Ukraine-Russia war latest: Zelensky wants to meet Trump soon as he demands answers from European allies
Putin has demanded vast swathes of Ukraine in exchange for a ceasefire
President Volodymyr Zelensky hopes to meet US President Donald Trump very soon, possibly in Washington DC, as peace talks continued in Paris.
The Ukrainian leader said that he is seeking solid post-war guarantees from both the US and European allies to deter Russia from attacking, adding he had not received a clear answer from partners about what their response to such an attack would be.
Meanwhile, Zelensky said US negotiators will discuss issues of territory as well as the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, with possible formats for meetings of European allies and leaders as well as the United States to be raised, he said in a post on X/Twitter on Wednesday.
It comes as Vladimir Putin described his brutal invasion of neighbouring Ukraine as a "holy mission" to defend Russia in a bizarre address marking Orthodox Christmas.
The Russian president called his soldiers "warriors" who were acting "as if at the Lord's behest" in a speech that combined militaristic bombast with calls for unity and charity.
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UK’s peacekeeping force in Ukraine needs ‘serious numbers’ to face down Russia, former Nato chief warns
Plans for a British and French peacekeeping force in Ukraine will require “serious numbers” of troops to face down Russia, a former army chief has warned.
Sir Richard Shirreff, who served as Nato's deputy supreme allied commander in Europe between 2011 and 2014, said allied forces would need to “overmatch” Russia to ensure they could fight back if Vladimir Putin’s country broke a ceasefire agreement.
But he suggested this would not be possible under Britain’s current level of defence spending, warning: “A government without a sword is useless.”
Sir Richard’s assessment was shared by former defence secretary Sir Gavin Williamson who said Britain would need to deploy around 40,000 troops to ensure the operation was effective. Last year, figures showed there were around 147,000 people in the UK armed forces, with just over half assigned to the army.
The Independent’s Kate Devlin and David Maddox report:
UK’s peacekeeping force in Ukraine ‘needs serious numbers to face down Russia’
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch says Ukraine agreement shows 'fundamental lack of respect'
Kate Devlin reports:
At Prime Minister's Questions, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said it was "astonishing" Sir Keir Starmer was not making a statement in Parliament on the Ukraine agreement with France.
Mrs Badenoch said the decision showed a "fundamental lack of respect" for MPs and their constituents.
To shouts of "when" from Conservative MPs, Sir Keir added: "There will be a statement to the House at the earliest opportunity."
He added: "If there were a decision to deploy, under the agreement that was signed yesterday, then I would put that matter to this House for a debate beforehand and for a vote on that deployment - that is consistent with recent practice and I'll adhere to that."
Pressed by Ms Badenoch on how many UK troops could be sent and whether they would have a combat role, the prime minister said that any deployment would only be after a ceasefire and would be to “support Ukraine’s capabilities, it would be to conduct a deterrence operations and to construct and protect military hubs”.
Zelensky hopes to meet Trump soon as he demands clarity from Europe
President Volodymyr Zelensky hopes to meet US President Donald Trump very soon, possibly in Washington, as peace talks continued in Paris.
The Ukrainian leader said that he is seeking solid post-war guarantees from both the US and European allies to deter Russia from attacking, adding he had not received a clear answer from partners about what their response to such an attack would be.
ICYMI: Putin calls Ukraine invasion his 'holy mission' at Orthodox Christmas service
Russian president Vladimir Putin attended a Russian Orthodox Christmas service early on Wednesday, where he hailed his invasion of Ukraine as a “holy mission” to defend Russia.
Putin combined the ceremony with a holiday address on unity, charity and support for the armed forces.
His appearance came as the war Russia launched with its full scale invasion of Ukraine neared the end of its fourth year, with the Kremlin casting the conflict as a national mission and leaning heavily on patriotic and religious symbolism.
Video footage showed Putin in a dark suit without a tie among uniformed servicemen, alongside wives and children, as clerics conducted the service at the St George Victory Bearer church near Moscow.
“Russia’s warriors have always, as if at the Lord’s behest, carried out this mission of defending the Fatherland and its people, saving the Motherland and its people,” Putin said at the church after the service.
“At all times in Russia, this is how people have regarded their warriors, as those who, as if at the Lord’s behest, carry out this holy mission."
Finland's foreign minister says Russia threat to whole of Europe will persist
Finland’s Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen has said that Russia will continue to target the whole of Europe in a hybrid manner for the foreseeable future, on Wednesday.
“We know from our painful history that Russia unfortunately only understands strength,” she added, while speaking at a meeting of the German conservative CSU party in southern Germany.
Watch: Starmer launches Russia jibe at Reform in first PMQs of 2026
Breaking: MPs to get vote on deploying UK peace-keeping troops to Ukraine
MPs will get a vote in the House of Commons before the UK deploys troops on the ground in Ukraine, Sir Keir Starmer has said.
But he would not be drawn on the number the UK could send to defend the country, in the event of a ceasefire in its war with Russia.
He said that on Tuesday, that “along with President Macron and President Zelensky, we agreed a declaration of intent for the deployment of forces in the event of a peace deal. We will set out the details in a statement at the earliest opportunity”.
MPs to get vote on deploying UK peace-keeping troops to Ukraine
Watch: Starmer confirms 'real progress' made on Ukraine security guarantees
Prime minister Starmer says vote to be held on Ukrainian troop deployment
British PM Keir Starmer has confirmed that a vote will be held in the House of Commons on the deployment of troops to Ukraine in the event of a peace deal.
Yesterday, I stood side by side with our European and American allies and President Zelensky at the Coalition of the Willing meeting in Paris,” he said during Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday.
“We made real progress on security guarantees, which are vital for securing a just and lasting peace.
“Along with President Macron and President Zelensky, we agreed a declaration of intent for the deployment of forces in the event of a peace deal. We will set out the details in a statement at the earliest opportunity.
“I will keep the house updated as the situation develops and, were troops to be deployed under the declaration signed, I would put that matter to the House for a vote.”
'Concrete results' achieved during peace talks, says Zelensky's chief of staff
President Volodymyr Zelensky’s chief of staff Kyrylo Budanov has hailed the achievement of “concrete results” during peace talks in Paris, which entered their second day on Wednesday.
“Ukrainian national interests will be defended,” Budanov wrote in a post on Telegram. He said “not all information can be public” and did not clarify the areas where progress had been made.
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