FBI leaders reportedly held closed-door meetings with top Ukrainian negotiators, sparking concern among European officials.
President Volodymyr Zelensky’s top representative Rustem Umerov held secret talks with FBI director Kash Patel and his deputy Dan Bongino according to the Washington Post.
Officials worry that Ukrainian representatives could be seeking an amnesty from corruption allegations, while others are suspicious the discussions could be used to exert pressure on Ukraine to accept a peace deal.
Olha Stefanishyna, Ukrainian Ambassador to Washington, confirmed Umerov’s meeting with the FBI, telling the publication he “only covered national security related issues” that could not be publicly disclosed.
An FBI official said the discussion focused on shared law enforcement and national security and white collar corruption was not the main focus despite it being mentioned and called other theories as to the purpose of the meeting “complete nonsense”.
The US will send a representative to participate in talks in Europe on Ukraine this weekend, Donald Trump has said, while warning that he doesn't want to waste “a lot of time”.
Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on Thursday, Trump said: "We'll be attending the meeting on Saturday in Europe if we think there's a good chance. And we don't want to waste a lot of time if we think it's negative."
Europe should prepare for war ‘like our grandparents endured’, warns Nato chief
Ukrainian navy cripples Russian shadow fleet tanker with sea drone strike
Tributes paid to ‘born soldier’ British paratrooper killed in Ukraine
Zelenskyy will hold urgent talks with 30 countries as Trump pushes for swift peace deal with Russia
Key Points
- US offer of Donbas ‘free economic zone’ draws scepticism from Kyiv
- Trump 'extremely frustrated' with lack of progress in Ukraine peace talks
- Europe must ‘increase lethality’ and be prepared to deter Russia, minister says
- Russia urges UK to reveal what British soldier killed in Ukraine was doing
- No ceasefire without surrender of Donbas, says Kremlin
- Ukraine conflict could lead to WW3, warns Trump
President Volodymyr Zelensky’s top representative Rustem Umerov held secret talks with FBI director Kash Patel and his deputy Dan Bongino according to the Washington Post.
Officials worry that Ukrainian representatives could be seeking an amnesty from corruption allegations, while others are suspicious the discussions could be used to exert pressure on Ukraine to accept a peace deal.
Olha Stefanishyna, Ukrainian Ambassador to Washington, confirmed Umerov’s meeting with the FBI, telling the publication he “only covered national security related issues” that could not be publicly disclosed.
An FBI official said the discussion focused on shared law enforcement and national security and white collar corruption was not the main focus despite it being mentioned and called other theories as to the purpose of the meeting “complete nonsense”.
A White House official said: “U.S. officials regularly communicate with world leaders about national security issues of shared interest.”
They added that those concerned “are not privy to these diplomatic conversations and have no idea what they are talking about.”
A representative of Zelensky’s office declined to comment on specific meetings but said “it is stupid to link everything to ‘corruption.’”
FBI held secret talks with Ukrainian negotiators
16:40 , Maira ButtPresident Volodymyr Zelensky’s top representative Rustem Umerov held secret talks with FBI director Kash Patel and his deputy Dan Bongino according to the Washington Post.
Officials worry that Ukrainian representatives could be seeking an amnesty from corruption allegations, while others are suspicious the discussions could be used to exert pressure on Ukraine to accept a peace deal.
Olha Stefanishyna, Ukrainian Ambassador to Washington, confirmed Umerov’s meeting with the FBI, telling the publication he “only covered national security related issues” that could not be publicly disclosed.
An FBI official said the discussion focused on shared law enforcement and national security and white collar corruption was not the main focus despite it being mentioned and called other theories as to the purpose of the meeting “complete nonsense”.
A White House official said: “U.S. officials regularly communicate with world leaders about national security issues of shared interest.”
They added that those concerned “are not privy to these diplomatic conversations and have no idea what they are talking about.”
A representative of Zelensky’s office declined to comment on specific meetings but said “it is stupid to link everything to ‘corruption.’”
Flamingo missiles could punch through Russia's air defences, says report
16:00 , Daniel KeaneUkraine's domestically produced “Flamingo” missiles could deal a crushing blow to Russia's air defences, a new report has claimed.
The report, from the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), says there are "significant vulnerabilities" Moscow's most important air defence systems that can be exploited by Kyiv’s domestic missile.
Kyiv says that it’s Flamingo missile has a range of 3,000km and a 1,150kg warhead.
The report claims that Ukraine could use the missiles to deal significant damage to Russia’s Pantsir air defence system, “ironically resulting in limiting Russia’s ability to defend other targets over the course of 2026”.
"These are but a fraction of the points of vulnerability identified in Russia’s integrated air defence production," it adds.
Kremlin says Russian police will remain in Donbas under peace deal
15:25 , Daniel KeaneA senior Kremlin official says that the Russian police and National Guard will remain in eastern Ukraine's Donbas even if a peace settlement ends the nearly four-year war.
It is a possibility that is likely to be rejected by Ukrainian officials as US-led negotiations for peace drag on.
Moscow will give its blessing to a ceasefire only after Ukraine's forces have withdrawn from the front line, Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov said in comments published in Russian business daily Kommersant.
Mr Ushakov told Kommersant: "It's entirely possible that there won't be any troops (in the Donbas), either Russian or Ukrainian" in a post-war scenario.”
But he said that "there will be the National Guard, our police, everything necessary to maintain order and organise life".
Zelensky appears at Kupiansk frontline after Ukrainian troops regain territory
15:00 , Maira ButtPresident Volodymyr Zelensky made an appearance at the frontline in Kupiansk on Friday, where Ukrainian troops say they have retaken key parts of the town as well as surrounding villages.
“Today, it is extremely important to achieve results on the front lines so that Ukraine can achieve results in diplomacy,” he said wearing a bulletproof vest in a video of him in front of the city’s entrance.
Vessel on fire after Russian attack on Ukraine's Odesa region
14:48 , Daniel KeaneA civilian vessel caught fire after a Russian attack on Ukraine' southern Odesa region port hub on Friday, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.
They gave no additional details. Ukraine's airforce reported missile and drone attacks on the region.
Starmer to discuss unlocking frozen Russian assets with Belgian leader
14:40 , Daniel KeaneSir Keir Starmer will discuss using frozen Russian assets to help Ukraine in a meeting with the Belgian premier amid resistance in Brussels to the move.
The Prime Minister is expected to host Bart De Wever on Friday afternoon for Downing Street talks which will also cover migration and economic growth.
Britain has said it is ready to move in tandem with the EU to unlock immobilised Russian sovereign assets, the vast majority of which are held in Belgium, to support Kyiv financially.
But Brussels has opposed the move, citing legal and financial risks.
Asked what the Prime Minister's message was to European countries who may be nervous about using assets ahead of Friday's meeting, Sir Keir's official spokesman said: "We're continuing work with our European partners to make use of the value of Russian sovereign assets immobilised in our jurisdictions."
Watch: Trump says US will attend Ukraine peace talks with Europe
14:20 , Daniel KeaneFull story: Europe must be ready to deter Russia as ‘shadow of war’ looms, minister warns
14:00 , Maira ButtEurope must be ready to deter Russia as the “shadow of war” looms, a minister has warned, echoing alarming words from the head of Nato.
Armed forces minister Al Carns said countries need to “increase our lethality” and stop outsourcing it to others.
His warning comes after Nato secretary general Mark Rutte called Europe “Russia’s next target” and said countries must prepare for a “scale of war our grandparents or great-grandparents endured”.
Europe must be ready to deter Russia as ‘shadow of war’ looms, minister warns
Driscoll cut out of Ukraine talks, according to reports
13:40 , Maira ButtUS army secretary Dan Driscoll has reportedly been sidelined from peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, according to reports.
Driscoll has played a leading role in negotiations but has been “reeled in”, sources told the Telegraph.
“He was seen to be exerting himself a bit too much, and he had his hand slapped,” one person said, suggesting that US secretary of war, Pete Hegseth, who has been at the centre of several controversies himself, was behind the move.
Ukraine to join EU by 2027 under draft peace proposal, according to reports
13:20 , Maira ButtA peace proposal presented as part of US-mediated discussions on the Russia-Ukraine conflict could see Ukraine slated to join the European Union by 1 January 2027, according to the Financial Times.
The proposal is being negotiated between US and Ukrainian officials with the help of the EU, according to sources briefed with the document’s contents.
Trump issues WW3 warning if 'everyone keeps playing games'
13:00 , Maira ButtPresident Donald Trump has warned that the Ukraine conflict could lead to World War Three, in a dire warning to reporters at the White House on Thursday.
“Things like this end up in third world wars. And I told that the other day, I said, 'You know, everybody keeps playing games like this, you'll end up in a third world war.' And we don't want to see that happen,” he said.
Ukraine retakes parts of Kupiansk and several villages, according to military
12:37 , Maira ButtUkraine has regained parts of the northeastern town of Kupiansk and several surrounding villages, according to Ukraine’s military commander.
In a statement on Friday, Ihor Obolienskyi commander of the Khartiia Corps of the National Guard, said the operation consisted of the encircling of Russian troops.
“Today, we can say that the Russians in the city are completely cut off. For a long time, they couldn't understand what was happening. But now they know they are surrounded,” he said.
In November, Russia said it had taken full control of Kupiansk, a claim that Ukraine denied.
Decision on frozen Russian assets expected at EU summit today, say sources
12:00 , Maira ButtA decision on frozen Russian assets is expected to be announced at a EU summit on Friday, according to Reuters.
Germany has said it sees no alternative to a reparations loan to Ukraine using the 210 billion euros worth of assets and will shoulder 50 billion in guarantees.
A source added that a lack of agreement would “send a disastrous signal to Ukraine”.
Germany summons Russian ambassador over 'hybrid attacks'
11:19 , Maira ButtBerlin has summoned Russia’s ambassador over allegations of “hybrid attacks”, a German foreign ministry spokesperson said on Friday.
They include disinformation campaigns, espionage, cyberattacks and attempted sabotage.
“This morning we therefore summoned the Russian ambassador to the foreign office and made it clear that we are monitoring Russia's actions very closely and will take action against them,” the spokesperson said.
Russia has denied it has engaged in hybrid warfare.
In pictures: Putin meets Erdogan in Ashgab
11:03 , Maira ButtIn this pool photograph distributed by the Russian state agency Sputnik, Russia's President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan hold a meeting in Ashgabat on Friday.
Ukraine says it has hit two Russian ships transporting military equipment
10:39 , Maira ButtUkraine’s military has said it has hit two Russian ships carrying military equipment and weapons in the Caspian Sea.
The vessels named as the Composer Rakhmaninoff and the Askar-Sarydzha were sanctioned by the US for carrying military cargo between Iran and Russia, according to a statement by Ukraine’s special forces on Telegram on Friday.
Whole of Donbas region belongs to Russia, says Kremlin
10:08 , Maira ButtThe Kremlin has insisted that the whole of the Donbas region belongs to Russia, in response to Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky’s statement that a referendum would need to take place to agree any territorial concessions.
It said a ceasefire would only be possible after withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the Donbas region.
US negotiators foresee Ukrainian forces withdrawing from the Donetsk region, with the compromise being that Russian forces do not enter that territory, Mr Zelensky said. He stressed that the decision would have to be determined by a public vote.
UK 'rapidly developing' plans for possible outbreak of war
09:46 , Maira ButtThe UK’s armed forces minister has said that the UK is “rapidly developing” plans for the possible outbreak of war, according to Sky News.
”The shadow of war is knocking on Europe's door once more,” Al Carns said during a visit to RAF Wyton on Thursday. “That's the reality. We've got to be prepared to deter it.”
He said that hostile intelligence activity including spying, hacking and physical threats against armed forces and the Ministry of Defence had increased by more than 50 per cent in the last year.
The main suspects are Russia, China, Iran and North Korea.
A new defence counter-intelligence unit is being launched to counter the operations. Various military intelligence branches are joining forces to streamline their response to hostilities.
“There's a whole load of work going on now between us [Ministry of Defence], the Cabinet Office, and the whole of society approach, and what conflict means, and what everybody's role in society means if we were to go to war and the build up to war,” he said.
”Collectively, everybody - what is their role if we get caught in an existential crisis, and what do they need to be aware they need to do and what they can't do, and how do we mobilise the nation to support a military endeavour?
“Not just about deploying the military, but actually about protecting every inch of our own territory. That work is ongoing now, it's rapidly developing. We've got to move as fast as we can to make sure that's shored up.”
Kremlin has not seen revised peace proposals presented to US
09:17 , Maira ButtRussia’s foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov has said that the Kremlin has not seen a revised US proposal after American delegates took part in talks with Ukraine.
He added that Moscow may not like parts of the proposal, according to Russian news agency Interfax.
The country’s state news agency reported that Russia will discuss the outcome of talks with Ukraine with the US in the near future.
Europe should prepare for war ‘like our grandparents endured’, warns Nato chief
09:03 , Maira ButtEurope must prepare for a conflict with Russia “on the scale our grandparents endured”, Nato’s secretary general has said in a stark warning to the West.
Tensions have been escalating across the continent in recent weeks, following a spate of drone incursions into Nato airspace and a chilling statement by Russian president Vladimir Putin that his country is “ready for war right now” if Europe wants it.
“We are Russia’s next target. And we are already in harm’s way,” Mark Rutte said in a speech in Berlin on Thursday.
“Russia has brought war back to Europe, and we must be prepared for the scale of war our grandparents and great-grandparents endured.”
Europe should prepare for war ‘like our grandparents endured’, warns Nato chief
In pictures: Russian city of Tver hit by Ukrainian drone strike
08:37 , Alex Croft
Russian central bank says EU frozen assets are illegal
08:22 , Alex CroftRussia's central bank has accused the European Union of acting illegally in its attempts to use its assets to fund Ukraine’s war effort, warning that it reserves the right to employ all available mechanisms to protect its interests.
"Mechanisms of direct or indirect use of the assets of the Bank of Russia, as well as any other forms of unauthorized use of the assets of the Bank of Russia, are illegal and contrary to international law, including violating the principles of sovereign immunity of assets," the central bank said.
Russia attacks energy facilities in southern Odesa region
08:08 , Alex CroftRussia attacked energy facilities in the southern Ukrainian Odesa region overnight, causing fires and blackouts, the local governor and emergency service said on Friday.
Governor Oleh Kiper said on Telegram the drone attack left several settlements in the region, where Ukraine's main seaports are concentrated, without electricity.
Airports closed and seven injured after Ukrainian air attack on Russia
07:49 , Alex CroftAs we reported earlier, the Russian Defence Ministry reported on Friday that its defense systems destroyed 90 Ukrainian drones across the country overnight.
The attack targeted the city of Tver, around 181 kilometres (112 miles) northwest of Moscow, where seven people were injured, local authorities said.
Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin said that eight drones were destroyed as they were flying towards the Russian capital. Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport said in a statement that it had suspended departures amid the attacks.
Russia's aviation watchdog said that several other airports had also been briefly closed overnight.
Moscow does not typically reveal the full number of drones which were fired at it overnight - only those that are shot down by air defences.
Hungary opposes 'unlawful' move by EU to freeze Russian assets - Orban
07:31 , Alex CroftHungary has voiced its dismay against what it calls an “unlawful” move by the European Union to freeze Russian assets indefinitely using a qualified majority vote, prime minister Viktor Orban said on Friday.
"Brussels will step over the Rubicon today, with a written voting starting which will cause irreparable damage to the Union," Orban said. "
Hungary protests the decision and will do its best to restore a lawful situation."
An agreement to freeze the Russian assets indefinitely would eliminate a risk to the plan of using them to finance Ukraine because Moscow-friendly Hungary and Slovakia would no longer have the power to veto an extension of the freeze every six months as now.
Zelensky rejects US vision for ‘free economic zone’ in Donbas as Trump fumes over stalled peace talks
07:13 , Namita SinghVolodymyr Zelensky has dismissed a US proposal to turn the eastern Donbas region into a “free economic zone,” warning it would expose Ukrainian territory to future risks.
Speaking in Kyiv, he pushed back firmly against Washington’s suggestion – an idea Moscow has also pushed as a “demilitarised zone”.
He said the US concept appeared to involve a withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from Donetsk while Russian troops would refrain from advancing.
“They see that Ukrainian troops are leaving the territory of Donetsk Oblast, and the compromise seems to be that Russian troops will not enter this territory,” he said.
“They do not know who will govern this territory.”
He argued the proposal offered no credible safeguards against disguised Russian incursions.
“If one side's troops have to retreat and the other side stays where they are, then what will hold back these other troops, the Russians? Or what will stop them disguising themselves as civilians and taking over this free economic zone? This is all very serious.”
The territorial question remains the central deadlock to talks, he said, making clear that no Ukrainian government could cede Donetsk or the remaining Ukrainian-held areas of neighbouring Luhansk.
“The Russians want the whole of Donbas – we don’t accept that,” Zelensky said.Luhansk is almost entirely occupied by Russia, while around 6,600 square kilometres of Donetsk – including the cities of Sloviansk and Kramatorsk – remain under Ukrainian control amid fierce fighting around Pokrovsk.
Kyiv is also resisting US suggestions for joint governance of the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant — Europe’s largest — which Moscow insists must remain under Russian control.
“We have two key points of disagreement: the territory of Donetsk and everything related to it, and the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant,” Zelensky said.
“These are the two topics we continue to discuss.”
The Ukrainian leader said further discussions concern Russia’s limited withdrawals from small pockets in the Kharkiv, Sumy and Dnipropetrovsk regions, while the front lines in the partially occupied southern regions of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson would remain frozen at current positions under the draft terms.
Zelensky urges public vote on territorial concessions as Trump weighs attending Ukraine talks
06:38 , Namita SinghVolodymyr Zelensky has said Ukrainians should decide in a national vote whether the country can concede any disputed territory, as Kyiv delivered revised peace proposals to the United States.
US president Donald Trump signalled he may send a representative to talks in Europe this weekend, but only if progress appears possible. “We’ll see whether or not we attend the meeting,” he told reporters in the Oval Office.
“We’ll be attending the meeting on Saturday in Europe if we think there’s a good chance. And we don’t want to waste a lot of time if we think it’s negative.”
He added: “I thought we were close to a deal.”
Zelensky said that despite ongoing negotiations, “there is still no common understanding on the land issue”, stressing that any decision over ceding territory must come from citizens themselves.
“I believe that the people of Ukraine will answer this question. Whether through elections or a referendum, there must be a position from the people of Ukraine,” he said.
Zelensky says Ukraine’s 20-point plan leaves key settlement terms unresolved
06:18 , Namita SinghUkraine has handed Washington a 20-point blueprint for potential peace terms, with each element reportedly supported by its own detailed document.President Volodymyr Zelensky said in Kyiv that progress remained uncertain.
“We are grateful that the US is working with us and trying to take a balanced position,” he told reporters.
“But at this moment it is still difficult to say what the final documents will look like.”Russia has intensified its drive to seize the remaining parts of Donetsk and neighbouring Luhansk, the two regions that form the Donbas – Ukraine’s industrial heartland.
Zelensky stressed that Kyiv would not agree to surrender the territory, saying that a settlement in which both sides hold their current positions along the line of contact would constitute “a fair outcome”.
He said US negotiators have floated the idea of a “free economic zone” in Donbas, while Russian officials have referred to a “demilitarised zone”. Moscow has not publicly outlined its proposals.
Zelensky says peace talks wrestling with Russian demands for Ukrainian territory
05:55 , Namita SinghUkrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said negotiators are grappling with Russian demands over territorial control as US-led peace talks attempt to chart a path towards ending the war.
Key disputes include the status of the eastern Donetsk region and the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, one of the world’s largest atomic facilities.
Zelensky disclosed elements of the discussions before heading into urgent talks with leaders and officials from around 30 countries backing Kyiv’s push for fair terms to halt nearly four years of fighting.
In Washington, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said president Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, is continuing to hold discussions with both sides.
She said that “if there is a real chance of signing a peace agreement”, the US could send a representative to talks as early as this weekend.However, she stressed it remains uncertain “whether we believe real peace can be achieved”.
Trump has long claimed he could resolve the war in a day, but has recently expressed deep frustration with the lack of progress.
Ms Leavitt echoed this, saying the president is “extremely frustrated with both sides”, noting that US officials have held more than 30 hours of meetings with Russian, Ukrainian and European counterparts.“He doesn’t want any more talk,” Leavitt said. “He wants action.”
Keir Starmer and allies say Ukraine at ‘pivotal moment’ in coalition call
05:30 , Namita SinghSir Keir Starmer and allied leaders agreed it is a “pivotal moment” for Ukraine as efforts continue to secure an end to Russia’s war.
The prime minister earlier insisted that Donald Trump and European leaders want the “same thing” for Ukraine, despite tensions in relations with the US president.
Kyiv has rejected parts of a US-drafted peace plan and has sent Washington its own 20-point proposal as negotiations continue.
The White House said it was uncertain whether a US official would join talks reportedly planned for this weekend with European and Ukrainian representatives, saying the president wants “action” and is “sick of meetings”.
After a week of intense diplomacy, Sir Keir was asked whether progress was possible by the weekend. “We do need to make progress,” he said.
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“And what President Trump wants, what Ukraine wants, what Europeans want, is the same thing, which is a just and lasting peace in Ukraine after the nearly four-year aggression from Putin and Russia.”
He said “a number of issues” remain unresolved but stressed that the UK “supports Ukraine in this fight, not of their making”.
Sir Keir later briefed allies on the “continued intensive work” on the US-led peace plan during a virtual meeting of the Coalition of the Willing.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, French president Emmanuel Macron and officials from 30 countries took part.
“They all agreed this is a pivotal moment for Ukraine, its people and for the security we all share across the Euro-Atlantic region,” Downing Street said.
Russia destroys 90 Ukrainian drones overnight, defence ministry says
05:20 , Namita SinghRussian air defence systems destroyed 90 Ukrainian drones over Russian territory and the Black Sea overnight, according to its defence ministry.
Local authorities reported that seven people were injured in the city of Tver.
Russia only reports on the Ukrainian drones that it downs, and does not provide tallies for the total fired or those that hit their targets.
Europe must prepare for a conflict with Russia 'on scale our grandparents endured'
04:59 , Namita SinghEurope must prepare for a conflict with Russia “on the scale our grandparents endured”, Nato’s secretary general has said in a stark warning to the West.
Tensions have been escalating across the continent in recent weeks, following a spate of drone incursions into Nato airspace and a chilling statement by Russian president Vladimir Putin that his country is “ready for war right now” if Europe wants it.
“We are Russia’s next target. And we are already in harm’s way,” Mark Rutte said in a speech in Berlin on Thursday.
Report:
Europe should prepare for war ‘like our grandparents endured’, warns Nato chief
Europe must ‘increase lethality’ and be prepared to deter Russia, minister says
04:44 , Namita SinghEurope must be prepared to deter Russia as the "shadow of war" looms, a minister said amid a warning from the head of Nato.
Armed forces minister Al Carns said countries need to "increase our lethality" and stop outsourcing it to others.
It comes after Nato secretary general Mark Rutte said Europe was "Russia's next target" and warned countries to prepare for a "scale of war our grandparents or great-grandparents endured".
Precarious peace efforts surrounding a US-led plan to end the war in Ukraine are ongoing, with sir Keir Starmer insisting Trump and his European counterparts are aligned on what they want for Kyiv.
But relations between Europe and the US are strained after the Trump administration's national security strategy accused European officials of holding "unrealistic expectations" for the war in Ukraine.
Carns told The Telegraph: "For the last 50 to 60 years, we have been reliant on US security guarantees and now, with multipolar threats facing the US, they may not be as forthright as they have in the past."
While Donald Trump has agreed he is "fully in" Nato and its Article 5 collective defence clause, "there is a resource issue where they need to look both east and west", he said.
"In the past, in wars of choice, we've outsourced our lethality to others."We've got to make sure that we increase our lethality ... across all of our single services," he said.
Having "outsourced" to the US in the past, Europe and the UK have now pledged to "up our game on defence spending", he said.
He added: "The shadow of war is knocking on Europe's door once more.
"That's the reality. We've got to be prepared to deter it. Collectively in Nato, we've got to remember that numerically - we outmatch Russia significantly."
Europe must prepare for war with Russia, warns Nato secretary general
03:45 , Bryony GoochEurope should prepare for war ‘like our grandparents endured’, warns Nato chief
In pictures: Zelensky arrives at the Special European Council to discuss continued support for Ukraine and European defence
03:30 , Bryony Gooch
US offer of Donbas ‘free economic zone’ draws scepticism from Kyiv
03:21 , Namita SinghVolodymyr Zelensky raised serious concerns about the US's proposal to designate part of the contested Donbas as a “free economic zone”.
The Donbas – a heavily industrialised area encompassing the Donetsk and Luhansk regions – sits at the centre of the latest draft peace plan.
Washington’s earlier proposal, leaked last month, had urged Ukraine to pull back from the areas it still controls in the region, a condition president Volodymyr Zelensky labelled “unacceptable”.
After consultations with European partners, including a meeting in London with Sir Keir Starmer this week, Zelensky said he has now sent a revised, 20-point counter-proposal to Washington.
The updated framework envisages Ukrainian forces withdrawing without Russian troops moving forward, leaving a neutral corridor.
Speaking to reporters in Kyiv, Zelensky questioned how such an arrangement would function. "If one side's troops have to retreat and the other side stays where they are, then what will hold back these other troops, the Russians? Or what will stop them disguising themselves as civilians and taking over this free economic zone? This is all very serious.
"It's not a fact that Ukraine would agree to it, but if you are talking about a compromise then it has to be a fair compromise."
Trump 'extremely frustrated' with lack of progress in Ukraine peace talks
03:15 , Namita SinghUS president Donald Trump is “extremely frustrated” with Russia and Ukraine over the lack of progress in peace talks, said White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.
She said discussions continue and the US could send a representative to those discussions as soon as this weekend "if there is a real chance of signing a peace agreement”.
But she added that it's "still up in the air whether real peace can be achieved."
Trump took office in January suggesting he could solve Russia's war in Ukraine quickly but has spent months complaining bitterly.
"And he's sick of meetings just for the sake of meeting," Leavitt said.
"He doesn't want any more talk. He wants action."
Watch: Ukrainian sea drone hits Russian shadow fleet tanker in Black Sea
03:00 , Alex CroftRussia urges UK to reveal what British soldier killed in Ukraine was doing
02:00 , Alex CroftMoscow has urged the UK to disclose what a British soldier killed in Ukraine was doing there, accusing London of helping Kyiv carry out "acts of terrorism".
The UK Defence Ministry said on Tuesday that the soldier, Lance Corporal George Hooley, died in Ukraine while observing Ukrainian forces test a new defensive capability away from the frontline.
Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the British government should not deceive its citizens by claiming that British soldiers sent to Ukraine were only advisers or instructors.
She accused British forces of helping Kyiv "carry out terrorist attacks and extremist tasks" on London's direct orders.
Zakharova did not set out evidence to back up her accusations of alleged wider UK involvement.
Europe must integrate more deeply during Trump era, says Polish minister
01:01 , Alex CroftEurope must integrate more deeply and strengthen itself militarily during the Trump administration, Polish justice minister Waldemar Zurek said on Thursday.
Mr Zurek’s government, led by prime minister Donald Tusk, is at loggerheads over a number of domestic issues with president Karol Nawrocki, a nationalist endorsed by Trump.
They also differ on matters of security, with Tusk advocating a stronger role for the European Union in defence, in contrast to Nawrocki who says this would undermine the crucial role of the United States on Nato's eastern flank.
A U.S. strategy document published last week said Washington should focus on "cultivating resistance to Europe's current trajectory within European nations" while also saying Europe should take primary responsibility for its own defence.
Hungary's Orban says Trump strategy grasps Europe's 'civilisation-scale decline'
00:00 , Alex CroftThe Trump's administration’s new National Security Strategy shows that America understands Europe's "civilisational-scale decline", Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban wrote on X on Thursday.
In the document, Trump called on the United States to reassess its relationship with Europe, a continent which faces "civilizational erasure" and must change course.
The document caused shock across Europe, but Orban, a long-time Trump ally, called it "the most important and most interesting document of recent years".
He said it showed Washington had grasped that Europe reached an "economic dead end" and that its values, democracy and free market were all in danger.
Orban also said the US administration understood that Europe needed to rebuild its relationship with Russia "at a strategic level".
"America has a precise understanding of Europe’s decline. They see the civilisational-scale decline that we in Hungary have been fighting against for fifteen years. At last, we are not fighting against it alone," he said.
Europe-US talks expected this weekend, says Merz
Thursday 11 December 2025 23:02 , Alex CroftGerman chancellor Friedrich Merz said he expects talks with US officials to take place this weekend, discussing a proposal put forward by the European side for peace in Ukraine.
In a call on Wednesday, "we made a proposal to [Donald Trump] that we would finalise the documents together with the American government over the weekend," Mr Merz said.
"If we now proceed with this process as we envisage, there will be talks with the American government over the weekend," he added at a press conference with Nato secretary general Mark Rutte.
Watch: Zelensky says he discussed with Ukrainian parliament ways of holding election
Thursday 11 December 2025 22:02 , Alex CroftRussia open to foreign investment, says Kremlin
Thursday 11 December 2025 21:00 , Alex CroftRussia is open to foreign investment, the Kremlin said on Thursday, following reports that Donald Trumps’ Ukraine peace plan included major proposals to invest in Russia rare earths and energy.
The Wall Street Journal reported that the plans were detailed in appendices to peace proposals handed to European counterparts over recent weeks.
They include a plan to restore Russian energy flows to Europe and for U.S. financial firms and other businesses to tap $200 billion of frozen Russian sovereign assets for projects in Ukraine, the paper said.
Russia, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, was interested in foreign investment. When asked about the US frozen asset proposals reported by the Journal, Peskov declined comment.
Coalition of the Willing leaders meet to discuss progress on mobilising frozen Russian sovereign assets
Thursday 11 December 2025 20:30 , Bryony GoochLeaders of the 'Coalition of the Willing' group of nations discussed progress on mobilising frozen Russian sovereign assets during a virtual meeting on Thursday, British prime minister Keir Starmer's office said.
The call came a day after Britain, France and Germany spoke with U.S. President Donald Trump about Washington's latest push for a peace deal to end the war in Ukraine.
Kyiv has pushed back against a US backed plan proposed last month that would require major concessions to Moscow, while European powers are working on security guarantees for Ukraine as part of a potential accord.
The leaders agreed on Thursday that the U.S.-led peace plan was a "pivotal moment" for Ukraine.
Russian forces seize village in Kkharkiv region, Moscow claims
Thursday 11 December 2025 20:01 , Alex CroftRussian forces took control of the village of Lyman in Ukraine's eastern Kharkiv region, state news agencies cited the Defence Ministry as saying on Thursday.
The Independent could not independently verify the battlefield reports.
Moscow’s forces have continued advancing forwards on the Ukrainian frontline, as US mediators work to hash out a deal between the two countries.
Elections in Ukraine would require ceasefire, says Zelensky
Thursday 11 December 2025 19:30 , Bryony GoochPresident Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday that holding elections in Ukraine during wartime would require a ceasefire.
"There must be a ceasefire - at least or the duration of the election process and voting. This is what needs to be discussed. Frankly speaking, here in Ukraine, we believe that America should talk to the Russian side about this," he told a meeting of the 'Coalition of the Willing' group of nations.
Wartime elections are forbidden by law but Zelensky, whose term expired last year, is facing renewed pressure from president Donald Trump to hold a vote.
Ukraine drones hit Russian oil rig for first time - SBU
Thursday 11 December 2025 19:00 , Alex CroftUkrainian drones hit a Russian oil rig in the Caspian sea for the first time, a source in Ukraine’s SBU security service said according to Reuters.
The drones struck the Filanovsky oil rig, which belongs to Russian oil major Lukoil. At least four strikes were recorded on the target.
The strikes halted the facility's extraction of oil and gas, the source said.
Lukoil did not immediately reply to a request for comment.
Russia claims it's taken full control of Ukraine town Siversk, Kyiv officials deny this
Thursday 11 December 2025 18:46 , Bryony GoochPresident Vladimir Putin thanked the Russian army on Thursday after commanders told him that their forces had taken full control of the town of Siversk in eastern Ukraine, but Ukraine's military said it remained in control there.
Reuters could not verify the battlefield claim around Siversk, a longstanding target in Russia's slow drive to capture all of Donetsk region.
Commanders told Putin that the capture of Siversk, a town with a pre-war population of over 10,000 people, was a stepping stone towards taking Sloviansk, one of the two biggest cities in Donetsk still under Ukrainian control.
They told Putin that Ukraine had tried to defend Siversk, which Russians call Seversk, with various trenches and fortifications, and that the Russian army had defeated it by choking off its logistics routes, outflanking its troops and carrying out targeted assaults.
White House: Trump will send official to Europe talks on Ukraine if real chance for peace
Thursday 11 December 2025 18:45 , Bryony GoochPresident Donald Trump will send a representative to talks in Europe on Ukraine this weekend there is a real chance of signing a peace agreement, the White House said on Thursday.
"The president is extremely frustrated with both sides of this war, and he is sick of meetings just for the sake of meeting," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters.
In pictures: the Coalition of the Willing meet on video call over Ukraine
Thursday 11 December 2025 18:33 , Bryony Gooch
Bulletin | Trump says ‘strong words’ exchanged during call with European leaders
Thursday 11 December 2025 18:26 , Alex CroftRead everything you need to know about Donald Trump’s latest comments in just five bullet points with The Independent’s Bulletin...
Zelensky holds 'constructive and in-depth discussion' with US delegation on peace talks
Thursday 11 December 2025 18:07 , Bryony GoochPresident Volodymyr Zelensky has said that Kyiv’s team have had a “constructive and in-depth discussion” with the US delegation.
The call included Marco Rubio, Pete Hegseth, Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, Generals Keane and Grynkewich, and Josh Gruenbaum from the US side.
He also thanked Nato secretary general Mark Rutte.
“We greatly value the active engagement of the American side at all levels – not only in working to end the war, but also in ensuring Ukraine’s security and preventing a new Russian invasion.
“This reflects the seriousness of America’s intentions and its clear focus on achieving outcomes. Security guarantees are among the most critical elements for all subsequent steps. We have already got the negative experience of the Budapest Memorandum.”
He continued: “Everyone remembers this, as well as the occasions when Russia repeatedly violated all its other commitments. That is why it is essential that this document on security guarantees provides concrete answers to what concerns Ukrainians the most: what actions partners will take if Russia decides to launch its aggression again.
“It was agreed that the teams will work actively to ensure that, in the near future, there will be a clear understanding of the security guarantees. I thank everyone who is helping!”
Today, we have had a constructive and in-depth discussion with the American team on one of the three documents we are currently working on – the one on security guarantees. The U.S. was represented by Secretary Marco Rubio @SecRubio, Secretary Pete Hegseth @SecWar, @SteveWitkoff,… pic.twitter.com/gztUJHBOqn
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) December 11, 2025
Lavrov says Witkoff-Putin meeting brought US and Russia closer
Thursday 11 December 2025 17:53 , Alex CroftRussian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said on Thursday that a visit to Moscow this month by Trump envoy Steve Witkoff had helped bring Moscow and Washington closer togather on certain issues.
The Kremlin said at the time that Russia and the US did not reach a compromise on a possible peace deal to end the war in Ukraine, after the marathon five-hour Kremlin talks between Vladimir Putin, Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Donald Trump's son-in-law.
Lavrov added that Moscow had handed over Russia's proposals on collective security guarantees to Washington.
