3 h. ago Trump says Putin is ‘playing with fire’ in wake of massive Russian strikes on Ukraine – US politics live

US president claims if it weren’t for him ‘really bad’ things would have happened to Russia amid signs he is frustrated with Russian president’s stalling of peace talksEarlier this morning, Alan Garber, president of Harvard University, told NPR’s Morning Edition that elite institutions need to double down on their “commitment to the good of the nation” and “be firm in our commitments to what we stand for”.Garber said he finds the measures taken by the Trump administration to be “perplexing”; while he acknowledges there is work to be done on campus regarding viewpoint diversity, he said he struggles to see a link between funding freezes and fighting antisemitism.I think that we have heard from some people that they do feel that [Harvard lacks viewpoint diversity]. What is perplexing is the measures that they have taken to address these that don’t even hit the same people that they believe are causing the problems. Why cut off research funding? Sure, it hurts Harvard, but it hurts the...

Politics

7 h. ago Reform UK’s income tax plans ‘to cost up to £80bn’ warns IFS – UK politics live

Research institute says costs of plan to exclude those earning less than £20k from the tax will dwarf those of party’s winter fuel and two-child benefit changesThe co-leader of the Green party of England and Wales, Adrian Ramsay, has renewed his call for Russia to face greater sanctions. Posting to social media, the MP for Waveney Valley said “Putin has stepped up attacks on Ukrainian civilians because he thinks he’ll face no consequences. Much tougher sanctions are urgently needed to bring him into serious peace talks to end this horrific war.”As well as appearing on the media round today, shadow chancellor Mel Stride has written for the Daily Mail, saying that the Conservatives continue to back the two-child benefit cap. Continue reading...

Economics

18 h. ago Ukraine war briefing: Kremlin suggests Trump remarks about Putin due to ‘emotional overload’

Spokesperson says Moscow ‘very grateful’ for US president’s peace efforts after Russia launches biggest ever drone attack on Ukraine. What we know on day 1,189The Kremlin has sought to downplay Donald Trump’s latest remarks in regard to Ukraine – in which he said Vladimir Putin had “gone absolutely CRAZY!” – attributing them to “emotional overload”. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters in Moscow on Monday: “This is a very crucial moment, which is naturally accompanied by emotional overload on all sides and emotional reactions,” while adding that Moscow was “very grateful” to the US president for his continued engagement in peace talks.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy doubled down on criticism of US silence on Russian attacks, after Donald Trump said he was “doing his Country no favours”. “Only a sense of total impunity can allow Russia to carry out such strikes and continue increasing their scale,” Zelenskyy said on social media, adding: “The increase in Russian ...

Politics

29 h. ago Donald Trump's former advisor issues brutal verdict on Vladimir Putin phone call

Fiona Hill, who was one of Trump's advisers, has been a vocal critic of the US President and is not impressed by his phone call with Russian leader Vladimir Putin

Politics

33 h. ago Russia targets Ukraine with more drone strikes as Trump says Putin has ‘gone crazy’

At least six people die in what Kyiv claims is largest drone attack since Moscow launched full-scale invasion in February 2022Russia-Ukraine war – latest news updatesMoscow has launched its third consecutive night of massive drone strikes against Ukraine, killing at least six people, as Donald Trump broke his silence to suggest the Russian leader, Vladimir Putin, had “gone crazy”.Overnight on Monday, Russia fired a record 355 Shahed drones as well as nine cruise missiles, in an escalating drone campaign targeting Ukraine’s cities and communities, with Ukraine’s air force spokesperson, Yuriy Ignat, confirming it was the largest drone attack since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. Continue reading...

Events

43 h. ago Trump admits he 'doesn't know what the hell happened to Putin' after Russian leader fired missiles into Ukraine amid peace talks

President Donald Trump tore into Russian President Vladimir Putin when asked Sunday evening by a reporter for an update on the Ukraine war.

Politics

3 d. ago Labour figures urge recognition of Palestinian state at UN conference

Ministers told ‘symbols matter’ and move would give Palestine stronger footing in future peace talksMinisters are under pressure from inside and outside Labour to recognise Palestinian statehood at a UN conference next month, with party grandees arguing it would bolster prospects for peace and demonstrate moral leadership amid escalating tensions. Alf Dubs, the veteran Labour peer and Holocaust survivor, said the symbolic recognition of a Palestinian state would offer Palestinians “the self-respect they’d have if they had a proper state,” and provide them a stronger footing in any future peace negotiations.“Even if it doesn’t lead to anything immediately, it would still give Palestinians a better standing,” Lord Dubs said. “Symbols matter.” The former cabinet minister Peter Hain echoed the call, warning that “delaying recognition until negotiations are concluded simply allows Israel’s illegal occupation to become permanent”. Lord Hain argued that formal recognition should be “a cata...

Politics

4 d. ago Trump’s involvement in Ukraine peace talks ‘giving Putin more power’, Yulia Navalnaya says

Widow of the late Russian dissident Alexei Navalny said Trump speaking to Putin “like they’re equal” is making him more powerful

Politics

4 d. ago Hundreds of Ukrainian and Russian soldiers and civilians released in biggest prisoner swap of war

Russia and Ukraine had each agreed after two hours of peace talks in Istanbul last week to swap 1,000 prisoners

Events

4 d. ago Hundreds of Ukrainian and Russian soldiers released in biggest prisoner swap of war

Russia and Ukraine had each agreed after two hours of peace talks in Istanbul last week to swap 1,000 prisoners

Events

5 d. ago Putin amasses troops at border amid chilling Russia peace talk attack warning

Ukrainian intelligence warns Russia is preparing a major build-up or troops in readiness for a major pre-Summer attack in a bid to gain major new ground ahead of any ceasefire talks

Events

5 d. ago Putin masses troops at border amid chilling Russia peace talk attack warning

Ukrainian intelligence warns Russia is preparing a major build-up or troops in readiness for a major pre-Summer attack in a bid to gain major new ground ahead of any ceasefire talks

Events

5 d. ago ‘Every day there is shelling’: Ukrainian border town torn between hope and despair

Mayor of Bilopillya, where nine people were killed in strike on bus, says Russia has shown it does not care about talksEven before the Russian strike on a shuttle bus travelling from his frontline town at the weekend, the mayor of Bilopillya, Yuri Zarko, was very sceptical that Vladimir Putin’s agreement to direct Russia-Ukraine talks in Istanbul would lead to peace.The strike, which killed nine people including five over 60, only confirmed his conviction that talks to end the war were going nowhere and Ukraine had a challenging time ahead. Continue reading...

Politics

6 d. ago Russia’s new sanctions explained: Ukraine’s allies target Moscow as peace talks stall

Kyiv’s European allies have slapped new sanctions on Moscow, a day after a phone call between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin failed to produce a breakthrough on ending the 3-year-old war in Ukraine

Events

6 d. 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

7 d. ago Vatican peace talks and a threatened ‘red line’ – what comes after the Trump

Volodymyr Zelensky accuses the Kremlin of trying to ‘buy time’ as Vladimir Putin agrees to work towards a memorandum with Kyiv, but no 30-day ceasefire

Politics

7 d. ago 'Humiliated' Trump will let Putin off the hook on Ukraine to get Russia trade deal, says Ben Wallace

The Former Defence Secretary made the prediction after a two-hour phone call between the US president and Russian leader

Politics

8 d. ago Trump makes sensational Pope announcement on Ukraine peace talks after 'excellent' two

President Donald Trump gave an upbeat readout of his Monday call with Vladimir Putin about ending the brutal war in Ukraine - even urging Russia and Ukraine to use the Pope as a mediator.

Politics

8 d. ago Trump and Putin hold phone call but Kremlin refuses Ukraine ceasefire

Trump describes call as ‘excellent,’ despite Putin’s lack of support for ceasefire that US said was primary objectiveTrump says Russia-Ukraine ceasefire discussions to start immediately but Kremlin denies timeline for talks – liveVladimir Putin and Donald Trump have held a rare phone call, which the US leader described as “excellent,” but the Kremlin refused to agree to a ceasefire in the war with Ukraine, despite pressure from Washington and European allies.Speaking to reporters in Sochi after the two-hour conversation on Monday, Putin described the call as “very meaningful and frank,” and said he was prepared to work with Ukraine on drafting a memorandum for future peace talks. Continue reading...

Politics

8 d. ago Trump says Russia and Ukraine will 'immediately' begin ceasefire talks after two

Putin made no mention of an immediate ceasefire amid growing pressure from the White House

Politics