Ukraine warns of ‘full-scale war’ with Russia
Trump threatens to cancel G20 meeting with Putin over ‘aggressive’ behaviour

Ukraine’s president has voiced his concern about a possible “full-scale war” with Russia, following the seizure of three of Ukraine’s naval ships by Russian forces over the weekend.
President Petro Poroshenko called the clash between Ukrainian and Russian naval forces an “extraordinary event”, adding that his country is “under the threat of a full-scale war with the Russian Federation”.
“Officially, without tearing off chevrons, without ‘green men,’ Russian troops in large numbers attacked the ships of the Armed Forces of Ukraine,” Poroshenko said, referring to the armed soldiers who wore green uniforms without insignias during the 2014 annexing of the Crimean peninsula by Russia.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
CNN reports that US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has promised Ukraine “full assistance, including military assistance” following the events of the past few days.
The BBC reports that a Crimean court has since order that 12 of the Ukrainian crewmembers seized by Russian forces are to be “detained for 60 days”, while the fate of the other Ukrainians captured is yet to be decided.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump has indicated that he may cancel a meeting with Russian president Vladimir Putin, on the sidelines of the G20 summit due to be held in Buenos Aires later this week.
“Maybe I won’t have the meeting [with Mr Putin]. Maybe I won’t even have the meeting. I don’t like that aggression. I don’t want that aggression at all,” Trump told the Washington Post.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Trump also took aim at US allies in Europe, specifically singling out Germany for “not doing enough” when it comes to defence spending.
“Germany,” Trump said. “Absolutely not! Many of those countries are not doing enough toward Nato. They should be spending much more money.”
-
August 23 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Saturday's political cartoons include deficit dimness, steamroller-in-chief, and more
-
5 museum-grade cartoons about Trump's Smithsonian purge
Cartoons Artists take on institutional rebranding, exhibit interpretation, and more
-
Settling the West Bank: a death knell for a Palestine state?
In the Spotlight The reality on the ground is that the annexation of the West Bank is all but a done deal
-
What will security guarantees for Ukraine look like?
Today's Big Question From boots on the ground to economic sanctions, here are the measures that might stop Russia taking another bite out of Ukraine
-
Will Ukraine trade territory for peace?
TODAY'S BIG QUESTION Kyiv’s defences are wearing thin but a land swap is constitutionally impossible and crosses Zelenskyy's red lines
-
Russia tries Ukraine land grab before Trump summit
Speed Read The incursion may be part of Putin's efforts to boost his bargaining position
-
Europe counters Putin ahead of Trump summit
Speed Read President Trump will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska this week for Ukraine peace talks
-
Is Trump's new peacemaking model working in DR Congo?
Talking Point Truce brokered by the US president in June is holding, but foundations of a long-term peace have let to be laid
-
Who wins from a Trump-Putin meeting?
Today's Big Question Trump might get the leaders together for a photo op but brokering a peace deal won’t be easy
-
Volodymyr Zelenskyy: flirting with authoritarianism?
Talking Point Ukraine's president is facing first major domestic unrest since the Russian invasion, over plans to water down the country's anti-corruption agencies
-
How China uses 'dark fleets' to circumvent trade sanctions
The Explainer The fleets are used to smuggle goods like oil and fish