The British Prime Minister Keir Starmer says an online summit with twenty-five fellow leaders has built momentum towards setting up a peacekeeping force in Ukraine in the event of a peace deal. We speak to an Italian MP on why his country is not ready to send troops.

Also in the programme: Tens of thousands march against alleged government corruption in Serbia’s capital Belgrade; and Sri Lanka conducts first-ever census of wildlife harmful to agriculture.

(Image: Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer speaking to the media in Downing Street, London. Credit: Leon Neal/PA Wire)

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said he is "cautiously optimistic" about a Ukraine ceasefire, but admitted a deal wouldn’t be easy or straightforward. Meanwhile, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused President Putin of deliberately setting conditions that drag out talks. We get the assessment of a former senior US intelligence officer.

Also on the programme: Canada's new prime minister dismisses Donald Trump's idea of annexing his country as "crazy"; and a joey-grabbing social media influencer sparks controversy in Australia.

(Photo: Ukrainian service members of the 65th Separate Mechanized Brigade prepare a fighting unmanned ground vehicle for a testing at a training ground, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine March 13, 2025. Credit: Andriy Andriyenko/Press Service of the 65th Separate Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces/Handout)

The Kremlin has said Russian President Vladimir Putin has passed on what it called information for Donald Trump at a late-night meeting in Moscow with US special envoy Steve Witkoff. In a conference call with reporters, the Kremlin’s spokesperson added that a phone call between US President Trump and Putin was expected. A Russia analyst take us through the likelihood that the country’s leader truly wants a ceasefire in its war against Ukraine.

Also in the programme: Former Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte attends his first hearing at The Hague, accused of crimes against humanity; and following news of a tourist pulling a baby wombat away from its mother in Australia, a wildlife expert weighs in on the backlash.

(Photo: Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting with members of the Security Council via video link at the Kremlin in Moscow, 7th March, 2025. Credit: Sputnik/Mikhail Metzel/Pool via REUTERS)

President Trump has welcomed what he called a very promising statement from Vladimir Putin on a possible ceasefire with Ukraine, but said the deal was not yet complete. President Putin said fighting must end in Ukraine, but said there were elements of the American ceasefire proposal that need further discussion. We speak to a former US diplomat in Europe.

Also on the programme: southern African leaders withdraw their troops from the Democratic Republic of Congo; and the divebombing South American hawk wreaking havoc on an English village.

(Photo: Russian President Vladimir Putin gestures during a press conference in Moscow, Russia, 13 March 2025. Credit: MAXIM SHEMETOV/POOL/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

A senior aide to President Putin has indicated that Russia does not want a temporary ceasefire with Ukraine -- saying it would only give the Ukrainians an opportunity to regroup.

Also, a UN report has accused the Israeli military of systematic sexual violence against Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. Israel has rejected the report as unfounded.

And a special report from the frontlines of Mexico's war on fentanyl -- we will hear from police and the smugglers.

(Photo credit: Getty Images)

Donald Trump has confirmed that US officials are travelling to Russia, to discuss a proposed 30 day ceasefire with Ukraine. Kyiv accepted the proposals during a meeting in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, led by the US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio. Mr Trump said an agreement from Moscow would go "eighty per cent" towards ending what he described as "a bloodbath". The Kremlin earlier said it would wait to be briefed by American officials before commenting on the proposal. We speak to a former US diplomat.

Also in the programme: The Pakistan train hijack is over, dozens are dead; and we have a special investigation into the gangs smuggling fentanyl from Mexico into the US.

(Photo: US President Donald Trump March 12, 2025. Credit: Niall Carson/PA Wire)

The US will speak to Russia today about the plan for a ceasefire in the Ukraine war, its top dplomat Marco Rubio says. He said "the ball is now in Russia's court" after Ukraine accepted American proposals for an initial ceasefire.

Earlier, Russia said it would wait to be briefed by American officials before commenting - and that it was "studying statements". So what might the Russian response be? We'll speak to a former advisor to Vladimir Putin.

Also in the programme: Why tracts of the Brazilian rainforest are being cut down for the next UN climate summit and what that means for the people living there; and we'll hear about the Australian man who lived for more than three months with a mechanical, artificial heart/

(Photo shows US Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaking to the media during a refuelling stop at Shannon Airport in Shannon, Ireland on 12 March 2025. Credit: Saul Loed/Reuters)

Ukraine has backed a US proposal for a 30 day ceasefire in the war with Russia, subject to the agreement of Moscow. The announcement follows eight hours of talks between Ukrainian and US delegations in Saudi Arabia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (who wasn't at the talks) said the proposal included a truce along the entire front line, not just in the air and at sea. The US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told journalists in Jeddah that the ball was now in Russia's court. The US has agreed to immediately lift its pause on military aid for Ukraine and intelligence sharing as a result of the talks. We speak to veteran US diplomat Kurt Volker.

Also in the programme: The former President of the Philippines Rodrigo Duterte is on his way to The Netherlands to face charges from the International Criminal Court related to his war on drugs; and armed militants in Pakistan attack a train and seize hundreds of hostages.

(Photo: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz speak with the media after meetings with a Ukrainian delegation in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia March 11, 2025. Saul Loeb/Pool via Reuters)

Ukraine has launched its biggest drone attack yet on Moscow as its diplomats are meeting the US to discuss how to end the war.

Also on the programme: gunmen in Pakistan seize a passenger train with hundreds on board; and the police in the Philippines arrest the former president Rodrigo Duterte over his seven year war on drugs.

(Photo: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio greets well-wishers upon arrival at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Credit: SAUL LOEB/Pool via REUTERS)

Canada's most populous province has imposed a twenty-five percent surcharge on electricity exports to the United States in response to tariffs imposed by Washington. The premier of Ontario, Doug Ford, said he would be prepared to cut off power supplies altogether unless the US changed course. He said the surcharge would raise a total of up to four hundred thousand dollars a day from the states of New York, Michigan and Minnesota. On Sunday, Canada's next Prime Minister, Mark Carney, said the national government was right to retaliate against US tariffs. He said Canada would maintain its own duties on US goods until the Americans showed some respect. We hear from Yasir Naqvi, from Mr Carney's Liberal Party.

Also in the programme: Thousands of people are reported to have fled Syria after violent attacks on the minority Alawite community; and as Ukraine peace negotiations begin in Saudi Arabia, we'll hear from a former Prime Minister of Russia who's now a Putin critic.

(File Photo: Ontario Premier Doug Ford responds to US President Donald Trump's new 25% tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada. March 4, 2025. Reuters/Kyaw Soe Oo/File Photo)