Ukraine war latest: 'Very difficult' for Kyiv to get Crimea back, says Trump, as he warns Putin to stop strikes (2025)

Despite Donald Trump putting himself at the centre of efforts to broker peace in Ukraine, he's also sparked widespread concern with recent threats to walk away from talks if either side "make it very difficult".

But could he be here to stay beyond 2028?

The Trump Organisation has teased that possibility with new merchandise listed on its online store.

Even though the Constitution forbids it, Trump and his allies have repeatedly flirted with the prospect of running for a third term.

The online store shows red hats with the slogan "Trump 2028" embroidered in bright white, while T-shirts are also on sale.

The hats are listed for $50 and have the following description:

"The future looks bright! Rewrite the rules with the Trump 2028 high crown hat. Fully embroidered with a snap closure in the back, this will become your new go-to hat."

Meanwhile, the $36 shirts also feature the phrase "rewrite the rules".

When asked for comment, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt referred our US partner network NBC News to the Trump Organisation "since it's their website".

But she added "it's a cool hat and I suspect it will be highly popular!"

We've also heard from NATO's secretary general Mark Rutte this evening, who confirmed he has met Donald Trump while in Washington.

He's described it as a "good meeting" and said that the pair discussed the war in Ukraine.

"We all agree in NATO that Russia is a long-term threat to NATO territory, to the whole of the Euro-Atlantic territory," Rutte told reporters outside the White House.

He also said there's something on the table for both sides in peace talks, but added that he doesn't know if Vladimir Putin wants peace.

Earlier, we told you about Rutte's trip to the US capital where he met US defence secretary Pete Hegseth (see 4.48pm post).

He's also expected to hold talks with US secretary of state Marco Rubio and Donald Trump's national security adviser Mike Waltz.

Throughout the day, we've been bringing you updates on Russia's massive overnight strikes across Ukraine.

Kyiv's air force said Russia launched 215 drones and missiles at the country during its overnight attack.

Our security and defence analyst Michael Clarke takes a closer look at the strikes through the use of maps in the video below.

Back to Kyiv now, where Volodymyr Zelenskyy has given an update after Russia's overnight strike.

We've been telling you that a Ukrainian military source said the ballistic missile that killed at least 12 people was North Korean, and that's something Zelenskyy has now reiterated.

"According to preliminary information, the Russians used a ballistic missile manufactured in North Korea," he said, adding "our special services are verifying all the details."

He said that if the missile was made in North Korea, it will be further proof "of the criminal nature of the alliance between Russia and Pyongyang".

"They kill people and torment lives together - that is the only meaning behind their cooperation," he added.

"Russia continuously uses such weapons – missiles, artillery. In return, Pyongyang got the opportunity to make its weapons more deadly under real wartime conditions."

One moment you may have missed from the Oval Office a little earlier was when Donald Trump invited Marco Rubio to get involved.

They were speaking after meeting with Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere, and the US secretary of state said "everyone should be thanking" Trump for "being a peacemaker and trying to save lives".

Our US correspondent Mark Stone pointed out that Trump could be particularly keen to talk about his peace-making efforts today as the Nobel committee is based in Norway, and the US president has his eyes on the peace prize (see 5.56pm post).

Rubio told reporters that the war in Ukraine "is not our war" but added "we're trying to end the dying".

"We're trying to end the destruction and we've shown the path forward," he said.

"We can see the finish line, but both of them have to get there, and we're going to do everything we can to help them get there."

But Rubio said both sides ultimately have to say yes, and he insisted "we are putting a lot of pressure on both".

The debate over recognising Russian control of Crimea has reached a new peak over the last few days.

That's because Donald Trump's reported seven-point peace plan apparently does commit the US to acknowledging Moscow's control of the territory.

But Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been firm in his stance that Ukraine would not accept the move, saying it is against its constitution.

Most of the international community agrees with him, and doesn't formally accept Russia's claim to the area.

However, Trump accused Ukraine's president of prolonging the war due to his red line over Crimea, in a long Truth Social post yesterday.

By looking at the map below, you can see how the peninsula's location makes it so sought after.

Crimea's city of Sevastopol is home to a key warm-water port.

It's the headquarters of Russia's Black Sea Fleet - although it has since moved its major assets due to Ukrainian attacks.

The strategically important territory on the Black Sea has a long history, including the 1853-1856 Crimean War between Russia on one side, and Britain, France and the Ottoman Empire on the other.

The area also held out against the Nazis in the Second World War and more recently was annexed by Vladimir Putin's Russia in 2014.

After launching its full-scale invasion in 2022, Russia deployed troops and weapons to Crimea, enabling its forces to quickly seize large chunks of southern Ukraine in the opening weeks of the war.

It was later revealed by a Russian military official that securing a land corridor to Crimea was one of the Kremlin's key goals.

Donald Trump was also asked about Crimea following reports that his peace plan includes the US acknowledging Moscow's control of the territory.

He says Ukraine has lost "a lot of territory" during the war, adding "we'll do the best we can working with Ukraine".

Turning specifically to Crimea, Trump says it was "handed over" while Barack Obama was president, saying "that had nothing to do with me".

But he went on to say it will be "very difficult" for Ukraine to get the territory back.

The US president then says he has "no allegiance to anybody" but adds he has "an allegiance to saving lives".

"I think we're going to make a deal," Trump added, saying "I think we're getting very close to a deal".

Donald Trump's tone in the Oval Office appeared to be more positive than it has been in the past few days, our US correspondent Mark Stone has said.

"He talked about good movement in every aspect, in terms of the way the peace process is going," he said.

But Stone points out an answer to a reporter in which Trump responded by saying "ask me in a week".

"I think the assessment now from the US president is that the coming days are critical," Stone added.

But despite his more optimistic tone, Trump is "clearly irritated" with Vladimir Putin after his attack on Kyiv, Stone said.

That all came before the funeral of Pope Francis this weekend, which Stone explained could be an opportunity for world leaders to hold conversations.

"I think that the diplomacy that will be ongoing and the sideline conversations that Trump will be having with many world leaders will be key," he added.

Donald Trump is now speaking in the Oval Office after meeting Norway's prime minister.

Once again, he's using the opportunity in front of the world's media to discuss the war in Ukraine.

In a similar tone to his Truth Social post earlier (see 1.32pm post), Trump said he "wasn't happy" with Russia's attack on Kyiv overnight.

"We're putting a lot of pressure on Russia," he tells reporters, before saying "it takes two to tango".

"You have to have Ukraine want to make a deal too, they're being hit very hard, and I do believe they want to make a deal," he adds.

By Dominic Waghorn, international affairs editor

Events in Ukraine over the last 24 hours have been utterly barbaric. Bad even by the standards of this horrendous war.

Multiple Iranian drones and North Korean missiles laden with explosives brought carnage to swathes of the country, killing yet more civilians.

This was Russia's answer to President Trump's peace plan and ultimatum. Normally strangely reluctant to criticise Russia, even Trump was moved to implore Vladimir Putin to "STOP".

But in truth, throughout Trump's Ukraine peace process - if it can be called that - most of America's pressure has been on Ukraine.

The peace plan that has emerged from direct US talks, which were mainly with Russia, is one-sided.

To Ukraine and its European partners, it is a surrender plan.

It is impossible for Ukraine to accept.

With even China objecting to peace plan, could US walk away?

Even Russia's supporter in this war, China, has problems with it, in particular with America's proposal that Russia is rewarded for its invasion with sovereignty of Crimea.

Far from heading towards a peace deal, we are now, it seems, careering towards a crunch point that could see America give up on Ukraine completely, possibly blaming Kyiv for failure and renewing relations with Moscow.

Might will be proven right and Vladimir Putin will be emboldened to do it all over again in a few years, possibly against other countries too. That is the fear in chancelleries across Europe.

There are two key questions now

• Does Trump mean he will walk away from trying to broker peace or supporting Ukraine entirely?
• And if he does, can Ukraine carry on without US help?

European nations have said they will carry on supporting Ukraine. They see its survival and victory as essential for their own security.

They already give Ukraine 40 billion euros in financial and military help. Ukraine would need another 20 or so billion to fill the US gap - not that tall an order.

And they are beefing up their defence industries to do more to give Ukraine what it needs to fight Russia.

What Ukraine does and doesn't need from US

Ukraine's defence increasingly depends on a homegrown drone industry, which doesn't rely on American backing.

But Ukraine does need US intelligence, aerial defence support and satellite coverage provided by Starlink.

Were they to lose all that, they could be in trouble.

Questions for Europe - with what Trump does next unclear

What exactly Trump does if and, as seems increasingly likely, when his deal fails, he is not making clear.

But what seems certain is America is caring less and less for Ukraine's plight under this president.

That poses some urgent and pressing questions for Europe.

Its leaders have always said they will support Ukraine "whatever it takes, as long as it takes".

Do they have the political will and unity to do that even without America by their side?