Ukraine-Russia war latest: Moscow and Kyiv’s 190 PoW swap ‘unexpected’ as North Korea troops arrive in Russia

The free world “must not tremble” at Vladimir Putin’s threats, Volodymyr Zelensky has urged, as the Ukrainian president pressed for Nato and the EU to back his new “victory plan” to beat Russia.

In a hectic day of diplomacy in Brussels after unveiling the five-point plan he insists can end the war next year, Mr Zelensky sought to coalesce the support of Ukraine’s allies as he addressed European Union and Nato leaders in back-to-back meetings on Thursday.

With the plan hinging on the thorny issue of Nato membership for Ukraine, over which many of the military alliance’s member states are wary, Mr Zelensky underscored the test of allegiance facing Kyiv’s allies, declaring: “This plan doesn’t depend on Russian will, only on the will of our partners.”

“Russia may be loud but NATO is strong”, Nato’s new chief Mark Rutte told reporters on Friday, after chairing his first Nato defence ministers’ meeting in Brussels.

Condemning Vladimir Putin’s “increasingly irresponsible rhetoric”, he added that Nato allies were working hard to support Ukraine during the coming winter and that the main focus of the meeting was on getting massive military aid into Ukraine.

Sir Keir Starmer said allies are “absolutely united in our resolve” to back Ukraine for “as long as it takes”.

Speaking on a visit to Berlin, the prime minister said: “As Ukraine enters a difficult winter, it’s important to say we are with you. We’re absolutely united in our resolve and will back Ukraine for as long as it takes.”

He added that Russia was “getting weaker” as the war soaks up 40 per cent of its budget.

“The only acceptable outcome is a sovereign Ukraine and a just peace,” he said.

The UN’s human rights chief has warned that the world is at an especially dangerous moment in history, with disregard and disrespect for international law “reaching a deafening crescendo”.

Volker Türk said conflicts are spreading and intensifying and humanitarian and human rights laws are being “trampled amid broad impunity.”

He was sharply critical of Israeli authorities for allowing Palestinians in Gaza to reach “catastrophic levels of hunger” but also cited human rights violations in Ukraine, Sudan, Haiti and Myanmar – and said he could name many other conflicts.

Edith M Lederer has the full report:

The US and its allies have raised the alarm after Volodymyr Zelensky and South Korea claimed that North Korea was sending thousands of soldiers to help Russia in its war in Ukraine.

My colleague Alisha Rahaman Sarkar reports:

Volodymyr Zelensky has said that he expects a White House team to visit Ukraine soon with feedback on the “victory plan” he has presented to Western leaders.

He told Ukrainian media that he agreed with Joe Biden that Ukraine would be receiving assistance packages quickly, likely every two to three weeks in the months ahead.

Ukraine should lift its ban on talks with Russia, Vladimir Putin has said, as he remarked on possible Russian-Ukrainian negotiations in Saudi Arabia.

Russia is ready for dialogue with Ukraine but on the basis of what has already been agreed, the Russian president claimed.

Volodymyr Zelensky has said that calls for dialogue with Russia play into Mr Putin’s hands.