Moscow’s forces are three miles from Dnipropetrovsk, a province they have never invaded. If they cross in, the advance would be a morale blow to Ukraine and complicate any territorial negotiations.

The first round of negotiations in Riyadh on Tuesday prompted European allies to rally around Volodymyr Zelenskyy, nervous about Trump's perceived pivot to Moscow and fears that talks would take place without Ukraine's direct involvement and favour Russia.

President Donald Trump said there was no need for President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to take part in talks on ending the conflict with Russia, keeping up his attacks on the Ukrainian leader.Trump told Fox News Radio that Zelenskiy had been in meetings for three years since Russia’s invasion in February,