Latest news on Russia and the war in Ukraine

Ukraine’s foreign ministry said Ukrainian embassies and consulates in multiple countries are receiving “bloody packages” — some with animal parts — as part of what appears to be a “well-planned campaign of terror and intimidation.”

Following a spate of explosive letters sent to locations throughout Spain in recent days, Ukraine’s foreign ministry said that bloody packages arrived at embassies in Hungary, the Netherlands, Poland, Croatia, Italy and Austria, as well as the consulates general in Naples, Italy and Krakow, Poland and the consulate in Brno, Czech Republic.

The ministry said in a Facebook post that the packages contained animal eyes and “were soaked in a liquid of a characteristic color and had a corresponding smell.”

“Not being able to stop Ukraine on the diplomatic front, they are trying to intimidate us,” Ukraine Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said, according to a translation. “However, I can immediately say that these attempts are useless. We will continue to work effectively for the victory of Ukraine.”

The ministry said all Ukrainian embassies and consulates had been placed under heightened security measures.

— Sam Meredith

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Russian President Vladimir Putin would be open to talks on a possible settlement to the war in Ukraine.

His comments to reporters came shortly after U.S. President Joe Biden said he would be prepared to meet with Putin if the Russian leader was prepared to end the war.

— Sam Meredith

Finland’s Prime Minister Sanna Marin warned Russia would not be the only one to “feel empowered” if the Kremlin wins its war in Ukraine.

Speaking on a visit to Australia, Marin said China has an important role to play in bringing the war to an end, urged Europe to do more to strengthen its defensive capabilities and said the region would not be strong enough to cope without the support of key allies.

“We should make sure that we are stronger. And now I must be very honest, brutally honest with you, Europe isn’t strong enough right now,” Marin said.

“We would be in trouble without the United States … in the war in Ukraine. The United States have given a lot of weapons, a lot of financial aid, a lot of humanitarian aid to Ukraine and Europe isn’t strong enough yet,” she added.

— Sam Meredith

Ukraine’s forces have lost somewhere between 10,000 and 13,000 soldiers so far in the war against Russia, according to a Reuters report, which cited comments from Ukrainian presidential aide Mykhailo Podolyak.

It is thought to be the first estimated death toll of Ukrainian military personnel by a top official since Ukraine’s military chief said close to 9,000 soldiers had died as of late August.

— Sam Meredith

The U.N. said it will let member states decide whether to set up a court to investigate possible Russian war crimes in Ukraine.

Earlier in the day, the European Union proposed to set up a U.N.-backed court to investigate possible war crimes in Ukraine. The EU also proposed using frozen Russian assets to rebuild Ukraine.

“The decision to establish a tribunal, with or without the involvement of the United Nations, is a decision that will rest with the [U.N.] member states,” U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said during a daily press briefing.

“The Secretary‑General is definitely aware that there’ve been discussions in various forums concerning the possibility of the establishment of an international tribunal in regards to what’s going on in Ukraine and in particular, on the issue of the crime of aggression,” he said, adding that any further comment on the matter would only be speculation.

— Amanda Macias

Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine Hanna Maliar speaks standing next to a dud warhead imitating a nuclear part of a Kh-55SM strategic cruise missile, which was used by Russian troops during a recent missile attacks on Ukraine.

The Kh-55SM strategic cruise missile can carry nuclear warheads, speakers at the briefing said.

— STR | NurPhoto | Getty Images

U.S. President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron in a joint press conference at the White House reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Ukraine against Russia.

“Having the U.S. strongly support the Ukrainians at this time is very important not just for the Ukrainians, but for the Europeans, who we are. This is why we do thank you for the solidarity, for the stability of our world today,” Macron said. “Because if we consider that we can abandon the country and abandon the full respect of its principles, it means there is no possible stability in this world.”

Macron is visiting the U.S. as a visitor for Biden’s first state dinner as president.

Biden said he does not intend to speak to Russian President Vladimir Putin any time soon, but he would be willing to if Putin is genuinely interested in ending the war.

“I’m prepared to speak with Mr. Putin if in fact there is an interest in him deciding he’s looking for a way to end the war. He hasn’t done that yet,” Biden said.

“In the meantime, I think it’s absolutely critical, what Emmanuel said: we must support the Ukrainian people,” Biden said. “The idea that Putin is ever going to defeat Ukraine is beyond comprehension.”

– Emma Kinery