Sir Keir Starmer and European allies have agreed on the need to ramp up economic pressure on Russia’s Vladimir Putin, and have discussed “positive progress” towards using frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine, Downing Street says.
The prime minister hosted Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, French president Emmanuel Macron and German chancellor Friedrich Merz at No 10 following US president Donald Trump’s “peace plan”, widely criticised as being a wish-list of Russian demands.
Mr Trump accused Mr Zelensky of having failed to read the latest plan, while insisting Mr Putin was fine with it”.
No 10 said the leaders agreed that Europe must stand with Ukraine, strengthening its ability to defend against “relentless attacks that have left thousands without heat or light”.
“They also discussed positive progress made to use immobilised Russian sovereign assets to support Ukraine's reconstruction.”
Sir Keir also convened a call with other European allies, during which they agreed that “we must continue to ramp up support to Ukraine and economic pressure on Putin to bring an end to this barbaric war”, Downing Street said.
Key Points
- Merz 'skeptical' about certain aspects of US position on peace
- Allies agree more pressure on Putin needed
- Zelensky arrives in Downing Street for Starmer talks
- US and Ukraine remain divided over territory, says Zelensky
- Trump: Zelensky isn't ready for a peace deal
- Analysis | Starmer’s role as ‘Trump whisperer’ makes him key figure in peace talks
Obstacles remain after US-Ukrainian peace talks
04:38 , Namita SinghThe US and Ukrainian negotiators completed three days of talks on Saturday aimed at trying to narrow differences on the US administration's peace proposal.
Volodymyr Zelensky said on Telegram that talks had been "substantive" and that National Security and Defence Council secretary Rustem Umerov and Chief of the General Staff Andrii Hnatov were travelling back to Europe to brief him.
A major sticking point in the plan is the suggestion that Kyiv must cede control of the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine to Russia, which illegally occupies most but not all of the territory. Ukraine and its European allies have balked at the idea of handing over land.
UK prime minister Keir Starmer said he "won't be putting pressure" on Zelensky to accept a peace settlement.
Donald Trump has had a hot-and-cold relationship with Zelensky since winning a second term, insisting the war was a waste of US taxpayers' money. Trump has also repeatedly urged the Ukrainians to cede land to Russia to end the nearly four-year conflict.
European leaders back Kyiv amid Trump’s frustration
04:10 , Namita SinghSir Keir Starmer, French president Emmanuel Macron and German chancellor Friedrich Merz vowed to support Kyiv in their comments before Monday's meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky, which lasted about two hours.
They met shortly after US president Donald Trump appeared to vent his frustration with Zelensky, claiming the Ukrainian leader "hasn't yet read the [latest] proposal" for an end to Russia's war.
Zelensky said on Monday that Trump "certainly wants to end the war. ... Surely, he has his own vision. We live here, from within we see details and nuances, we perceive everything much deeper, because this is our motherland".
Starmer said the push for peace was at a "critical stage," and stressed the need for "a just and lasting ceasefire”.
Merz, meanwhile, said he was "sceptical" about some details in documents released by the US. "We have to talk about it. That's why we are here," he said.
"The coming days – could be a decisive time for all of us."
European leaders are working to ensure that any ceasefire is backed by solid security guarantees both from Europe and the US to deter Russia from attacking again. Trump has not given explicit guarantees in public.
Anti-Ukrainian points removed from peace plan, says Zelensky
04:00 , Namita SinghVolodymyr Zelensky said the current US peace plan differs from earlier versions in that it now has 20 points, down from 28, after some "obvious anti-Ukrainian points were removed."
Responding to reporters' questions on WhatsApp about security guarantees, Zelensky said the main questions to be resolved are: "What if after the end of the war, Russia will start another aggression? What will the partners be ready for? What could Ukraine count on?"
The answers to these questions "must be in the core of the security guarantees for Ukraine," he said.
Video: Zelensky leaves Downing Street after meeting Starmer and European leaders for Ukraine defence talks
03:50 , Namita SinghKyiv needs more European cash for US weapons, says Zelensky
03:40 , Jane DaltonUkraine is short of about $800m (£600m) to buy the US weapons it had planned to purchase this year with help from its European allies, President Volodymyr Zelensky says.
For next year, Ukraine would need about $15bn for the PURL (Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List) programme, which involves purchases of US weapons with European money, he said.
More than two-thirds of member states of Nato have committed to weapons for Ukraine through the scheme.
Zelensky and European leaders vow to keep up pressure on Putin
03:24 , Namita SinghAfter the meeting, Keir Starmer, Volodymyr Zelensky and the other leaders called Kyiv's European allies, urging them to keep up the pressure on Russian president Vladimir Putin.
"The leaders all agreed that now is a critical moment and that we must continue to ramp up support to Ukraine and economic pressure on Putin to bring an end to this barbaric war," Starmer's office said in a statement.
"This is the furthest we've got in four years, and we welcome the fact that these talks are continuing at every level," said Starmer's spokesman, Tom Wells.
He added that "intensive work" will continue in the days ahead, although "there are still outstanding issues”.
Macron's office said the session allowed the leaders "to continue joint work on the US plan in order to complement it with European contributions, in close coordination with Ukraine”.
The Independent View | There is still a way European leaders can help achieve a positive outcome for Ukraine
03:00 , Alex CroftStill, no doubt, bathed in the warm, if also absurd, glow of being the first ever recipient of the Fifa Peace Prize, Donald Trump might be in the mood to promote a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, it would be nice to think. This would, aside from anything else, strengthen President Trump’s insistent claim on the Nobel Peace Prize, which has not quite been superseded in prestige by the cynical golden trophy that the president of Fifa, Gianni Infantino, presented to him.
Read The Independent’s view:
There is still a way European leaders can help achieve a positive outcome for Ukraine
Recap: Zelensky meets European allies in London
03:00 , Namita SinghPresident Volodymyr Zelensky met with the leaders of Britain, France and Germany in London on Monday in a show of European support for Ukraine at what they jointly called a "critical moment" in talks to end the Ukraine war.
Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer held talks with Zelensky, French president Emmanuel Macron and German chancellor Friedrich Merz at No 10, with discussions focussed on ways to strengthen Ukraine's hand amid mounting impatience from US president Donald Trump.
After the meeting, Starmer, Zelensky and the other leaders called Kyiv's other European allies, urging them to keep up the pressure on Russian president Vladimir Putin.
"The leaders all agreed that now is a critical moment and that we must continue to ramp up support to Ukraine and economic pressure on Putin to bring an end to this barbaric war," Starmer's office said in a statement.
Mystery drones near Zelensky's plane to be investigated
01:30 , Jane DaltonUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has confirmed that unidentified drones were spotted near his plane to Ireland last week.
"There will be an investigation... There were drones indeed," he told reporters.
Irish local media reported on Thursday that a naval ship had spotted up to five drones operating near the flight path of the presidential plane.
In pictures: Sumy apartment building in flames as several injured in Russian strike
00:00 , Alex Croft
£100 billion deal to aid Ukraine could be secured in the 'coming weeks'
Monday 8 December 2025 23:45 , Shaheena UddinA deal to free up to £100 billion from frozen Russian assets in Europe, in order to aid Ukraine could be secured over the coming weeks, according to The Times.
The funding has been frozen since the start of the war and could be utilised as leverage in peace negotiations. It would help to aid Ukraine for a further two years, putting pressure on Moscow.
The vast majority of the European assets are currently being held in Belgium, which equates to a third of the country’s GDP. The Belgium government has been largely opposed to transferring cash to Ukraine over fears of becoming legally liable.
A UK government official said however: “We are hopeful that a deal is going to be done in the next week or so”, as reported by The Times.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said negotiations in Europe have reached a “critical stage in the push for peace”, before meeting with the Ukrainian President Zelensky, the French President Macron and the German chancellor Friedrich Merz.
Trump a 'little bit disappointed' that Zelensky hasn't read US peace proposal
Monday 8 December 2025 23:01 , Alex CroftAs we previously reported, Donald Trump said he Kyiv “isn’t ready” to sign the US peace proposal while talking to reporters last night.
US and Ukrainian negotiators completed three days of talks on Saturday aimed at trying to narrow differences on the US administration's proposal. But in an exchange with reporters on Sunday night, Trump suggested that the Ukrainian leader is holding up the talks from moving forward.
"I'm a little bit disappointed that President Zelensky hasn't yet read the proposal, that was as of a few hours ago. His people love it, but he hasn't," Trump claimed in an exchange with reporters before taking part in the Kennedy Center Honors.
The president added, "Russia is, I believe, fine with it, but I'm not sure that Zelenskyy's fine with it. His people love it it. But he isn't ready."
Kyiv’s lead negotiator Rustem Umerov said on Monday morning that the Ukrainian president would receive all documents relating to the new peace plan today.
Kremlin insists ‘radical changes’ needed to peace plan
Monday 8 December 2025 22:01 , Alex CroftRussia insists that the peace proposal still needs “radical changes” before Moscow can accept it, according to some local media reports.
Vladimir Putin’s foreign policy adviser, Yuri Ushakov, said the US must “make serious, I would say, radical changes to their papers” on Ukraine.
His remarks contrast sharply with comments from US envoy Keith Kellogg, who earlier suggested an agreement was “really close”, with only two obstacles remaining: the status of the Donbas and the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.
Territory remains the key point of contention. Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly ruled out ceding land, arguing that doing so would only invite future Russian aggression.
The first draft of the US plan, however, proposed that Ukraine relinquish Donetsk and Luhansk – despite Kyiv still holding significant parts of the Donbas.
Ukraine’s ambassador to Washington, Olga Stefanishyna, earlier said that “difficult issues remain”, in the talks between the US and Ukraine.
She told CNN that the “main challenges at this stage concern questions of territory and guarantees, and we are actively seeking optimal formats for addressing them”.
Zelensky refuses to cede land, threatening Trump plan
Monday 8 December 2025 21:21 , Jane DaltonUkraine will not surrender territory, President Volodymyr Zelensky has insisted, rejecting a Russian demand that Donald Trump had included in his latest proposal to end the war.
His refusal to give up any part of his country could mark the collapse of the US president’s plan, which critics had condemned as fulfilling a wish list of Russia’s Vladimir Putin.
“Under our laws, under international law — and under moral law — we have no right to give anything away,” Mr Zelensky said, after meeting top European leaders to discuss Trump’s plan.
Mr Zelensky said their revised plan had been stripped of “explicitly anti-Ukrainian provisions” suggesting that Kyiv was open to a deal, according to The Washington Post.
Analysis | Europe needs to stop its magical thinking and get ready for war with Russia
Monday 8 December 2025 21:00 , Alex CroftIt’s been a busy week in the politics of European defence. But every major news point from the week has confirmed how much danger Europe is in, and how little some of its key allies are willing to do about it, writes Keir Giles.
The findings of the UK’s inquiry into the death of Dawn Sturgess, released this week, demonstrate not only Russia’s ruthlessness but also the severe impact that even a limited Russian attack can have on unprepared societies like Britain.
But in the same week, the latest iteration of the so-called “peace process“ over Ukraine demonstrated once again how Europe as a whole is still paralysed by denial and magical thinking over the nature of the threat from Russia and what is needed to withstand it.
In part, this results from a degree of necessary play-acting on the part of European leaders. They know that in public, they have to engage with the United States on its terms, and pretend that US negotiations with Moscow over the heads of Ukraine and Europe are a meaningful step towards eventual peace.
Europe needs to stop its magical thinking and ready for war with Russia
Trump could walk away from support for Ukraine, Donald Trump Jr reportedly says - ICYMI
Monday 8 December 2025 20:02 , Alex CroftPresident Donald Trump could walk away from the Ukraine-Russia war, his eldest son has told a Middle East conference according to reports.
Speaking at the Doha Forum 2025, Donald Trump Jr said his father “may” walk away from Ukraine. The Guardian and Sky News reported Mr Trump Jr as saying: “What’s good about my father and what’s unique about my father is you don’t know what he’s going to do. He’s unpredictable”.
Mr Trump Jr’s comments come after US and Ukrainian negotiators spent three days in talks in Florida over the future of a post-war Ukraine.
He also said that Ukraine was a “far more corrupt country than Russia” and said that the “American public doesn’t have the appetite [for further funding of Ukraine’s military efforts]”.
Kremlin says Trump's new national security strategy 'corresponds in many ways with our vision'
Monday 8 December 2025 19:01 , Alex CroftThe Kremlin welcomed a move by US President Donald Trump's administration to revise its national security strategy and stop calling Russia a "direct threat," spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Sunday.
Mr Peskov told the state-run TASS news agency the updated document dropped language describing Russia as a direct threat and instead urged cooperation with Moscow on strategic stability issues. "We considered this a positive step," he said.
The strategy, signed by Trump, also warned that Europe faces "civilizational erasure", that it was a "core" US interest to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine, and that Washington wanted to reestablish strategic stability with Russia.
"The adjustments that we see correspond in many ways to our vision," Mr Peskov told state television reporter Pavel Zarubin when asked about the new US strategy.
UK and allies agree on need to raise pressure on Putin
Monday 8 December 2025 18:35 , Jane DaltonSir Keir Starmer and European allies agreed on the need to "ramp up" economic pressure on Vladimir Putin in a call, Downing Street says.
British, French, German and Ukrainian national security advisers have been instructed to continue discussions about Ukraine over the coming days after a meeting between the leaders of the four countries, No 10 said.
In a readout of the talks, a Downing Street spokesperson said: "The Prime Minister welcomed the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, and the Chancellor of Germany, Friedrich Merz, to Downing Street today.
"The leaders discussed the importance of the US-led peace talks for European security and supported the progress made. They instructed their national security advisers to continue discussions over the coming days.
"The leaders underscored the need for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine which includes robust security guarantees.
"The leaders agreed that while diplomatic efforts continue, Europe must stand with Ukraine, strengthening its ability to defend against relentless attacks that have left thousands without heat or light.
"They also discussed positive progress made to use immobilised Russian sovereign assets to support Ukraine's reconstruction.
"Following the meeting with the leaders of France, Germany and Ukraine, the Prime Minister convened a call with other European allies alongside President Zelensky to update them on the latest situation.
"The leaders all agreed that now is a critical moment and that we must continue to ramp up support to Ukraine and economic pressure on Putin to bring an end to this barbaric war.
"They agreed to keep in touch."
Europe has promised Ukraine a ‘reassurance force’ when the war ends – but will it enrage Putin?
Monday 8 December 2025 18:30 , Alex CroftAfter months on the sidelines of US-led peace talks, Europe is trying to rise to the challenge of guaranteeing Ukraine’s post-war future in the event of a ceasefire.
Britain and France are leading the push for a so-called reassurance force in Ukraine to retrain the army and uphold a peace deal if it emerges.
Downing Street said Britain is making plans for the multinational force drawn from partners on the continent, despite the Kremlin’s rejection this week of any foreign deployment as “unacceptable”.
Thousands of allied troops could be sent to cities across Ukraine to help the army recover its strength and stand as an independent deterrent to Russian aggression – if both sides can agree to terms.
James Reynolds reports:
How Europe’s ‘reassurance force’ could work in Ukraine – and will it enrage Putin?
British soldiers join major exercise in the Artic
Monday 8 December 2025 17:57 , Alex CroftBritish soldiers joined a major exercise on Nato's snowy border with Russia as Finnish troops prepare to defend their country if their neighbour invades.
Around 50 men from the 3 Rifles, based in Edinburgh, spent six weeks training in the Arctic north of Finland, where they honed their survival skills in temperatures as low as minus 28C.
The C Company soldiers, who have previously had hot weather training in Kenya and Morocco, learned how to cope with icy immersion in water and how to avoid frostbite, and practised fighting in the snow and shooting while skiing.
They then joined the 3,000 conscripts, reservists and regulars from the Finnish Army's Kainuu Brigade on Operation Northern Ax, in the forests of Vuosanka, around 20 miles from Russia and 400 miles north of Helsinki.
The British reconnaissance specialists carried out operations alongside the Finns on a wide-ranging and sophisticated simulated battle which lasted for five days and nights.
The operation was designed to test their defence, delaying, night combat and attack tactics, with commanders following the troops' movement in real time to monitor their performance.
UK troops join Nato exercise as Finland prepares for potential Russian invasion
Czech president says Ukraine war echoes start of WW2
Monday 8 December 2025 17:25 , Alex CroftSpeaking to the Sunday Times, Czech president Petr Pavel says Vladimir Putin’s attempts to grab land from Ukraine echo Adolf Hitler’s actions against neighbouring countries – including Czechoslovakia – that preceded the Second World War.
Pavel says Putin’s argument that he is acting in the interests of Russian-speaking people living in eastern Ukraine is particularly alarming to those familiar with Czech history.
“For Czechoslovakia, the German minority [in the Sudetenland] was used as a pretext,” Pavel said. “The same narrative is used by Vladimir Putin.”
He said Europe and the US’s appeasement of Russia represents a failure to stand up for Western values.
“What we are doing now, I wouldn’t call it a betrayal of Ukraine,” he said. “I would call it reluctance – reluctance to protect the principles we all claim to protect.
“If we allow Russia to come out of this conflict as a victor, we have all lost.”
Ukraine’s security is our security, says PM
Monday 8 December 2025 16:52 , Alex CroftThe Independent’s political correspondent Millie Cooke reports:
“Ukraine's security is our security”, the prime minister has said, as he welcomed US efforts to strike a peace deal.
His official spokesperson told reporters: “Obviously we welcome the intense US efforts on peace negotiations."
He added: “Ukraine's security is our security and as the prime minister has said, this is an opportunity to hear the latest from President Zelensky and discuss the next steps, which is crucial for Euro-Atlantic security."
Zelensky says he had 'substantive' phone call with US's Witkoff - ICYMI
Monday 8 December 2025 16:20 , Alex CroftStarmer: Ukraine war has ‘direct consequences’ for Britain
Monday 8 December 2025 15:47 , Alex CroftThe Independent’s political correspondent Millie Cooke reports:
The Ukraine war has “direct consequences” for Britain and is not “a distant conflict” Sir Keir Starmer has warned amid continued efforts to strike a peace deal.
His official spokesperson told reporters: “Let's not lose sight of the bigger picture. This war is driving up energy costs and hitting households.
“In the past two years, Russian vessels threatening UK waters have increased by 30 per cent.
“This isn't a distant conflict. It has direct consequences on the UK and the prime minister has been clear that it is his number one duty to protect the UK's national interests, and obviously we welcome the intense US efforts on peace negotiations."
European leaders leave Downing Street after talks conclude
Monday 8 December 2025 15:15 , Alex Croft
Zelensky says Ukraine ‘can’t manage’ without US or European support
Monday 8 December 2025 14:49 , Alex CroftCrisis talks over the future of Ukraine have begun behind the black door of No 10 Downing Street, after the country’s president Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in London to meet European allies.
Mr Zelensky said ahead of the meeting that his country “can’t manage” without European and American support.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is hosting Mr Zelensky along with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz for private talks as efforts continue to find a way to end the war with Russia.
The discussions come as US President Donald Trump accused Mr Zelensky of having failed to read the latest peace plan, saying he was “a little disappointed” in the Ukrainian leader, while insisting Russia’s Vladimir Putin was “fine with it”.
Read the full report here:
Zelensky says Ukraine ‘can’t manage’ without US or European support
In pictures: Zelensky, Starmer, Merz and Macron meet in Downing Street
Monday 8 December 2025 14:05 , Alex Croft
Merz 'skeptical' about certain aspects of US position on peace
Monday 8 December 2025 14:01 , Alex CroftGerman chancellor Friedrich Merz said he is “sceptical” about details in the US-backed peace proposal for Ukraine.
Speaking ahead of talks with President Zelensky and European leaders, Mr Merz said: “This could be a decisive time for all of us, so we are trying to continue our support for Ukraine.
“On the other hand, we are seeing these talks in Moscow and the US and looking forward to hearing what the outcome of these talks might be.
“We are still – and remain – strongly behind Ukraine because we all know that the destiny of this country is the destiny of Europe.”
He added: “I am skeptical about some of the details which we are seeing in the documents coming from the US side but we have to talk about that, which is why we are here.”
European leaders to discuss 'very sensitive issues', Zelensky says in opening remarks
Monday 8 December 2025 13:44 , Alex CroftEuropean leaders have taken a seat in Downing Street, where they are speaking to the press before private talks on ongoing peace negotiations.
“The principles remain,” Sir Keir says. “It needs to be a ceasefire, it needs to be a just and lasting ceasefire.”
Volodymyr Zelensky says it is “very important” to discuss “very sensitive issues regarding peace talks”.
He added: “Things which are very important for today, I think unity between Europe and Ukraine, and also the United States. We can’t manage without Americans, we can’t manage without Europe, and that’s why we need to make some important decisions.”
Emmanuel Macron says Europe has “a lot of cards in our hands”, adding: “the Russian economy is starting to suffer... and now, the main issue [for Russia] is the convergence between our common positions and the US to finalise these peace negotiations.”
“This could be a decisive time for all of us,” says Friedrich Merz. “We remain strongly behind Ukraine... because we all know the destiny of this country is the destiny of Europe.”
Zelensky arrives in Downing Street
Monday 8 December 2025 13:15 , Alex CroftVolodymyr Zelensky has arrived in Downing Street for talks with Sir Keir Starmer, French president Emmanuel Macron and German chancellor Friedrich Merz.
The pair shared a warm embrace before the Ukrainian president headed inside for the talks, which Sir Keir said will take place in private.
We’ll bring you any lines from the meeting here.
Chernobyl unable to stop radiation leak after Russian drone strike, UN watchdog warns
Monday 8 December 2025 13:04 , Alex CroftThe protective shield at the Chernobyl power plant can no longer contain radioactive material due to damage caused by a drone strike earlier this year, the UN’s nuclear watchdog has warned.
In February, the plant was damaged by a drone armed with a warhead which pierced the outer shell helping prevent radiation leaks from Chernobyl’s reactor Number Four. Ukraine said Russia was behind the attack, but the Kremlin denied responsibility.
Rafael Grossi, the director of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said an inspection last week found that the structure had “lost its primary safety functions, including the confinement capability”. No permanent damage has been done to the load-bearing structures or monitoring systems.
Read the full report here:
Chernobyl unable to stop radiation leak after Russian drone strike, UN watchdog warns
Recap: New US national security strategy looking to restore relations with Russia
Monday 8 December 2025 12:46 , Alex CroftTalks between European allies follow the publication last week of a new US national security strategy that alarmed Europe and was welcomed by Russia.
Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, said the document, was largely in line with Moscow's vision.
The document, which spells out the administration's core foreign policy interests, was released Friday by the White House.
It said the US wants to improve its relationship with Russia after years of Moscow being treated as a global pariah and that ending the war is a core US interest to "reestablish strategic stability with Russia."
Nato must not be "a perpetually expanding alliance”, the document added, echoing another complaint of Russia's. It was scathing about the migration and free speech policies of longstanding US allies in Europe, suggesting they face the "prospect of civilisational erasure" due to migration.
Sir Keir’s government has declined to comment on the American document, saying it is a matter for the US government.
Zelensky to meet Nato and EU chiefs on Monday
Monday 8 December 2025 12:28 , Alex CroftUkrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky will meet Nato chief Mark Rutte, and EU leaders Antonio Costa and Ursula von der leyen in Brussels on Monday, NATO said.
They will be hosted by Rutte at his official residence, the alliance said in a statement.the meeting is likely to come after his meeting with Sir Keir Starmer, Emmanuel Macron and Friedrich Merz in London.
Sea drones are forcing Russia to retreat. Ukraine eyes up even more complex attacks
Monday 8 December 2025 12:10 , Alex CroftUkraine's military intelligence agency is poised to launch more complex sea-drone strikes against Russian forces next year, following the significant success of Kyiv's uncrewed fleet in curbing Moscow's Black Sea navy.
The commander of sea-drone operations, who heads the specialised maritime unit Group 13, stated that Ukraine's attacks have forced Russia to adapt its strategies.
This adaptation has, in turn, limited the major Black Sea strikes previously seen in the conflict, paving the way for advanced Ukrainian operations.
“Today, we’ve likely reached a plateau,” said the officer, who is identified only by the call sign “13th” under Ukrainian military protocol.
Read the full report:
Sea drones are forcing Russia to retreat. Ukraine eyes up even more complex attacks
Russia claims control of villages in Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia
Monday 8 December 2025 11:49 , Alex CroftRussia's Defence Ministry said on Monday that its forces had taken control of two villages in eastern and southern Ukraine.
They are the villages of Chervone, in Ukraine's Donetsk region, and Novodanilivka, in the neighbouring Zaporizhzhia region, the ministry said according to state news agency RIA.
The Independent could not independently confirm Russia’s battlefield claims.
Starmer demands just and lasting peace in Ukraine ahead of Zelensky talks
Monday 8 December 2025 11:35 , Alex CroftWe’re hearing more from prime minister Sir Keir Starmer, who is discussing the Ukraine peace talks ahead of talks with Volodymyr Zelensky, French president Emmanual Macron and German chancellor Friedrich Merz on Monday.
Sir Keir Starmer said there needed to be “hard-edged security guarantees” for Ukraine if the fighting stops.
He told the Press Association that the four leaders will have “time for a private discussion about the peace plan in Ukraine” which will allow them “to make progress”.
The ceasefire needs to be just given Russia is the aggressor, he said, but it has “also got to be lasting, because we know Putin does not respect agreements that don’t have hard-edged security guarantees behind them, so that’s what we’ll be focusing on”.
Sir Keir also paid tribute to the US president, despite his recent criticisms of European leaders including Mr Zelensky.
“It’s always a complicated business, but I do think that we’re making progress, and I think what President Trump has been able to achieve in the last few weeks, getting it this far, has been the furthest we’ve got in the four years,” Sir Keir said.
“And I therefore pay tribute to him for that, and hopefully we can make some further progress this afternoon.”
US and Ukraine remain divided over territory, says Zelensky
Monday 8 December 2025 11:11 , Alex CroftVololdymyr Zelensky has said that negotiators discussing a US-brokered peace deal are unable to find a compromise on territory.
Donald Trump has been increasingly critical of Kyiv’s handling of the peace negotiations in the past few days, stating on Monday that Ukraine “isn’t ready” for a peace deal.
Speaking to Bloomberg News early on Monday morning, Mr Zelensky said talks have yet to reach an agreement on Ukraine’s Donbas, including the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk which are largely occupied by Russia.
“There are visions of the US, Russia and Ukraine — and we don’t have a unified view on Donbas,” he said. An earlier 28-point plan put forward by the US and agreed by Russia proposed total Russian control of the Donbas - meaning Kviv would cede land which it currently controls.
“There is one question I — and all Ukrainians — want to get an answer to: if Russia again starts the war, what will our partners do,” Mr Zelensky added.
'Conversation constructive, although not easy': Zelensky on talks with US
Monday 8 December 2025 11:00 , Alex CroftI will not pressure Zelensky into accepting the Trump deal, says Starmer
Monday 8 December 2025 10:46 , Alex CroftSir Keir Starmer has insisted he remained focused on ensuring peace in Ukraine was just and lasting, when asked if he would be pressuring Volodymyr Zelensky to accept the deal spearheaded by the Trump administration.
Speaking during a visit on Monday morning, the Prime Minister told ITV News: “I won’t be putting pressure on the president.
“I will be talking to him about… The most important thing is to ensure that if there is a cessation of hostilities, and I hope there is, it has to be just and it has to be lasting, which is what we will be focused on this afternoon.”
European leaders will have “quite a bit of private time to talk about the peace plan” at Downing Street, Sir Keir added.
The Prime Minister also said it was important to make sure a ceasefire was adhered to, “because we have had a ceasefire before and it has not been kept”.
Use of frozen Russian assets may lead to financial instability, says Euroclear CEO
Monday 8 December 2025 10:24 , Alex CroftThe use of frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine’s war effort may lead to financial instability, the financial group which holds the assets has warned.
All Russian assets held by the group are linked to legal claims so there is no “free” money, Euroclear CEO Valerie Urbain said in an interview with Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.
"There is no such thing as free money from Euroclear for the EU. It is Euroclear's money, and it is tied to the reimbursement claims of the Russian central bank," Ms Urbain said in the interview published on Monday.
She warned that real dangers to financial stability would arise if the bloc moves ahead with using frozen Russian assets. The EU's proposed reparations loan was "completely uncharted territory" and legally questionable, she added.
The company had previously criticised the proposal as “very fragile” and warned it could trigger an exodus of foreign investors away from the Eurozone.
In pictures: Sumy apartment building in flames as several injured in Russian strike
Monday 8 December 2025 10:08 , Alex Croft
Europe has promised Ukraine a ‘reassurance force’ when the war ends – but will it enrage Putin?
Monday 8 December 2025 09:47 , Maroosha MuzaffarAfter months on the sidelines of US-led peace talks, Europe is trying to rise to the challenge of guaranteeing Ukraine’s post-war future in the event of a ceasefire.
Britain and France are leading the push for a so-called reassurance force in Ukraine to retrain the army and uphold a peace deal if it emerges.
Downing Street said Britain is making plans for the multinational force drawn from partners on the continent, despite the Kremlin’s rejection this week of any foreign deployment as “unacceptable”.
Thousands of allied troops could be sent to cities across Ukraine to help the army recover its strength and stand as an independent deterrent to Russian aggression – if both sides can agree to terms.
The plans are months in the making, forged from discussions between Kyiv and the coalition of the willing about what security guarantees are needed to end the war.
Read more here:
How Europe’s ‘reassurance force’ could work in Ukraine – and will it enrage Putin?
Trump a 'little bit disappointed' that Zelensky hasn't read US peace proposal
Monday 8 December 2025 09:47 , Alex CroftAs we previously reported, Donald Trump said he Kyiv “isn’t ready” to sign the US peace proposal while talking to reporters last night.
US and Ukrainian negotiators completed three days of talks on Saturday aimed at trying to narrow differences on the US administration's proposal. But in an exchange with reporters on Sunday night, Trump suggested that the Ukrainian leader is holding up the talks from moving forward.
"I'm a little bit disappointed that President Zelensky hasn't yet read the proposal, that was as of a few hours ago. His people love it, but he hasn't," Trump claimed in an exchange with reporters before taking part in the Kennedy Center Honors.
The president added, "Russia is, I believe, fine with it, but I'm not sure that Zelenskyy's fine with it. His people love it it. But he isn't ready."
Kyiv’s lead negotiator Rustem Umerov said on Monday morning that the Ukrainian president would receive all documents relating to the new peace plan today.
At least seven injured in Russian drone strike on Ukraine's Sumy, governor says
Monday 8 December 2025 09:14 , Maroosha MuzaffarAt least seven people were hurt after Russian drones hit a residential building in Okhtyrka, a city in Ukraine’s northeastern Sumy region, according to governor Oleh Hryhorov.
The Sumy region, which borders Russia, has been subjected to almost continuous shelling and drone strikes since Moscow began its full-scale invasion in February 2022, with the conflict now approaching its fourth year.
In a message posted on Telegram, Hryhorov said the injured residents were taken to a hospital, where two were admitted for further care, while the remaining victims were treated and later released.
He reported that the multi-storey building suffered significant destruction and noted that some occupants managed to reach the basement after air-raid alerts, while emergency responders helped evacuate others from higher floors.
The Independent is unable to independently confirm the details, and Moscow has not yet issued a response to the incident.
Both Ukraine and Russia maintain that they do not intentionally target civilians, although thousands — most of them Ukrainian — have been killed since the war began.
Starmer’s role as ‘Trump whisperer’ makes him key figure in Ukraine talks
Monday 8 December 2025 09:07 , Alex CroftThe Independent’s political editor David Maddox reports:
Much will hinge on Keir Starmer at today’s mini summit in Ukraine with President Volodymyr Zelensky, France’s Emmanuel Macron and German chancellor Friedrich Merz.
The four men will be poring over Donald Trump’s controversial peace plan for Ukraine which seems in some ways to have been drawn up in Moscow.
The two issues being discussed will be how much can Zelensky swallow and sell to Ukrainians in exchange for peace and how much they can all persuade Trump to modify the plan in Ukraine’s favour.
It is a careful balance but Sir Keir’s position is pivotal not only as the host of the summit but the one they all regard as the “Trump whisperer”.
Starmer appears to be the one leader the US president is willing to trust, respect and listen to. Macron’s own double talk has not endeared him to the president.
So whatever is agreed today will have to be sold to the White House by Sir Keir with everyone keeping their fingers crossed that he can persuade the president.
EU leaders call for quick progress on frozen Russian assets
Monday 8 December 2025 08:55 , Alex CroftLeaders from seven EU member states have been calling for the bloc to move ahead quickly with the proposal to use frozen Russian assets to provide financing to Ukraine.
"Supporting Ukraine in their fight for freedom and independence is not only a moral obligation it is also in our own self-interest," the leaders from Estonia, Finland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Sweden said in a letter sent to EU Council president Antonio Costa and EU Commission's president Ursula von der Leyen.
"We must therefore move ahead quickly on the Commission's proposals to use the cash balances from Russia's immobilized assets for a reparations loan to Ukraine."
Russia launches 149 drones at Ukraine in overnight attack
Monday 8 December 2025 08:38 , Alex CroftRussia has attacked Ukraine with 149 drones overnight, the Ukrainian Air Force has said in its daily update.
Air defences downed 131 of the drones, but some managed to hit their targets.
Strikes were recorded by 16 drones across 11 locations in the country’s “north, south and east”, the update read.
The drones were launched from the Russian cities of Bryansk, Oryol, Kursk, Primorsko-Akhtarsk and Millerovo, as well as from temporarily occupied Donetsk and Cape Chuda in Crimea, the Air Force said according to Ukrainska Pravda.
What will Starmer and Zelensky discuss on Monday?
Monday 8 December 2025 08:20 , Alex CroftAs we reported earlier, Sir Keir Starmer will welcome Volodymyr Zelensky to Downing Street to discuss peace plans on Monday as Russia continues to bombard Ukraine.
The meeting, also attended by French president Emmanuel Macron and German chancellor Friedrich Merz, is expected to focus on how to respond to American proposals for ending the war with Russia.
Mr Zelensky’s visit to London comes after his officials concluded three days of talks with their US counterparts on those proposals as the White House presses Kyiv to accept a deal.
Over the weekend, Mr Zelensky said he had discussed “next steps” with Donald Trump’s advisers and was “determined to keep working in good faith”. But the negotiators also acknowledged that any “real progress” will depend “on Russia’s readiness to show serious commitment to long-term peace”.
Sir Keir has repeatedly said that Ukraine must be allowed to determine its own future, while one of his senior ministers said on Sunday that the country must not be left “toothless” in the face of Russian aggression.
The leaders will hope the meeting proves to be more than a photo op - but a real breakthrough in peace negotiations will as ever remain in the hands of the US and Russia.
Meloni reiterates Italy’s support for Ukraine during phone call with Zelensky
Monday 8 December 2025 08:04 , Maroosha MuzaffarItalian prime minister Giorgia Meloni reaffirmed Italy’s backing for the ongoing efforts to achieve a peace agreement in Ukraine during a phone call with Volodymyr Zelensky, according to a government spokesperson.
Zelensky is scheduled to meet with UK prime minister Sir Keir Starmer, France’s Emmanuel Macron, and Germany’s Friedrich Merz at Downing Street today to discuss the newest US-led attempts to bring the conflict to an end.
The spokesperson said Meloni conveyed Italy’s solidarity after another wave of Russian strikes on civilian targets in Ukraine.
In the statement, the government said: “Ukraine's reiterated willingness to sit in good faith at the negotiating table is instrumental to this process.”
It added that “The hope that Russia will demonstrate a similar openness was therefore reiterated.”
Trump says Zelensky ‘isn't ready’ to accept US-authored peace proposal
Monday 8 December 2025 07:49 , Maroosha MuzaffarPresident Donald Trump yesterday claimed Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky “isn't ready” to sign off on a US-authored peace proposal aimed at ending the Russia-Ukraine war.
Trump was critical of Zelensky after US and Ukrainian negotiators completed three days of talks on Saturday aimed at trying to narrow differences on the US administration’s proposal.
But in an exchange with reporters last night, Trump suggested that the Ukrainian leader is holding up the talks from moving forward.
“I’m a little bit disappointed that President Zelensky hasn’t yet read the proposal, that was as of a few hours ago. His people love it, but he hasn’t,” Trump claimed in an exchange with reporters before taking part in the Kennedy Center Honors.
The president added: “Russia is, I believe, fine with it, but I’m not sure that Zelensky’s fine with it. His people love it. But he isn’t ready.”
Russian president Vladimir Putin hasn’t publicly expressed approval for the White House plan.
In fact, Putin last week had said that aspects of Trump’s proposal were unworkable, even though the original draft heavily favoured Moscow.
Zelensky to be fully briefed on US-Ukraine talks on Monday
Monday 8 December 2025 07:30 , Alex CroftVolodymyr Zelensky will be briefed about his team's discussions with US officials and receive all documents related to the peace plan on Monday, Kyiv's senior negotiator Rustem Umerov said.
The negotiator has said that the primary task of Kyiv's negotiating team during recent talks was to be fully informed on US conversations in Moscow and all drafts of current proposals.
"Together with all partners, we must do everything possible for a dignified end to this war," he said.
Zelensky says ‘still work to be done to ensure Russia commits to ending the war’
Monday 8 December 2025 07:00 , Maroosha MuzaffarVolodymyr Zelensky described his latest call with Italy’s Giorgia Meloni as “very substantive,” saying they discussed his recent talks with the US in Miami and the “existing prospects and challenges”.
He stressed that “there is still work to be done together to ensure that Russia genuinely commits to ending the war”, and noted Italy’s backing for long-term security measures to prevent future conflict.
According to Zelenskyy, “Italy clearly supports the need for real security and for preventing any renewed outbreaks of war. We are preparing joint efforts in Europe to make diplomacy work”.
Kremlin insists ‘radical changes’ needed to peace plan
Monday 8 December 2025 06:30 , Maroosha MuzaffarRussia insists that the peace proposal still needs “radical changes” before Moscow can accept it, according to some local media reports.
Vladimir Putin’s foreign policy adviser, Yuri Ushakov, said the US must “make serious, I would say, radical changes to their papers” on Ukraine.
His remarks contrast sharply with comments from US envoy Keith Kellogg, who earlier suggested an agreement was “really close”, with only two obstacles remaining: the status of the Donbas and the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.
Territory remains the key point of contention. Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly ruled out ceding land, arguing that doing so would only invite future Russian aggression.
The first draft of the US plan, however, proposed that Ukraine relinquish Donetsk and Luhansk – despite Kyiv still holding significant parts of the Donbas.
Ukraine’s ambassador to Washington, Olga Stefanishyna, earlier said that “difficult issues remain”, in the talks between the US and Ukraine.
She told CNN that the “main challenges at this stage concern questions of territory and guarantees, and we are actively seeking optimal formats for addressing them”.
Kremlin praises Trump's newly released national security strategy as it mirrors Russia's vision
Monday 8 December 2025 06:00 , Maroosha MuzaffarThe Kremlin has portrayed Donald Trump’s newly released national security strategy as a positive shift that closely mirrors Russia’s own perspective.
Moscow’s reaction comes after the White House unveiled the document on Friday, a report that takes aim at the EU and warns that Europe faces the threat of “civilisational erasure”, while also signalling Washington’s desire to improve ties with Moscow.
“The adjustments that we see correspond in many ways to our vision,” the Kremlin spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, said yesterday.
He welcomed signals that the Trump administration was “in favour of dialogue and building good relations”.
He warned, however, that the supposed US “deep state” could try to sabotage Trump’s vision.
