2 h. ago Putin crushes hopes for a peace deal once more as UK eyes unlocking £8BILLION of frozen Russian assets to help Ukraine

Speaking publicly for the first time about his talks with Donald Trump 's peace envoy Steve Witkoff, the Russian president held a hard line.

Economics

14 h. ago US envoy Steve Witkoff to meet Ukraine national security chief in Miami

Meeting comes two days after Witkoff and Jared Kushner held five hours of talks with Vladimir Putin in MoscowAnalysis: Ukraine peace deal has stumbled yet againThe US special envoy Steve Witkoff will meet Ukraine’s national security council chief, Rustem Umerov, in Miami on Thursday as Washington steps up its diplomatic push to secure a pathway to peace in Ukraine.Witkoff, accompanied by Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, spent nearly five hours in talks with Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin on Tuesday. Moscow later said the meeting had not brought the sides any closer to a peace agreement. Continue reading...

Events

32 h. ago The Ukraine peace deal has stumbled yet again over an inevitable obstacle: Putin

Russian leader’s rejection of latest peace proposal was predictable and shows the Kremlin continues to hold the trump cardBefore the harsh white glare of the Kremlin reception room came a telling prologue: Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Donald Trump’s self-described “deal guys”, being led by Kremlin officials through the sparkling streets of a festive Moscow.Wasn’t it lovely, Vladimir Putin asked later, as both sides sat down to a five-hour negotiation that seems to have led right back to where they started. “It’s a magnificent city,” Witkoff replied. Then the cameras cut out. Continue reading...

Economics

33 h. ago Once again, Vladimir Putin indicates he wants the war in Europe to go on

Editorial: By entertaining a Ukrainian peace deal whose miserable terms not even a desperate US president could accept – before then promptly abandoning it – Moscow is stalling for time. The coalition of the willing must put more pressure on the faltering Russian economy

Politics

36 h. ago Nato ‘ready to do what it takes’ to protect Europe, as Russia denies rejecting Ukraine peace plan – Europe live

Mark Rutte’s response comes after Vladimir Putin’s comment that Russia was ‘ready’ for war with EuropeEuropean Commission president Ursula von der Leyen is now briefing the media after the commission’s weekly meeting, presenting the bloc’s plan to help fund Ukraine’s continuing fight against Russia.I will bring you the key lines here. Continue reading...

Politics

37 h. ago EU pushes ahead with plan to use frozen Russian assets for Ukraine as Moscow denies rejecting US peace plan

Kremlin says Putin did not reject peace plan but found some parts of the deal ‘unacceptable’European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen is now briefing the media after the commission’s weekly meeting, presenting the bloc’s plan to help fund Ukraine’s continuing fight against Russia.I will bring you the key lines here. Continue reading...

Politics

39 h. ago Kremlin praises Trump for 'trying to find a solution' to Ukraine and insists Putin has not rejected latest peace plan but it was a 'first exchange'

The Kremlin has today praised Donald Trump for trying to reach a peace deal to end the invasion of Ukraine, adding that Vladimir Putin hasn't rejected the latest version of the plan. 

Politics

40 h. ago ‘Obvious’ Putin does not want peace in Ukraine, say Nato ministers, as Russia denies rejecting US plan

Kremlin says Putin did not reject peace plan but found some parts of the deal ‘unacceptable’We also got more reactions from the Kremlin this morning, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov insisting that Russia was ready to continue engagement with the US on Ukraine peace deal for as long as it takes to get an agreement – even as he branded some of the proposals “unacceptable”.Peskov insisted that Putin had not rejected any proposals, but merely “some things were accepted, some things were marked as unacceptable – this is a normal working process of finding a compromise.” Continue reading...

Politics

42 h. ago Energy suppliers slash fixed tariffs on hopes of peace in Ukraine: Should you switch YOUR deal?

Several energy suppliers have cut their fixed tariffs over the last week, with the wholesale cost of energy falling - meaning customers could save money.

Economics

42 h. ago Putin's 'power play technique' shows feelings toward Trump's Ukraine peace deal

A body language expert has said the extra cordial reception for the US President's representatives suggests the Russian and American sides are well aligned over their Ukraine goals

Politics

47 h. ago Russia ‘ready’ for war if Europe starts it, Putin says, as US peace talks end without progress

Kremlin aide says Ukraine crisis is no closer to resolution after Witkoff talks, as Russian president accuses European powers of sabotaging peace Russia and the US did not make progress toward a peace deal for Ukraine during their talks, a senior aide to Vladimir Putin has said, hours after the Russian president issued threats that Russia was ready for war with Europe.In remarks to Russian media, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said that after a five-hour meeting with Trump envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, the two sides were “neither further nor closer to resolving the crisis in Ukraine. There is a lot of work to be done.” Continue reading...

Politics

52 h. ago Russia ‘ready’ for war with Europe, Putin says, as US peace talks end without progress

Kremlin aide says Ukraine crisis is no closer to resolution after Witkoff talks, as Russian president accuses European powers of sabotaging peace Russia and the US did not make progress toward a peace deal for Ukraine during their talks, a senior aide to Vladimir Putin has said, hours after the Russian president issued threats that Russia was ready for war with Europe.In remarks to Russian media, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said that after a five-hour meeting with Trump envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, the two sides were “neither further nor closer to resolving the crisis in Ukraine. There is a lot of work to be done.” Continue reading...

Politics

59 h. ago Putin says Russia not seeking war but ‘if Europe wants to fight, we are ready’ – Europe live

Putin’s comments appeared aimed at driving a wedge between Washington and European capitalsIn parallel to Witkoff’s meeting in Moscow, we will also follow Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s first visit to Ireland.He has arrived in Dublin last night, and has a busy schedule today, paying a brief visit to the country’s new president Catherine Connolly, before meeting with key government figures including the taisoeach, Micheál Martin, and addressing both chambers of the Irish parliament in the afternoon. Continue reading...

Politics

61 h. ago Ukraine live: ‘Now, more than ever, there is chance to end war,’ says Zelenskyy as Witkoff due to meet Putin

Ukrainian leader in Ireland to shore up support as US envoy visits Kremlin US-Russia talks may pile pressure on Kyiv to make concessions, says EU foreign policy chiefSee all our Ukraine war coverageIn parallel to Witkoff’s meeting in Moscow, we will also follow Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s first visit to Ireland.He has arrived in Dublin last night, and has a busy schedule today, paying a brief visit to the country’s new president Catherine Connolly, before meeting with key government figures including the taisoeach, Micheál Martin, and addressing both chambers of the Irish parliament in the afternoon. Continue reading...

Politics

65 h. ago Ukraine war live: US’s Witkoff set to meet Putin in Moscow as Russia claims capture of Pokrovsk

US-led peace push comes as Kyiv says fighting is continuing over important hubUS-Russia talks may pile pressure on Kyiv to make concessions, says EU foreign policy chiefSee all our Ukraine war coverageIn parallel to Witkoff’s meeting in Moscow, we will also follow Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s first visit to Ireland.He has arrived in Dublin last night, and has a busy schedule today, paying a brief visit to the country’s new president Catherine Connolly, before meeting with key government figures including the taisoeach, Micheál Martin, and addressing both chambers of the Irish parliament in the afternoon. Continue reading...

Politics

69 h. ago Trump envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner head to Moscow for Putin showdown with Ukraine offer that could redraw Europe

Ukrainian officials have discussed what they are willing to concede to end Russia 's invasion after hours-long negotiations with top US diplomats who will soon deliver the demands to Moscow.

Politics

69 h. ago Ukraine war live: Trump envoy Steve Witkoff set to meet Vladimir Putin in Moscow amid US push for peace deal

Talks come after Witkoff led US discussions with Ukraine at weekend amid European concerns that Kyiv will be pressured to make concessions to MoscowUS-Russia talks may pile pressure on Kyiv to make concessions, says EU foreign policy chief See all our Ukraine war coverageThe Kremlin has said Vladimir Putin will meet Steve Witkoff for their talks on Tuesday afternoon. It’s now approaching 9.10am local time in Moscow.Their meeting would take “in the second half of the day”, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said, while refusing to be drawn on Russia’s red lines, saying megaphone diplomacy was not helpful.Russian military commanders told Putin in comments reported on Monday that Russian forces had captured the frontline Ukrainian towns of Pokrovsk – a key logistics hub – and Vovchansk and were advancing elsewhere, which the Russian president hailed as successes to enable further gains. Ukrainian officials have made no acknowledgement that either place has fallen into Russian hands. Co...

Politics

3 d. ago Russia threatens NATO with 'consequences' as it says West is prepping for 'major war'

With officials racing to workshop a potential peace deal with Russia and Ukraine, Putin and his cronies have said the West is preparing for an all-out war between NATO and Moscow

Events

3 d. ago EU warns Trump that Ukraine peace plan must not pardon Putin for war crimes

Concerns are growing in Europe over a US proposal which suggested a ‘full amnesty for actions committed during the war’

Events

3 d. ago Old tensions simmer just below surface as Tusk and Merz to meet in Berlin

Ukraine will top agenda, but meeting comes as positive sentiment towards Germany in Poland hits near record lowsWhen the Polish and German governments meet on Monday for annual political talks in Berlin – the first since Friedrich Merz became chancellor – the headlines are likely to be dominated by Ukraine.Amid growing US pressure for a peace deal with Russia, Warsaw and Berlin will want to send a signal of support for Kyiv and of unity between central Europe’s largest – and militarily strongest – countries. Continue reading...

Events