Donald Trump has spoken about talks in the Saudi city of Riyadh today as efforts to end the Ukraine war continue. Volodymyr Zelenskyy has also given a revealing interview. Follow the latest, submit a question for defence analyst Michael Clarke and listen to The World podcast below.
Tuesday 25 March 2025 00:32, UK
Security and defence analyst Michael Clarke returns for his weekly Q&A on the Ukraine war tomorrow afternoon – covering anything from the battlefield to the negotiating table.
He’ll tackle as many of your questions as he can – submit yours in the box above to join in.
That’s all for our live coverage today, but we’ll be back with more updates and analysis tomorrow.
If you’re just checking in, here is a recap of the key developments today:
A group chat in which Trump officials accidentally discussed highly sensitive war plans in front of a journalist appears to shed further light on the administration’s abandonment of old alliances, writes correspondent David Blevins.
Vice President JD Vance seemed to question the President’s decision to strike, writing: “I just hate bailing Europe out again.”
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth replied: “I fully share your loathing of European free-loading. PATHETIC.”
Trump and his team argued that European countries benefit from US protection of shipping lanes in the Red Sea, a frequent target for Houthis attacks.
Read on here…
Ukrainian and US delegations will meet tomorrow in Saudi Arabia for talks, Ukraine’s Suspilne national broadcaster reports.
They follow the Russia-US negotiations on a narrow sea ceasefire proposal between Kyiv and Moscow today.
A White House source said the talks have been going “extremely well” and a positive announcement is expected soon.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he will expand a programme allowing people aged 18-24 to volunteer for the army, reports Ukrinform.
“Contract 18-24” was introduced by the cabinet in February so younger fighters could volunteer for one year for 1m UAH (approximately £18,560).
Men are conscripted to fight from age 25 to 60 in Ukraine.
“We will expand it. I was on the front line on Saturday, and there was a request from specific brigades,” said Zelenskyy.
“We will respond positively to this request – more brigades will be able to accept young volunteers.”
He said the scheme should be extended to the national guard and border units.
So far, six brigades have been involved in its pilot phase.
Donald Trump told reporters earlier this month that he has already spoken to both sides about “dividing up certain assets”.
But what have Ukraine and Russia said about territory, and what key infrastructure could be involved in a ceasefire deal?
Read on here…
A Russian governor says Ukrainian artillery killed six people in occupied Luhansk, including a 14-year-old boy.
Leonid Pasechnik said two journalists working for the Russian defence ministry-run channel, Zvezda, were also among the dead.
The attack killed a journalist working for the Izvestia media outlet, Pasachnik added.
Sky News cannot independently verify these claims.
Nearly all of the Luhansk region has been captured by Russian forces.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy has made remarks following the meeting of US representatives and what he branded Russia’s “war team” in Saudi Arabia.
“Today, representatives of the United States of America spoke with the war team – with representatives of Russia.
“After that, another meeting of the Ukrainian and American teams,” he said.
“We need a movement towards real peace, towards guaranteed security.
“And we all need this: in Ukraine, in Europe, in America, everyone in the world who wants peace in international relations.
“Russia is the only entity that is dragging out this war and mocking our people and the whole world. And to pressure Russia towards peace, strong things, strong steps are needed.”
US and Russian officials have wrapped up day-long talks in Saudi Arabia focused on a proposal for a ceasefire at sea between Kyiv and Moscow.
There was no immediate word on whether an agreement had been hammered out or progress made.
A Russian source told Reuters a draft joint statement has been sent to Moscow and Washington for approval, with the parties aiming to release it tomorrow.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said earlier that no documents would be signed, Russian state news agency TASS reported.
Even as the meeting was underway, a Russian missile strike damaged a school and a hospital in Sumy, wounding at least 88 people, according to the local council.
“Moscow speaks of peace while carrying out brutal strikes on densely populated residential areas in major Ukrainian cities,” Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said.
“Instead of making hollow statements about peace, Russia must stop bombing our cities and end its war on civilians.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy has revealed he sleeps under paintings that include a depiction of the Kremlin burning.
Time magazine visited the president and found three oil paintings above a single bed.
One shows a Russian warship sinking into the Black Sea, while another shows Ukrainian troops fighting recently on Russian territory.
The third, described as “Zelenskyy’s favourite”, shows the Kremlin engulfed in flames.
“Each one’s about victory,” he said of the paintings.
“That’s where I live.”
While talks go on in Saudi Arabia, Ukrainian soldiers continue to fight on the frontline.
Photographs show servicemen of the 39th Separate Coastal Defence Brigade firing a 2S1 Gvozdika self-propelled howitzer towards Russian troops in Kherson yesterday.
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