3 d. ago As the world hurtles ever closer to nuclear oblivion, where is the opposition? | Simon Tisdall

The puerile standoff between the US and Russia ought to alert a slumbering public to a risk that is in many ways greater than during the cold warNuclear weapons – their lethal menace, dark history and future spread – are back in the headlines again and, as usual, the news is worrying, bordering on desperate. Russia’s decision last week to formally abandon the 1987 Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty banning medium- and short-range nuclear missiles completes the demolition of a key pillar of global arms control. It will accelerate an already frantic nuclear arms race in Europe and Asia at a moment when US and Russian leaders are taunting each other like schoolboys.Vladimir Putin, Russia’s president, has repeatedly threatened the west with nuclear weapons during his war in Ukraine. Last November, Russian forces fired their new Oreshnik hypersonic, nuclear-capable intermediate-range missile at Dnipro. It travels “like a meteorite” at 10 times the speed of sound and can reach...

Events

7 d. ago US special envoy Steve Witkoff meets Putin in Moscow as Russia strikes Ukrainian gas facility – Europe live

Donald Trump has set a Friday deadline for progress on ending the Ukraine war, after which Russia could face increased US sanctionsWe are getting first pictures from inside the Kremlin showing Russia’s Putin welcoming Witkoff for their talks.Earlier today, Witkoff also went for a walk through Zaryadye Park near the Kremlin with Kirill Dmitriev, the Russian president’s envoy for investment and economic cooperation, AP reported pointing to footage aired by Tass. Continue reading...

Politics

7 d. ago Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks to Trump on sanctions against Russia and drones in ‘productive’ call – Europe live

Ukrainian president says ‘President Trump’s determination can change a lot’ as leaders speak about Russia increasing severity of strikesOn Ukraine, the EU spokespeople were asked about the bloc’s expectations as to Donald Trump’s deadline for Russia to end its invasion on Ukraine by Friday.The commission’s foreign policy spokesperson, Anitta Hipper, said:“Russia is not interested in peace. Ukraine is, the EU is. Nobody wants peace more than Ukraine and the EU. We welcome any pressure, and in particular US pressure on Russia to accept a ceasefire through any means necessary.”“I believe that for what we have been able to verify there has been some improvement compared to the situation before this agreement was reached. Is this sufficient? Absolutely not. Continue reading...

Politics

9 d. ago Ukraine welcomes Trump’s nuclear sub move, saying it has ‘silenced’ Medvedev – Europe live

Senior Zelenskyy aide says ‘Russia only understands one thing: strength’President Zelenskyy also called for more pressure on Russia, as he posted a video of drone strikes on what he said were first responders and medics arriving to help after attacks.“Deliberate FPV [first person view] drone strikes on first responders and medics arriving to help after attacks – all of this is typical for every city or community within reach of Russian drones. The Russian army simply kills everything that is alive,” he warned.“We count on strong decisions from the United States, Europe, and the world regarding secondary sanctions on Russian energy trade and Moscow’s banking sector.Ukraine looks forward to the implementation of every agreement on strengthening defense that has been reached with its partners. Continue reading...

Politics

9 d. ago Ukrainian drone attack sparks blaze at oil refinery in Russia

An overnight Ukrainian drone attack caused a fire at an oil refinery in Sochi, Russia.

Events

9 d. ago Ukrainian attack sparks blaze at Russian oil depot as countries trade strikes

Video shows black smoke pouring from facility in Sochi, while Russian attack on Mykolaiv wounds seven peopleAn overnight Ukrainian drone attack on an oil depot near the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi has ignited a raging fire, as the two countries traded strikes at the end of one of the deadliest weeks in Ukraine in recent months.More than 120 firefighters were trying to put out the blaze, said the regional governor, Veniamin Kondratyev, as emergency officials reported a fuel tank with a capacity of 2,000 cubic metres (70,000 cubic feet) was burning. Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago Moment Russia bombs key Ukrainian bridge in Kherson after mass drone strike hit tourist resort Sochi

The attacks are the latest trading of blows between Russia and Ukraine as each nation looks to focus on targeting the other's infrastructure.

Events

3 w. ago Russian strikes hit Kyiv metro where hundreds were sheltering

At least one person killed in attacks on central Kyiv that also damaged shops, houses and a kindergartenRussia launched a wave of drones and missiles at Ukraine in an overnight attack on Monday, killing at least one person in Kyiv and hitting a metro station where hundreds of people were sheltering.There were fires across the capital and at least six people were wounded. Kyiv’s mayor, Vitali Klitschko, said rescuers and medics were working on sites in four districts. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Russia strikes on Kyiv kill one and cause fires across Ukraine’s capital

City officials say a subway station in central Kyiv, commercial property, shops, houses and a kindergarten were all damaged in the attacksRussia launched a barrage of drones and missiles at Ukraine in an overnight attack on Monday, killing at least one person and causing multiple fires in the capital Kyiv, city officials said.Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said rescuers and medics were working on sites across four districts of the capital. A subway station in central Kyiv, commercial property, shops, houses and a kindergarten were damaged, city officials said. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Tsunami threat over after two large earthquakes strike off coast of Russia

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center retracted a warning for Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula

Events

3 w. ago Tsunami warning issued after two large earthquakes strike off coast of Russia

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center has issued a warning for Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula

Events

3 w. ago Oleksandr Usyk knocks out Daniel Dubois as thrilling fight at Wembley over early

There were fireworks when Oleksandr Usyk faced Daniel Dubois at Wembley with the Ukrainian champion just too good for the British star to handle

Politics

3 w. ago Ukraine proposes fresh peace talks with Russia next week, president Zelensky says

In his evening address to the nation, Zelenskiy said the pace of negotiations should be increased and 'everything should be done to achieve a ceasefire'.

Politics

3 w. ago Ukraine war briefing: EU and UK increase sanctions on Russia as drone strike on Odesa kills one

EU agrees 18th package of sanctions against Moscow, including a moving price cap on Russian oil 15% below market rates. What we know on day 1,242One person was killed and at least one apartment building set alight in Odesa after Russian forces staged a mass drone attack on the Ukrainian Black Sea port. The city’s mayor, Gennadiy Trukhanov, said at least 20 drones had converged on the city. “Civilian infrastructure was damaged as a result of the attack. A residential high-rise building is on fire” and rescuers were pulling people out, he said. The Odesa region’s emergency service said later that five people were rescued from burning apartments but “one rescued woman died”.The Russian defence ministry said its air defence systems destroyed 87 Ukrainian drones in a five-hour period on Friday evening, including over the Bryansk region bordering northern Ukraine and the Moscow region. Russian aviation authorities were once again forced to suspend flights at Sheremetyevo and Domodedovo ai...

Events

3 w. ago Putin ally suggests launching 'preventative strikes' against the West for practically waging 'full

'What is happening today is a proxy war, but in essence it is a full-scale war, sanctions packages, loud statements about the militarisation of Europe,' Medvedev said in his latest tirade

Politics

3 w. ago Russia threatens world with feared 'Oreshnik' missiles and 'will strike' as WW3 fears grow

The feared Oreshnik missiles – which are believed to be intermediate-range – were first used when Russia barraged Ukraine with a fleet of the warheads back in November.

Events

4 w. ago Nato 'may launch retaliatory strikes on Russia' over WW3 fear if plane crashes

Russian jamming of GPS across Europe's eastern flank is becoming an increasingly dangerous daily occurrence, with experts warning a major air disaster could be on the cards

Events

4 w. ago Trump asked Zelenskyy if Ukraine could hit Moscow, say people briefed on call

US president encouraged Ukrainian leader to step up deep strikes on Russia

Politics