6 d. ago ‘No mistrust’ between Europe and US over Ukraine, Macron says

French president’s remarks come a day after a report claimed he had warned Washington could betray KyivEmmanuel Macron has said there is “no mistrust” between Europe and the US, a day after a report claimed the French president had warned privately there was a risk Washington could betray Ukraine.“Unity between Americans and Europeans on the Ukrainian issue is essential. And I say it again and again, we need to work together,” Macron told reporters during a visit to China. Continue reading...

Politics

7 d. ago Trump hails Rwanda and DR Congo for ‘settling war’ as major peace deal signed

Peace efforts mediated by Qatar and the United States this year have failed to end the conflict

Politics

7 d. ago Macron risks row with Trump after saying US will ‘betray Ukraine’ in leaked call with EU leaders

The phone call leaked in the German media has revealed a rift between Europe and Washington

Politics

7 d. ago Macron reportedly warned Zelenskyy US may ‘betray Ukraine on territory’

Der Spiegel quotes leaked call in which European leaders voice doubts about Washington’s approach to peace talksEmmanuel Macron has reportedly warned Volodymyr Zelenskyy that “there is a chance that the US will betray Ukraine on territory, without clarity on security guarantees”, the German magazine Der Spiegel reported, quoting a leaked note from a recent call with several European leaders.Der Spiegel said it had obtained an English summary of Monday’s call, featuring what it said were direct quotations from European heads of government in which they expressed fundamental doubts about Washington’s approach to the talks. Continue reading...

Events

7 d. ago Macron 'tells European leaders 'there's a chance the US will betray Ukraine' according to leaked transcript'

The French president is said to have told allies that Washington may try to force a carve-up of Ukraine to appease Vladimir Putin.

Politics

7 d. ago Macron reportedly warned European leaders ‘there is a chance that the US will betray Ukraine’ – Europe live

German magazine Der Spiegel has reported the warning, quoting a leaked note from a recent call between the European leadersBut on a more serious note, we are hearing that German chancellor Friedrich Merz has postponed his planned visit to Norway scheduled for Friday and will travel to Brussels instead.Merz will travel to Belgium for a private dinner with Belgian prime minister Bart De Wever and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, his spokesperson said in comments reported by Reuters. Continue reading...

Events

8 d. ago Europe is holding the line against Trump’s and Putin’s plans for Ukraine. But it won’t be able to for ever | Martin Kettle

In the 21st-century imbalance of power, Europe and Nato have neither the arms nor the wealth to impel Russia or the US to take its peace settlement seriouslyThe failure of this week’s peace talks between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff fits into a now well-established pattern of standoffs on Ukraine during Trump’s second term. But the dynamic that produced these talks may be becoming more entrenched. The US and Russian interests driving the process have not changed, while the conflict on the ground is intensifying. The lack of progress this week means there will be another attempt to end the war soon, and perhaps another after that, until, one day, there is some kind of US-backed deal to halt the conflict on terms broadly favouring Russia.The geopolitical algorithm driving this effort is too consistent to ignore. It has been repeated ever since Trump re-entered the White House in January. On the campaign trail, Trump had claimed he could stop the war in a day. ...

Politics

1 week ago Ukraine war live: Trump envoy Steve Witkoff set to meet Vladimir Putin in Moscow amid US push for peace deal

Talks come after Witkoff led US discussions with Ukraine at weekend amid European concerns that Kyiv will be pressured to make concessions to MoscowUS-Russia talks may pile pressure on Kyiv to make concessions, says EU foreign policy chief See all our Ukraine war coverageThe Kremlin has said Vladimir Putin will meet Steve Witkoff for their talks on Tuesday afternoon. It’s now approaching 9.10am local time in Moscow.Their meeting would take “in the second half of the day”, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said, while refusing to be drawn on Russia’s red lines, saying megaphone diplomacy was not helpful.Russian military commanders told Putin in comments reported on Monday that Russian forces had captured the frontline Ukrainian towns of Pokrovsk – a key logistics hub – and Vovchansk and were advancing elsewhere, which the Russian president hailed as successes to enable further gains. Ukrainian officials have made no acknowledgement that either place has fallen into Russian hands. Co...

Politics

1 week ago The Guardian view on Ukraine peace talks: Putin is taking Trump for another ride on the Kremlin carousel | Editorial

Russia’s president is only interested in a deal on Moscow’s terms. Equipping Kyiv with the resources to fight on is the quickest route to a just settlementAs Donald Trump’s Thanksgiving Day deadline for a Ukraine peace agreement came and went this week, the Russia expert Mark Galeotti pointed to a telling indicator of how the Kremlin is treating the latest flurry of White House diplomacy. In the government paper Rossiyskaya Gazeta, a foreign policy scholar close to Vladimir Putin’s regime bluntly observed: “As long as hostilities continue, leverage remains. As soon as they cease, Russia finds itself alone (we harbour no illusions) in the face of coordinated political and diplomatic pressure.”Mr Putin has no interest in a ceasefire followed by talks where Ukraine’s rights as a sovereign nation would be defended and reasserted. He seeks the capitulation and reabsorption of Russia’s neighbour into Moscow’s orbit. Whether that is achieved through battlefield attrition, or through a Trum...

Politics

1 week ago Israeli forces caught on camera killing Palestinians who had appeared to surrender

Israeli troops were caught on camera killing two Palestinian men who appeared to be unarmed and were surrendering in the occupied West Bank on Thursday (27 November).

Events

2 w. ago Why Senne Lammens' Man United debut was delayed after transfer deadline day deal

Senne Lammens has become Manchester United's first choice goalkeeper since the 2-0 victory over Sunderland at Old Trafford

Economics

2 w. ago Trump blasts Ukraine for ‘zero gratitude’ as Germany says deal to end war unlikely to be reached by Thursday deadline – live

Chancellor Friedrich Merz says ‘we are still a long way from that’ as Trump blasts Ukrainian leadership on social mediaThe Ukrainian delegation has held talks with European security officials in Geneva, according to the head of Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s office, Andriy Yermak.“Overall, a series of meetings in various formats is planned for today. We continue working together to achieve a lasting and just peace for Ukraine,” Yermak wrote in a post on X. “The next meeting is with the US delegation. We are in a very constructive mood.” Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago There is only one thing Europe and Ukraine can do with Trump’s ‘peace’ ultimatum

Trump’s America is falling into autocracy and advocates for Russian victory in Ukraine - it’s time the West saw this and dealt with it, Sam Kiley world affairs editor explains how

Politics

2 w. ago Ukraine war briefing: defeating Russia an ‘illusion’, says Putin, as he welcomes Trump deal

Russia’s president says US-led plan ‘could form the basis of a final peace settlement’, bolstering concerns in Europe about one-sided nature of US-brokered deal. What we know on day 1,368See all our Russia-Ukraine war coverageVladimir Putin says Ukraine is being unrealistic if it does not accept the US plan to end the war, declaring: “Ukraine is against it. Apparently, Ukraine and its European allies are still under illusions and dream of inflicting a strategic defeat on Russia on the battlefield”. The positive response from the Russian president adds weight to the views of European and Ukrainian officials that the deal amounts to a “capitulation”. Addressing Russia’s national security council, Putin called the 28-point plan “a new version” and “a modernised plan” of what was discussed with the US ahead of his Alaska summit with Donald Trump in August, and said Moscow has received it. Putin said the plan “could form the basis of a final peace settlement”.Volodymyr Zelenskyy has reac...

Politics

2 w. ago Zelenskyy says Ukraine has impossible choice as Trump pushes plan to end war

US president demands that Kyiv accepts plan that would mean giving up territory to RussiaVolodymyr Zelenskyy has said Ukraine faces one of the most difficult moments in its history, after Donald Trump demanded Kyiv accepts within days a US-backed “peace plan” that would force it to give up territory to Russia and make other painful concessions.Trump confirmed on Friday morning that next Thursday – Thanksgiving in the US – would be an “acceptable” deadline for Zelenskyy to sign the deal, which European and Ukrainian officials have said amounts to a “capitulation”. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago President Zelensky says he won't 'betray' Ukraine as he faces impossible Trump peace plan dilemma

‘Now is one of the most difficult moments of our history’, says Ukraine President as US tells him to sign up to losing territory or lose arms

Politics

2 w. ago Surrender by Thursday: Zelensky insists he will 'not betray Ukraine'... but faces impossible choice after US sets peace deal deadline and Kyiv insider says 28

The 28-point plan that the U.S. has presented to Ukraine endorses some of Moscow's demands and leaves security guarantees for Kyiv vague.

Economics

2 w. ago Trump's Ukraine deal stuns Europe as his unprecedented NATO pledge forces Kyiv into an impossible choice

Ukraine and Russia are about to enter their fourth year of ongoing conflict while Trump has pressed for a deal between Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky.

Politics

2 w. ago Ukraine risks losing key partner or its dignity, warns Zelenskyy, as Trump sets Thanksgiving deadline to accept deal – Europe live

US president says ‘Thursday is an appropriate time’ in radio interview as Ukrainian leader weighs up US proposalGerman Bild tabloid is also reporting that Merz is expected to hold a phone call not only with Zelenskyy, but also with the US president, Donald Trump.Mind you: there’s been no official confirmation yet. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Army secretary set to meet with Zelenskyy to help with Ukraine peace talks, officials say

Several high-ranking Army officials, including Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, are in Ukraine to help with peace talks

Politics