Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin are expected to discuss power plants and land on a phone call on Tuesday. (Reuters: Kevin Lamarque)
In short:
Donald Trump says he will discuss "dividing up certain assets" on a call with Vladimir Putin on Tuesday.
It comes as the UK government says more than 30 countries are interested in joining a so-called "coalition of the willing" wanting to help Ukraine.
Lithuanian authorities have also accused Russia's military intelligence agency of being behind fire at an Ikea store in the country's capital.
Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin are expected to hold a phone call on Tuesday to discuss the conflict in Ukraine, with the US president saying there is a "good chance" the pair can work out a way to end the three-year war.
"We want to see if we can bring that war to an end," Mr Trump told reporters on Air Force One
Mr Trump is trying to win Putin's support for a 30-day ceasefire proposal that Ukraine accepted last week.
Both sides conducted heavy air strikes against each other through the weekend.
Ukraine has accused Russia of endangering lives by shelling near the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. (Reuters: Alexander Ermochenko)
Mr Trump said the two would "be talking about land" and other things on the call.
"We'll be talking about power plants…We're already talking about that, dividing up certain assets."
Trump did not elaborate but was most likely referring to the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia facility in Ukraine, Europe's largest nuclear plant.Â
Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of risking an accident at the plant with their actions.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed on Monday that Putin would speak with Trump by phone but declined to comment on Trump's remarks about land and power plants.
British PM Keir Starmer held a virtual meeting with around 25 world leaders on Sunday. (Reuters: Leon Neal)
It comes as the office for UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Monday more than 30 countries were expected to join a so-called "coalition of the willing" to support Ukraine.
"The contribution capabilities will vary, but this will be a significant force, with a significant number of countries providing troops," the spokesperson told reporters.
On Sunday, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese indicated the ADF could make a "small" contribution to the coalition, after joining a virtual meeting with leaders in Europe, Canada and New Zealand.
Lithuania says Russia behind Ikea fire
On Monday, Lithuanian prosecutors said Russian military intelligence agency, the GRU, was behind an arson attack on an Ikea store in the country's capital of Vilnius.
The Ikea store was set ablaze in May 2024, but caused no casualties.
"We regard this act as an act of terrorism with serious consequences," prosecutor Arturas Urbelis said.
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"It has been established that through a series of intermediaries … the organisers of these crimes are in Russia and this is connected to military intelligence and security forces."
The prosecutors said two Ukrainian citizens were suspects in the Ikea arson case — with one being detained in Lithuania and the other in Poland.
Lithuanian authorities also alleged one of the detained had agreed to set fire to and blow up shopping centres in Lithuania and Latvia for 10,000 euro ($17,165).
"More than one supermarket has been set on fire, and not just supermarkets," Mr Urbelis said.
He added that investigators had found links between the alleged perpetrators and intermediaries and similar criminal acts committed in Poland.
Following the announcement, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk wrote on X that the revelations were "good to know" before negotiations were to begin with Russia over the Ukraine War.
"The investigation of the Lithuanian prosecutor’s office has confirmed our suspicions that responsible for setting fires to shopping centres in Vilnius and Warsaw are the Russian secret services."
AFP/Reuters