2 h. ago Ukraine war briefing: Peacekeepers could repel Russian forces under ceasefire plan, says Merz

German Chancellor says this remains a far-off prospect; Zelenskyy says negotiations on peace deal could soon be finalised. What we know on day 1,393Under post-ceasefire guarantees provided by the United States and Europe to Ukraine, peacekeepers could in certain circumstances repel Russian forces, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz told ZDF public television in an interview, adding that this remained a far-off prospect. Pressed by interviewers for details on the possible security guarantees floated by the United States in Monday’s Berlin talks with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Merz said the guarantors would need to repel Russian forces should there be a violation of any ceasefire terms.“We would secure a demilitarized zone between the warring parties and, to be very specific, we would also act against corresponding Russian incursions and attacks. We’re not there yet,” he said. “The fact that the Americans have made such a commitment – to protect Ukraine in the event of a c...

Events

5 h. ago Germany issues 'we will retaliate' threat to Putin as WW3 fears spiral

Friedrich Merz described recent diplomatic efforts in Berlin aimed at ending the war in Ukraine as a major success - but issued a warning to Russian President Vladimir Putin

Politics

6 h. ago Amazing bravery of heroic Ukrainians horrifically injured in war as pioneering Brit military unit helps their recovery

JUST three days into the Ukraine war, pensions clerk and mum-of- two Olena signed up to fight the Russians.  Her daughter’s mother-in-law had just been paralysed by an enemy missile strike in their home town of Kryvyi Rih, birthplace of President Zelensky.  Now Olena, an army sergeant, is a triple amputee in a wheelchair — and her recovery is...

Events

11 h. ago Green groups decry EU ‘betrayal’ after vote to reduce oversight of firms

Social and environmental reporting to be required of fewer companies after EPP aligns with far right to achieve goalsEurope live – latest updatesFewer companies operating in Europe will be made to carry out due diligence on the societal harms they cause, in what green groups have called a “betrayal” of communities affected by corporate abuse.The gutting of the EU’s sustainability reporting and due diligence rules, which was greenlit by MEPs on Tuesday, slashes the number of companies covered by laws to protect human and ecological rights, and removes provisions to harmonise access to justice across member states. Continue reading...

Politics

14 h. ago Ukraine war at ‘major moment’ but allies must keep pressure up on Putin – Healey

The Defence Secretary was speaking at a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group.

Events

16 h. ago Peace plans ready to be presented to Russia in days, says Zelenskyy

US says talks with Ukraine in Berlin have resolved 90% of difficult issues – but no sign Putin willing to compromiseEurope live – latest updatesVolodymyr Zelenskyy says proposals negotiated with US officials on a peace deal to end Russia’s war in Ukraine could be finalised within days, after which American envoys will present them to the Kremlin.After two days of talks in Berlin, US officials said on Monday they had resolved “90%” of the problematic issues between Russia and Ukraine, but despite the positive spin it is not clear that an end to the war is any closer, particularly as the Russian side is absent from the current talks. Continue reading...

Politics

16 h. ago Zelenskyy warns against rewarding Russian aggression after ‘intense and focused’ peace talks – Europe live

Ukrainian president speaks in Dutch parliament ahead of crucial EU meeting on use of frozen Russian assetsCommenting on Berlin talks, Zelenskyy says he held “really intensive” talks with US counterparts in Germany, “working in a great detail on documents that could stop the war and guarantee security.”But he says “every single detail matters,” adding that nothing in the proposed peace deal should be allowed to “become a reward for Russia’s aggression.”I truly hope that the next time I address your parliament it will be with gratitude for a peace that has been achieved. Continue reading...

Events

17 h. ago Ukraine spies warn 'no Russian facility is safe' as missiles blast targets

Russian 'warchest' oil industry under attack by Kyiv special ops in a bid to smash Vladimir Putin's ability to bankroll his bloody Ukraine war - as Zelensky denies Donbas to Moscow

Events

18 h. ago Europe awaits Russia response to Ukraine peace proposal as US positive after talks – Europe live

Moscow expecting debrief from US negotiators as minister rules out any territorial concessions by RussiaAfter positive comments from European, Ukrainian and US leaders taking part in Berlin talks, the focus now shifts to Russia as we wait for Moscow’s first reaction to some of the proposals for ending the war in Ukraine discussed last night.Deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov said this morning that Moscow had no understanding of the discussions just yet, as it awaits a debrief from the US negotiators. He also ruled out any territorial concessions by Russia. Continue reading...

Politics

18 h. ago The Rolling Stones AXE plans to tour the United Kingdom and Europe because band

The veteran rockers were considering a four month stadium tour in the new year after turning down a similar run in 2025.

Politics

31 h. ago Keir Starmer and European leaders set out six major Ukraine peace deal commitments

It came as PM Keir Starmer Starmer travelled to Berlin on Monday evening for talks with Ukraine's war-time leader Volodymyr Zelensky and European allies over a peace deal

Politics

31 h. ago European leaders propose ‘multinational force’ and hail ‘significant progress’ on Ukraine talks – Europe live

Statement suggests force to ‘provide robust support’ and enforce a potential peace deal in UkraineSeparately, the commission’s deputy chief spokesperson Olof Gill has just confirmed that commission president Ursula von der Leyen will attend the Berlin talks this evening.Not a surprise at all, but good to have it formally confirmed. Continue reading...

Politics

32 h. ago European leaders gather for crunch meeting on Ukraine as Zelenskyy says US talks were ‘not easy’ – Europe live

No details on any tangible compromises between US and Ukraine, with Zelenskyy ruling out territorial concessionsSeparately, the commission’s deputy chief spokesperson Olof Gill has just confirmed that commission president Ursula von der Leyen will attend the Berlin talks this evening.Not a surprise at all, but good to have it formally confirmed. Continue reading...

Politics

35 h. ago Glaciers to reach peak rate of extinction in the Alps in eight years

Climate crisis forecast to wipe out thousands of glaciers a year globally, threatening water supplies and cultural heritageEurope live – latest updatesGlaciers in the European Alps are likely to reach their peak rate of extinction in only eight years, according to a study, with more than 100 due to melt away permanently by 2033. Glaciers in the western US and Canada are forecast to reach their peak year of loss less than a decade later, with more than 800 disappearing each year by then.The melting of glaciers driven by human-caused global heating is one of the clearest signs of the climate crisis. Communities around the world have already held funeral ceremonies for lost glaciers, and a Global Glacier Casualty List records the names and histories of those that have vanished. Continue reading...

Politics

35 h. ago Where things stand in the talks to end Russia's war in Ukraine

The U.S. diplomatic push to end nearly four years of fighting following Russia's invasion of Ukraine has bogged down over sharply conflicting territorial demands by Moscow and Kyiv

Events

37 h. ago Chances of EU trucking industry hitting zero emissions targets are dire, says industry body

Just 10,000 out of economic bloc’s 6m trucks are electric and are more likely to be operating on short routesBusiness live – latest updatesThe chances of the European trucking industry hitting zero emissions targets are “dire”, an industry body has warned, as it emerged that only a tiny amount of lorries delivering goods in the EU are electric.Speaking as the European Commission prepares to water down electric car targets, the boss of the association for commercial vehicles called on the commission to commit to an urgent review of the sector, tackling problems including a lack of public charging points, a lack of tax breaks for trucks and high energy costs. Continue reading...

Events

37 h. ago European leaders gather in Berlin as US pushes to end Ukraine conflict

Zelenskyy to meet British, French and German leaders, with Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, also invitedEurope live – latest updatesEuropean leaders including Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron will meet Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday in a show of support hosted by the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, as the US pushes for a swift end to the war in Ukraine.The British prime minister, French president and the heads of Nato and the EU, who have criticised previous US proposals to end the Russian invasion as too favourable to Moscow, are set to convene with Zelenskyy on Monday evening at Merz’s offices in central Berlin. Continue reading...

Politics

49 h. ago Ukraine war briefing: Britain’s spy chief to warn of Russia’s ‘expansionist threat’ as Berlin talks enter second day

MI6 chief to deliver remarks on Monday warning ‘chaos is a feature not a bug in the Russian approach’; European leaders to join day two of talks in Berlin. What we know on day 1,391The head of Britain’s foreign spy service, known as MI6, will warn that Russia poses an “aggressive, expansionist, and revisionist” threat, in her first speech since taking office. Blaise Metreweli took over from Richard Moore in October, becoming the first female chief of MI6. “[Vladimir] Putin should be in no doubt, our support is enduring. The pressure we apply on Ukraine’s behalf will be sustained,” Metreweli will say on Monday, according to advance extracts of her remarks. “The export of chaos is a feature not a bug in the Russian approach to international engagement, and we should be ready for this to continue until Putin is forced to change his calculus,” she said, according to the extract.Separately, Richard Knighton, head of Britain’s armed forces, will also call in a separate speech on Monday fo...

Events

50 h. ago US hails ‘progress’ after five hours of peace talks with Zelensky in Berlin

Starmer to join European allies and US envoys for talks on Russia-Ukraine peace deal

Politics

56 h. ago Bondi Beach victim is Holocaust survivor who was protecting wife when shot

Alex Kleytman, a Ukrainian native who survived the genocide during World War Two, died shielding his wife during the mass shooting at a Hanukkah event in Sydney that killed 11 people.

Events