Donald Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine and Russia will meet Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv this morning after the US president branded him “dictator”.

Keith Kellogg arrived in Ukraine on Wednesday as part of a wider European tour as Washington and Moscow gear up for peace talks.

Mr Zelensky struck an optimistic tone about US support, despite Mr Trump’s comments, in his evening address on Wednesday.

“Our meeting with Gen Kellogg is scheduled for tomorrow, and it is crucial for us that the meeting and our overall cooperation with America be constructive,” the Ukrainian president said.

“Together with America and Europe, peace can be more secure; and that is our goal. And most importantly — this should not be not only our goal, but a shared one with our partners.”

The US president said he believes Russia wants peace, but that it “had the cards” in any peace talks to end the war because it had “taken a lot of territory”.