Forcing Ukraine to negotiate with Russia before it regains the advantage on the battlefield would be a catastrophic mistake, officials in Kyiv have warned ahead of Donald Trump’s inauguration.

Fearing that the new US administration could reduce military aid if he refuses talks, Volodymyr Zelensky is scrambling to make the case that Ukraine first needs time and support to escalate its campaign deep inside Russia.

A failure to make Vladimir Putin “feel pain” before negotiating would would embolden the Russian president, weaken Ukraine and ultimately damage the West’s reputation and interests, according to Mr Zelensky’s aides.

Eager for a rapid replication of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, Mr Trump repeatedly promised on the campaign trail that he would end the war between Russia and Ukraine within 24 hours.

While the incoming president’s team concedes that will not happen, Keith Kellogg, the retired general who is Mr Trump’s Ukraine envoy, has given himself 100 days to bring the conflict to a close.