11 h. ago Peggy lived in fear nightly as German bombers roared overhead. Then, on the day she turned ten in 1945, peace in Europe was declared, giving her the best birthday EVER

Celebrations and parties were almost unheard of for the youngster, born in 1935, who had little memory of anything other than the daily trials of living through the Second World War.

Events

23 h. ago 'We're worried...we've been kept in the dark': Inside leafy Cheshire town convulsed by fear after 300 male migrants arrived at hotel in dead of night

Six months on from moving into a hotel in Altrincham MailOnline has discovered many of the original migrant arrivals have been evicted - only to start living in tents nearby.

Events

34 h. ago He led us through the darkest days. Little wonder my grandfather Winston Churchill ensured Britain stocked up on beer and bunting on VE Day, writes NICHOLAS SOAMES

On the day before peace in Europe was announced, my grandfather Winston Churchill sent an urgent communique where he warned, that London must not run out of beer.

Politics

36 h. ago US steps back from peace talks, saying it won’t mediate between Russia and Ukraine

JD Vance says ‘this isn’t our war’ as state department warns envoys will stop flying around the world ‘at drop of a hat’

Politics

5 d. ago ‘A lot of Russians have been killed. We like this’: on the frontline with a Ukrainian artillery unit

Soldiers expect Moscow to launch summer offensive and dismiss US efforts to bring peace as ‘pretty disappointing’Europe live – latest updatesFrom a line of trees the Ukrainian gun team prepared to fire. An artilleryman, Yurii, loaded a 152mm shell into an old Soviet-made howitzer. “We are ready!” Yurii said. He moved away from the barrel. “Fire!” the unit’s commander replied. There was an almighty boom.White smoke filled the dugout, which was hidden beneath camouflage nets and cut pine branches. From the undergrowth, a chiffchaff resumed its spring warbling. Continue reading...

Events

8 d. ago Revealed: The HUGE differences between US peace deal proposals for Ukraine and Europe's

Leaked documents show the White House far more willing to concede Ukrainian territory to Moscow.

Economics

8 d. ago Mapped: Territory Ukraine could lose as details of US peace deal proposal revealed

As the US lays out its territorial proposals for a ceasefire between Kyiv and Moscow, The Independent maps the land which Ukraine stands to lose

Economics

8 d. 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

8 d. 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

9 d. 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

9 d. ago Worrying Chris Eubank Jr 'rumour' spreads ahead of Conor Benn fight

The upcoming showdown will have limit of 160lbs with a 10-pound rehydration clause, but some fear for Eubank Jr just days before fight night

Politics

1 week 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

1 week ago The real truth behind Trump’s latest attack on Zelensky over potential US peace deal

Donald Trump’s best option now is to walk away from his so-called peace talks, writes world affairs editor Sam Kiley

Politics

1 week ago Trump slates Ukraine for not ceding land to Putin as he warns Zelensky to accept peace deal

US president lashes out at Ukrainian leader, insisting Crimea was lost 11 years ago as he says agreement to end war ‘very close’

Events

1 week ago Downgraded peace talks between US, Ukraine, and European allies begin in London.

Downgraded peace talks between US, Ukraine, and European allies begin in London.  The Kyiv Independent

Politics

1 week ago The Greater Manchester area partying like it's 1945 with 20 VE Day street parties

It's an important milestone

Politics

2 w. ago Putin announces ‘Easter truce’ in Ukraine war as Zelensky accuses Russia of continuing attacks

The Russian president orders a stop to fighting for ‘humanitarian reasons’ but Ukraine reports attacks in the Kursk and Belgorod regions

Events

2 w. ago Manchester United Europa League suspension fear as nightmare scenario begins to unfold

The latest Man Utd news heading towards their Europa League semi-final showdown with Athletic Bilbao.

Sport

2 w. ago Paris talks with allies focused on ‘paths to fair and lasting peace’, Ukraine’s foreign minister says – Europe live

Andrii Sybiha meets with British, French and German ministers as US representatives expected to meet French president Emmanuel MacronUkrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha has just posted on update on his separate talks with British, French and German partners at the Élysée earlier today.He said they “discussed the paths to a fair and lasting peace, including full ceasefire, multinational contingent, and security guarantees for Ukraine.” Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Trump lashes out at Zelenskyy as Witkoff signals Putin’s wider security demands – Europe live

US president questions Ukraine counterpart’s competency as his envoy outlines ‘detail attached’ to any peace dealDavid Shimer, the former director for eastern Europe and Ukraine on Joe Biden’s national security council, writes for the Guardian today, asking “two key questions for Ukraine’s European allies” as he worries about the US military aid ceasing soon.The war between Russia and Ukraine is approaching a historic turning point: unless the Trump administration adjusts course, US military aid for Ukraine is about to cease.Since taking office, Trump has not approved a single military aid package for Ukraine. Even if Trump were to reverse course and utilize this remaining drawdown authority, the amount available is insufficient to sustain US support for Ukraine over time. To do that, Congress would need to approve additional Ukraine funding, which will not happen while the Republican party controls both chambers and the White House. As a result, the era of US military aid to Ukrain...

Politics