Ukrainian and European leaders are likely to push back hard on Russia’s demands, but risk casting themselves – in the eyes of the White House, at least – as obstacles to peace.

O n August 18th Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine’s president, will enter the White House to meet Donald Trump and discuss ending the war in Ukraine. For Mr Zelensky it is a perilous moment. Since Mr Trump met Vladimir Putin,

His last trip to the White House ended in a shouting match - so what will Ukraine's leader do differently today?

The leaders of Germany, France, Britain and Italy are among those who flew to Washington, D.C. on short notice to attend meetings with President Trump and President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine.

US President Donald Trump will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders at the White House to discuss the war in Ukraine. Follow for live news updates.

Trump: “President Zelensky can end the war with Russia almost immediately, if he wants to, or he can continue to fight."

Ukraine’s president condemns Russia’s “cynical” strikes before his meeting with Trump at 13:00 EST (18:00 BST).

Near Ukraine’s southern front, both soldiers and civilians said they feared President Trump would present Zelensky with an ultimatum: Accept Russian President Vladimir Putin’s territorial conditions for peace,