4 d. ago Putin says western troops in Ukraine would be ‘legitimate targets’ as European countries pledge security support – Europe live

Macron says 26 nations have offered security guarantees for Ukraine as Zelenskyy meets Slovakia’s Fico amid tension over Russian energy suppliesMacron says 26 countries ready to supply postwar military backing for UkraineHere is the full quote from the Kremlin’s spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, via Reuters.“I have no doubt that if the presidents consider it necessary, their meeting can be organised very quickly. Just as the meeting in Alaska was quickly organised,” Peskov told the Russian news outlet Argumenty i Fakty, referring to last month’s Trump-Putin summit. Continue reading...

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5 d. ago Macron says ‘Coalition of the Willing’ will finalise ‘robust’ Ukrainian security guarantees – Europe live

Leaders who are gathered in Paris are expected to speak to Donald Trump this afternoonThe Dutch prime minister Dick Schoof is next.Belgium’s Bart de Wever, Finland’s Alexander Stubb, and the EU’s Ursula von der Leyen and António Costa are the first leaders arriving at the Élysée Palace, welcomed by Macron on the doorstep. Continue reading...

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5 d. ago Leaders gather for ‘Coalition of the Willing’ talks on Ukraine security guarantees – Europe live

Emmanuel Macron says Europe ready to provide such guarantees at meeting in Paris todayRutte gets also asked about his views on Russia’s opposition to the deployment of any Nato troops to Ukraine as part of security guarantees.He says:“But why are we interested in what Russia thinks about troops in Ukraine? It’s a sovereign country. It’s not for them to decide. Russia has nothing to do with this. Ukraine is a sovereign nation. If Ukraine wants to have security guarantee forces in Ukraine to support the peace deal, it’s up to them. Nobody else can decide about it. “Do you really think if he would not have been elected president united states, that Italy, Canada, Spain, Slovenia, Belgium and Luxembourg would have committed to do 2% this year? Do you really think that the whole of Nato would have committed to 5% committed to 5% including 3.5% core defence spending at the Nato Summit in The Hague?”“He took that leadership role, and it is not easy to solve this, but he is absolutely commi...

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5 d. ago Trump says ‘you’ll see things happen’ if US is unhappy with Putin’s decisions – Europe live

Trump makes comments while meeting Polish president Karol Nawrocki after Putin warns Russia will use ‘military means’ to achieve objectives if diplomacy failsPutin was also asked about the prospect of more EU sanctions against Russia or its allies, including China and India.He said the leaders did not discuss this during their recent conversations.“I think there’s a light at the end of the tunnel. We will see.Otherwise, we will be forced to resolve all our objective objectives through military means.” Continue reading...

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6 d. ago ‘Let him come to Moscow,’ Putin says about peace talks with Zelenskyy – Europe live

Russian president questions legitimacy of Ukrainian government as Zelenskyy ramps up diplomatic efforts in Denmark and Polish president prepares to meet Donald TrumpPutin was also asked about the prospect of more EU sanctions against Russia or its allies, including China and India.He said the leaders did not discuss this during their recent conversations.“I think there’s a light at the end of the tunnel. We will see.Otherwise, we will be forced to resolve all our objective objectives through military means.” Continue reading...

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7 d. ago Europe live: Putin claims he never opposed EU membership for Ukraine but draws line at Nato

Russian leader, continuing China visit, is joined by Slovakia’s Robert FicoOver in Beijing, Russia’s Vladimir Putin has met with Slovak prime minister Robert Fico, with the pair giving brief statements to the media in the last few minutes.In his remarks, Putin said that that Moscow had never opposed Ukraine’s potential membership of the European Union, and dismissed claims that Moscow was somehow planning to attack Europe. Continue reading...

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7 d. ago Europe live: US treasury secretary indicates growing frustration with Putin over Ukraine

Scott Bessent says ‘all options on the table’ and condemns ‘despicable’ increase in attacks as Russian leader receives warm welcome in Chinain BrusselsBelgium will recognise a Palestinian state at the UN general assembly, adding to the growing number of countries seeking to put pressure on Israel and keep alive a two-state solution to end the conflict.“In view of the humanitarian tragedy playing out in Palestine and particularly in Gaza, and in the face of the violence perpetrated by Israel in violation of international law, given its international obligations, including the duty to prevent any risk of genocide, Belgium had to take strong decisions to increase pressure on the Israeli government and the Hamas terrorists.” Continue reading...

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8 d. ago ‘Coalition of the willing’ to meet on Thursday, Élysée confirms – Europe live

Meeting, co-chaired by France’s Emmanuel Macron and UK’s Keir Starmer, will focus on security guarantees for Ukraine and response to Russia’s refusal to end warEU transport spokesperson Anna-Kaisa Itkonen also offered a bit more detail on the issue of GPS jamming and its impact on operations.She said:“Generally, we have been seeing a quite a lot of such jamming and spoofing activities, notably in the eastern flank of Europe.Europe is the most concerned region in the or most affected region globally, on this.“We are, of course, aware and used to somehow to the threats and intimidations that are [a] regular component of Russia’s hostile behaviour.Of course, this will only reinforce even further our unshakable commitment to ramp up defence capabilities and support for Ukraine.”“This incident actually underlines the urgency of the mission that the President is carrying out in the frontline member states.” Continue reading...

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8 d. ago Russian interference suspected after Von der Leyen’s plane hit by GPS jamming over weekend – Europe live

Plane landed safely in Bulgaria but authorities suspect jamming due to ‘blatant interference from Russia’, says European Commission spokespersonEU transport spokesperson Anna-Kaisa Itkonen also offered a bit more detail on the issue of GPS jamming and its impact on operations.She said:“Generally, we have been seeing a quite a lot of such jamming and spoofing activities, notably in the eastern flank of Europe.Europe is the most concerned region in the or most affected region globally, on this.“We are, of course, aware and used to somehow to the threats and intimidations that are [a] regular component of Russia’s hostile behaviour.Of course, this will only reinforce even further our unshakable commitment to ramp up defence capabilities and support for Ukraine.”“This incident actually underlines the urgency of the mission that the President is carrying out in the frontline member states.” Continue reading...

Events

8 d. ago Von der Leyen’s plane affected by GPS jamming over weekend, says European Commission – Europe live

Plane landed safely in Bulgaria but authorities suspect jamming due to ‘blatant interference from Russia’, says European Commission spokespersonEU transport spokesperson Anna-Kaisa Itkonen also offered a bit more detail on the issue of GPS jamming and its impact on operations.She said:“Generally, we have been seeing a quite a lot of such jamming and spoofing activities, notably in the eastern flank of Europe.Europe is the most concerned region in the or most affected region globally, on this.“We are, of course, aware and used to somehow to the threats and intimidations that are [a] regular component of Russia’s hostile behaviour.Of course, this will only reinforce even further our unshakable commitment to ramp up defence capabilities and support for Ukraine.”“This incident actually underlines the urgency of the mission that the President is carrying out in the frontline member states.” Continue reading...

Events

9 d. ago Vladimir Putin meets Xi Jinping arrives in China for security summit – Ukraine war live

Russian president and his Chinese counterpart shake hands as more than 20 world leaders attend Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in TianjinFollowing a meeting with Ukraine’s top general, Oleksandr Syrsky, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that his country’s forces are planning new strikes deep into Russia.In a post on X, the Ukrainian leader wrote:We analysed in detail the situation in the Zaporizhzhia direction and the enemy’s intentions. Also the situation in the border areas of the Sumy and Kharkiv regions.We will continue our active operations in exactly the way needed for Ukraine’s defence. The forces and resources are prepared. New deep strikes have also been planned. Continue reading...

Politics

9 d. ago Vladimir Putin arrives in China for security summit – Ukraine war live

Russian president and Indian prime minister among more than 20 world leaders attending Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in TianjinThe Guardian’s Russian affairs reporter, Pjotr Sauer, has written a piece about Putin’s trip and what it may mean for the war in Ukraine. Here is an extract of his story:Key on the agenda, analysts say, will be for Putin and Xi to align their positions on the war in Ukraine amid US efforts to end the fighting. “It is an important time for them to talk about where the war is headed and how likely it is to be stopped in the near future,” said Alexander Gabuev, the director of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Centre.Gabuev said Moscow wanted to know whether it could expect any further assistance from China and how Beijing would respond if the US were to ask it to put pressure on Russia to end the fighting Continue reading...

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9 d. ago Trump suggests Putin and Zelensky 'may have to fight longer' before talks can happen as he casts doubt on peace progress

Trump conducted high stakes meetings with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as he seeks to restore peace to the region.

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1 week ago Ukrainian lawmaker shot dead in Lviv as Zelenskyy says hunt for killer is under way – Europe live

Volodymyr Zelenskyy says one person dead and dozens injured after five-story residential block attackedAndrii Parubii, a Ukrainian politician who previously served as the parliament speaker, has been shot dead in western city of Lviv, say officials.Confirming the news, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote on X:Ukraine’s minister of internal affairs Ihor Klymenko and prosecutor general Ruslan Kravchenko have just reported the first known circumstances of the horrendous murder in Lviv. Andriy Parubiy was killed.My condolences to his family and loved ones. All necessary forces and means are engaged in the investigation and search for the killer. Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago EU accuses Putin of undermining peace talks after deadly strikes on Kyiv

All member states except Hungary back statement saying Russian ‘war crimes’ only increase EU support for UkraineEurope live – latest updatesEuropean leaders have accused Vladimir Putin of undermining peace talks, after Russian missile strikes on Kyiv this week killed at least 23 people and damaged diplomatic buildings, including EU and British Council offices.A day of mourning was observed in Kyiv on Friday, after the Russian air attack the day before that killed 23 people, including at least four children. Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said eight people were still missing and 53 had been injured. “When instead of diplomacy, Russia chooses ballistics the world must respond accordingly,” he said, urging western allies to impose further sanctions. Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago All but one EU states demand Russia ‘stop the killing’ in Ukraine as Zelenskyy urges Monday deadline for Putin meeting – Europe live

EU member states, except Hungary, sign joint statement calling out Russia’s disregard for international lawEuropean Commission president Ursula von der Leyen is in Latvia today, and has been speaking to the media in the last few minutes.Speaking alongside Latvia’s prime minister Evika Siliņa, she praised the country’s work on becoming “a true drone and anti drone powerhouse” in Europe, contributing to Nato’s security in the region bordering with Russia.We know that Europe is only safe if the eastern border is safe.“The risks your country and the other Baltic States warned us about, unfortunately, have materialised. Russia’s brutal war against Ukraine is now in its fourth year, Putin is a predator, Putin’s proxies have been targeting our societies for years with hybrid attacks, with cyber-attacks, [and] the weaponising of migrants is another example.” Continue reading...

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1 week ago UK and EU summon top Russian diplomats after strikes hit British Council and EU offices in deadly attack on Kyiv

Overnight raid kills more than a dozen people as European leaders condemn ‘deliberate’ targeting of civilians and institutionsUkrainian prime minister Yulia Svyrydenko has now responded to the overnight Russian attacks on Kyiv, criticising Moscow for “horrific and deliberate killing of civilians.”“The Russians are not choosing to end the war, only constant expansion of atrocities,” she said.“Overnight in Kyiv, dozens of buildings were hit: residential houses, office centers, civilian enterprises. Among them also the building where the European Union Delegation to Ukraine is located. Russians now believe that they have paralyzed Ukraine’s allies with feigned plans for ‘negotiations’ and endless delays that only serve as methods to buy time with the true goal only of preventing sanctions.“My thoughts are with all those affected by the senseless Russian strikes on Kyiv which have damaged the British Council building. Putin is killing children and civilians, and sabotaging hopes of peac...

Events

2 w. ago ‘Doesn’t feel like peace to me’: Ukrainians in the UK fear war will never end after Trump

‘Unless Ukraine is given real security guarantees, the war will resume,’ warn citizens who fled the country when Russia invaded

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2 w. ago Putin wants to ‘wriggle out’ of meeting, Zelenskyy claims, and says Russia does not want to end war – Europe live

Ukrainian president backs Donald Trump suggestion of more offensive reaction to Russian attacksKim Jong-un has hailed North Korean troops fighting alongside Russia in the war in Ukraine as “heroes”, at a ceremony to honour soldiers who recently returned from the conflict, state media said on Friday.The North Korean leader said in a speech this week that his troops had displayed “fighting spirit of the heroes” during their operation to retake Russia’s Kursk region from Ukrainian forces – which had established a foothold there last year – the state news agency KCNA said. Continue reading...

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2 w. ago Russia upends Trump peace efforts with ‘foreign intervention’ veto demand

Moscow appears to back away from accepting postwar western security guarantees for UkraineRussia-Ukraine war – live updatesMoscow threw Donald Trump’s Ukraine peace initiative into disarray on Thursday, insisting it must have a veto over any postwar support for the country as its forces carried out a large-scale overnight missile barrage.In a series of hardline remarks, Russia’s foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, said European proposals to deploy troops in Ukraine after a settlement would amount to “foreign intervention”, which he called absolutely unacceptable for Russia. Continue reading...

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