Ukraine accepts US proposals for an initial ceasefire

The US will speak to Russia today about the plan for a ceasefire in the Ukraine war, its top dplomat Marco Rubio says. He said "the ball is now in Russia's court" after Ukraine accepted American proposals for an initial ceasefire.

Earlier, Russia said it would wait to be briefed by American officials before commenting - and that it was "studying statements". So what might the Russian response be? We'll speak to a former advisor to Vladimir Putin.

Also in the programme: Why tracts of the Brazilian rainforest are being cut down for the next UN climate summit and what that means for the people living there; and we'll hear about the Australian man who lived for more than three months with a mechanical, artificial heart/

(Photo shows US Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaking to the media during a refuelling stop at Shannon Airport in Shannon, Ireland on 12 March 2025. Credit: Saul Loed/Reuters)