Donald Trump privately urged Ukraine to strike targets deep inside Russia, including Moscow, if supplied with advanced US weapons, signalling a pivotal policy shift in the war and raising stakes for Nato and Kremlin escalation.

In announcing a new weapons package for Ukraine and a ceasefire deadline for Putin, President Trump reversed his previous stance towards Russia’s invasion. But will the weapons have the intended effect for Ukraine,

Pivots have been jarring, particularly for those whose criticism of military aid was central to their political brand

To appreciate the dramatic shift in President Donald Trump’s policy towards Ukraine, consider two scenes in the Oval Office, months apart: