Ukraine and Russia are “closer to peace” than at any time in almost four years, it has been claimed – though a top European leader still warned againt Vladimir Putin’s plans to take on the West.

Sir Keir Starmer today joins emergency talks in Berlin aimed at ending the debilitating war.

Those talks coincide with punishing new overnight strikes on key Russian infrastructure by Ukraine aimed at showing Vladimir Putin the cost of continuing the conflict.

Finland’s influential president Alexander Stubb – seen as close to Donald Trump – said: “I think we are at a critical moment in negotiations for peace, and at the same time, we are probably closer to a peace agreement than we have been any time during these four years.”

Stubb – also in Berlin today – warned that Putin remains a dire danger, which means the settlement must include vital security safeguards.

“Russia is the number one threat to Europe and, actually, the Western world,” he said.

Trump’s envoy on the war, Steve Witkoff, said an initial five hour session with Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday led to “a lot of progress”.

Zelensky was ready to sacrifice NATO membership – a key “compromise’ – for separate US-led Western security guarantees.

He is also moving to hold elections in Ukraine – a key Russian demand.

Stubb said three key documents are central to the peace talks.

First is a framework document outlining the proposed 20-point peace plan.

Second, a draft covering security guarantees for Ukraine.

Third, a package of measures on Ukraine’s reconstruction after 46 months of war.

However, Russia has so far not shown itself to be enthusiastic, claiming amendments to the earlier peace blueprint were “unlikely to be constructive” and expected to produce “sharp objections” from Moscow.

Many analysts doubt Putin has any interest in a settlement.

New MI6 chief Blaise Metreweli warned the frontline against Russia is “everywhere” and that Putin is bent on the “export of chaos”.

But warmonger Putin is suffering debilitating strikes from Ukraine which have already caused fuel price rises and shortages across Russia.

Footage emerged of a drone strike by Ukrainian special forces on a fuel train in Russian-occupied Crimea.

The fuel was destined for Putin’s war machine, say reports.

In occupied Donetsk region, an electronic warfare station – Volna-2 – was hit.

In Moscow, a barrage of at least 15 drones led to the closure of two city airports – Domodedovo and Zhukovsky.

A major gas plant was detonated in Astrakhan, southern Russia.

In Russian border region Belgorod, a Ukrainian missile strike was reported to have hit Luch Thermal Power Plant.

And in Rostov, reports said Novoshakhtinsk Oil Products Plant was targeted.