Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says he wants to work “directly” with US President-elect Donald Trump and is open to his ideas, highlighting Kyiv’s eagerness to keep its most important ally onside as Russia intensifies its attacks.

The official exchange rate of the Russian ruble against the US dollar has fallen to its lowest level since March 2022, when Western countries imposed sweeping sanctions in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Talking about the ceasefire, Zelenskyy said that NATO membership will have to be offered to Kyiv for the territory which has not been occupied by Russia in order to end the "hot phase of the war".