war | NATO is building a command base near the Russian border

Trump meets Zelensky. The Russians are probably advancing in a critical section of the front. All information in the news blog.

10.30 p.m.: Finland has announced the establishment of a NATO command base in Mikkeli, less than 200 kilometers from the Russian border. Almost a year and a half after the country joined NATO, Finland is sending a “message to Russia that we are a full member of NATO and that NATO is also very important for Finnish defense,” said Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen on Friday.

Accordingly, the new Northern Europe headquarters for NATO’s land forces is to be built in Mikkeli. Several dozen employees from different countries are to be stationed there. The Finnish army command is already in Mikkeli, Häkkänen said. “By combining the locations, we will achieve the best possible synergy between national and NATO defense management,” he added.

7:56 p.m.: At the meeting between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky in Trump Tower in New York, Donald Trump bragged in front of cameras about his connection to Vladimir Putin. “I have a great relationship with President Putin,” Trump said, with Zelensky standing right next to him.

Zelenskyj replied: “I hope you have an even better relationship with us.” Trump laughed and said: “Ah, I see.” Both Zelenskyj and Trump spoke of a good meeting after the meeting in New York.

4:42 p.m.: At the meeting in Trump Tower with American President Volodymyr Zelensky, Donald Trump said he hoped for a “good victory.” “If the other side wins, frankly there will be no victories at all,” Trump said. In the event of a victory, “we can work out something that is good for both sides. It’s time.” It is not clear whether Trump is referring to a Ukrainian victory or his own victory in the US presidential election. The day before, Trump had falsely declared that Ukraine no longer existed except for Kiev.

Editor’s note: An earlier version of this entry said Trump expressed hope for a Ukrainian victory. However, this connection is not clearly clear from Trump’s statement.

2:29 p.m: The Russian military advanced on the front in eastern Ukraine and says it has captured two more towns in the Donbass industrial region. The Defense Ministry in Moscow said that the village of Marynivka and the small town of Ukrainsk were occupied during the course of this week. There was no confirmation from the army leadership in Kyiv. The Ukrainian General Staff report for Friday morning described Marynivka as still being contested. The situation is clearer near Ukrainsk, which Ukrainian military observers have marked as Russian-controlled for days.

Both places are in the Donetsk region on the front section between the larger cities of Pokrovsk, Kurachewe and Vuhledar. Russian troops have gained ground there in recent months. The defenders lack soldiers and material. The Ukrainian army command’s report cited a comparatively high number of 187 Russian assaults for Thursday. The focus is on Pokrovsk. The situation in Wuhledar has recently become even more threatening. Military bloggers expect the quickly encircled city to fall in a few days.