Ukraine’s top negotiator has said that Kyiv will never cede territory to Russia as part of a peace deal as long as Volodymyr Zelensky is president.
Speaking to The Atlantic, Andriy Yermak said that “not a single sane person today would sign a document to give up territory” following a week of discussion with US officials over how to end the war.
Yermak has sought to assure Washington that Kyiv is ready for peace and open to negotiation - but made it clear that territory such as the Donbas region is off-limits.
Ukrainian and US delegations are set to meet later this week to discuss security guarantees in a potential peace deal following talks in Geneva, Zelensky said earlier.
His comments come after Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Ukraine must give up territory for a peace deal to be possible, in a repeat of his maximalist demands for a peace deal.
However, he said that a 28-point plan presented by Donald Trump is a “basis for future agreements” while delivering a speech in Kyrgyzstan on Thursday.
Key Points
- Trump's son defends US envoy Witkoff on leaks
- Russia says phone call leak amounts to 'hybrid warfare'
- Witkoff's leaked call triggers outrage from Republican lawmakers: 'Can't be trusted'
- Trump envoy Witkoff coached Russian official on how to praise Trump
- Russian military victory in Ukraine 'not inevitable', says ISW
Zelensky 'won't give up land to Russia' - Yermak
20:56 , James ReynoldsUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will not agree to give up land to Russia, his chief of staff Andriy Yermak told U.S. magazine the Atlantic.
"As long as Zelenskiy is president, no one should count on us giving up territory. He will not sign away territory," Yermak said in the interview published Thursday.
Belgium PM says using frozen Russian assets could derail Ukraine peace deal – report
03:01 , Arpan RaiBelgian prime minister Bart De Wever said the European Union's plan to use frozen Russian state assets to fund Ukraine could endanger the chances for a potential peace deal to end the nearly four-year war, the Financial Times has reported.
"Hastily moving forward on the proposed reparations loan scheme would have, as a collateral damage, that we as EU are effectively preventing reaching an eventual peace deal," De Wever said in a letter to European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, which was seen by the FT.
EU leaders tried at a summit last month to agree on a plan to use €140bn ($162bn) in frozen Russian sovereign assets in Europe as a loan for Kyiv, but failed to secure the backing of Belgium, where much of the funds are held.
The European Commission, the EU's executive body, hopes to address Belgium's concerns in a draft legal proposal which it will present this week on using the frozen sovereign assets to support Kyiv in 2026 and 2027, EU officials have said.
Analysis: Ukraine has tried to bounce US into a peace deal - but Putin is still in charge
02:00 , Nicole Wootton-Cane
Ukraine has tried to bounce US into a peace deal - but Putin is still in charge
Putin claims Russian army has surrounded Ukraine city dubbed ‘the gateway to Donetsk’
01:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneRussian forces have surrounded the embattled Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk and control 70 per cent of it, President Vladimir Putin claimed on Thursday, though Kyiv's top general insisted Ukrainian defenders were pushing back hard amid fierce fighting in the city centre.
Moscow has sought full control of Pokrovsk – known to Russians by its Soviet-era name, Krasnoarmeysk – since mid-2024, as part of its broader objective to seize the entire Donbas industrial region.
You can read more below...
Putin claims Russian army has surrounded Ukraine city dubbed ‘the gateway to Donetsk’
Comment: This is what Europe must do to call Putin’s bluff on Ukraine
00:00 , Nicole Wootton-Cane
This is what Europe must do to call Putin’s bluff on Ukraine
Watch: Putin Denies Russia Is Planning To Attack Europe
23:00 , Nicole Wootton-CanePeace plan must be 'discussed seriously,' Putin says
22:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneUS proposals to end the war between Russia and Ukraine offer a starting point for talks, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said, as he told Ukrainian forces to pull back or be overrun by Russia's bigger army.
"We need to sit down and discuss this seriously," Mr Putin told reporters at the end of a three-day visit to Kyrgyzstan. "Every word matters."
He described US President Donald Trump's plan as "a set of issues put forward for discussion" rather than a draft agreement.
"If Ukrainian troops withdraw from the territories they occupy, hostilities will cease. If they don't withdraw, we will achieve this by force," the Russian leader said.
Yermak issues defiant message to Putin: Zelensky will not sign away territory
21:33 , James Reynolds“Not a single sane person today would sign a document to give up territory,” Ukraine’s top negotiator told The Atlantic in a rousing assessment of Kyiv's priorities.
Andriy Yermak, who has spearheaded Kyiv’s diplomacy with the US over the last week, emerged from talks still confident that Zelensky “will not sign away territory”.
“As long as Zelensky is president, no one should count on us giving up territory,” he said.
The comments were published just hours after Vladimir Putin said that Russia was sticking firm to its maximalist demands, and that Ukraine must lay down its weapons and give up territory for a ceasefire to happen.
How Trump’s ‘drone guy’ has become key figure in Ukraine peace talks
21:30 , Nicole Wootton-CaneIraq War veteran Dan Driscoll, a former venture capitalist and associate of Vice President JD Vance, recently presented Donald Trump’s plan to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv.
The army secretary has quickly moved from leading a military bureaucracy – focused on cutting red tape to quickly acquire inexpensive drones – to a key negotiator in a Donald Trump administration push to end the Russia-Ukraine war.
We take a look at how he has made the leap below...
How Trump’s ‘drone guy’ has become key figure in Ukraine peace talks
Vladimir Putin plays piano and wins at judo in 2026 propaganda calendar
21:06 , Nicole Wootton-CaneRussia has released a 2026 calendar glorifying its leader Vladimir Putin.
The 12-page spread features flattering images of the 73-year-old doing a variety of activities showcasing his machismo including flipping a man in judo, walking through mountains while looking rugged, and playing the piano.
This year’s publication is also accompanied by a series of inspirational quotes including his advice for August, which reads: “My recipe for energy: Sleep little, work a lot and don’t whine.”
You can see pictures of the calendar and read more about its contents from Maira Butt below...
Vladimir Putin plays piano and wins at judo in 2026 propaganda calendar
Watch: Putin gets impromptu music lesson on Kyrgyzstan state visit
20:45 , Nicole Wootton-CaneRussian nationals among four people arrested in France over espionage probe
20:15 , Nicole Wootton-CaneFrench authorities have detained members of a pro-Russia support group and accused them of intelligence-gathering for a foreign power.
The SOS Donbass group was set up in France in 2022. Its founder, a dual French-Russian national, was among four people taken into custody.
The General Directorate of Internal Security, or DGSI, France's domestic secret service that specializes in counter-espionage, had for months been investigating her activities, the Paris prosecutor's office said.
You can read more below...
Russian nationals among 4 people arrested in France over espionage probe
Netherlands buys drone detection radars after recent sightings
19:45 , Daniel KeaneThe Netherlands has bought 100 early-warning radars to help detect approaching drones, the Defence Ministry said on Thursday.
It comes after drone sightings near an airport and air force base in the country's south earlier this month.
The systems, produced by Dutch company Robin Radar, can distinguish drones from birds and other moving objects, it added.
"The 100 radars will not arrive all at once. The first will be handed over tomorrow, and all radars are expected to be delivered by 2026. The accompanying vehicles will arrive early next year," the defence ministry said, without elaborating.
Multiple drone sightings at Eindhoven Airport led the airport to suspend traffic for several hours last week.
Recent drone sightings in Denmark, Poland and other European countries - some linked to Russia - have forced airports to close.
Analysis: Ukraine has tried to bounce US into a peace deal - but Putin is still in charge
19:15 , Maira ButtUkraine continues to suffer the swings and roundabouts of outrageous fortune at the hands of American negotiators but is learning how to survive the whirligig of the White House.
Donald Trump and his envoys are neither honest brokers nor even allies of Kyiv’s fight to defend itself against Russian invaders. But, for a little while, it seems that Ukraine has managed to swing them away from being outright enemies.
American officials have reportedly told US media that some kind of a deal has been struck in Abu Dhabi – after last weekend’s talks in Geneva – and that the prospects for peace in Ukraine are looking good.
Ukraine has tried to bounce US into a peace deal - but Putin is still in charge
US and Ukrainian delegations to meet for further peace talks
18:46 , Daniel KeaneUkrainian and US delegations will meet this week to work out a formula discussed at talks in Geneva to bring peace and provide security guarantees for Kyiv, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
"Our team, together with American representatives, will meet at the end of this week to continue to bring closer the points we have as a result of (talks in) Geneva in a form that will lead us on the path to peace and security guarantees," Zelensky said in his nightly video address.
"There will be a meeting of delegations. The Ukrainian delegation will be well prepared and focused on meaningful work."
The blacklisted businessman, the former film producer and the ex-soldier: Key players in Ukraine-Russia peace talks
18:45 , Maira ButtSeveral 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
Trump envoy Witkoff coached Russian official on how to praise US president, leaked call reveals
18:15 , Maira ButtDonald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff advised a senior Russian official on how to praise the president in order to secure a peace deal in Ukraine, according to a leaked transcript.
Mr Witkoff told Vladimir Putin’s senior aide Yuri Ushakov to ensure the Russian leader congratulated the US president following the announcement of his Gaza deal, insisting that the praise would ensure their discussion would be “a really good call”.
Trump envoy Witkoff coached Russian official on Ukraine deal, leaked call reveals
Watch: Zelensky says Russia's top priority is war
17:45 , Maira ButtRussian win 'not inevitable' according to new data
17:17 , Maira ButtA victory for Russia is “not inevitable” according to new data analysed by the Institute for the Study of War.
Using information on the rate of advance of Russian forces, the ISW said: “The reality on the battlefield indicates that a Russian victory in Ukraine is far from certain.”
The report added: “Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian military commanders have been attempting to portray Russia as capable of rapidly seizing Donetsk Oblast militarily, but hard data on the rate of Russian advance in Donetsk Oblast does not indicate that Russian forces will imminently seize the rest of the oblast.”
Contrary to Russian reports from the frontline, it said that “rapid Russian seizure of the rest of Donetsk Oblast is not imminent”.
NEW: Data on Russian forces’ rate of advance indicates that a Russian military victory in Ukraine is not inevitable, and a rapid Russian seizure of the rest of Donetsk Oblast is not imminent. ⬇️🧵(1/3)
— Institute for the Study of War (@TheStudyofWar) November 27, 2025
A senior US military official reportedly stated that the war will only worsen… pic.twitter.com/KHplz83DIQ
Putin sees US peace plan as a starting point as he warns Ukraine's army to withdraw
16:45 , Maira ButtU.S. proposals to end the war between Russia and Ukraine offer a starting point for talks, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday, as he told Ukrainian forces to pull back or be overrun by Russia’s bigger army.
“We need to sit down and discuss this seriously,” Putin told reporters at the end of a three-day visit to Kyrgyzstan. “Every word matters.”
He described U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan as “a set of issues put forward for discussion” rather than a draft agreement.
Putin sees US peace plan as a starting point as he warns Ukraine's army to withdraw
Russia gives nod to US plan as 'basis for future agreements' but deal 'legally impossible', says Putin
16:15 , Maira ButtPresident Vladimir Putin has said Russia can agree to a 28-point plan outlined by the US as the “basis for future agreements.
The proposal has been criticised as being pro-Russian, and would see Ukraine lose portions of its territory.
“In general, we agree that this can be the basis for future agreements,” the Russian leader told a news conference in Kyrgyzstan.
However, he added: “Ukrainian troops must withdraw from the territories they hold, and then the fighting will cease. If they don't leave, then we shall achieve this by armed means. That's it.”
He said that an agreement was “legally impossible”.
“Therefore, broadly speaking, of course, we ultimately want to reach an agreement with Ukraine,” he continued. “But right now, this is practically impossible. Impossible legally.”
Putin suggests leaked tapes could be 'fake' and adds sanctions 'destroying' relationship with US
15:37 , Maira ButtPresident Vladimir Putin has that a leaked phone call between Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and Putin’s senior aide Yuri Ushakov could be fake.
He confirmed earlier reports that Witkoff would be visiting Moscow for the discussions.
Putin added that US sanctions were “destroying” Russia’s relationship with America.
Putin dismisses reports of Lavrov being sidelined
15:08 , Maira ButtRussian president Vladimir Putin dismissed claims that foreign minister Sergei Lavrov had fallen out of favour after speculation that the veteran diplomat had been sidelined in recent weeks.
Lavrov was absent from a key Kremlin meeting earlier this month and was replaced by another official to attend a G20 summit in South Africa, a role he has typically filled in the past as part of his duties.
Ukraine blocking Russian assaults in Pokrovsk, says top general
14:48 , Maira ButtUkrainian troops are blocking attacks by Russian forces in the eastern cities of Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad, the army’s top general Oleksandr Syrsky said on Thursday.
He said that Russia had been forced to deploy reserve forces for operations there.
How much of Ukraine does Russia now occupy?
14:07 , Maira ButtRussia has gained around 20 per cent of Ukraine’s territory since it invaded in February 2022.
Ukraine has tried to bounce US into a peace deal - but Putin is still in charge
13:45 , Maira ButtUkraine continues to suffer the swings and roundabouts of outrageous fortune at the hands of American negotiators but is learning how to survive the whirligig of the White House.
Donald Trump and his envoys are neither honest brokers nor even allies of Kyiv’s fight to defend itself against Russian invaders. But, for a little while, it seems that Ukraine has managed to swing them away from being outright enemies.
The Independent’s world affairs editor Sam Kiley reports:
Ukraine has tried to bounce US into a peace deal - but Putin is still in charge
Did Europe tap Ushakov's phone call with Witkoff?
13:20 , Maira ButtA call between US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Russian president Vladimir Putin’s top foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov could have been leaked by a foreign intelligence agency targeting the Russian official’s phone, a senior US official has said.
The senior official in the Trump administration said the target in the leaked call was not Witkoff but Ushakov, reported the Wall Street Journal today.
It added that Putin's close aide has also been recorded in a second conversation with another Kremlin envoy Kirill Dmitriev.
Dozens of countries around the world have the technology to listen to Ushakov's conversations as he used an open cellphone line, a European security official said.
He also suspects a European country was likely behind it, but could not point out who exactly.
In photos: A look at Ukraine's previous winter offensives
13:01 , Maira Butt
This forgotten winter war is a timely reminder of the threat Russia poses today
12:25 , Maira ButtAs a Ukraine-Russia peace proposal is debated, forces in Finland rehearse guerrilla warfare against a potential Russian offensive that many expect to happen in the near future.
The forgotten winter war, which is a timely reminder of Russia’s threat today
Russia convicts and hands life sentences to 8 people over attack on a key bridge to Crimea
12:05 , Maira ButtA court in Russia on Thursday convicted eight people on terrorism charges over an attack on a bridge linking Russia to Moscow-annexed Crimea that is a key supply route for Kremlin forces in the war with Ukraine.
The court sentenced all of the defendants to life in prison.
The October 2022 attack on the bridge came when a truck bomb blew up two of its sections and required months of repairs. The blast killed the truck driver and four other people in a car nearby. Moscow decried the attack as an act of terrorism and retaliated by bombarding Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure, targeting the country’s power grid over the winter.
Russia convicts and hands life sentences to 8 people over attack on a key bridge to Crimea
Ukrainian Nord Stream suspect to be extradited to Germany on Thursday, say prosecutors
11:22 , Maira ButtA man accused of the sabotage of the Nord Stream gas pipeline will be extradited to Germany on Thursday after Italy approved the decision last week, German prosecutors revealed on Thursday.
The man, identified only as Serhii K, denies any role in the attacks and his lawyer, Nicola Canestrini, said she is confident he will be acquitted.
Russian win 'not inevitable' according to new data
10:51 , Maira ButtA victory for Russia is “not inevitable” according to new data analysed by the Institute for the Study of War.
Using information on the rate of advance of Russian forces, the ISW said: “The reality on the battlefield indicates that a Russian victory in Ukraine is far from certain.”
The report added: “Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian military commanders have been attempting to portray Russia as capable of rapidly seizing Donetsk Oblast militarily, but hard data on the rate of Russian advance in Donetsk Oblast does not indicate that Russian forces will imminently seize the rest of the oblast.”
Contrary to Russian reports from the frontline, it said that “rapid Russian seizure of the rest of Donetsk Oblast is not imminent”.
NEW: Data on Russian forces’ rate of advance indicates that a Russian military victory in Ukraine is not inevitable, and a rapid Russian seizure of the rest of Donetsk Oblast is not imminent. ⬇️🧵(1/3)
— Institute for the Study of War (@TheStudyofWar) November 27, 2025
A senior US military official reportedly stated that the war will only worsen… pic.twitter.com/KHplz83DIQ
US negotiations to meet to discuss peace proposals soon, says Ukraine
10:20 , Maira ButtUkraine and US negotiating teams will be meeting soon, foreign minister Andrii Sybiha told a news briefing on Thursday.
“Our expectations are concrete results. Concrete results so that progress can be made,” she said.
“It is extremely important for us, and Ukraine has demonstrated this repeatedly, to achieve a truce.”
Hungary backs US peace plan, says PM Orban's chief of staff
09:52 , Maira ButtHungary’s government has backed a US-brokered peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine, according to Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s chief of staff, Gergely Gulyas.
Gulyas told a briefing that a peace deal should be reached as soon as possible. Asked about reports that Orban would be going to Moscow to meet President Vladimir Putin, he added he “could not confirm or deny anything”.
Watch: Zelensky says Russia's top priority is war
08:45 , Maira ButtHow Trump’s ‘drone guy’ has become key figure in Ukraine peace talks
08:20 , Maira ButtIn a matter of days, Army Secretary Dan Driscoll has vaulted from leading a military bureaucracy – focused on cutting red tape to quickly acquire inexpensive drones – to a key negotiator in a Donald Trump administration push to end the Russia-Ukraine war.
The Iraq War veteran, a former venture capitalist and associate of Vice President JD Vance, recently presented Donald Trump’s plan to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv.
He then met Russian officials in the United Arab Emirates on Monday and Tuesday, leading the latest phase of talks on a possible deal to halt the fighting.
How Trump’s ‘drone guy’ has become key figure in Ukraine peace talks
Russia says phone call leak amounts to 'hybrid warfare'
07:58 , Maira ButtRussia said that the leak of a recording of a call between Steve Witkoff and President Vladimir Putin's foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov amounted to hybrid warfare on Wednesday.
Bloomberg News published the transcript of an October 14 telephone call in which Trump’s envoy advised Ushakov on how to pitch a Ukraine peace plan to Trump.
"This is unacceptable," Ushakov told Russian media. He said the leak was clearly aimed at hindering discussions between Russia and the United States.
Poland arrests Russian in connection with 'serious' hacking crimes
07:47 , Maira ButtA Russian citizen has been arrested under suspicion of hacking the IT systems of several Polish companies.
“Police officers in Krakow have detained a Russian citizen suspected of serious crimes related to unauthorized interference in the IT systems of Polish companies,” Polish Interior Minister Marcin Kierwinski wrote in a statement on X on Thursday.
“He breached their security to gain access to databases. He was temporarily arrested.”
Russia has denied any actions relating to sabotage or cyber attacks and has previously accused Warsaw of Russophobia.
Ukraine's security council chief 'questioned in corruption probe'
07:25 , Maira ButtSenior Ukrainian security official Rustem Umerov, a key figure in peace negotiations with Moscow and Washington, was questioned as a witness by anti-corruption investigators probing Ukraine's biggest wartime graft scandal, two local media outlets reported.
The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine invited Umerov to testify as part of its probe of Timur Mindich, the suspected ringleader of a $100 million kickback scheme involving the state nuclear energy company, the outlets quoted Umerov's press office as saying.
They did not say when Umerov had been questioned.
Macron to unveil French voluntary military service
07:07 , Arpan RaiFrench president Emmanuel Macron will unveil a new national military service plan today as France seeks to bolster its armed forces to address growing concerns over Russia's threat to European nations beyond the war in Ukraine.
Macron will stress the "need to prepare the nation for growing threats," the president's office said ahead of his visit to the Varces military base, in the French Alps.
Earlier this year, Macron announced his intention to provide French youth with a new option to voluntarily serve in the military. Conscription, which France ended in 1996, is not being considered.
France is seeking to boost its defences as Russia's war in Ukraine puts the European continent at "great risk," Macron said.
"The day that you send a signal of weakness to Russia — which for 10 years has made a strategic choice to become an imperial power again, that's to say advance wherever we are weak — well, it will continue to advance," he told radio RTL on Tuesday.
In photos: A look at Ukraine's previous winter offensives
06:55 , Arpan Rai
Did Europe tap Ushakov's phone call with Witkoff?
06:41 , Arpan RaiThe infamous call between US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Russian president Vladimir Putin’s top foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov could have been leaked by a foreign intelligence agency targeting the Russian official’s phone, a senior US official has said.
The senior official in the Trump administration said the target in the leaked call was not Witkoff but Ushakov, reported the Wall Street Journal today.
It added that Putin's close aide has also been recorded in a second conversation with another Kremlin envoy Kirill Dmitriev.
Dozens of countries around the world have the technology to listen to Ushakov's conversations as he used an open cellphone line, a European security official said.
He also suspects a European country was likely behind it, but could not point out who exactly.
Russia says 118 Ukrainian drones downed overnight
06:12 , Arpan RaiRussia’s defence units have downed at least 118 Ukrainian drones overnight, its defence ministry said in an update this morning.
Moscow typically only confirms how many Ukrainian drones it has downed, and does not provide the total number fired.
Russia says phone call leak amounts to 'hybrid warfare'
05:57 , Arpan RaiRussia said that the leak of a recording of a call between Steve Witkoff and Putin's foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov amounted to hybrid warfare.
Bloomberg News published the transcript of a 14 October telephone call in which Trump’s envoy advised Ushakov on how to pitch a Ukraine peace plan to Trump.
Ushakov said he had used WhatsApp to speak to Witkoff on several occasions and the Russian newspaper Kommersant, which interviewed Ushakov, ran a story headlined: "Who set up Steve Witkoff?"
"This is unacceptable," Ushakov told Russian media. He said the leak was clearly aimed at hindering discussions between Russia and the United States.
Russian deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov, said some media organisations were being used as part of a hybrid information war waged by European countries against Russia – and aimed at undermining ties with Washington.
Russian military victory in Ukraine 'not inevitable', says ISW
05:42 , Arpan RaiRussia’s battlefield claims appear to be exaggerated and data on the Russian forces’ rate of advance indicates that a Russian military victory in Ukraine is not inevitable, a US-based think tank said.
The rapid Russian seizure of the rest of Donetsk Oblast is not imminent, the Institute for the Study of War said.
Citing a senior US military official, the ISW said the war will only worsen for Ukraine as Russia can fight indefinitely and that it is better for Ukraine to negotiate a peace settlement now rather than negotiate from a weaker position later but that the reality on the battlefield indicates that a Russian victory in Ukraine is far from certain.
“The Russian rate of advance across the theater intensified since the Alaska summit on 15 August, with Russian forces advancing an average of 9.3 square kilometers per day across the entire theater, between 15 August and 20 November, but these advances are still constrained to footpace,” the ISW said in its latest war update.
It also clarified that recent Russian advances elsewhere on the frontline have “largely been opportunistic and exploited seasonal weather conditions”.
NEW: Data on Russian forces’ rate of advance indicates that a Russian military victory in Ukraine is not inevitable, and a rapid Russian seizure of the rest of Donetsk Oblast is not imminent. ⬇️🧵(1/3)
— Institute for the Study of War (@TheStudyofWar) November 27, 2025
A senior US military official reportedly stated that the war will only worsen… pic.twitter.com/KHplz83DIQ
Trump's negotiation sparks concerns for Europe
05:34 , Arpan RaiDonald Trump's brash negotiating style left many in Europe suspecting he wants a quick deal that forces Europeans to make it work and pay for it. All while the US profits.
Analysts say the proposal was essentially a US attempt to snatch these assets, coming as Brussels and Washington relaunch trade negotiations over tariffs.
Agathe Demarais, a senior fellow at the Berlin-based European Council on Foreign Relations, said the proposal was akin to a "signing bonus" for a peace deal heavily slanted towards Russia.
The first draft of Trump's 28-point peace plan called for an investment scheme for Ukraine's reconstruction controlled by the US but financed by $100bn in frozen Russian assets matched by another $100bn from the European Union — with 50 per cent of profits sent back to Washington.
Fabian Zuleeg, chief executive of the Brussels-based European Policy Centre, called the US takeover of the assets "outrageous," but suggested it might also be acceptable to Europeans "if that is ultimately the price to pay for a good deal”.
After intense discussions between the US, Germany, France, the United Kingdom and representatives from the European Commission, the investment scheme was removed from the new draft peace plan.
Russia has already signaled its total rejection of the new draft.
Russia peddling narrative that Ukraine cannot defend itself, says Zelensky
05:02 , Arpan RaiVolodymyr Zelensky has cautioned against believing a Russian misinformation campaign that tries to downplay Ukraine’s defence capabilities.
“The Russians are peddling the narrative around the world that Ukraine allegedly cannot defend itself. They are saying that Ukrainian warriors cannot defend themselves,” he said in his nightly address.
“The daily combat results of the Ukrainian army, our special forces, and deep strikes – these are all proof that Ukraine can defend its interests,” Zelensky said.
He added that there is plenty of evidence to show it pays off to support Ukraine, including the deaths of Russian “occupiers”, every assault that has been repelled and “every deep strike we carry out”.
IMF and Ukraine reach agreement on $8.2bn funding
04:38 , Arpan RaiThe International Monetary Fund said it reached a staff-level agreement on a new four-year, $8.2bn programme for Ukraine as the country faces mounting wartime fiscal pressures.
The new plan can be taken to the fund's executive board for approval once previous commitments are met and is subject to "adequate financing assurances from donors", according to the IMF.
The IMF said the agreement, which replaces the existing $15.6bn Extended Fund Facility approved in March 2023, is meant to help Kyiv maintain macroeconomic stability and strengthen public finances as the war against Russia continues to strain its budget.
"The program is expected to catalyse large-scale external support to close Ukraine’s financing gaps," IMF official Gavin Gray, who led the fund team's visit, said in a statement, adding that the total financing gap is calculated at around $136.5bn for the 2026-2029 period.
Ukrainian officials have said an IMF program is key to obtaining financing from other partners, including a reparations loan. Ukraine funnels most revenues towards fending off Russian forces in the fourth year of Moscow's war.
Prime minister Yulia Svyrydenko said that the agreement showed that her country's economy is resilient despite the war. She pledged to press on with reforms and called for support in passing next year's budget.
Trump envoy Witkoff coached Russian official on how to praise US president, leaked call reveals
04:25 , Arpan RaiDonald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff advised a senior Russian official on how to praise the president in order to secure a peace deal in Ukraine, according to a leaked transcript.
Mr Witkoff told Vladimir Putin’s senior aide Yuri Ushakov to ensure the Russian leader congratulated the US president following the announcement of his Gaza deal, insisting that the praise would ensure their discussion would be “a really good call”.
A transcript of the recorded phone call from October was released by Bloomberg News on Tuesday. It emerged as Mr Witkoff prepares to meet with Putin next week to discuss a revised peace plan for Ukraine.
Trump envoy Witkoff coached Russian official on Ukraine deal, leaked call reveals
Watch: Moment Ukrainian strike obliterates Russian experimental laser-weapon jet
04:04 , Arpan RaiWitkoff's leaked call triggers outrage from Republican lawmakers: 'Can't be trusted'
03:24 , Arpan RaiSeveral congressional Republicans are harshly criticising the Trump administration over its handling of a proposed Ukraine peace plan they say favours Russia, after the leaked call showed his envoy collaborating with Russians.
A leaked transcript has revealed Donald Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, advised a senior Russian official on how to praise Trump to facilitate a Ukraine peace deal.
"For those who oppose the Russian invasion and want to see Ukraine prevail as a sovereign & democratic country, it is clear that Witkoff fully favors the Russians. He cannot be trusted to lead these negotiations. Would a Russian paid agent do less than he? He should be fired," Republican Representative Don Bacon said on X.
Trump's son defends US envoy Witkoff on leaks
03:14 , Arpan RaiDonald Trump Jr has defended the US envoy Steve Witkoff on the recent leaked details of his conversation with Russian officials.
Bloomberg News reported on Tuesday that Witkoff, in a 14 October telephone call with Russian president Vladimir Putin's policy aide Yuri Ushakov, said they should work together on a ceasefire plan and that Putin should raise it with Trump.
Trump Jr has said what Witkoff was doing was “classic negotiation techniques to butter up his counterpart”.
"It's almost like these media and deep state morons have never successfully negotiated a deal in the real world. It's pretty obvious that nearly all of Witkoff's critics want any sort of Ukraine peace deal to fail so they can continue this war endlessly. Enough is enough!" he said in a post.
Watch: Zelensky says Ukraine's top priority is war
03:00 , Daniel KeaneRussian nationals among four arrested in France over espionage
02:53 , Arpan RaiThe leaders of a pro-Russia group in France behind a poster campaign declaring "Russia is not my enemy" have been taken into custody and are being held on suspicion of intelligence-gathering for a foreign power.
The SOS Donbass group confirmed the arrest of its founder, Anna Novikova, in a Telegram post. The group's president, Vincent Perfetti, is also facing charges, his lawyer said.
The Paris prosecutor's office identified them only as Anna N and Vincent P, saying that both are in detention.
The breakup of the alleged intelligence-gathering operation came as French president Emmanuel Macron warned about Russian destabilization efforts targeting France, a key backer of Ukraine in the nearly four-year war.
Macron said this week that Russia is waging "hybrid wars" against Europe, including by employing proxies.
"It pays people, mercenaries. It has pushed people to carry out destabilisation activities in our countries," he said.
Moldova complains of unacceptable intrusion of Russian drone
02:00 , Daniel KeaneMoldova summoned Russia's ambassador on Wednesday to complain about the latest intrusion of drones into its airspace.
Russia's ambassador expressed doubt that one of the drones was linked to a genuine intrusion and suggested the incident was aimed at spoiling Moscow's already poor relations with Chisinau.
Moldova noted incursions by six Russian drones on Tuesday, including one that landed on a roof outside Floresti, near the Ukrainian border.
A second passed through Moldovan airspace before heading off toward Romania.
Ukraine's security council chief 'questioned in corruption probe'
01:00 , Daniel KeaneSenior Ukrainian security official Rustem Umerov, a key figure in peace negotiations with Moscow and Washington, was questioned as a witness by anti-corruption investigators probing Ukraine's biggest wartime graft scandal, two local media outlets reported.
The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine invited Umerov to testify as part of its probe of Timur Mindich, the suspected ringleader of a $100 million kickback scheme involving the state nuclear energy company, the outlets quoted Umerov's press office as saying.
They did not say when Umerov had been questioned.
Sam Kiley: Ukraine has tried to bounce US into a peace deal - but Putin is still in charge
00:01 , Daniel KeaneUkraine has tried to bounce US into a peace deal - but Putin is still in charge
Ukrainian PM says country is resilient despite war
Wednesday 26 November 2025 23:00 , Daniel KeaneUkrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said on Wednesday that an accord with the International Monetary Fund showed that her country's economy was resilient despite the war against Russia and pledged to press on with reforms and the fight against corruption.
"In the first instance, the IMF has confirmed the resilience of the Ukrainian economy," she wrote on Telegram. "Despite the blows to the energy and infrastructure sectors, the economy is working, and Ukraine is demonstrating its ability to manage risks and maintain stability in the most difficult conditions."
Svyrydenko said her government was preparing a 2026 budget within the IMF framework and vowed to pursue existing priorities of macroeconomic stability, debt sustainability, transparency and strong institutions.
Russia says phone call leak amounts to 'hybrid warfare'
Wednesday 26 November 2025 22:00 , James ReynoldsRussia said that the leak of a shocking recording of a call between Steve Witkoff and Putin's foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov amounted to hybrid warfare on Wednesday.
Bloomberg News published the transcript of an October 14 telephone call in which Trump’s envoy advised Ushakov on how to pitch a Ukraine peace plan to Trump.
"This is unacceptable," Ushakov told Russian media. He said the leak was clearly aimed at hindering discussions between Russia and the United States.
Where do things stand on Trump's peace deal?
Wednesday 26 November 2025 21:00 , James Reynolds- The Trump administration shared a 28-point peace plan last week seen to favour Russia. Trump subsequently gave Ukraine a deadline of this Thursday, 27 November, to agree to a deal.
- Europe rallied around Ukraine, offering a revised version based on Trump’s plan, more balanced towards Ukraine’s concerns around security.
- Trump has since waived his Thursday deadline.
- People briefed on talks between Ukraine and the US in Geneva said the 28 points had been whittled down to 19 on Monday.
- Ukraine said it had agreed to a deal in principle on Tuesday. There are still some fine details to address, Kyiv has signalled.
- Russia will still have to agree to any deal, and says the US draft is the only proposal with legs.
- US officials met with Russian representatives in Abu Dhabi on Monday and Tuesday ostensibly for peace talks - but a Kremlin aide said the peace plan did not come up.
Trump envoy Witkoff coached Russian official on how to praise US president, leaked call reveals
Wednesday 26 November 2025 20:30 , James ReynoldsDonald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff personally advised a senior Russian official on how to praise the president in order to secure a peace deal in Ukraine, according to a leaked transcript.
Read the full story:
Trump envoy Witkoff coached Russian official on Ukraine deal, leaked call reveals
Poland eyes Saab subs to bolster Baltic defence
Wednesday 26 November 2025 20:03 , James ReynoldsSweden's Saab will supply Poland with three submarines, in a multi-billion-dollar deal that forms a key element of Warsaw's efforts to bolster its defences in the Baltic Sea.
"Sweden presented the best offer in terms of all criteria, delivery time, and operational capability, especially in the Baltic Sea," Deputy Prime Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said on Wednesday.
He estimated the value of the deal at around 10 billion zlotys ($2.73 billion), and said Sweden had committed to buy some armaments from Poland as part of a wider cooperation agreement, and to provide a "gap-filler" submarine for the Polish army to train on.
Warsaw has been ramping up investments in the armed forces to counter what it sees as a growing threat from Russia after Moscow's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Pictured: Firefighters work at aftermath of Russian attacks in Zaporizhzhia
Wednesday 26 November 2025 19:01 , James Reynolds
Russia will make no big concessions on its demands from Ukraine
Wednesday 26 November 2025 18:32 , James ReynoldsRussia will make no big concessions on a peace plan for Ukraine, a senior Russian diplomat said on Wednesday, setting a clear tone for US special envoy Steve Witkoff’s visit next week.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told reporters in Moscow on Wednesday: "There can be no question of any concessions, or any surrender of our approaches to those key points."
The comments undercut Trump’s earlier claims that Russia was making concessions and both sides making progress, steered by the US.
Witkoff is expected to travel to Moscow next week with other senior officials for talks with Russian leaders about a possible plan to end the nearly four-year-old war in Ukraine.
Russian nationals among four arrested in France over espionage probe
Wednesday 26 November 2025 18:05 , James ReynoldsFrench police have arrested four people, two of whom have Russian nationality, on suspicion of spying for a foreign power.
Officials identified one of the individuals as Anna N, a dual French-Russian national who has been under the surveillance of France's DGSI domestic intelligence agency since January.
She was suspected of having approached executives at French companies to obtain information about French economic interests, they said.
Read the full story:
Russian nationals among 4 people arrested in France over espionage probe
Umerov questioned amid Ukrainian corruption scandal
Wednesday 26 November 2025 17:26 , James ReynoldsSenior Ukrainian security official Rustem Umerov was questioned as a witness by anti-corruption investigators amid an ongoing probe into a suspected national kickback scheme.
The National Anti-Corruption Bureau invited Umerov to testify as part of its probe of Timur Mindich, the suspected ringleader of the $100 million scheme involving the state nuclear energy company, local media quoted Umerov's press office as saying.
The Ukrainian outlets did not say when Umerov had been questioned.
Umerov has been a key figure in peace negotiations with Moscow and Washington.
Who are the key players in the Ukraine peace talks?
Wednesday 26 November 2025 16:05 , James ReynoldsThe latest talks to end the war in Ukraine have already been filled with controversy, contradiction and uncertainty.
From the blacklisted businessman, to the former film producer and the ex-soldier - These are the key players involved in bringing peace back to Europe:
From blacklisted businessman to ex-film producer: Key players in Ukraine peace talks
Russia must slash army to end war, says Kallas
Wednesday 26 November 2025 15:47 , James ReynoldsRussia's army and military budget should be curbed to make sure the war in Ukraine really ends, EU's foreign chief Kaja Kallas said on Wednesday.
"If we want to prevent this war to continue, then actually we should curb the army of Russia and also their military budget," Kallas said.
The rival peace deals waved since last week have only addressed the size of Ukraine’s military.
Kallas said that any peace agreement must include concessions from Russia - after its deputy foreign minister said it was yet to compromise on any key issues.
Trump envoy Witkoff coached Russian official on how to praise US president, leaked call reveals
Wednesday 26 November 2025 15:06 , James ReynoldsDonald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff personally advised a senior Russian official on how to praise the president in order to secure a peace deal in Ukraine, according to a leaked transcript.
Read the full story:
Trump envoy Witkoff coached Russian official on Ukraine deal, leaked call reveals
Sweden urges EU to move forward with 20th sanctions package
Wednesday 26 November 2025 14:29 , James ReynoldsSweden wants the European Union to immediately proceed with a 20th sanctions package to increase pressure on Russia, Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard said on Wednesday.
"A 20th package of sanctions must hit Russian energy revenues even harder, as they are the main source of funding for the war," Stenergard told reporters.
She said she would also welcome the United States introducing more sanctions on Russia.
US peace plan for Ukraine drew from Russian document, sources say
Wednesday 26 November 2025 14:00 , James ReynoldsThe US-backed plan to end the war in Ukraine drew from a Russian-authored paper submitted to the Trump administration in October, according to three sources familiar with the matter.
The Russians shared the paper, which outlined Moscow's conditions for ending the war, with senior US officials following a meeting between Trump and Zelensky, the sources said.
The paper contained language that the Russian government had previously put forward at the negotiating table, including concessions that Ukraine had rejected such as ceding a significant chunk of its territory in the east.
Since the peace plan was first reported by Axios last week, skepticism has mounted among U.S. officials and lawmakers, many of whom see the plan as a list of Russian positions and not a serious proposal.
Ukraine has tried to bounce US into a peace deal - but Putin is still in charge
Wednesday 26 November 2025 13:31 , James ReynoldsThe latest round of talks about peace may be drifting Ukraine’s way but Russia is still very active behind the scenes, writes world affairs editor Sam Kiley:
Ukraine has tried to bounce US into a peace deal - but Putin is still in charge
Where do things stand?
Wednesday 26 November 2025 13:00 , James Reynolds- The Trump administration shared a 28-point peace plan last week seen to favour Russia. Trump subsequently gave Ukraine a deadline of this Thursday, 27 November, to agree to a deal.
- Europe rallied around Ukraine, offering a revised version based on Trump’s plan, more balanced towards Ukraine’s concerns around security.
- Trump has since waived his Thursday deadline.
- People briefed on talks between Ukraine and the US in Geneva said the 28 points had been whittled down to 19 on Monday.
- Ukraine said it had agreed to a deal in principle on Tuesday. There are still some fine details to address, Kyiv has signalled.
- Russia will still have to agree to any deal, and says the US draft is the only proposal with legs.
- US officials met with Russian representatives in Abu Dhabi on Monday and Tuesday ostensibly for peace talks - but a Kremlin aide said the peace plan did not come up.
As Zelensky heads to Washington DC, could a Ukraine peace deal be in reach?
Wednesday 26 November 2025 12:28 , James ReynoldsIs this latest meeting a sign of Trump’s impatience, or could an outline agreement really be close? Sean O’Grady looks at the prospects:
As Zelensky heads to Washington DC, could a Ukraine peace deal be in reach?
Russia rejects Trump's claim on 'concessions'
Wednesday 26 November 2025 12:00 , James ReynoldsRussia outright rejected Donald Trump’s claims that it was making concessions on a Ukraine peace deal on Wednesday in a staggering setback for diplomacy.
Sergei Ryabkov, Russia’s deputy foreign minister, said that there are no concessions from Russia on key issues on a Ukraine settlement.
Trump had earlier assured that progress was being made as Russia was “making concessions”, left unspecified.
Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said on Wednesday that parts of the latest offer seemed “positive” but still needed analysis.
He said Russia had not yet discussed it with anyone.
The United States and Europe have spent days trying to finesse a peace deal, with Kyiv agreeing to a proposal in principle on Tuesday.
France arrests four people, including two Russians, suspected of espionage
Wednesday 26 November 2025 11:33 , James ReynoldsFrench police have arrested four people, two of whom have Russian nationality, on suspicion of spying for a foreign power.
Officials identified one of the individuals as Anna N, a dual French-Russian national who has been under the surveillance of France's DGSI domestic intelligence agency since January.
She was suspected of having approached executives at French companies to obtain information about French economic interests, they said.
Putin cannot leave Ukraine war successfully, German chancellor says
Wednesday 26 November 2025 11:02 , James ReynoldsRussian President Vladimir Putin must accept he has no option to leave the war in Ukraine successfully, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Wednesday.
"We want this war to end as quickly as possible," Merz said in the Bundestag lower house of parliament.
"But an agreement negotiated between great powers without the consent of Ukraine and without the consent of the Europeans will not be the basis for a genuine, sustainable peace in Ukraine," he added.
Where do things stand now?
Wednesday 26 November 2025 10:30 , James Reynolds- The Trump administration shared a 28-point peace plan last week seen to favour Russia. Trump subsequently gave Ukraine a deadline of this Thursday, 27 November, to agree to a deal.
- Europe rallied around Ukraine, offering a revised version based on Trump’s plan, more balanced towards Ukraine’s concerns around security.
- Trump has since waived his Thursday deadline.
- People briefed on talks between Ukraine and the US in Geneva said the 28 points had been whittled down to 19 on Monday.
- Ukraine said it had agreed to a deal in principle on Tuesday. There are still some fine details to address, Kyiv has signalled.
- Russia will still have to agree to any deal, and says the US draft is the only proposal with legs.
- US officials met with Russian representatives in Abu Dhabi on Monday and Tuesday ostensibly for peace talks - but a Kremlin aide said the peace plan did not come up.
Ukraine has shown the US a viable peace deal – but can Trump shake off Putin’s influence?
Wednesday 26 November 2025 10:01 , James ReynoldsThe latest round of talks about peace may be drifting Ukraine’s way but it’s a carousel of chaos, writes world affairs editor Sam Kiley:
Ukraine has shown US a viable peace deal – but can Trump shake off Putin’s influence?
Commission ready to present legal text on use of Russian frozen assets, says von der Leyen
Wednesday 26 November 2025 09:30 , James ReynoldsThe European Commission is ready to present a legal text on the use of Russian frozen assets in the Ukraine war, its President Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday.
In a speech addressing the European Parliament, she also welcomed the efforts led by U.S. President Donald Trump to end the war, adding that a peace deal should ensure real security for Ukraine and Europe.
Peace plan was NOT discussed in Abu Dhabi, says Kremlin aide
Wednesday 26 November 2025 08:52 , James ReynoldsPeace plans to end the war in Ukraine were not discussed during the meetings between US officials and Russian representatives earlier this week, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said on Wednesday.
Ushakov said that Russia has now received the ‘latest versions’ the US proposal, news agency RIA reports.
Putin orders 'strengthening' of Russian identity in occupied Ukraine
Wednesday 26 November 2025 08:48 , Maira ButtPresident Vladimir Putin has signed a decree ordering Russian authorities to increase the number of people who identify as Russian and speak Russian in areas of Ukraine incorporated into Russia since its invasion in 2022.
The document titled Strategy of Russia’s national policy in the period to 2036, calls for 95 per cent of the country’s population to identify as Russian by 2036.
Failure on Ukraine sets dangerous precedent for global order, warns von der Leyen
Wednesday 26 November 2025 08:40 , James ReynoldsUrsula von der Leyen warned on Wednesday that failure to uphold Ukraine’s sovereignty would set a dangerous precedent for the global order.
Speaking at a debate in Brussels on the EU’s position on the proposed plan for peace, the president of the European Commission said: “If today we legitimise and formalise the undermining of borders – we open the doors for more wars tomorrow. And this goes against any sustainable peace that we are striving for.”
She went on to say that Ukraine’s future lies in Europe, and assessed EU membership as a “core and essential” part of their security guarantee to Kyiv.
Who are the key players in the US-brokered Ukraine and Russia peace talks?
Wednesday 26 November 2025 08:25 , Maira ButtSeveral 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
Analysis: Ukraine has shown the US a viable peace deal – but can Trump shake off Putin’s influence?
Wednesday 26 November 2025 07:55 , Maira ButtUkraine continues to suffer the swings and roundabouts of outrageous fortune at the hands of American negotiators but is learning how to survive the whirligig of the White House.
Donald Trump and his envoys are neither honest brokers nor even allies of Kyiv’s fight to defend itself against Russian invaders. But, for a little while, it seems that Ukraine has managed to swing them away from being outright enemies.
American officials have reportedly told US media that some kind of a deal has been struck in Abu Dhabi – after last weekend’s talks in Geneva – and that the prospects for peace in Ukraine are looking good.
The Independent’s world affairs editor Sam Kiley reports:
Ukraine has shown US a viable peace deal – but can Trump shake off Putin’s influence?
Four arrested in France in connection with spying
Wednesday 26 November 2025 07:32 , Maira ButtFour people have been arrested by French police on suspicion of colluding with a foreign power, the Paris prosecutor said on Wednesday.
Three people have been placed in custody, two of which are of Russian nationality. A fourth person is being investigated.
Trump's envoy Witkoff in Moscow next week for peace talks, says Kremlin
Wednesday 26 November 2025 06:58 , Arpan RaiUS president Donald Trump's envoy, Steve Witkoff, and a host of other key US officials would come to Moscow next week for talks on a possible peace plan for Ukraine, the Kremlin said.
"As for Witkoff, I can say that a preliminary agreement has been reached that he will come to Moscow next week," Yuri Ushakov, Putin's foreign policy aide, told Russian state television's top Kremlin reporter, Pavel Zarubin.
Ushakov said that in addition to Witkoff "a number of other administration representatives who are involved in Ukrainian affairs" would also come to Moscow.
