19 h. ago UK restricts export of video game controllers to Russia amid use to pilot drones

Some 150 new trade sanctions against Russia have been introduced by the UK, aimed at choking off the Kremlin’s war effort.

Events

41 h. ago Russia bans and sanctions four Scottish MPs for 'outright rudeness'

The Russian Government announced on Wednesday that 15 MPs and six members of the House of Lords had been sanctioned over "hostile statements and unfounded accusations".

Politics

50 h. ago Sanctioned Russia and Belarusian wood being smuggled into UK, study suggests

‘Chemical fingerprint’ shows 46% of wood samples certified as sustainable did not come from labelled country of originNearly half of birch wood certified by leading sustainability schemes is misidentified and does not come from the labelled country of origin, according to new testing. The analysis raises fears that large quantities of sanctioned wood from Russia and Belarus are still illegally entering Britain.New research by World Forest ID, a consortium of research organisations that includes Kew Gardens and the World Resources Institute, scrutinised the accuracy of dozens of harvesting-origin claims on birch products, which had almost entirely been approved by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) sustainability schemes. Continue reading...

Politics

50 h. ago Sanctioned Russian and Belarusian wood being smuggled into UK, study suggests

‘Chemical fingerprint’ shows 46% of wood samples certified as sustainable did not come from labelled country of originNearly half of birch wood certified by leading sustainability schemes is misidentified and does not come from the labelled country of origin, according to new testing. The analysis raises fears that large quantities of sanctioned wood from Russia and Belarus are still illegally entering Britain.New research by World Forest ID, a consortium of research organisations that includes Kew Gardens and the World Resources Institute, scrutinised the accuracy of dozens of harvesting-origin claims on birch products, which had almost entirely been approved by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) sustainability schemes. Continue reading...

Politics

50 h. ago Sanctioned Russian and Belarusian wood smuggled into UK, study suggests

‘Chemical fingerprint’ shows 46% of wood samples certified as sustainable did not come from labelled country of originNearly half of birch wood certified by leading sustainability schemes is misidentified and does not come from the labelled country of origin, according to new testing. The analysis raises fears that large quantities of sanctioned wood from Russia and Belarus are still illegally entering Britain.New research by World Forest ID, a consortium of research organisations that includes Kew Gardens and the World Resources Institute, scrutinised the accuracy of dozens of harvesting-origin claims on birch products, which had almost entirely been approved by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) sustainability schemes. Continue reading...

Politics

6 d. ago Ukraine war briefing: Kyiv sanctions three Chinese companies accused of helping Russia

The companies are believed to have helped produce Iskander missiles used by Russia in the conflict; Trump says he could soon ‘pass’ on peace talks. What we know on day 1,151Russia-Ukraine war – latest news updates Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago EU sanctions policy ‘failed’ to make impact on Russia, says Hungarian minister – Europe live

Péter Szijjártó, Hungary’s foreign minister, claims sanctions ‘hit European economy more than Russian economy’Péter Szijjártó, a frequent visitor to Moscow despite the continuing Russian aggression against Ukraine, also told Bloomberg that the EU’s sanctions policy “has failed” as he claimed it “hit European economy more than the Russian economy”.He said that Hungary’s view on rolling over the existing sanctions will “depend a lot on the geopolitical circumstances”, with Budapest closely following the progress of Trump-led talks with Russia. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago ‘International man of mystery’ denies aiding Russia sanctions breach, court told

Dmitrii Ovsiannikov, 48, the former mayor of Sevastopol in occupied Crimea, is facing seven counts of circumventing sanctions.

Events

3 w. ago Ukraine war briefing: US anger builds on Russia over refusal to accept ceasefire

Senators propose ‘hard-hitting’ secondary sanctions and say ‘Russia is the aggressor’; ‘coalition of the willing’ moves forward. What we know on day 1,134 Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Ukraine war briefing: US pressure builds on Russia over refusal to accept ceasefire

Senators propose ‘hard-hitting’ secondary sanctions and say ‘Russia is the aggressor’; ‘coalition of the willing’ moves forward. What we know on day 1,134 Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Ukraine war briefing: Trump sanctions threat on Russian oil buyers could hit China, India

Trump threatens Putin over ceasefire; Russia claims it has taken control of a Donetsk village. What we know on day 1,132China and India could be affected if Donald Trump introduces tariffs of 25-50% against countries buying Russian oil, analysts and officials have suggested. Dan Sabbagh reports that the US president told NBC he would impose such measures within a month “if a deal isn’t made, and if I think it was Russia’s fault”, as he vented frustration at Vladimir Putin’s delaying tactics and attempts to discredit Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian president.Some countries, including China and India, are not participating in anti-war sanctions against Russian oil. Secondary sanctions or tariffs imposed directly on them by the US could further limit Putin’s access to oil revenue to fund the war. While not joining the international sanctions against Russia, China has been wary about breaching them in case it attracts secondary penalties. Some Chinese banks, for example, have curtail...

Events

3 w. ago Trump says he’s ‘p*****’ off with Putin over lack of ceasefire deal and threatens more tariffs on Russian oil

Trump has shifted the blame for the protracted nature of the ceasefire negotiations on Putin

Politics

4 w. ago European leaders agree now ‘not the time’ to lift sanctions against Russia

Support for Ukraine continues with divided opinion on Franco-British plan for ‘reassurance force’ to help ceasefireEuropean leaders have affirmed their support for Ukraine at a Paris summit and agreed now was “not the time” to lift sanctions against Russia, but with splits remaining on Franco-British plans for a “reassurance force” to help guarantee an eventual ceasefire.France’s president, Emmanuel Macron, said on Thursday the meeting of more than two dozen heads of state and government had agreed unanimously that sanctions on Moscow should not be eased until “peace has clearly been established” in Ukraine. Continue reading...

Politics

4 w. ago Key European leaders say it is ‘not the time’ to start lifting sanctions against Russia – as it happened

UK prime minister Keir Starmer calls out Russia for ‘playing games’ as French president Emmanuel Macron says Europe must prepare for any scenarioThe search continues for four US soldiers that went missing in Lithuania on Tuesday night, as their vehicle has been discovered submerged in water.The operation continues on Thursday with attempts to reach the area. Lithuanian defence minister Dovilė Šakalienė said that the vehicle was located at “more than 5 meters down,” and digging is under way to get to it. Continue reading...

Politics

4 w. ago Key European leaders say it is ‘not the time’ to start lifting sanctions against Russia – Europe live

UK prime minister Keir Starmer calls out Russia for ‘playing games’ as French president Emmanuel Macron says Europe must prepare for any scenarioThe search continues for four US soldiers that went missing in Lithuania on Tuesday night, as their vehicle has been discovered submerged in water.The operation continues on Thursday with attempts to reach the area. Lithuanian defence minister Dovilė Šakalienė said that the vehicle was located at “more than 5 meters down,” and digging is under way to get to it. Continue reading...

Politics

4 w. ago Keir Starmer warns Donald Trump that 'now is not the time' for lifting sanctions on Russia

The PM joined the latest talks of the so-called 'coalition of the willing' in the French capital as allies continued to draw up plans for a possible peacekeeping force.

Events

4 w. ago ‘Coalition of the willing’ says Russia sanctions must not be eased – Starmer

The US appeared to signal its intention to help ease some sanctions on Russia following ceasefire talks earlier in the week.

Politics

4 w. ago Keir Starmer hints at push for more sanctions on Russia after ‘coalition of the willing’ talks on Ukraine – Europe live

UK prime minister said leaders agreed there needed to be more support for Ukraine and discussed ‘increasing sanctions to support US initiative’The search continues for four US soldiers that went missing in Lithuania on Tuesday night, as their vehicle has been discovered submerged in water.The operation continues on Thursday with attempts to reach the area. Lithuanian defence minister Dovilė Šakalienė said that the vehicle was located at “more than 5 meters down,” and digging is under way to get to it. Continue reading...

Politics

4 w. ago Starmer accuses Putin of 'hollow promises' on ceasefire as 'coalition of willing' allies hold talks with Zelensky in Paris amid fears Trump will drop sanctions on Russia

Keir Starmer is co-hosting the gathering in Paris with Emmanuel Macron, and Volodymyr Zelensky is attending.

Politics