7 h. ago Watch: Putin calls European leaders ‘little pigs’ ahead of crucial summit in Brussels

Vladimir Putin has called European leaders “little pigs” who want the collapse of Russia, ahead of a key EU summit in Brussels.

Politics

12 h. ago Russia has few legal options to challenge EU frozen asset plan

A core question for European Union leaders discussing whether to use frozen Russian assets to help Ukraine is whether the idea is legally sound

Politics

13 h. ago Kremlin envoy set to visit Miami for talks on US peace plan for Ukraine

A U.S. official says a Kremlin envoy will travel to Florida to discuss a U.S.-proposed plan to end the war in Ukraine

Politics

19 h. ago EU told to choose between ‘money today or blood tomorrow’ as leaders debate giving Russian assets to Ukraine – Europe live

European leaders meet in Brussels as Poland’s Donald Tusk issues warning to fellow EU statesGermany’s chancellor Friedrich Merz confirms his support for the EU’s reparations loan, saying he sees “no better option.”He diplomatically acknowledges Belgium’s concerns, and says he hopes “we can address them together” to “send a signal of strength and resolve towards Russia.” Continue reading...

Politics

36 h. ago Putin calls Ukraine's European ally leaders 'piglets' and warns Russia's new Oreshnik missile will be deployed within days as he appears to destroy peace deal hopes

The Russian leader accused Western politicians of plotting Russia's downfall and vowed to carry on with the war in Ukraine unless his demands are met.

Events

39 h. ago Putin calls European leaders ‘little pigs’ and says Russia will achieve Ukraine goals by diplomacy or force

Russian leader says aims of its ‘special military operation’ will be met ‘unconditionally’The last available Erasmus+ country report for the UK based on 2020 data shows that University of Glasgow, University of Bristol, and University of Edinburgh were the three top UK universities sending students abroad, with most people coming into the UK from Spain, France and Germany.Just over 16,000 European students came into the UK as part of from the scheme in 2019/2020, with almost 6,000 trainees on top of that figure. 9,800 UK students and 6,500 trainees went in the other direction, data show. Continue reading...

Politics

40 h. ago EU politicians and universities welcome UK’s decision to rejoin Erasmus as ‘big step forward’

Negotiations among EU leaders continue ahead of critical European Council meeting in Brussels on ThursdayThe last available Erasmus+ country report for the UK based on 2020 data shows that University of Glasgow, University of Bristol, and University of Edinburgh were the three top UK universities sending students abroad, with most people coming into the UK from Spain, France and Germany.Just over 16,000 European students came into the UK as part of from the scheme in 2019/2020, with almost 6,000 trainees on top of that figure. 9,800 UK students and 6,500 trainees went in the other direction, data show. Continue reading...

Politics

40 h. ago EU welcomes UK’s decision to rejoin Erasmus as ‘big step forward’

Negotiations among EU leaders continue ahead of critical European Council meeting in Brussels on ThursdayThe last available Erasmus+ country report for the UK based on 2020 data shows that University of Glasgow, University of Bristol, and University of Edinburgh were the three top UK universities sending students abroad, with most people coming into the UK from Spain, France and Germany.Just over 16,000 European students came into the UK as part of from the scheme in 2019/2020, with almost 6,000 trainees on top of that figure. 9,800 UK students and 6,500 trainees went in the other direction, data show. Continue reading...

Events

42 h. ago EU chiefs welcome UK’s decision to rejoin Erasmus as ‘big step forward’

Negotiations among EU leaders continue ahead of critical European Council meeting in Brussels on ThursdayEducation editorYoung people across the UK will be able to study or gain work experience through the EU’s Erasmus scheme for the first time since Brexit, after the government announced an agreement to rejoin at a cost of £570m. Continue reading...

Events

43 h. ago EU talks on using Russian assets to fund reparations loan for Ukraine enter final stages ahead of crunch meeting – Europe live

Negotiations among EU leaders continue ahead of critical European Council meeting in Brussels on ThursdayIf you want to test various scenarios ahead of tomorrow’s debate on Russian frozen assets, you can use this handy calculator to see what is needed to get the proposal passed under the so-called qualified majority vote, or QMV (expect to hear a lot about it in the next 48 hours).As we know, the opposition is led by Belgium and its outspoken prime minister Bart de Wever, with Bulgaria, Czech Republic, and Malta also against. Italy has some doubts too (at least for now?), and Hungary, traditionally, is against anything that would help Ukraine. Continue reading...

Politics

46 h. ago Zelensky says new ‘Trump peace plan’ will be ready in days – but Moscow is already pushing back

Zelensky left Germany armed with Nato-style security guarantees – but was still unclear on territory

Politics

51 h. ago Ukraine war briefing: Peacekeepers could repel Russian forces under ceasefire plan, says Merz

German Chancellor says this remains a far-off prospect; Zelenskyy says negotiations on peace deal could soon be finalised. What we know on day 1,393Under post-ceasefire guarantees provided by the United States and Europe to Ukraine, peacekeepers could in certain circumstances repel Russian forces, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz told ZDF public television in an interview, adding that this remained a far-off prospect. Pressed by interviewers for details on the possible security guarantees floated by the United States in Monday’s Berlin talks with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Merz said the guarantors would need to repel Russian forces should there be a violation of any ceasefire terms.“We would secure a demilitarized zone between the warring parties and, to be very specific, we would also act against corresponding Russian incursions and attacks. We’re not there yet,” he said. “The fact that the Americans have made such a commitment – to protect Ukraine in the event of a c...

Events

67 h. ago Europe awaits Russia response to Ukraine peace proposal as US positive after talks – Europe live

Moscow expecting debrief from US negotiators as minister rules out any territorial concessions by RussiaAfter positive comments from European, Ukrainian and US leaders taking part in Berlin talks, the focus now shifts to Russia as we wait for Moscow’s first reaction to some of the proposals for ending the war in Ukraine discussed last night.Deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov said this morning that Moscow had no understanding of the discussions just yet, as it awaits a debrief from the US negotiators. He also ruled out any territorial concessions by Russia. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago Allied defence ministers to meet after US offers Kyiv security guarantees

A meeting in Berlin on Monday night saw European leaders including Sir Keir Starmer set out conditions for any peace deal with Russia.

Politics

3 d. ago Europe ready to lead ‘multinational force’ in Ukraine as part of US peace plan

Proposal is part of new package of security guarantees, backed by the White House, that could mark breakthrough in reaching agreementEurope is ready to lead a “multinational force” in Ukraine as part of a US proposal for a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine, European leaders have said.In a statement, the leaders of the UK, France, Germany and eight other European countries said that troops from a “coalition of the willing” with US support could “assist in the regeneration of Ukraine’s forces, in securing Ukraine’s skies, and in supporting safer seas, including through operating inside Ukraine”. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago Keir Starmer and European leaders set out six major Ukraine peace deal commitments

It came as PM Keir Starmer Starmer travelled to Berlin on Monday evening for talks with Ukraine's war-time leader Volodymyr Zelensky and European allies over a peace deal

Politics

3 d. ago European leaders propose ‘multinational force’ and hail ‘significant progress’ on Ukraine talks – Europe live

Statement suggests force to ‘provide robust support’ and enforce a potential peace deal in UkraineSeparately, the commission’s deputy chief spokesperson Olof Gill has just confirmed that commission president Ursula von der Leyen will attend the Berlin talks this evening.Not a surprise at all, but good to have it formally confirmed. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago European leaders gather for crunch meeting on Ukraine as Zelenskyy says US talks were ‘not easy’ – Europe live

No details on any tangible compromises between US and Ukraine, with Zelenskyy ruling out territorial concessionsSeparately, the commission’s deputy chief spokesperson Olof Gill has just confirmed that commission president Ursula von der Leyen will attend the Berlin talks this evening.Not a surprise at all, but good to have it formally confirmed. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago European leaders gather in Berlin as US pushes to end Ukraine conflict

Zelenskyy to meet British, French and German leaders, with Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, also invitedEurope live – latest updatesEuropean leaders including Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron will meet Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday in a show of support hosted by the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, as the US pushes for a swift end to the war in Ukraine.The British prime minister, French president and the heads of Nato and the EU, who have criticised previous US proposals to end the Russian invasion as too favourable to Moscow, are set to convene with Zelenskyy on Monday evening at Merz’s offices in central Berlin. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago Ukraine war briefing: Britain’s spy chief to warn of Russia’s ‘expansionist threat’ as Berlin talks enter second day

MI6 chief to deliver remarks on Monday warning ‘chaos is a feature not a bug in the Russian approach’; European leaders to join day two of talks in Berlin. What we know on day 1,391The head of Britain’s foreign spy service, known as MI6, will warn that Russia poses an “aggressive, expansionist, and revisionist” threat, in her first speech since taking office. Blaise Metreweli took over from Richard Moore in October, becoming the first female chief of MI6. “[Vladimir] Putin should be in no doubt, our support is enduring. The pressure we apply on Ukraine’s behalf will be sustained,” Metreweli will say on Monday, according to advance extracts of her remarks. “The export of chaos is a feature not a bug in the Russian approach to international engagement, and we should be ready for this to continue until Putin is forced to change his calculus,” she said, according to the extract.Separately, Richard Knighton, head of Britain’s armed forces, will also call in a separate speech on Monday fo...

Events