Ukraine-Russia war latest: Kyiv ‘pushes Russian forces back’ hours after Putin asks Trump for Donetsk surrender

The highly-anticipated meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin had been hailed as an essential and crucial step in forging a path towards peace in wartorn Ukraine.

In Moscow, the meeting has been praised as a success, while in the West, it has left more questions than answers.

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While multiple European leaders have been invited to join Volodymyr Zelensky during his trip to Washington on Monday, it has been reported that Trump favourite Alexander Stubb will be the one to make the trip.

According to two European diplomats and a person familiar with the matter who spoke to Politico, the Finnish president will be on hand to prevent any flare-ups between the Ukrainian president and Donald Trump, and to include Europe in any discussions.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, who has a close relationship with Trump, may also make the trip to Washington.

Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, has named his price for ending the war in Ukraine. If he is given those parts of the eastern provinces of Donetsk and Luhansk that he does not already occupy, he would freeze the rest of the frontline.

His offer, made at the summit meeting in Alaska, was relayed by Donald Trump to Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, and Mr Trump then advised Mr Zelensky in a public interview to “make a deal” with Russia.

The US president’s position remains confused and ambiguous, but the implication that Ukraine should give up more land than it has already lost is not the right place to start. It is generally accepted, including by Mr Zelensky, that Ukraine will have to compromise in order to secure peace, but this would not be a compromise. It would be a straightforward concession, yielding to Mr Putin what he has been unable to win on the battlefield.

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In the letter hand-delivered by Donald Trump to Russian leader Vladimir Putin, Melania Trump appealed to “protect the innocence of children” and said that by doing so he would not only serve Russia but humanity as a whole.

“Every child shares the same quiet dreams in their heart, whether born randomly into a nation’s rustic countryside or a magnificent city-center,” she wrote.

“They dream of love, possibility, and safety from danger. As parents, it is our duty to nurture the next generation’s hope. As leaders, the responsibility to sustain our children extends beyond the comfort of a few.”

She said the world should paint a dignity-filled world for all – so that every soul may wake to peace, and so that the future itself is perfectly guarded.

“Mr Putin, you can singlehandedly restore their melodic laughter,” she wrote.

Sir Keir Starmer will meet European allies on Sunday, amid reports Donald Trump favours a Russian land grab in Ukraine to end the war.

The Prime Minister, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will host the coalition of the willing on Sunday afternoon.

The video conference of allies who plan to keep the peace in Ukraine comes ahead of Volodymyr Zelensky’s White House meeting with Donald Trump on Monday.

Several news outlets have cited sources which claimed that during the negotiations Mr Putin demanded full control of Donetsk and Luhansk – two occupied Ukrainian regions – as a condition for ending the war.

In exchange, he would give up other Ukrainian territories held by Russian troops.

Other outlets reported that Mr Trump is inclined to support the plan, and will speak to Mr Zelensky about it on Monday when they meet in the Oval Office.

Sir Keir commended Mr Trump’s “pursuit of an end to the killing” following a phone call with the US President, Mr Zelensky and Nato allies on Saturday morning.

Multiple European leaders have been invited to join president Donald Trump’s meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House on Monday, a US official told CNN.

It remains uncertain who will attend, though European diplomats have indicated that at least one leader from the continent is expected to take part in the talks.

Sir Keir Starmer will meet European allies on Sunday, amid reports Donald Trump favours a Russian land grab in Ukraine to end the war.

The prime minister, French president Emmanuel Macron and German chancellor Friedrich Merz will host the “Coalition of the Willing” talks on Sunday afternoon.

The video conference of allies who plan to keep the peace in Ukraine comes ahead of Volodymyr Zelensky’s White House meeting with Donald Trump on Monday.

The one-on-one in the Oval Office could pave the way for a three-way meeting alongside Russian leader Putin, the US president has said.

Several news outlets have cited sources which claimed that during the negotiations Putin demanded full control of Donetsk and Luhansk – two occupied Ukrainian regions – as a condition for ending the war.

In exchange, he would give up other Ukrainian territories held by Russian troops.

Other outlets reported that Trump is inclined to support the plan, and will speak to Zelensky about it on Monday when they meet in the Oval Office.

Sir Keir commended Trump’s “pursuit of an end to the killing” following a phone call with the US president, Zelensky and Nato allies on Saturday morning.But he insisted Ukraine’s leader must not be excluded from future talks to broker a peace in Ukraine.

Ukraine’s army says it has pushed forward about 2km in Sumy oblast, reporting fresh gains just a day after US president Donald Trump and Russian president Vladimir Putin reportedly discussed possible “land swaps” in Alaska.

Kyiv’s general staff said troops were “actively destroying the enemy and liberating settlements.”

The military said that Ukrainian units had made gains in multiple areas in Sumy, according to Kyiv Independent.

Reports of advances come as Russia claims to have captured two more villages in Donetsk, where president Volodymyr Zelensky admitted the situation remains “extremely difficult” but noted successful Ukrainian counterattacks near Dobropillia and Pokrovsk.

The battlefield shifts highlight a volatile front line, even as Moscow and Washington explore controversial territorial deals.

It is now conceivable, just, that Trump is prepared to consider security guarantees for Ukraine that reflect Nato’s Article 5, which could mean that if Ukraine signed up to a peace deal then its long-term future sovereignty and security would be protected, by force of arms, by allies including the US.

Read our World Affairs Editor Sam Kiley’s report.