6 h. ago Setback for Europe after Trump insists Ukraine has ‘immediate’ peace talks with Russia

Zelenskyy had no choice but to accept Putin’s invitation to talks, diplomats sayEurope live – latest updatesDonald Trump’s social media post insisting Ukraine must immediately start peace talks with Russia has set back, and possibly jeopardised, Europe’s carefully laid plans to persuade the US to impose sanctions on Moscow for refusing the US president’s proposal for a 30-day ceasefire, European diplomats have said.Volodymyr Zelenskyy had no choice but to accept Vladimir Putin’s invitation to talks in Istanbul on Thursday for fear of offending Trump, diplomats said. Putin made the offer in a bid not to alienate the US president, and avoid the growing European pressure on Trump to impose harsher sanctions. Western diplomats say they have no reason to believe that Trump acted in collusion with the Russian leader. Continue reading...

Politics

12 h. ago Ukrainians tell Putin ‘we don’t trust you’ ahead of Russia peace talks

Ukrainian residents have voiced scepticism at Vladimir Putin’s proposed direct peace talks with Kyiv.

Politics

12 h. ago European foreign ministers demand peace in Ukraine as Zelenskyy challenges Putin to meet him – Europe live

EU foreign policy chief accuses Moscow of ‘playing games’ and insists peace talks cannot take place with Ukraine ‘under fire’Pope Leo then says that one of the most important challenges he sees is how to “promote communication that can bring us out of the Tower of Babel in which we sometimes find ourselves, out of the confusion of loveless languages that are often ideological or partisan.”Curiously, he then turns to artificial intelligence, which he hails its “immense potential,” but also warns that it “requires responsibility and discernment in order to ensure that it can be used for the good of all, so that it can benefit all of humanity.”“Let us disarm communication of all prejudice and resentment, fanaticism and even hatred, let us free it from aggression. We do not need loud, forceful communication, but rather communication that is capable of listening and of gathering the voices of the weak who have no voice.” Continue reading...

Politics

14 h. ago Zelenskyy challenges Putin to meet him for peace talks after Trump and European leaders increase pressure – Europe live

Ukrainian and Russian presidents have not communicated directly since Moscow launched invasion And the EU’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas is speaking now, and she’s striking a very similar tone, pointedly referring to over 100 Russian drones reportedly targeting Ukraine overnight.“We have to put pressure on Russia to really want peace and to sit down and to talk with Ukraine,” she says, accusing Moscow of “playing games.” Continue reading...

Politics

23 h. ago Putin’s spokesman says Moscow will ‘continue’ invasion while blaming Ukraine for not being ‘ready’ for peace

Talks tentatively set for Thursday in Turkey as Trump seeks conclusion to war he promised he could end in 24 hours

Politics

23 h. ago David Lammy to host leaders for critical talks about Russia’s ‘existential’ threat to Europe

The Foreign Secretary will host foreign ministers of the Weimar+ group at Lancaster House

Politics

27 h. ago President Zelensky offers to meet Putin in Turkey after Trump demands they negotiate an end to war

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said he is ready to meet Vladimir Putin “personally” in Turkey on Thursday, after Trump insisted Ukraine agree to talks with Russia.

Politics

27 h. ago Zelenskyy challenges Putin to meet in person for peace talks

Ukrainian president proposes face-to-face meeting after Russian leader suggests he is open to talks in TurkeyUkraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy has challenged Vladimir Putin to meet in person for peace talks in Istanbul on Thursday and urged Russia to accept a 30-day truce, in a dramatic turn after a weekend of diplomatic flurry.His comments came after the US president, Donald Trump, pressured him to agree “immediately” to Putin’s offer of negotiations this week with Russia, but upped the stakes by suggesting the enemies meet “personally”. Continue reading...

Politics

33 h. ago Zelenskyy says Russia must agree to ceasefire before holding peace talks

Ukrainian president welcomes Putin’s call to meet but insists on 30-day unconditional truce

Events

36 h. ago Ukraine ready to meet Russia but only if ceasefire agreed, says Zelenskyy

Ukrainian president open to direct talks after Putin suggests negotiations in Turkey on ThursdayUkraine war live – latest updatesUkraine is open to direct talks with Russia later this week but only if Moscow signs up to an unconditional ceasefire first, Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said, responding to Vladimir Putin’s overnight suggestion of negotiations in Turkey.“There is no point in continuing the killing even for a single day. We expect Russia to confirm a ceasefire – full, lasting and reliable – starting tomorrow, May 12, and Ukraine is ready to meet,” Ukraine’s president said in a post on X on Sunday morning. Continue reading...

Events

38 h. ago Ukraine war live: Zelenskyy welcomes Putin calls for talks but says Russia must agree to ‘full, lasting, reliable’ ceasefire

In late-night address in Moscow, Russian president dismissed calls by European leaders for 30-day ceasefire to start on MondayVladimir Putin’s proposal for “direct talks” with Kyiv came hours after leaders from the UK, France, Germany and Poland travelled to Kyiv to meet Volodymyr Zelenskyy.As my colleague Shaun Walker notes in this story, the European leaders told the Russian president to sign up to an unconditional ceasefire by Monday or face increased sanctions and weapons transfers to Ukraine.It is a positive sign that the Russians have finally begun to consider ending the war.The entire world has been waiting for this for a very long time. And the very first step in truly ending any war is a ceasefire. There is no point in continuing the killing even for a single day. Continue reading...

Events

38 h. ago Trump hails a 'potentially great day for Russia and Ukraine' after Putin proposed peace talks following ceasefire ultimatum

Last night the Russian President called for direct talks with Ukraine in Istanbul on May 15, saying the two countries should aim to achieve 'peace'.

Politics

45 h. ago Putin calls for 'direct talks' with Ukraine to make 'lasting, strong peace' in rare late

In a rare late-night TV address on Sunday, he said Russia was proposing direct talks with Ukraine in an attempt 'to achieve the restoration of a long-term, lasting peace'.

Politics

59 h. ago Ukraine war live: Macron calls for ‘direct talks’ between Russia and Ukraine as European leaders arrive in Kyiv

Keir Starmer, Emmanuel Macron, Friedrich Merz and Donald Tusk are in Ukraine for talks with ZelenskyyIt is the first time the leaders of the four European nations (France, the UK, Germany and Poland) have made a joint visit to Ukraine, reports Agence France-Presse (AFP).“We are clear the bloodshed must end. Russia must stop its illegal invasion,” the leaders said in a joint statement, adding:Alongside the US, we call on Russia to agree a full and unconditional 30-day ceasefire to create the space for talks on a just and lasting peace.We will continue to increase our support for Ukraine. Until Russia agrees to an enduring ceasefire, we will ratchet up pressure on Russia’s war machine. Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago Vance says Russia asking ‘too much’ in ceasefire talks with Ukraine

Trump says ‘it’s possible that’s right’ about the vice-president’s remarks amid frustrations with RussiaJD Vance has said that Russia is asking for “too much” in its negotiations with Ukraine in the latest sign of growing frustration from Washington with ceasefire talks to end the war between the two countries.Speaking at a security conference of senior military and diplomatic leaders in Washington, the US vice-president said that the White House is focused on getting the two sides to hold direct talks and is ready to walk away if certain benchmarks are not reached. Continue reading...

Events

1 week 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

1 week ago US pulls out of formal peace talks between Ukraine and Russia

The US government said it will no longer ‘fly around the world at the drop of a hat’ for meetings

Politics

2 w. ago Russia claims it is ‘ready’ for Ukraine talks but demands recognition of occupied territories – Europe live

Comments from foreign minister Sergei Lavrov about ‘ownership’ follow suggestions from Trump that Ukraine could cede CrimeaAt the European Commission’s midday press briefing, the chief spokesperson Paula Pinho has just been asked about the EU’s reaction to Donald Trump’s comments over the weekend after he met with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of Pope Francis’s funeral.She said:President Zelensky has been very much aligned with the EU position, and vice versa, we’ve been very much aligned with President Zelensky on the position with regard to peace and negotiations regarding a ceasefire agreement, where absolutely the position of Ukraine is the determining position.We’ve also heard, indeed, the comments by President Trump after these talks, and we welcome those comments that go in the sense of also acknowledging that the attacks of Russia on Ukraine, which, by the way, continued over the weekend, cannot be accepted. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago Putin wants Zelensky to make first move on direct talks, says Kremlin as Trump claims Kyiv will give up Crimea

The US president has urged Russia to stop firing missiles into civilian areas of Ukraine after a string of deadly attacks

Politics

2 w. ago Europe live: Russia claims it is ‘ready’ for Ukraine talks but demands recognition of occupied territories

Comments from foreign minister Sergei Lavrov about ‘ownership’ follow suggestions from Trump that Ukraine could cede CrimeaIn other European developments over the weekend, the National Rally leader Jordan Bardella said he would be ready to step in as the French far-right’s presidential candidate in 2027 if Marine Le Pen is ultimately barred from running.Le Pen was handed a five-year public office ban after a court found her and some members of her party guilty in March of misappropriation of funds. Continue reading...

Events