Ukraine war latest: Trump reveals some details of 'feel-out' meeting with Putin on Friday

Russia moving troops for new offensives, Zelenskyy says

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said Russia is showing no signs that it is preparing to end the war in Ukraine.

Ukraine's president said in an evening address that, according to the latest intelligence report, Russia is preparing for new offensives.

"They are moving their troops and forces in such a way as to launch new offensive operations," he said.

Take a look at our map below to see the latest situation on the battlefield.

European foreign ministers call for 'transatlantic unity' to end war

European foreign ministers have called for "transatlantic unity" to help end the war in Ukraine.

Kaja Kallas, the European Union's foreign policy chief, has been meeting foreign ministers virtually today.

She said the EU will work on more sanctions against Russia, more military support for Ukraine and the accession process for Ukraine to join the bloc.

"Transatlantic unity, support to Ukraine and pressure on Russia is how we will end this war and prevent future Russian aggression in Europe," she said in a post on X.

Trump talks are a 'win on multiple fronts' for Putin, Russian expert says

Donald Trump's upcoming talks with Vladimir Putin on Friday are a "win on multiple fronts" for the Russian president, a professor in Russian politics has said.

Speaking to our chief presenter Mark Austin, Samuel Greene said it is important to remember where Putin was just less than a week ago.

"He was the source of what had been a month-and-a-half of really frustrated rhetoric out of the White House," he said.

"I think that Putin felt he had to flip the script a bit, he had to find an opportunity to demonstrate some goodwill without giving too much away.

"He has done that, but importantly, this is a meeting that doesn't include his real adversary."

Greene explained that Trump and Putin are "doing what they often do, which is to keep everybody guessing".

Russia 'wants to buy time, not end the war', Zelenskyy says

As Donald Trump's news conference wrapped up at the White House, Volodymyr Zelenskyy has posted on social media after his call with Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney.

Zelenskyy said he told Carney Ukraine's view on Russia's "true intentions and plans".

"We see it the same way, and it is obvious that the Russians simply want to buy time, not end the war," he wrote in a post on X.

"The situation on the battlefield and Russia's wicked strikes on civilian infrastructure and ordinary people prove this clearly."

Zelenskyy added that he and Carney agreed "no decisions concerning Ukraine's future and the security of our people can be made without Ukraine participation".

That came after Trump was asked if Ukraine's president will attend Friday's talks (see 16.48 post).

"I would say he could go, but he's gone to a lot of meetings," Trump told reporters 

"He's been there for three-and-a-half years and nothing happened."

Trump's comments on Zelenskyy 'don't bode well' ahead of Putin meeting

It feels like Donald Trump is back to "idolising" Vladimir Putin ahead of his talks with Russia's president on Friday, our US correspondent David Blevins has said.

"He said he thought it was quite 'respectful', that's the word he used, that Vladimir Putin was choosing to come to our country as opposed to us going to his country," he said.

"While he was bothered that Volodymyr Zelenskyy had spoken about the need for constitutional approval regarding potential land swapping, he said he [Zelenskyy] didn't need constitutional approval to go into war and to kill people."

Blevins explains that it feels like we're back to a place where Trump is "denigrating" Ukraine's president.

"That doesn't bode terribly well ahead of this historic summit due to take place on Friday," he added.

Trump twice mistakenly says he is 'going to Russia'

Donald Trump spent plenty of time in his wide-ranging news conference talking about Russia and his upcoming meeting with Vladimir Putin.

But he misspoke twice during the briefing that lasted over an hour, saying he would be meeting the Russian president in Russia, rather than Alaska.

He first said when discussing the "public safety emergency" in Washington DC: "This is a tragic emergency, and it's embarrassing for me to be up here.

"You know, I'm going to see Putin. I'm going to Russia on Friday.

"I don't like being up here talking about how unsafe and how dirty and disgusting this once beautiful capital was, with graffiti all over the walls."

Later in the news conference, Trump said: "We're going to Russia. That's going to be a big deal."

But towards the end, he said: "I thought it was very respectful that the president of Russia is coming to our country, as opposed to us going to his country, or even a third, third party place."

After former president Joe Biden accidentally introduced Volodymyr Zelenskyy as Vladimir Putin, before quickly correcting himself, Republicans described Trump's predecessor as "totally unfit for the job".

Trump says he thinks Putin meeting 'will be good but it might be bad'

Donald Trump is still speaking on those upcoming talks with Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday.

The US president says he thinks the talks "will be good, but it might be bad".

"I'm here for one reason, to get rid of a war that somebody else started," he tells reporters.

He goes on to say "ultimately, I'm going to put the two of them [Putin and Zelenskyy] in a room, I'll be there or I won't be there, and I think it'll get solved".

Trump also confirms he will be speaking to European leaders before his meeting with Putin.

Trump asked if Zelenskyy will attend Friday's talks

Donald Trump has now been asked whether Volodymyr Zelenskyy will be at the talks in Alaska on Friday.

"He wasn't part of it," Trump tells reporters.

"I would say he could go, but he's gone to a lot of meetings, he's been there for three-and-a-half years and nothing happened."

Trump says he will be able to tell if a deal can be made "probably in the first two minutes" of his meeting with Vladimir Putin.

Trump describes upcoming talks with Putin as a 'feel-out meeting'

Back to the White House now, where Donald Trump has been asked about his upcoming meeting with Vladimir Putin, which is due to take place in Alaska on Friday.

"This is a war that should never have happened," Trump says.

"This is a war that wouldn't have happened if I were president, it would never have happened."

He describes the talks as a "feel-out meeting" and says "he [Putin] wants to get involved".

Trump adds that he believes Putin wants to get the war "over with".

"I've said that a few times and I've been disappointed because I'd have a great call with him and then missiles would be lobbed into Kyiv or some other place," he says.

The US president explains that he will tell Putin "you've got to end this war, you've got to end it".

He adds that he will call European leaders "who I get along with very well" after leaving the talks.

But Trump says he won't be making a deal between Russia and Ukraine, adding "it's not up to me".

"I got a call to say they'd like to meet, and I'm going to see what they want to meet about," he says.

"I'd like to see a ceasefire, I'd like to see the best deal that could be made for both parties, it takes two to tango."

-SKY NEWS