The White House laid out the next steps for Russia-Ukraine peace talks. Pete Hegseth’s personal security requirements are straining an Army protective unit. Jeanine Pirro, D.C.’s top prosecutor, confirmed a major change to gun policy.

Other lower level meetings planned for this week underscore the massive task ahead for European allies as they weigh plans for sending a peacekeeping force to Ukraine.

Use BBC.com or the new BBC App to listen to BBC podcasts, Radio 4 and the World Service outside the UK. Trading off the news, Edinburgh International TV Festival, how the global media covered White House peace talks

Oil prices edged up on Wednesday as investors awaited the next steps in talks to end the war in Ukraine, with sanctions on Russian crude remaining in place for now and the potential for further restrictions on buyers of its exports still looming.

Democratic Republic of Congo’s army accused Rwanda-backed M23 rebels of attacking its positions in the east of the country and threatening peace talks overseen by the US and Qatari governments.

Sir Keir Starmer is prepared to support a peace deal in Ukraine without a ceasefire being in place, No 10 has indicated, as the prime minister reiterated that he is prepared to put “boots on the ground” to ensure security in the event of an agreement being struck.

Switzerland would be ready to host Russian President Vladimir Putin for any peace talks on Ukraine despite an existing arrest warrant for him from the International Criminal Court, Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis said on Tuesday.