Starmer: Chance of Ukraine-Russia ceasefire
Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin will hold a press conference after their vital meeting in Alaska on Friday, the Kremlin confirmed. Aide Yuri Ushakov said the two leaders would cover “sensitive” matters during the Anchorage summit, which will be a one-on-one meeting with translators. The main focus will be regulating the protracted conflict, as well as trade and economic cooperation, he added.
There will also be a wider meeting involving delegations from both countries, and a working breakfast. This comes as Volodymyr Zelensky sat down with Sir Keir Starmer at Downing Street today for their own meeting before Trump and Putin’s. The pair hugged and shook hands outside No10 before heading inside for talks, which there have been little details on. They were also pictured sipping tea together in the garden.
KEY EVENTS
- Zelensky arrives at No10 for Starmer meeting09:40
- Starmer to host Zelensky ahead of Trump-Putin summit07:01
Who’s in the Russian delegation heading to Alaska?
Ukraine makes gains in embattled Donetsk town
Ukraine made gains in an eastern area where Russia made a breakthrough this week.
Small groups of Russian troops mvoed six miles towards the defensive line enar the town of Dobropillia.
Donetsk Governor Vadym Filashkin said wrote on Telegram: “The situation in the Dobropillia sector has stabilised. Thanks to the heroic efforts of our Defence Forces, the front line is reliably holding.”
Starmer says Putin must ‘prove he’s serious about peace’
A statement from Downing Street said there’s a chance for “progress” at the Trump-Putin summit tomorrow, “as long as Putin takes action to prove he is serious about peace”.
Russia and Ukraine exchange 168 prisoners
Russia and Ukraine have each just swapped 84 prisoners, including civilians held in Russia since 2014.
Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on X: “We are bringing Ukrainians back home to Ukraine. A new exchange, 84 people, both military personnel and civilians. Almost all of them require medical care and significant rehabilitation.
“Among the civilians released today are those who had been held by the Russians since 2014, 2016, and 2017. Among the military released today are the defenders of Mariupol. I am grateful to everyone who helps us continue to free Ukrainian captives.”
Zelensky and Starmer discussed security guarantees
Volodymyr Zelensky said he discussed security guarantees or Ukraine with Sir Keir Starmer.
They aim to “make peace truly durable if the United States succeeds in pressing Russia to stop the killings and engage in genuine, substantive diplomacy”.
The leaders also talked about investing in Ukrainian drone production, he said.
Putin says US making ‘sincere effort’ towards peace
Vladimir Putin praised the US’ “sincere effort” to find a solution to the Ukraine war.
He said: [The US made] quite energetic and sincere efforts to stop combat activities, to stop the crisis and reach agreements that are of interest to all the sides involved in the conflict.
“To create long-term conditions for peace between our countries, in Europe and in the world in general.”
This comes the day before this meeting with Donald Trump in Alaska, which the US president said could lay the ground work for Volodymyr Zelensky to be involved.
Europe mulling locations for Putin-Zelensky-Putin meeting
European allies have been “actively” looking at locations for a future meeting with Donald Trump, Volodymyr Zelensky, and Vladimir Putin.
Sources told Sky News that the summit would depend on how the Trump-Putin discussions go tomorrow.
Allies agreed that it needs to be in Europe, they added.
Ukraine secures $1.5bn in defence support through NATO scheme
Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Ukraine has already secured $1.5 billion in defence support through a new NATO initiative.
He wrote on X: “Our new defense-support PURL initiative with partners is already bringing tangible results. As of today, we already have $1.5 billion pledged.
“Through the NATO Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List initiative, NATO members can cooperate to purchase U.S.-made weapons for Ukraine – a mechanism that truly strengthens our defense.”
Zelensky leaves Downing Street after meeting with Starmer
Volodymyr Zelensky has now left No10 after his meeting with Sir Keir Starmer.
The meeting has now concluded. (Image: Getty)
Germany announces £370m aid package for Ukraine
Germany has announced a fresh $500 million (£370m) aid package for Ukraine.
The support military equipment will come under NATO’s new Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) initiative.
Germany’s foreign ministry revealed it would include air defence capabilities.
It said: “The support packages will include military equipment that is either not manufactured by the European defence industry or that can be delivered at the intended scale more swiftly by the United States than by European partners or Canada. This includes, for example, critical air defence capabilities.”
Putin and Trump agree programme for Friday’s summit
The programme for Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin’s meeting on Friday has been agreed, the Kremli said.
Aide Yuri Ushakov said it will be a one-on-one discussion, but involving translators, and sensitive matters will be covered.
Starmer and Zelensky sip tea during meeting
Sir Keir Starmer and Volodymyr Zelensky sipped tea during their meeting at Downing Street this morning.
The leaders drank tea together. (Image: Getty)
Zelensky sipped a mug of tea during his visit. (Image: Getty)
White House denies it has agreed ‘West Bank-style occupation’ of Ukraine by Russia
Under the model, Ukraine’s borders would not change, just as the borders of the West Bank have gone unchanged for 58 years, only under Israeli control.
“It’ll just be like Israel occupies the West Bank,” the source said before Trump’s summit with President Putin in Alaska on Friday.
“With a governor, with an economic situation that goes into Russia, not Ukraine. But it’ll still be Ukraine, because … Ukraine will never give up its sovereignty. But the reality is it’ll be occupied territory and the model is Palestine.”
Anna Kelly, the deputy White House press secretary, said: “This is total fake news and sloppy reporting by The Times, who clearly has terrible sources. Nothing of the sort was discussed with anyone at any point.”
Starmer gives Zelensky ‘very warm greeting’
Volodymyr Zelensky received a “very warm greeting” upon his arrival at Downing Street, Sky News political correspondent Mhari Aurora said.
She said: “We know the two leaders have a good relationship and we know Zelensky is incredibly grateful when it comes to the UK’s support for Ukraine.
“It was a warm embrace but nonetheless they had very serious and stoic expressions on their faces because they understand just how high the stakes are in the next 48 hours.
“Clearly, Ukraine as we know it is at cross roads perhaps depending on how serious we can take tomorrow’s summit. Zelensky knows that, and Starmer knows that too.”
Zelensky pictured outside No10 with Starmer ahead of meeting
The Ukrainian president has arrived for his meeting with the PM ahead of the Trump-Putin summit tomorrow.
The leaders hugged and shook hands, ignoring questions from reporters.
There is little detail regarding what they will discuss inside.
The leaders will meet before the Trump-Putin summit. (Image: Sky News)
Zelensky arrives at No10 for Starmer meeting
Volodymyr Zelensky has arrived at Downing Street for his meeting with Sir Keir Starmer.
‘Putin has not abandoned his ultimate goal’, warns Ukrainian MP
Oleksandr Merezhko, Ukrainian MP and chair of the Ukrainian parliament’s foreign affairs committee, said Vladimir Putin “has not abandoned his ultimate goal”.
He said the Russian president is the “only obstacle to any genuine ceasefire” and “has not changed or abandoned his ultimate goal to subjugate and destroy Ukraine”.
WhatsApp says Russia ‘trying to block’ services
WhatsApp has been trying to make its services available in Russia, but says it’s being blocked.
The company claimed Moscow was trying to prevent people from communicating securely.
Russia has restricted some WhatsApp and Telegram calls after accusing the platforms of failing to share information with law enforcement in cases of fraud and terrorism.
WhatsApp said: “WhatsApp is private, end-to-end encrypted, and defies government attempts to violate people’s right to secure communication, which is why Russia is trying to block it from over 100 million Russian people.
“We will keep doing all we can to make end-to-end encrypted communication available to people everywhere, including in Russia.”
Trump threatens Putin with ‘severe consequences’ if peace talks fail
Donald Trump warned of “severe consequences” if Vladimir Putin does not agree to a peace deal.
The US president said Friday’s talks would “set the table” for a future meeting involving Volodymyr Zelensky.
He also reportedly promised European leaders that they woud not discuss land division without Ukraine.
Ukraine’s ‘international borders must not be changed by force’
A joint statement from the Coalition of the Willing, which is co-chaired by Sir Keir, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, said “international borders must not be changed by force”.
It added: “Sanctions and wider economic measures to put pressure on Russia’s war economy should be strengthened if Russia does not agree to a ceasefire in Alaska.”
The Coalition of the Willing is a European-led effort to send a peacekeeping force to Ukraine in the event of truce.
Trump issues 4-word statement on Zelensky snub
Asked if it was his decision to not invite Mr Zelensky to the meeting, Mr Trump said “no just the opposite”, before adding that a second meeting with the Ukrainian president could take place afterwards.
“We had a very good call, he was on the call, President Zelensky was on the call. I would rate it a 10, you know, very, very friendly,” he told reporters in Washington.
He added: “There’s a very good chance that we’re going to have a second meeting which will be more productive than the first, because the first is I’m going to find out where we are and what we’re doing.”
Putin testing new nuclear missile before Trump summit
Russia is reportedly ready to test its new nuclear-armed, nuclear-powered cruse missile ahead of Vladimir Putin’s meeting with Donald Trump on Friday.
Jeffrey Lewis, of the Middlebury Institute of International Studies, analysed recent images from commercial satellite firm Planet Labs.
Separately, Decker Eveleth of the CNA research and analysis organisation did the same.
They both said there was significant activity at the Pankovo test site, such as increased personnel, equipment, ships, and aircraft associated with tests of the 9M730 Burevestnik (Storm Petrel).
Lewis said: “We can see all of the activity at the test site, which is both huge amounts of supplies coming in to support operations and movement at the place where they actually launch the missile.”
Russian oil refinery on fire after drone attack
An oil refinery in Russia’s Volgograd region is reportedly on fire after debris fell from Ukrainian drones.
Governor Andrey Bocharov said: “Firefighters quickly began extinguishing the fire. According to preliminary data, there were no casualties.”
Air defence systems intercepted and destroyed 44 drones overnight, including nine over Volgograd, the defence ministry said.
Starmer threatens further sanctions on Russia
Sir Keir Starmer threatened Vladimir Putin with further economic sanctions should he fail to engage with peace negotiations.
The UK is already working on its next package of measures targeting Russia, he added.
The PM said: “We’re ready to support this, including from the plans we’ve already drawn up to deploy a reassurance force once hostilities have ceased.
“It is important to remind colleagues that we do stand ready also to increase pressure on Russia, particularly the economy, with sanctions and wider measures as may be necessary.”
Starmer to host Zelensky ahead of Trump-Putin summit
Volodymyr Zelensky is due to meet with Sir Keir Starmer this morning before Donald Trump’s summit with Vladimir Putin on Friday.
Concerns over Zelensky’s exclusion from crunch Putin summit
Sir Keir and European leaders have repeatedly said discussions about Ukraine should not happen without it, amid concerns the country is being sidelined in negotiations about its own future.
Asked if it was his decision to not invite Mr Zelensky to the meeting, Mr Trump said “no just the opposite”, before adding that a second meeting with the Ukrainian president could take place afterwards.