Jackie Leonard

This is the Global News Podcast from the BBC World Service. I'm Jackie Leonard, and at 14 hours GMT, these are our main stories. The US Defence Secretary has denied that President Trump has betrayed Ukraine by pushing for a peace deal with Russia. Meanwhile, Germany has accused Mr Trump of making concessions to Russia on Ukraine before peace talks have even started.

This is the Global News Podcast from the BBC World Service. I'm Jackie Leonard, and at 14 hours GMT, these are our main stories. The US Defence Secretary has denied that President Trump has betrayed Ukraine by pushing for a peace deal with Russia. Meanwhile, Germany has accused Mr Trump of making concessions to Russia on Ukraine before peace talks have even started.

And a breakthrough has been reported in talks to get the Gaza ceasefire deal back on track. Also in this podcast, a man has driven a car into a crowd of pedestrians in the German city of Munich in what officials suspect was a deliberate attack.

And a breakthrough has been reported in talks to get the Gaza ceasefire deal back on track. Also in this podcast, a man has driven a car into a crowd of pedestrians in the German city of Munich in what officials suspect was a deliberate attack.

And a breakthrough has been reported in talks to get the Gaza ceasefire deal back on track. Also in this podcast, a man has driven a car into a crowd of pedestrians in the German city of Munich in what officials suspect was a deliberate attack.

And researchers in Australia say a warming planet is changing the behaviour of crocodiles. We begin with Ukraine. As the third anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion approaches, there's been a flurry of activity from the US about ending the conflict.

And researchers in Australia say a warming planet is changing the behaviour of crocodiles. We begin with Ukraine. As the third anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion approaches, there's been a flurry of activity from the US about ending the conflict.

And researchers in Australia say a warming planet is changing the behaviour of crocodiles. We begin with Ukraine. As the third anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion approaches, there's been a flurry of activity from the US about ending the conflict.

As you'll have heard in our last edition, Donald Trump has had a long phone call with President Putin of Russia and says he plans to meet him in person, reversing years of the US isolation of the Russian leader. Mr Trump has also spoken on the phone to President Zelensky. The news of these conversations has been front and centre at a meeting of NATO defence ministers in Brussels.

As you'll have heard in our last edition, Donald Trump has had a long phone call with President Putin of Russia and says he plans to meet him in person, reversing years of the US isolation of the Russian leader. Mr Trump has also spoken on the phone to President Zelensky. The news of these conversations has been front and centre at a meeting of NATO defence ministers in Brussels.

As you'll have heard in our last edition, Donald Trump has had a long phone call with President Putin of Russia and says he plans to meet him in person, reversing years of the US isolation of the Russian leader. Mr Trump has also spoken on the phone to President Zelensky. The news of these conversations has been front and centre at a meeting of NATO defence ministers in Brussels.

Boris Pistorius of Germany accused the US president of making concessions to Russia before peace talks had begun. He said the possibility of Ukraine joining NATO should remain, as well as the issue of losses of territory.

Boris Pistorius of Germany accused the US president of making concessions to Russia before peace talks had begun. He said the possibility of Ukraine joining NATO should remain, as well as the issue of losses of territory.

Boris Pistorius of Germany accused the US president of making concessions to Russia before peace talks had begun. He said the possibility of Ukraine joining NATO should remain, as well as the issue of losses of territory.

On Wednesday, the US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said it was unrealistic to expect Ukraine to return to its pre-2014 borders and he downplayed the prospect of Ukraine joining NATO. But today he insisted the US isn't betraying Ukraine and it's time to move towards a negotiated settlement.

On Wednesday, the US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said it was unrealistic to expect Ukraine to return to its pre-2014 borders and he downplayed the prospect of Ukraine joining NATO. But today he insisted the US isn't betraying Ukraine and it's time to move towards a negotiated settlement.

On Wednesday, the US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said it was unrealistic to expect Ukraine to return to its pre-2014 borders and he downplayed the prospect of Ukraine joining NATO. But today he insisted the US isn't betraying Ukraine and it's time to move towards a negotiated settlement.

So what does all this mean for NATO and its position on Ukraine? Our correspondent Jonathan Beale is in Brussels at the NATO meeting.

So what does all this mean for NATO and its position on Ukraine? Our correspondent Jonathan Beale is in Brussels at the NATO meeting.

So what does all this mean for NATO and its position on Ukraine? Our correspondent Jonathan Beale is in Brussels at the NATO meeting.