The Trump Administration will likely take the lead in any negotiations to end the war—a development that Vladimir Putin would welcome.

And without vast new supplies of military aid and a free hand to use that aid effectively, most analysts believe Ukraine is likely to lose. Or at least be vulnerable to pressure to sign up to a peace deal that means giving up a great deal of territory as well as the freedom to make independent decisions about its security.

Donald Trump reportedly told Vladimir Putin not to escalate the situation in Ukraine, only for Moscow to dismiss the reports as 'pure fiction'.