7 h. ago Starmer warns allies must speed up use of frozen Russian assets to fund weapons for Ukraine as Zelensky warns Putin's brutal attacks are creating a 'humanitarian disaster'

Sir Keir said allies should step up the provision of weapons as winter approaches and its energy infrastructure remains under threat from attacks by Moscow.

Events

10 h. ago Keir Starmer urges allies to 'finish the job' on using frozen Russian assets to strengthen Ukraine's defences

The Prime Minister also labelled Vladimir Putin's 'ludicrous demands' for Ukrainian land as 'a non-starter' as he led a meeting of the so-called 'Coalition of the Willing' in London today.

Politics

10 h. ago Kyiv's allies say frozen Russian assets should be quickly used to aid Ukraine

Kyiv's allies say frozen Russian assets should be quickly used to aid Ukraine  Reuters

Politics

16 h. ago Zelenskyy at Downing Street for talks with Starmer and ‘coalition of willing’ after meeting King Charles – Europe live

Volodymyr Zelenskyy set to press case for using frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine’s defencesA forthcoming trip by German foreign minister, Johann Wadephul, to China has been cancelled amid growing fears that Beijing’s restriction on semiconductor and rare earth exports could paralyse the country’s car industry.“We are postponing the journey to a later time,” the spokesperson told a regular press briefing on Friday. “The Chinese side was ultimately able to confirm only the appointment with the Chinese foreign minister, and could not confirm any other additional appointments,” a foreign ministry spokesperson said. Continue reading...

Politics

17 h. ago Zelenskyy meets King Charles before discussion with Starmer and ‘coalition of the willing’ over military support – Europe live

King Charles hosts Volodymyr Zelenskyy at Windsor Castle before meeting to consider using frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine’s defencesA forthcoming trip by German foreign minister, Johann Wadephul, to China has been cancelled amid growing fears that Beijing’s restriction on semiconductor and rare earth exports could paralyse the country’s car industry.“We are postponing the journey to a later time,” the spokesperson told a regular press briefing on Friday. “The Chinese side was ultimately able to confirm only the appointment with the Chinese foreign minister, and could not confirm any other additional appointments,” a foreign ministry spokesperson said. Continue reading...

Events

29 h. ago EU leaders stall €140bn Ukraine loan using frozen Russian assets

Belgium resists plan fearing retaliation by Moscow over assets immobilised on its soil

Politics

32 h. ago EU leaders fail to back €140bn loan for Ukraine using frozen Russian assets

Belgium resists plan fearing retaliation by Moscow over assets immobilised on its soil

Politics

35 h. ago Putin says he will never bow to US but concedes sanctions may cause ‘some losses’

China and India likely to scale back Russian oil imports as Trump tries to bring an end to war in UkraineVladimir Putin has said Russia will never bow to US pressure but conceded new sanctions could cause some economic pain, as China and India were reported to be scaling back Russian oil imports after Washington targeted Moscow’s two largest producers.The US on Wednesday imposed sanctions on Rosneft and Lukoil, as well as nearly three dozen of their subsidiaries, as the Trump administration increased pressure on the Kremlin to negotiate an end to its war against Ukraine. The EU separately discussed a loan for Ukraine secured on frozen Russian assets and agreed to a phased ban on the import of Russian liquefied natural gas. Continue reading...

Politics

36 h. ago Putin calls new US sanctions an ‘unfriendly act’ but claims they won’t affect Russian economy – Europe live

Russian president says Moscow will deliver ‘overhwleming’ response to strrikes inside RussiaThe Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, urged European Union leaders on Thursday to agree as soon as possible on a plan to use frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine.Zelenskyy, who is visiting Brussels, said on X that the proposed mechanism for using frozen Russian assets was entirely legal and fair. He said Ukraine would use a significant part of the assets to buy weapons from its European allies. Continue reading...

Politics

40 h. ago King Charles becomes first British monarch to pray publicly with pope in 500 years – Europe live

King and pontiff took part in joint worship in Sistine Chapel during Charles’s visit to Vatican with CamillaThe Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, urged European Union leaders on Thursday to agree as soon as possible on a plan to use frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine.Zelenskyy, who is visiting Brussels, said on X that the proposed mechanism for using frozen Russian assets was entirely legal and fair. He said Ukraine would use a significant part of the assets to buy weapons from its European allies. Continue reading...

Politics

40 h. ago King Charles becomes first British monarch to pray with pope in 500 years – Europe live

King and pontiff took part in joint worship in Sistine Chapel during Charles’s visit to Vatican with CamillaThe Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, urged European Union leaders on Thursday to agree as soon as possible on a plan to use frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine.Zelenskyy, who is visiting Brussels, said on X that the proposed mechanism for using frozen Russian assets was entirely legal and fair. He said Ukraine would use a significant part of the assets to buy weapons from its European allies. Continue reading...

Politics

43 h. ago Belgium demands change in plan to use frozen Russian assets for Ukraine

The European Union’s executive branch has been developing a plan to use Russia’s frozen assets as collateral to drum up funds

Politics

3 d. ago Kyiv and European allies prepare Russia peace plan to keep Trump onside

Measures to be discussed on Friday follow Ukraine’s insistence that talks to end war should be based on current frontline

Politics

4 d. ago Europeans rush to Zelenskyy’s defence after tense Trump meeting

EU seeks to secure deal on frozen Russian assets and more sanctions on Moscow to show support for Ukraine

Politics

4 d. ago Zelenskyy calls for more US Patriot air defences after Trump again sides with Putin

Ukrainian president ready to join Putin-Trump summit and asks for additional anti-missile batteries, paid for with frozen Russian assetsTrump suggests carving up Ukraine’s Donbas region to end war after meeting with ZelenskyyVolodymyr Zelenskyy has called for the delivery of an additional 25 US Patriot anti-missile batteries amid the rapidly escalating air war with Russia, as it became clear that Donald Trump had once again tacked sharply towards Moscow.The Ukrainian president added that he would be ready to join Vladimir Putin and Trump at their summit in Hungary if he was invited. Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago European leaders near deal to use frozen Russian assets for Ukraine

Plans to secure loan with Russian funds ‘moving to happy resolution’, says Polish foreign ministerEuropean leaders, including in the UK, are increasingly confident a proposal to lend Ukraine €140bn (£159bn) secured on frozen Russian central bank deposits can be agreed by the end of the year, in a move deemed critical for Kyiv to maintain its defence effort.Proposals from the European Commission were discussed at a meeting of G7 finance ministers in Washington last week and will be debated at an EU leaders summit on Thursday in Brussels. US participation remains uncertain. Continue reading...

Politics

9 d. ago The Guardian view on EU accession for Ukraine: Orbán must not be allowed to call the tune | Editorial

In a critical phase, Brussels should find a way to bypass Hungary’s prime minister in the interests of European solidarityHosting European Union leaders in Copenhagen earlier this month, the Danish prime minister, Mette Frederiksen, described Europe as facing “the most difficult and dangerous situation since the second world war”. There have been other moments of high tension, such as during the 1980s when US cruise missiles were deployed in Germany in response to an escalating arms race with the Soviet Union. From next year, long-range missiles will be back on German soil, amid fears that recent Russian incursions into EU airspace herald a new and ominous phase of the war in Ukraine.As Donald Trump’s US continues to carry the status of an unreliable ally, European unity, cohesion and solidarity are of critical importance. But little of substance emerged from the Copenhagen talks. Disagreement persists, for example, over the advisability of leveraging €140bn of frozen Russian assets...

Politics

1 week ago Ukraine war briefing: Moscow voices ‘extreme concern’ at Trump threat to send Tomohawk missiles to Kyiv

US president says he may warn Russian counterpart ‘look, if this war is not going to get settled, I’m going to send them Tomahawks’. What we know on day 1,328Donald Trump has threatened to send longe-range Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine if Vladimir Putin does not end his invasion. “I might talk to him [Putin]. I might say, ‘look, if this war is not going to get settled, I’m going to send them Tomahawks,’” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on his way to the Middle East. The US president said Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy had asked for Tomahawks in a call on Saturday when they were discussing a fresh supply of weapons for Kyiv. “Tomahawks are a new step of aggression,” added Trump. “Do they [Russian forces] want to have Tomahawks going in their direction? I don’t think so.” Trump has been mulling potential supplies of the long-range missiles to Kyiv via European allies ever since his meeting with Putin in Alaska in August failed to produce a peace deal. Putin has pre...

Events

1 week ago Ukraine war briefing: Moscow voices ‘extreme concern’ at Trump threat to send Tomahawk missiles to Kyiv

US president says he may warn Russian counterpart ‘look, if this war is not going to get settled, I’m going to send them Tomahawks’. What we know on day 1,328Donald Trump has threatened to send longe-range Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine if Vladimir Putin does not end his invasion. “I might talk to him [Putin]. I might say, ‘look, if this war is not going to get settled, I’m going to send them Tomahawks,’” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on his way to the Middle East. The US president said Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy had asked for Tomahawks in a call on Saturday when they were discussing a fresh supply of weapons for Kyiv. “Tomahawks are a new step of aggression,” added Trump. “Do they [Russian forces] want to have Tomahawks going in their direction? I don’t think so.” Trump has been mulling potential supplies of the long-range missiles to Kyiv via European allies ever since his meeting with Putin in Alaska in August failed to produce a peace deal. Putin has pre...

Events

1 week ago ‘Our job is to maximise their losses’: how Ukraine’s forces attempt to claw back against Russian advances

Along Donetsk’s frontline, a small counteroffensive by Ukrainian troops aims to help change perceptions about the war among Kyiv’s western alliesAs Donald Trump prepared to meet Vladimir Putin in Alaska in August, Russia launched an offensive in eastern Ukraine. Small groups of soldiers pushed forward near Dobropillia and, meeting little resistance, they advanced 15 to 20 km and seized a chain of villages.It is a small pocket of land, but one that has driven perceptions of the war in the last months. At the time of the Alaska summit, it was seen as proof that Russia had momentum; as Ukraine had taken back territory – albeit in the context of Russian advances elsewhere – it may have contributed to Trump’s dismissive assessment of Moscow’s military as a “paper tiger”. Continue reading...

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