Ukraine-Russia war latest: Trump says ceasefire talks will begin immediately after ‘excellent’ call with Putin

Key Points

• Ceasefire negotiations to begin 'immediately', says Trump
• Russia ready to work toward ending fighting, Moscow says after Trump call
• Ukraine, Russia, US, EU and UK leaders could meet, Zelensky says
• Call went 'very well', says Trump
• Trump-Putin talk for two hours on crucial call

Trump says it would be 'great' to have Russia-Ukraine talks at the Vatican

Donald Trump has said "it would be great" for Russia and Ukraine to hold ceasefire talks at the Vatican, saying it would add extra significance to the proceedings.

Trump, describing his phone call earlier with Russian President Vladimir Putin, said he told him, "When are we going to end this, Vladimir?"

(AP)

Recap: Putin and Trump discuss peace and trade in two hour phone call

On Monday, Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin sat down and spoke for two hours over the phone.

Both leaders said the call was a success, with Putin agreeing to work towards a peace deal with Ukraine.

Here is an overview of the call:

- The call began at around 3:30pm UK time, and lasted for two hours.

- The pair spoke over an encrypted line, Putin from Russia's Black Sea resort of Sochi and Trump in Washington.

- Putin said the call was “very informative and helpful”.

- Moscow said it was ready to work with Ukraine on a memorandum about future peace talks, as Trump said negotiations will now begin “immediately”.

- Trump said the call went “very well” and spoke to several world leaders Volodymyr Zelensky, Emmanuel Macron and Giorgia Meloni after he spoke with Putin.

- He also said that ceasefire negotiations could be held by the Vatican.

- They are said to have addressed each other by their first names, and Putin congratulated Trump on the birth of his latest grandson, Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov said.

File photo (AFP via Getty Images)

- The pair also discussed a potential US-Russia trade deal, which Trump said was a possibility once the war was over.

- They also discussed a potential new prisoner swap during the call, as Ushakov said the two countries were working out details of an exchange involving nine people on each side.

- After the call, Zelensky said it was possible that leaders from Ukraine, Russia, US, EU and UK leaders could meet.

Trump says he 'made progress' on call with Putin

Donald Trump said he “made progress” on Monday during his call with Vladimir Putin, and that he also spoke to the heads of most European nations.

He also responded briefly to two shouted questions from reporters — if he thought Putin wanted peace, and if he thought Pope Leo could help broker it.

In both instances, he responded in the affirmative, saying: “I do.”

(Getty Images)

Putin is again pulling the strings over Ukraine - these peace talks will lead nowhere

Vladimir Putin was quick on the draw with an announcement that said nothing after his two-hour phone call with Donald Trump, as the Russian president grabbed the narrative before the Oval Office had figured out what the story even was.

Donald Trump claims his two-hour phone call with Vladimir Putin went ‘very well’, but it is the Russian president who calls the shots, writes Sam Kiley, The Independent’s world affairs editor:

Watch: Trump addresses two-hour phone call with Putin

Trump and Putin spoke on first-name basis, Kremlin says

The Kremlin has described more details about Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin’s phone call on Monday.

Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov stressed the warm nature of the conversation, saying the two men addressed each other by their first names and Putin congratulated Trump on the birth of his latest grandson.

"Trump said: Vladimir, you can pick up the phone at any time, I will be happy to answer, I will be happy to talk to you," Ushakov said.

Putin and Trump discussed 'impressive' prospects for US-Russia ties, Kremlin says

Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump discussed "impressive" prospects for ties between their two countries in a phone call on Monday, the Kremlin has said.

Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters that the two leaders had not discussed a timeline for a ceasefire in Ukraine, but that Trump had stressed his interest in reaching agreements quickly.

"The presidents also spoke in some detail about the future of our relations, and President Trump, I can say, spoke quite emotionally about the prospects for these relations," Ushakov said.

"He specifically emphasised that the prospects for bilateral relations after the Ukrainian conflict is resolved look impressive, and that as the president of the United States, he sees Russia as one of America's most important partners in trade and economic matters."

Russia outlaws Amnesty International in latest crackdown on opposition

Russia has outlawed Amnesty International, designating it an "undesirable organisation" and criminalising involvement with the human rights group in the country.

This move, announced Monday by the Russian Prosecutor General’s office, further intensifies the Kremlin’s crackdown on dissent, which has escalated dramatically since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

The ban effectively shuts down Amnesty’s operations within Russia and threatens anyone cooperating with or supporting the organisation with prosecution.

Our reporter Albert Toth has the full story:

World leaders welcome Pope's offer to host Russia-Ukraine talks

European and US leaders have welcomed Pope Leo XIV's offer to host Russia-Ukraine talks at the Vatican,

Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni said on Monday that European leaders, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, spoke to US President Donald Trump after he had a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"Work is underway to immediately start negotiations between the parties that can lead to a ceasefire as soon as possible and build the conditions for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine," Meloni's office said in a statement.

"In this regard, the Holy Father's willingness to host the talks at the Vatican was considered positive. Italy is ready to do its part to facilitate contacts and work for peace," the statement added.

(Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Putin and Trump discuss new prisoner swap

The Kremlin has said Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump discussed a new prisoner swap during their 2-hour phone call on Monday.

Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov said the two countries were working out details of an exchange of prisoners jailed in Russia and the United States involving nine people on each side, although he did not say when it might take place.

Trump and Putin are both in favour of meeting in person and will assign their teams to work on preparing a meeting, Ushakov said, but no venue has been agreed.

Putin addresses Russia Watch: Ukraine ceasefire hopes after phone call with Trump

Ukraine, Russia, US, EU and UK leaders could meet, Zelensky says

Leaders from Ukraine, Russia, the US, EU and Britain could meet in an effort to secure a peace deal, Zelensky has said.

Speaking to reporters in Kyiv after holding two phone calls with Donald Trump on Monday, Zelensky said he hoped the meeting could happen as soon as possible and that it could be hosted by Turkey, the Vatican or Switzerland.

Zelensky speaks during a briefing in Kyiv on Monday (AP)

EU leaders thank Trump for 'tireless efforts'

After his phone call with Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump spoke with a number of European leaders to inform them about the discussion.

EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said they had a “good call” and thanked Trump for “his tireless efforts to bring a ceasefire to Ukraine.”

Pictured: Putin talks to reporters after phone call with Trump

(AP)

(AP)

Trump lays out possibility of 'largescale' US-Russia trade deal

Donald Trump has spoken about the possibility of a trade deal between the US and Russia after the war with Ukraine is over.

Trump and Vladimir Putin discussed trade during their “excellent” two-hour phone call on Monday.

“Russia wants to do largescale TRADE with the United States when this catastrophic “bloodbath” is over, and I agree,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social after the call.

“There is a tremendous opportunity for Russia to create massive amounts of jobs and wealth. Its potential is UNLIMITED. Likewise, Ukraine can be a great beneficiary on Trade, in the process of rebuilding its Country.”

The US banned imports of Russian oil, gas and coal after Putin’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Talks could be hosted by The Vatican, says Trump

Donald Trump has said that ceasefire negotiations could be held by the Vatican.

In a social media post after his two-hour phone call with Vladimir Putin, Trump said: “The Vatican, as represented by the Pope, has stated that it would be very interested in hosting the negotiations. Let the process begin!”

US vice president JD Vance met with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican earlier today, amid a flurry of US-led diplomatic efforts to secure a ceasefire in Ukraine.

(Vatican Media)

Ceasefire negotiations to begin 'immediately', says Trump

Donald Trump has said Russia and Ukraine will “immediately” begin ceasefire negotiations after his two-hour phone call with Vladimir Putin went “very well”.

He said: “Russia and Ukraine will immediately start negotiations toward a Ceasefire and, more importantly, an END to the War.

“The conditions for that will be negotiated between the two parties, as it can only be, because they know details of a negotiation that nobody else would be aware of.”

Trump added that he had informed several world leaders including Volodymyr Zelensky, Emmanuel Macron and Giorgia Meloni in a call after he spoke with Putin.

Moscow has also said that Putin was now ready to work towards peace and on a memorandum about future peace talks.

(AFP via Getty Images)

Trump's statement in full

Donald Trump has posted the following to Truth Social after his phone call with Vladimir Putin:

“Just completed my two hour call with President Vladimir Putin of Russia. I believe it went very well.

“Russia and Ukraine will immediately start negotiations toward a Ceasefire and, more importantly, an END to the War. The conditions for that will be negotiated between the two parties, as it can only be, because they know details of a negotiation that nobody else would be aware of.

“The tone and spirit of the conversation were excellent. If it wasn’t, I would say so now, rather than later.

“Russia wants to do largescale TRADE with the United States when this catastrophic “bloodbath” is over, and I agree. There is a tremendous opportunity for Russia to create massive amounts of jobs and wealth. Its potential is UNLIMITED. Likewise, Ukraine can be a great beneficiary on Trade, in the process of rebuilding its Country.

“Negotiations between Russia and Ukraine will begin immediately. I have so informed President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, of Ukraine, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, President Emmanuel Macron, of France, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, of Italy, Chancellor Friedrich Merz, of Germany, and President Alexander Stubb, of Finland, during a call with me, immediately after the call with President Putin.

“The Vatican, as represented by the Pope, has stated that it would be very interested in hosting the negotiations. Let the process begin!”

Call went 'very well', says Trump

Donald Trump has said his two-hour phone call with Vladimir Putin went “very well”.

Posting on Truth Social, the US president said: “The tone and spirit of the conversation were excellent. If it wasn’t, I would say so now, rather than later.”

He also claimed that Russia and Ukraine will “immediately start negotiations toward a ceasefire”, but that the conditions will be negotiated by them.

Full story: Trump and Putin end phone call after two hours, White House says

President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin have concluded a phone call during which the two leaders discussed efforts to bring an end to the unprovoked war Putin started by ordering the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

A White House official said the call ended roughly two hours after it began on Monday.

Russian state media reported that Putin described the call as “informative and useful” and stated Moscow was ready to work with Ukraine on a memorandum about future peace talks.

Putin gives more detail on Trump call

We are now getting more detail from Vladimir Putin on his phone call with Donald Trump.

The Russian president told reporters that the efforts to end the war in Ukraine were on the right track and that Moscow was ready to work with Ukraine on a memorandum about a possible future peace agreement.

"We have agreed with the president of the United States that Russia will propose and is ready to work with the Ukrainian side on a memorandum on a possible future peace accord, defining a number of positions, such as, for example, the principles of settlement, the timing of a possible peace agreement," Putin told reporters near the Black Sea resort of Sochi.

(Sputnik)

"I would like to note that, on the whole, Russia's position is clear. The main thing for us is to eliminate the root causes of this crisis," Putin said.

"We just need to determine the most effective ways to move towards peace."

US confirms call is over

The White House has now also confirmed that Donald Trump’s phone call with Vladimir Putin has finished.

Russian state media reported that the “helpful” call lasted more than two hours, and that Russia was ready to work with Ukraine on a memorandum about future peace talks.

(Reuters)

Trump phone call 'very informative' - Putin

Vladimir Putin has said he his phone call with Donald Trump was “very informative and helpful”.

Russian State media said Moscow was ready to work with Ukraine on a memorandum about future peace talks, after the two hour phone call on Monday.

Call over, lasted over 2 hours

The call between Trump and Putin has now finished, after the pair spoke for over two hours.

Russian media reported that the call was “very informative and helpful”, and that Putin said talks are “generally on the right track”.

Do Trump and Putin speak more often than is officially announced?

The Kremlin said in March that there may have been more contacts between Trump and Putin than the publicly announced telephone calls over recent months.

Before the contacts with Trump, Putin last spoke to a sitting US president in February 2022, when he and Joe Biden spoke shortly before the Russian leader ordered tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine.

Washington Post journalist Bob Woodward in his 2024 book "War" reported that Trump had direct conversations as many as seven times with Putin after he left the White House in 2021.

Asked if that were true in an interview with Bloomberg last year, Trump said: "If I did, it's a smart thing." The Kremlin denied Woodward's report.

Reuters, The Washington Post and Axios reported separately that Trump and Putin spoke in early November. The Kremlin also denied those reports.

(AFP/Getty)

Donald Trump has reportedly already spoken to Volodymyr Zelensky ahead of his call with Putin.

Reuters cited a source familiar with the matter, reporting that the Ukrainian and US president had spoken by phone on Monday.

Their call was originally scheduled to take place after Trump’s call with the Russian president, which is currently underway.

(Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

How often have Trump and Putin spoken?

After Trump's inauguration in January, the first publicly announced telephone call between Trump and Putin was on February 12.

Trump said then that both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had expressed a desire for peace in separate phone calls, and Trump ordered top US officials to begin talks on ending the war in Ukraine. They spoke again on March 18.

The Kremlin said they spoke for about 2 hours, one of the longest Putin calls.

Putin agreed to stop attacking Ukrainian energy facilities temporarily but declined to endorse a full 30-day ceasefire that Trump hoped would be the first step toward a permanent peace deal.

Ukraine and Russia accused each other of breaking that moratorium on attacking energy facilities.

Vance meets Pope amid US-led ceasefire efforts

JD Vance met Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican today, amid a flurry of US-led diplomatic efforts to secure a ceasefire in Ukraine.

The US vice president, who is a Catholic convert, extended an invitation to Leo to visit the United States during the meeting.

He also gave the Augustinian pope a copy of two of St Augustine's most seminal works, The City Of God and On Christian Doctrine, the vice president's office said. Another gift was a Chicago Bears T-shirt with Leo's name on it.

In return, Leo gave Mr Vance a bronze sculpture with the words in Italian: "Peace is a fragile flower," and a coffee-table sized picture book of the papal apartments in the Apostolic Palace.

(Vatican Media)

What are Trump and Putin discussing?

Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin are currently speaking over the phone.

The call has been set up as the US president looks to secure a ceasefire deal between Ukraine and Russia.

Earlier, the US vice president JD Vance told reporters the administration realised there was an “impasse” that needed to be resolved to bring an end to the conflict.

He said: “And I think the president's going to say to President Putin: 'Look, are you serious? Are you real about this?'”

Mr Trump said his discussion with Mr Putin would focus on stopping the "bloodbath" of the war.

It also will cover trade, a sign that the US president might be seeking to use financial incentives to broker some kind of agreement after Russia's invasion led to severe sanctions by the US and its allies that have steadily eroded Moscow's ability to grow.

The Kremlin said earlier that the call was to be based on results of Istanbul talks last week.

"The conversation is important, taking into account the negotiations held in Istanbul," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov Peskov said. "As for the talks, we [in the Kremlin] have already said everything we could, we underscored the basic points.”

Russia outlaws Amnesty International in latest crackdown on opposition

Russia has outlawed Amnesty International, designating it an "undesirable organisation" and criminalising involvement with the human rights group in the country.

This move, announced Monday by the Russian Prosecutor General’s office, further intensifies the Kremlin’s crackdown on dissent, which has escalated dramatically since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

The ban effectively shuts down Amnesty’s operations within Russia and threatens anyone cooperating with or supporting the organisation with prosecution.

Our reporter Albert Toth has the news:

Where are Putin and Trump speaking from?

The White House has confirmed that a phone call between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin is currently underway.

Putin is speaking from Russia's Black Sea resort of Sochi while Trump was in Washington.

Russian attacks on Ukraine ongoing as Trump and Putin discuss peace

Let’s turn our attention to near the Ukrainian frontline, where Russian attacks have far-from let up despite Washington’s push for peace and today’s Trump-Putin phone call.

On Sunday, Kyiv said Russia fired a record of 273 drones at Ukraine, killing one woman. On Monday, it said a further 112 were fired.

Photos shared by Ukraine’s emergency services shows blazes tearing through the buildings struck by Russia weaponry.

Around three people have been killed in the past day, including two in the southern Kherson region and one in the Donetsk region. Injuries were also recorded in Zaporizhzhia, Sumy, Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk.

Despite repeated diplomatic efforts towards a ceasefire, Russian drone attacks on civilian areas in Ukraine remain unrelenting.

Here are some pictures of Russia’s attack on the Chuguiv district of the Kharkiv region:

Russian drone debris struck the Chiguiv district of Kharkiv (State Emergency Service of Ukraine)

'A private two-story house and a civilian enterprise were targeted by enemy UAVs. Agricultural machinery and civilian cars were damaged,' the State Emergency Service of Ukraine said (State Emergency Service of Ukraine)

Trump-Putin phone call underway

The phone call between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin is now underway, a White House official has confirmed.

We’ll bring you all the latest lines as they come in.

What happened last time Trump and Putin spoke over the phone?

The phone call between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin should now be underway , if it did indeed begin at the scheduled time of 3pm BST.

It’s the first public call between the pair in more than two months, after they held a two-hour phone call on March 18. According to some reports, however, they have held a number of phone calls which were not publicised since Mr Trump took office January.

The March phone call, despite its length, did not appear to bring the US president any close to his goal.

Trump had, at the time, began proposing a 30-day unconditional ceasefire to allow for Moscow and Kyiv to hash out the terms of a peace agreement. This proposal was rejected by Putin.

Not only did the Russian president refuse to bow down to Mr Trump’s demands, the US president even issued some warm words afterwards.

"We had a great call," Donald Trump told Fox News, with special envoy Steve Witkoff adding: "I would commend President Putin for all he did today on that call to move his country close to a final peace deal.”

The call did, however, lay the seeds for an apparent ceasefire on energy and infrastructure - but this was a ceasefire which Russia was accused of breaching hundreds of times by Kyiv and its western allies. Moscow also accused Kyiv of breaking the truce terms.

EU and UK call on Moscow to show readiness for peace in joint summit

As a busy day of diplomacy gets underway in Washington to push for peace in Ukraine, European leaders have vowed to support Kyiv for “as long as it takes and as intensely as needed”.

EU commission chief Ursula von der Leyen and council chief Antonia Costa arrived in London for the first bilateral EU-UK summit since Brexit.

Following the summit, they made a joint statement which addressed peave in Ukraine, reaffirming their firm support for Kyiv’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity

During their first bilateral summit after Brexit, the EU and the UK have called on Russia to fully and unconditionally cease fire in Ukraine.

The statement also called for a a tribunal of Russia’s war.

"We are committed to ensuring full accountability for war crimes and other serious crimes committed in connection with Russia’s war of aggression, including by the establishment of a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine."

European Council president Antonio Costa, Britain's prime minister Keir Starmer and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen host a joint press conference (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Vance: US ready to walk away from peace efforts

More comments are through from US vice president JD Vance, who spoke with reporters before boarding a flight in Rome after meeting Pope Leo on Monday.

"I think honestly that President Putin, he doesn't quite know how to get out of the war," Mr Vance said, adding that he had just spoken to Trump.

He said it "takes two to tango. I know the President's willing to do that, but if Russia is not willing to do that, then we're eventually just going to say, this is not our war."

Washington will be “more than open to walking away”, Mr Vance added. Washington is “not going to spin its wheels here. We want to see outcomes.

"We're going to try to end it, but if we can't end it, we're eventually going to say: 'You know what? That was worth a try, but we're not doing anymore.'"

Vance talks to reporters on board Air Force Two at Leonardo da Vinci International Airport (Getty Images)

Trump-Putin call could shift US president back in 'anti-Ukraine direction'

Our reporter Tom Watling has been discussing the upcoming phone call with experts:

We have some pre-emptive analysis of today’s call between US president Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin.

Max Bergmann, director of the Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), says today’s call between the two leaders risks shifting Mr Trump back in an “anti-Ukraine direction”.

The US president is known to have quickly shifting opinions, often in line with the last person to whom he has spoken. His previous comments about Ukraine being responsible for the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion came shortly after the US president spoke to Mr Putin on the phone in February, and just a day after a Russian delegation met with the Trump administration in Saudi Arabia.

A public feud between Mr Trump and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky later that month saw Kyiv’s leader prematurely kicked out of the White House.

After Mr Trump met with Mr Zelensky at the funeral of Pope Francis in April, his tone shifted again to become more pro-Kyiv.

Now there are concerns Mr Trump’s views could shift again.

“These calls [between Trump and Putin] tend to be terrible for Ukraine,” says Mr Bergmann.

“There is a danger that Trump buys Putin’s talking points and that shifts him in an anti-Ukraine direction, which is a path he is already prone to follow.

“I doubt this call leads to any breakthroughs toward peace. But it may help Russia’s efforts to convince Trump to blame Ukraine for the war continuing.”

Trump to ask Putin in phone call: 'Are you serious about peace?'

We’re little over 20 minutes away from the scheduled phone call between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, and noises are emerging from the Trump administration on what to expect.

US vice president JD Vance, who has been in Rome meeting with the new Pope Leo XIV, said Mr Trump is going to question whether Putin is serious about achieving peace.

"We realize there's a bit of an impasse here. And I think the president's going to say to (Russian) President (Vladimir) Putin: 'Look, are you serious? Are you real about this?'" Mr Vance told reporters as he prepared to leave Italy, adding that he had just spoken with Mr Trump.

In Washington, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt is asked whether Mr Trump meeting the Russian president is still on the table.

He is “open” to it, she says, adding: “I think everything's on the table. Yes. And again, I won't get ahead of the President and any commitments or decisions, but certainly it's something he's been discussing.”

Trump has grown 'weary and frustrated' with both sides of conflict - White House

Karoline Leavitt says Donald Trump has “grown weary and frustrated” with “both sides” of the conflict, as he prepares to hold phone calls with both Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky this afternoon.

“The president has made it clear his goal is to see a ceasefire and to see this conflict come to an end,” Ms Leavitt says.

“He has grown weary and frustrated with both sides of the conflict. The president and his team have put an enormous amount of effort into solving this very complicated war that, again, began because of the previous administration’s weakness.”

She had previously blasted the “incompetence and weakness” of Joe Biden - who it yesterday emerged had been diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer - and his administration.

Karoline Leavitt is giving a press conference on Monday morning (AFP via Getty Images)

Trump moving quickly as possible to end Ukraine war - White House

Let’s turn to Washington D.C., where White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt is currently hosting a press conference.

Asked about why Donald Trump has not ended wars in Gaza and Ukraine - while the US continues to channel money towards these regions - Ms Leavitt states that Donald Trump’s foreign policy is “America first”.

“The president is moving as quickly as he possibly can to end these conflicts in Israel and Gaza and also the Russia-Ukraine war,” she added.

He plans to call Volodymyr Zelensky after a call with Vladimir Putin this afternoon concludes, Ms Leavitt says.

“I don’t want to get ahead of those very important conversations but of course you will hear directly from the president or me after those calls conclude today.”

Zelensky congratulates Dan after election over pro-Russian candidate in Romania

As news rolled in on Sunday of the Romanian election result, the EU breathed a sigh of relief.

The liberal Bucharest Mayor, Nicusor Dan, saw off nationalist George Simion, a far-right and pro-Russian candidate who wanted to halt all support for Ukraine.

But no leader would have been more relieved than Volodymyr Zelensky, after Ukraine’s neighbour to the south elected a pro-Ukraine president for the next five years.

Mr Zelensky has now congratulated Mr Simion, saying it is “essential that Romania continues to develop, and that we all cooperate together in our region and across Europe”.

He added: “This is a country on which much depends when it comes to security issues. We are deeply grateful for Romania’s contribution to protecting the lives of our people. It is important that support for Ukraine continues. Romania understands how crucial the struggle for freedom and justice is.”

The Ukrainian president invited his new Romanian counterpart to Kyiv.

Mr Zelensky spoke with Mr Dan on Monday (Volodymyr Zelensky/X)

Istanbul highlights 'stark difference' between Russia and Ukraine, says Kyiv foreign minister

Moscow and Kyiv’s meeting in Istanbul on Thursday highlighted the “stark difference” between the two countries, according to Ukraine’s foreign minister.

Andrii Sybiha took to X to make the comments, hours before Donald Trump is set to hold a critical phone call with Vladimir Putin which will discuss the results of the Istanbul talks.

“Ukraine is forward-looking, focused on the full and immediate ceasefire to kickstart the real peace process,” Mr Sybiha said.

Russia, he added, is “completely focussed on the past, rejecting the ceasefire and instead talking constantly about the 2022 Istanbul meetings, attempting to make the same absurd demands as three years ago”.

Mr Sybiha stressed that pressure on Russia “must be increased” for this reason, so that Moscow understands the “consequences of impeding the peace process”.

Trump-Putin call to be based on results of Istanbul talks - Kremlin

Three days ago, the world trained its gaze on Turkey for what many hoped would be a historic day of diplomacy.

By close of Friday, however, hopes had been dashed after direct Russia-Ukraine talks in Istanbul - the first such talks in three years - failed to bear fruit in terms of peace in Ukraine. A series of other meetings were also held among diplomats and officials from Europe and the US.

These talks, which exposed a significant chasm between Kyiv and Moscow in their visions of a peace agreement, will serve as a starting point when Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin hold a phone call at 3pm today.

"The conversation is important, taking into account the negotiations held in Istanbul," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov Peskov said. "As for the talks, we [in the Kremlin] have already said everything we could, we underscored the basic points.”

Turkey Russia Ukraine War

Russian negotiators on Friday made a series of demands described as unacceptable by Kyiv.

According to Bloomberg, the Moscow delegation demanded that Ukraine:

• adopt a neutral position with no foreign troops or weapons of mass destruction on its territory
• renounce claims for reparations from Russia
• recognise Russian annexation of Crimea, and four other regions which Moscow dos not fully control

Exactly where Mr Trump currently stands on the first two demands is unclear, but Washington has offered to legally recognise Russian control over Crimea in peace proposals it made in April.

Zelensky builds indirect pressure on Trump-Zelensky call as he meets Vance

Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky met with US vice president JD Vance, secretary of state Marco Rubio, and European leaders in Rome yesterday, as he intensified his efforts ahead of Donald Trump's on call with Vladimir Putin.

The Ukrainian president said on X that during his talks with the American officials, they discussed the negotiations in Turkey and that "the Russians sent a low level delegation of non-decision-makers".

He also said he stressed that Ukraine is engaged in "real diplomacy" to have a ceasefire.

"We have also touched upon the need for sanctions against Russia, bilateral trade, defence cooperation, battlefield situation and upcoming prisoners exchange," Mr Zelensky said.

"Pressure is needed against Russia until they are eager to stop the war," he said.

(EPA)

‘This is what death feels like’: The terrifying reality of Ukraine’s landmine crisis

Dmytro Guzha was returning home with his wife Elena when he felt the explosion beneath his feet – and then nothing.

“After that, I didn’t hear or see anything at all,” the 49-year-old says. He regained consciousness a few minutes later and his focus turned to Elena.

“I was really worried about my wife because I saw her and she didn’t move. Then I wanted to try to get closer to her but I couldn’t because my leg didn’t move.” That was the result of the explosion that had ripped through his lower half.

The Ukrainian city of Chuhuiv, in the northeastern region of Kharkiv, faced heavy Russian bombardment in the opening weeks of Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, which started on 24 February 2022. Guzha could see and hear explosions in the air as he and Elena took their ill-fated trip to the bakery.

Bryony Gooch reports:

'There was an exchange of views': What happened when Pope Leo met JD Vance

Pope Leo and US vice president JD Vance have met in what has been described by the Vatican as an “exchange of views” on contentious issues surrounding Gaza and Ukraine.

The newly appointed pontiff - who as a cardinal was repeatedly critical of Trump administration policies, as well as Vance’s take on christianity - met with the vice president the morning after his inaugural mass.

Pope Leo and JD Vance had an “exchange of views” during their meeting on Monday (via REUTERS)

Despite Pope Leo’s previous criticism, the Holy See’s press office described Monday’s meeting, in which collaboration between the church and the US government was discussed, as “cordial”.

“Finally, there was an exchange of views on some current international issues, during which hope was expressed that humanitarian law and international law be respected in areas of conflict and that there be a negotiated solution between the parties involved,” the Vatican press office said.

It follows Trump’s proposal to turn the Gaza strip into a “riviera” amid Israel’s push to force Palestinians from the territory, as well as the US government’s support for Ukraine to cede territory to Russia to bring about peace.

Mapped: State of play in Ukraine as peace set to be focus of Trump-Putin call

Russia's 'largest drone attack' on Ukraine leaves trail of destruction in Kyiv region - ICYMI

Russia bans Amnesty International as 'undesirable organisation'

Russia has banned human rights group Amnesty International as an “undesirable organisation”.

The charity, Moscow says, has been backing Ukraine against Russia. Moscow routinely bans organisations critical of the Kremlin regime’s actions, including US-government funded Radio Free Europe, Greenpeace, and the Elton John Aids Foundation, which it banned last month for its LGBTQ+ advocacy.

Amnesty International, which was founded in 1961 and based in London, campaigns for human rights around the world, including for those it designates prisoners of conscience.

In its statement, Russia's prosecutor general accused the organisation of "doing everything possible to intensify the military confrontation in the region. They justify the crimes of Ukrainian neo-Nazis, call for an increase in their funding, and insist on the political and economic isolation of our country."

Russian officials regularly accuse Ukraine of being dominated by "neo-Nazis", an accusation seen by Kyiv, the West and other countries as baseless propaganda.

In pictures: Rescuers at site of destroyed buildings in wake of Russian attacks

These pictures from Kherson and Donetsk, released by emergency services, show debris and damage after reported Russian attacks (State Emergency Service of Ukraine)

At least two people were killed and 13 injured in Russian attacks over the past day, according to regional authorities (State Emergency Service of Ukraine)

The attacks come ahead of a critical Trump-Putin phone call on Monday (State Emergency Service of Ukraine)

Russia killed two civilians in past day, Ukraine says hours before Trump-Putin call

At least two people have been killed and 13 injured in Russian attacks on Ukraine over the past day.

The figures were released hours before Donald Trump calls Russian president Vladimir Putin, with whom he will plead to end the “bloodbath” in Ukraine.

In the Kherson region, two people were killed and six injured following intense shelling on 30 towns. Others were injured in the Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Sumy, Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk regions.

Full report: What to expect from Putin-Trump phone call to end the Ukraine war ‘bloodbath’

Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin are set to hold a critical phone call today as the West pushes for ceasefire to end the “bloodbath” of the war in Ukraine.

“HOPEFULLY IT WILL BE A PRODUCTIVE DAY,” Trump said on his TruthSocial platform, announcing the phone call.

But Monday’s discussion between the US and Russian leaders, happening at 3pm BST, comes within hours of Moscow launching its largest drone strike against Ukraine and a warning from Kyiv of a Russian ballistic missile test.

As of 8am on Monday Russia had launched 273 drones at Ukrainian cities, Ukraine’s Air Force said, killed a 28-year-old woman and injuring three others, including a four-year-old.

Rachel Clun reports:

Russian defence ministry claims control over two villages in Ukraine

Russian forces have seized the villages of Novoolenivka and Marine, Moscow’s defence ministry claimed according to state news agency RIA.

Novoolenivka is in the Donetsk region, where Russian forces have been steadily advancing for months. The vast majority of Ukrainian villages seized by Russia in the past year have been in the region.

Marine is in Ukraine’s northeastern Sumy region, which Moscow began pushing into after ousting Kyiv's forces from Russia's neighbouring Kursk region.

The Independent could not verify the battlefield report.

Kremlin says US mediation may be better for direct Ukraine talks

The Kremlin has confirmed the phone call set to be held between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin later today, RIA state news agency reported.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has now suggested the prospect of US-mediated talks between Russia and Ukraine could be brought up.

If US mediation in the talks would help Russia achieve its goals in Ukraine through peaceful means, Mr Peskov said, then Moscow would support the move.

He added that the discussions will take into account the results of direct talks between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul - the first such direct talks in more than three years.

The call will take place at 5pm Moscow time (3pm BST).

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

It's a busy day for US diplomacy - what should we expect?

Donald Trump is set to speak directly with Vladimir Putin later today, three days after the first direct Russia-Ukraine talks in years failed to bear fruit.

The last two days have been busy in the realm of US diplomacy. Secretary of state Marco Rubio and vice president JD Vance paid a visit to the Vatican for Pope Leo’s first formal mass, while Mr Trump spoke with a handful of European leaders ahead of today’s phone calls.

The US president is also set to speak with Volodymyr Zelensky - with whom he spoke over the phone on Friday, shortly after the Russia-Ukraine talks concluded. He will call other Nato leaders.

On the table for his phone call with Putin will be the ongoing “bloodbath” in Ukraine and trade, he said.

This suggests Mr Trump could look to use financial incentives to push Moscow towards bringing about a ceasefire in Ukraine - something which Kyiv says Putin is not serious about.

The phone call will also cover last week’s talks, likely looking to address the wide gap in position between Russia and Ukraine.

Mr Trump has phoned the Russian president a handful of times since his second presidency began in January, without prompting any significant breakthroughs towards peace. He will hope today can finally bring the progress he has so keenly sought.

Trump will be holding a series of phone calls, hoping for a “productive” Monday (Getty Images)

Russian forces fire 112 drones at Ukraine

Russian forces attacked Ukraine with 112 attack and decoy drones overnight into Monday, Ukraine’s air force has said.

Air defences downed 76 of the Russian drones over Ukraine’s eastern, northern, southern and central regions. A total of 35 disappeared from radar, likely due to Kyiv’s use of electronic warfare.

The Kharkiv, Sumy, Donetsk, Cherkasy and Kirovohrad regions were all attacked by Russian drones, the air force added according to Ukrainska Pravda.

Anti-aircraft missile units and aircraft were used by Ukrainian forces to repel the attacks.

Pictured: Celebrations after pro-Eu, pro-Kyiv candidate wins Romania election

Supporters of Bucharest Mayor Nicusor Dan, who won a tense rerun of Romania's presidential election on Sunday - beating far-right nationalist George Simion who was more sympathetic to Moscow - cheer as he exit his campaign headquarters in Bucharest (AFP via Getty Images)

The vote was seen as crucial for the direction of the EU and Nato member bordering war-torn Ukraine (AFP via Getty Images)

Full report: Zelensky and Vance shake hands in first meeting since Oval Office clash

Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky and US vice president JD Vance were seen shaking hands at the inauguration of new Pope Leo XIV on Sunday.

It was the first meeting of the pair following the infamous White House clash earlier this year, which saw President Zelensky leaving after a shouting match with Donald Trump and Mr Vance.

The pair smiled as they shook hands in the brief exchange. Mr Zelensky later met with Mr Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the sidelines of the mass, a source in the Ukrainian delegation told Reuters.

Our correspondent Rebecca Thomas has the full report: