89 m. ago Trump envoy Witkoff coached Russian official on how to praise US president, leaked call reveals

Steve Witkoff is facing calls to be sacked after a transcript of a call discussing the Ukraine peace plan with Vladimir Putin’s senior aide was released

Politics

1 hour ago Ukraine hopes to ride Trump’s carousel of chaos into a peace deal – but Putin is still in charge

The latest round of talks about peace may be drifting Ukraine’s way but Russia is still very active behind the scenes, writes world affairs editor Sam Kiley

Politics

2 h. ago Leaked transcript reveals how US envoy coached Russian official on how Putin should flatter Trump and praise his peace deal in Gaza in bid to achieve Ukraine ceasefire

A leaked transcript has revealed how the U.S. Special Envoy coached a Kremlin aide on how Putin should flatter Trump and praise his peace deal in Gaza , in a bid to achieve the Ukraine ceasefire.

Politics

3 h. ago How Trump’s ‘drone guy’ has become key figure in Ukraine peace talks

His charm offensive has caused Trump to include the Iraq War veteran in more talks

Politics

6 h. ago Rachel Reeves to announce UK Budget after weeks of speculation over tax rises

Reeves told Labour MPs the Budget was "a package, not a pick-and-mix. You can't say you like the cola bottles but you don't like the fruit salad".

Economics

9 h. ago The Donald was given a free pass by Labour MPs over Ukraine peace agreement. Why are they so wet? QUENTIN LETTS watches PMQs...

Reform sustained some damage in the Commons for its 'pro-Putin' stance. Sir Keir Starmer and Kemi Badenoch biffed hard at Nigel Farage 's party.

Politics

11 h. ago UK budget to target cost of living crisis as Reeves battles to keep Labour MPs on side

Chancellor’s fiscal statement billed as decisive moment for fate of Starmer government as she tries to fill £20bn spending gapRachel Reeves will promise to tackle Britain’s cost of living crisis and deliver fiscal stability in Wednesday’s budget, which is billed as a decisive moment for the fate of Keir Starmer’s beleaguered government.The chancellor will say she is taking the “fair and necessary choices” to shore up the economy as she raises billions of pounds worth of taxes to help offset lower than expected growth forecasts. Continue reading...

Events

11 h. ago Reeves vows to make ‘fair and necessary choices’ as Budget day dawns

The Chancellor will aim to grasp the cost of living, and fiscal credibility in her second Budget.

Politics

13 h. ago Trump envoy reportedly told Kremlin official that Ukraine must cede land for peace deal

Steve Witkoff told Yuri Ushakov in October phone call that peace would require Russia gaining control of Donetsk Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff told a senior Kremlin official last month that achieving peace in Ukraine would require Russia gaining control of Donetsk and potentially a separate territorial exchange, according to a recording of their conversation obtained by Bloomberg.In the 14 October phone call with Yuri Ushakov, the top foreign policy aide to the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, Witkoff said he believed the land concessions were necessary all while advising Ushakov to congratulate Trump and frame discussions more optimistically. Continue reading...

Politics

13 h. ago Trump envoy Witkoff reportedly advised Kremlin official on Ukraine peace deal

Steve Witkoff spoke to Yuri Ushakov on territorial control and suggested congratulating Donald Trump and framing talks more optimistically, audio recording suggestsDonald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff told a senior Kremlin official last month that achieving peace in Ukraine would require Russia gaining control of Donetsk and potentially a separate territorial exchange, according to a recording of their conversation obtained by Bloomberg.In the 14 October phone call with Yuri Ushakov, the top foreign policy aide to the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, Witkoff said he believed the land concessions were necessary all while advising Ushakov to congratulate Trump and frame discussions more optimistically. Continue reading...

Politics

14 h. ago Trump sends top envoy to Russia to finalise US peace plan for Ukraine

President’s comments come as Moscow signals it could reject proposal that differs from Alaska talks

Politics

14 h. ago Trump in desperate scramble to salvage Ukraine peace deal as he dispatches trusted envoy to Putin

Ukraine agreed to a new 19-point peace plan, a US official confirmed on Tuesday, but the terms are less favorable to Moscow.

Politics

14 h. ago Donald Trump sends trusted envoy to Putin in scramble to save Ukraine peace deal

Donald Trump has confirmed which of his top officials will be heading to meet Vladimir Putin in Moscow as he tries to push through a peace deal to end the war in Ukraine

Politics

16 h. ago Ukraine and US agree ‘essence’ of peace deal as Trump says ‘we’re getting very close’

But any deal would still require agreement from Russia

Politics

17 h. ago Ukraine and US edge towards peace deal as Trump says ‘We’re getting very close’

Kyiv has said it supports “the essence” of a peace plan while stressing there were still issues to address

Politics

17 h. ago A look at Kirill Dmitriev, the Russian envoy who helped craft the new Ukraine peace proposal

Kirill Dmitriev has emerged as a key player in drafting a new proposal to end Moscow’s war in Ukraine

Politics

17 h. ago Ukraine has shown the US a viable peace deal – but can Trump shake off Putin’s influence?

The latest round of talks about peace may be drifting Ukraine’s way but it’s a carousel of chaos, writes world affairs editor Sam Kiley

Politics

17 h. ago Zelenskyy says Ukraine ready to move forward with US plan and discuss ‘sensitive points’ with Trump

Ukrainian leader says that talks should also include European allies; Trump says deal is closeUS optimistic over Ukraine peace deal talks but ‘a few delicate details’ remainIn other EU related news, a top European court on Tuesday ruled that an EU nation had to recognise a gay marriage recorded in another member state, after a complaint by two Poles married in Germany.The couple, one of whom also has German nationality, were living there and married in Berlin in 2018, reports Agence France-Presse (AFP).The spouses in question, as EU citizens, enjoy the freedom to move and reside within the territory of the member states and the right to lead a normal family life when exercising that freedom and upon returning to their member state of origin.“Sweden’s defence needs to be strengthened against threats such as robots, drones and helicopters. The best way to guarantee peace and freedom is to invest in defence. The orders also contribute to growth, jobs and security of supply. It also imp...

Politics

19 h. ago Made up your mind yet, Rachel? Reeves puts finishing touches to tax hikes in chaotic Budget

Chancellor Rachel Reeves posed for the traditional eve-of-package photos in her study with a chess set visible on the desk.

Economics

19 h. ago US optimistic over Ukraine peace deal talks but ‘a few delicate details’ remain

Ukrainian official cites ‘common understanding’, but no sign territorial concessions or security guarantees are agreedEurope live – latest updatesDiscussions involving US, Russian and Ukrainian officials are taking place in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, the latest step in the Trump administration’s attempts to push through a peace deal to end the conflict in Ukraine.The White House spokesperson, Karoline Leavitt, put an optimistic spin on the talks, claiming the US had made “tremendous progress” on finding a resolution. There were “a few delicate, but not insurmountable, details” that needed to be ironed out which would require further talks, she said in a post on X. Continue reading...

Economics