Officials say Ukraine has agreed to accept an immediate 30-day ceasefire in the conflict with Russia after talks with a US delegation in Saudi Arabia.

Ukraine has spurned an offer from Russian President Vladimir Putin for a 36-hour ceasefire over Orthodox Christmas, saying there will be no truce until Russia withdraws its forces from occupied land.

US President Joe Biden has spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the White House says, as US officials race to reach a Gaza Strip hostage and ceasefire deal before Biden leaves office.

Ukraine has ruled out a ceasefire or concessions to Moscow as Russia intensifies its offensive in the eastern Donbas region.

Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators have rallied in cities in Europe, the Middle East and Asia to show support for the Palestinians as Israel's military widened its air and ground offensive on the Gaza Strip.

There's been a welcome breakthrough in Ukraine peace negotiations, with Volodymyr Zelenskyy agreeing to a 30-day ceasefire deal brokered by the U.S. It is now up to the Russian President to decide if he wants to accept the proposal.

Russia says no "Christmas ceasefire" is on the cards after almost 10 months of devastating war in Ukraine as the release of dozens more prisoners including an American showed some contacts between the two sides remain.