Ukraine has accepted the terms of a Washington-brokered peace deal, according to US media, with Russia yet to respond.
A US official said Kyiv had "agreed to a peace deal" to stop Russia’s four-year invasion with only “minor details” still to be worked out, CBS News reported. Kyiv has not confirmed that it has accepted the plan.
It came hours after Ukraine’s national security adviser Rustem Umerov said it had reached a “reached a common understanding” with the White House over a deal to end the war.
Umerov said that President Volodymyr Zelensky is likely to visit the US in the next few days to finalise a deal with President Donald Trump to end Ukraine's war with Russia.
Zelensky on Monday welcomed amendments to Trump's 28-point peace plan following meetings in Geneva.
Trump had also hailed the progress made in those talks, writing on Truth Social that "something good just may be happening".
Key Points
- Ukraine accepts terms of Trump peace deal, reports US media
- Zelensky could visit US finalise peace deal with Trump in coming days, says top Kyiv official
- Six killed and 13 wounded in Kyiv after Russian attack on apartment buildings
- Ukraine strikes oil refinery in huge drone attack across southern Russia
- Zelensky wlecomes amendments from Europe on Trump's peace plan
- Romania scrambles fighter jets after drones breach airspace
Watch: Kyiv residential buildings on fire after Russian strikes
13:38 , Alex CroftUkraine accepts terms of Trump peace deal, reports US media
13:20 , Alex CroftUkraine has accepted the terms of a Washington-brokered peace deal, according to US reports, after days of wrangling between the White House, Moscow and Kyiv.
A US official said Kyiv had "agreed to a peace deal" to stop Russia’s four-year invasion, CBS News reported hours after Ukraine’s national security adviser Rustem Umerov said it had reached a “reached a common understanding” with the White House.
Umerov had said that president Volodymyr Zelensky is likely to visit the US in the next few days to finalise a deal with President Donald Trump to end Ukraine's war with Russia.
International unity must be shown in support of Ukraine, Starmer tells Zelensky
13:17 , Alex CroftThe Independent’s political correspondent Millie Cooke reports:
Sir Keir Starmer has reaffirmed the UK's support for Ukraine on a call with Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday morning, telling him that international unity has to be shown in support of the war-torn nation.
The prime minister also shared his condolences after a number of people were killed in overnight Russian strikes on Kyiv, with Downing Street saying that Sir Keir paid tribute "to the Ukrainian people who showed such courage and resilience in the face of daily hardship and bloodshed from Putin’s ongoing onslaught".
In a readout of the call, a spokesperson added: "Reflecting on talks in Geneva, the leaders agreed on the importance of securing a just and lasting peace. The prime minister said Ukraine can rely on the UK’s support as discussions continue.
"Looking ahead to this afternoon’s Coalition of the Willing call, the leaders discussed the international unity that has to be shown in support of Ukraine and underlined the importance of the continued work of coalition partners in preparation for the deployment of the multinational force following the cessation of hostilities.”
Starmer hits out at Putin’s ‘depraved ambitions’
13:00 , Alex CroftWhitehall correspondent Kate Devlin reports:
The prime minister has condemned Vladimir Putin as he updated MPs on the situation in Ukraine.
He said that more than a million Russians had been killed and injured in the war “all because of the depraved ambitions of one man”.
In a rare personal moment, the Labour leader also said that last night he celebrated his daughter’s 15th birthday and “later I saw images on the news of a young girl about the same age being pulled from the rubble of a building in Ukraine where her mother had just been killed. It is abhorrent.”
Starmer warns ‘a long way to go and a tough road ahead’ on Ukraine
12:57 , Alex CroftThe Independent’s Whitehall correspondent Kate Devlin reports:
Sir Keir Starmer has warned that there is “a long way to go and a tough road ahead” on possible peace for Ukraine.
The PM also revealed he had spoken to President Zelensky again this morning as he set out the UK’s position to MPs in the House of Commons.
He also stressed again that any decision on Ukraine’s future must be determined by Ukraine.
Sir Keir and President Zelensky discussed ongoing work by the so-called ‘coalition of the willing’ to prepare for the deployment of a multinational force to Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire, Downing Street said.
Trump's 28-point plan included elements that were unacceptable - Starmer
12:42 , Alex CroftSir Keir Starmer is currently addressing the House of Commons on the Ukraine peace process, ahead of talks wit other members of the Coalition of the Willing later.
He tells MPs that “the initial draft of the 28-point plan included points that were not acceptable”.
But also it included some elements that “will be essential for a just and lasting peace”, he says, referencing US security backstop plans.
“Elements relating to Europe and Nato will need the consent of Europe and Nato members,” he added.
Lavrov says peace plan must reflect 'spirit and letter' of agreement at Trump-Putin Alaska summit
12:23 , Alex CroftRussian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday that an amended peace plan for Ukraine must reflect the "spirit and letter" of an understanding reached between president Vladimir Putin and US president Donald Trump at their Alaska summit.
Speaking at a news conference in Moscow, Lavrov said Russia had welcomed an initial version of a US peace plan for Ukraine and was waiting for an amended interim version of the plan after Washington had coordinated with Ukraine and Europe.
If the amended version did not reflect what Putin and Trump had discussed when they met in Alaska in August, Lavrov said that Russia - whose representatives were reported to be preparing to hold more talks with the US in Abu Dhabi later on Tuesday - would take a very different view of the initiative.
"Our assessments remain valid in the sense that the key provisions of Trump's (original) plan are based on understandings reached in Anchorage at the Russian-American summit in August this year. And these principles are generally reflected in the plan, which we welcomed," he said.
Watch: Zelensky says Ukraine peace deal has fewer than 28 points after Geneva talks
12:03 , Alex CroftIn pictures: Heavy damage in Kyiv after huge Russian air attack
11:45 , Alex Croft
What happened in today's Russia-US peace talks?
11:24 , Alex CroftUS Army secretary Dan Driscoll is set to continue talks with Russian officials in Abu Dhabi as part of an intense new push by the Trump administration to end the war in Ukraine.
US and Ukrainian officials are seeking to narrow the gaps between them over a peace plan, with core issues still unresolved and Ukraine wary of being strong-armed into accepting a deal largely on the Kremlin's terms.
The exact nature of the talks in Abu Dhabi were not immediately clear, and it was not known who was in the Russian delegation. A US official told Reuters news agency that Driscoll, who has emerged as a point man for diplomatic efforts, was also expected to meet Ukrainian officials while in Abu Dhabi.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said he has nothing to say about the talks, adding that the "only substantive thing is the American project, the Trump project”. The Russia-US proposals are widely viewed by Kyiv and its allies as a capitulation for Ukraine.
We’ll keep you updated on all the latest from today’s continued talks in Abu Dhabi.
Comment | This is what Europe must do to call Putin’s bluff on Ukraine
11:04 , Alex CroftOur world affairs editor Sam Kiley writes:
Europe is taking baby steps towards walking away from America and ending the Russian threat against its democracies. But the time has come to take giant leaps for mankind.
A non-Nato, Nato-style alliance of the West would be a powerful entity that would give Putin pause for thought if it acted together and with the sort of confidence the Kremlin has shown on the world stage.
The combined size of the economies of Nato nations – minus the US, Hungary and Slovenia – is over four times that of the Russian Federation. It spends 3.5 to 4 per cent more on defence than the Kremlin.
This bloc could muster about 3.2 million troops vs Russia’s 1.5 million. This is a massive amount of power for an alliance to wield and far beyond anything that Russia could resist.
Georgia and Ukraine have Russian forces occupying chunks of their territory. The Kremlin would think twice about moving forwards if they risked attack by the aircraft and long range missiles of the biggest, richest, and best equipped military and economic bloc on the planet.
As Europe gets its ceasefire proposal off the ground, it needs a threat that will shake Putin. A Nato-style defence pact would do that.
Mapped: The territory Ukraine stands to lose in a peace deal
10:46 , Alex CroftMoscow claims it has captured village in Donetsk region
10:27 , Alex CroftRussia's Defence Ministry said on Tuesday its forces had captured the settlement of Ivanopillia in eastern Ukraine's Donetsk region.
The Independent could not verify the battlefield report, but authoritative Ukrainian battlefield map DeepState shows Russian forces edging into the outskirts of the town as of 24 November.
More on drone incursion into Romania
10:09 , Alex CroftAs we reported earlier, Romania had scrambled fighter jets after drones breached its airspace near its border with Ukraine on Tuesday.
The drones breached its territory near the border with Ukraine early on Tuesday, and one was still advancing deeper into the country, the defence ministry said.
Romania said it initially scrambled two Eurofighters - part of German air-policing missions in Romania - which tracked a drone in the southeastern county of Tulcea before it re-entered Ukraine.
The army later scrambled two Romanian F-16 fighter jets after radar showed a second airspace breach in the county of Galati. The planes tracked it moving inland towards the county of Vrancea, the ministry said.
Residents of all three counties were warned to take cover.
The EU and Nato member shares a 650-km (400-mile) land border with Ukraine and has had drones breach its airspace and fragments fall onto its territory repeatedly since Russia began attacking Kyiv's ports across the Danube.
Starmer to hold call with Ukraine's European allies on Tuesday
09:48 , Alex CroftSir Keir Starmer is set to speak to Ukraine’s European allies on Tuesday following the latest talks to secure peace in the war-torn nation.
The Prime Minister will host a coalition of the willing call after efforts over the weekend between the US and Kyiv to broker a truce with Moscow.
Sir Keir and other western leaders had pushed back against US president Donald Trump’s original 28-point peace plan ahead of the talks in Geneva, Switzerland, raising concerns about the prospect of a cap on Ukraine’s armed forces and land being ceded to Russia.
Foreign Office officials appeared confident that progress made in Geneva meant this was no longer a hard deadline.
Ahead of the coalition of the willing call, Sir Keir said all partners in the alliance were focused on achieving a “just and lasting peace” in Ukraine.
The peace “matters for all of us, because the conflict in Ukraine has had a direct impact here in the United Kingdom”, the Prime Minister added.
Zelensky could visit US finalise peace deal with Trump in coming days, says top Kyiv official
09:31 , Alex CroftVolodymyr Zelensky could visit the US in the next few days to finalise a deal with president Donald Trump to end Ukraine's war with Russia, Kyiv's national security chief said.
"We look forward to organising a visit of Ukraine's President to the US at the earliest suitable date in November to complete final steps and make a deal with President Trump," Rustem Umerov wrote on Facebook.
He said the US and Ukraine had held “productive and constructive meetings” in Geneva and praised Trump for his “steadfast efforts to end the war”.
“Our delegations reached a common understanding on the core terms of the agreement discussed in Geneva,” Mr Umerov added.
Ukraine strikes oil refinery in huge drone attack across southern Russia
09:22 , Alex CroftThree people were killed and at least 16 injured in a major Ukrainian drone attack on southern Russia with residential buildings damaged in the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk and the cities of Rostov-on-Don and Krasnodar, Russian officials said.
The Russian Defence Ministry said that 249 Ukrainian drones were downed over Russian regions overnight, including 116 over the Black Sea, 92 over the southern regions of Krasnodar and Rostov.
Moscow does not typically reveal how many drones were fired in total.
Rostov Governor Yuri Slyusar said that a paint shop, a warehouse, four apartment buildings and 12 houses were damaged in the attack, which left at least three dead.
Unverified video footage on Telegram showed what sounded like a drone flying directly into a large residential apartment block in Novorossiysk - home to a major oil port - and exploding in a ball of flame.
"Overnight the Krasnodar region was subjected to one of the longest major attacks by the Kyiv regime," Krasnodar Governor Veniamin Kondratyev said, adding that an apartment building at Tuapse, a town beside an oil export terminal, had been damaged.
Six killed and 13 wounded in Kyiv after major Russian attack
09:00 , Alex CroftMore details are coming through on Russia’s large and deadly drone strike on Ukraine overnight, with Kyiv one of its main targets.
Six people have been killed and 13 wounded in the Ukrainian capital, during an attack which disrupted electricity and heating systems, officials said.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russian forces launched more than 460 drones and 22 missiles, in what was the second major Russian strike on Kyiv this month.
The Ukrainian president said on Telegram that the “primary targets were the energy sector and everything that keeps normal life going”.
Across the country, electricity supplies to more than 102,000 people in five Ukrainian regions, Kyiv’s energy ministry said.
Tymur Tkachenko, the head of the military administration for Kyiv , said damage was recorded at 13 sites across Kyiv.
The blacklisted businessman, the former film producer and the ex-soldier: Key players in Ukraine-Russia peace talks
08:41 , Maira ButtPresident Donald Trump has claimed that “big progress” is being made in negotiations aimed at ending the war in Ukraine.
The US and Ukraine sought on Monday to narrow gaps in a peace plan proposed by Washington on Friday that was criticised as pro-Russian. European leaders have responded with a counter-proposal that reasserts Ukraine’s demands.
It includes respect for Ukraine’s territorial integrity, freedom to advance its Nato ambitions and EU membership aspirations and maintain a large military to deter the threat of future Russian aggression.
From blacklisted businessman to ex-film producer: Key players in Ukraine peace talks
Kremlin says it still has "nothing to say" about Driscoll's talks with the Russian delegation in Abu Dhabi
08:25 , Alex CroftKremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday that he had "nothing to say" about US Army secretary Dan Driscoll's talks with the Russian delegation in Abu Dhabi.
Moscow has not yet received any updated plans on Ukraine, Peskov said.
"Currently, the only substantive thing is the American project, the (U.S. President Donald) Trump project. We believe that this could become a very good basis for negotiations. We still adhere to this point of view," Peskov said.
He also spoke on Europe's role in resolving the conflict in Ukraine, saying that it is impossible to discuss the security system without the participation of Europeans, so at some stage Europe's participation will be necessary.
Peace talks reportedly taking place in Abu Dhabi
08:03 , Maira ButtPeace talks are taking place between US delegates and Russian officials in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, according to reports.
US army secretary Dan Driscoll is leading the discussions, according to the Financial Times.
The discussions are reportedly taking place in secret, in contrast to the public progress that has been made with other meetings.
The discussions come after US secretary of state Marco Rubio said that “tremendous progress” had been made in negotiations in recent days.
President Donald Trump’s 28-point peace plan was criticised for being pro-Russian and Europe demanded amendments in response.
The White House said revisions had been made to the plan, but Russia said it was not happy with the changes.
Romania scrambles fighter jets after drones breach airspace
07:18 , Maira ButtRomania’s defence ministry has reportedly scrambled fighter jets after drones breached its airspace near its border with Ukraine on Tuesday.
It follows a spate of reported airspace violations across Europe in recent weeks.
Death toll in Russian attack on Kyiv rises to six
06:56 , Arpan RaiAt least six people have been killed in Kyiv in Russian missile and drone attacks overnight, mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Telegram.
He also said at least nine people were injured.
Russia launched a wave of attacks on Ukraine's capital Kyiv in the early hours today, striking residential buildings and energy infrastructure, according to video footage and local authorities.
A residential building in the central Pechersk district and another in Kyiv's eastern district of Dniprovskyi were badly damaged, the mayor said.
Only 'red line' on Ukraine peace plan is Russia, says France's Macron
06:49 , Arpan RaiFrench president Emmanuel Macron said only Russia stands in the way of peace in Ukraine.
“The only red line we have since three years is called Russia," Macron said, in a pre-recorded clip posted on X by French radio RTL.
Macron added that the US peace plan for Ukraine goes in the right direction but there are things that need to be improved in it.
“We want peace for Ukraine but not something that would represent a capitulation,” he said, adding that no one can tell Ukraine what territory they should give up.
The first 28-point peace proposal caught many in the US government, Kyiv and Europe off-guard and prompted fresh concerns that the Trump administration might be willing to push Ukraine to sign a peace deal heavily tilted towards Moscow.
The plan, which the US has denied was drafted by Moscow, would require Kyiv to cede more territory, accept curbs on its military and bar it from ever joining Nato, conditions Kyiv has long rejected as tantamount to surrender.
It would also do nothing to allay broader European fears of further Russian aggression.
Ukraine's European allies drew up a counter-proposal which, according to a copy reviewed by Reuters, would halt fighting at the present frontlines, leave discussions of territory for later, and include a Nato-style US security guarantee for Ukraine.
Only Trump wants Putin in G8, says Merz
06:22 , Arpan RaiOnly Trump wants Russia back in G8, says MerzGermany’s chancellor has indicated that other European nations do not want Russia to be allowed back into the G8 group of nations.
“At the moment, I cannot see that among the six members of today’s G7 who are not America, there is a willingness to readmit Russia to this group,” Friedrich Merz said.
Russia’s re-entry into what was the G8 is among the issues being discussed as part of talks to end the war in Ukraine.
Watch: Kyiv residential buildings on fire after Russian strikes
06:14 , Arpan RaiWhite House denies Trump plan favours Russia
06:02 , Arpan RaiA White House spokesperson has denied president Donald Trump is favouring one side over another, after his peace proposals appeared heavily weighted in Russia’s favour.
Officials on Monday said progress was made in urgent weekend talks on amending the draft, but the Kremlin said it hadn't seen the changes.
An adviser to Ukraine's president who attended the talks in Geneva between US and Ukrainian officials told the Associated Press they managed to discuss almost all the plan's points, and one unresolved issue is that of territory, which can only be decided at the head of state level. Ukraine and allies have ruled out territorial concessions.
In photos: Kyiv under attack despite US peace push
05:51 , Arpan RaiRussia launched a wave of attacks on Ukraine's capital Kyiv early today, striking residential buildings and energy infrastructure, according to video footage and local authorities.
A residential building in the central Pechersk district and another in Kyiv's eastern district of Dniprovskyi were badly damaged, mayor Vitali Kitschko said.
Video footage posted to Telegram showed a large fire spread through multiple floors of the nine-story building in Dniprovskyi. At least four people were injured, the head of Kyiv city administration, Tymor Tkachenko said.
Ukraine's energy ministry said that energy infrastructure had been hit, without specifying what type or the extent of the damage.
The Russian attack followed talks between US and Ukraine representatives in Geneva on Sunday about a US-Russia brokered peace plan.
US holds secret Russia-Ukraine peace talks in Abu Dhabi – report
05:38 , Arpan RaiUS Army Secretary Dan Driscoll arrived in Abu Dhabi for peace talks with Ukraine's military intelligence chief and a Russian delegation, the Financial Times reported.
Driscoll and the Russian side began talks on Monday night, the report said, citing two people familiar with the matter.
Three killed and 10 injured in Ukrainian attack on Russia's Rostov region
05:18 , Arpan RaiThree people were killed and 10 injured in a Ukrainian attack on Russia's Rostov region, governor Yuri Slyusar said this morning.
The Russian defence ministry said that 249 Ukrainian drones were downed over Russian regions overnight.
At least six people were injured in Russia's Krasnodar region as a result of a drone attack, governor Veniamin Kondratyev said.
Peace deal or not, this must be Europe’s next brave move to counter Russian aggression
05:15 , Arpan RaiEurope is taking baby steps towards walking away from America and ending the Russian threat against its democracies. But the time has come to take giant leaps for mankind.
The first move is immediate Nato membership for Ukraine, for Georgia and for Bosnia-Herzegovina.
The idea would probably be vetoed immediately by the US, along with Hungary and Slovakia, which are run by pro-Putin autocrats.
But a non-Nato, Nato-style alliance of the West would be a powerful entity that would give Putin pause for thought if it acted together and with the sort of confidence the Kremlin has shown on the world stage.
From Vladimir Putin down, Russians believe in their deepest core that “the West” is their enemy.
World affairs editor Sam Kiley says there is a powerful alternative:
Peace deal or not, this must be Europe’s next move to counter Russian aggression
Who are the key players in Ukraine-Russia peace talks?
04:55 , Arpan RaiPresident Donald Trump has claimed that “big progress” is being made in negotiations aimed at ending the war in Ukraine.
The US and Ukraine sought on Monday to narrow gaps in a peace plan proposed by Washington on Friday that was criticised as pro-Russian. European leaders have responded with a counter-proposal that reasserts Ukraine’s demands.
It includes respect for Ukraine’s territorial integrity, freedom to advance its Nato ambitions and EU membership aspirations and maintain a large military to deter the threat of future Russian aggression.
Several countries and high-profile individuals are involved in the discussions, which have resulted in public disagreements.
The Independent looks at some of the key characters below:
From blacklisted businessman to ex-film producer: Key players in Ukraine peace talks
Ukrainian officials make significant changes to US peace plan
04:40 , Arpan RaiUkrainian officials have made significant amendments to a US peace plan that was previously criticised as being too close to Moscow’s demands, people aware of the negotiations in Geneva yesterday said.
Volodymyr Zelensky’s representatives removed some of Russia’s maximalist demands from what was a 28-point plan, officials were quoted by the Guardian as saying.
The negotiations were led by the US secretary of state Marco Rubio and Zelensky’s chief of staff Andriy Yermak. They now include only 19 points, multiple media outlets reported.
Russia dashes Trump’s hope of quick peace deal in Ukraine after rejecting European proposal
04:01 , Arpan RaiHopes of reaching a breakthrough in the war with Russia this week were quashed on Monday after a European proposal discussed by the United States and Ukraine was described by Moscow as “completely unconstructive”.
Washington and Kyiv said in a joint statement they had drafted a “refined peace framework” after talks in Geneva on Sunday. Although there were no specifics, the dialogue received a cautious welcome from some of Ukraine's allies.
However, the Kremlin said that the European counterproposal to a 28-point US peace plan for Ukraine was not helpful.
"The European plan, at first glance ... is completely unconstructive and does not work for us," Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters in Moscow.
Russia dashes Trump’s hope of quick peace deal after rejecting European proposal
Zelensky says sensitive issues to be discussed with Trump
03:42 , Arpan RaiVolodymyr Zelensky has said a proposed peace plan now under discussion with the United States and Europe has incorporated "correct" points, but sensitive issues were to be discussed with US president Donald Trump.
"As of now, after (talks in) Geneva, there are fewer points, no longer 28, and many correct elements have been incorporated into this framework," Zelensky said in his nightly video address.
"Our team has already reported today on the new draft of steps and this is truly the right approach. The sensitive issues, the most delicate points, I will discuss with President Trump,” he said.
Zelensky said the process of producing a final document would be difficult and Ukraine appreciated the assistance offered by other countries and the "constructive" US approach.
He said it was in Russia's interests to disrupt the peace process and warned Ukrainians to pay particular attention to air raid alerts in the days and weeks to come "as we fully understand who we are dealing with".
Zelensky said that if negotiations proceeded on resolving the war "there must be no missiles, no massive strikes on Ukraine and our people. This is something that those who are strong in the world can ensure.”
Watch: Zelensky says Ukraine peace deal has fewer than 28 points after Geneva talks
03:32 , Arpan RaiZelensky wlecomes amendments from Europe on Trump's peace plan
03:25 , Arpan RaiUkrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has reacted positively to the changes proposed by his European allies to the contentious 28-point peace plan being pushed by Donald Trump.
Washington's 28-point plan presented last week caused alarm by heavily aligning with Moscow's demands in the nearly four-year war caused by its invasion.
The plan pressed Ukraine to hand over some territory to Russia and reduce its army. It also sought Europe's agreement that Ukraine will never be admitted into the Nato military alliance.
The proposed European changes included advocating for EU membership for Kyiv, saying Ukraine’s Nato membership is up to the alliance, and forcing no territorial concessions on Ukraine.
The European allies said any ceasefire should be along the current line of contact, there should be no cap on the Ukrainian military and the cost of reconstruction in war-ravaged Ukraine should be covered by Russia.
“Now the list of necessary steps to end the war can become doable..." Zelensky said on Telegram. "Many correct elements have been incorporated into this framework,” he said.
Today our delegation returned from Geneva after negotiations with the American side and European partners. Now the list of necessary steps to end the war can become doable. As of now, after Geneva, there are fewer points – no longer 28 – and many of the right elements have been… pic.twitter.com/bsaKyNXHQH
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) November 24, 2025
Some disagreements still on Trump’s peace plan, says White House
03:15 , Arpan RaiWhite House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said there were a couple of points of disagreement remaining on the peace plan but said "we're confident that we'll be able to work through those”.
She said US president Donald Trump wanted a deal as quickly as possible, answering a question on whether he stands by his deadline for Ukraine on Thursday to reach a deal.
“There is a sense of urgency. The president wants to see this deal come together, and to see this war end,” she told reporters outside the White House yesterday.
Leavitt said Trump has been putting pressure on both leaders, however added that there is no meeting scheduled between the US president and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky this week.
Four injured as Ukrainian drones strike Russia’s Black Sea port of Novorossiysk
03:00 , Arpan RaiAt least four people were injured in an overnight Ukrainian drone attack on Russia’s Black Sea port of Novorossiysk, officials said.
The Operational Headquarters in southern Krasnodar Region said on Telegram that five high-rise residences and two private homes had sustained damage in different districts of the city.
Falling debris from drones had triggered fires at two sites and emergency services were bringing them under control.
Earlier, fragments from downed drones had smashed windows and damaged buildings in Krasnodar, the region's administrative centre. Drones also damaged buildings and injured one person in a village south of Novorossiysk.
Russian air defences had earlier shot down 10 drones en route to Moscow, the defence ministry said, a day after a Ukrainian strike on a power plant cut off heating in a town near the capital.
Russian drones trigger fires in Kyiv apartment buildings
02:57 , Arpan RaiRussian drones swarmed the Ukrainian capital Kyiv in the early hours today, striking and triggering fires in at least two residential buildings, officials said.
Officials said four people were injured. Air defence units were in action around the capital.
Tymur Tkachenko, head of the capital's military administration, said on Telegram that a high-rise residential building had been hit in a district on the east bank of the Dnipro River.
He said four people had been treated for injuries and at least eight rescued from the building. Pictures posted on unofficial Telegram channels showed apartments on fire on upper floors.
Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko said a high-rise building was being evacuated after being hit in the Pechersk district in the city centre. Pictures posted on unofficial channels showed parts of a building ablaze.
Unofficial channels reported that drone fragments had also fallen in an open area in an eastern district of the city.
Klitschko also reported disruptions to the city's power and water supplies.
Russian air defences halt fresh drone attack on Moscow
02:30 , Tom AmbroseRussian air defences intercepted multiple drones targeting Moscow and surrounding regions on Monday, just a day after a Ukrainian strike on a power station left thousands without heating outside the capital.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported that eight drones were shot down en route to the city, with emergency services deployed to the sites.
This followed an earlier statement from the Russian Defence Ministry, which claimed ten Ukrainian drones had been downed across three regions – Moscow, Kaluga, and Bryansk, which borders Ukraine.
The Monday attacks occurred in the wake of a Ukrainian drone strike on Sunday against the Shatura Power Station, located approximately 120 km (75 miles) east of Moscow.
This assault resulted in heating being cut off for thousands of residents in the town of some 33,000 people, where temperatures were near freezing.
EU vows to keep supporting Ukraine with cash and weapons as peace talks continue
01:01 , Tom AmbroseEuropean Council president Antonio Costa pledged on Monday that the European Union will keep on supporting Ukraine, as he hailed "new momentum" in peace negotiations to end the war triggered by Russia's invasion.
"The European Union is committed to continue providing president Zelenskiy with all the support he needs - diplomatic support, military support, economic support," he told reporters in the Angolan capital Luanda, after chairing a meeting of EU leaders on Ukraine on the sidelines of a summit with the African Union.
"This concerns in particular, financial support to Ukraine," Costa added, recalling that EU leaders agreed last month to cover Ukraine's financial needs for the next two years.
"We committed to deliver ... and we will deliver at the December European Council," he said.
Russian power plant reopens after major strike by Kyiv
Monday 24 November 2025 23:59 , Jane DaltonA heating and power plant in Russia's Moscow region has resumed operations after shutting down due to a fire caused by a Ukrainian drone strike, regional governor Andrei Vorobyov says.
The attack on the facility in Shatura, a town of about 33,000, cut heating for residents. It marked one of Kyiv's most significant strikes to date on a power station deep inside Russia.
Russia has been pummelling Ukraine's electricity and heat infrastructure, while Kyiv has until now mostly focused on trying to knock out Russia's oil refineries, crude terminals and pipelines.
Ukraine looking for compromises that will 'strengthen not weaken' it, says Zelensky
Monday 24 November 2025 23:00 , Maira ButtPresident Volodymyr Zelensky has outlined his expectations for Ukraine as negotiations appear to advance ahead of EU talks on a peace deal with Russia on Monday.
“We all continue working with partners, especially the United States, to look for compromises that will strengthen but not weaken us,” he said.
He added that the use of frozen Russian assets was crucial to talks and accountability was necessary.
“Right now, we are at a critical moment,” he said.
“There is a lot of noise in the media, and all the political pressure, and even greater responsibility for the decisions ahead.”
Trump’s Ukraine peace plan will make it a ‘juicy target’
Monday 24 November 2025 21:55 , Tom AmbroseUkraine will be reduced to Russia’s “tethered goat” if a peace plan proposed by US President Donald Trump is implemented, according to the former head of MI6.
Sir Alex Younger said the US president’s proposal was "lopsided" in favour of Russia and would "almost guarantee" another invasion of Ukraine by Vladimir Putin.
The 28-point proposal would see Kyiv give up land while compensating the US for upholding peace. It would also see a formal end to Ukraine’s ambitions to join Nato and the European Union.
US peace plan will make Ukraine a ‘juicy target’ for new invasion, says ex-MI6 chief
Draft includes correct points but I need to talk to Trump, says Zelensky
Monday 24 November 2025 21:07 , Jane DaltonUkrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky says a proposed peace plan under discussion with the United States and Europe has incorporated "correct" points, but sensitive issues were to be discussed with US president Donald Trump.
"As of now, after (talks in) Geneva, there are fewer points, no longer 28, and many correct elements have been incorporated into this framework," President Zelensky said in his nightly video address.
"Our team has already reported today on the new draft of steps and this is truly the right approach. The sensitive issues, the most delicate points, I will discuss with President Trump."
'Only a couple of points of dispute' after US and Kyiv talks
Monday 24 November 2025 21:02 , Jane DaltonThe United States and Ukraine have had productive talks on a potential deal to end Russia's war in the country, the White House Press Secretary says, adding that there remained just "a couple of points of disagreement".
US President Donald Trump is optimistic a deal can be struck to end the war, said Karoline Leavitt.
UK PM Starmer says more work needed for 'just and lasting peace' in Ukraine
Monday 24 November 2025 19:40 , Tom AmbroseBritish prime minister Keir Starmer said on Monday there was more work to do to establish a "just and lasting peace" in Ukraine, but progress was being made.
Starmer said a group of countries supporting Ukraine, known as the coalition of the willing, would discuss the progress being during a virtual meeting on Tuesday.
"Everybody is absolutely focused on what we need to get out of this, and that is a just and lasting peace," Starmer told broadcasters.
He added that matters for Ukraine should be determined by Ukraine.
"So progress, yes, more work to do," Starmer said.
Key players in Ukraine-Russia peace talks
Monday 24 November 2025 18:55 , Tom AmbrosePresident Donald Trump has claimed that “big progress” is being made in negotiations aimed at ending the war in Ukraine.
The US and Ukraine sought on Monday to narrow gaps in a peace plan proposed by Washington on Friday that was criticised as pro-Russian. European leaders have responded with a counter-proposal that reasserts Ukraine’s demands.
It includes respect for Ukraine’s territorial integrity, freedom to advance its Nato ambitions and EU membership aspirations and maintain a large military to deter the threat of future Russian aggression.
Several countries and high-profile individuals are involved in the discussions, which have resulted in public disagreements. The Independent looks at some of the key characters:
From blacklisted businessman to ex-film producer: Key players in Ukraine peace talks
Daughter of ex-South African leader Zuma accused of luring men to fight in Ukraine
Monday 24 November 2025 18:20 , Tom AmbroseSouth African police say they are investigating allegations that former President Jacob Zuma 's daughter Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla lured 17 men who are now trapped in Russia into fighting in that country's war with Ukraine without their consent.
According to police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe, an affidavit filed by Zuma-Sambudla's sister Nkosazana Bonganini Zuma-Mncube alleges that Zuma-Sambudla and two other people lured the men by claiming they would receive security training in Russia.
Details about the two others were not immediately clear.
The affidavit alleges they were handed over to a Russian mercenary group and forced to fight in the war. It also says eight of the 17 men were members of the sisters' family.
Mathe said Sunday that any police charges “are still to be determined through a thorough investigation.”
Daughter of ex-South African leader Zuma is accused of luring men to fight in Russia-Ukraine war
Russian air defences halt fresh drone attack on Moscow
Monday 24 November 2025 17:45 , Maira ButtRussian air defences intercepted multiple drones targeting Moscow and surrounding regions on Monday, just a day after a Ukrainian strike on a power station left thousands without heating outside the capital.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported that eight drones were shot down en route to the city, with emergency services deployed to the sites.
This followed an earlier statement from the Russian Defence Ministry, which claimed ten Ukrainian drones had been downed across three regions – Moscow, Kaluga, and Bryansk, which borders Ukraine.
UK urges Putin to attend talks
Monday 24 November 2025 17:20 , Jane DaltonYvette Cooper has urged Russia to now come to the table as she welcomed progress in the peace talks.
The UK’s foreign secretary said: "This morning I co-chaired a meeting with European foreign ministers and with the Ukrainian foreign minister, and we reaffirmed our support for a just and lasting peace for Ukraine, that upholds Ukraine's sovereignty and also protects Europe's security.
"That is why this work is so important and why the intensive work is still ongoing."
She added: "Of course, there is a lot more work still to do but the key thing is that Russia now needs to come to the table, to stop the bombardment of Ukraine as we saw again last night.
"We need that just and lasting peace for the people of Ukraine."
Trump’s Ukraine peace plan will make it a ‘juicy target’ for a fresh invasion by Russia, says ex-MI6 chief
Monday 24 November 2025 16:45 , Maira ButtUkraine will be reduced to Russia’s “tethered goat” if a peace plan proposed by US President Donald Trump is implemented, according to the former head of MI6.
Sir Alex Younger said the US president’s proposal was "lopsided" in favour of Russia and would "almost guarantee" another invasion of Ukraine by Vladimir Putin.
The 28-point proposal would see Kyiv give up land while compensating the US for upholding peace. It would also see a formal end to Ukraine’s ambitions to join Nato and the European Union.
In addition, European allies would agree not to station troops in the country, and limits would be placed on Ukraine’s military capabilities, according to the deal.
US peace plan will make Ukraine a ‘juicy target’ for new invasion, says ex-MI6 chief
Comment: Peace deal or not, this must be Europe’s next brave move to counter Russian aggression
Monday 24 November 2025 16:34 , Tom AmbroseEurope is taking baby steps towards walking away from America and ending the Russian threat against its democracies. But the time has come to take giant leaps for mankind.
The first move is immediate Nato membership for Ukraine, for Georgia and for Bosnia-Herzegovina.
The idea would probably be vetoed immediately by the US, along with Hungary and Slovenia which are run by pro-Putin autocrats.
But a non-Nato, Nato-style alliance of the West would be a powerful entity that would give Putin pause for thought if it acted together and with the sort of confidence the Kremlin has shown on the world stage.
Peace deal or not, this must be Europe’s next move to counter Russian aggression
European officials welcome progress in talks on US proposals to end Russia-Ukraine war
Monday 24 November 2025 16:15 , Maira ButtEuropean officials said Monday they were comforted by the outcome of discussions on U.S. peace proposals for Ukraine that they had viewed as tilted in Russia's favor, but they didn’t disclose details of the weekend talks and warned of a long road to peace.
“The negotiations were a step forward, but there are still major issues which remain to be resolved,” Finnish President Alexander Stubb wrote on social platform X about Sunday’s meeting in Switzerland between U.S. and Ukrainian officials.
European officials welcome progress in talks on US proposals to end Russia-Ukraine war
Reform breaks silence on ‘treacherous’ Nathan Gill over taking Russia bribes
Monday 24 November 2025 15:45 , Maira ButtA key ally of Nigel Farage has broken Reform UK’s silence on its former party leader in Wales who was jailed last week for taking bribes from Russia.
Zia Yusuf, the party’s former chair and key member of Reform’s leadership, claimed that it was “unreasonable” to link Gill’s crime with the softer stance that the party and Mr Farage have taken on Vladimir Putin’s Russia and its criticism of the Ukraine war.
Mr Yusuf described Gill as “treasonous, horrific, awful” in an interview with Sir Trevor Phillips on his Sunday morning political show on Sky News.
Reform breaks silence on ‘treacherous’ Nathan Gill over taking Russia bribes
Xi urges all parties to 'reduce differences' in call with Trump
Monday 24 November 2025 15:31 , Tom AmbroseXi Jinping urged “all parties to reduce [their] differences” during a call with US president Donald Trump today.
A White House official confirmed the Chinese president had spoken with Trump by phone.
'We are making progress' says Starmer as he calls for 'just' and 'lasting' peace
Monday 24 November 2025 15:15 , Maira ButtPrime Minister Keir Starmer has outlined the UK’s priorities when supporting a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine.
“Talks in Geneva are ongoing, and we are making progress, and that is a good thing,” he said on Monday.
“Everybody is absolutely focused on what we need to get out of this, and that is a just and lasting peace.
“Both of those words matter. It's got to be just, and obviously matters for Ukraine have to be determined by Ukraine, but it's also got to be lasting, and it's got to endure.
“So that's the focus. There’s more work to do.”
He added that a “coalition of the willing” would meet virtually on Tuesday, led by Starmer and French president Emmanuel Macron.
Kremlin says European counter-proposal for Ukraine peace does not work for Russia
Monday 24 November 2025 15:01 , Tom AmbroseThe Kremlin on Monday said that a European counter-proposal to a US 28-point peace plan for Ukraine was not constructive and that it simply did not work for Moscow.
The publication of the 28-point draft US peace plan last week deepened concerns in Ukraine and among European powers that Russia's core demands on NATO, territory and the chronology of any peace deal had been accepted by Washington, Reuters reported.
The European plan significantly changes the meaning and significance of key points on NATO and territory, according to a copy seen by Reuters.
"The European plan, at first glance... is completely unconstructive and does not work for us," Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters in Moscow.
President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that US proposals for peace in Ukraine could be the basis of a resolution of the conflict but that if Kyiv turned down the plan then Russian forces would advance further.
Poland charges Ukrainian with Russia-backed railway sabotage
Monday 24 November 2025 14:45 , Maira ButtA Ukrainian man has been charged over allegedly assisting in a Russia-backed operation targeting Polish railways.
Poland previously called the attack, which took place on a track 80 miles from the Polish-Ukrainian border used to deliver aid to Ukraine, an “unprecedented act of sabotage”.
Two others were previously charged earlier this month.
Zelensky ‘could visit US this week’ as Trump races to seal Ukraine peace deal by Thanksgiving
Monday 24 November 2025 14:15 , Maira ButtVolodymyr Zelensky may travel to the US in the coming days as Ukrainian and American officials work to secure a peace deal before Thanksgiving on Thursday.
The trip is dependent on how negotiations between US officials and their Ukrainian counterparts in Geneva are perceived to have gone, Ukrainian and US officials told CBS News.
The US secretary of state Marco Rubio said the talks in Switzerland had been “meaningful” but warned the two sides were still apart in terms of reaching a final agreement.
Tom Ambrose reports:
Zelenskiy could visit US later this week in attempt to seal peace agreement
