The White House has said president Donald Trump “believes” Vladimir Putin is winning the war with Ukraine.The statement follows a Wall Street Journal that Mr Trump told European leaders after a phone call with Mr Putin that the Russian president is not ready to end the war.

Russia and Ukraine have completed the first phase of what is expected to be the biggest prisoner exchange since the start of the war, with almost 800 people released on Friday.

Statements by Russian President Vladimir Putin about creating a buffer zone are evidence of the Russian Federation's aggression, said Heorhii Tykhyi, spokesperson for Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.