European leaders were on the brink of a meltdown when Donald Trump slammed Ukraine and pushed a last-minute peace plan.

Politics

With a Putin-appeasing president at the helm, it is clear the transatlantic alliance is collapsing and European leaders must plot their own courseHow do I betray thee? Let me count the ways Apologies to Elizabeth Barrett Browning for mangling her celebrated poem to reflect Donald Trump’s multiple Ukraine treacheries. This most perfidious of presidents surpassed himself last week, accusing Kyiv of invading itself three years ago . “You should have never started it. You could have made a deal,” he fatuously griped.Candidate Trump, touting a just peace, pledged to end the war in a day. Now he praises Vladimir Putin, claims Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, is “a dictator” and backs a settlement on Moscow’s criminal, one-sided terms. This deranged collapse into craven capitulation, this transition from American saviour to American Judas, took less than a month. It’s contemptible. Continue reading...

Politics

Asked at CPAC if he agreed that Volodymyr Zelensky was a dictator, special envoy Rick Grenell indicated that he did - after Elon Musk accused Ukraine's president of 'sending people to the meat grinder for money'

Politics

JD Vance says Europe should not shun far-right parties. He seems to have forgotten 1933, but hits a key conundrumIn his speech last week at the Munich Security Conference, JD Vance pressed European leaders to stop excluding extremist parties from government. Alluding in particular to Germany’s neo-Nazi Alternative for Germany, or AfD, he accused European leaders of “running in fear of your own voters”. The US vice-president underscored the point by then meeting with the AfD candidate for chancellor.In his view, these extremist parties should be welcomed into the mainstream because they reflect voters’ concern about migration. He evidently was not troubled that the AfD also has a history of using Nazi rhetoric, making racist and antisemitic comments and plotting to overthrow the German government. Continue reading...

Politics

Political and military leaders in Europe are fleshing out details of a plan for European forces to help ensure Moscow does not attack Ukraine again once the guns fall silent

Politics

Vice-president also reaffirmed the administration’s Ukraine stance at largest conservative voters conferenceUS politics live – latest updatesJD Vance marked one month since the Trump administration returned to power on Thursday by again claiming uncontrolled immigration was “the greatest threat” to both Europe and the United States.The vice-president took the stage at the country’s largest conservative voters conference in National Harbor, Maryland, to double down on his criticism that stunned European leaders last week when he accused them of suppressing free speech and “running in fear” from voters’ true beliefs. Continue reading...

Events

In a matter of days, Donald Trump completed the most radical shift in US foreign policy in decades, bringing Putin back into the fold while sidelining Europe. He claims to have brought the end of the war in Ukraine in sight, but with Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the rest of Europe excluded from the US-Russia talks, are we really any closer to peace? And, at what price?Jonathan Freedland speaks to veteran US diplomat Kurt Volker, who served as Trump’s special representative for Ukraine during his first term, and the Guardian’s US live news editor Chris MichaelSend your questions and feedback to politicsweeklyamerica@theguardian.com Help support the Guardian by going to theguardian.com/politcspodus Continue reading...

Politics

Vice-president also reaffirmed the administration’s Ukraine stance at largest conservative voters conferenceUS politics live – latest updatesJD Vance marked the Trump administration’s one month since its return to power on Thursday by again claiming uncontrolled immigration was “the greatest threat” to both Europe and the United States.The vice-president took the stage at the country’s largest conservative voters conference in National Harbor, Maryland, to double down on his criticism that stunned European leaders last week when he accused them of suppressing free speech and “running in fear” from voters’ true beliefs. Continue reading...

Events

US Vice President JD Vance branded his boss the "President of peace" - but warned European leaders they will only keep America's friendship if "we take our societies in the right direction"

Events

Ukrainian president says he will meet US envoy Keith Kellogg on Thursday; UK and French leaders plan Washington visit in effort to influence US-Russia talksTrump calls Zelenskyy a dictator amid fears of irreconcilable riftLavrov also speaks about Russia’s alliances with Belarus, North Korea, China and Iran, and countries in Africa.He says the “comprehensive partnership with China” was “at an unprecedented level and exceeding any prior alliances of a classic type,” with both leaders attending important anniversaries in each other’s countries.I will tell you something that is a key issue for us at this stage of international development, and that is our move towards a multipolar world. It is a historic process, and it is to do with the subjective trend of new power centres appearing on the world map.Our partners in the Global South and in the east are unique civilisations and religions and are members of various integration associations, but all of them are united by a desire towards ...

Politics

German leader condemns US president attack as ‘wrong’ while UK and French leaders plan Washington visit in effort to influence US talks with RussiaLavrov also speaks about Russia’s alliances with Belarus, North Korea, China and Iran, and countries in Africa.He says the “comprehensive partnership with China” was “at an unprecedented level and exceeding any prior alliances of a classic type,” with both leaders attending important anniversaries in each other’s countries.I will tell you something that is a key issue for us at this stage of international development, and that is our move towards a multipolar world. It is a historic process, and it is to do with the subjective trend of new power centres appearing on the world map.Our partners in the Global South and in the east are unique civilisations and religions and are members of various integration associations, but all of them are united by a desire towards development, progressive development without external pressure At the same ...

Politics

The warnings came as Trump and Putin’s top diplomats were meeting for talks in Saudi Arabia

Politics

The warnings came as Trump and Putin’s top diplomats were meeting for talks in Saudi Arabia

Politics

The warnings came as Trump and Putin’s top diplomats were meeting for talks in Saudi Arabia

Events

In a meeting today, the London mayor will renew his backing for a UK-EU youth mobility scheme and urge closer ties between London and Brussels.

Politics

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz left a crisis summit in Paris between European leaders early and a 'little irritated' labelling the premier's calls as 'highly inappropriate'.

Events

The Prime Minister’s appeal to the US president came after European leaders gathered in Paris for emergency talks on Ukraine.

Politics

Supporters of President Donald Trump on Monday reacted to a threat from a European leader warning him that they were the ones who controlled the recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize.

Politics

British prime minister says force would need protections such as air cover that only US can provide Keir Starmer has urged Donald Trump to provide a US “backstop” to a European peacekeeping force in Ukraine, saying it is the only way to deter Russia from attacking the country again.The UK prime minister’s appeal to Trump came after an emergency summit in Paris that heard widespread calls by European leaders for a large boost in defence spending. Continue reading...

Events

Footage of UK armed forces training Ukrainian recruits has been released by NATO as European leaders gathered in Paris today (February 17) for an emergency meeting on Europe’s role in the Ukraine conflict.

Politics