Forcing Ukraine to negotiate with Russia before it regains the advantage on the battlefield would be a catastrophic mistake, officials in Kyiv have warned ahead of Donald Trump’s inauguration.

President-elect Donald Trump has pledged to broker a peace deal in Ukraine, but as he prepares to take office, peace seems as elusive as ever. Moscow and Kyiv are seeking battlefield gains to strengthen their negotiating positions ahead of any prospective talks to end the 3-year-old war.

Donald Trump has promised to end the Ukraine war as soon as he enters office next week by allowing him to keep the land Russia has taken in Ukraine. But Ben Hodges, a former US Army Europe commander, has told the Sun that this could allow Putin to come back stronger and invade again.