37 h. ago US envoy to Ukraine reveals ‘extensive and positive’ talks with Zelenskyy – Europe live

Statement from Keith Kellogg comes a day after he cancelled their joint press conference in KyivA 51-year-old man has been sentenced to eight years in jail in Poland for preparing acts of diversion which the prosecutors found to be commissioned by Russia.The man, a Ukrainian citizen, was arrested in 2024 as part of a broader investigation into several suspected acts of diversion, including arson, in western Poland. Continue reading...

Politics

39 h. ago UK ‘massively vulnerable’ to threat of Russia after decades of military cuts, ex

With Sir Keir Starmer under mounting pressure to boost the UK’s defence budget, General Sir Nick Carter said the UK’s ‘remarkably hollow’ Army would be unable to fend off Russia if it needed

Events

40 h. ago Keir Starmer urged to ramp up defence spending – UK politics live

This is ‘probably one of the most alarming times for Britain’s defence since the second world war’, says Lib Dem leader Ed Davey as he calls for more spendingHello and welcome to our rolling coverage of UK politics.The Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey has said the government must swiftly ramp up defence spending to 2.5% of gross domestic product (GDP).I’ve never known a time like this, it is probably one of the most alarming times for Britain’s defence and security since the second world war, with our closest ally changing their position. So we have to debate it, it is going to be difficult.I don’t think there’s an easy solution, but we have put some ideas on the table. One idea we have put is to increase the digital services taxes, a tax on about 20 multinational companies with turnovers of over £500m and we would raise it from the current 2% to 10%.Foreign secretary David Lammy is in South Africa for the second day of the G20 foreign ministers’ meeting.Scottish Labour leader Anas ...

Politics

40 h. ago EU planning to send Ukraine ‘very strong message’ with new aid package – Europe live

Defence commissioner Andrius Kubilius says the EU’s position is ‘very clear’ as the bloc is committed to peace through strength’European Commissioner for defence Andrius Kubilius gets asked about the EU’s plans to support Ukraine.He says that the EU’s position is “very clear,” as the bloc is committed to “peace through strength”.We are informed on that and we know that investigations are going on [by] the authorities, and we will get more information later about this. Continue reading...

Politics

41 h. ago Young Britons ‘to be given chance to live and work in Europe’ under Starmer’s plan for post

No 10 has so far rejected plan, which has proved to be a key sticking point in negotiations

Politics

42 h. ago Macron and Starmer to lead Europe’s Trump charm offensive when they travel to US – Europe live

French president and UK prime minister are due to meet Donald Trump next weekGoing briefly to a number of different false claims made by US president Donald Trump about Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Ukraine, we have looked at some of them in detail and produced this short video explainer.French president Emmanuel Macron and UK prime minister Keir Starmer will lead Europe’s charm offensive next week as they both travel to the US to meet with president Donald Trump in an increasingly desperate bid to change his mind on Ukraine and European security. Continue reading...

Politics

43 h. ago Pressure grows for Starmer to boost defence spending ahead of Trump showdown

PM travels to Washington next week as the only major UK party leader who has not backed calls to hike the defence budget to 2.5 per cent of Britain’s GDP by 2030

Politics

58 h. ago ‘Russia has learned nothing’ over Ukraine war, says David Lammy – UK politics live

UK foreign secretary criticises Russia over Ukraine war, saying it ‘faces a test’ over Ukraine war as he speaks at G20 foreign ministerial meetingAs well as appearing on the airwaves this morning to promote Labour’s £270m Arts Everywhere fund, culture secretary Lisa Nandy also supplied some quotes for the press release accompanying the launch.She said:Arts and culture help us understand the world we live in, they shape and define society and are enjoyed by people in every part of our country. They are the building blocks of our world-leading creative industries and make a huge contribution towards boosting growth and breaking down barriers to opportunities for young people to learn the creative skills they need to succeed.The funding we are announcing today will allow the arts to continue to flourish across Britain, creating good jobs and growth by fixing the foundations in our cultural venues, museums, libraries and heritage institutions [and] will ensure that arts and cultural ins...

Politics

61 h. ago UK and Norway negotiating ‘ambitious’ new defence pact – UK politics live

Downing Street says the two leaders spoke overnight, after Donald Trump accused the Ukrainian president of being a ‘dictator’As well as appearing on the airwaves this morning to promote Labour’s £270m Arts Everywhere fund, culture secretary Lisa Nandy also supplied some quotes for the press release accompanying the launch.She said:Arts and culture help us understand the world we live in, they shape and define society and are enjoyed by people in every part of our country. They are the building blocks of our world-leading creative industries and make a huge contribution towards boosting growth and breaking down barriers to opportunities for young people to learn the creative skills they need to succeed.The funding we are announcing today will allow the arts to continue to flourish across Britain, creating good jobs and growth by fixing the foundations in our cultural venues, museums, libraries and heritage institutions [and] will ensure that arts and cultural institutions truly are f...

Politics

3 d. ago Real Madrid v Manchester City: Champions League playoff round, second leg – live

Champions League, 8pm GMT kick-off (first leg: 3-2)Aston Villa v Liverpool: our Premier League liveblogLive scores | Read today’s Football Daily | Mail MichaelFor Real Madrid, there’s a big boost with the return of Antonio Rüdiger in central defence. The German hasn’t played in nearly three weeks, since the defeat to Espanyol on 1 February. I wonder how fit he is.Just as he did in Manchester, Dani Ceballos is selected in central midfield. Camavinga, Guler and Modric on the bench.Erling trained a bit yesterday but we spoke and he said he didn’t feel good. He is massively important to us but it is what it is. Hopefully we will stay in the game for many, many, many minutes. We know what we have to do in terms of courage. Continue reading...

Sport

4 d. ago Watch live: UK defence secretary John Healey speaks as Europe split over Starmer pledge to send troops to Ukraine

Watch live as UK defence secretary John Healey speaks after a split emerged among European nations over whether to match Sir Keir Starmer’s pledge to send UK troops to Ukraine.

Society

5 d. ago Keir Starmer faces growing pressure to boost defence budget now to prepare British troops for Ukraine

The PM was warned that without hiking spending to at least 2.5 per cent of GDP within days, he risked failing to meet his promise that the UK will play a 'leading' role in keeping the peace in Ukraine.

Events

5 d. ago US ‘backstop’ vital to deter future Russian attacks on Ukraine, says Starmer

British prime minister says force would need protections such as air cover that only US can provide Keir Starmer has urged Donald Trump to provide a US “backstop” to a European peacekeeping force in Ukraine, saying it is the only way to deter Russia from attacking the country again.The UK prime minister’s appeal to Trump came after an emergency summit in Paris that heard widespread calls by European leaders for a large boost in defence spending. Continue reading...

Events

5 d. ago US must provide ‘backstop’ to deter Russia from attacking Ukraine again, Starmer says after emergency Paris summit – Europe live

UK prime minister says future of Europe and Ukraine at stake after European leaders convene at emergency summit in ParisSwedish prime minister Ulf Kristersson told Reuters that deploying Swedish troops to Ukraine as part of a peacekeeping force is “absolutely a possibility.”His comments build on earlier declaration from Swedish foreign minister Maria Malmer Stenegard (9:40). Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago Scottish MPs demand details after Sir Keir Starmer suggests sending troops to Ukraine

The Prime Minister has said the UK and Europe are facing a “generational challenge”

Politics

5 d. ago Kemi Badenoch says ‘western civilisation will be lost’ if Tory party fails

Conservative leader calls ‘pronouns, diversity policies and climate activism’ a ‘poison’ in speech at rightwing eventKemi Badenoch has said “our country and all of western civilisation will be lost” if efforts to renew the Conservative party and drive forward rightwing ideas globally fail.Likening her own leadership to Donald Trump’s second term, she used a gathering of fellow conservatives to attack Keir Starmer for taking the knee in a nod to Black Lives Matter and described “pronouns, diversity policies and climate activism” as a “poison”. Continue reading...

Events

5 d. ago Defence stocks boost European markets amid emergency talks over Ukraine war

BAE Systems, which makes weapons, military vehicles and aircraft, saw its share price jump by about 9% on Monday.

Events

5 d. ago Starmer warns UK faces ‘generational’ threat to security as PM to meet Trump in Washington: UK politics live

Badenoch claimed Western civilisation was in crisis as she spoke to global right-wing leaders on Monday

Events

5 d. ago Starmer ‘living in fantasy land’ and must boost defence spending, ex

After the prime minister confirmed he would be willing to put UK armed forces in harm’s way to defend the country, the former head of the army said the pledge ‘is going to come at a cost’

Politics

5 d. ago Lib Dems say Badenoch is echoing Trump’s ‘dangerous rhetoric’ as she claims ‘some cultures better than others’ – UK politics live

Conservative leader of the opposition speaks at right-wing conference in LondonKeir Starmer’s announcement via the Telegraph that he was prepared to put British peacekeeping troops on the ground in Ukraine was also described by Conservative MP and shadow cabinet spokesperson Alicia Kearns as not the right priority. She told viewers of Sky News “his priority should be today talking about defence spending.”It was put to her that by Sky’s Wilfred Frost that “you’re trying to criticise the state of defence spending six months into their government, when this is a long-term issue, after 14 years [of Conservatives being] in power.”I’ve always been very clear. I was critical of my own government. But what I’m saying is, since July, a decision was made to side with the Treasury, to not give the increase in defence spending. We needed to continue to replenish stocks. Replenishing stocks should be the priority so that we are ready if we do need to provide peacekeeping services, if we do need ...

Politics