Kyiv could rapidly develop a rudimentary weapon similar to that dropped on Nagasaki in 1945 to stop Russia if the US cuts military aid, it has been suggested

While Ukraine has stepped up its anti-graft measures over the past decade to bolster its chances of joining the European Union, corruption scandals are still rife in the war-torn country, where a multi-billion-dollar reconstruction programme has provided new opportunities for personal enrichment.

The war has taken its toll, as men fight or flee, and few are left behind to work

European allies are increasingly bracing for negotiations on Russia’s war in Ukraine that could include territorial concessions in return for security guarantees for Kyiv.

As morale ebbs in Ukraine there is talk of a change at the top

“Avoiders.” That’s the term used in Ukraine to refer to draft dodgers, the men who have skirted military service as the country continues to wage a protracted campaign against invading Russian forces.

But first we must reject the shibboleths and superstitions that have come to define this conflict

Ukraine has been building on its “victory plan” for the incoming Trump administration, highlighting potential business deals, access to raw materials and troop deployments in an effort to sway the famously transactional US president-elect.

The news from Ukraine’s front lines is grim.

Vladimir Putin, September 5, 2024: “As for my preferences, it is not up to us to decide. After all, the American people will have to make their own choice. As I have already said, we favoured Mr Biden, the current President, but they took him out of the race. That said, he advised his supporters to support Ms Harris. So, we will act accordingly and lend her our support.”