1 week ago How Melania is the one person who really does have Trump's ear... and why she's now determined to secure his legacy as the man who saved the world

It was billed as a triumph of diplomacy when Donald Trump yet with Vladimir Putin in Alaska. Yet, a source close to Mr Trump told the Daily Mail it was a move by Melania that turned out to be crucial.

Politics

2 w. ago Recap: Putin suggests hosting Zelensky peace meeting in Moscow during Trump phone call but offer is swiftly rejected

Presidents Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky will meet, Donald Trump has said after a White House summit with European leaders aimed at bringing an end to the Ukraine war.

Politics

2 w. ago Medvedev mocks European leaders for 'sucking up' to Trump after Zelensky's Oval Office love

Top Putin ally Dmitry Medvedev has mocked European leaders for 'sucking up' to Donald Trump and failing to 'outplay' him during the Ukraine summit in Washington. 

Politics

2 w. ago I used to run the Foreign Office. This is my advice for today’s extraordinary White House meeting

With so much at stake for Europe, the most important thing is to choose a lead speaker. I’d go with Starmer or RutteSimon McDonald was permanent secretary at the Foreign Office, 2015-2020, and is now a crossbench peerLast week’s extraordinary summit meeting in Alaska is being followed today by an even more extraordinary international conference in Washington. None of the participants knew they were going to take part two days ago. In recent decades, diplomacy has been increasingly conducted in ad hoc contact groups – but the group of seven countries (the US, Ukraine, the UK, Germany, Finland, Italy and France) and two international organisations (Nato and the EU) has never met in this way before.Officials will be preparing in the usual way, assembling briefing packs and writing talking points, aiming to please their bosses and, hopefully, allowing them to make the most effective intervention. Continue reading...

Society

2 w. ago I used to run the Foreign Office. This is my advice for today’s extraordinary White House meeting | Simon McDonald

With so much at stake for Europe, the most important thing is to choose a lead speaker. I’d go with Starmer or RutteSimon McDonald was permanent secretary at the Foreign Office, 2015-2020, and is now a crossbench peerLast week’s extraordinary summit meeting in Alaska is being followed today by an even more extraordinary international conference in Washington. None of the participants knew they were going to take part two days ago. In recent decades, diplomacy has been increasingly conducted in ad hoc contact groups – but the group of seven countries (the US, Ukraine, the UK, Germany, Finland, Italy and France) and two international organisations (Nato and the EU) has never met in this way before.Officials will be preparing in the usual way, assembling briefing packs and writing talking points, aiming to please their bosses and, hopefully, allowing them to make the most effective intervention. Continue reading...

Society

2 w. ago Is Zelensky about to walk into another White House ambush after Trump’s Putin meeting?

Trump’s problem with Zelensky is personal but, as World Affairs Editor Sam Kiley explains, he may finally understand that Ukraine cannot be handed to Putin

Politics

2 w. ago Putin demands Zelensky surrenders Donetsk region as condition for ending war in Ukraine

Details of the Russian president’s demands for Ukrainian territory come ahead of Volodymyr Zelensky’s meeting with Donald Trump in Washington on Monday

Politics

2 w. ago Putin demands Zelensky surrenders Donestsk region as condition for ending war in Ukraine

Details on Vladimir Putin’s demand for Ukrainian terriotary comes ahead of Volodymyr Zelensky meeting Donald Trump in Washington on Monday

Politics

2 w. ago Putin demands full control of Donetsk and Luhansk as condition for ending Ukraine war – live

Putin told Trump he would halt further advances and freeze Ukrainian frontline where Russian forces occupy significant areas, sources sayZelenskyy to meet Trump on Monday after Putin summit briefingUkraine’s president has said he will fly to Washington on Monday to meet Donald Trump following the Alaska summit amid speculation that the US president will ask him to cede territory to end the war.Next week’s meeting will mark the first return to the White House for Volodymyr Zelenskyy since his infamous row with Trump and the vice-president, JD Vance, in the Oval Office in February. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Trump reportedly backs Ukrainian land concession in peace plan with Putin – live

Putin in return offered ceasefire across Ukraine and written promise to not attack again, according to senior officialsZelenskyy to meet Trump on Monday after Putin summit briefingAt the Alaska summit, Putin demanded Ukraine withdraw from Donetsk and Luhansk as a condition for ending the war, but offered Trump a freeze along the remaining frontline, two sources with direct knowledge of the talks told the Guardian.Although Luhansk is almost entirely under Russian control, Ukraine still holds key parts of Donetsk, including the cities of Kramatorsk and Sloviansk and heavily fortified positions whose defence has cost tens of thousands of lives. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Trump and Putin greet with handshake at historic summit on Ukraine ceasefire deal

Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin sat with their respective delegrations in front of a blue backdrop with words ‘Pursuing Peace’

Politics

2 w. ago How Team Trump’s terrifying weaknesses play into Putin’s hands at the Alaska summit

Trump is flying to Anchorage for his meeting with Putin with a team which has no grasp on facts, or truth, and therefore no grasp on reality either, writes world affairs editor Sam Kiley

Politics

3 w. ago Ukraine believes Putin has just ‘one card left to play’ in ceasefire talks – and it gives Kyiv the upper hand

Exclusive: Ukraine and its allies believe European support and the threat of further sanctions give Kyiv the edge over Moscow – they just hope they have done enough to convince Donald Trump, writes world affairs editor Sam Kiley

Politics

3 w. ago Zelensky tells Trump that Putin is ‘bluffing’ and does not want peace ahead of crunch Ukraine summit

It has been reported that the US and Russia have discussed the Israeli occupation of Palestine as a model for a future agreement with Ukraine

Politics

3 w. ago European leaders praise positive call with Trump ahead of his meeting with Putin – Europe live

Zelenskyy accuses Putin of bluffing after a ‘united’ and ‘positive’ call between EU leaders and TrumpUkraine will not cede land that could be Russian springboard for new warWe are now getting reports via agencies that Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has now arrived in Berlin ahead of the series of calls later today.Separately, Estonia has moved to expel a Russian diplomat over alleged “direct and active” involvement in “undermining the constitutional order and legal system of Estonia.” Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Trump praises European leaders as ‘great people’ as they make final diplomatic push ahead of US

Zelenskyy will join calls with Trump and Vance in last chance to shape US position before Alaska meetingUkraine will not cede land that could be Russian springboard for new warWe are now getting reports via agencies that Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has now arrived in Berlin ahead of the series of calls later today.Separately, Estonia has moved to expel a Russian diplomat over alleged “direct and active” involvement in “undermining the constitutional order and legal system of Estonia.” Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Ukraine believes Putin has just ‘one card left to play’ in ceasefire talks – and it gives Kyiv an upper hand

Exclusive: Ukraine’s presidency thinks European support and further sanctions on Russia give it the edge over Putin - they just need to convince Donald Trump, writes world affairs editor Sam Kiley

Politics

3 w. ago Zelenskyy arrives in Berlin for calls with European leaders and Trump ahead of US

Ukrainian president will join calls with Trump and Vance in last chance to shape US position before Alaska meetingUkraine will not cede land that could be Russian springboard for new warWe are now getting reports via agencies that Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has now arrived in Berlin ahead of the series of calls later today.Separately, Estonia has moved to expel a Russian diplomat over alleged “direct and active” involvement in “undermining the constitutional order and legal system of Estonia.” Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Leaders in frantic phone diplomacy with Trump ahead of Putin summit on Ukraine – Europe live

Volodymyr Zelenskyy will join calls with Trump and Vance in last chance to shape US position before Alaska meetingUkraine will not cede land that could be Russian springboard for new warAs part of what promises to be a very busy day for diplomacy, we are also expecting to get press statements from Merz and Zelenskyy around 3pm BST (4pm CEST), after their call with Trump.So to help you plan your day, the rough timings appear to be: Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Trump’s Alaskan summit with Putin is high stakes – why is it not just a sideshow?

World affairs editor Sam Kiley looks at the art of the deal versus the art of the steal, ahead of what could be a pivotal meeting on the Ukraine war

Politics