50 m. ago Putin and Witkoff meet in Kremlin after car bomb kills Russian general near Moscow – Europe live

US envoy and Russian leader hold planned meeting following the death of Lt Gen Yaroslav Moskalik in BalashikhaPjotr Sauer is a Russian affairs reporter for the GuardianA senior Russian military official was killed in a car explosion near Moscow on Friday, just hours before a Kremlin meeting between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff. Continue reading...

Events

3 h. ago 'Crimea will stay with Russia,' says Trump blaming Ukraine's Nato ambitions for starting Putin's war

The US president’s envoy Steve Witkoff arrived in Moscow on Friday where he is expected to meet the Russian leader

Politics

3 h. ago Vladimir Putin rejects Donald Trump's plea to stop Ukraine attacks as new drone strikes kill five

The US president’s envoy Steve Witkoff arrived in Moscow on Friday where he is expected to meet the Russian leader

Events

4 h. ago Reeves hints at priority as she says ‘trading relationship with Europe arguably more important’ than US – UK politics live

Chancellor said she understood the focus on possible deal with US, but added the EU remained ‘our nearest neighbours and trading partners’Water company bosses face up to two years in prison if they cover up illegal sewage spills under new laws coming into force, PA Media reports. PA says:The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said no prison sentences have been handed to water company executives since privatisation despite widespread illegal sewage discharges, and the tougher penalties were essential because some firms have obstructed investigations.Environment secretary Steve Reed said: “Bosses must face consequences if they commit crimes. There must be accountability. From today, there will be no more hiding places.”I’m now pretty optimistic that we are moving in a good direction.In the end, I think everybody understands that this is about our security in Europe. It requires cooperation between democracies, friends, allies, countries with the same values.The...

Politics

5 h. ago Boris Johnson warns Ukraine ‘gets nothing’ from Trump’s peace proposals

The former UK prime minister, who built the international coalition backing Ukraine, has demolished the US president’s peace proposals

Events

5 h. ago Steve Witkoff arrives in Moscow for further talks with Russia about Ukraine peace plan – Europe live

US peace envoy to meet Vladimir Putin to discuss Donald Trump’s peace plan for Ukraine ahead of US president’s 100 days in office next weekAnd the Interfax news agency has now reported that Steve Witkoff arrived in Moscow, where he is expected to meet Vladimir Putin.Reuters noted that Witkoff has emerged as Washington’s key interlocutor with Putin as Trump pushes for a deal to end the war in Ukraine, and has already held three long meetings with the Kremlin leader. Continue reading...

Politics

22 h. ago ‘Vladimir, stop!’: Trump criticises Putin as Starmer and von der Leyen warn over Russian energy ‘blackmail’ – Europe live

US president says he is ‘not happy’ over Kyiv attack as death toll rises to 12 with 90 people injuredWe understand that while the visit will be cut short after Zelenskyy’s meeting with Ramaphosa, their media activities will still proceed, meaning we should hear from the Ukrainian president in the next few hours.Rachel and I will keep an eye on this development to see if Zelenskyy takes part in a scheduled press conference in Pretoria in case he wants to say more about the attacks overnight. Continue reading...

Events

25 h. ago ‘Vladimir, stop!’ Trump criticises Putin over attack on Kyiv – Europe live

US president says he is ‘not happy’ with Russian attack and criticises the ‘very bad timing’ We understand that while the visit will be cut short after Zelenskyy’s meeting with Ramaphosa, their media activities will still proceed, meaning we should hear from the Ukrainian president in the next few hours.Rachel and I will keep an eye on this development to see if Zelenskyy takes part in a scheduled press conference in Pretoria in case he wants to say more about the attacks overnight. Continue reading...

Politics

25 h. ago Zelenskyy calls for more ceasefire pressure on Russia after ‘massive’ Kyiv attack – Europe live

Ukrainian president says his country, unlike Moscow, has agreed to ceasefire demands and calls on US to play a greater role in guaranteeing peaceWe understand that while the visit will be cut short after Zelenskyy’s meeting with Ramaphosa, their media activities will still proceed, meaning we should hear from the Ukrainian president in the next few hours.Rachel and I will keep an eye on this development to see if Zelenskyy takes part in a scheduled press conference in Pretoria in case he wants to say more about the attacks overnight. Continue reading...

Events

28 h. ago Zelenskyy to cut South Africa trip short after ‘massive’ attack on Kyiv – Europe live

Children among nine dead and at least 70 wounded by Russian attack, Ukraine saysWe understand that while the visit will be cut short after Zelenskyy’s meeting with Ramaphosa, their media activities will still proceed, meaning we should hear from the Ukrainian president in the next few hours.Rachel and I will keep an eye on this development to see if Zelenskyy takes part in a scheduled press conference in Pretoria in case he wants to say more about the attacks overnight. Continue reading...

Events

29 h. ago ‘Massive’ Russian attack on Kyiv kills nine and wounds 70 as Trump criticises Zelenskyy over peace talks – Europe live

Attack on Kyiv comes hours after Donald Trump accused his Ukrainian counterpart of being ‘harder’ to deal with than PutinWe understand that while the visit will be cut short after Zelenskyy’s meeting with Ramaphosa, their media activities will still proceed, meaning we should hear from the Ukrainian president in the next few hours.Rachel and I will keep an eye on this development to see if Zelenskyy takes part in a scheduled press conference in Pretoria in case he wants to say more about the attacks overnight. Continue reading...

Events

30 h. ago US trade war fears drive UK consumer confidence down to record low; Tesla’s European sales fall again – business live

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsDonald Trump’s tariffs will make it harder for Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s car division, Ineos Automotive, to reach its first profit.Ineos Automotive’s CEO, Lynn Calder, told Bloomberg that the US president’s 25% tariff on foreign cars will make it harder to hit the earnings target.“For sure, this last week has put a dent in that and, for sure, delayed it,”“We’re stubborn as mules. We’re not easy to knock down.”“With fieldwork completed just days after Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs, it is unsurprising that consumer expectations for the economy plummeted to a record low. The original tariff schedule, since reduced for most countries, was expected to reduce growth in the UK and elsewhere. Yet despite this economic pessimism, expectations of retail spending rose slightly as the prospect of Easter shopping drew closer.The state of the economy dropped significantly to -48 in April, down from -35 in March.Their personal financial...

Economics

31 h. ago Ukraine's Zelenskyy arrives in South Africa for state visit following Trump's renewed criticism

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has arrived in South Africa for a state visit following U.S. President Donald Trump’s new accusations that he is prolonging the war against Russia by pushing back against any plan to give up Ukrainian territory in a peace deal

Politics

31 h. ago US trade war will hurt UK growth, Bank of England governor warns; Tesla’s European sales fall again – business live

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsACEA’s latest European car sales report shows a continued decline in demand for fossil fuel-powered vehicles.While new battery-electric car sales grew by 23.9% in the first three months of 2025, to 412,997 units, petrol car registrations saw a significant decline of 20.6%, with all major markets showing decreases. Continue reading...

Economics

43 h. ago Trump accuses Zelensky of prolonging ‘killing field’ in Ukraine and harming peace talks in fresh attack

Trump’s deputy JD Vance had earlier given an ultimatum to Putin and Zelensky to say ‘yes’ to the Ukraine peace plan or the US would walk away from talks

Events

47 h. ago JD Vance ultimatum to Putin and Zelensky: 'Time to say yes’ to Ukraine peace plan or US walks from talks

Donald Trump’s deputy said Russia and Ukraine had been presented with a ‘very explicit proposal’ to stop the conflict

Politics

47 h. ago Trump's deputy tells Putin and Zelensky: 'Time to say yes’ to Ukraine peace plan or US walks from talks

Donald Trump’s deputy said Russia and Ukraine had been presented with a ‘very explicit proposal’ to stop the conflict

Politics

49 h. ago JD Vance tells Putin and Zelensky: 'Time to say yes’ to Ukraine peace plan or US walks away from talks

Donald Trump’s deputy said Russia and Ukraine had been presented with a ‘very explicit proposal’ to stop the conflict

Politics

49 h. ago Talks on peace plan for Ukraine begin in London with five countries participating

Talks on peace plan for Ukraine begin in London with five countries participating  Українська правда

Politics

52 h. ago Vladimir Putin's bully boy peace plan revealed as he offers to 'halt Ukraine invasion'

Vladimir Putin is pushing for a ceasefire that would freeze the conflict along current front lines – effectively locking in Russia's territorial gains – and it seems Trump agrees

Politics