Vladimir Putin has praised Donald Trump as an “intelligent” man who “will find a solution” to the war in Ukraine.
Speaking at a security summit in Kazakhstan on Thursday, Putin said he was ready for peace talks with Ukraine “without preconditions”, but on the same terms he laid out over the summer.
The Russian president said in June he would end the war if Kyiv agreed to drop its Nato ambitions and hand over four Ukrainian regions claimed by Moscow.
Ukraine has rejected this proposal as tantamount to surrender.
According to The Washington Post, Putin and Mr Trump have spoken about the future of Ukraine since the Nov 5 US election.
Voenacher/Telegram
Mr Trump was said to have warned the Russian leader during a phone call not to escalate the war and expressed an interest in a follow-up conversation.
The incoming US president is understood to be working on several proposals to end the war.
According to three Trump staffers, one of these plans could see European and British troops called on to enforce an 800-mile buffer zone between the Russian and Ukrainian armies.
The current front line would be frozen in place and Ukraine would agree to shelve its ambition to join Nato for 20 years.
In exchange, the US would pump Ukraine full of weapons to deter Russia from restarting the war.
The US would neither contribute troops to patrol and enforce the resulting buffer zone nor finance its mission.
Putin also on Thursday expressed concern for Mr Trump’s safety after attempts on his life during the US election campaign.
The Kremlin launched a massive overnight attack on Wednesday on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure in what it said was revenge for Kyiv’s Storm Shadow and Atacms missile strikes on Russia.
More than a million people were left without power, Ukrainian officials said, after Russia fired about 90 missiles and 100 drones at targets across the country.
Putin later threatened to devastate Kyiv with Russia’s new Oreshnik missile, which was first launched at the city of Dnipro last week.
The Oreshnik is an intermediate range ballistic missile with multiple warheads and is thought to be nuclear capable.
Moscow has so far largely avoided Ukrainian government buildings in Kyiv, but said that it was now considering hitting “decision-making centres” in the Ukrainian capital.
Putin claimed that an attack using several Oreshniks “would be comparable to the use of nuclear weapons”.
He hinted that he would be prepared to use nuclear weapons against Ukraine if the West were to give Kyiv its own weapons of mass destruction.
“If the country which we are essentially at war with now becomes a nuclear power, what do we do?” Putin said.
“In this case, we will use all, I want to emphasise this, precisely all means of destruction available to Russia,” he added.
The New York Times reported last week that some unidentified Western officials suggested Joe Biden, the US president, could give Ukraine nuclear weapons before he leaves office.
Alexander Lukashenko, the Belarusian president and key Putin ally who was also at the Kazakhstan summit, said: “Clinging to an elusive dominance, the West is increasingly speaking the language of arms, turning a blind eye to the threats of nuclear confrontation fraught with the destruction of the entire planet.”
Meanwhile, Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, approved Kyiv’s 2025 budget plans for 60 per cent of all expenditure to go towards defence and security.
Some financial support
A total of $54 billion (£43 billion), out of a general budget of $87 billion (£69 billion), will go towards defence and security, according to documents published by the finance ministry.
By comparison, Moscow’s draft budget earmarks $125 billion (£100 billion) for defence and $32 billion (£26 billion) for “domestic security”.
Ukraine will see some financial support in the form of €18.1 billion (£15 billion) in frozen Russian assets, which the EU agreed to send to Kyiv on Thursday.
Denys Shmyhal, Ukraine’s prime minister, said: “Such a step is not only support [for Ukraine] but also a precedent for holding Russia accountable for its crimes and starting the process of making the aggressor pay for its brutal war.”
Mr Trump on Wednesday nominated Keith Kellogg, a former national security adviser and retired US lieutenant general, to be his special envoy to Ukraine and Russia.
In April 2024, Kellogg co-authored a strategy paper saying that the US should negotiate a ceasefire in Ukraine.
The paper said that the US should continue to arm Ukraine but only if it participates in peace talks with Russia.
Additionally, Nato leaders should offer to shelve Ukraine’s application while granting Russia some sanctions relief if it signs a peace agreement with Ukraine.
06:25 PM GMT
That’s all for today
Thank you for following our live coverage.
06:15 PM GMT
Putin asks for forgiveness over Merkel dog scare
Vladimir Putin has apologised to former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, insisting he did not bring Konni his pet black Labrador to a meeting to scare her in 2007.
In her memoir, Mrs Merkel accused Putin of exploiting her well-documented fear of dogs in a “demonstration of power” from which he took enjoyment.
“I did not know that she was afraid of dogs,” the Moscow Times reported Putin saying on Thursday in Kazakhstan.
“I once again appeal to her via the media and say: ‘Angela, please forgive me, I did not want to cause you any heartache.’ On the contrary, I wanted to create a favorable atmosphere for our conversation,” he added.
“If you ever — I realize it is unlikely — come again, I will not do it under any circumstances,” Putin said.
Vladimir Putin and Angela Merkel at the Bocharov Ruchei residence in Sochi, 21 Jan 2007 – AFP PHOTO / PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SERVICE / ITAR-TASS / DMITRY ASTAKHOV/AFP/GETTY
06:11 PM GMT
Finland mulls laying banned anti-personnel mines
Finland is contemplating if anti-personnel landmines – currently prohibited by international law – should be brought back into its defence arsenal, authorities said on Thursday.
Designed to be buried or hidden on the ground, anti-personnel mines often mutilate victims who are not immediately killed, with aid groups decrying their long-term impact on civilians.
Finland, which shares a 1,340km border with Russia, abandoned the weapon in 2012 by joining the Anti-Personnel Landmines Convention, also known as the Ottawa Convention.
But Helsinki’s armed forces have been assessing whether the landmines are needed again given Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“This assessment is motivated by lessons from the war in Ukraine, and the strained security situation,” the ministry of defence said, adding that any conclusions would be made when a report is published next year.
05:53 PM GMT
Ukraine: The Latest with Boris Johnson
Today, the podcast discusses who Donald Trump has named as his envoy to Ukraine and hosts an exclusive interview with Boris Johnson.
05:47 PM GMT
France unclear over Putin arrest warrant
France has declined to say whether it would be prepared to detain Vladimir Putin under the international arrest warrant issued last year.
All European Union member states are signatories to the ICC’s founding treaty but France recently said it believed Benjamin Netanyahu had immunity to actions by the ICC as Israel has not signed up to the court statutes.
The ICC has issued an arrest warrant against Putin, although Russia is also not a signatory to the founding treaty.
French foreign ministry spokesman Christophe Lemoine said that France’s legal position was essentially the same on the arrest warrants issued for the two leaders.
“We’ve probably been less precise when commenting on Putin’s case compared to the present one but, in any case, our position is the same,” he said.
Asked if this meant France would not arrest Putin if he set foot on French soil, he said: “With regard to Vladimir Putin all those who committed crimes, there is no impunity. They have to be held responsible for their deeds, and we have always said that we’ll apply international law in all its aspects.”
05:31 PM GMT
West ‘turning a blind eye’ to threat of nuclear war, says Lukashenko
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has said the “arms race is gaining momentum” as Europe embraces “NATOfication”.
“The Eastern European region, especially Poland, continues its militarization. NATOfication of Europe and the world in general is underway,” Belarusian news agency BelTA quoted Lukashenko as saying at the Collective Security Treaty Organization summit in Kazakhstan.
“We record the worsening global situation every year,” he said, adding: “Clinging to an elusive dominance, the West is increasingly speaking the language of arms, turning a blind eye to the threats of nuclear confrontation fraught with the destruction of the entire planet.”
Alexander Lukashenko (left), Vladimir Putin and Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov in, Kazakhstan, 28 Nov – GAVRIIL GRIGOROV/SPUTNIK/KREMLIN POOL/EPA-EFE/SHUTTERSTOCK
05:09 PM GMT
Russian ‘spy ring plotted high-level espionage including honey traps’
A Russian spy ring plotted “high-level espionage” including honey traps of their targets from their base in the UK, the Old Bailey has heard.
The five Bulgarians used fake identities and “advanced technology” to carry out surveillance on the orders of Jan Marsalek, a Russian agent, it is alleged.
Read the full story here.
Vanya Gaberova
04:55 PM GMT
Watch: Russian strike on Ukrainian energy infrastructure
Voenacher/Telegram
04:38 PM GMT
Ukraine budget approved
Volodymyr Zelensky has approved Kyiv’s 2025 budget plans that will see 60 percent of all expenditure go towards defence and security.
A total of $54 billion, out of a general budget of $87 billion, will go towards defence and security, according to budget documents published by the finance ministry.
Under the 2025 plans, Kyiv will post an overall budget shortfall of $37 billion.
By comparison, Moscow’s draft budget earmarks 13.5 trillion roubles ($125 billion at Thursday’s exchange rate) for defence – and another 3.5 trillion roubles ($32 billion) for “domestic security”.
In response, Volodymyr Zelensky has signed into law Ukraine’s first wartime tax increase, raising the war tax for residents from 1.5 per cent currently paid on personal income to 5 per cent.
04:14 PM GMT
EU to send Ukraine €18.1 billion in frozen Russian assets
The European Union has signed a memorandum of understanding to provide €18.1 billion in financial assistance to Ukraine secured from frozen Russian assets.
Vice President of the European Commission Valdis Dombrovskis signed the agreement on behalf of the EU.
Ukraine’s Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said: “Such a step is not only support [for Ukraine] but also a precedent for holding Russia accountable for its crimes and starting the process of making the aggressor pay for its brutal war.”
03:45 PM GMT
Ukraine says it needs equipment more than manpower
Kyiv has urged its partners to speed up military aid, saying quicker delivery of critical battlefield equipment was more important than drafting more men.
“We are now in the situation when we need more equipment to arm all the people that have already been mobilised, and we think the first priority is to send quicker, faster military aid,” said Heorhii Tykhyi, a spokesman for Ukraine’s foreign ministry.
He made the remark during a press briefing in Kyiv, a day after a senior US official said Ukraine was not mobilising enough new soldiers and urged Kyiv to reduce the conscription age from 25 to 18.
03:26 PM GMT
Putin concerned for Trump’s safety
Vladimir Putin has expressed concerns for Donald Trump’s safety after assassination attempts during the presidential campaign.
Speaking at a summit in Kazakhstan, the Russian president said he had been shocked by “the absolutely uncivilised methods used to battle against Trump”.
“In my opinion, he is not safe now,” said Putin, adding: “Unfortunately, in the history of the United States various incidents have happened.
“I think he is intelligent and I hope he’s cautious and understands this.”
The Russian president added that not even “bandits” in Russia would stoop as low as some American political opponents in their “revolting” treatment of Mr Trump’s family during the campaign.
Donald Trump after an assassination attempt at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. on July 13 – EVAN VUCCI/AP
03:10 PM GMT
Germany offers Patriot air defences to Poland
Germany has offered to re-deploy Patriot air defence systems to Poland in the new year.
The units could be deployed for up to six months, the German defence ministry said.
“With this we will protect a logistical hub in Poland which is of central importance for the delivery of materials to Ukraine,” German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said.
Germany previously deployed 300 troops along with three Patriot units to Poland from January to November 2022, in response to fears of the war in Ukraine spilling over the border.
02:24 PM GMT
Putin issues threats over arming Ukraine
Vladimir Putin has warned that Russia would use all weapons at its disposal against Ukraine if the war-torn nation became a nuclear power.
The New York Times reported last week that some unidentified Western officials had suggested Joe Biden could give Ukraine nuclear weapons before he leaves office.
Speaking in Astana, Kazakhstan, Putin said: “If the country which we are essentially at war with now becomes a nuclear power, what do we do? In this case, we will use all, I want to emphasise this, precisely all means of destruction available to Russia.
“Everything: we will not allow it. We’ll be watching their every move.”
Vladimir Putin attends a press conference following the Collective Security Treaty Organisation summit in Astana, Kazakhstan, Nov 28 – RAMIL SITDIKOV/POOL SPUTNIK KREMLIN
01:50 PM GMT
Kyiv says Russian forces executed five Ukrainian soldiers
Ukraine has accused Russian forces of shooting dead five Ukrainian soldiers who had surrendered in the eastern Zaporizhzhia region.
Prosecutors said the incident took place near the village of Novodarivka in the Pologiv district on 24 Nov.
“Servicemen of the Russian armed forces shot dead five Ukrainian defenders out of six who had been taken prisoner,” a statement read.
Ukrainian human rights ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets said he had contacted the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) over the allegations. Moscow did not immediately respond to the accusations.
01:37 PM GMT
New missile ‘turns everything to dust’ says Putin
Vladimir Putin has claimed the power of his new Oreshnik missile is “comparable to the use of nuclear weapons” and described the impact as like a “meteorite”.
The Russian president said the intermediate range ballistic missile fell short of a “weapon of mass destruction” as its use without a nuclear warhead does not lead to radioactive contamination.
“The temperature of the striking elements reaches 4,000 degrees C”, he said, according to the exiled Russian language news website Meduza, adding: “This means that everything in the explosion’s epicentre is broken down into fractions, into elementary particles, essentially turning into dust.”
Russia first launched the Oreshnik at the city of Dnipro earlier this month.
Credit: social media
01:17 PM GMT
‘How many more need to die?’ asks Elon Musk
Elon Musk has criticised the Biden administration’s for urging Ukraine to lower the draft age from 25 to 18.
The American billionaire, who has been picked by President-elect Donald Trump to lead a new Department of Government Efficiency, responded to a report from AP stating that the US was calling for Ukraine to permit conscription from the age of 18.
“How many more need to die?” Mr Musk replied on X.
12:51 PM GMT
‘Christians are not afraid of apocalypse’, says head of Russian Orthodox Church
Patriarch Kirill of the Russian Orthodox Church has said there is no need to stir up fear over nuclear weapons, as Christians are not afraid of the end of the world.
“Fearmongering around possible apocalyptic scenarios, excessive alarmism and speculation on the nuclear issue are not useful from a spiritual point of view”, he said according to Russian news outlet Agentstvo Novosti.
Speaking at a plenary session of the XXVI World Russian People’s Council, he continued: “The enemy of humankind is trying to sow anxiety in the hearts of people … because it is easier to manipulate a person deprived of the spiritual world. There is no need to play along with all this.
“Christians are not afraid of the so-called end of the world. We are waiting for the Lord Jesus, who will come to great glory, destroy evil and judge all nations.”
Vladimir Putin and Patriarch Kirill during a wreath-laying ceremony in Moscow on Nov 4, 2023 – GAVRIIL GRIGOROV/AFP
12:25 PM GMT
Zelensky discusses ‘long-range capabilities’ with Starmer
Volodymyr Zelensky has had a telephone conversation with Sir Keir Starmer to discuss Russia’s overnight attack on civilian infrastructure.
“We discussed the latest act of Russian air terror against Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure,” the Ukrainian president wrote on Telegram, adding that “particular attention was paid to the issue of further defence co-operation”.
Mr Zelensky said he was grateful to the UK for its “large-scale support”, in particular for its allocation of at least £3bn annually for the needs of Ukraine.
The Ukrainian president said he reiterated his call for Ukraine to join the military alliance Nato, sought “further development of long-range capabilities” and discussed the possible participation of Ukraine in the Joint Expeditionary Force summit next month in Tallinn, Estonia.
11:43 AM GMT
Who is Trump’s new Ukraine peace envoy?
Donald Trump’s pick for special envoy to Ukraine once proposed cutting military aid to the country to force Volodymyr Zelensky to the negotiating table, writes Joe Barnes.
Keith Kellogg, 80, who served as chief of staff for the White House National Security Council during the Republican’s first term, will play a leading role in resolving the conflict.
Under a proposal presented to the president-elect in June, Lt Gen Kellogg suggested halting weapon supplies to Kyiv if the war-torn capital refused to engage in peace talks.
Separately, Russia would be warned that not negotiating would result in increased military support for Ukraine.
To further encourage Russian president Vladimir Putin, the US could agree to suspending the possibility of Nato membership for Kyiv.
Lt Gen Kellogg’s plan, which was co-authored alongside former Trump aide Fred Fleitz, called for the conflict to be frozen along its current front lines.
Read the full story here.
President Donald Trump, center, sits with retired Army Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg – AP
11:27 AM GMT
Watch: Ukraine fires British Storm Shadow missile for first time
Ukraine used British Storm Shadow missiles to strike targets inside Russia for the first time last week.
The long-range missiles were fired at a Russian military target in the village of Darino, Kursk.
Ian_Matveev/X
10:59 AM GMT
Russia ‘cluster bomb attack’ hits Ukrainian power grid
Russia bombed Ukraine’s power grid with “cluster munitions” in a “despicable escalation”, Volodymyr Zelesnky said.
The Ukrainian president claimed the weapons, which can be indiscriminate in their targeting, were used to strike “several regions”.
“This is a very despicable escalation of Russian terrorist tactics,” Mr Zelensky said.
10:47 AM GMT
Russia ramping up missile production, says Putin
Russia’s production of advanced missile systems exceeds that of the NATO military alliance by 10 times, Vladimir Putin has claimed.
The Russian president said Moscow had plans to ramp up production further after Ukraine was given permission to strike Western long-range missiles at Russia.
He said while Ukrainian leaders were “begging their masters for other military equipment”, Russia’s production of hypersonic missile systems was “in full swing”.
Putin also said Russia’s Oreshnik hypersonic missile, which it fired for the first time at a Ukrainian city last week, is incapable of being intercepted.
Vladimir Putin attends the summit of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) in Astana, Kazakhstan – GAVRIIL GRIGOROV/REUTERS
10:37 AM GMT
Watch: Russian Su-34 bomber flies at Ukraine
Russia’s defence ministry has released footage showing a Russian Su-34 bomb taking off towards an undisclosed location in Ukraine.
Footage shows the fighter jet releasing a bomb at an undisclosed location.
Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation
10:13 AM GMT
In pictures: Aftermath of Russian attack
Firefighters work at a site of a Russian missile strike on Ukraine’s Volyn region – REUTERS
A damaged house following a missile attack at an undisclosed location in Odesa – AFP
10:02 AM GMT
Russia orchestrating ‘campaign of terror’, says Ukrainian MP
Russia is targeting Ukraine’s power grid as part of its wider “campaign of terror”, a Ukrainian MP has told The Telegraph.
Oleksiy Goncharenko, the MP for Odesa, said Russia hoped to cause blackouts “in order to influence people and push for concessions”.
Mr Goncharenko called on Western allies to provide Ukraine with more air defences and long-range missiles to strike Russian military bases that are used to launch attacks against Ukraine.
He told us the situation is not as severe in Odesa this morning as it was after a massive attack earlier this month, but said some Ukrainians were still experiencing blackouts.
09:40 AM GMT
Pictured: Blackout hits Ukraine after attack on power grid
Around one million Ukrainians have been left without power
09:21 AM GMT
Russia returns seven children to Ukraine
Russia returned seven children to Ukraine following mediation efforts by Qatar, state media reported on Thursday.
Qatar has acted as a mediator several times between Russia and Ukraine to facilitate the return of Ukrainian children since the start of the war.
09:10 AM GMT
US pressures Ukraine to lower conscription age
Ukraine should consider lowering the age of military service for its soldiers from 25 to 18, a senior US administration official said.
Ukraine was not mobilising or training enough new soldiers to replace those lost on the battlefield, the official who spoke anonymously said.
“The need right now is manpower,” he said. “The Russians are in fact making progress, steady progress, in the east, and they are beginning to push back Ukrainian lines in Kursk … Mobilisation and more manpower could make a significant difference at this time as we look at the battlefield today.”
08:35 AM GMT
Several nuclear power units disconnected after attack
Ukraine has disconnected several nuclear power units from the network due to Russia’s attack on the country’s energy infrastructure.
The attack has left at least one million people across western Ukraine without any power.
08:11 AM GMT
Ukraine’s energy infrastructure ‘dealt hard blow’
Russia’s “massive” attack on Ukrainian energy infrastructure on Thursday “dealt a hard blow”, a source inside Ukraine’s energy ministry told Reuters.
Moscow used “a lot of cluster munitions” in the attack, the source added.
Cluster munitions are devices filled with smaller explosives that can be sprayed across a wider area.
08:01 AM GMT
In pictures: worried residents shelter amid Russian attack
A woman comforts a child in Kyiv metro station – REUTERS
A man sits with an elderly woman and a cat in Kyiv metro station amid Russia’s “massive” energy attack – REUTERS
07:48 AM GMT
Europe at war with Russia, says former MI6 head
Europe is already in an “actual war” with Russia, the former head of MI6 has said.
“I think we have to face up to the fact that the Russians think they’re in a state of war with us,” Richard Dearlove said.
It followed comments by Donald Tusk, the Polish prime minister, that Europe was in a “pre-war” situation.
“I think he’s wrong. I think it’s an actual war,” Mr Dearlove added.
07:34 AM GMT
One million without power
At least one million Ukrainians are without power after Russia’s “massive” attack on the country’s energy infrastructure.
The attacks cut power to 523,000 consumers in Lviv region, about 215,000 in Volyn region and over 280,000 in Rivne region, their governors reported on the Telegram messaging app.
07:22 AM GMT
Kyiv air defence working, says mayor
Kyiv’s air defence was working amid Russia’s “massive” attack on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, the city’s mayor said on Thursday.
Air raid alerts were in place across Ukraine in the early hours on Thursday morning.
“Once again, the energy sector is under massive enemy attack. Attacks on energy facilities are taking place across Ukraine,” German Galushchenko, Ukraine’s energy minister, said.
07:20 AM GMT
Welcome to our live coverage
Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the war in Ukraine.
We’ll be bringing you the latest news and analysis from the conflict throughout the day.
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