President Volodymyr Zelensky says pressure on his country to agree to a new 28-point peace plan brokered by the US is causing one of the most difficult moments in Ukraine’s history.
He says Ukraine is now facing a choice between “losing its dignity or losing a key partner” – a reference to the United States.
The leaked 28-point plan – drawn up by the Trump administration – proposes that Ukraine:
Hand over territory that is not occupied, and would also see Russia holding onto much of the Ukrainian territory that is under its occupation – Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk
Hold elections within 100 days
And reduce the size of its military and abandon hopes of joining Nato.
These “peace terms”, writes the BBC’s security correspondent Frank Gardner, all put Ukraine in an impossible situation.
Elsewhere, Vladimir Putin has backed Washington’s proposals adding it can form the “basis of final peace settlement”.
Ukraine is to put forward its own peace plan, but there isn’t much time as Donald Trump says he believes the deadline to agree his deal, should be, next Thursday.
We are going to be pausing our coverage of this developing news story. You can head here to catch up on everything you need to know about the 28-point plan or head here for the main news article to digest today’s developments.