Vladimir Putin has accused the Ukrainian government of stoking violence the country’s war torn east in a bid to win support from Donald Trump and draw the US into the conflict there.

Speaking in Budapest, Mr Putin said Petro Poroshenko, the president of Ukraine, may also have ordered an escalation in fighting partly because he hoped to attract financial support from Europe and the United States.

“The Ukrainian leadership needs money. They can only get money from the US, EU and financial institutions if they present themselves as victims,” Mr Putin said on Thursday.