U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced this morning, September 25th, that American troops will not be involved in the conflict in Ukraine, stating the U.S. will instead sell weapons to European nations for them to transfer to Kyiv. Bessent conveyed this stance to European counterparts approximately two weeks prior, emphasizing that while Russia may target Europe, it will not advance into the United States. During a UN General Assembly side event on September 25th, Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler reiterated Ankara's position by stating that Turkey does not recognize Russia's annexation of Crimea and supports Ukraine's territorial integrity. Guler also highlighted the importance of protecting the rights of Crimean Tatars, describing it as a historical and moral responsibility for Turkey. These statements come as Ukraine's Air Force claimed earlier this morning to have shot down a Russian Su-34 fighter-bomber in the Zaporozhye region. The aircraft was reportedly returning from Kherson after conducting glide bomb strikes. Separately, Ukrainian drones targeted an electrical substation in occupied Troitske, Luhansk People's Republic, causing a power outage. The Wall Street Journal reported that Ukraine is preparing a new offensive requiring U.S. intelligence support, with details reportedly shared with U.S. President Donald Trump. Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha stressed the need for accountability for Russian war crimes at a UN General Assembly side event on September 25th. A U.S. Air Force KC-135R Stratotanker was observed over Alaska's Seward Peninsula near the Bering Strait between 1:06 AM and 2:06 AM UTC on September 25th, potentially indicating air surveillance readiness. Previous assessments indicated that the Kremlin is employing nuclear threats to influence President Trump's peace initiatives in Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky previously reaffirmed his commitment to peace negotiations and elections in line with Ukraine's constitution. General Valerii Zaluzhnyi, former Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief and Ambassador to the United Kingdom, evaluated that Russian forces are integrating technological advancements and ground tactics to regain battlefield maneuverability. Additionally, Russian jamming from Kaliningrad Oblast was suspected of disrupting the GPS signal on the Spanish Defense Minister's aircraft on September 24th while traveling to Lithuania.
