Trump LIVE: Putin slaughters children hours before crunch Zelensky White House meeting

27 mins ago08:40 Jon King

Britain has said reports Russia could accept security guarantees for Ukraine as part of any peace deal in its war against the country are "encouraging".

Steve Witkoff, Mr Trump's special envoy, told CNN yesterday that such a move had been discussed at the Alaska summit with Putin.

UK health minister Stephen Kinnock welcomed the development as part of any agreement to end the war.

Mr Kinnock told the BBC earlier this morning: "I was very encouraged to see those reports. Of course, as always with the Kremlin, the proof of the pudding is in the eating."

A Russian Army BM-21 'Grad' self-propelled 122mm multiple rocket launcher fires towards Ukraine (Image: Russian Defence Ministry Press Service)

52 mins ago08:15 Jon King

Ukraine's leader reiterated Kyiv's call for security guarantees ahead of his meeting with Mr Trump later today.

Mr Zelensky posted on X: "It’s important that America agrees to work with Europe to provide security guarantees for Ukraine, and therefore for all of Europe".

Last night, however, Mr Trump seemed to put the onus on Mr Zelensky agreeing to concessions. He suggested Ukraine could not regain Crimea, which Russia illegally annexed in 2014, setting off an armed conflict that led to its broader 2022 invasion.

Mr Trump wrote on social media: "President Zelensky of Ukraine can end the war with Russia almost immediately, if he wants to, or he can continue to fight.

"Remember how it started. No getting back Obama given Crimea (12 years ago, without a shot being fired!), and NO GOING INTO NATO BY UKRAINE. Some things never change!!!".

Mr Zelensky appeared to respond with his own post late on Sunday, saying: "We all share a strong desire to end this war quickly and reliably".

He went on to say that "peace must be lasting", not as it was after Russia seized Crimea and part of the Donbas in eastern Ukraine eight years ago. The Ukrainian leader said: "Putin simply used it as a springboard for a new attack".

Pictures just released by the Ukrainian Emergency Service show a damaged block of flats hit in a Russian air attack in Kharkiv.

At least eight civilians have been killed and 35 injured in Russian strikes across Ukraine in the past 24 hours, according to regional authorities cited by The Kyiv Independent news outlet.

A firefighter tackles a blaze in the aftermath of a Russian strike on Kharkiv (Image: Ukrainian Emergency Service)

The block of flats was hit overnight (Image: Ukrainian Emergency Service)

Ukraine's future could hinge on a crucial meeting at the White House later today between Mr Trump and Mr Zelensky.

Ukraine's leader is being joined by a number of European leaders to put on a united front against Russia.

The European leaders were left out of Mr Trump's summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin last Friday.

They will be looking to safeguard Ukraine and the continent from any widening aggression from Russia.

By arriving as a group, the European leaders will hope to avoid any upset, such as when Mr Zelensky’s met Mr Trump in the Oval Office in February.

At that meeting, Mr Trump chastised him for not showing enough gratitude for US military aid.

The meeting is also a test of the United States' relationship with its closest allies after the UK and European Union accepted Mr Trump’s tariff hikes partly because they wanted his support on Ukraine.

Trump and Zelenksy pictured in February (Image: Getty)