55 minutes ago Trump picks Keith Kellogg to serve as special envoy to Ukraine and Russia

Retired US army general and former Pence aide tapped for newly conceived role to negotiate amid ongoing warDonald Trump has picked Keith Kellogg to serve as a special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, a newly conceived role given the ongoing war between the two countries.Kellogg, an 80-year-old retired US army lieutenant general, would start in the role as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continues into its third year. Continue reading...

Politics

7 hours ago Imprisoned Kremlin critic stands a second trial for opposing Ukraine war

Imprisoned Kremlin critic Alexei Gorinov has appeared in court for a second trial for opposing Russia’s war in Ukraine

Events

8 hours ago Russia’s rouble plunges to lowest rate since early weeks of Ukraine war

Rouble hit 110 against the dollar after US introduced sanctions against Gazprombank, Russia’s third-largest bankRussia’s rouble has plunged to its lowest rate against the dollar since the early weeks of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in the wake of new western sanctions and growing geopolitical tensions.The rouble on Wednesday hit 110 against the dollar for the first time since 16 March 2022. Before launching its war on Ukraine in February 2022, the Russian currency traded at around 75-80 against the US dollar. Continue reading...

Events

9 hours ago Russia makes biggest advance in Ukraine since early days of the war, seizing an area half the size of London as Putin's forces launch artillery and bomb blitz

Ukraine's valiant defenders are wilting under pressure from Russian troops which have sustained a fearsome rate of artillery fire matched with glide bomb attacks and full-frontal assaults

Events

10 hours ago South Korean leader meets Ukraine delegation and calls for response to North Korean troops in Russia

South Korea’s president has met a visiting Ukraine delegation and called for a joint response to the threat posed by North Korea’s recent dispatch of more than 10,000 soldiers to support Russia’s war against Ukraine

Politics

16 hours ago Trump’s return raises questions over future of CIA’s Russian recruitment drive

Intelligence agency has been trying to entice Russians disaffected by invasion of Ukraine but president-elect is likely to want to make an ally of KremlinFor the past three years, the CIA has run an unusually bold outreach programme. It targeted Russians within the country’s government and security services, attempting to turn them into double agents.Slickly produced recruitment videos portrayed cooperation with the US secret agency as the patriotic choice for officials disaffected with Vladimir Putin’s regime and the war in Ukraine. The videos ended with instructions on how to contact the CIA in a secure manner. Continue reading...

Politics

20 hours ago Ukraine war briefing: Kyiv pulls back 100,000 mortar rounds after failures

Investigation after troops complained of misfires; Russian Oreshnik missile carried no explosives, say Ukrainian officials. What we know on day 1,008 Continue reading...

Events

22 hours ago Russia expels British diplomat for ‘spying’ after launching record drone attack on Ukraine

London denies espionage accusation as fresh row erupts to deal latest blow to already dire state of relations

Events

27 hours ago US officials discussed giving Ukraine nukes as terrifying deterrent during war

General Mark Milley suggested neither Russia nor Ukraine could win the war with negotiated settlement the only route to peace with plans to allow Russia to keep Ukrainian territory

Events