16 h. ago Starmer shifts from boots on the ground in Ukraine to air and sea defence

UK prime minister hosts meeting of senior armed forces figures from 31 nations

Politics

39 h. ago Trump and Zelenskyy share ‘frank’ but ‘very good’ call as Ukraine accepts partial ceasefire

Ukraine’s president says his country is ready to implement pause in strikes on energy and infrastructureEurope live – latest updatesDonald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a “very good telephone call” on Wednesday, according to Trump, in the first conversation between the US president and his Ukrainian counterpart since their disastrous showdown in the White House three weeks ago.Zelenskyy described the call as “positive, very substantive and frank”, and said he had signed up to a partial ceasefire that Trump agreed with Vladimir Putin a day earlier. The White House said Trump had promised to help with a Ukrainian request to source more air defence batteries for Kyiv. Continue reading...

Politics

48 h. ago Air strikes in Ukraine ‘not encouraging’ sign of progress to peace – Timms

Russian drones hit Ukrainian cities overnight as Volodymyr Zelensky said Vladimir Putin’s words ‘are very different from reality’.

Events

50 h. ago Russia attacks Ukraine hours after partial ceasefire agreed in Putin

Shortly after call ended, about 45 drones targeted region around Kyiv with anti-aircraft fire audible across capital overnightRussia-Ukraine war – latest news updatesRussia attacked Ukraine with kamikaze drones and S-300 surface-to-air missiles overnight, Ukrainian authorities have said, hours after Vladimir Putin told Donald Trump he would sign up to a partial and temporary ceasefire.Trump and Putin spoke for more than two hours on Tuesday evening, and while the Russian president rejected Trump’s request for a full 30-day ceasefire, to which Ukraine had agreed last week in Jeddah, the pair agreed on a moratorium on strikes on energy and infrastructure targets. Continue reading...

Events

4 d. ago Ukraine war briefing: Zelenskyy replaces head of general staff of the armed forces

Defence minister says Ukraine ‘systematically transforming’ its military; Macron says allied security force does need Russia’s blessing. What we know on day 1,118The Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has appointed Andriy Gnatov as chief of the general staff of the armed forces, replacing Anatoliy Bargylevych, who has been moved to chief inspector of the defence ministry. “He [Gnatov] is a combat guy,” Zelenskyy said. “His task is to bring more combat experience Everything that our brigades have learned from the war should be implemented 100% at the planning level.” Ukraine’s defence minister, Rustem Umerov, posted: “We are systematically transforming the armed forces of Ukraine to enhance their combat effectiveness. This involves restructuring the command system and implementing clear standards.”Russia launched a drone attack on Kyiv, its mayor, Vitali Klitschko, said early on Monday, adding that Ukrainian air defence units were responding. Reuters said its witnesses heard b...

Events

9 d. ago Splits in Starmer's 'coalition of the willing' for Ukraine as Italy's Meloni 'will not join summit' on Saturday amid doubts over UK and France offer of boots on the ground

Italian PM Giorgia Meloni is said to be snubbing talks called by Sir Keir on Saturday about how to enforce any peace deal with Russia.

Politics

9 d. ago Starmer denounces benefits system as ‘unsustainable, indefensible and unfair’ in move to slash welfare bill

Keir Starmer has signalled a surprising shift to the right for Labour in attacking the welfare system

Economics

1 week ago Zelenskyy arrives in Saudi as Ukraine expected to push for air and sea ceasefire during US talks – Europe live

Ukrainian president will be holding talks with Mohammed bin SalmanThe UK rejected Russian allegations that two British diplomats were suspected of carrying out espionage activities (9:04) as “malicious and baseless,” saying it is not the first time Russia made similar accusations.Visitors from around the world have been flocking to the Pompidou Centre in Paris this weekend, seizing the last opportunity to enjoy Europe’s largest temple of modern and contemporary art before it closes its doors for a five-year overhaul. Continue reading...

Society

1 week ago Newcastle hit by 'gypsy curse' that's stopped them winning anything for 70 years

The team had a hex slapped on them in 1955 by a group of travellers who were booted off their training ground - until then they were one of the most successful teams in the country

Events

1 week ago Trump ‘strongly considering’ Russia sanctions until Ukraine peace agreed – Europe live

US president says he could implement ‘large scale banking sanctions and tariffs’ in post on social mediaMeanwhile, in Ukraine Russia launched a “massive” drone and missile attack on Ukrainian energy facilities early Friday, just days after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European allies proposed that Moscow and Kyiv halt strikes on critical infrastructure, AFP reported.The Ukrainian air force said Russia had launched at least 58 missiles and nearly 200 drones, damaging energy facilities across the country from Kharkiv in the east to Ternopil in the west. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Trump ‘strongly considering’ Russia sanctions until Ukraine ceasefire agreed – Europe live

US president says he could implement ‘large scale banking sanctions and tariffs’ in post on social mediaMeanwhile, in Ukraine Russia launched a “massive” drone and missile attack on Ukrainian energy facilities early Friday, just days after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European allies proposed that Moscow and Kyiv halt strikes on critical infrastructure, AFP reported.The Ukrainian air force said Russia had launched at least 58 missiles and nearly 200 drones, damaging energy facilities across the country from Kharkiv in the east to Ternopil in the west. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Zelenskyy reiterates call for air truce after huge Russian attack on Ukraine infrastructure – Europe live

Ukrainian president backs Macron’s call for limited truce and says attack used nearly 70 Russian missiles and 200 dronesMeanwhile, in Ukraine Russia launched a “massive” drone and missile attack on Ukrainian energy facilities early Friday, just days after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European allies proposed that Moscow and Kyiv halt strikes on critical infrastructure, AFP reported.The Ukrainian air force said Russia had launched at least 58 missiles and nearly 200 drones, damaging energy facilities across the country from Kharkiv in the east to Ternopil in the west. Continue reading...

Society

1 week ago Twist of fate that left mother dead in freak beach accident: Mother slipped and got wedged head

A mother died when she became trapped underwater after falling in a gap between sea defence boulders while walking her dog with her daughter, an inquest heard today.

Events

2 w. ago All Eurostar Paris trains cancelled on Friday amid French rail disruption over suspected WW2 bomb – Europe live

French media say device discovered on tracks in Saint DenisMeanwhile, in Ukraine Russia launched a “massive” drone and missile attack on Ukrainian energy facilities early Friday, just days after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European allies proposed that Moscow and Kyiv halt strikes on critical infrastructure, AFP reported.The Ukrainian air force said Russia had launched at least 58 missiles and nearly 200 drones, damaging energy facilities across the country from Kharkiv in the east to Ternopil in the west. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago In numbers: Is the UK ready to put boots on the ground in Ukraine?

Keir Starmer’s commitment to deploy British peacekeepers to Ukraine has raised questions over whether the UK is ready for conflict, Alicja Hagopian writes

Politics

2 w. ago As Trump pulls military aid, is the UK ready to put boots on the ground in Ukraine?

Keir Starmer’s commitment to deploy British peacekeepers to Ukraine has raised questions over whether the UK is ready for conflict, Alijca Hagopian writes

Events

2 w. ago Voices: Ukraine will run out of US air defence support in days – and Putin knows it

Long-range US Patriot missiles protect Volodymyr Zelensky’s offices. They guard Ukraine’s handful of functioning airfields. In a few days, Russia will have a strategic advantage, warns World Affairs Editor Sam Kiley

Politics

2 w. ago JD Vance dismisses Keir Starmer's 'coalition of the willing' to secure Ukraine as '20,000 troops from some random country that hasn't fought a war in 30 or 40 years'

JD Vance jibed that a force with UK and French boots on the ground amounted to '20,000 troops from some random country that hasn't fought a war in 30 or 40 years'.

Events

2 w. ago Ukraine reacts with defiance and anger to Trump withdrawal of military aid

White House’s latest punitive move against Kyiv will lead to ‘joy in Moscow’, Ukrainian commentators sayUkraine has reacted with defiance and anger to Donald Trump’s suspension of all US military aid, saying the decision amounted to betrayal by an ally and would help Russia to bomb and kill more civilians.Deliveries of ammunition and vehicles have ceased, including shipments agreed to when Joe Biden was president. Ukrainians said the biggest impact was likely to be on Ukraine’s ability to defend itself from Russian air attacks, which have escalated in recent weeks. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago Zelenskyy says minerals deal is ready to be signed as he seeks to move conversation on from White House spat – live

Keir Starmer announces additional £1.6bn package for Ukraine, allowing it ‘to buy more than 5,000 air defence missiles’Kemi Badenoch said she does not agree that the Oval Office clash was part of an orchestrated “ambush”, as some had suggested, as both Kyiv and Washington were representing their “respective national interests”.The leader of the opposition, Kemi Badenoch, says there is no difference between Labour and Conservative in terms of British support for Ukraine. When asked about the furious exchange between Trump and Zelenskyy at the White House, the Conservative party leader said her “heart went out” to the Ukrainian president while she was watching it.I couldn’t believe what was happening. He was being humiliated. I don’t think we should conduct these sort of difficult conservations in front of the cameras and we have to remember that President Zelenskyy is a hero.He is the person who represents that strength and resilience of the Ukrainian people and whatever difference a...

Society