Ukraine war latest: Trump hints US could attend meeting this weekend - but on one condition

We reported earlier that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has protested against the EU using frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine (see post at 7.47am).

His stance has often faced criticism from the bloc, with Polish justice minister Waldemar Zurek the latest to speak out.

He has accused Orban of being closer to Russia than Europe.

"It looks to me today as if Hungary's leadership is closer to the leadership in Moscow than the EU leadership, and I say this with great sadness and also with great concern," Zurek said.

"Orban, unfortunately, wants to blow up the EU from within, and his pro-Russian policies are completely unacceptable to the majority of citizens in the EU."

Orban has accused Poland of making unjust and provocative remarks about Budapest's ties with Moscow

Hungary has been a member of the EU since 2004.

Vladimir Putin has been spotted attending a wreath-laying ceremony in Turkmenistan this morning.

Foreign counterparts joined him in Ashgabat, including Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.

Also at the event were the leaders of Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan.

The use of frozen Russian assets is fast-becoming a central argument in the Ukrainian conflict, as we've already touched on this morning (see 7:47).

We outlined in that post that the bloc will decide its stance on the funds - and if they will be used to back Ukraine - next week.

But there has been hesitation in the bloc, with Belgium, which is home to a big chunk of those assets, particularly concerned it could face legal retaliation.

And Russia appears to be signalling that's an avenue it will consider pursuing.

The country's central bank today said it was "illegal" and that it reserved the right to take any means necessary to protect its interests.

It also said it is suing Brussels-based company Euroclear, which holds many of the assets, in a Moscow court.

"Mechanisms of direct or indirect use of the assets of the Bank of Russia, as well as any other forms of unauthorised use of the assets of the Bank of Russia, are illegal and contrary to international law," the bank said.

"Including violating the principles of sovereign immunity of assets." 

By Deborah Haynes, security and defence editor

The war in Ukraine has had its European allies on alert ever since Russia began its full-scale invasion.

Just yesterday, NATO chief Mark Rutte warned its member states are "Russia's next target".

The bloc, he added, must make all efforts to prevent a war that could be "on the scale of war our grandparents and great-grandparents endured".

In the UK, we've heard from the armed forces minister, who says the country is "rapidly developing" plans to prepare for the possible outbreak of war.

Underlining the role civilians would have to play in a major conflict, Al Carns said armies, navies and air forces respond to crises but "societies, industries and economies win wars".

He said: "The shadow of war is knocking on Europe's door once more. That's the reality. We've got to be prepared to deter it."

Since the start of Moscow's full-scale invasion, the EU has been pondering what to do with frozen Russian assets.

At a summit next Thursday, the bloc's 27 leaders will weigh whether to use the tens of billions of dollars held in Europe to fund Ukraine's defence.

Two-thirds of member states must vote in favour to give the plan the greenlight. 

Hungary will not be one of them, with the country protesting against what it calls an "unlawful" step.

Prime Minister Viktor Orban wrote on social media this morning: "Brussels will step over the Rubicon today, with a written voting starting which will cause irreparable damage to the Union."

He added: "Hungary protests the decision and will do its best to restore a lawful situation."

As has been the case throughout the war, overnight attacks have been reported in Ukraine.

According to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, one person has been killed and four injured in the Dnipropetrovsk region.

They said the attacks happened in the city of Pavlohrad. 

"A man was killed as a result of the enemy attack," they said.

"Another man and three women were injured."

Five homes caught fire, with one of them destroyed.

For the second day in a row, Russia's Ministry of Defence has reported a wave of Ukrainian drones over the country.

It said it shot down 90 drones in total, including some over the Black Sea.

In the city of Tver, which is 112 miles northwest of Moscow, local authorities said seven people have been injured.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said eight drones were downed as they flew towards the capital.

Sheremetyevo Airport, in Moscow, said it suspended departures amid the attacks.

And according to Russia's aviation watchdog, they weren't the only one, with several others briefly closing overnight.

Yesterday, the defence ministry said it shot down at least 287 drones over a number of regions.

At least 40 drones were shot down over the Moscow region, it said, while 118 drones were destroyed over the border region of Bryansk alone.

Flights were diverted from all of Moscow's main airports as a result of that attack, the ministry said.

Today's developments begin - as they tend to do - in the US and with Donald Trump.

Yesterday, his White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said he is "extremely frustrated with both sides of this war", and he is "sick of meetings just for the sake of meeting".

Those remarks were made as Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his allies hope to bring Trump to Europe this weekend for an impromptu leaders' summit.

Late last night, we heard from the president himself.

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, he said the US will send an envoy to take part in those talks - if they feel there is a good chance of progress. 

"We'll see whether or not we attend the meeting," he said.

"We'll be attending the meeting on Saturday in Europe if we think there's a good chance.

"And we don't want to waste a lot of time if we think it's negative."

Welcome back to our live coverage of the war in Ukraine.

Before we get going with our rolling updates, here's a brief rundown of what happened yesterday:

• The US has proposed the creation of a "free economic zone" in the Donbas as part of its peace plan for Ukraine;
• It comes as Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he had sent the revised peace proposal to Washington for review;
• Elsewhere, NATO boss Mark Rutte warned that its member states are "Russia's next target";
• While Ukraine was joined by more than 30 countries for a virtual 'coalition of the willing' meeting.

It's been another busy day of updates in the Ukraine war, with diplomatic efforts to end the war moving quickly.

As we pause our live updates, here's a brief rundown of everything that's been happening...

• Volodymyr Zelenskyy says the US has offered to create a "free economic zone" in the contested Donbas region of eastern Ukraine in a bid to push a peace deal over the line;
• It comes as Ukraine's president confirmed he had sent a revised peace proposal to Washington, whittled down from an initial 28 points to 20;
• Zelenskyy questioned the plan for the Donbas, asking who would govern the zone and provide enough security to the region to stop Russia from launching another invasion;
• He also said Russian withdrawals from slivers of land in the Kharkiv, Sumy and Dnipro regions were being discussed with the US;
• Across the pond, White House press secretary said Donald Trump is "sick of meeting for the sake of meeting" when asked if the US leader would head to Europe for an impromptu Ukraine summit this weekend;
• Elsewhere, NATO boss Mark Rutte has warned that its member states are "Russia's next target" and the bloc must make efforts to prevent a war that could be "on the scale our grandparents endured";
• While Ukraine was joined by more than 30 countries for a virtual 'coalition of the willing' meeting.

And if you missed it, you can catch up with our weekly Ukraine Q&A with military analyst Professor Michael Clarke below.