Major accuses Trump and Vance of 'cuddling' Putin

Sir John Major has accused Donald Trump and his vicepresident JD Vance of "cuddling" up to Vladimir Putin as he warned that "tin-pot" dictators around the world would be emboldened if the US agrees on a deal that leaves Russia in control of Ukrainian territory.

- KATE DEVLIN

As Keir Starmer prepares for a crisis summit on Ukraine in Paris, a member of his cabinet also warned the US president any agreement would not last if Europe is, as expected, excluded from the talks.

World leaders continue to reel from Mr Trump’s announcement last week that he and Mr Putin are to begin negotiations to end the war, triggered when Russia invaded Ukraine nearly three years ago.

Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky has called for the creation of a European army if the US cannot be relied on to help guarantee the continent’s security – and warned there is a “100 per cent chance” Russia will occupy other European nations if the US pulls out of Nato.