19 h. ago Kim pledges help in ‘any way’ for Russia’s war in Ukraine during Putin meeting

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un pledged to continue helping Moscow’s war in Ukraine in “any way” as he met with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Beijing on Wednesday. That meeting came only hours after US President Donald Trump made harsh accusations against both leaders as the brutal war in Ukraine continued. The bilateral summit between the two neighbours – the first in more than a year – revealed that it was Kim who took the initiative in sending military aid to Russia for its...

Politics

2 d. ago PM Modi in China LIVE: Modi meets Putin for bilateral talks, calls for ending Ukraine conflict soon

PM Modi in China LIVE: Modi meets Putin for bilateral talks, calls for ending Ukraine conflict soon  The Hindu

Politics

5 d. ago Putin would have ‘played’ Trump if he doesn’t meet Zelensky, Macron says

The leaders of France and Germany on Friday vowed to step up pressure on Russia over its war against Ukraine, warning that President Vladimir Putin was showing little appetite to end Moscow’s 3½-year onslaught against its neighbour. French President Emmanuel Macron said that Putin would have “played” US President Donald Trump if the Russian leader failed to fulfil a pledge to meet Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz added it looked like Putin was “unwilling” to...

Politics

8 d. ago China may not be waging war in Ukraine. But it still stands to win

It seems clear that US President Donald Trump achieved little more than a photo opportunity from the bilateral summit in Anchorage, Alaska, with Russian President Vladimir Putin and his subsequent meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and other European leaders. Now, a ceasefire seems more out of reach than ever. For a negotiated peace agreement, Putin has insisted on his demands that Ukraine give up ambitions to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, as well as land occupied...

Events

8 d. ago As the West cedes leverage over Ukraine, China stands to benefit

It seems clear that US President Donald Trump achieved little more than a photo opportunity from the bilateral summit in Anchorage, Alaska, with Russian President Vladimir Putin and his subsequent meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and other European leaders. Now, a ceasefire seems more out of reach than ever. For a negotiated peace agreement, Putin has insisted on his demands that Ukraine give up ambitions to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, as well as land occupied...

Politics

9 d. ago Trump says Putin’s dislike of Zelensky delaying meeting between 2 leaders

US President Donald Trump said on Monday he had talked to Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin since meeting in Washington last week with Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders. Trump was last known to have spoken to Putin on August 18, when he interrupted his talks with Zelensky and the Europeans at the White House to call the Russian leader. “Yes, I have,” Trump told reporters when asked if he had talked to Putin since then. Asked how the latest talks went, Trump replied: “Every...

Politics

1 week ago ‘Play offence’: Trump hints Ukraine should widen attacks on Russia

US President Donald Trump insinuated in a social media post that he is open to Ukraine launching more attacks on Russia, as the White House looks to pressure Russian President Vladimir Putin to agree to a one-on-one meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. “It is very hard, if not impossible, to win a war without attacking an invaders country,” Trump wrote. “It’s like a great team in sports that has a fantastic defence, but is not allowed to play offence. There is no chance of...

Politics

1 week ago Will China be Ukraine’s security guarantor? Unlikely, despite Russia’s wishes

Resource constraints and precedent mean China is unlikely to become one of Ukraine’s security guarantors – despite Russia’s suggestion that it could, according to analysts. With rising expectations for a face-to-face meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky, security guarantees for Kyiv have taken centre stage in discussions about a peace deal with Moscow to end Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War II. During a press conference on...

Events

2 w. ago Ukraine war talks: Trump and Putin prepare to meet in Anchorage, Alaska

US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin will soon begin a high-stakes summit in the Alaskan port city of Anchorage. The meeting will focus on the prospect of a ceasefire to end Russia’s devastating three-and-a-half-year war against Ukraine, and will be the first face-to-face interaction between the two leaders since Trump returned to office in January. Initially seen as a meeting that could reshape the global order, determine Ukraine’s future, and redefine America’s...

Politics

2 w. ago Ukraine war talks: Trump and Putin meet in Alaska as summit begins

US President Donald Trump has welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, on the outskirts of Anchorage, Alaska, for their first face-to-face meeting since Trump returned to office this year. The summit will focus on the prospect of a ceasefire to end Russia’s devastating three-and-a-half-year war against Ukraine. Initially seen as a meeting that could reshape the global order, determine Ukraine’s future and redefine America’s standing with its allies, the Trump...

Politics

2 w. ago Ukraine war talks: summit ends with no deal, but Trump says he is hopeful

US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin have failed to find a deal to end the Ukraine war, they said at the close of their summit at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska on Friday The summit, held on the outskirts of Anchorage, Alaska, was focused on the prospect of a ceasefire to end Russia’s devastating three-and-a-half-year war against Ukraine. But Trump told the press on Friday that there would be ‘no deal until there’s a deal’. This live blog has been made freely...

Politics

2 w. ago Trump, Putin leave Ukraine war summit with no deal – as it happened

This live blog has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. New users who download our updated app get a seven-day free trial. US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin have failed to find a deal to end the Ukraine war, they said at the close of their summit at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska on Friday The summit, held on the outskirts of Anchorage, Alaska, was focused on the...

Politics

2 w. ago As Trump prepares to meet Putin, prospects for peace in Ukraine war seem slim

The stage is set for what could mark a turning point – or yet another false dawn – in efforts to end Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War II. In a dramatic escalation of diplomatic efforts to resolve the grinding Ukraine conflict, now in its fourth year, US President Donald Trump is hosting Russian President Vladimir Putin for face-to-face talks in Alaska on Friday. Security will be extraordinarily tight: airspace over the port city will be closed on Friday and Saturday and the US Secret...

Politics

2 w. ago Before meeting Putin on Ukraine, Trump says incentives do not equal reward

US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that any incentives he might offer his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to halt Moscow’s war against Ukraine should not be construed as a reward, and dodged questions about what carrots he might dangle, such as access to American rare earth resources or Nato troop reductions. “No, I don’t think it’s a reward. I think that what we have is a situation that should never have started,” Trump told reporters, when asked whether incentives for peace could...

Politics

3 w. ago China and India’s disputed border, Trump to meet Putin: 5 weekend reads

We have put together stories from our coverage last weekend to help you stay informed about news across Asia and beyond. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. China urged to monitor disputed border as India upgrades road to move tanks 2. Hong Kong Airlines alerts Korean authorities after 4 passengers clash mid-air 3. Trump says he will meet Putin in Alaska on August 15 for Ukraine talks 4. China counts down to start of work on Xinjiang-Tibet...

Politics

3 w. ago Trump says he will meet Putin in Alaska on August 15 for Ukraine talks

US President Donald Trump announced on Friday that he will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on August 15 in Alaska, after signalling that he would support an agreement on Moscow’s war against Ukraine that would involve “some swapping of territories”. “The highly anticipated meeting between myself, as President of the United States of America, and President Vladimir Putin, of Russia, will take place next Friday, August 15, 2025, in the Great State of Alaska,” Trump wrote on Truth Social,...

Politics