Zelensky claims Putin 'influences' White House policy with propaganda and says US officials 'take him at his word' - as peace talks between Russia and Trump administration begin PODCAST: All the latest headlines, including Trump’s bold move to void Biden’s pardons and Gavin Newsom’s unexpected statue plans By INDERDEEP BAINS, DEPUTY CHIEF REPORTER Published: 00:15 GMT, 25 March 2025 | Updated: 00:15 GMT, 25 March 2025 e-mail View comments Russia has been 'influencing' White House policy with propaganda about the Ukraine war, Volodymyr Zelensky claimed last night. In an interview released as peace talks began, the Ukrainian president pointed to a 'pattern' of high-level officials in Donald Trump 's administration taking Vladimir Putin at his word – including claims that Kyiv did not want the war to end. It came as a children's hospital in the city of Sumy was hit by a Russian missile yesterday, leaving almost 90 people – including 17 children – injured.
Andrii Sybiha, Ukraine's foreign minister, said last night that Russia 'must stop bombing our cities and end its war on civilians' instead of making 'hollow statements about peace'. President Trump has been pushing for a rapid end to the three-year war and hopes the latest round of talks at a luxury hotel in Saudi Arabia will pave the way for a breakthrough . The talks have been split into two separate parts of the hotel in Riyadh,with US negotiators going back and forth between the Russian and Ukrainian delegations.