Jeremy Bowen

The main thing, President Zelensky said, was to stop Putin's plan to make all negotiations between Russia and the U.S. bilateral. As an independent country, he said, Ukraine could not accept any agreements made without its involvement. When he starts negotiating seriously, President Trump might find that it's impossible to bridge the gap between Ukraine and Russia's positions.

The main thing, President Zelensky said, was to stop Putin's plan to make all negotiations between Russia and the U.S. bilateral. As an independent country, he said, Ukraine could not accept any agreements made without its involvement. When he starts negotiating seriously, President Trump might find that it's impossible to bridge the gap between Ukraine and Russia's positions.

President Zelensky wants Russia to pull out of Ukraine and to deter any future invasions by joining NATO. Both Mr. Trump and Mr. Putin seem to agree that neither will happen. President Putin says he'll end the war if Russia keeps the land it has captured and gets more as Ukraine becomes neutral and demilitarized. That is an ultimatum, not a peace proposal.

President Zelensky wants Russia to pull out of Ukraine and to deter any future invasions by joining NATO. Both Mr. Trump and Mr. Putin seem to agree that neither will happen. President Putin says he'll end the war if Russia keeps the land it has captured and gets more as Ukraine becomes neutral and demilitarized. That is an ultimatum, not a peace proposal.

For President Putin, ending the war is not just a real estate deal of the kind that Donald Trump might understand, working out who keeps what. Vladimir Putin wants much more than land. He is demanding Ukraine's capitulation, the surrender of its independence and sovereignty.

For President Putin, ending the war is not just a real estate deal of the kind that Donald Trump might understand, working out who keeps what. Vladimir Putin wants much more than land. He is demanding Ukraine's capitulation, the surrender of its independence and sovereignty.

With Russia grinding forward on the battlefields of eastern Ukraine, this is the toughest moment Volodymyr Zelensky has faced since the dark and desperate first months of the war. It is also a moment of decision for Ukraine's Western European allies. President Trump is forcing them to face up to the gross disparity between their military promises to Ukraine and their military capabilities.

With Russia grinding forward on the battlefields of eastern Ukraine, this is the toughest moment Volodymyr Zelensky has faced since the dark and desperate first months of the war. It is also a moment of decision for Ukraine's Western European allies. President Trump is forcing them to face up to the gross disparity between their military promises to Ukraine and their military capabilities.

The Europeans need to make tough decisions that cannot be put off much longer.

The Europeans need to make tough decisions that cannot be put off much longer.

In the streets of Hanunis in Gaza, overwhelming relief that they are alive and hope, too, that the nightmare of this war might be over.

In the streets of Hanunis in Gaza, overwhelming relief that they are alive and hope, too, that the nightmare of this war might be over.

Some weapons, some defiance were on show, but Hamas is a shadow of what it was when it attacked Israel on the 7th of October, 2023. And in Tel Aviv, it is also a bittersweet moment for the families and supporters of Israeli hostages, living and dead. 33 women, older men and the sick and wounded are due for release in the next six weeks in return for hundreds of Palestinian detainees and prisoners.

Some weapons, some defiance were on show, but Hamas is a shadow of what it was when it attacked Israel on the 7th of October, 2023. And in Tel Aviv, it is also a bittersweet moment for the families and supporters of Israeli hostages, living and dead. 33 women, older men and the sick and wounded are due for release in the next six weeks in return for hundreds of Palestinian detainees and prisoners.

But the future of the rest of the hostages depends on more negotiations.

But the future of the rest of the hostages depends on more negotiations.

In Washington, President Biden took credit for a diplomatic victory, celebrated America's support for Israel and said the war had transformed the Middle East for the better.

In Washington, President Biden took credit for a diplomatic victory, celebrated America's support for Israel and said the war had transformed the Middle East for the better.

With Gaza in ruins, the president's point that the Palestinians have a path to their own state is wishful thinking. Israel's government says security depends on military power, not allowing Palestinian independence. After 15 months of war in Gaza, the conflict, which has lasted more than a century, is as bitter and intractable as ever. With luck, the ceasefire will end this war.

With Gaza in ruins, the president's point that the Palestinians have a path to their own state is wishful thinking. Israel's government says security depends on military power, not allowing Palestinian independence. After 15 months of war in Gaza, the conflict, which has lasted more than a century, is as bitter and intractable as ever. With luck, the ceasefire will end this war.