The White House has said president Donald Trump “believes” Vladimir Putin is winning the war with Ukraine..The statement follows a Washington Post report that Mr Trump told European leaders after a phone call with Mr Putin that the Russian president is not ready to end the war.

"Vladimir Putin is he a war criminal? Is Vladimir Putin a war criminal? I think you can look at instances that have happened there and certainly Characterize them as war crimes, but our intent is to end the war.

Ukrainian forces are bracing for another major frontline assault from Russia after learning of a large build-up of pre-battle troops in the north east.

President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the war in Ukraine and other matters by phone for two hours on Monday. The conversation yielded no breakthrough on efforts to end the largest ground war in Europe since World War II. A ceasefire seems as far as ever.