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The Russian president reportedly wants Kyiv to give up Donetsk, a key military objective in eastern Ukraine
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Vladmir Putin demanded that Ukraine surrender key territory in a call with US president Donald Trump earlier this week, according to reports.
The Russian president wants Kyiv to give up Donetsk, a key military objective in eastern Ukraine that has been fiercely defended throughout the conflict, as reported by WaPo.
Putin made the request to Trump on Thursday, just a day before Volodymyr Zelensky flew into Washington DC on Friday for a high-stakes meeting with the US president.
After the White House Trump signalled to Zelensky on Friday that he’s leaning against selling him long-range Tomahawk missiles, weaponry that the Ukrainians believe could help get Putin to the negotiating table.
“I have an obligation also to make sure that we’re completely stocked up as a country, because you never know what’s going to happen in war and peace,” Trump said. “We’d much rather have them not need Tomahawks. We’d much rather have the war be over to be honest.”
Zelensky told Trump said he had a “proposition” in which Ukraine could provide the United States with its advanced drones, while Washington would sell Kyiv the Tomahawk missiles.
The Tomahawk missile is a US-made long-range cruise missile typically launched from sea to attack targets in deep-strike missions.
First used in 1991 during the Persian Gulf War, the missiles have evolved considerably over the last 30 years. According to manufacturer Raytheon, the most recent version, called the Block IV Tactical Tomahawk, or TACTOM, can switch targets while in flight, loiter for hours and change course instantly on command.
Its most recent use came in 2024, when the US and UK Navies launched Tomahawk missiles at Houthi rebel sites in Yemen.
Donald Trump said the idea of a Putin-Trump rail tunnel linking the US and Russia was “interesting” after it was floated by a Russian envoy late on Thursday night.
But when asked about it in Washington on Friday, Zelensky said “I’m not happy with this idea,” prompting laughter from the US side.
The idea envisions a rail tunnel built under the Bering Strait, connecting the two countries, and allowing for joint exploration of natural resources.
Putin’s investment envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, suggested the idea after Trump’s call with Putin on Thursday.
“Imagine connecting the US and Russia, the Americas and the Afro-Eurasia with the Putin-Trump Tunnel – a 70-mile link symbolising unity,” he posted on X.
He suggested the project could be taken on by Elon Musk’s Boring Company, at a cost of $8bn (£6bn).
Vladmir Putin demanded that Ukraine surrender key territory in a call with US president Donald Trump earlier this week, according to reports.
The Russian president wants Kyiv to give up Donetsk, a key military objective in eastern Ukraine that has been fiercely defended throughout the conflict, as revealed by WaPo.
Putin made the request to Trump on Thursday, just a day before Volodymyr Zelensky flew into Washington DC on Friday for a high-stakes meeting with the US president.
Following Zelensky’s meeting with Trump on Friday, Starmer suggested working with the US to draft a Ukrainian peace plan similar to Trump’s 20-point plan for Gaza, a source briefed on the meeting told Axios.
Mark Rutte, Nato’s secretary general, proposed an urgent follow-up call over the weekend between European national security advisers.
Starmer’s office has been contacted for comment.
The European Union has unveiled four flagship projects to strengthen its defence capabilities against Russia by 2030, as recent airspace violations show that “Europe is at risk”.
The European Commission will submit the ‘Defence Readiness Roadmap 2030’ to EU leaders next week, essentially presenting them with a checklist of equipment for national governments to buy, with hopes of encouraging member states to decide who will take the lead on projects.
What are the projects?
As a top priority, the plans include the European Drone Defence Initiative, which aims to build counter-drone capabilities to detect, track, and disable rogue drones. The system is expected to be initially operational by December 2026 and fully functional in late 2027.
The drone system is part of the wider Eastern Flank Watch scheme, which aims to fortify defences along Europe’s eastern border on land, in the Baltic and Black seas, in the sky, and against hybrid operations. It hopes to be fully functional by 2028.
The European Air Shield aims to protect member states’ airspace by creating an integrated, multi-layered air and missile defence shield to protect against all Russian air threats.
The fourth project is the European Space Shield, which aims to protect space assets and services against growing threats.
In a private call to Zelensky after his meeting with Trump, Starmer told the president that Russia’s tactics showed that Ukraine was “party of peace”.
Following a group call with European leaders on Friday, Starmer and Zelensky spoke privately with each other.
Starmer told Zelensky: “Russia’s stalling tactics ahead of peace talks had shown Ukraine was the serious party of peace.”
Following Zelensky’s meeting with Trump on Friday, Starmer suggested working with the US to draft a Ukrainian peace plan similar to Trump’s 20-point plan for Gaza, a source briefed on the meeting told Axios.
Mark Rutte, Nato’s secretary general, proposed an urgent follow-up call over the weekend between European national security advisers.
Starmer’s office has been contacted for comment.
Donald Trump said the idea of a Putin-Trump rail tunnel linking the US and Russia was “interesting” after it was floated by a Russian envoy late on Thursday night.
But when asked about it in Washington on Friday, Zelensky said “I’m not happy with this idea,” prompting laughter from the US side.
The idea envisions a rail tunnel built under the Bering Strait, connecting the two countries, and allowing for joint exploration of natural resources.
Putin’s investment envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, suggested the idea after Trump’s call with Putin on Thursday.
“Imagine connecting the US and Russia, the Americas and the Afro-Eurasia with the Putin-Trump Tunnel – a 70-mile link symbolising unity,” he posted on X.
He suggested the project could be taken on by Elon Musk’s Boring Company, at a cost of $8bn (£6bn).
Zelensky called Starmer and other world leaders after his meeting with Trump to inform them of his “productive and extensive” visit to the Oval Office.
On the joint call were also German leader Friedrich Merz, Italian leader Giorgia Meloni, and NATO secretary general Mark Rutte, among others.
The leaders discussed air defence, Ukraine’s needs, and security guarantees.
Starmer said: “I reiterated our unwavering commitment to Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression, the UK will continue to send humanitarian aid and military support.”
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