A spokesperson of the UK Ministry of Defence has announced the death of a member of the UK armed forces in Ukraine: 

“It is with deep regret that we must announce that a member of the UK Armed Forces died in Ukraine this morning, Tuesday 9 December. 

“He was injured in a tragic accident whilst observing Ukrainian forces test a new defensive capability, away from the front lines. 

“The family has been notified and our thoughts are with them at this sad and difficult time.”

The UK government has previously confirmed the presence of a “small number of personnel” in Ukraine.

MEZIESBLOG understands the incident is not thought to have been caused by hostile fire.

‘Cheap ceasefire’ in Ukraine will create ‘expensive peace’ for Europe, warns Norway

A “cheap ceasefire” between Ukraine and Russia – with Kyiv forced to surrender land – would create an “expensive peace” for the whole of Europe, Norway’s foreign minister has warned.

Espen Barth Eide explained this could mean security challenges for generations, with the continent’s whole future “on the line”.

It was why Ukraine, its European allies and the US should seek to agree a common position when trying to secure a settlement with Vladimir Putin, the top Norwegian diplomat told Sky News in an interview during a visit to London on Tuesday.

“I very much hope that we will have peace in Ukraine and nobody wants that more than the Ukrainians themselves,” Eide said.

“But I am worried that we might push this to what in quotation marks is a ‘cheap ceasefire’, which will lead to a very expensive peace.”