US President Donald Trump has confirmed that he recently spoke with Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin. Source: Trump during a press conference in the Oval Office Details: Journalists asked Trump whether he had recently spoken directly with Putin.

Russian President Vladimir Putin will hold an annual end-of-year press conference today in Moscow to highlight the progress within his country this year. He will also hold a Q&A with the press during which citizens can ask him questions directly.

The Kremlin has again rejected U.S. President Donald Trump's latest proposals to end the war in Ukraine. While Trump has tried to entice Russian President Vladimir Putin with offers of Ukrainian territory and lucrative future commercial contracts,

Here are four things the U.S. could do to help bring an end to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, writes Michael McFaul.

Kremlin seizes strategic advantage amid US criticism of European governments and Nato, fueling tensions over Ukraine

Polish prime minister Donald Tusk says the EU has made a breakthrough on using frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine’s war effort at a key EU summit in Brussels. Speaking to reporters in the Belgian capital, Mr Tusk said the EU will look at a type of reparation loan which would be based on the £185bn frozen assets.

US President Donald Trump’s emissaries to the Kremlin may have been spinning their wheels during talks last week in Moscow on a possible Ukraine peace deal, but the Russians can now press a new advantage: The widening rift between Washington and Europe.

Mark Rutte's comments come a day after Putin rejected US proposals for peace in Ukraine after talks with US negotiators in Moscow.

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during his press conference after the Summit of Collective Security Treaty Organization, on November 27, 2025 in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Contributor/Getty Images