Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff has arrived in Moscow to meet Vladimir Putin for talks amid a renewed US push to end the war in Ukraine.
The White House said it was “very optimistic” about striking an agreement to end Russia’s invasion following two days of negotiations between Ukrainian and US officials in Florida over the weekend.
Mr Witkoff, who has visited Moscow several times this year, will meet with the Russian President on Tuesday afternoon, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said. He will also meet with Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev.
The visit follows a flurry of diplomatic activity in the past fortnight involving US, Ukrainian and Russian officials. An original US-drafted plan to end the war caused consternation in Europe last month after it appeared to yield to Russia’s maximalist demands, including the recognition of occupied territory in eastern Ukraine.
Zelensky has said the terms now "look better" for Kyiv after negotiations in Florida but there is little evidence that Russia and Ukraine are closer to resolving any of the key issues blocking an agreement.
Read MoreNato considering ‘pre-emptive’ action against Russia’s hybrid warfare attacks
EU warns Trump that Ukraine peace plan must not pardon Putin for war crimes
South African radio presenter arrested over alleged Russia recruitment plot
Key Points
- Nato considering ‘pre-emptive’ action against Russia’s hybrid warfare on Europe
- Macron insists peace talks can 'only be finalised with Europeans around the table'
- Zelensky says US peace plan 'looks better' with revisions
- Witkoff to meet Putin in Moscow on Tuesday
- Putin: Capture of Pokrovsk means Russian military can advance further
Motorcade transporting US officials seen in Moscow ahead of talks
11:26 , Maira ButtA motorcade, reportedly transporting officials including U.S. President Donald Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner, departs Vnukovo International Airport before a scheduled meeting with a Russian delegation in Moscow, Russia on Tuesday, in this still image taken from video.
British man detained in Ukraine on suspicion of spying for Russia
11:15 , Maira ButtA Brit has been accused of spying for Russia after being detained in Ukraine, according to Ukraine’s security service.
The man, a former member of the British armed forces, was discovered after an investigation carried out in coordination with British intelligence, a source said.
It is alleged he was lured into the work after being promised “easy money”.
Watch: Zelensky touches down in Dublin for first state visit to Ireland
10:50 , Maira ButtUkrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has touched down in Dublin for his first state visit to Ireland.
In an address to the Irish parliament he said Ukraine is actively working to include European partners in a peace solution and is taking diplomatic work “absolutely seriously”.
He accused Russia of launching a new disinformation campaign ahead of their meeting.
Who are the power players behind Ukraine-Russia peace talks as Trump’s envoy meets Putin?
10:24 , Maira ButtThe US and Ukraine are seeking to narrow gaps in a peace plan proposed by Washington that was criticised as pro-Russian. European leaders responded with a counter-proposal that reasserted Ukraine’s demands.
It includes respect for Ukraine’s territorial integrity, freedom to advance its Nato ambitions and EU membership aspirations and maintain a large military to deter the threat of future Russian aggression.
Several countries and high-profile individuals are involved in the discussions, which have resulted in public disagreements. The Independent looks at some of the key characters below.
All the key players behind Ukraine-Russia peace talks as Trump’s envoy meets Putin
White House 'optimistic' about Russia peace talks
09:38 , Maira ButtAs President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff arrives in Moscow to meet Russian president Vladimir Putin to discuss a future peace, the White House said it is “optimistic” about discussions.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said that a 28-point draft peace deal had “been very much refined”.
“I think the administration feels very optimistic,” she said.
“But as for the details, I will let the negotiators negotiate. But we do feel quite good, and we're hopeful that this war can finally come to an end.”
Full story: Russian-flagged tanker ‘attacked off Turkish coast’
09:27 , Maira ButtA Russian-flagged tanker carrying sunflower oil has reportedly been attacked off the Turkish coast, though its 13 crew members are unharmed, Turkey's maritime authority confirmed on Tuesday.
The vessel, MIDVOLGA-2, reported the incident 80 miles (130 km) from the Turkish coastline.
It did not request assistance, proceeding instead towards Turkey's Sinop port, the Maritime Affairs Directorate stated on X. Broadcaster NTV suggested the attack involved a kamikaze drone.
Russian-flagged tanker ‘attacked off Turkish coast’
Ukrainian troops holding strong in north of Pokrovsk
09:02 , Maira ButtAs fighting intensifies in Pokrovsk, Ukraine’s military says it still holds the northern part of the region, military corps told Reuters.
The 7th Rapid Response Corps said the airborne assault troops had conducted attacks in the south of the city, which has become a Russian stronghold.
The response comes after President Vladimir Putin shared what commanders had told him of the capture of Pokrovsk.
Fox News' Brian Kilmeade hammers Steve Witkoff's 'totally unacceptable' call: He 'likes Russia too much'
08:24 , Maira ButtRussian-flagged tanker reports attack off coast of Turkey
07:47 , Daniel KeaneA Russian-flagged tanker sailing from Russia to Georgia loaded with sunflower oil reported that it was attacked off the Turkish coast, Turkey’s maritime authority has said.
The vessel, MIDVOLGA-2, reported coming under attack 130km off the Turkish coast but said its 13 crew members were unharmed.
It did not provide additional details, but broadcaster NTV said the attack involved a kamikaze drone.
Asked about the latest attack, a Turkish official said "the necessary messages were conveyed to the relevant parties, including Ukrainian authorities," but he did not elaborate further.
Nato considering ‘pre-emptive’ action against Russia’s hybrid warfare attacks
07:33 , Daniel KeaneNato is considering “pre-emptive” action against Russia following a string of hybrid attacks on Europe, a senior official in the alliance has warned.
Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, an Italian who serves as chair of the Nato Military Committee, said the alliance may need to adopt a more “aggressive” approach to deter Moscow from continuing its campaign of drone incursions and cyber attacks in Europe.
A recent Financial Times investigation revealed how Nato has been put on high alert after three vessels in the Baltic Sea were accused of dragging their anchors in a bid to damage energy and communication cables, with a total of 11 incidents recorded.
Other incidents include frequent cyber attacks on European countries and incursions of Russian drones into Nato airspace.
Read our full story below.
Nato considering ‘pre-emptive’ action against Russia’s hybrid warfare attacks
EU warns Trump not to pardon Putin for war crimes in Ukraine
07:10 , Arpan RaiDonald Trump’s peace plan for Ukraine must not lead to Russian president Vladimir Putin escaping accountability for alleged war crimes, a senior European Union official said.
Michael McGrath, the European commissioner for justice and democracy, told Politico on Monday that negotiators should ensure any ceasefire plan does not allow Russia to avoid prosecution, setting what appears to be a new red line for any settlement.
His remarks underline concerns across Europe over the original version of the US proposal, which proposed a “full amnesty for actions committed during the war” and steps to reintegrate Russia into the global economy.
EU warns Trump that Ukraine peace plan must not pardon Putin for war crimes
Ukraine brings back 1,859 abducted children, says first lady Zelenska
07:00 , Arpan RaiUkraine has secured the return of 1,859 children abducted and taken to Russian-held territory, the war-hit nation’s first lady Olena Zelenska said in Paris yesterday.
She was speaking at a high-level meeting held under president Volodymyr Zelensky’s Bring Kids Back UA initiative.
She emphasised that returning a child home is only the first step.
"After a child physically returns home, psychological and social return is still required,” Zelenska said.
She added that Ukraine is developing mental-health programs and has introduced state assistance for every returned child.
According to Ukraine’s national "Children of War" database, at least 19,546 Ukrainian children have been abducted from Russian-occupied territories and taken to Russia or Russian-controlled areas since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022.
Ukrainian soldiers worry peace deal will give Russia motive to attack again
06:31 , Arpan RaiSerhii Filimonov, the commander of the Da Vinci Wolves battalion, is worried that a peace deal would give Russia everything it needed to attack again.
“I think it would be nice for the Russians - to end the war, remove the sanctions, prepare for a new war and attack again," he told the Associated Press.
“I don't believe there can be peace before Russia is destroyed, or at least the leadership is changed.”
He is one of the thousands of exhausted Ukrainian soldiers who say their motivation is fortified by knowing they're fighting for higher cause: the defence of their homeland.
But as negotiators try to hammer out a peace deal, the troops also believe that Russia remains determined to conquer Ukraine — either now, or with a fresh army in a few years' time — no matter what kind of agreement is reached.
Filimonov also described how Russian troops had briefly entered the eastern town of Pokrovsk, a key logistics hub in the Donetsk region, but were pushed out.
Energy facilities in Russia on fire after drone attack
06:14 , Arpan RaiFuel and energy facilities in central Russia's Oryol region caught fire as result of an overnight drone attack, governor Andrei Klychkov said this morning.
Klychkov said that no one had been injured and that the emergency services were working at the scene.
Zelensky to meet Irish president and address parliament
06:05 , Arpan RaiVolodymyr Zelensky will be meeting Ireland’s new president in Dublin today as US efforts continue to broker a ceasefire in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Irish premier Micheal Martin said he looked forward to “reiterating Ireland’s unswerving commitment to standing with the people of Ukraine for as long as it takes” as part of the visit on Tuesday.
The Taoiseach greeted Zelensky on the tarmac after his plane landed in Dublin late on Monday night.
The two leaders are to hold a bilateral meeting as part of events on Tuesday, which will mark the first state visit by a Ukrainian president to Ireland.
Zelensky and Ukraine’s first lady Olena Zelenska are due to first make a courtesy call to Irish president Catherine Connolly at Aras an Uachtarain in Phoenix Park on Tuesday morning.
Photos show Russian troops inside Pokrovsk
05:56 , Arpan Rai How Russia has claimed capture of Ukraine's Pokrovsk
05:37 , Arpan RaiRussian military officials have told president Vladimir Putin that their forces have captured Pokrovsk, a crucial rail hub in Ukraine’s east – a claim Ukraine has not acknowledged.
Video posted on the Russian defence ministry Telegram channel showed Russian troops striding through a town identified as Pokrovsk, with shattered buildings and deserted streets. One group hoisted a Russian flag aloft in a square.
News agencies said defence minister Andrei Belousov congratulated troops on capturing the town, describing it as a step towards future successes in the area and elsewhere.
Valery Solodchuk, commander of the Centre group of forces, told Putin Russian troops were proceeding with clean-up operations against Ukrainian forces around Pokrovsk and the nearby town of Myrnohrad.
A third commander, Andrei Ivanaev, reported to Putin about Russian advances further south in Zaporizhzhia region and said forces had on Sunday entered the city of Huliaipole and were engaged in street battles.
Gerasimov said Russian forces pressing their advance had also made their way into the embattled town of Lyman, north of Pokrovsk.
Witkoff and Kushner to meet Putin today to discuss an end to Ukraine war
05:01 , Arpan RaiUS president Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner will meet Russian president Vladimir Putin today for talks on a possible way to end the war in Ukraine.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters that Witkoff's meeting with Putin would be in the second half of Tuesday, but he refused to be drawn on Russia's red lines, saying that megaphone diplomacy was not helpful.
A White House official said Witkoff would be joined by Kushner for his trip to Russia.
Putin has repeatedly said he is ready to talk peace but that if Ukraine refuses an agreement, then Russia's forces will advance further and take more Ukrainian territory.
Why Pokrovsk's capture would be biggest victory in over a year for Russia
04:54 , Arpan RaiIf Russian forces succeed in overpowering Ukrainian troops in the key city of Pokrovsk, it would mark their biggest territorial capture inside Ukraine in more than a year.
Pokrovsk is a road and rail hub in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region with a pre-war population of some 60,000 people. Most people have now fled, all children have been evacuated and few civilians remain amid its pulverised apartment buildings and cratered roads.
The city lies on a key road which has been used by the Ukrainian military to supply other embattled outposts.
Earlier last month, around 100,000 Russian troops were circling Pokrovsk, a city that Russia has been trying to capture for over a year.
Capturing Pokrovsk, dubbed "the gateway to Donetsk" by Russian media, and Kostiantynivka to its northeast which Russian forces are also trying to envelop, would give Moscow its most important single territorial gain inside Ukraine since it took the ruined city of Avdiivka in early 2024.
Read more here:
Inside the year long battle for Pokrovsk as Russia closes in on key Ukrainian city
Moscow decries Nato's 'pre-emptive' action move
04:32 , Arpan RaiRussian officials have criticised Nato’s decision to contemplate “pre-emptive action” against increasing Russian hybrid warfare targeting European nations.
Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, an Italian who serves as chair of the Nato Military Committee, said the alliance may need to adopt a more “aggressive” approach to deter Moscow from continuing its campaign of drone incursions and cyber attacks in Europe.
Such comments, Russia’s foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said, were seen by Moscow as "an extremely irresponsible step, indicating the alliance's readiness to continue moving towards escalation".
“We see in it a deliberate attempt to undermine efforts to overcome the Ukrainian crisis," she said.
“The people making such statements should be aware of the risks and possible consequences, including for the alliance members themselves,” the spokesperson said.
Fox News' Brian Kilmeade hammers Steve Witkoff's 'totally unacceptable' call: He 'likes Russia too much'
03:37 , Arpan RaiNato considering ‘pre-emptive’ action against Russia’s hybrid warfare on Europe
03:23 , Arpan RaiNato is considering “pre-emptive” action against Russia following a string of hybrid attacks on Europe, a senior official in the alliance has warned.
Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, an Italian who serves as chair of the Nato Military Committee, said the alliance may need to adopt a more “aggressive” approach to deter Moscow from continuing its campaign of drone incursions and cyber attacks in Europe.
A recent Financial Times investigation revealed how Nato has been put on high alert after three vessels in the Baltic Sea were accused of dragging their anchors in a bid to damage energy and communication cables, with a total of 11 incidents recorded.
Other incidents include frequent cyber attacks on European countries and incursions of Russian drones into Nato airspace.
Admiral Dragone told the FT that the alliance was “studying everything” in deciding how to respond.
Nato considering ‘pre-emptive’ action against Russia’s hybrid warfare attacks
Macron insists peace talks can 'only be finalised with Europeans around the table'
03:13 , Arpan RaiFrench president Emmanuel Macron yesterday praised US-led efforts to end the Ukraine war, but warned that a peace plan can “only be finalised with Europeans around the table”.
Macron said the talks are still in a "preliminary phase" but called the flurry of diplomatic activity "a moment that could be a turning point" for the future of peace in Ukraine and security in Europe.
“Today, there isn't a finalised plan on territorial questions. These can only be finalised by President Zelensky," Macron said at a press conference alongside his Ukrainian counterpart.
Last week, Macron urged Western allies to bring "rock-solid" security guarantees to Ukraine in case a ceasefire or a peace deal is reached.
He has endorsed deploying a "reassurance force" on land, at sea and in the air to help ensure the country's security. The French president said Monday that the coming days will see "crucial discussions" between US officials and Western partners, who would aim to clarify US participation in security guarantees.
Macron's office said he and Zelensky held talks with other European partners including leaders from Britain, Germany, Poland, Italy, Norway, Finland, Denmark and the Netherlands. Also included were European Union officials Antonio Costa and Ursula von der Leyen and Nato secretary-general Mark Rutte.
Zelensky says US peace plan 'looks better' with revisions
02:56 , Arpan RaiUkraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky has spoken optimistically about the process of revising the Trump administration's peace plan, saying "it looks better" and talks continue on how to end Russia's war.
“Today, following the work of the teams in the United States, head of the Ukrainian delegation Rustem Umerov reported on the main parameters of the dialogue, its emphases, and some preliminary results. It is important that the talks have a constructive dynamic and that all issues were discussed openly and with a clear focus on ensuring Ukraine’s sovereignty and national interests,” he said in a post on X late on Sunday.
He thanked US president Donald Trump’s team, and “the president personally for the time that is being invested so intensively in defining the steps to end the war”.
Today, following the work of the teams in the United States, head of the Ukrainian delegation Rustem Umerov reported on the main parameters of the dialogue, its emphases, and some preliminary results. It is important that the talks have a constructive dynamic and that all issues…
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) November 30, 2025
Landmine deaths hit four-year high in 2024, report finds
02:00 , Alex CroftDeaths and injuries from landmines and unexploded ordnance hit a four-year high in 2024, driven by conflicts in Syria and Myanmar as well as European countries moving to withdraw from the treaty banning their use, a new report showed on Monday.
Over 6,000 incidents were recorded last year, including 1,945 deaths and 4,325 injuries - the highest annual total since 2020, according to the Landmine Monitor 2025 report. Nearly 90% were civilians, with almost half women and children.
Ukraine announced its withdrawal from the Convention on June 29. Military analysts said that doing so could help slow the Russian advances Kyiv is struggling to contain over three years after Moscow's full-scale invasion.
The report documented signs of new Ukrainian mine use. Russia and Myanmar, non-signatories, used landmines extensively, the report said.
Belarus accuses Lithuania of drone incursion - ICYMI
01:00 , Alex CroftThe Belarusian Foreign Ministry has lodged a protest with Lithuania over an alleged border violation by a drone, Russia's Tass state news agency reported.
A Lithuanian drone violated Belarus' border on 30 November, TASS cited the ministry as saying on Monday.
It follows a wave of allegations Russia has been responsible for drone incursions into Nato territory in recent months.
Zelensky arrives in Dublin
00:07 , Alex CroftVolodymyr Zelensky has touched down in Dublin Airport for his first official visit to Ireland.
The Ukrainian president’s plane landed shortly before 11pm tonight. He is being joined by Ukraine’s First Lady, Olena Zelenska.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin and minister of state at the Department of Foreign Affairs Thomas Byrne greeted Mr Zelensky on Dublin Airport’s runway.
Mr Zelensky will hold bilateral talks with the taoiseach and will visit newly inaugurated Irish president Catherine Connolly in Áras an Uachtaráin on Tuesday.
He is also expected to address the Dáil and the Seanad, the two houses of the Irish parliament.
Putin: Capture of Pokrovsk means Russian military can advance further
00:01 , Alex CroftRussian president Vladimir Putin said the capture of the key Ukrainian town of Pokrovsk would enable the military to proceed with its tasks in its offensive operations in Ukraine, according to Russian news agencies.
"This is an important direction. We all understand just how important. It will ensure solutions going forward to the tasks we initially set at the beginning of the special military operation," Putin was quoted as saying during a visit on Sunday to a command post.
Russia refers to its more than 3-1/2-year-old invasion of Ukraine as a special military operation.
"Russia's armed forces are confidently holding the initiative and continue to carry out the operation's tasks. Russian forces are advancing on practically all directions."
Ukraine, Putin was quoted as saying, was unable to react to the advances of the Russian military and he singled out successes recorded further south in Zaporizhzhia region.
In his remarks, Putin also described heavy losses that he said had been sustained by Ukrainian forces in the fighting as "the tragedy of the Ukrainian people".
Zelensky: Trump's peace deal 'looks better' after latest talks
Monday 1 December 2025 23:02 , Alex CroftUkraine's president has spoken optimistically about revising the Trump administration's peace plan, saying "it looks better" and the work will continue during talks on how to end Russia's nearly four-year war.
Volodymyr Zelensky spoke after meeting France's president in the latest discussions aimed at brokering the terms for a potential ceasefire in the largest armed conflict in Europe since the Second World War.
Mr Zelensky's visit to Paris followed Sunday's meeting between Ukrainian and US officials, which secretary of state Marco Rubio described as productive.
The two sides have worked to revise the proposed US-authored plan that was developed in negotiations between Washington and Moscow but criticised as being too weighted towards Russian demands.
"It's a process, it's not over yet," Mr Zelensky said. He called the topic of Ukraine's control over its territories "the most complicated" in the discussions.
Putin told that Russia has captured Pokrovsk
Monday 1 December 2025 23:00 , Alex CroftRussian president Vladimir Putin visited a military command post on Sunday and heard reports from top commanders of the capture of the towns of Pokrovsk and Vovchansk, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday.
Valery Gerasimov, chief of the Russian military's General Staff, "reported to the commander in chief of the liberation of the cities of Pokrovsk (called Krasnoarmeysk in Russia) in (Donetsk region) and Vovchansk in Kharkiv region, as well as the results of other offensive actions of troops in other sectors."
Ukrainian officials have made no acknowledgement that either city has fallen into Russian hands.
White House 'very optimistic' about Ukraine talks
Monday 1 December 2025 22:55 , Alex CroftThe Trump administration is "very optimistic" about reaching an agreement to end the war in Ukraine, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Monday, citing good talks with Ukrainian officials that took place in Florida on Sunday.
"The administration feels very optimistic," Ms Leavitt said.
"Just yesterday ... they had very good talks with the Ukrainians in Florida."
Witkoff to meet Putin in Moscow on Tuesday
Monday 1 December 2025 22:32 , Alex CroftDonald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff has left talks between Ukraine and the US in Florida to visit Kyiv, where he is set to meet Russian president Vladimir Putin.
A White House official said Witkoff would be joined by Trump adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner for his trip to Russia.
Monday 1 December 2025 22:00 , James ReynoldsEU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas spoke to reporters in Brussels on Monday following a meeting of the bloc's defence and foreign minsters.
She expressed her concern that the upcoming US-Russia talks could end up with Ukraine having to make yet more concessions, like being pressured to give up territory.
"I'm afraid that all the pressure will be put on the victim, which is that Ukraine has to make concessions and obligations," Kallas told reporters in Brussels.
"It's the United Nations charter that says that you can't change borders by force. If this pays off, we will see this elsewhere all around the world," she warned.
"Whoever has the power gets to take what they want."
She said she and her peers would be focusing on supporting Ukraine and finding an end to the war without rewarding aggression.
“The goal is to have a just and durable peace, not a deal that lays ground for the next war,” she said.
Editorial: When will Donald Trump see that Vladimir Putin wants this war?
Monday 1 December 2025 21:02 , James ReynoldsFiona Hill, a former White House adviser, tells The Independent that the Russian president is manipulating his US counterpart and has no intention of stopping the war in Ukraine:
When will Donald Trump see that Vladimir Putin wants this war?
Trump ‘to hand occupied Ukrainian land to Putin in return for peace deal’
Monday 1 December 2025 20:04 , James ReynoldsUS special envoy Steve Witkoff is heading to Moscow to discuss peace prospects for the war in Ukraine this week.
Ahead of the visit, sources claimed that Russia could be offered US recognition of occupied territories in exchange for a peace deal.
Read the claims in full - and what it would mean for Ukraine:
Trump ‘to hand occupied Ukrainian land to Putin in return for peace deal’
Russia and Saudi Arabia boost ties with new travel scheme
Monday 1 December 2025 19:03 , James ReynoldsRussia and Saudi Arabia on Monday signed an agreement to implement a visa-free regime for tourists and business people from the two countries for up to 90 days.
The deal was signed on the sidelines of the Saudi-Russian Investment and Business Forum in Riyadh.
Former US ambassador urges Trump to avoid bad Ukraine deal ‘for the sake of signing something’
Monday 1 December 2025 18:29 , James ReynoldsWith the US president seemingly more concerned with getting a peace deal signed than the details of its contents, experts tell Arpan Rai what the agreement must include to prevent the future destruction of Ukraine:
Former US ambassador urges Trump to avoid bad Ukraine deal ‘for the sake of signing’
Volodymyr Zelensky to visit Ireland at ‘critical time’ for Ukraine
Monday 1 December 2025 18:03 , James ReynoldsUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is to make a brief visit to Ireland this week as efforts to strike peace plans continue.
Here’s what’s in his busy itinerary:
Volodymyr Zelensky to visit Ireland at ‘critical time’ for Ukraine
Four killed, dozens wounded in Russian missile attack on Dnipro
Monday 1 December 2025 17:31 , James ReynoldsFour people were killed and 40 wounded in a Russian missile attack on the eastern-central Ukrainian city of Dnipro on Monday, Ukrainian officials said.
Vladyslav Haivanenko, the acting governor of the surrounding Dnipropetrovsk region, said on Telegram that 11 of those injured in the strike were in a serious condition. He said the search and rescue operation had been completed.
Ukraine's emergency services said car service stations, other businesses, an office building and 49 cars were all damaged in the attack.
The industrial city of Dnipro and the surrounding region have faced repeated Russian missile and drone attacks that have killed civilians and damaged housing, industry and infrastructure.
Changing borders by force sets a dangerous precedent, warns Kallas
Monday 1 December 2025 17:07 , James ReynoldsEU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas spoke to reporters in Brussels on Monday following a meeting of the bloc's defence and foreign minsters.
She expressed her concern that the upcoming US-Russia talks could end up with Ukraine having to make yet more concessions, like being pressured to give up territory.
"I'm afraid that all the pressure will be put on the victim, which is that Ukraine has to make concessions and obligations," Kallas told reporters in Brussels.
"It's the United Nations charter that says that you can't change borders by force. If this pays off, we will see this elsewhere all around the world," she warned.
"Whoever has the power gets to take what they want."
She said she and her peers would be focusing on supporting Ukraine and finding an end to the war without rewarding aggression.
“The goal is to have a just and durable peace, not a deal that lays ground for the next war,” she said.
Britain, France and Ukraine discuss latest peace developments
Monday 1 December 2025 16:29 , James ReynoldsThe leaders of Britain and France joined Ukraine’s Zelensky in conversation with officials following the latest peace talks in Florida over the weekend.
Zelensky said on social media on Monday that he, Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron had spoken with the head of Ukraine’s delegation, Rustem Umerov, and the US special envoy, Steve Witkoff.
“It was an important briefing, and we agreed to discuss more details in person—our teams will coordinate schedules for possible further contacts,” he said.
Talks seeking peace in Ukraine could be a 'turning point', Macron says
Monday 1 December 2025 16:00 , James ReynoldsFrench President Emmanuel Macron welcomed Zelensky to Paris on Monday, and called ongoing talks "a moment that could be a turning point" for the future of peace in Ukraine and security in Europe.
"Ukraine is the only one that can discuss about its territories" as a sovereign nation, Macron said during a joint news conference with Zelensky.
Macron also denounced Russia's continued onslaught against Ukraine, saying: "At a time when we are talking about peace, Russia continues to kill and destroy.”
Zelensky talks security guarantees with Macron
Monday 1 December 2025 15:32 , James ReynoldsUkrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said talks on Monday with his French counterpart focused on how to end the war and on security guarantees.
“Peace must become truly durable,” he said, adding: “The war must end as soon as possible.”
Zelensky said the talks lasted several hours, and that he would also be speaking with other leaders today.
Peace plan must not punish Ukraine, Europe tells Trump
Monday 1 December 2025 15:00 , James ReynoldsDonald Trump’s peace plan for Ukraine must not lead to Russian president Vladimir Putin escaping accountability for alleged war crimes, a senior European Union official said.
Michael McGrath, the European commissioner for justice and democracy, told Politico on Monday that negotiators should ensure any ceasefire plan does not allow Russia to avoid prosecution, setting what appears to be a new red line for any settlement.
Read the full story:
EU warns Trump that Ukraine peace plan must not pardon Putin for war crimes
Watch: Rubio says US-Ukraine talks on Russia war 'productive'
Monday 1 December 2025 14:31 , Daniel KeaneEU warns Trump that Ukraine peace plan must not pardon Putin for war crimes
Monday 1 December 2025 14:08 , Daniel KeaneDonald Trump’s peace plan for Ukraine must not lead to Russian president Vladimir Putin escaping accountability for alleged war crimes, a senior European Union official said.
Michael McGrath, the European commissioner for justice and democracy, told Politico on Monday that negotiators should ensure any ceasefire plan does not allow Russia to avoid prosecution, setting what appears to be a new red line for any settlement.
His remarks underline concerns across Europe over the original version of the US proposal, which proposed a “full amnesty for actions committed during the war” and steps to reintegrate Russia into the global economy.
Read our full story below.
EU warns Trump that Ukraine peace plan must not pardon Putin for war crimes
Belarus accuses Lithuania of drone incursion
Monday 1 December 2025 13:29 , James ReynoldsThe Belarusian Foreign Ministry has lodged a protest with Lithuania over an alleged border violation by a drone, Russia's TASS state news agency reported.
A Lithuanian drone violated Belarus' border on 30 November, TASS cited the ministry as saying on Monday.
It follows a wave of allegations Russia has been responsible for drone incursions into NATO territory in recent months.
Recap: Zelensky says 'tough issues' still to be resolved before peace an option
Monday 1 December 2025 13:00 , James ReynoldsTough barriers to peace must still be resolved following talks with the US in Florida, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said on Monday.
"There are some tough issues that still have to be worked through," Zelensky said on X.
Zelensky’s assessment came as he travelled to Paris to rally support from president Emmanuel Macron on Monday before heading to Ireland tomorrow.
Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff is meanwhile heading to Moscow to brief the Kremlin on the US-backed peace proposals.
Trump told reporters on Sunday that Ukraine has its own problems - namely a corruption scandal over which its top negotiator resigned last week - but said there was a good chance a deal could be reached.
Russian forces claim Klynove village in eastern Ukraine
Monday 1 December 2025 12:36 , James ReynoldsRussia claimed control over the village of Klynove in Donetsk on Monday, the defence ministry said.
Klynove is a small village in the eastern part of the country.
The Independent was unable to verify the claim.
Recap: What happened over the weekend?
Monday 1 December 2025 12:05 , James Reynolds- Ukrainian and US officials met in Florida on Sunday to continue negotiations on a peace plan aimed at ending the war. Marco Rubio said they had built on “groundwork [laid] in Geneva” but said there was more work to do.
- Moldova was the latest country to see Russian drones breach its airspace, local authorities claimed on Saturday in what was the third such incident reported in nine days.
- NATO’s top military official said the alliance was weighing a more assertive response to hybrid attacks on its soil.
- Russia continued to pound populated areas of Ukraine with drones and missiles over the weekend. A drone killed one person and wounded 11 on the outskirts of Kyiv, the regional governor said on Sunday.
- Russia also confirmed launching a “massive” attack on Ukraine, which it said targeted Ukrainian military-industrial and energy facilities. Zelensky said Russia had fired 36 missiles and nearly 600 drones, killing six and wounding dozens nationwide.