Russian spy in Ukraine's anti-terror centre 'caught after being fed false secrets' to send to Moscow

European powers, including Britain, France and Germany, said on Wednesday they had to be part of any future negotiations on the fate of Ukraine, underscoring that only a fair accord with security guarantees would ensure lasting peace.

The amount of Russian and Iranian oil held on ships has hit multi-month highs as harsher U.S. sanctions reduced the number of buyers, leaving fewer tankers available to deliver cargoes and driving up crude costs, trade sources and analysts said.

Russia's President Vladimir Putin held a phone call with Syria's interim leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, the Kremlin said on Wednesday, the first direct communication between the two since Sharaa's forces overthrew Moscow's ally Bashar al-Assad in December.

On Wednesday morning, U.S. President Donald Trump held a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, after which it was announced that immediate negotiations would begin to end the war in Ukraine. Trump reported this on his Truth Social platform, emphasizing that, in his opinion, the conflict would not have occurred if he had been president earlier. However, since it has happened, he believes it must be brought to an end.