Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said he was willing to hold wartime elections within three months if the US and Kyiv's other allies would guarantee security of the vote.
It comes after Donald Trump suggested Ukraine's government was using the war as an excuse to avoid elections, despite them being forbidden under Ukrainian law . In an interview with Politico, the US president said: "You know, they talk about a democracy, but it gets to a point where it’s not a democracy anymore.”
"I'm ready for elections, and moreover I ask...that the US help me, maybe together with European colleagues, to ensure the security of an election," Zelenskiy said, in comments to reporters.
Trump also said that Ukraine must make concessions as it is “losing” the war with Russia. The US president accused Zelensky of stalling progress on a peace agreement by refusing to accept demands that favour Russia.
Speaking to the German tabloid Bild, Trump said: “He needs to get his act together and start accepting things.”
UK is under attack from Putin’s cyber army, warns Yvette Cooper
Will Europe fight for Ukraine?
Zelensky says Ukraine ‘can’t manage’ without US or European support
Trump says he is ‘disappointed’ that Zelensky ‘hasn’t read’ US peace plan for Ukraine
Europe has promised Ukraine a ‘reassurance force’ when the war ends – but will it enrage Putin?
Key Points
- Ukraine to present revised peace plan to White House on Tuesday
- Zelensky says he is open to holding a wartime election after Trump's criticism
- European leaders back Kyiv amid Trump’s frustration
- Anti-Ukrainian points removed from peace plan, says Zelensky
- Trump says European leaders are 'weak'
- Trump says Ukraine is 'losing' war with Russia in attack on Zelensky
Keir Starmer pays tribute to member of UK armed forces killed in ‘tragic accident’ in Ukraine
03:52 , Arpan RaiSir Keir Starmer has led tributes to a member of the British armed forces who has been killed in Ukraine.
The prime minister expressed his “deepest sympathy and condolences” for the services member, who died as he watched the testing of a new defensive capability, according to the Ministry of Defence.
The ministry said: “It is with deep regret that we must announce that a member of the UK armed forces died in Ukraine this morning, Tuesday December 9.
“He was injured in a tragic accident while observing Ukrainian forces test a new defensive capability away from the front lines.
“The family has been notified and our thoughts are with them at this sad and difficult time.”
Starmer pays tribute to member of UK armed forces killed in Ukraine ‘tragic accident’
UK armed forces member dies in Ukraine after 'tragic accident'
03:32 , Arpan RaiA member of the UK armed forces in Ukraine has died in an accident, the Ministry of Defence said yesterday.
“It is with deep regret that we must announce that a member of the UK Armed Forces died in Ukraine this morning, Tuesday 9 December," the MoD said in a statement.
“He was injured in a tragic accident whilst observing Ukrainian forces test a new defensive capability, away from the front lines.
“The family has been notified and our thoughts are with them at this sad and difficult time."
The UK has sent a “small number of personnel” to Ukraine to train local forces, according to the government’s previous reports, and they do not perform frontline roles.
A statement from the Ministry of Defence. pic.twitter.com/ChouhKNZSl
— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) December 9, 2025
Trump says 'decaying' European nations failed to end Ukraine war
03:22 , Arpan RaiDonald Trump has called Europe a “decaying” group of nations led by “weak” people who failed to end the war in Ukraine and control migration.
“I think they’re weak,” Trump said, refering to Europe’s political leaders in an interview with Politico. “But I also think that they want to be so politically correct.”
“I think they don’t know what to do,” he added. “Europe doesn’t know what to do,” Trump said in an interview given at the White House on Monday.
Trump offered no reassurance to Europeans on backing Ukraine and declared that Russia was obviously in a stronger position than its smaller neighbour.
Trump also said that he put little stock in the role of European leaders in seeking to end the war: “They talk, but they don’t produce, and the war just keeps going on and on.”
Pope criticises US bid to 'break apart' US-Europe alliance
03:00 , Arpan RaiPope Leo XIV has called for Europe to have a role in any Ukraine peace deal and criticised what he said was the Trump administration's effort to "break apart" the long-standing US-European alliance.
Leo spoke to reporters after meeting with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, who is on another tour to rally European support for Kyiv. The American pope said they discussed the need for a ceasefire and the Vatican's efforts to facilitate the return of Ukrainian children taken by Russian authorities.
Leo was asked about the US peace proposal and the seeming sidelining of European powers in the process.
Speaking as he left his vacation home in Castel Gandolfo, Leo insisted that Europe's role was crucial to any deal.
“Seeking a peace agreement without including Europe in the talks is unrealistic, given the war is in Europe," he said.
"Guarantees are also being sought for security today and in the future. Europe must be part of this, and unfortunately not everyone understands this, but I think there is a great opportunity for European leaders to unite and seek a solution together,” he said.
Zelensky uses Whatsapp group chat to answer questions
02:30 , Shaheena UddinThe Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy had no time to hold a traditional news conference during a 36-hour trip across Europe this week, so he improvised.
Whilst the president usually answers reporters’ questions in person, he communicated with the news media via Whatsapp group chat.
Whilst flying between London and Brussels, he responded to a long list of questions from Ukrainian and international reporters by relaying voice notes on WhatsApp.
His unprecedented chosen mode of communication was extremely rare for a world leader.
In pictures: Zelensky meets Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican
02:00 , Shaheena Uddin
Keir Starmer pays tribute to member of UK armed forces killed in ‘tragic accident’ in Ukraine
01:30 , Shaheena UddinThe prime minister expressed his “deepest sympathy and condolences” for the services member, who died as he watched the testing of a new defensive capability, according to the Ministry of Defence.
Starmer pays tribute to member of UK armed forces killed in Ukraine ‘tragic accident’
Zelensky reaffirms his refusal to cede land to Russia
01:00 , Shaheena UddinUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had reiterrated his refusal to cede any territory to Russia, resisting pressure from the U.S.
This comes as the president is rallying to gain more European support during the war efforts.
President Zelensky told reporters: “Undoubtedly, Russia insists for us to give up territories. We, clearly, don’t want to give up anything. That’s what we are fighting for.”
“Do we consider ceding any territories? According to the law we don’t have such right," he said.
"According to Ukraine’s law, our constitution, international law, and to be frank, we don’t have a moral right either."
Oil prices ease by 1 per cent amidst Ukraine peace talks
00:30 , Shaheena UddinOil prices fell on Tuesday after lowering 2 per cent in the previous session, as investors keep a close eye on peace talks to bring an end to the war.
Ukraine are set to share a revised peace plan with the U.S after conducting talks in London between President Volodymyr Zelensky and the leaders of France, Germany and Britain.
Explainer: What to know about the massive defense bill that seeks release of boat strike videos and more
00:00 , Shaheena UddinThe White House legislation authorizes $400 million for each of the next two years to manufacture weapons to be sent to Ukraine.
What to know about the massive defense bill that seeks release of boat strike videos and more
Ukrainian troops hold part of Pokrovsk but withdraw from some positions
Tuesday 9 December 2025 23:30 , Shaheena UddinUkrainian troops have been holding parts of the beleaguered city of Pokrovsk since mid-November.
However, some units were ordered to withdraw from impractical positions outside the city in the past week, according to Ukraine's top commander.
"We are continuing to hold the northern part of the city, approximately up to the rail line. In addition, to the west of Pokrovak we have cleared and control about 54 sq. km," Oleksandr Syrskyi, told Ukrainian journalists, as reported by public broadcaster Suspiilne.
Zelensky says he is open to holding a wartime election after Trump's criticism
Tuesday 9 December 2025 23:23 , Shaheena UddinUkrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said he was willing to hold wartime elections within three months if the U.S. and Kyiv's other allies would guarantee security of the vote .
This comes as Zelensky is facing renewed pressure from U.S. president Trump over holding an election, after his term expired last year.
Wartime elections are currently forbidden by law, but in an interview with Politico, Trump suggested Ukraine's government was using the war as an excuse to avoid elections.
Mr Trump said: "You know, they talk about a democracy, but it gets to a point where it’s not a democracy anymore.”
Trump is also pushing Kyiv to secure peace quickly as the war with Russia reaches its fourth year.
Zelensky said in comments to reporters: "I'm ready for elections, and moreover I ask...that the U.S. help me, maybe together with European colleagues, to ensure the security of an election,"
"And then in the next 60-90 days Ukraine will ready to hold an election."
'Ukraine must decide its own future', Yvette Cooper said
Tuesday 9 December 2025 23:00 , Shaheena UddinThe foreign secretary, Yvette Cooper, said: “Ultimately, Ukraine’s future has to be for Ukraine, and the things that we have discussed, that Secretary Rubio has set out as well, is the importance of having a just and lasting peace, so that Russia is deterred and cannot simply come again, but also so we support the strength and sovereignty of Ukraine.
“That’s why all of the discussions are taking place.
“But ultimately it’s again, as I said in the speech, two presidents are working for peace, and one president – President Putin – has so far simply sought to escalate the conflict with further drone and missile attacks.”
Video: Starmer reiterates support for Ukraine as Zelensky meets European allies at Downing Street
Tuesday 9 December 2025 22:30 , Shaheena UddinYvette Cooper countered Trump's remarks about European nations "decaying"
Tuesday 9 December 2025 22:00 , Shaheena UddinYvette Cooper responded to Donald Trump’s comments that Europe’s nations are “decaying” and have “weak leaders”.
The foreign secretary said: “What I see in Europe is strength: The strength and commitment to the support for Ukraine and also strength to step up to the plate and to ensure that we are increasing our investment in defence, and also ensure that we are doing our bit through the coalition of the willing, as well as through investment in military support and the energy infrastructure support that Ukraine needs.”
Starmer leads tributes to British armed forces member killed in Ukraine
Tuesday 9 December 2025 21:30 , Shaheena UddinSir Keir Starmer has led tributes to a British armed forced member who was killed in Ukraine.
The prime minister expressed his “deepest sympathy and condolences” for the services member, who died as he watched the testing of a new defensive capability, according to the Ministry of Defence.
He shared on social media: “My deepest sympathy and condolences to the family of the member of our armed forces who sadly lost their life today.
“Their service and sacrifice will never be forgotten.”
How Trump’s 28-point peace plan for Ukraine was whittled down - with several key changes
Tuesday 9 December 2025 20:54 , Maira ButtUkraine is to present a revised peace plan to President Donald Trump’s administration on Tuesday after weeks of negotiations which have failed to produce an agreement.
The latest iteration of the deal comes after President Volodymyr Zelensky remained firm in his refusal to cede crucial strategic territory to Russia.
The Ukrainian leader insisted that he had “no legal right to do so” under Ukrainian or international law and no “moral right either”.
How Trump’s 28-point peace plan for Ukraine was whittled down to 20 points
Comment: Donald Trump is selling out his allies while he still has time
Tuesday 9 December 2025 20:26 , Maira ButtWe’ve heard a lot over the past few weeks and, indeed, for about a decade on and off about how so much of the coverage of Donald Trump in the mainstream media (that’s me) is biased, unbalanced, and suffering from “Trump Derangement Syndrome”.
Well, the man can be maddening in all manner of ways but, as ever, I’d love to offer a balanced assessment of his peace plan for Ukraine so far as we understand it, and his motivations.
Donald Trump is selling out his allies while he still has time
Will Europe fight for Ukraine?
Tuesday 9 December 2025 19:50 , Maira ButtThe meeting at Downing Street between Volodymyr Zelensky and the leaders of his country’s principal allies in Europe is designed to demonstrate, both to Mr Zelensky and the wider world, that the Ukrainian people are not alone in their struggle for freedom. Specifically, it is a reminder to the Americans and the Russians that there can be no lasting peace settlement without the freely given consent of Ukraine.
The prime minister, Sir Keir Starmer, is joint leader of the “coalition of the willing” with President Macron, Europe’s pre-eminent military and nuclear powers, while the chancellor of Germany, Friedrich Merz, is at the helm of its largest economy, and one that remains a formidable industrial player.
Porsches across Russia suddenly stop working
Tuesday 9 December 2025 19:20 , Maira ButtHundreds of Porsche cars have stopped working in Russia due to an issue with a satellite-based security system, according to local reports.
Owners reported various issues with their vehicles, including not being able to start the engine, or it shutting down soon after ignition. Others said that they had been locked out of their cars.
The root cause of the issue is not yet known, though a representative for Russia’s largest dealership group told local media that it could be an act of sabotage.
“It’s possible this was done deliberately,” the Rolf spokesperson told the RBC news website, without providing any evidence.
Zelensky 'deeply appreciates' support of Pope Leo
Tuesday 9 December 2025 18:50 , Maira ButtPresident Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed appreciation for Pope Leo XIV and his support of Ukraine after a meeting at the papal residence of Castel Gandolfo.
“I informed the Pope about diplomatic efforts with the United States to achieve peace. We discussed further actions and the Vatican's mediation aimed at returning our children abducted by Russia,” he wrote on X on Tuesday.
Trump says European leaders are ‘weak’ in extraordinary attack on US allies
Tuesday 9 December 2025 18:20 , Maira ButtDonald Trump has said that European leaders are “weak” in an extraordinary attack on some of Washington’s closest allies.
Speaking to Politico, the US president claimed that “decaying” European countries such as France and Germany had failed to control migration or take action to end the war in Ukraine.
“I think they’re weak,” he said of European leaders. “But I also think that they want to be so politically correct”.
He added: “I think they don’t know what to do. Europe doesn’t know what to do.”
James C Reynolds reports:
Trump says European leaders are ‘weak’ in extraordinary attack on US allies
Deal to release ‘£100bn of Russian assets’ for Ukraine expected imminently
Tuesday 9 December 2025 17:50 , Maira ButtA deal to release up to £100 billion of frozen Russian assets in Europe to aid Ukraine is just days away, Downing Street believes, after Sir Keir Starmer and allies held crunch talks in London yesterday.
The prime minister said talks about the future of Ukraine have reached a “critical stage”, while European leaders agreed that pressure on Vladimir Putin must be ramped up.
Sir Keir met with French president Emmanuel Macron, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky and German chancellor Friedrich Merz at No 10 Downing Street on Monday as Mr Zelensky warned that Kyiv “can’t manage” without European and American backing.
The Independent’s political correspondent Millie Cooke reports:
Deal to release ‘£100bn of Russian assets’ for Ukraine expected imminently
Germany's Merz says Europe must become less dependent on United States
Tuesday 9 December 2025 17:20 , Maira ButtGerman chancellor Friedrich Merz has responded to a strategy paper by President Donald Trump’s administration that declared Europe faced “civilisational erasure”, saying that the continent needed to be less dependent on the US.
“Some of it is understandable, some of it is comprehensible, and some of it is unacceptable to us from a European perspective,” Merz told reporters on a visit to the western German state of Rheinland-Pfalz.
“I see no need for the Americans to now want to save democracy in Europe. If it were necessary to save it, we would manage that on our own.”
He added: “The question of what this means for our security cooperation is obviously the most important question. It confirms my assessment that we in Europe, and therefore also in Germany, must become much more independent from the U.S. in terms of security policy.”
Europe has turned Ukraine into a bargaining chip, says Russia
Tuesday 9 December 2025 16:49 , Maira ButtRussia has accused Europe of turning Ukraine into a bargaining chip at a UN Security Council meeting held on Tuesday.
Ukraine’s representative urged countries to take action in an address to the group, saying: “What is an unbearable tragedy for us is perceived as little more than a routine ledger of a distant conflict.”
Trump says Zelensky is 'losing' war with Putin
Tuesday 9 December 2025 16:18 , Maira ButtPresident Donald Trump has said that Ukraine must make concessions to Russia as it is “losing” the war.
“Well, he [President Volodymyr Zelensky] is going to have to get on the ball and start accepting things when you’re losing — because he’s losing,” the president said in an interview with Politico.
“He [President Vladimir Putin] had no respect for Zelensky, didn’t like Zelensky. They really hate each other. And part of the problem is they hate each other really a lot, you know. And it’s very hard for them to try and make a deal. It’s harder than most.”
Analysis: Europe needs to shove Trump aside - it has the power to stop Putin in Ukraine and it must use it
Tuesday 9 December 2025 16:15 , Maira ButtThere is no reason why Ukraine should entertain a Russian-American proposal which will not bring peace to the country - because there is no answer as to how the US could impose it.
Indeed, now is the time to ditch the White House altogether and for Europe - dismissed by the US president as “weak” - to take the lead.
Much is being made of how Ukraine is refusing to give up the land in the Donbas, eastern Ukraine, which remains under its control.
The Independent’s world affairs editor Sam Kiley reports:
Europe need to shove Trump aside - it has the power to stop Putin and must use it
In pictures: Zelensky meets Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni in Rome
Tuesday 9 December 2025 16:04 , Maira ButtPresident Volodymyr Zelensky has met with Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni in Rome on Tuesday.
He told reporters that he “trusts” the leader with peace negotiations.
Zelensky says 'everything depends' on Russia being ready to stop war
Tuesday 9 December 2025 15:45 , Maira ButtPresident Volodymyr Zelensky has said that “everything depends” on whether Russia is ready to stop the war as negotiations towards a peace deal continue.
He said a revised proposal would be sent to the US soon.
“The Ukrainian and European components are now more developed, and we are ready to present them to our partners in the US,” he wrote on X.
“Together with the American side, we expect to swiftly make the potential steps as doable as possible.”
Britain should retaliate against Putin's cyber army, urges Yvette Cooper
Tuesday 9 December 2025 15:30 , Maira ButtBritain and Europe must urgently unite to fight back against escalating attacks by Russia and other hostile states, Yvette Cooper is set to warn on Tuesday in a major speech.
Just 24 hours after Sir Keir Starmer led a mini summit to try to prevent Ukraine being forced into a humiliating deal to get peace with Russia, the foreign secretary will say that ongoing cyber attacks and disinformation are the new front in the war against Vladimir Putin.
Ms Cooper will tell an audience of diplomats that there is an “escalating” danger to the UK and Europe, adding: “Across Europe we are witnessing an escalation in hybrid threats – from physical through to cyber – designed to weaken critical national infrastructure, undermine our interests and interfere in our democracies all for the advantage of malign foreign states.
UK is under attack from Putin’s cyber army, warns Yvette Cooper
Russian forces advancing along entire front, top general claims
Tuesday 9 December 2025 15:00 , Maira ButtRussia's top general claims his forces are advancing along the entire front in Ukraine and have taken more than 30 per cent of the buildings in the eastern town of Myrnohrad.
Moscow regularly claims battlefield successes that are then refuted by Ukraine, and Kyiv has yet to comment on the update by Russian general Valery Gerasimov.
Gerasimov's comments identified Myrnohrad, a town with a pre-war population of some 46,000 people to the east of Pokrovsk, as a key target for Vladimir Putin.
Europe promises Ukraine a ‘reassurance force’ when the war ends
Tuesday 9 December 2025 14:30 , Maira ButtAfter months on the sidelines of US-led peace talks, Europe is trying to rise to the challenge of guaranteeing Ukraine’s post-war future in the event of a ceasefire.
Britain and France are leading the push for a so-called reassurance force in Ukraine to retrain the army and uphold a peace deal if it emerges.
Downing Street said Britain is making plans for the multinational force drawn from partners on the continent, despite the Kremlin’s rejection this week of any foreign deployment as “unacceptable”.
Thousands of allied troops could be sent to cities across Ukraine to help the army recover its strength and stand as an independent deterrent to Russian aggression – if both sides can agree to terms.
The plans are months in the making, forged from discussions between Kyiv and the coalition of the willing about what security guarantees are needed to end the war
Ukraine's state energy company says it has been hit by Russian drones
Tuesday 9 December 2025 14:02 , Maira ButtNaftogaz, Ukraine’s state gas and oil company has said that Russian drones hit its gas infrastructure early on Tuesday.
“There is damage,” it said in a statement on Telegram, but did not provide further details.
Nobody was hurt in the attack, it confirmed.
Belarus president accuses Lithuania of exaggerating balloon incidents
Tuesday 9 December 2025 13:27 , Maira ButtBelarusian president Alexander Lukashenko has accused Lithuania of exaggerating incidents with alleged smuggler balloons.
The country was forced to close its main airport on several occasions in recent weeks and declared a state of emergency on Tuesday over the incidents.
“Do they really want to fight? We don't need war,” Lukashenko said, according to the Pul Pervogo Telegram channel.
Kremlin says claims that Putin plans to attack Nato are 'complete nonsense'
Tuesday 9 December 2025 12:58 , Maira ButtRussia has denied European claims that President Vladimir Putin is hostile and plans to attack Nato countries, dismissing them as “complete nonsense” on Tuesday.
It added that Putin does not want to restore the USSR.
The denial comes after several countries reported drone incursions into their airspace accusing Russia of “hybrid warfare”, which it has vehemently denied.
Comment: It’s no secret we are already at war with Russia – Putin must be hit with every trick in Britain’s book
Tuesday 9 December 2025 12:24 , Maira Buttet again this week, President Trump set Europe’s strategic challenge. Despite reaffirming US commitment to Euro-Atlantic defence once allies pledged to invest more ourselves, his new national security strategy pivots to the Pacific while his Ukraine peace plan negotiates European security without European input. Europe might not be on our own, but we need the capability to be self-reliant. And fast.
The Royal Navy announced this week its goal to be war-fighting ready by the end of the decade. The army and RAF have similar ambitions. But the leisurely timeline for reaching 3.5 per cent GDP by 2035 will not deliver the resources necessary nor impress Vladimir Putin, determined to keep his war machine and economy rolling even with a Ukraine ceasefire.
Mark Sedwill reports:
Trump says European leaders are ‘weak’ in extraordinary attack on US allies
Tuesday 9 December 2025 11:50 , Maira ButtDonald Trump has said that European leaders are “weak” in an extraordinary attack on some of Washington’s closest allies.
Speaking to Politico, the US president claimed that “decaying” European countries such as France and Germany had failed to control migration or take action to end the war in Ukraine.
“I think they’re weak,” he said of European leaders. “But I also think that they want to be so politically correct”.
He added: “I think they don’t know what to do. Europe doesn’t know what to do.”
James C Reynolds reports:
Trump says European leaders are ‘weak’ in extraordinary attack on US allies
Zelensky 'deeply appreciates' support of Pope Leo
Tuesday 9 December 2025 11:31 , Maira ButtPresident Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed appreciation for Pope Leo XIV and his support of Ukraine after a meeting at the papal residence of Castel Gandolfo.
“I informed the Pope about diplomatic efforts with the United States to achieve peace. We discussed further actions and the Vatican's mediation aimed at returning our children abducted by Russia,” he wrote on X on Tuesday.
Trump says he is ‘disappointed’ that Zelensky ‘hasn’t read’ US peace plan for Ukraine
Tuesday 9 December 2025 11:00 , Maira ButtDonald Trump has said he is “disappointed” after claiming that Volodymyr Zelensky has not read his peace plan for Ukraine, in his latest attack on the Ukrainian leader.
Speaking to reporters at the Kennedy Centre in Washington DC on Sunday, the US president claimed that both Moscow and “Zelensky’s people” support the agreement but that the Ukrainian president was preventing talks from moving forward.
“We’ve been speaking to President Putin, and we’ve been speaking to Ukrainian leaders, including President Zelensky. And I have to say I’m a little disappointed Zelensky hasn’t yet read the proposal. That was as of a few hours ago,” he said.
“Russia’s fine with it. You know, Russia would rather have the whole country.”
In pictures: Zelensky meets Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican
Tuesday 9 December 2025 10:25 , Maira Butt
Ukraine prepares to present alternative peace plan to Trump
Tuesday 9 December 2025 10:00 , Maira ButtUkraine is preparing to present an alternative peace plan to Donald Trump and could do so as soon as today, Volodymyr Zelensky told a news conference yesterday.
An initial 28-point plan proposed by the US, widely viewed as being too favourable to Russia, has since been cut down to 20 points following talks between Ukrainian and US officials.
But sticking points still remain, most notably over the matter of occupied territories in eastern Ukraine and security guarantees to prevent another Russian invasion in future.
The original leaked version of the US-backed plan proposed that Ukraine hand over total control of the Donbas to Russia, even though Kremlin forces have not yet captured it in full.
According to the draft plan, energy produced at Zaporizhzhia, the largest nuclear power plant in Europe, would be split between the two countries.
Zelensky said yesterday that his government has no right to agree to forfeit its land. "Russia is insisting that we give up territories, but we don't want to cede anything," he said.
"We have no legal right to do so, under Ukrainian law, our constitution and international law. And we don't have any moral right either.”
Russian military plane crashes near Moscow with seven on board
Tuesday 9 December 2025 09:43 , Maira ButtA Russian military transport plane has crashed in the Ivanovo region northeast of Moscow with seven crew members on board, according to the Vesti state television channel who reported the news on Tuesday.
Deal to release ‘£100bn of Russian assets’ for Ukraine expected imminently
Tuesday 9 December 2025 09:27 , Maira ButtA deal to release up to £100 billion of frozen Russian assets in Europe to aid Ukraine is just days away, Downing Street believes, after Sir Keir Starmer and allies held crunch talks in London yesterday.
The prime minister said talks about the future of Ukraine have reached a “critical stage”, while European leaders agreed that pressure on Vladimir Putin must be ramped up.
Sir Keir met with French president Emmanuel Macron, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky and German chancellor Friedrich Merz at No 10 Downing Street on Monday as Mr Zelensky warned that Kyiv “can’t manage” without European and American backing.
The Independent’s political correspondent Millie Cooke reports:
Deal to release ‘£100bn of Russian assets’ for Ukraine expected imminently
Porsches across Russia suddenly stop working
Tuesday 9 December 2025 09:03 , Maira ButtHundreds of Porsche cars have stopped working in Russia due to an issue with a satellite-based security system, according to local reports.
Owners reported various issues with their vehicles, including not being able to start the engine, or it shutting down soon after ignition. Others said that they had been locked out of their cars.
The root cause of the issue is not yet known, though a representative for Russia’s largest dealership group told local media that it could be an act of sabotage.
“It’s possible this was done deliberately,” the Rolf spokesperson told the RBC news website, without providing any evidence.
The Independent View: Will Europe fight for Ukraine?
Tuesday 9 December 2025 08:37 , Maira ButtThe meeting at Downing Street between Volodymyr Zelensky and the leaders of his country’s principal allies in Europe is designed to demonstrate, both to Mr Zelensky and the wider world, that the Ukrainian people are not alone in their struggle for freedom. Specifically, it is a reminder to the Americans and the Russians that there can be no lasting peace settlement without the freely given consent of Ukraine.
In pictures: Zelensky's meetings with European and Nato leaders on Monday
Tuesday 9 December 2025 08:20 , Alex CroftVolodymyr Zelensky kicked off the week with a full on day of diplomacy, visiting both London and Brussels as he met with leaders of the UK, France, Germany, the EU and Nato.
Top of the agenda was ongoing efforts to revise a US-backed peace plan, and the use of frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine’s war effort.
Here are some pictures from yesterday:
Zelensky says Kyiv and EU's 'positions are aligned on all issues'
Tuesday 9 December 2025 08:07 , Alex CroftVolodymyr Zelensky hailed his “good and productive” meeting held with Nato and EU chiefs on Monday night, which he said demonstrated unity in all their positions.
“We discussed in detail our work with US partners on steps toward peace, security guarantees, and strengthening our resilience,” the Ukrainian president said after the meeting, which followed another meeting with European leaders in London.
“Our positions have been aligned on all issues. We are acting in a coordinated and constructive manner. Thank you for the meeting and for your support!”
A good and productive meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte @SecGenNATO, President of the European Council António Costa @eucopresident, and President of the European Commission Ursula @vonderleyen.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) December 8, 2025
I briefed the leaders on the situation on the diplomatic track. We… pic.twitter.com/GxdEgBLMXH
Ukraine to present revised peace plan to White House on Tuesday
Tuesday 9 December 2025 07:59 , Alex CroftUkraine will present a revised peace plan to the Trump administration on Tuesday, as Volodymyr Zelensky looks to resist US pressure into ceding territory to Russia.
For weeks, Kyiv has been aiming to balance out a US-backed draft peace plan which was viewed widely in Europe as a capitulation to Moscow.
A busy start to the diplomatic week saw the Ukrainian president head to London on Monday, where he met Sir Keir Starmer, Emmanuel Macron and Friedrich Merz, before heading to Brussels in the evening to meet Nato secretary general Mark Rutte, EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen and EU Council chief Antonia Costa.
After talks between the US and Ukraine over the weekend, a revised 20-point plan was proposed - but there was still no agreement on giving up territory, Zelensky said.
Russia downs 121 Ukrainian drones, Moscow claims
Tuesday 9 December 2025 07:32 , Alex CroftRussia’s Defence Ministry has claimed that air defences downed 121 Ukrainian drones overnight, including 22 fired at occupied Crimea.
Moscow does not typically reveal the full number of enemy drones in its skies overnight, so the figure is likely higher.
A total of 49 drones were downed in the Belgorod region, it said. Smaller amounts were downed in other areas including the Ryazan, Voronezh, Rostov regions, the defence ministry said according to Ukrainska Pravda.
Britain should retaliate against Putin's cyber army, urges Yvette Cooper
Tuesday 9 December 2025 07:10 , Namita SinghBritain and Europe must urgently unite to fight back against escalating attacks by Russia and other hostile states, Yvette Cooper is set to warn on Tuesday in a major speech.
Just 24 hours after Sir Keir Starmer led a mini summit to try to prevent Ukraine being forced into a humiliating deal to get peace with Russia, the foreign secretary will say that ongoing cyber attacks and disinformation are the new front in the war against Vladimir Putin.
Ms Cooper will tell an audience of diplomats that there is an “escalating” danger to the UK and Europe, adding: “Across Europe we are witnessing an escalation in hybrid threats – from physical through to cyber – designed to weaken critical national infrastructure, undermine our interests and interfere in our democracies all for the advantage of malign foreign states.
Report:
UK is under attack from Putin’s cyber army, warns Yvette Cooper
Lithuania declares state of emergency over smuggler balloons from Belarus
Tuesday 9 December 2025 07:05 , Namita SinghLithuania declared a state of emergency due to threats to public safety from smuggled balloons originating in Belarus, the government said this morning.
Lithuania accuses Belarus of allowing smugglers to use weather balloons to transport contraband cigarettes across the border, repeatedly forcing Vilnius airport to halt operations, disrupting air traffic.
The duration of the emergency measures was not immediately clear.
Belarus, which allowed its territory to be used for Russia's invasion in 2022 of Ukraine, has denied responsibility for the balloons and accused Lithuania of provocations, including allegedly sending a drone to drop "extremist material".
Lithuania, a Nato and European Union member which was once part of the Soviet Union, has rejected those accusations as false.
Russian forces advancing along entire front, Gerasimov claims
Tuesday 9 December 2025 07:00 , Namita SinghRussia's top general claims his forces are advancing along the entire front in Ukraine and have taken more than 30 per cent of the buildings in the eastern town of Myrnohrad.
Moscow regularly claims battlefield successes that are then refuted by Ukraine, and Kyiv has yet to comment on the update by Russian general Valery Gerasimov.
Gerasimov's comments identified Myrnohrad, a town with a pre-war population of some 46,000 people to the east of Pokrovsk, as a key target for Vladimir Putin.
Russia, which uses the Soviet-era name of Krasnoarmeysk to refer to neighbouring Pokrovsk, says it has taken the whole of the city and claims to have also encircled Ukrainian forces in Myrnohrad, which Russians call Dimitrov.
Ukraine has repeatedly denied Russian claims that Pokrovsk has fallen and says it forces still hold part of the city and are fighting back in Myrnohrad.
Russia currently controls 19.2 per cent of Ukraine, including Crimea, which it annexed in 2014, Luhansk, more than 80 per cent of Donetsk, about 75 per cent of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, and slivers of the Kharkiv, Sumy, Mykolaiv and Dnipropetrovsk regions.
Ukraine says it is holding its defensive lines and forcing Russia to pay a high price for what it says are relatively modest gains.
Putin said last week that Russia would take full control of Ukraine's Donbas region by force unless Ukrainian forces withdraw, something Kyiv has flatly rejected.
Russia downs 121 Ukrainian drones overnight, defence ministry says
Tuesday 9 December 2025 06:55 , Namita SinghRussia's defence ministry on Tuesday said air defence systems intercepted and destroyed 121 Ukrainian drones overnight.
Moscow typically only reports on the number of drones it downs – it does not provides tallies for the total fired or those that hit their targets.
Russian military court jails four soldiers for killing US-born fighter
Tuesday 9 December 2025 06:50 , Namita SinghA military court in Russian-occupied eastern Ukraine has sentenced four Russian soldiers to jail for the killing of Russell Bonner Bentley III, an American-born pro-Kremlin fighter and propagandist who lived for a decade in the occupied Donbas, reported the New York Times.
The Donetsk Garrison Military Court found that Maj Vitaly Vansyatsky, Lt Andrei Iordanov and Sgt Vladislav Agaltsev abducted Bentley in April 2024 after encountering him filming the aftermath of an artillery strike in Donetsk.
Investigators said the men suspected him of being an American saboteur, ignored his claim that he worked for Russia’s state-run Sputnik agency, and took him to a command post where he was beaten and tortured to death.
His body was later blown up and burnt in an attempt to disguise the murder. The major and the lieutenant each received 12-year sentences, while Agaltsev was jailed for 11 years.
All three were stripped of their ranks. A fourth soldier was given 18 months for helping cover up the crime, according to the reports.
The court also awarded more than $65,000 in damages to Bentley’s widow, Lyudmila Bentley.
Bentley, 64, a self-described Communist from Round Rock, Texas, moved to the region in 2014 and fought with Russia’s Vostok Battalion before becoming a prolific online advocate for Moscow.
Known as the “Donbas Cowboy,” he frequently declared: “I hate Nazis.”
Video: Starmer reiterates support for Ukraine as Zelensky meets European allies at Downing Street
Tuesday 9 December 2025 06:45 , Namita SinghEU official warns of US interference in Europe's affairs
Tuesday 9 December 2025 06:40 , Namita SinghA top European Union official on Monday warned the United States against interfering in Europe's affairs and said only European citizens can decide which parties should govern them.
European Council president Antonio Costa's remarks came in reaction to the Trump administration's new national security strategy, which was published on Friday and paints European allies as weak, while offering tacit support to far-right political parties.
The document, which was praised by Russia, formalises in writing months of Trump administration criticism of EU policy and perceived restrictions on free speech that started with a lecture to European allies in Germany in February by US vice president JD Vance.
It's "good" that the strategy depicts European countries as an ally, but "allies don't threaten to interfere in the domestic political choices of their allies," Costa said.
Ukraine prepares to present alternative peace plan to Trump
Tuesday 9 December 2025 06:20 , Namita SinghUkraine is preparing to present an alternative peace plan to Donald Trump and could do so as soon as today, Volodymyr Zelensky told a news conference yesterday.
An initial 28-point plan proposed by the US, widely viewed as being too favourable to Russia, has since been cut down to 20 points following talks between Ukrainian and US officials.
But sticking points still remain, most notably over the matter of occupied territories in eastern Ukraine and security guarantees to prevent another Russian invasion in future.
The original leaked version of the US-backed plan proposed that Ukraine hand over total control of the Donbas to Russia, even though Kremlin forces have not yet captured it in full.
According to the draft plan, energy produced at Zaporizhzhia, the largest nuclear power plant in Europe, would be split between the two countries.
Zelensky said yesterday that his government has no right to agree to forfeit its land. "Russia is insisting that we give up territories, but we don't want to cede anything," he said.
"We have no legal right to do so, under Ukrainian law, our constitution and international law. And we don't have any moral right either.”
Russian drone attacks cut power in Sumy in northern Ukraine
Tuesday 9 December 2025 06:00 , Namita SinghRussian drones attacked the northern Ukrainian city of Sumy late on Monday in the second major strike on the city in 24 hours, triggering a power outage, the regional governor said.
"In the space of half an hour, the Russians launched more than 10 drone strikes on the city," governor Oleh Hryhorov wrote on Telegram.
"There is no electricity in Sumy. Some critical infrastructure is operating on reserve power sources."
Hryhorov said officials were checking for casualties and that power would be restored as soon as it was safe for crews to do so.
Sumy, a city of around 250,000 before Putin's invasion in February 2022, has been a frequent target of Russian attacks.
Earlier on Monday, Hryhorov said Russian drones struck an apartment block in the city, injuring seven people.
Russian attacks on Ukraine have for months focused on energy targets in the run-up to the bitterly-cold winter.
Russia proposes medal for those who recover bodies from war zone
Tuesday 9 December 2025 05:40 , Namita SinghRussia's defence ministry has proposed a medal for servicemen and civilians who helped to recover bodies from combat zones – a rare official indication that Russia is struggling to account for the missing nearly four years into its invasion of Ukraine.
The Russian military has long been accused of abandoning its dead on the battlefield in Ukraine, as Vladimir Putin's forces have pushed to grab as much land as possible from their European neighbour.
The draft document, published on Monday in an official database of proposed regulations, suggests awarding the medal for "evacuation of killed servicemen and other individuals in combat conditions with life-threatening risks”.
It also includes a proposal to award the medal for the implementation of innovative technologies helping to evacuate bodies from the front lines and identifying the dead.
Russia, like Ukraine, classifies its combat losses as state secrets.
More than one million Russian soldiers have been killed or wounded since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, according to British military intelligence estimates published earlier this year.
Russia continues aerial attacks on Ukraine amid peace talks
Tuesday 9 December 2025 05:20 , Namita SinghRussian drones struck high-rise apartments in the northeastern Ukrainian city of Okhtyrka overnight, injuring seven people and extensively damaging the building, according to the head of the regional administration Oleh Hryhorov.
In the northern city of Chernihiv, a Russian drone exploded outside a residential building, injuring three people and damaging a kindergarten, gas lines and cars, regional head Viacheslav Chaus said.
Ukraine's air force said Russia fired 149 drones overnight, with 131 neutralised and 16 others striking their targets.
Meanwhile, Russian air defences destroyed 67 Ukrainian drones overnight, Russia's defence ministry said. The drones were shot down over 11 Russian regions, it said.
Kremlin welcomes new US security strategy
Tuesday 9 December 2025 05:06 , Namita SinghThe talks in London yesterday followed the publication of a new US national security strategy that alarmed European leaders and was welcomed by Russia.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the document, which spells out the Trump administration's core foreign policy interests, was largely in line with Moscow's vision.
"The nuances that we see in the new concept certainly look appealing to us," Peskov said yesterday.
"It mentions the need for dialogue and building constructive, friendly relations. This cannot but appeal to us, and it absolutely corresponds to our vision. We understand that by eliminating the irritants that currently exist in bilateral relations, a prospect may open for us to truly restore our relations and bring them out of the rather deep crisis."
The document released on Friday by the White House said the US wants to improve its relationship with Russia after years of Moscow being treated as a global pariah and that ending the war is a core US interest to "reestablish strategic stability with Russia".
The document also says Nato must not be "a perpetually expanding alliance," echoing another complaint by Russia.
It was scathing about the migration and free speech policies of longstanding US allies in Europe, suggesting they face the "prospect of civilisational erasure" due to migration.
Sir Keir Starmer's government declined to comment on the document, calling it a matter for the US government.
Obstacles remain after US-Ukrainian peace talks
Tuesday 9 December 2025 04:38 , Namita SinghThe US and Ukrainian negotiators completed three days of talks on Saturday aimed at trying to narrow differences on the US administration's peace proposal.
Volodymyr Zelensky said on Telegram that talks had been "substantive" and that National Security and Defence Council secretary Rustem Umerov and Chief of the General Staff Andrii Hnatov were travelling back to Europe to brief him.
A major sticking point in the plan is the suggestion that Kyiv must cede control of the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine to Russia, which illegally occupies most but not all of the territory. Ukraine and its European allies have balked at the idea of handing over land.
UK prime minister Keir Starmer said he "won't be putting pressure" on Zelensky to accept a peace settlement.
Donald Trump has had a hot-and-cold relationship with Zelensky since winning a second term, insisting the war was a waste of US taxpayers' money. Trump has also repeatedly urged the Ukrainians to cede land to Russia to end the nearly four-year conflict.
European leaders back Kyiv amid Trump’s frustration
Tuesday 9 December 2025 04:10 , Namita SinghSir Keir Starmer, French president Emmanuel Macron and German chancellor Friedrich Merz vowed to support Kyiv in their comments before Monday's meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky, which lasted about two hours.
They met shortly after US president Donald Trump appeared to vent his frustration with Zelensky, claiming the Ukrainian leader "hasn't yet read the [latest] proposal" for an end to Russia's war.
Zelensky said on Monday that Trump "certainly wants to end the war. ... Surely, he has his own vision. We live here, from within we see details and nuances, we perceive everything much deeper, because this is our motherland".
Starmer said the push for peace was at a "critical stage," and stressed the need for "a just and lasting ceasefire”.
Merz, meanwhile, said he was "sceptical" about some details in documents released by the US. "We have to talk about it. That's why we are here," he said.
"The coming days – could be a decisive time for all of us."
European leaders are working to ensure that any ceasefire is backed by solid security guarantees both from Europe and the US to deter Russia from attacking again. Trump has not given explicit guarantees in public.
Anti-Ukrainian points removed from peace plan, says Zelensky
Tuesday 9 December 2025 04:00 , Namita SinghVolodymyr Zelensky said the current US peace plan differs from earlier versions in that it now has 20 points, down from 28, after some "obvious anti-Ukrainian points were removed."
Responding to reporters' questions on WhatsApp about security guarantees, Zelensky said the main questions to be resolved are: "What if after the end of the war, Russia will start another aggression? What will the partners be ready for? What could Ukraine count on?"
The answers to these questions "must be in the core of the security guarantees for Ukraine," he said.
Video: Zelensky leaves Downing Street after meeting Starmer and European leaders for Ukraine defence talks
Tuesday 9 December 2025 03:50 , Namita SinghKyiv needs more European cash for US weapons, says Zelensky
Tuesday 9 December 2025 03:40 , Jane DaltonUkraine is short of about $800m (£600m) to buy the US weapons it had planned to purchase this year with help from its European allies, President Volodymyr Zelensky says.
For next year, Ukraine would need about $15bn for the PURL (Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List) programme, which involves purchases of US weapons with European money, he said.
More than two-thirds of member states of Nato have committed to weapons for Ukraine through the scheme.
Zelensky and European leaders vow to keep up pressure on Putin
Tuesday 9 December 2025 03:24 , Namita SinghAfter the meeting, Keir Starmer, Volodymyr Zelensky and the other leaders called Kyiv's European allies, urging them to keep up the pressure on Russian president Vladimir Putin.
"The leaders all agreed that now is a critical moment and that we must continue to ramp up support to Ukraine and economic pressure on Putin to bring an end to this barbaric war," Starmer's office said in a statement.
"This is the furthest we've got in four years, and we welcome the fact that these talks are continuing at every level," said Starmer's spokesman, Tom Wells.
He added that "intensive work" will continue in the days ahead, although "there are still outstanding issues”.
Macron's office said the session allowed the leaders "to continue joint work on the US plan in order to complement it with European contributions, in close coordination with Ukraine”.
Ukrainian President Zelensky thanks EU leaders for support
Tuesday 9 December 2025 19:52 , Shaheena UddinVolodymyr Zelensky has taken to social media to thank the President of EU Commission, Ursula von der Leyen and President of the EU Council Antonio Costa after their discussions on Tuesday.
Thank you for your support! https://t.co/rAPpZ4owjO
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) December 9, 2025
The Independent View | There is still a way European leaders can help achieve a positive outcome for Ukraine
Tuesday 9 December 2025 03:00 , Alex CroftStill, no doubt, bathed in the warm, if also absurd, glow of being the first ever recipient of the Fifa Peace Prize, Donald Trump might be in the mood to promote a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, it would be nice to think. This would, aside from anything else, strengthen President Trump’s insistent claim on the Nobel Peace Prize, which has not quite been superseded in prestige by the cynical golden trophy that the president of Fifa, Gianni Infantino, presented to him.
Read The Independent’s view:
There is still a way European leaders can help achieve a positive outcome for Ukraine
Recap: Zelensky meets European allies in London
Tuesday 9 December 2025 03:00 , Namita SinghPresident Volodymyr Zelensky met with the leaders of Britain, France and Germany in London on Monday in a show of European support for Ukraine at what they jointly called a "critical moment" in talks to end the Ukraine war.
Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer held talks with Zelensky, French president Emmanuel Macron and German chancellor Friedrich Merz at No 10, with discussions focussed on ways to strengthen Ukraine's hand amid mounting impatience from US president Donald Trump.
After the meeting, Starmer, Zelensky and the other leaders called Kyiv's other European allies, urging them to keep up the pressure on Russian president Vladimir Putin.
"The leaders all agreed that now is a critical moment and that we must continue to ramp up support to Ukraine and economic pressure on Putin to bring an end to this barbaric war," Starmer's office said in a statement.
Mystery drones near Zelensky's plane to be investigated
Tuesday 9 December 2025 01:30 , Jane DaltonUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has confirmed that unidentified drones were spotted near his plane to Ireland last week.
"There will be an investigation... There were drones indeed," he told reporters.
Irish local media reported on Thursday that a naval ship had spotted up to five drones operating near the flight path of the presidential plane.
In pictures: Sumy apartment building in flames as several injured in Russian strike
Tuesday 9 December 2025 00:00 , Alex Croft
£100 billion deal to aid Ukraine could be secured in the 'coming weeks'
Monday 8 December 2025 23:45 , Shaheena UddinA deal to free up to £100 billion from frozen Russian assets in Europe, in order to aid Ukraine could be secured over the coming weeks, according to The Times.
The funding has been frozen since the start of the war and could be utilised as leverage in peace negotiations. It would help to aid Ukraine for a further two years, putting pressure on Moscow.
The vast majority of the European assets are currently being held in Belgium, which equates to a third of the country’s GDP. The Belgium government has been largely opposed to transferring cash to Ukraine over fears of becoming legally liable.
A UK government official said however: “We are hopeful that a deal is going to be done in the next week or so”, as reported by The Times.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said negotiations in Europe have reached a “critical stage in the push for peace”, before meeting with the Ukrainian President Zelensky, the French President Macron and the German chancellor Friedrich Merz.
