38 m. ago Ukraine war briefing: Nato chief visits Odesa, declares ‘unwavering’ support for Kyiv

Nato’s Mark Rutte makes his pledge after Donald Trump blames Volodymyr Zelenskyy for starting the war. What we know on day 1,148See all our Ukraine-Russia war coverageNato secretary general Mark Rutte has visited the southern Ukrainian city of Odesa with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and declared “unwavering” support for Ukraine in the aftermath of a Russian attack on the northern city of Sumy that killed 35 people. Rutte said the military alliance was still strongly behind Kyiv, even as it also supported the ceasefire push by US president Donald Trump, who has issued fresh criticism of Zelenskyy, accusing him of starting the war. “Nato stands with Ukraine,” Rutte said at a press conference with Zelenskyy on Tuesday. “You and I know that this has been true all along. I also know that some have called Nato’s support into question in the last couple of months. But let there be no doubt: our support is unwavering.” Rutte also said: “Russia is the aggressor, Russia started this war. The...

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11 h. ago Nato chief in surprise Ukraine visit as US fails to condemn Sumy attack – Europe live

Mark Rutte makes unannounced visit to Odesa and tells Zelenskyy that ‘Nato support is unwavering’The EU has said that “significant joint efforts will be needed” for a successful outcome to trade talks at the end of Donald Trump’s 90-day pause on tariffs.The European Commission, which handles trade policy for the 27 EU member states, was reporting back on a meeting between its lead trade official Maroš Šefčovič and US commerce secretary Howard Lutnick and US trade representative Jamieson Greer in Washington on Monday.The EU will continue to approach these talks in a constructive manner, with a view to identify areas of common interest. It is clear that significant joint efforts will be needed to achieve a successful outcome within the 90-day window.The EU is doing its part. Now it is necessary for the US to define its position. As with every negotiation this must be a two-way street... With both sides bringing something to the table.” Continue reading...

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17 h. ago Trump lashes out at Zelenskyy as Witkoff signals Putin’s wider security demands – Europe live

US president questions Ukraine counterpart’s competency as his envoy outlines ‘detail attached’ to any peace dealDavid Shimer, the former director for eastern Europe and Ukraine on Joe Biden’s national security council, writes for the Guardian today, asking “two key questions for Ukraine’s European allies” as he worries about the US military aid ceasing soon.The war between Russia and Ukraine is approaching a historic turning point: unless the Trump administration adjusts course, US military aid for Ukraine is about to cease.Since taking office, Trump has not approved a single military aid package for Ukraine. Even if Trump were to reverse course and utilize this remaining drawdown authority, the amount available is insufficient to sustain US support for Ukraine over time. To do that, Congress would need to approve additional Ukraine funding, which will not happen while the Republican party controls both chambers and the White House. As a result, the era of US military aid to Ukrain...

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32 h. ago Ben Jennings on Zelenskyy’s invite to Donald Trump – cartoon

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34 h. ago Protests in Hungary over government’s plan for constitutional amendment – Europe live

Rights campaigners say amendment, which will ban LGBTQ+ gatherings, is ‘significant escalation’ in efforts to chip away at human rightsThe Russian defence ministry also responded to the criticism for its attack on Sumy, claiming it had targeted a meeting of Ukrainian commanding officers, Russian news agencies reported on Monday.We are now hearing from the Kremlin, with Russia insisting that it “strikes only military or military-related targets,” despite the widespread condemnation for the attack on civilians in Sumy (9:18). Continue reading...

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35 h. ago Zelenskyy urges Trump to view devastation in Ukraine caused by Russia’s invasion

Ukrainian president calls on US counterpart to visit country as Trump appears to downplay Russia’s latest strike by calling it ‘mistake’Europe live – latest updatesVolodymyr Zelenskyy has urged Donald Trump to visit Ukraine to see the devastation caused by Russia’s invasion, while the US president appeared to play down Moscow’s latest deadly attack, the worst on civilians this year, calling it “a mistake”.International leaders condemned Russia’s strike on the centre of the Ukrainian city of Sumy on Sunday, which killed 34 people, including two children. Two ballistic missiles hit as people made their way to church for Palm Sunday. Continue reading...

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38 h. ago Zelenskyy invites Trump to Ukraine to see damage from Russia’s invasion

Ukrainian president says US president can visit any city, as Trump says deadly bombing of Sumy on Sunday ‘a mistake’Volodymyr Zelenskyy has invited Donald Trump to visit Ukraine to see the devastation caused by Russia’s invasion, while the US president appeared to play down Moscow’s latest deadly attack, the worst on civilians this year, calling it “a mistake”.International leaders condemned Russia’s strike on the centre of the Ukrainian city of Sumy on Sunday, which killed 34 people, including two children. Two ballistic missiles hit as people made their way to church for Palm Sunday. Continue reading...

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40 h. ago Trump defends Putin over Russia’s Palm Sunday attack on Sumy: ‘It was a mistake’

Donald Trump has said he was informed that Russia’s missile attack on the Ukrainian city of Sumy was a “mistake”.

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41 h. ago EU foreign ministers meet in wake of deadly Russian attack on Sumy as Zelenskyy issues plea for Trump to visit Ukraine – Europe live

EU foreign ministers meet in Luxembourg after Russian attack kills at least 34 in SumyThe Ukrainian air force said on Monday that Russia launched 62 drones to attack the country overnight, Reuters reported.Separately, regional officials said overnight attacks by Russia sparked a fire at a petrol station in Zaporizhzhia, injured at least eight people and damaged houses across the southeastern part of Ukraine. Continue reading...

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49 h. ago Ukraine war briefing: Zelenskyy to Trump – come and see Putin’s war for yourself

Impose ceasefire on Russia, says France’s Macron, as leaders condemn deadly Palm Sunday strike on Sumy. What we know on day 1,146Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian president, has urged Donald Trump to visit Ukraine to “understand what Putin did”. In a CBS interview broadcast on Sunday, Zelenskyy said: “Please, before any kind of decisions, any kind of forms of negotiations, come to see people, civilians, warriors, hospitals, churches, children destroyed or dead.”Russia’s missile strike on Sunday on the Ukrainian city of Sumy showed the urgent need to impose a ceasefire on Russia, declared the French president, Emmanuel Macron. “Everyone knows it is Russia alone that wants this war. Today it is clear that Russia alone wants to continue with it, showing its scorn for human life, international law and diplomatic efforts made by President [Donald] Trump,” said Macron. “Strong measures are needed to impose a ceasefire on Russia. France is working tirelessly toward this goal, alongside it...

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5 d. ago Sudan faces the world's worst humanitarian crisis as second anniversary of war nears, UN says

A senior U.N. official says a nearly two-year-old war has engulfed Sudan in the world’s largest humanitarian crisis and led the African country to become the only nation experiencing famine

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6 d. ago Gaza has become ‘a killing field’ due to Israel blocking aid, says UN secretary general – Middle East crisis live

António Guterres says ‘more than a month has passed without aid into Gaza’ as Israeli officials say there is ‘no shortage’ of aidAs calls for Lebanon’s Hezbollah to disarm gain momentum, a senior Hezbollah official told Reuters the group is ready to hold talks with the Lebanese president about its weapons if Israel withdraws from south Lebanon and stops its strikes.US-backed president Joseph Aoun, who vowed when he took office in January to establish a state monopoly on the control of arms, intends to open talks with Hezbollah over its arsenal soon, three Lebanese political sources told Reuters. Continue reading...

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9 d. ago Senior Trump officials give conflicting lines on tariffs after markets turmoil

Commerce secretary insists on CBS that tariffs will ‘stay in place’ as treasury secretary tells NBC negotiation is possibleSenior officials within Donald Trump’s administration officials gave conflicting messages on Sunday about the US president’s global tariffs that have caused a meltdown in stock markets, prompted warnings of a world recession and provoked rare expressions of dissent from within his Republican party.Cabinet members fanned out across Sunday’s political talk shows armed with talking points on Trump’s 10% across-the-board tariff on almost all US imports, with higher rates targeted at about 60 countries. If the intention was to calm nerves with a clear statement of intent, then it backfired as top officials gave starkly contrasting signals. Continue reading...

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9 d. ago ‘There is no ceasefire. Attacks are ongoing’: how Putin’s envoy played US over Ukraine

White House welcome for key member of Russian president’s inner circle raises fears over America’s commitment to peaceKirill Dmitriev’s meetings with US officials in the White House last week went largely below the radar. And deliberately so.The dapper investment envoy to Russian president Vladimir Putin, who also serves as a key negotiator for Moscow on Ukraine, posted an image of his flight plan on social media to make the point that a senior sanctioned Russian official was being welcomed by the Trump administration. Otherwise, details of what was discussed remain opaque. Continue reading...

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1 week ago I worked in Trump’s first administration. Here’s why his team is using Signal | Kevin Carroll

Using the platform was dangerous and wrong – but officials appeared to prioritize shielding themselves from litigationNo senior US government official in the now-infamous “Houthi PC Small Group” Signal chat seemed new to that kind of group, nor surprised by the sensitivity of the subject discussed in that insecure forum, not even when the defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, chimed in with details of a coming airstrike. No one objected – not the director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, who was abroad and using her personal cellphone to discuss pending military operations; not even the presidential envoy Steve Witkoff, who was in Moscow at the time. Yet most of these officials enjoy the luxury of access to secure government communications systems 24/7/365.Reasonable conclusions may be drawn from these facts. First, Trump’s national security cabinet commonly discusses secret information on insecure personal devices. Second, sophisticated adversaries such as Russia and China inter...

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1 week ago Donald Trump tells cabinet Elon Musk will be stepping down from duties 'soon'

Donald Trump is reported to have made the comments about Elon Musk's future to his cabinet after weeks of simmering tensions between the Tesla billionaire and senior White House officials

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2 w. ago WW3 fears as Germany sends 5,000 troops to Lithuania to 'protect' NATO's eastern flank

Tensions in Europe and fears of a third World War are growing as Germany starts sending troops to Lithuania to 'protect' a NATO flank, according to senior military officials

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2 w. ago US imposes sanctions on six senior Chinese and Hong Kong security officials

State department says individuals used national security law ‘extraterritorially’ to pursue rights activists

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2 w. ago Russia reportedly begins rare earth metals talks with US; Trump ‘very angry’ with Putin – Russia

Pro-Kremlin newspaper reports Washington and Moscow talks have started; US president speaks out against Russian presidentRussia has accused Ukraine’s army of attacking energy sites in the Bryansk border region in a drone and artillery strike on Sunday evening.“The continuation of deliberate attacks by the Ukrainian army on Russia’s energy facilities is evidence of the Kyiv regime’s complete lack of commitment to its obligations regarding settling the conflict in Ukraine,” the Russian defence ministry said. Continue reading...

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2 w. ago Trump ‘very angry’ with Putin approach to Ukraine ceasefire and threatens secondary tariffs on Russian oil – Russia

US president takes aim at Russian president’s criticism of Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s credibilityThe Guardian’s defence and security editor, Dan Sabbagh, has this snippet about the ineffectiveness of Trump’s negotiating tactics in regards to trying to end the war in Ukraine. You can read the full story here.During the election campaign, Trump had said that he could end the Ukraine war within 24 hours, comments he more recently claimed were “a little bit sarcastic”. That has proved elusive and his tactics to force Russia and Ukraine into agreeing a ceasefire have so far been focused on bullying and pressurising Kyiv. Continue reading...

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