Ukraine-Russia war latest: Trump claims peace deal ‘closer than ever’ but differences on territory remain

Russia is a growing threat to the UK and the nation’s “sons and daughters” must be ready to fight in the event of an attack, the head of the British armed forces has warned.

Making the case for a society-wide approach to “defence and deterrence”, chief of defence staff Sir Richard Knighton said the situation is “more dangerous than I have known during my career”.

He called on “people who are not soldiers, sailors or aviators to nevertheless invest their skills – and money” on building up national resilience.

Sir Richard said: “Sons and daughters. Colleagues. Veterans. …will all have a role to play. To build. To serve. And if necessary, to fight. And more families will know what sacrifice for our nation means.

“That is why it’s so important we do explain the changing threat and the need to stay ahead of it.”

The United States has offered to provide NATO-style security guarantees for Kyiv as US and European negotiators reported progress in talks on Monday to end the war with Russia, but a deal on territorial concessions remained elusive.

Envoys sent by US president Donald Trump made the unprecedented offer at talks with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky in Berlin, US officials said, but warned such a deal would not be on the table forever.

The talks in the German capital have sparked some optimism from European leaders on a path to end Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War Two. However, Moscow is yet to agree to any of the changes discussed in Germany and has not indicated any willingness to do so.

“We’re trying to get it done,” Trump said of an agreement to end the war, speaking at the White House after he called into a dinner involving the key officials in Berlin. “We had numerous conversations with President Putin of Russia, and I think we’re closer now than we have been ever and we’ll see what we can do,” Trump added.

The US is also leaning on Ukraine to withdraw its forces from the eastern Donetsk region, an official familiar with the matter said, in what would be a massive concession that could cause a ferocious backlash in Ukraine.

Calling the issue of territorial concessions “painful”, Zelensky told reporters later: “Frankly speaking, we still have different positions.” But he said he believed US mediators would help find a compromise.

Donald Trump gave an update as US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner attended a dinner with European leaders, which the US president called into.

“I had a long talk with President Zelensky. Also, I spoke with the heads of Germany, Italy, NATO, Finland, France, the United Kingdom, Poland, Norway, Denmark and the Netherlands. We had very long and very good talks. And again, I think things are going along pretty well.

“27,000 soldiers were killed last month. Shouldn’t happen. Should have never happened. Should have never started that war should have never ever started, but it did and we’re trying to get it solved — that was Biden’s situation which I’m to get it done, and I think we’re closer now —and they, they will tell you that they’re closer now.

“We had numerous conversations with President Putin of Russia, and I think we’re closer now than we have been ever and we’ll see what we can do. We want to save a lot of lives. You know, we sell equipment to NATO. We don’t spend any money, but we do want to see if we can save a lot of lives when you’re losing 25,000 to 30,000 soldiers, mostly soldiers, so other people too, from towns then, like places like Kiev, various other places throughout Ukraine, it’s pretty bad. Nobody’s seen anything like it actually since World War Two.

“But we’re getting closer. We’re having tremendous support from European leaders. They want to get it ended also, and at this point, this moment, Russia wants to get it and the problem is, they’ll want to get it ended and then all of a sudden they won’t and Ukraine will want to get it ended and all of a sudden, they won’t. So we have to get them on the same page. But I think that’s working along. Very good talk.”

President Donald Trump has claimed that a peace agreement is “closer than ever” after speaking directly with Vladimir Putin.

“We had numerous conversations with President Putin of Russia, and I think we’re closer now than we have been ever and we’ll see what we can do. We want to save a lot of lives.”

He added: “We have to get them on the same page. But I think that’s working along..”

Ukraine and its European allies, including the UK, have set out conditions for a peace deal with Russia following a meeting in Berlin on Monday night.

In a joint statement, the leaders of 10 countries and the EU said they and the US had “committed to work together to provide robust security guarantees and economic recovery support measures for Ukraine”.

They said any agreement should include commitments to provide support for Ukraine’s armed forces, which should continue to have 800,000 troops; involve a European-led multinational force and a US-led ceasefire monitoring mechanism.

An agreement should also include a legally binding commitment for allies to “take measures to restore peace and security” if Russia attacks again; investment in Ukraine’s economic future; and support for Ukraine’s accession to the EU, they said.

They added: “It is now incumbent upon Russia to show willingness to work towards a lasting peace by agreeing to President Trump’s peace plan and to demonstrate their commitment to end the fighting by agreeing to a ceasefire. Leaders agreed to continue to increase pressure on Russia to bring Moscow to negotiate in earnest.”

Chancellor Friedrich Merz has said that for the first time since Russia started its war with Ukraine, “a ceasefire now seems possible.”

He said in a post on social media: “For the first time since the war began, a ceasefire now seems possible.

“We want to move along the path to peace together with the Ukrainians, our European partners, and the United States.

“I believe that today, in Berlin, we are taking an important step forward on that path.”