Ukraine-Russia war latest: Trump condemned for parroting ‘murderous’ Putin and calling Zelensky ‘dictator’

Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha has said he discussed ways to achieve a just and lasting peace with Donald Trump’s Ukraine envoy Keith Kellogg during the latter’s visit to Ukraine.

“I affirmed Ukraine’s willingness to achieve peace through strength and our vision for the necessary steps,” Mr Sybiha said.

Donald Trump’s extraordinary attack on Volodymyr Zelensky could be a sign of his frustration that the rapid peace deal he touted prior to entering the White House is not materialising at the pace he had hoped, a German official has told Politico.

Describing Mr Trump’s remarks as “gruesome”, a second German official told the outlet: “It’s getting darker every day. Some of the senators gave me some hope [at last week’s conference] in Munich. But I guess they are afraid of Trump.”

The US can use “the enormous challenges Russia will face in 2025 as leverage to secure critical concessions” in talks to end its war in Ukraine by continuing and even expanding military aid to Kyiv, a leading think-tank has said.

“Russia will likely face a number of materiel, manpower, and economic issues in 12 to 18 months if Ukrainian forces continue to inflict damage on Russian forces on the battlefield at the current rate,” according to the US-based Institute for the Study of War.

“Russia’s defence industrial base cannot sustain Russia’s current armoured vehicle, artillery system, and ammunition burn rates in the medium-term. Russia’s recruitment efforts appear to be slowing such that they cannot indefinitely replace Russia’s current casualty rates without an involuntary reserve mobilisation.”

It added: “The United States can accelerate the moment when Putin must grapple with these interlocking problems and can likely coerce Russia into making the concessions on its demands necessary to secure a peace acceptable to the United States, Ukraine, and Europe by continuing military aid to Ukraine.”

Keith Kellogg, Donald Trump’s envoy to Ukraine, is set to meet with president Volodymyr Zelensky today, having travelled to Kyiv on Wednesday.

As he arrived, Mr Kellog said that he understood “the need for security guarantees”, adding that part of his mission would be “to sit and listen”.

Volodymyr Zelensky sent a warning ahead of US talks with Trump representative General Kellogg after the president hurled insults at Ukraine leader.

Speaking in a video message, ahead of his meeting with Mr Kellogg, Mr Zelensky said: “It is crucial for us that the meeting and our overall cooperation with America be constructive

“Together with America and Europe, peace can be more secure, and that is our goal. But most importantly, this goal must be shared by our partners, not just by us.”

The head of Ukraine’s GUR military intelligence agency, Kyrylo Budanov, believes a ceasefire in the war with Russia could happen this year.

“I think it is going to happen. There are most of the components for it to happen,” Mr Budanov said in a YouTube interview with journalist Eynulla Fatullayev.

“How long it will be – how effective it will be – is another question,” he added.

Italy’s foreign minister has warned that that the security of Europe and Ukraine can be guaranteed only if the United States maintains its presence in the region.

“I’m absolutely convinced that the security of Ukraine and Europe cannot be guaranteed without the United States,” Antonio Tajani told a press conference in Rome.

Sir Keir Starmer will reportedly present US president Donald Trump with a peacekeeping plan to send fewer than 30,000 European troops to Ukraine when he flies to Washington, DC next week.

The “reassurance force”, an Anglo-French strategy designed by British and French officials, was presented at an emergency meeting in Paris earlier this week, according to The Telegraph.

Sir Keir will detail the plan to Mr Trump during his first official visit to the White House since the president’s election, the Telegraph reported, adding that he will push for US fighter jets and missiles to remain on standby in eastern Europe to deter Russian forces from breaching any agreed terms.

My colleague Alex Croft reports:

Six in 10 British voters believe it is likely that Russia will attack other European countries in the next 10 years, according to polling by YouGov.

Nearly eight in 10 of those surveyed said it was unacceptable for Ukraine not to be included in peace negotiations, with the majority believing it to be likely to the US and Russia will agree a peace deal in the next few months.

Nearly three quarters expect such a deal to leave Russia in possession of conquered territory – an outcome that 55 per cent of those polled said they would feel negatively about.