has irritated European officials who are working on more sanctions against Russia.
Earlier, a US official told the focus of the Bessent-Siluanov meeting was president Donald Trump's peace plan for Ukraine. Russia's finance ministry said the two officials discussed financial cooperation within the G20 framework. When Siluanov tried to discuss areas of mutual interest, the source said Bessent interrupted him and said "nothing is possible until the war is over." The US imposed sanctions on Russia's oil majors in October 2025, but after the US-Israeli war against Iran cut off energy supplies through the Strait of Hormuz, Bessent issued licences allowing the sale of seaborne Russian oil stored in tankers to ease supplies, sending some funds to Moscow.
Russia's air force has shot down over a dozen drones heading towards Moscow, mayor Sergei Sobyanin said on Telegram. Sobyanin’s preliminary update did not mention how many total drones have been fired in the Russian capital’s direction. In Russia's Samara region, home to a number of major oil refineries some 800km (500 miles) southeast of Moscow, an air attack damaged civilian facilities, the local governor said on Telegram.
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