16 h. ago Russian general killed after car blast as Ukraine peace talks could be scuppered

Yaroslav Moskalik, 59, was blown several metres through the air when a Volkswagen Golf exploded as the Russian army general walked by near his home in Moscow as a top US diplomat landed for talks

Events

17 h. ago Trump envoy meets Putin hours after Moscow killing of Russian general

Russian official calls talks with Steve Witkoff ‘quite useful’ as investigation launched into suspected Ukrainian bombingDonald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff has met Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin for high-stakes peace talks, hours after a senior Russian military official was killed in a car explosion near Moscow.Trump has played up Witkoff’s visit – his fourth to Russia in recent months – claiming a deal on ending the war in Ukraine was within reach. “The next few days are going to be very important. Meetings are taking place right now,” Trump told reporters on Thursday. “I think we’re going to make a deal I think we’re getting very close.” Continue reading...

Politics

19 h. ago In Kyiv, we don’t believe in the fantasy of Trump's ‘peace deal’. Our reality is more dead civilians | Nataliya Gumenyuk

At the scene of the deadliest attack on our capital this year, I see the war on Ukraine is still very real – and Putin shows no signs of ending itWar teaches you to believe only in what happens, rather than what is merely said or promised. A day after the “peace talks” in London, which the US secretary of state Marco Rubio didn’t even turn up for, Ukrainians were not anxiously waiting for the results of a possible deal, which looked unfeasible anyway. Instead, they were counting their dead.According to Ukraine’s air force, in the early hours of Thursday morning Russia launched 11 Iskander ballistic missiles, 37 KH-101 cruise missiles, six Iskander-K cruise missiles, 12 Kalibr cruise missiles, 4 KH-59/KH-69 missiles and 145 drones. For Kyiv and Kharkiv residents that night, this was not just a case of reading numbers on a news feed, but hearing and feeling explosions rock their cities. It turned out to be the deadliest night for the Ukrainian capital this year.Nataliya Gumenyuk is a ...

Politics

20 h. ago Putin and Witkoff meet in Kremlin after car bomb kills Russian general near Moscow – Europe live

US envoy and Russian leader hold planned meeting following the death of Lt Gen Yaroslav Moskalik in BalashikhaPjotr Sauer is a Russian affairs reporter for the GuardianA senior Russian military official was killed in a car explosion near Moscow on Friday, just hours before a Kremlin meeting between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff. Continue reading...

Events

24 h. ago Ukrainian and European peace deal counterproposals to US at talks in London

Ukrainian and European peace deal counterproposals to US at talks in London  Reuters

Economics

26 h. ago Steve Witkoff arrives in Moscow for further talks with Russia about Ukraine peace plan – Europe live

US peace envoy to meet Vladimir Putin to discuss Donald Trump’s peace plan for Ukraine ahead of US president’s 100 days in office next weekAnd the Interfax news agency has now reported that Steve Witkoff arrived in Moscow, where he is expected to meet Vladimir Putin.Reuters noted that Witkoff has emerged as Washington’s key interlocutor with Putin as Trump pushes for a deal to end the war in Ukraine, and has already held three long meetings with the Kremlin leader. Continue reading...

Politics

41 h. ago Donald Trump sets 'own deadline' for Russia and Ukraine peace talks after 'waiting a long time'

It appears US president Donald Trump is growing impatient with peace talks currently taking place between Russia and Ukraine, with Trump now setting his own deadline for the two nations

Politics

42 h. ago ‘Vladimir, stop!’: Trump criticises Putin as Starmer and von der Leyen warn over Russian energy ‘blackmail’ – Europe live

US president says he is ‘not happy’ over Kyiv attack as death toll rises to 12 with 90 people injuredWe understand that while the visit will be cut short after Zelenskyy’s meeting with Ramaphosa, their media activities will still proceed, meaning we should hear from the Ukrainian president in the next few hours.Rachel and I will keep an eye on this development to see if Zelenskyy takes part in a scheduled press conference in Pretoria in case he wants to say more about the attacks overnight. Continue reading...

Events

45 h. ago ‘Vladimir, stop!’ Trump criticises Putin over attack on Kyiv – Europe live

US president says he is ‘not happy’ with Russian attack and criticises the ‘very bad timing’ We understand that while the visit will be cut short after Zelenskyy’s meeting with Ramaphosa, their media activities will still proceed, meaning we should hear from the Ukrainian president in the next few hours.Rachel and I will keep an eye on this development to see if Zelenskyy takes part in a scheduled press conference in Pretoria in case he wants to say more about the attacks overnight. Continue reading...

Politics

45 h. ago Ukraine's Zelenskyy says London peace talks were not easy but were 'constructive'

Ukraine's Zelenskyy says London peace talks were not easy but were 'constructive'  Deccan Herald

Politics

45 h. ago Zelenskyy calls for more ceasefire pressure on Russia after ‘massive’ Kyiv attack – Europe live

Ukrainian president says his country, unlike Moscow, has agreed to ceasefire demands and calls on US to play a greater role in guaranteeing peaceWe understand that while the visit will be cut short after Zelenskyy’s meeting with Ramaphosa, their media activities will still proceed, meaning we should hear from the Ukrainian president in the next few hours.Rachel and I will keep an eye on this development to see if Zelenskyy takes part in a scheduled press conference in Pretoria in case he wants to say more about the attacks overnight. Continue reading...

Events

48 h. ago DRC government and M23 agree to halt fighting and work towards truce

Both sides say they have resolved to end conflict through peaceful means after ‘frank’ talks facilitated by QatarThe Democratic Republic of the Congo and a coalition of militias including the Rwanda-backed M23 have agreed to work towards a truce to end the fighting that has engulfed the eastern part of the country since January.In similarly worded statements released on Wednesday night, the government and Alliance Fleuve Congo (Congo River Alliance) said their representatives had held talks facilitated by Qatar and resolved to end the conflict through peaceful means. Continue reading...

Politics

49 h. ago Zelenskyy to cut South Africa trip short after ‘massive’ attack on Kyiv – Europe live

Children among nine dead and at least 70 wounded by Russian attack, Ukraine saysWe understand that while the visit will be cut short after Zelenskyy’s meeting with Ramaphosa, their media activities will still proceed, meaning we should hear from the Ukrainian president in the next few hours.Rachel and I will keep an eye on this development to see if Zelenskyy takes part in a scheduled press conference in Pretoria in case he wants to say more about the attacks overnight. Continue reading...

Events

49 h. ago DRC government and M23 make surprise truce to end fighting in east of country

The two sides agree to work towards permanent peace after Qatar-mediated talks and are expected to return to Doha in coming weeksThe Democratic Republic of Congo’s government and the Rwandan-backed M23 group have issued a landmark joint statement saying they have agreed to halt fighting in the east of the country while they work towards a permanent truce.The surprise announcement follows talks mediated by Qatar. The two sides said they had “agreed to work towards the conclusion of a truce” in the conflict in which the M23 has seized key cities in the violence-battered region. Continue reading...

Politics

49 h. ago ‘Massive’ Russian attack on Kyiv kills nine and wounds 70 as Trump criticises Zelenskyy over peace talks – Europe live

Attack on Kyiv comes hours after Donald Trump accused his Ukrainian counterpart of being ‘harder’ to deal with than PutinWe understand that while the visit will be cut short after Zelenskyy’s meeting with Ramaphosa, their media activities will still proceed, meaning we should hear from the Ukrainian president in the next few hours.Rachel and I will keep an eye on this development to see if Zelenskyy takes part in a scheduled press conference in Pretoria in case he wants to say more about the attacks overnight. Continue reading...

Events

50 h. ago Trump complains Zelensky harder to deal with than Russia in peace talks

Donald Trump complained that Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been harder to deal with than Russia as he lashed out at Ukraine's president on Wednesday, 23 April.

Politics

57 h. ago Ukraine war briefing: Zelenskyy reposts US missive from first Trump term that Crimea is Ukrainian

Casualities as Russian missiles hit Kyiv and Kharkiv; strike damages Shahed factory in Tatarstan, says Ukrainian military. What we know on day 1,156Europe live: latest news updates on Ukraine and moreVolodymyr Zelenskyy said on Wednesday that peace talks in London had been marked by “emotions” and pledged that Ukraine would abide by its constitution, which he has previously pointed out forbids surrendering territory such as Crimea. “Emotions have run high today. But it is good that five countries met to bring peace closer,” the Ukrainian president posted. “The American side shared its vision. Ukraine and other Europeans presented their inputs. And we hope that it is exactly such joint work that will lead to lasting peace.”Zelenskyy posted a 2018 Crimea Declaration from Mike Pompeo, secretary of state during Donald Trump’s his first term, which said: “The United States rejects Russia’s attempted annexation of Crimea and pledges to maintain this policy until Ukraine’s territorial inte...

Events

60 h. ago 'It's time to move forward,' Kellogg says following London peace talks.

'It's time to move forward,' Kellogg says following London peace talks.  The Kyiv Independent

Events

60 h. ago US Secy of State skips key London meet, Ukraine peace talks come to standstill

US Secy of State skips key London meet, Ukraine peace talks come to standstill  The Tribune

Politics

61 h. ago London talks end without Ukraine peace deal as Zelensky says 'emotions have run high'

London talks end without Ukraine peace deal as Zelensky says 'emotions have run high'  New York Post

Economics