Xinhua Agency, Beijing, August 25. According to news from the Ukraine President's website on the 24th, Ukrainian President Zelensky met with visiting Canadian Prime Minister Carney in the capital Kiev that day. The two sides discussed issues such as defense, energy cooperation and security for Ukraine. Carney said that the possibility of sending Canadian troops to Ukraine was not ruled out.

On the same day, Russia and Ukraine exchanged captured soldiers again. Russia's second largest port, Ust-Luga, caught fire due to a drone attack. Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov said in an interview released on the same day that Western countries and Ukraine are trying to undermine the negotiation process on the Ukraine issue formulated by the presidents of Russia and the United States.

At about 2 pm Eastern Time on August 18, U.S. President Trump, Ukraine President Zelensky and several European leaders held a multi-party meeting at the U.S. White House. Xinhua Agency/Midland

Uzbekistan and Canada leaders meet to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine

According to the statement released on the website of the Ukrainian president, during the meeting of Zelensky and Kany, the two sides signed the Action Plan for the Implementation of the Security Cooperation Agreement, the Mutual Assistance Agreement on Customs Affairs and the Letter of Intention for Drone Production.

Zelensky said in a statement that Carney expressed Canada's willingness to contribute US $500 million to the "Ukraine Priority Needs List" program initiated by NATO and the United States to help Ukraine purchase weapons from the United States. In addition, Canada is willing to provide funds for Ukrainian drone production and join the drone production plan.

Zelensky said he had sent an invitation to Carney, hoping that Canada would participate in a major energy project in Ukraine. he said that Ukraine has the necessary ports and energy storage capabilities that can be used for the transportation of Canadian natural gas, and he discussed with Carney the possibility of rapid implementation of energy projects.

Zelensky said that Canada is a member of the ¡°Volunteer Alliance¡± and expects Canada to play a positive role in implementing security for Ukraine.

The picture shows Canadian Prime Minister Carney. Xinhua News Agency/American League

At a joint press conference with Zelensky after the meeting, Carney said that the Canadian side was working with partners such as the ¡°Volunteer Alliance¡± to develop terms for providing land and sea air security to Ukraine.

On the 18th of this month, US President Trump held a meeting of leaders of the United States, Ukraine and Europe at the White House. The first topic was to provide security for Ukraine. Trump said that security guarantees for Ukraine will be provided by European countries and coordinated with the United States. Zelensky said that details related to Ukraine's security guarantees will be worked out in the next 10 days.

Russia has exchanged captives.

Russia and Ukraine exchanged captured soldiers on the 24th, and each side handed over 146 captured soldiers to each other.

The Russian Defense Ministry reported on social media on the 24th that 146 captured Russian troops had returned from Ukraine controlled areas. In exchange, Russia handed over 146 captured Ukrainian military personnel to Uzbekistan. The prisoner exchange operation that day was carried out under the humanitarian mediation of the United Arab Emirates.

Russia's second-largest port burns after drone attack

The governor of the northwestern Russian state of Leningrad, Drozhenko, said on the 24th that the port of Ustyurka in the state burned the same day as a result of a drone attack.

Drozdenko posted on social media that 10 drones were destroyed over the port on the morning of the 24th, and the wreckage of the drones caused a fire at a dock. Initial information shows no casualties.

Leningrad Oblast issued a threat warning of drone attack on the 23rd, which was lifted the next morning. In the meantime, Russian air defense forces shot down drones over many places in the state.

Ustriluka is the largest port in the Baltic region and the second largest port in Russia.

Russian Foreign Minister: Western countries and Ukraine attempt to disrupt negotiations

Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov said in an interview video released on the 24th that Western countries and Ukraine are trying to undermine the negotiation process on the Ukraine issue formulated by the presidents of Russia and the United States.

This is an exterior view of the Kremlin taken in Moscow, the capital of Russia, on March 18. Photo by Bai Xueqi, reporter of Xinhua Agency

Zarubin, the TV host of the All-Russian State Television and Broadcasting Corporation, released a video of an interview with Lavrov on social media on the 24th. In the video, Lavrov said that Western countries are looking for excuses to block negotiations, and Ukrainian President Zelensky is also "stubborn", putting forward some conditions and demanding that "no matter what happens, immediately meet with (Russian President) Putin".

Lavrov stressed that the attempts of the Western countries and Ukraine to disrupt the negotiation process on Ukraine, which was generally formulated by the presidents of Russia and the United States, "has achieved good results" and the Russian side hopes that this attempt will be defeated.

On August 15, Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Trump met in Alaska, USA. The two sides commented positively on the meeting, but did not reach an agreement on the ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. (Reporter: Li Dongxu, An Xiaomeng, Liu Kai)