Most Ukrainians see this as a ruse that could allow Vladimir Putin to circumvent Ukraine’s defences and continue his invasion. Even with its impressive fortifications, in the past few months Ukraine has been losing ground. Most of the city of Pokrovsk has fallen.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Wednesday pressed allies for ironclad security guarantees against any renewed Russian attack while also seeking progress on EU membership talks and tougher sanctions on Moscow.

Britain and France firmed up a postwar troop commitment in Ukraine, though Russia has said it will reject any deal that allows NATO-country forces in Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has held a meeting with his Cypriot counterpart Nikos Christodoulides, whose country has begun its presidency of the Council of the EU. Source: Zelenskyy on X (Twitter),

An explicit commitment that Washington would backstop Kyiv was scrapped in the leaders’ final joint statement.

The European Commission has announced plans to phase out imports of Russian liquefied natural gas by the end of 2026. As Europe proceeds with this goal, will it deliver?

Ukraine’s allies are meeting Tuesday in Paris for key talks that could help determine the country’s security after a potential ceasefire with Russia. But prospects for progress are uncertain with the Trump administration's focus shifting to Venezuela.

French President Emmanuel Macron, right, shakes hands to Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy after the signing of the declaration on deploying post-ceasefire force in Ukraine during the 'Coalition of the Willing' summit on security guarantees for Ukraine,