Ukraine-Russia war latest: Trump claims it is Zelensky, not Putin, holding up peace deal

The European Union will dedicate most of a massive new loan program to Ukraine’s military needs over the next two years while also injecting billions into its war-ravaged economy, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said.

The loan allows Ukraine, on the verge of bankruptcy, to purchase its much-needed military equipment from non-European markets. The International Monetary Fund estimates Ukraine will need €137bn (£118bn) over the two years.

Under the “Ukraine Support Loan” programme, EU leaders agreed last month to loan Ukraine €90bn (£78bn) to help cover its needs in 2026 and 2027 and Kyiv would only have to pay the money back once Russia ends its war and pays reparations for the damage it has inflicted over almost four years.

“We all want peace for Ukraine, and for that Ukraine must be in a position of strength,” von der Leyen said as she explained the commission’s spending plans to reporters.

She said €60bn (£52bn) would be for military support, and €30bn (£26bn) for budget aid.

“With the military assistance, Ukraine can stand strong against Russia, and at the same time it can integrate more closely into Europe’s defence industrial base,” von der Leyen told reporters.

Volodymyr Zelensky said he is declaring a state of emergency in Ukraine’s energy sector to make up for lost time and tackle issues of disrupted power supplies following sustained Russian attacks on infrastructure.

Ukrainian cities are now in dire need of energy supply but repairs to thousands of apartment blocks have been compounded by frigid weather, with night-time temperatures dipping close to – 20 deg C.

Russia’s relentless assault on Ukraine’s cities, especially major cities like Kyiv and Kharkiv, have surged in the past peak winter week in Vladimir Putin’s bid to count more on freezing weather than diplomacy to end the war, Zelensky had said.

Zelensky said not enough had been done to deal with the aftermath of the attacks and the state of emergency would allow authorities “more options and flexibility.”

He called for the establishment of more centres where residents can stay warm and charge electronic devices, and said nightly curfews could be lifted in areas where the security situation permitted it.

The UK does not have a plan for the defence of the nation if a war breaks out, the country’s top military chief said.

Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton was answering questions from MP on Monday when he confirmed that the Ministry of Defence does not have funding to cover its equipment programme and additional ambitions published in a sweeping review of defence.

Sir Richard also admitted there is not enough money to continue all planned military programmes on top of doing everything outlined in the strategic defence review (SDR), but became visibly irritated when MPs suggested the military may have to make cuts.

Russia will not agree to a ceasefire before a peace deal, the country’s veteran foreign minister Sergei Lavrov has said.

Mr Lavrov added that it would be helpful if the US updated Moscow on the latest developments in peace proposals for Ukraine.

US envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner are seeking to travel to Moscow to meet Russian president Vladimir Putin.

In his remarks in July last year, Donald Trump warned that Vladimir Putin is “not looking to stop” the war with Ukraine following a “disappointing” phone call between the Russian and American leaders.

The US president revealed that a conversation with Putin earlier in the day resulted in no progress to end the fighting.

“I’m disappointed with the conversation I had today with president Putin, I don’t think he’s there. I don’t think he’s looking to stop,” he said.

Donald Trump has hinted at a likely meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland next week.

“I would – if he’s there,” Trump said. “I’m going to be there.”

Asked why he believed Zelensky was holding back on negotiations, Trump did not elaborate, saying only: “I just think he’s, you know, having a hard time getting there.”

Zelensky has publicly ruled out any territorial concessions to Moscow, saying Kyiv has no right under the country’s constitution to give up any land.

Donald Trump has claimed Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky is holding up a potential peace deal, not Russian leader Vladimir Putin, in a fresh U-turn.

Speaking to Reuters in the Oval Office yesterday, Trump said Putin is ready to wrap up his nearly four-year-old invasion of Ukraine. Zelensky, he said, was more reticent.

His claim is in sharp contrast with European allies who have proven Putin as the key figure ramping up military aggression and rejecting peace proposals from Trump’s envoys.

“I think he’s ready to make a deal,” Trump said of the Russian president. “I think Ukraine is less ready to make a deal.”

Asked why US-led negotiations had not yet resolved Europe’s largest land conflict since the Second World War, Trump responded: “Zelensky”.

Ukraine received 23 medium- and long-range air-defence systems in 2025 as well as 11,000 missiles for them, outgoing Ukrainian defence minister Denys Shmyhal has said.

He made the remark in an address to Ukraine’s parliament shortly before his expected appointment as energy minister.