Immediate NATO protection of Ukrainian-held territory is needed ‘very much otherwise [Russian President Vladimir Putin] will come back’, he said. President-elect Trump is reported to prefer that Ukraine surrender Russian-occupied territory in order to end the war and secure NATO membership.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says he wants to work “directly” with US President-elect Donald Trump and is open to his ideas, highlighting Kyiv’s eagerness to keep its most important ally onside as Russia intensifies its attacks.

Volodymyr Zelensky’s suggestion that Ukraine could temporarily cede territory to Russia in exchange for joining Nato would mark a “major concession” to Vladimir Putin, the UK’s former ambassador to Russia has said.