Donald Trump has made a dramatic U-turn on his stance on the Ukraine-Russia war after he acknowledged Russia's “full-scale invasion” of Ukraine for the first time in his presidency as part of his newly agreed minerals deal with Kyiv.

This comes after Trump offered a rare sharp criticism of Putin after Moscow rained attacks on Kyiv, killing 12 and injuring at least 90.

The minerals deal, signed on Wednesday, will give the US privileged access to new investment projects to develop Ukraine's natural resources - including aluminium, graphite, oil and natural gas