Putin should not be underestimated, says former US secretary of state

Vladimir Putin understands power and should not be underestimated, former US secretary of state Mike Pompeo has said during a visit to Kyiv.

Mr Pompeo, who is also a previous director of the CIA, said the Russian president recognises "one thing and that is power and consistent resolve".

He also said a new security architecture was required to insure against major land warfare in Europe. 

"There must be a set of arrangements that make it unequivocally clear that Vladimir Putin will not be able to do that again," he said.

Asked whether he would back providing Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets and long-range missiles, Mr Pompeo said: "Yes - and the training and the software and all the things needed to actually protect and defend your own land." 

He visited a military hospital and met some Ukrainian government officials.