25 h. ago Ukraine war briefing: We bomb their warplanes, they bomb our civilians, says foreign minister

Repeated shutdowns at Moscow airports due to drone threat; military airfields and fuel depots inside Russia hit. What we know on day 1,200Russia’s missile and drone barrage against Kyiv on Friday killed at least six people, Ukrainian officials said. Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian president, said three emergency workers who went to a bomb site were “killed in a repeat Russian strike”. Two died in an attack on the northern city of Chernihiv and at least one more in the north-western city of Lutsk. Eighty people were injured in attacks across Ukraine.Ukraine’s foreign minister, Andrii Sybiha, said Russia had “‘responded’ to its destroyed aircraft by attacking civilians in Ukraine Multi-storey buildings hit. Energy infrastructure damaged.” Ukrainian spies last weekend destroyed Russian strategic bomber aircraft on the ground using quadcopter drones hidden on top of trucks in Operation Spiderweb.Russian aviation authorities restricted flights at Moscow regional airports on Friday nig...

Politics

47 h. ago Kyiv under major drone attack after Putin threatened response to Ukrainian strikes in Russia

The attack comes after Ukraine hit 41 Russian military aircraft last Sunday

Events

61 h. ago Ukraine's drone attack on Russian air bases is a lesson for the West on its vulnerabilities

Ukraine said its “Operation Spiderweb” attacked Russian warplanes worth hundreds of millions of dollars, utilizing drones that each cost under $1,000 and were launched from wooden containers carried on trucks

Events

5 d. ago Ukraine proposes next round of talks before end of June as Russia rejects unconditional ceasefire – Russia

Ukrainian defence minister says they have proposed meeting from 20-30 June while Moscow says it has offered ‘two-three’ day partial ceasefireRuth Michaelson is reporting from Istanbul and will be providing updates on the talks. Here is some colour from outside Istanbul’s Ciragan Palace:A fleet of black sedans arrived outside the Çırağan Palace in Istanbul, signalling the arrival of some of the negotiations teams. Continue reading...

Events

5 d. ago Russia launches deadly attacks across Ukraine before Istanbul talks with Kyiv – Russia

Russian shelling and air attacks kill five near Zaporizhzhia before second round of peace talks in IstanbulUkraine and Russia both launched large-scale drone barrages overnight.The Russian defence ministry said its air defence units had “intercepted and destroyed” 162 Ukrainian drones. Continue reading...

Events

5 d. ago Ukraine delegation arrives in Istanbul for talks with Russian officials following drone attack in Siberia – Russia

Second round of peace talks follows Kyiv drone attack on Russian air bases A Ukrainian delegation has arrived in Istanbul for talks with Russian officials with a meeting planned for Monday afternoon, the spokesperson for Ukraine’s foreign ministry said.The two sides are set to hold their second round of direct peace talks since 2022, but are still far apart on how to end the war amid an increase in fighting.Ukraine said on Sunday it had destroyed Russian bombers worth billions of dollars as far away as Siberia, in its longest-range assault of the war. In a spectacular claim, Ukraine said it had damaged $7bn worth of Russian aircraft parked at four airbases thousands of kilometres (miles) away, with unverified video footage showing aircraft engulfed in flames and black smoke. A source in the Ukrainian security services (SBU) said the strikes hit 41 planes that were used to “bomb Ukrainian villages”.Several Russian and Ukrainian media outlets reported that Ukraine had carried out the ...

Events

1 week ago Ukraine war briefing: Kremlin holds back peace memorandum that it promised Trump

Zelenskyy says Moscow dragging out the process as Lavrov insists on another meeting; funeral for three sibling children killed by Russian cruise missile. What we know on day 1,191Ukraine has submitted its peace terms and insisted Russia do the same before further talks, which the Kremlin has demanded take place next Monday in Turkey. “We are not opposed to further meetings with the Russians and are awaiting their memorandum,” said the Ukrainian defence minister, Rustem Umerov. “The Russian side has at least four more days before their departure to provide us with their document for review. Diplomacy must be substantive, and the next meeting must yield results.”Russia’s foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, said instead that a Russian team “is ready to present a memorandum to the Ukrainian delegation and provide the necessary explanations during a second round of direct talks in Istanbul on Monday, 2 June”. The US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, on Wednesday called for Moscow to engage i...

Politics

1 week ago Zelenskyy says Ukraine has reached defence sector accords with Germany as he meets Merz – Ukraine

Ukrainian president says countries have reached new agreements on defence investments as he meets German chancellor in BerlinZelenskyy bound for Berlin with Merz boxed inTurkey’s foreign minister will travel to Kyiv on Thursday for a two-day visit after discussing peace efforts to end Russia’s war in Ukraine in Moscow earlier this week, a Turkish foreign ministry source told Reuters on Wednesday.Foreign minister Hakan Fidan held talks in Moscow on Monday and Tuesday, meeting Russian president Vladimir Putin and other Russian officials, including Moscow’s top negotiator at talks in Istanbul earlier this month aimed at ending the three-year war. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Zelenskyy meets Merz as he warns 50,000 Russian troops massing near Sumy region – Ukraine

Ukrainian president meets German chancellor with speculation he could allow Kyiv to use long-range Taurus missilesZelenskyy bound for Berlin with Merz boxed inTurkey’s foreign minister will travel to Kyiv on Thursday for a two-day visit after discussing peace efforts to end Russia’s war in Ukraine in Moscow earlier this week, a Turkish foreign ministry source told Reuters on Wednesday.Foreign minister Hakan Fidan held talks in Moscow on Monday and Tuesday, meeting Russian president Vladimir Putin and other Russian officials, including Moscow’s top negotiator at talks in Istanbul earlier this month aimed at ending the three-year war. Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago Ukraine war briefing: Drones target Moscow forcing suspension of some flights

Air raid alerts in Ukrainian regions; Zelenskyy visits Berlin amid promising noises about long-range strikes. What we know on day 1,190 A major Ukrainian drone attack late over Tuesday night into Wednesday led to at least two Moscow airports, Vnukovo and Zhukovsky, suspending flights, Russian authorities said. The defence ministry said 112 Ukrainian drones targeted six different regions in the three hours up to midnight.Russian drones hit the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, injuring eight people including a child, the regional military governor said on Wednesday morning. Ukraine’s air force issued an air raid alert due to drones across regions including Kharkiv, Sumy, Odesa, Kyiv and others.Russian authorities were again dismissive of Donald Trump after the US president said Vladimir Putin was “playing with fire” and putting Russia at risk of “really bad things”. Dmitry Medvedev, Russia’s former prime minister and president, responded: “I only know of one really bad thing – WWIII. I hope...

Events

1 week ago Kremlin claims record drone strike was ‘response’ to Kyiv’s attacks as Trump criticises Putin – Russia

Latest drone and missile attacks on Ukraine the heaviest recorded so far in the war as US president says Putin has ‘gone crazy’Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has held his regular media briefing with journalists. When asked for reaction to Donald Trump’s criticism of Vladimir Putin (see post at 08.41) by the BBC’s Russia editor Steve Rosenberg, Peskov thanked the US for its role in trying to bring an end to the war through its mediation efforts, which have so far faltered, but suggested Russian strikes against Ukraine are being launched for security and self-defence. He said in the conference call with reporters:It’s a very important achievement. Of course, at the same time this is a very important moment which is connected to an emotional overload of everyone involved and emotional reactions.We carefully monitor all the reactions. However, President Putin takes those decisions which are necessary for the security of our country.Only a sense of total impunity can allow Russia to ...

Events

2 w. ago G7 ministers threaten more sanctions against Russia over Ukraine war

Summit makes little progress on how to respond to Donald Trump’s trade war

Politics

2 w. ago German troops start first permanent foreign deployment since second world war

Heavy combat unit of 4,800 soldiers and 200 civilian staff inaugurated in Lithuania on Nato’s eastern flankThe German chancellor has visited Lithuania to mark Berlin’s first permanent foreign troop deployment since the second world war, as he called on allies to dramatically expand their efforts to bolster European defences against a hostile Russia.As a crowd waved Lithuanian, German and Ukrainian flags, Friedrich Merz and his defence minister, Boris Pistorius, attended a ceremony launching the official formation of an armoured brigade aimed at protecting Nato’s eastern flank. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago Former Ukrainian presidential aide shot dead in Madrid – Europe live

Former politician Andriy Portnov advised the pro-Russian Viktor Yanukovych and had fled Ukraine in 2014For more background on Portnov, here is his profile as drafted by the US Treasury in 2021, when he was sanctioned on the International Anti-Corruption Day, no less.Andriy Portnov (Portnov), the former Deputy Head of the Ukrainian Presidential Administration under former President Yanukovych, has cultivated extensive connections to Ukraine’s judicial and law enforcement apparatus through bribery. Widely known as a court fixer, Portnov was credibly accused of using his influence to buy access and decisions in Ukraine’s courts and undermining reform efforts. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Former Ukrainian presidential aide reportedly shot dead in Madrid – Europe live

Andriy Portnov, an ex-politician in Ukraine, was shot outside a school in a wealthy suburb, according to sources close to the policeSpanish newspaper El País is reporting that the police believe there were “two or three” attackers, with “at least three” gunshot wounds discovered on the body of the dead man.The newspaper quotes sources close to the investigation claiming that the man was driving a car at the time of the attack. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago German finance minister calls for swift resolution to Trump tariff wars as G7 finance ministers meet in Canada – Europe live

Finance ministers are meeting in Banff, Alberta to discuss Ukraine and Trump’s trade policy Finance ministers of the world’s seven largest economies – G7 – are meeting in Banff, Alberta in Canada to discuss their ideas on Ukraine and concerns about disruptions resulting from Donald Trump’s unorthodox trade policy.Before the meeting, German finance minister Lars Klingbeil warned that trade disputes with the US should be resolved as soon as possible, as he stressed they were a burden on the economy and job security. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Third man is charged over alleged Keir Starmer arson attacks: Ukrainian national accused of helping two other suspects light fires at properties and car linked to PM

Ukrainian national Petro Pochynok, 34, has been charged with conspiracy to commit arson with intent to endanger life.

Events

2 w. ago Ukraine war briefing: Pope opens Vatican door to peace talks, says Meloni

Zelenskyy says Putin ‘trying to buy time’ after phone call with Trump; EU lays on further sanctions and more coming up. What we know on day 1,183Pope Leo confirmed to Giorgia Meloni his willingness to host in the Vatican the next round of negotiations to try to end the war between Russia and Ukraine, the Italian prime minister said on Tuesday. “Finding in the Holy Father confirmation of the readiness to host the next talks between the parties in the Vatican, the prime minister expressed deep gratitude to Pope Leo XIV for his unceasing commitment to peace,” said a statement from Meloni. Leo, elected two weeks ago, said on 14 May that the Vatican could act as a mediator in global conflicts, without specifically mentioning Russia’s war against Ukraine.Separately the Italian prime minister said she had talks with other European leaders and the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, over next steps. “It was agreed to maintain close coordination between the partners with a view to a ne...

Events

2 w. ago Pope Leo XIV to hold inaugural mass at St Peter’s Square in front of 250,000

World leaders to attend papal mass in Rome as first US pontiff receives fisher’s ring and wool palliumAn estimated 250,000 pilgrims and a host of world leaders and royals, including the US vice-president, JD Vance, the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy; Canadian prime minister, Mark Carney, and Britain’s Prince Edward, are expected to attend St Peter’s Square for the inaugural mass of Pope Leo XIV.The service, which begins on Sunday at 10am local time, marks the official start of the papacy of the first US pontiff in the history of the Roman Catholic church. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago PM speaks to Trump, Zelensky and European allies to ‘align’ response to Russia

It came as Ukrainian and Russian negotiators met face to face for the first time since Moscow’s invasion.

Politics