US defence secretary denies Trump 'betraying' Ukraine - as Putin ally boasts after phone call

NATO chief and Ukraine's defence minister to speak

NATO secretary general Mark Rutte and Ukraine's defence minister Rustem Umerov are due to speak in the next five minutes from the alliance's meeting in Brussels.

You can watch their remarks live in the stream at the top of the page - and we'll bring you the key lines here.

Defence ministers react to call between Trump and Putin

Throughout the morning, we've been bringing you reaction to the call between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin as they agreed to start negotiations to end the war in Ukraine.

NATO defence ministers are meeting in Brussels and have been speaking on the talks between the two leaders.

UK defence secretary John Healey said "there can be no negotiation about Ukraine without Ukraine" while also calling for Ukraine's voice to be at the heart of any talks (see our 8.06am post).

Sweden's defence minister said NATO membership for Ukraine is "not off the table", although the US has said it was not a "realistic outcome" of talks.

A joint statement between European countries called for a "just, comprehensive and lasting peace" and insisted Ukraine and Europe should be part of any negotiations (see our 10.24am post).

Responding to concerns from European allies, US defence secretary Pete Hegseth said talks with Putin are "certainly not betraying Ukraine" (see our 7.50am post).

Kremlin 'impressed' with Trump - and hits out at Biden

We've just heard more details from Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on the Trump-Putin call last night.

He says the focus now is on preparing a personal meeting between the two leaders after Putin invited Trump to Moscow, adding he was "impressed" with Trump's position as he hit out at Biden.

Here's a breakdown of what he said:

• It was premature to discuss timings for the Trump-Putin meeting, but it should be held "fairly quickly";
• Joe Biden's administration wanted to "keep the war going", but Trump's team is "trying to ensure peace";
• In response to a question about the possible return of some land to Ukraine: "For now, we would suggest not getting ahead of ourselves";
• And when it came to the question on whether China could mediate on Ukraine, he urged patience.
• On the possibility of Trump heading to Moscow on the personal invitation of Putin, our Moscow correspondent Ivor Bennett says: "Russia's so-called special military operation wasn't supposed to end in negotiations, but the leader of the free world flying into Moscow on a peace mission? You can see how Russia could spin that as a victory over the collective West."

European countries 'ready to enhance support' for Ukraine

A group of European countries have said they are ready to enhance their support for Ukraine.

In a joint statement between the UK, Germany, France, Poland, Italy and Spain, the group said it is committed to Ukraine's "independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity".

It also calls for Ukraine and Europe to be part of any negotiations, adding it should be provided with strong security guarantees.

"We share the goal to keep supporting Ukraine until a just, comprehensive and lasting peace is reached," it said. 

It comes after comments from US defence secretary Pete Hegseth, who insisted Donald Trump was "certainly not betraying Ukraine" in talks with Vladimir Putin (see our 7.50am post).

He also doubled down on comments yesterday that the US cannot guarantee European security any longer, saying standing up against the Russian war machine is an "important European responsibility".

'Russia respects no borders'

We reported earlier that two Russian drones had blown up on Moldovan soil and that NATO member Romania had said its airspace had likely been breached (see post at 8.53am).

Now, Moldovan President Maia Sandu has confirmed on X thta the devices were Shahed drones.

This is what she had to say...

As we reported earlier, Kyiv said Moscow attacked Ukraine with 140 drones overnight, injuring one person in the Izmail district of Ukraine's Odesa region that borders Romania and Moldova.

The southern region is a central hub for Ukraine's Black Sea exports and its port facilities have been regularly attacked by long-range strikes throughout the war. 

Russia has repeatedly denied targeting civilians or civilian infrastructure in Ukraine.

Call between Trump and Putin shows 'Europe's time is over'

Dmitry Medvedev, a former president and current security official, has mocked Europe's role on the world stage.

Following on from his boast earlier this morning that Russia can't be beaten (see 6.54am), he's now said Europe is "mad with jealousy and rage" after the phone call between Donald Trump and Putin.

Medvedev said on social media app Telegram that Europe had not been warned of the call between the two leaders or consulted about its content.

"It shows its real role in the world," he said, adding: "Europe's time is over."

US has given Moscow the chance to frame talks as a win

The US has "turned away from its allies and towards Russia" after Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin agreed to start negotiations to end the Ukraine war, our Moscow correspondent Ivor Bennett has said.

Speaking to our presenter Wilfred Frost, Bennett said a negotiated settlement in peace talks is not how Russia wanted its "so-called special military operation" to end.

"It was supposed to be over in a matter of weeks with outright victory, but already it seems the US has given Moscow the chance to frame these talks as a win because they seem to have given up two of Russia's key demands," he said.

Bennett explained the demands involve Ukraine not joining NATO and Russia getting to keep the territory it has already seized in Ukraine.

He also discussed the prospect of a meeting between Trump and Putin, something he said Russia will be "very pleased" with.

"The image of the two leaders shaking hands, meeting face-to-face, will be very powerful currency indeed for Putin," he added.

"For the last three years, the West has tried to isolate him, treat him as a pariah, but that image of those two leaders meeting will absolutely shatter that."

Putin insisted 'root causes' of conflict should be removed, Kremlin mouthpiece says

The man at the centre of Russia's communications around talks with Donald Trump has given a few more details now.

Trump called for a quick cessation of hostilities and a peaceful settlement during his 90-minute call with Vladimir Putin, according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

But Putin highlighted "root causes" must be addressed, though Peskov did not give any more information.

It's that kind of talk that raises fears concessions may already have been made before talks have begun.

"President Putin, in his turn, emphasised the need to remove the root causes of the conflict and agreed with Trump that a long term settlement could be achieved through peace talks," Peskov told reporters.

He said the Russian president supported the notion that the "time has come for our countries to work together" and had invited Trump to visit Moscow.

Putin also expressed his readiness to receive US officials in Russia on areas of mutual interest, including, the topic of Ukraine and the Ukrainian settlement, Peskov said.

Elsewhere, Moscow's foreign intelligence chief Sergei Naryshkin was quoted by the RIA state news agency as saying that Putin's phone call with Trump was "deep and meaningful".

Russia launches 140 drones in overnight attack, says Ukraine

While there's plenty of talk around negotiations to end the war, fighting is still ongoing on the battlefield.

Overnight, Ukraine said Russia launched 140 drones in its latest attack.

Of those, the air force said it shot down 85, while 52 did not reach their target, likely due to electronic countermeasures. 

Officials said the attacks damaged port infrastructure in southern Ukraine, with the region being a central hub for Ukraine's Black Sea exports.

Neighbouring Moldova said two drones had exploded on its soil, while NATO member Romania also said its airspace had likely been breached.

Ukraine has also ramped up its own drone attacks on Russia, though none have so far been reported overnight.

Sky News analysis has found these have been targeting oil facilities that fuel warplanes, ships and military vehicles as well as oil refineries that help power the economy.

Expect more pressure on Starmer to increase defence spending

NATO has been a "fairly sleepy organisation" since the Cold War, our security and defence editor Deborah Haynes says.

She notes that the defence alliance has been "sleepy" when it comes to dealing with "existential threat" and this is what the US is "honing in on".

Hayes notes NATO was "massively involved" with the war in Afghanistan, but adds: "It's a different type of fighting to the challenge that Ukraine is facing against Russia.

"That is what the US is honing in on when it is criticising the Europeans for their feeble defence spending."

Haynes notes "the direction of Ukraine is a massive issue" for NATO.

Looking at how UK defence secretary John Healey appeared at the summit, Haynes says "he does look uncomfortable".

She says the minister is seen as a "good decent man" and yet he is having to defend the government position that their 2.3% of GDP spending on defence will only inch up to 2.5%, which is "regarded as not being enough".

"You can be sure the pressure will ramp up on the prime minister to think again on his priorities on defence spending," she adds.

Trump has repeatedly said alliance members should spend 5% of their GDP on defence spending - more than double the NATO figure of 2% agreed in 2014 - and complained the US has carried too much of a burden.

What has Ukraine said about Trump's plan for negotiations?

While much of Europe appears to be calibrating its stance after major remarks out of the US over the past day - with NATO meeting right now - there has also been initial reaction in Ukraine.

Donald Trump revealed he had a 90-minute conversation with Vladimir Putin, in which they agreed to begin negotiating an end to the war "immediately" - though he described it as "impractical" for Kyiv to join NATO.

There are fears Trump has offered concessions before talks have even started and frozen out Ukraine, but President Volodymyr Zelenskyy struck a diplomatic tone last night.

"I had a long and detailed conversation with President Trump," he wrote on social media, with their call coming after Putin's.

"I appreciate his genuine interest in our shared opportunities and how we can bring about real peace together. 

"We discussed many aspects - diplomatic, military, and economic - and President Trump informed me about what Putin told him.

"We believe that America's strength, together with Ukraine and all our partners, is enough to push Russia to peace."

'We will join NATO'

In comments carried by Ukrainian media, the country's defence secretary Rustem Umerov said Kyiv has not changed its stance on joining NATO.

"We have to get used to all kinds of statements," Umerov said.

"Our position has remained unchanged. We want to be a NATO country. We will be a NATO country."

'No talks about Ukraine without Ukraine'

UK defence secretary John Healey has also been speaking before the NATO meeting in Brussels.

His key message: "There can be no negotiation about Ukraine without Ukraine and Ukraine's voice must be at the heart of any talks."

His comments appeared to be aimed at Trump after his phone call with Putin and comments on Ukraine last night led to suggestions that he was freezing Kyiv out of peace talks before they'd even started.

Healey added: "We all want to see a durable peace and no return to conflict and aggression - and let's not forget, Russia remains a threat well beyond Ukraine."

Trump's plan for securing an end to the war after the Putin call remains unclear, though he has said both sides will need to make concessions and suggested that Ukraine would have to accept the loss of some territory.

The American president also said it was impractical for Ukraine to join NATO - but this is a key demand for Ukraine to protect its territory in the future.

US 'certainly not betraying Ukraine', defence secretary tells Sky News

Pete Hegseth has denied the US is betraying Ukraine.

The defence secretary was just asked by our security and defence editor Deborah Haynes before a NATO meeting in Brussels if the US plan isn't simply a betrayal of Ukrainians who gave their lives and a reward for dictators who use military strength to get what they want.

"Well, that's your language, not mine, certainly not betrayal," he responded.

"As I said to our allies yesterday, we recognise the incredible commitment that has been made over many years and no country, as President Trump has pointed out, has made a larger commitment to the Ukrainian mission than the United States of America. North of $300bn. 

"So the United States has invested in stabilising those front lines after the aggression of Russia. There is no betrayal there. 

"There is a recognition that the whole world and the United States is invested and interested in peace, a negotiated peace, as President Trump has said, stopping the killing."

Hegseth also spoke about both sides needing to recognise "things they don't want to".

Speaking after his question to Hegseth, Haynes noted this is "an important point and a harsh reality".

It is likely why Hegseth yesterday said it is "unrealistic" to think Ukraine will be able to recapture all the territory Russia has seized since Moscow first invaded Crimea in 2014 and captured swathes of the Donbas, Haynes added.

Standing up to Russia is 'important European responsibility'

The US defence secretary has just arrived at the NATO meeting in Brussels today, which we mentioned in the previous post. 

Speaking to reporters outside, he doubled down on his comments yesterday that the US cannot guarantee European security any longer, saying standing up against the Russian war machine is an "important European responsibility".

He said "both sides" are "recognising things they don't want to".

"That's why I think the world is fortunate to have President Trump," he added.

"Only he at this moment could convene the powers that be to bring peace. And that's a welcome sign. 

"My job as the defence secretary working alongside NATO is to ensure that the defence capabilities of this alliance are as strong and robust as possible to deter any future aggression on the continent. 

"That's our role to be leaders in NATO, and that's what we'll continue to do."

NATO gathers for defence meeting after Trump's Ukraine comments

Defence ministers are arriving in Brussels for a NATO meeting, as the alliance takes stock after Donald Trump's major announcement yesterday.

With negotiations to begin "immediately" after Trump's lengthy call with Vladimir Putin, there are concerns Ukraine will not be treated as an equal party in the talks.

US defence secretary Pete Hegseth is also in the Belgian capital, where he said yesterday that Kyiv could not realistically return to previous borders or join NATO.

"We want, like you, a sovereign and prosperous Ukraine," he told a meeting at NATO headquarters.

But he described any ambition to return Ukraine to its pre-2014 borders - before Russia annexed Crimea - as an "illusionary goal".

Ukraine 'must be involved'

Speaking moments ago ahead of the meeting today, NATO chief Mark Rutte said any peace deal must be "enduring" and talks must involve Ukraine "closely".

"It is crucial that whatever comes out of those talks, it is durable, it is enduring," he told reporters in Brussels.

Meanwhile, Sweden's defence minister Pal Johnson said minutes ago Ukraine could still join the alliance, adding he doesn't foresee membership "as such being off the table".

Top Putin ally boasts after Trump call: 'It is impossible to break Russia'

A senior Putin ally has said this morning that his call with Trump shows that any Western hopes of defeating Russia would never be achieved.

"There is not and cannot be a main country and a senior

ruler of the planet," Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, has said. 

"This lesson should be learned by the arrogant American elites.

"It is impossible to bring us to our knees. And the sooner our opponents realise this, the better."

China volunteers to host Putin-Trump peace summit

After Trump's phone call with Vladimir Putin last night, China has volunteered to hold a summit between the two leaders in an effort to play the role of peacemaker in the Ukraine war.

Chinese officials in recent weeks have raised the proposal with the Trump team through intermediaries to hold a summit between the two leaders and to facilitate peacekeeping efforts after an eventual truce, according to people in Beijing and Washington.

Trump said negotiations to end the war would start "immediately" after the 90-minute call with the Russian president. He also spoke to Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The Kremlin said Putin and Trump had agreed to meet, and Putin had invited Trump to visit Moscow. Trump said their first meeting would "probably" take place soon in Saudi Arabia.

China has been repeatedly urged by the West to use its close relationship with Russia to help end the war.

But Beijing has said it was not a party to the crisis but that it had been consistently promoting peace talks on its own terms.

-SKY NEWS