US president Donald Trump will use his influence over Russia to negotiate a peace deal, his spokeswoman has insisted, as his special envoy Steve Witkoff held talks with President Vladimir Putin.
White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said: “We believe we have leverage in negotiating a deal to a peace deal, and we're going to use that leverage, and the president is determined to see this through.”
Earlier, Mr Trump warned on social media that “Russia has to get moving” on a ceasefire.
He posted: “Russia has to get moving. Too many people ere DYING, thousands a week, in a terrible and senseless war.”
Top US diplomatic envoy Steve Witkoff has been in talks with Mr Putin for more than two hours. The pair shook hands when they first met in St Petersburg.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s Western allies have agreed a record £18 billion (€21bn) of military support for Kyiv, Britain has announced.
UK defence secretary John Healey opened the meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group (UDCG) in Brussels with a plea to his fellow defence ministers to “step up our support for Ukraine in the fight”. Mr Healey added: “2025 is the critical year for the war in Ukraine, and this is the critical moment.”
Key points
- Trump will use clout to get peace deal, says White House
- US general proposes dividing Ukraine like post-war Berlin
- Trump envoy talks with Putin last over four hours
- Kyiv's Western allies pledge £18.2 billion to Ukraine
- British troops could be deployed in Ukraine for five years
Partition Ukraine like post-war Berlin, says Trump envoy
20:52
,
Jane Dalton
Ukraine could be partitioned like Berlin after the Second World War as part of a peace deal, President Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine and Russia has suggested.
Retired lieutenant general Keith Kellogg said UK and French troops could adopt zones of control in the west of the country, forming a “reassurance force”.
Russia’s army could remain in the occupied east, and between the two would be Ukrainian forces and a demilitarised zone, said Gen Kellogg, who was previously national security adviser to vice-president Mike Pence.
The Anglo-French-led force west of the Dnipro river, which bisects Ukraine from north to south, would “not be provocative at all” to the Kremlin, he told The Times.
Witkoff and Putin talk for more than four hours
20:36
,
Jane Dalton
Talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US special envoy Steve Witkoff have ended after more than four hours, Russian media reported.
The Interfax news agency said Mr Witkoff had left the site of the talks, the presidential library in St Petersburg, Russia's second largest city.
Chinese fighting for Russia are mercenaries, say US sources
20:21
More than 100 Chinese citizens fighting for the Russian military against Ukraine are mercenaries who do not appear to have a direct link to China's government, US sources say.
Chinese military officers have, however, been behind Russia's lines with Beijing's approval to draw tactical lessons from the war, a former Western intelligence official told Reuters.
The head of US forces in the Indo-Pacific, Admiral Samuel Paparo, confirmed on Wednesday that Ukrainian forces had captured two men of Chinese origin after Volodymyr Zelensky said about 155 Chinese citizens were fighting on Russia's behalf.
China says it is not a party to the war.
Two US officials familiar with American intelligence said the Chinese appear to have minimal training and are not having any discernable impact on Russia's operations.
The CIA, the US Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and the National Security Council did not respond immediately to requests for comment.
The former Western intelligence official told Reuters there were about 200 Chinese mercenaries fighting for Russia with whom the Chinese government has no link.
Observers expect new Russian offensive
19:35
,
Jane Dalton
Ukrainian officials and military analysts believe Russia is preparing to launch a fresh military offensive in coming weeks to ramp up pressure and strengthen the Kremlin's hand in the negotiations.
German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said his country would provide Ukraine with four IRIS-T (infrared imaging system) short- to medium-range systems with missiles, as well as 30 missiles for use on Patriot batteries.
The Netherlands plans to supply a Hawkeye air defence system, an airborne early warning aircraft.
Estonian Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur said his country was monitoring the world armaments market and saw opportunities for Ukraine's backers to buy more weapons and ammunition.
Mr Pevkur said he believed Putin might try to reach some kind of settlement with Ukraine by May 9 — the day that Russia marks victory during World War II — making it even more vital to strengthen Kyiv's position now.
"This is why we need to speed up the deliveries as quickly as we can," he said.
Trump 'will use leverage to get peace deal'
18:37
,
Jane Dalton
US president Donald Trump will use his influence to negotiate a peace deal, his spokeswoman has insisted.
Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Mr Witkoff’s talks with Vladimir Putin were “another step in the negotiating process towards a ceasefire and an ultimate peace deal in Russia and Ukraine”.
She said: “As these negotiations are ongoing, I obviously will not get ahead of the President or his team, but I think the President has been quite clear that he's been continually frustrated with both sides of this conflict, and he wants to see this fighting end.
“He wants the war to end.
“We believe we have leverage in negotiating a deal to a peace deal, and we're going to use that leverage, and the President is determined to see this through.”
Putin-Trump phone call 'possible in theory'
18:28
,
Jane Dalton
A phone conversation between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump, following Mr Putin's meeting with special envoy Steve Witkoff, is "theoretically possible", Interfax news agency reported, citing Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
Mr Peskov did not provide a possible timing for the call.
Putin-Witkoff meeting has lasted more than two hours
18:22
,
Jane Dalton
The meeting between Russian president Vladimir Putin and the US leader’s special envoy Steve Witkoff is still going on, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said, according to news agency Tass.
The meeting has already lasted more than two hours, it reported.
The beginning of the meeting, the Kremlin spokesman emphasised, was "businesslike, it is after all a working meeting."
"It is stretched in time, quite lengthy," he said, according to Tass.
Mr Peskov did not say whether Mr Witkoff would stay in Russia overnight. "I am not Witkoff's press secretary," he pointed out.
Zelensky discusses buying more air defence systems with Trump
17:51
,
Jane Dalton
President Volodymyr Zelensky says Ukraine is ready to buy more air defence systems, which he has discussed with US President Donald Trump.
"Ukraine is not just asking - we are ready to buy appropriate additional systems," Mr Zelensky said in his evening address to the nation.
The government would also strengthen air defences with additional funds for electronic warfare, he said.
Russian glide bombs devastate Kupiansk
17:35
,
Jane Dalton
At least three people were injured when Russian glide bombs were dropped on Kupiansk, according to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine.
One of the bombs damaged a house and started a fire.
“Russian aviation dropped bombs on Kupiansk, causing fires and resulting in casualties. Preliminary reports indicate three people were injured,” their message states.
Elsewhere, a medical centre was damaged, leaving three ambulances burning.
Pictured: Trump envoy Witkoff shakes hands with Putin
16:50
,
Jane Dalton
In pictures: Funeral of Ukrainian artist and paramedic
16:29
,
Jane Dalton
Opinion: It’ll take more than a ‘reassurance force’ to fill US-sized hole at Nato
16:02
,
Jane Dalton
Putin pardons ballerina jailed for donating money to support Ukraine - full story
15:40
,
Jane Dalton
Russian ex-minister jailed for UK sanctions breaches
15:15
,
Jane Dalton
Watch: Russian recruitment advertisement on Chinese social media
14:58
,
Jane Dalton
Trump appears to raise pressure on Putin
14:49
,
Jane Dalton
US president Donald Trump has posted that “Russia has to get moving” as his envoy Steve Witkoff prepared to meet Vladimir Putin.
He posted on his social media platform: “Russia has to get moving. Too many people ere DYING, thousands a week, in a terrible and senseless war.”
And a poorly worded phrase implied he did not know he was US president.
“A war that should have never happened, and wouldn’t have happened, if I were President!!!” he wrote.
Putin and Witkoff both in St Petersburg
14:35
,
Jane Dalton
As well as Steve Witkoff, Russia’s Vladimir Putin was also in St Petersburg today to hold what the Kremlin called an "extraordinarily important" meeting about the development of the Russian Navy, which is in the throes of a major modernisation and expansion drive.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov played down the planned Witkoff-Putin meeting, telling Russian state media the US envoy's visit would not be "momentous" and that no breakthroughs were expected.
The meeting will be their third this year.
Nato meeting effective, says Ukrainian minister
14:11
,
Jane Dalton
Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov described the meeting of the "contact group" at Nato headquarters as "productive, effective and efficient", saying it produced "one of the largest" packages of assistance Ukraine has received.
"We're thankful to each nation that has provided this support," he said.
Pictured: Witkoff in St Petersburg
13:53
,
Jane Dalton
Putin and Witkoff to hold talks, Kremlin confirms
13:39
,
Jane Dalton
Russian President Vladimir Putin will on Friday holds talks on Ukraine with US president Donald Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff, who is on a visit to Russia, the Tass state news agency reported, citing the Kremlin.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the two could also discuss a future meeting between Mr Putin and Mr Trump.
But he cautioned that Mr Witkoff's visit would not be "momentous" and that no one should expect major breakthroughs.
Peace ‘appears out of reach’ in near future as Putin ‘drags feet’ on truce
13:17
,
Jane Dalton
Estonian navy seizes oil tanker heading to Russia
12:45
,
Barney Davis
The Estonian navy detained an oil tanker in the Baltic Sea on Friday and boarded the vessel to inspect its legal status and safety, the country's prime minister said.
The vessel, named Kiwala, was on its way to Russia at the time of the seizure, MarineTraffic data showed.
"Estonia takes suspicious activities in the Baltic Sea very seriously," Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal said in a post on social media X.
Watch Ksenia Karelina lands home in US after more than year in Russian jail
12:30
,
Barney Davis
A former ballerina jailed for donating £40 to support Ukraine has returned home after being freed in a prisoner exchange.
Ksenia Karelina, who spent more than a year in a Russian jail, landed at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland at around 11pm, local time, on Thursday.
Her fiance boxer Chris van Heerden was there to greet her at the runway. He said in a statement he was "overjoyed to hear that the love of my life, Ksenia Karelina, is on her way home from wrongful detention in Russia.
"She has endured a nightmare for 15 months and I cannot wait to hold her. Our dog, Boots, is also eagerly awaiting her return."
Kyiv's allies pledge £18.2 billion to Ukraine
12:26
,
Barney Davis
Britain’s defence Secretary, John Healey, has said Ukraine's allies had pledged €21bn (£18.2bn) in military aid - a record boost in funding to Ukraine
Included in that figure is the UK's £4.5bn commitment for this year, which Mr Healey says is its highest contribution yet.
Mr Healey said 2025 is the critical year for Ukraine in the fight against Vladimir Putin’s invasion.
"Now is the critical moment... for defence industries, militaries and governments to step up," he said, adding it's about sending a message to Ukraine that "we stand with you in the fight and in the peace".
Lithuania will provide Ukraine with €20 million for ammunition
12:14
,
Barney Davis
Lithuania intends to provide an additional €20 million for Ukraine to purchase ammunition, Defence Minister Dovilė Šakalienė has said.
She urged allies to accelerate assistance to Ukraine, warning that "the summer may be very difficult".
Šakalienė said that Lithuania described ammunition as one of the most urgently needed resources for Ukraine at present.
Trump’s envoy Witkoff 'in Russia for talks with Putin' as ceasefire deadline nears
12:01
,
Barney Davis
Special envoy of US President Donald Trump, Steve Witkoff, traveled to Russia, where he is expected to meet with Vladimir Putin on Friday, according to reports.
This will mark their third meeting as part of the Trump administration’s ongoing efforts to find a path toward ending Russia’s war against Ukraine, Axios reports, citing a source familiar with the trip and flight data from FlightRadar.
A source in politics told Kyiv Post: “Trump wants some kind of victory [in talks with Putin on ending the war] in his first 100 days in office. Hopefully there’ll be some version of a ceasefire — including a humanitarian track.”
According to Axios, if no ceasefire deal is reached by the end of the month, Trump may impose additional sanctions on Russia.
Trump is growing increasingly frustrated with the lack of progress in ceasefire negotiations and was recently described as “p***** off” over Putin’s recent comments about Ukraine.
MOD annnounces €450m package in 'critical year' for future of Ukraine
11:46
,
Barney Davis
The Ministry of Defence announced that a “major” new package of military support will be delivered by British and Ukrainian suppliers to help boost Ukraine’s armed forces as they continue to defend against Russian attack.
The package, worth £450 million, includes £350 million from the UK, with further funding being provided by Norway, via the UK-led International Fund for Ukraine.
It will include £160 million of UK funding to provide repairs and maintenance to vehicles and equipment that the UK has already provided to Ukraine – partnering UK companies with Ukrainian industry.
The package also includes a “close fight” military aid package – with funding for radar systems, anti-tank mines and hundreds of thousands of drones – worth more than £250 million, using funding from the UK and Norway building on the work of the drone capability coalition, led by the UK and Latvia.
Defence Secretary John Healey added: “2025 is the critical year for the war in Ukraine, and this is the critical moment.”
Netherlands allocates €150m to go to Ukraine's air defence
11:45
,
Barney Davis
The Netherlands has announced the allocation of €150m to bolster Ukraine's air defense capabilities.
Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans made the announcement to journalists ahead of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting at NATO headquarters in Brussels.
Mr Brekelmans referenced President Volodymyr Zelensky's recent appeal for greater air defense support adding hat the Netherlands would continue delivering F-16 fighter jets as part of its ongoing assistance.
He said the new €150m package would “further help Ukraine protect its skies”.
Russian glide bombs devastate Kupiansk
11:30
,
Barney Davis
At least three people have been injured after Russian glide bombs were dropped on Kupiansk, according to State Emergency Service of Ukraine.
One of the glide bombs hit the yard of a private residence, damaging the house and starting a fire.
“Russian aviation dropped bombs on Kupiansk, causing fires and resulting in casualties. Preliminary reports indicate three people were injured,” their message states.
At another location, a medical facility building was damaged, with eight garage boxes and three ambulances burning over a total area of 320sqm.
Norway joins drone coalition with UK
11:16
,
Barney Davis
Norway has officially joined the drone coalition for Ukraine, which is led by the United Kingdom and Latvia.
The Norwegian Defense Ministry announced on X: “Norway is now officially a part of the international drone coalition led by Latvia and the United Kingdom. Together we are building a strong alliance to support Ukraine.”
Norwegian Defense Minister Tore O. Sandvik signed the respective document in Brussels on Friday joining 18 other countries, including Latvia, the United Kingdom, Australia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Estonia, Italy, New Zealand, Canada, and Lithuania in the pact.
Live: UK defence secretary meets Ukraine allies as Britain pledges £450m 'surge' in support
10:58
,
Barney Davis
Two million artillery shells to be funded by EU
10:45
,
Barney Davis
During the EU-Ukraine Association Council meeting in Brussels, discussions centered on financing two million artillery shells for Ukraine's defense.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal announced on Ukrainian television that all parties agreed to start implementing the project immediately.
“Europe has awakened and is actively advancing defense industry and security innovation programs. Ukraine holds a significant role in this cooperation, participating in major initiatives such as the European Defense Strategy and the European Defense Program,” he said.
“We are already participants in these processes and will continue to play an active role.”
The Prime Minister revealed that the European Commission plans to allocate approximately €800 billion for defense industry development and innovation in the coming years.
Russia accuses Ukraine of attacking its energy infrastructure five times in past 24 hours
10:39
,
Barney Davis
The Russian Defence Ministry has accused Ukraine of attacking Russian energy infrastructure five times in the last 24 hours.
The ministry said in a statement that Ukrainian strikes had hit power facilities in Russia's Kursk and Bryansk regions, as well as energy targets in Russian-controlled parts of the Ukrainian regions of Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia, which Moscow has claimed as its own.
The Independent was unable to verify the reports of the strikes.
Ukraine has made similar accusations against Russia since the US-brokered moratorium on strikes on each other's energy facilities.
Germany to provide €11billion military support for Ukraine
10:33
,
Barney Davis
Germany will provide €11billion of military support for Ukraine until 2029, Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov said on Friday.
In his post on X, Umerov said that the deliveries planned for this year would help strengthen Ukrainian air defences and support Kyiv troops on the battlefield.
Technical consultations over US-Ukraine minerals deal to occur today
10:31
,
Rachel Clun, with Reuters
Another key meeting taking place today is a technical consultation over the US-Ukraine minerals deal.
Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Olga Stefanishyna confirmed on Thursday that negotiations over the deal will occur in Washington on Friday.
The minerals deal is part of Donald Trump’s push to end the war and recoup the billions America has spent on military assistance to Ukraine, which was not initially provided as a loan.
Ms Stefanishyna said any deal could not clash with Ukraine’s obligations to the European Union or the International Monetary Fund.
"Nothing...can be negotiated with Ukraine in a way that will undermine the existing commitments and obligations Ukraine has, including financial ones," she said. "This is something that is not subjected to any negotiation format."
Earlier this week it was revealed that Kyiv had set aside $2.7m (£2.1m) for consulting on how to "protect the national interests of Ukraine and to formulate the position of Ukraine"
Zelensky says bolstering air defence is a priority
10:16
,
Rachel Clun
Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed today’s meeting of defence ministers in Brussels and reiterated that Ukraine’s priority is air defence.
“It is very important that our partners hear us,” he said.
“Ukrainians know how to be precise. We have already learned to shoot down a significant amount of Russia’s weapons of terror. We just need to address the shortage of air defense systems to make our sky protection stronger.”
He continued: “Our partners can help with this and also speed up the implementation of all agreements reached earlier.”
The Ukrainian president said the country needs more Patriot surface-to-air missile systems.
“Patriots that remain unused in storage with our partners should be protecting lives.”
In the 27th meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group at the Nato headquarters today, the group has committed an additional £450m to Ukraine’s military aid.
The new package includes funding for hundreds of thousands of drones, as well as radar systems and anti-tank mines, and repair and maintenance support for armoured vehicles.
'Ukraine is becoming stronger': German defence minister
09:59
,
Rachel Clun
Germany’s Defence Minister Boris Pistorius declined to comment on the US decision to step back from its leadership role in Ukraine, saying that "it's a decision of the new administration in Washington."
"We are here to take over the lead," he told reporters in Brussels, "and we are willing and determined to do that with full responsibility and together with our allies."
Germany and the UK are co-chairing the 27th meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group at the Nato headquarters today, and the group has committed an additional £450m to Ukraine’s military aid - £350m of which is from the UK.
Mr Pistorius said it was vital for other countries to step up in support of Ukraine, as the conflict was much broader than just two countries.
“Ukraine has become the epicentre of a broader conflict: a conflict between freedom and opporession, between the recog of global standards and aggressive imperialism, between democracy and authoritarianism,” he said.
“All this is about whether the strength of law, or the law of the strongest will prevail in international relations”
He said Russia will only negotiate if Europe shows Ukraine can continue fighting if necessary, and that it would be able to defend itself even after a possible peace accord.
“Russia should be under no illusion: Ukraine is becoming stronger. We must, and we will make sure of that,” he said.
Analysis: US absence at crunch summit shows Trump’s focus is elsewhere
09:45
,
Archie Mitchell
John Healey was careful to praise Pete Hegseth for taking the time to virtually check in at a crunch summit of countries backing Ukraine’s ongoing war effort against Vladimir Putin.
The defence secretary thanked his US counterpart for being “determined to join us” despite being busy “travelling” - even before giving a shout out to Volodymyr Zelensky, who is also dialing in.
Mr Hegseth’s decision to snub the meeting and attend virtually is the clearest sign yet of America’s waning interest in the war under Donald Trump. The US president’s administration is bogged down in its damaging global trade war, and peace talks brokered by the Americans have stalled after Russia rejected a 30-day ceasefire proposal.
Mr Trump once promised to end the war in Ukraine in 24 hours if he was re-elected. Having failed, it seems the issue is now on the backburner for the US president.
Defence secretary says 2025 is 'critical year' for Ukraine
09:30
,
Rachel Clun
Addressing defence minister in Brussels, John Healey said: “2025 is the critical year for the war in Ukraine”.
“This is the critical moment, a moment for our defense industries to step up, and they are a moment for our militaries to step up, and they are a moment for our governments to step up, and we are together.
“We are sending a signal to Russia, and we are saying to Ukraine that we stand with you in the fight and we will stand with you in the peace.”
‘We cannot jeopardise the peace by forgetting about the war,’ Healey warns
09:24
,
Archie Mitchell
John Healey has warned countries not to jeopardise the peace process by “forgetting about the war”.
The defence secretary wants world leaders to ensure Ukraine remains in the strongest position possible as negotiations about a peace deal with Russia have stalled.
The fighting is ongoing and the UK fears Volodymyr Zelensky losing further ground and finding himself in a weaker position in future talks.
He said: “Today at this Ukraine contact group, we step up our support for Ukraine in the fight, and our job as defense ministers is to get urgent military aid into the hands of Ukrainian war fighters.
“And to those nations not making fresh commitments today, I urge you to look again, to look hard at what more you can do.”
UK Defence Secretary urges allies to provide more military aid to Kyiv
09:18
,
Rachel Clun
John Healey has urged allies to “look again” at what else they can do to provide military aid to Ukraine.
The Defence Secretary has been opening the meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group at Nato headquarters in Brussels this morning.
He said: "Today, at this Ukraine Contact Group, we step up our support for Ukraine in the fight.
"Our job as defence ministers is to get urgent military aid into the hands of Ukrainian warfighters.
"And to those nations not making fresh commitments today, I urge you to look again, to look hard at what more you can do.”
The group is committing £450 million in military aid to Ukraine today, and Mr Healey said: "All military aid now will help Ukraine in the fight today and help secure a durable peace tomorrow, because the Ukrainian armed forces must be their own strongest deterrent against further Russian attacks."
US working 'for that war to end', state spokesperson says
09:03
,
Rachel Clun
US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said that America was “working for that war to end”.
Ms Bruce said President Donald Trump and Secretary Marco Rubio have both made it clear what is at stake if Russia does not come to the table for peace talks.
“It is a dynamic that will not be solved militarily, it is a meatgrinder,” she told reporters on Thursday. “Nothing else can be discussed before the shooting and the killing stops.”
The spokesperson said Mr Rubio has previously made it clear that it will soon be obvious whether Russia is serious about ending the conflict.
“This is not going to go on for six months or a year,” she said.
Trump envoy travels to Russia for Putin meeting
08:47
,
Rachel Clun
A key Trump administration diplomatic envoy has traveled to Russia ahead of meetings with Vladimir Putin, according to reports.
Steve Witkoff is expected to meet the Russian president on Friday, Axios reports, which would be their third meeting.
Last week on the sidelines of a Nato summit, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said it will soon become clear whether Russia actually wants peace.
"We will know soon enough, in a matter of weeks, not months, whether Russia is serious about peace or not. I hope they are," he said.
British forces could help Ukraine training on the ground
08:37
,
Rachel Clun
British troops could help to train and rebuild Ukraine’s armed forces on the ground as soon as a “reassurance force” is deployed, according to reports.
The joint French and British-led force would also offer to help defend Ukraine’s air and seas, a report from The Telegraph says.
The report said Britain is considering deploying troops to Ukraine for five years, and military chiefs also discussed a plan for a phased withdrawal.
Ukraine military says Russia launched 39 drones overnight
08:22
,
Rachel Clun
Ukraine’s military said Russia launched 39 drone attacks overnight.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces said they successfully shot down 24 drones and another 13 failed to reach their targets.
It did not say what happened to the remaining two drones.
Former UK spy chief tells Trump to go slow on Ukraine if he wants the Nobel
07:59
,
Arpan Rai
Britain’s former top spy has advised US president Donald Trump not to rush a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia, dangling the prospect of a Nobel prize if he does so.
Richard Dearlove, the ex-head of MI6, told NBC News that rushing a truce in the war could encourage president Vladimir Putin to launch other hostile
