Wednesday briefing: Can ​the latest ceasefire ​talks in London ​break the ​stalemate in Ukraine?

In today’s newsletter: As world leaders gather in the UK this week, any hope of breaking the deadlock when Russia and Ukraine refuse to compromise could mean the US walks away

Sanctioned Russia and Belarusian wood being smuggled into UK, study suggests

‘Chemical fingerprint’ shows 46% of wood samples certified as sustainable did not come from labelled country of origin

Russia drone strike kills nine in wave of attacks on Ukraine’s infrastructure

Attack on city of Marhanets comes as officials were set to meet in London for ceasefire talks

UK peace talks on Ukraine downgraded as Marco Rubio pulls out

Planned ministerial-level talks replaced by discussions at official level amid reports of change in Kremlin stance

Vance says US will ‘walk away’ unless Ukraine and Russia accept peace deal

US vice-president suggests ‘some territorial swaps’ are needed that may freeze conflict along current frontlines

Kremlin dragging its feet over Ukraine peace deal as impatient US takes anger out on Zelenskyy

Steve Witkoff and Marco Rubio bail on negotiations in London, while Putin appears to be undecided about peace terms

US peace proposal revealed: freeze the frontlines in exchange for Ukrainian territory

Putin said to be ready to halt fighting in return for US recognition of Russian control of Crimea and eastern Ukraine

Nine killed and dozens injured in ‘massive’ Russian missile attack on Kyiv

Several districts across city targeted in one of most devastating air attacks against Ukraine for months

Zelenskyy says Ukraine cannot accept US recognition of Crimea as Russian

Ukraine president returns to topic on visit to South Africa after Trump accused him of jeopardising peace deal

Ukraine gets nothing in Trump’s proposals for peace, says Boris Johnson

Former British prime minister posts apparent criticism of US president over his plans for peace deal with Russia

Alleged former members of neo-Nazi group claim its leader is Russian spy

Allegation against Rinaldo Nazzaro, founder of the Base, could shed new meaning on group’s efforts inside Ukraine

Russian general killed in car blast hours before US envoy’s Kremlin meeting

Lt Gen Yaroslav Moskalik named as victim of explosion in Moscow region that appears similar to previous attacks claimed by Ukraine

Son of CIA deputy director was killed while fighting for Russia, report shows

Michael Alexander Gloss, 21, who died on 4 April 2024, was the son of top-ranking US spy Juliana Gallina

‘I haven’t slept for two days’: Kharkiv residents reel from Russian attacks

Exhausted residents point out latest drone strike came hours after Donald Trump’s rare rebuke to Vladimir Putin

Trump and Zelenskyy hold ‘very productive’ ceasefire talks in Rome

The two leaders met at Pope Francis’s funeral to discuss Washington’s plan for an end to the fighting

Campaigners sound alarm as European nations move to exit landmine ban

Finland, Poland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania cite rising threats from Russia to justify once again using one of world’s most indiscriminate weapons

‘It makes me want to scream’: Nobel peace prize winner horrified by planned exits from landmine treaty

Plans by five Nato countries to pull out of life-saving agreement are ‘stupid’, says Nobel laureate Jody Williams

Russia continues to strike Ukraine after Trump questions Putin’s commitment to peace

Airstrike in Donetsk kills three while drone attack in Dnipro leaves one dead, according to local sources

North Korea confirms for first time it has sent troops to fight for Russia in Ukraine war

Battle in Kursk showed ‘highest strategic level of the firm militant friendship’ between North Korea and Russia, state news says, hailing ‘heroes’

Trump warms to Zelenskyy after Vatican meeting but is ‘disappointed’ by Russia

US president says face-to-face improved relations with Ukrainian leader and demurs on trust in Vladimir Putin