Russian invasion

Negotiations
Analysis: Both want peace – but in different ways

During Donald Trump and Emmanuel Macron’s press conference, it became clear that the two leaders want the war to end – but in different ways, writes Nomia Iqbal for the BBC.

“Macron stresses that a peace agreement must include security guarantees for Ukraine. Trump has not mentioned anything about that.”

This despite Macron trying to remind him of their common goal: peace as soon as possible, continues Iqbal.

Vladimir Putin timed his statements with Trump and Macron’s press conference – perhaps to try to overpower the French president and remind Trump of the benefits of getting closer to the Kremlin, writes Ivor Bennett for Sky News.

Trump claimed that Putin had swung and opened up for European peacekeeping troops in Ukraine. Putin himself did not mention this, Bennett points out.

“But the Russian president said that he had not ‘extensively’ discussed a solution to the conflict. It could be a sign that he remains open-minded.”

Putin: No problems with Europe in negotiations

Donald Trump does not act emotionally but has a rational approach to the current situation, claims Russian President Vladimir Putin after a conversation about the country's rare minerals, according to Reuters.

Putin also claims to have no problem with Europe negotiating peace in Ukraine, but says that it is Europe itself that refuses to have contact with Russia.

The Russian president also takes it upon himself to explain Donald Trump's actions towards Ukraine. What Trump wants is to improve the political situation in the country, to create the conditions for the country's survival, he says.

Donald Trump: Putin does not want a world war

US President Donald Trump claims that Vladimir Putin accepts European peacekeeping forces in Ukraine - something that the Kremlin said just a few days ago was completely unacceptable.

– Yes, he will accept it. I have asked him the question. Look, if we make this deal, he does not want a world war, says Donald Trump at a press conference in the White House together with French President Emmanuel Macron.

This has not been confirmed by the Russian side.

Trump also says that Ukraine can get territory back in a peace agreement, but that it will be difficult.

– We will see. It is a negotiation that has only just begun, says Trump.

Security Council adopts US resolution

The UN Security Council votes through the US-drafted resolution on the Ukraine war that does not condemn Russia, reports AFP.

The resolution does not mention that Russia started the offensive war, nor Ukraine's right to territorial integrity.

The US had promised to veto changes to the resolution, which Russia also did.

The five permanent members China, Russia, France, Britain and the US have veto power in the council.

The world's response
Trump refuses to call Putin a dictator

Last week, he called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky a "dictator," and today Donald Trump is asked if he would use the same word to describe Russia's Vladimir Putin.

- I don't use those words casually, I think we'll see how it goes, Trump answers a reporter's question during the first press conference with Emmanuel Macron.

During the second, Trump says that Putin was among the first people he spoke to as president, adding that his staff is in constant contact with Putin's staff.