Diplomats say there is an outside possibility that Trump might instead strike a unilateral deal with Putin, prioritising lucrative energy contracts and potential arms control accords. Trump himself has said he might conclude in Alaska that a Ukraine peace deal cannot be done.

By Andrew Osborn MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russian forces have made a sudden thrust into eastern Ukraine near the coal mining town of Dobropillia, a move that may be an attempt to increase the pressure on Kyiv to give up land as the U.

Russian forces moved at least six miles deeper into the Donetsk region in a move that appeared designed to pressure Kyiv