Two entire Ukrainian regions were plunged into darkness in freezing temperatures late on Wednesday, leaving more than 1mn households without power, after Russian drone strikes triggered one of the biggest energy blackouts of the war.

Coalition of the Willing signs Ukraine security agreement with U.S. support, establishing multinational force and ceasefire monitoring mechanism.

On troop numbers, Starmer does not give an exact figure, but says this would be determined in accordance with military plans, and then put before the House for a debate and vote. Badenoch says it is "essential" for Nato leaders to meet, including the US, and asks if Starmer will be calling an urgent summit.

Most Ukrainians see this as a ruse that could allow Vladimir Putin to circumvent Ukraine’s defences and continue his invasion. Even with its impressive fortifications, in the past few months Ukraine has been losing ground. Most of the city of Pokrovsk has fallen.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said he believes Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine could be brought to an end in the first half of this year, adding that the negotiations have reached a new milestone. The Ukrainian leader was speaking at a ceremony marking the start of Cyprus’s European Union presidency.

By Michele Kambas NICOSIA, Jan 7 - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy sought progress on EU membership talks and tougher sanctions on Russia, making his case on Wednesday as Cyprus took over the European Union's rotating presidency.

President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and special envoy Steve Witkoff were meeting with the Coalition of the Willing in Paris on security guarantees.

Notably, the U.K. and France signed a "Declaration of Intent" to send troops to Ukraine to safeguard any future deal, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Tuesday. The two