Ukraine-Russia war latest: Russian missile hits hospital while US pushes for Black Sea ceasefire in Saudi talks

The head of the British armed forces has said that “Europe’s two leading nuclear powers are stepping up to forge a stronger and deeper partnership” after a meeting with French counterparts.

The chiefs of the British and French armies, navies, and air forces met in London on Monday, as well as the head of both countries’ defence forces.

Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, Chief of the Defence Staff, said: “At this pivotal time for European security the third meeting of the British and French Chiefs of Staff should be seen as a sign of reassurance and commitment. Europe’s two leading nuclear powers are stepping up to forge a stronger and deeper partnership that has a vital foundational role to play in the security of the continent.

“Today’s deliberations will help shape the future of British and French military co-operation, and our shared efforts to support Ukraine with military aid now and after any peace deal.

“The combined convening power of Britain and France is immense. The political leadership of Prime Minister Starmer and President Macron is reflected in the military planning that is now under way between our respective staffs as we draw together a coalition of the willing from Europe and beyond.”

Russia’s defence ministry said it has started planned exercises involving Yars intercontinental ballistic missiles, state media reports.

According to the ministry, Yars ICBM regiments in Sverdlovsk and Altai regions “will be deployed to field positions”.

The Yars is a nuclear-capable missile that can be moved around on trucks or stationed in silos.

Donald Trump has said he expects to soon sign a deal handing the US a stake in Ukraine’s critical minerals.

Speaking to reporters as he met his cabinet, Mr Trump also said that Washington is talking to Ukraine about the potential for American firms owning Ukrainian power plants.

The Prime Minister is not concerned about remarks made by White House Special Envoy Steve Witkoff about the coalition of the willing being created to help Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire.

Asked if the prime minister was worried about the comments, his official spokesperson said: “No, The PM has repeatedly said that a lasting peace in Ukraine can only be achieved if we provide real and credible security assurances to deter Putin.

“And the coalition of the willing is a group of nations politically aligned to the defence, security and sovereignty of Ukraine… if there is a deal, it’s a deal that has to be defended.”

The Russian attack on Sumy that has left dozens injured including children shows that Russia “wants to continue the terror”, Ukraine’s Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said.

Sharing a video of the destruction on X, Mr Shmyhal wrote: “Russia attacked the civilian infrastructure in Sumy. Residential and private houses in particular were damaged. There are casualties, including children.”

He continued: “Ukraine is striving for peace, and Russia is once again showing that it wants to continue the terror. The international community must increase the pressure on Russia to stop the aggression and ensure justice and save the lives of Ukrainians.”

World affairs editor Sam Kiley reports from Ukraine:

The electronic hum in the sky above told him that the Russians were on a hunting safari and that he was the prey. Leaping from his bicycle, Oleksandr left its wheels spinning as he bolted through a hole in a fence hoping to find cover.

Horrified to discover he was still in the open air, he threw himself against the fence, hoping to blend in, to somehow hide. The drone tracked sideways, hung above him, and dropped its bomb.

The explosion tore a chunk of his leg away.

“He was hovering above me. I had a feeling that he was playing a computer game, dropping bombs on peaceful civilians,” Oleksandr Sensky said from the hospital where he is recovering in Kherson.

In the grand rooms of Riyadh’s Ritz-Carlton hotel, a US delegation has been deployed for an intense round of diplomacy with officials from Moscow and Kyiv.

With Russia-US discussions ongoing and a second round of Ukraine-US talks to come later in the day, here’s everything we know so far.

• Ukraine and US officials met last night. Defence minister Rustem Umerov hailed the talks as “productive and focussed”, as the delegations prepare to meet again today.
• Talks between Moscow and the US began today, and were described as “creative” by a Russian negotiator, during a break after three hours of negotiations.
• Along with a ceasefire on energy infrastructure and the prospect of longer-term peace, Washington is seeking to achieve a Black Sea ceasefire in the intense round of diplomacy. This would ensure safe navigation for commercial vessels in the Black Sea.
• The Russian side has been playing down the possibility of ceasefire talks moving quickly. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday that many aspects of a peace deal are yet to be sorted, while Moscow’s Foreign Ministry said current negotiations “should not be expected to produce a breakthrough”.
• Russia’s delegation is being led by 70-year-old security service advisor Sergei Beseda, and 75-year-old Grigory Karasin, a career diplomat and former ambassador to Britain.
• Sources close to Donald Trump have told the Telegraph that he will begin to get “frustrated” if Russia and Ukraine both continue bombing energy infrastructure – accusations they have both levelled at each other.
• Vladimir Putin earlier discussed the ongoing talks in Riyadh with his counterpart from the United Arab Emirates, President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, according to state media.