5 h. ago Calls for Russia’s frozen assets held in Belgium to be used in rebuilding Ukraine

Brussels-based Euroclear holds most of Russia’s frozen assets, but some say confiscation could be ‘an act of war’The boxy glass and steel tower at a traffic-clogged junction on King Albert II Boulevard hardly stands out among the other buildings in the business district of north Brussels, the Belgian capital’s answer to Manhattan or La Défense in Paris.But unlike its neighbours, the institution housed in this bland postmodern building opposite a branch of Domino’s Pizza is caught up in a geopolitical maelstrom. It is Euroclear, a little-known body that houses most of the Russian state’s frozen assets and now finds itself in the middle of a debate about international justice. Continue reading...

Politics

39 h. ago Vladimir Putin issued peace talks warning as European foreign leaders meet in London

Ukraine's allies on Monday joined together to pile pressure on Russian President Putin, calling on him to show "without delay” he is willing to broker peace in Ukraine

Events

42 h. ago Russia is 'completely ignoring' international calls for a 30

Kyiv 's main European allies have tried to set Moscow an ultimatum to either agree to the cessation of hostilities or face 'massive' new sanctions.

Politics

63 h. ago Zelensky says he 'will be waiting' to meet Putin in Turkey in a matter of DAYS after Trump called out the Ukraine and Russia leaders online

The Ukrainian wartime leader urged for a 'full and lasting ceasefire' to start tomorrow ahead of any potential showdown in Istanbul next Thursday.

Politics

64 h. ago Russia Ukraine ceasefire 'hours away' as Zelensky makes 'personal' Putin vow

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will be waiting 'personally' for his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin after the latter called for the resumption of direct talks

Politics

3 d. ago Ukraine war live: Zelenskyy welcomes Putin calls for talks but says Russia must agree to ‘full, lasting, reliable’ ceasefire

In late-night address in Moscow, Russian president dismissed calls by European leaders for 30-day ceasefire to start on MondayVladimir Putin’s proposal for “direct talks” with Kyiv came hours after leaders from the UK, France, Germany and Poland travelled to Kyiv to meet Volodymyr Zelenskyy.As my colleague Shaun Walker notes in this story, the European leaders told the Russian president to sign up to an unconditional ceasefire by Monday or face increased sanctions and weapons transfers to Ukraine.It is a positive sign that the Russians have finally begun to consider ending the war.The entire world has been waiting for this for a very long time. And the very first step in truly ending any war is a ceasefire. There is no point in continuing the killing even for a single day. Continue reading...

Events

3 d. ago Trump hails a 'potentially great day for Russia and Ukraine' after Putin proposed peace talks following ceasefire ultimatum

Last night the Russian President called for direct talks with Ukraine in Istanbul on May 15, saying the two countries should aim to achieve 'peace'.

Politics

3 d. ago Putin calls for 'direct talks' with Ukraine to make 'lasting, strong peace' in rare late

In a rare late-night TV address on Sunday, he said Russia was proposing direct talks with Ukraine in an attempt 'to achieve the restoration of a long-term, lasting peace'.

Politics

3 d. ago Ukraine war live: European leaders tell Putin to agree to unconditional ceasefire by Monday or face ‘massive’ sanctions

European leaders, in coordination with Donald Trump, are proposing a 30-day unconditional ceasefire starting 12 MayIt is the first time the leaders of the four European nations (France, the UK, Germany and Poland) have made a joint visit to Ukraine, reports Agence France-Presse (AFP).“We are clear the bloodshed must end. Russia must stop its illegal invasion,” the leaders said in a joint statement, adding:Alongside the US, we call on Russia to agree a full and unconditional 30-day ceasefire to create the space for talks on a just and lasting peace.We will continue to increase our support for Ukraine. Until Russia agrees to an enduring ceasefire, we will ratchet up pressure on Russia’s war machine. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago Ukraine war live: Zelenskyy and European leaders hold ‘fruitful’ phone call with Trump

Keir Starmer, Emmanuel Macron, Friedrich Merz and Donald Tusk are in Ukraine for talks with ZelenskyyIt is the first time the leaders of the four European nations (France, the UK, Germany and Poland) have made a joint visit to Ukraine, reports Agence France-Presse (AFP).“We are clear the bloodshed must end. Russia must stop its illegal invasion,” the leaders said in a joint statement, adding:Alongside the US, we call on Russia to agree a full and unconditional 30-day ceasefire to create the space for talks on a just and lasting peace.We will continue to increase our support for Ukraine. Until Russia agrees to an enduring ceasefire, we will ratchet up pressure on Russia’s war machine. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago Ukraine war live: Zelenskyy and European leaders hold ‘fruitful’ phone talk with Trump

Keir Starmer, Emmanuel Macron, Friedrich Merz and Donald Tusk are in Ukraine for talks with ZelenskyyIt is the first time the leaders of the four European nations (France, the UK, Germany and Poland) have made a joint visit to Ukraine, reports Agence France-Presse (AFP).“We are clear the bloodshed must end. Russia must stop its illegal invasion,” the leaders said in a joint statement, adding:Alongside the US, we call on Russia to agree a full and unconditional 30-day ceasefire to create the space for talks on a just and lasting peace.We will continue to increase our support for Ukraine. Until Russia agrees to an enduring ceasefire, we will ratchet up pressure on Russia’s war machine. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago Ukraine war live: Macron calls for ‘direct talks’ between Russia and Ukraine as European leaders arrive in Kyiv

Keir Starmer, Emmanuel Macron, Friedrich Merz and Donald Tusk are in Ukraine for talks with ZelenskyyIt is the first time the leaders of the four European nations (France, the UK, Germany and Poland) have made a joint visit to Ukraine, reports Agence France-Presse (AFP).“We are clear the bloodshed must end. Russia must stop its illegal invasion,” the leaders said in a joint statement, adding:Alongside the US, we call on Russia to agree a full and unconditional 30-day ceasefire to create the space for talks on a just and lasting peace.We will continue to increase our support for Ukraine. Until Russia agrees to an enduring ceasefire, we will ratchet up pressure on Russia’s war machine. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago Watch: Keir Starmer arrives in Kyiv for historic joint visit with global leaders

Watch the moment the UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrived in Kyiv alongside the leaders of France, Germany, and Poland—the first time leaders from all four nations have travelled to Ukraine together. Their historic visit marks a unified call for peace as the war continues.

Politics

4 d. ago Starmer joins European leaders in Ukraine for ‘coalition of willing’ talks

The leaders have called on Russia to ‘stop obstructing efforts’ to secure a peace deal.

Politics

4 d. ago Giro d’Italia: Pedersen wins but Landa crashes out on opening stage in Tirana

Danish rider holds off Van Aert in bunch sprint to lineMikel Landa abandons race after crash late in stageDenmark’s former world champion Mads Pedersen edged out Wout van Aert in a bunch sprint to win the opening stage of the Giro d’Italia in Tirana, but Mikel Landa was forced to abandon the race after a crash five kilometres from the finish.Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) was positioned perfectly by his teammates for the climax in the Albanian capital and held off Belgium’s Van Aert to become the first rider this year – and the first Dane – to wear the overall leader’s pink jersey. Venezuela’s Orluis Aular (Movistar) was third across the line. Continue reading...

Events

6 d. ago Ukraine war briefing: Period of Putin’s ‘ceasefire’ for Victory Day begins

Kremlin jams internet as it seeks to protect visiting foreign leaders; Ukraine’s SBU says drones hit Russian arms factories. What we know on day 1,170 The period of an unagreed ceasefire called for by Vladimir Putin began on Thursday morning as the Russian president seeks cover for Victory Day events. Ukraine has dismissed it as a “game” designed to protect Putin’s parade rather than a genuine step towards peace. Foreign leaders including China’s Xi Jinping are visiting the Russian capital for Victory Day celebrations. Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine’s president, has offered a 30-day ceasefire as suggested in US-brokered talks, but the Kremlin has refused.The Kremlin was forced on Wednesday to say it was taking “all necessary measures” to ensure the safety of foreign leaders due to attend its flagship 9 May parade after days of Ukrainian drone attacks closed airports across Russia, disrupting about 350 flights due to carry about 60,000 people. The Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov sai...

Events

9 d. ago Terrorists and criminals misusing ‘dark’ drones could cause carnage, expert warns

As Ukraine and Russia develop technology resistant to being jammed, pilot calls for world leaders to step up defences

Events

1 week ago ‘These people are disposable’: how Russia is using online recruits for a campaign of sabotage in Europe

Moscow’s intelligence services have launched a new type of attack on the west, violent but piecemeal and hard to proveSerhiy was just about to board a coach bound for Germany when Polish security services detained him at the bus station in the city of Wrocław.In his backpack, the officers found firelighter cubes, a juice bottle filled with paraffin, a lighter, two pocket knives, a mini handsaw and a face mask. Later, when they searched the mobile phone of the 49-year-old Ukrainian refugee, they found a pdf of a Russian-language book called Modern Pyrotechnics. It contained detailed instructions on how to start fires and detonate explosives. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Ukraine war briefing: Maritime drone shoots down Russian fighter jet for first time, says Kyiv

Ukrainian military intelligence claims Su-30 destroyed over waters near Russian port city of Novorossiisk, drawing no comment from Moscow. What we know on day 1,166See all our Ukraine war coverageUkraine has destroyed a Russian Su-30 fighter jet using a missile fired from a seaborne drone, according to Ukraine’s military intelligence agency, in what it said was the world’s first downing of a combat plane by a maritime drone. The GUR’s statement on social media on Saturday said the fighter had been shot down by a military intelligence unit called Group 13 on Friday over waters near Novorossiisk, a major Russian port city on the Black Sea. The Russian defence ministry did not comment on the Ukrainian claim, but an authoritative Russian blogger believed to be close to the ministry said the jet had been shot down. “The pilots ejected and were picked up by civilian sailors,” the blogger, who goes by the name Rybar, said on Telegram. Meanwhile, the mayor of Novorossiisk declared a state o...

Events

1 week ago ‘I was thrilled when they put me in solitary’: Pussy Riot’s Nadya on Putin, joining OnlyFans and turning her prison cell into art

The artist spent time at a penal colony for her work – and has channelled the trauma into a stark new show. Despite being on Russia’s ‘wanted’ list, she remains hopeful for the futureTen minutes into our interview, Nadya Tolokonnikova ducks to fetch a piece of paper from the floor and I find myself looking at something unexpected behind her. Next to a double bed, two crucifixes hang on the wall. Given the Siberia-born artist is best known for a performance piece that so offended the head of the Russian Orthodox church that he called it blasphemy, the discovery of such devotional regalia comes as a surprise. It certainly doesn’t suggest “religious hatred”, which is what a Moscow court said in 2012 motivated Tolokonnikova’s group Pussy Riot to perform a “punk prayer” in the city’s Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, before sentencing her to two years imprisonment. Nor does it smack of someone bent on hurting the “religious feelings of believers” – the charge under which Tolokonnikova was...

Events