91 m. ago Slovakia blocks EU move to impose new sanctions package on Russia – Europe live

EU foreign policy chief says ‘ball is in Slovakia’s court’ after leader Robert Fico blocked ‘imbecile’ proposal to ban Russian gas imports from 2028 French foreign minister Jean-Noël Barrot told reporters that he hoped the new language from the US and more sanctions from the EU will force Russian president Vladimir Putin “to face the facts: he has gone too far and he is now at an impasse.”He said he was hoping for more alignment between the US and the EU on sanctions, as he met with American senators last week in Rome to discuss their proposed bipartisan bill on Russia.“So we have some progress. We have some positive developments. It’s true that we have trucks that are able to enter, but we don’t know exactly how many. And what is clear is that the agreement is not fully implemented. Continue reading...

Politics

6 h. ago Trump ‘disappointed, but not done’ with Putin as he backs Nato on Ukraine – Europe live

Comments come after Oval Office meeting with Nato’s Mark Rutte signalled a shift in tone on conflictFrench foreign minister Jean-Noël Barrot told reporters that he hoped the new language from the US and more sanctions from the EU will force Russian president Vladimir Putin “to face the facts: he has gone too far and he is now at an impasse.”He said he was hoping for more alignment between the US and the EU on sanctions, as he met with American senators last week in Rome to discuss their proposed bipartisan bill on Russia.“So we have some progress. We have some positive developments. It’s true that we have trucks that are able to enter, but we don’t know exactly how many. And what is clear is that the agreement is not fully implemented. Continue reading...

Politics

7 h. ago Trump asked Zelenskyy if Ukraine could hit Moscow, say people briefed on call

US president encouraged Ukrainian leader to step up deep strikes on Russia

Politics

5 d. ago Zelenskyy to replace Ukraine’s envoy to US in diplomatic shuffle

Oksana Markarova will be recalled from Washington in move designed to strengthen ties with Trump teamVolodymyr Zelenskyy is replacing Ukraine’s ambassador to the US, who has been heavily criticised by leading Republicans, as part a diplomatic reshuffle designed to strengthen ties with the Trump administration.Ukraine’s foreign minister, Andrii Sybiha, confirmed on Wednesday that Oksana Markarova will be recalled from Washington after four years in the job. He described her as “extremely effective, charismatic and one of our most successful ambassadors”. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Ukraine says it hit Russian airbase following huge drone strike

Ukraine said Saturday it struck a Russian airbase in the Voronezh region

Events

1 week ago Trump and Zelenskyy discuss Ukrainian air defence as Russian attacks mount

Call follows record drone assault that came after tense chat between US leader and President Vladimir Putin

Politics

1 week ago US and Ukraine to work on strengthening air defences, Zelenskyy says, after call Trump says was ‘meaningful’ – Europe live

All-night attack on Kyiv followed conversation between US president and PutinRussian drone attack on KyivKremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that Russia would continue its war on Ukraine as it was unable to achieve its goals through “diplomatic means.”“We are interested in achieving our goals in the course of the special military operation and it is preferable to do it by political and diplomatic means,” Peskov said, as reported by AFP.“But until that is not possible, we are continuing the special operation.” Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Trump has ‘good conversation’ with Zelenskyy after heavy bombardment of Ukraine by Russia

US munitions slated for Ukraine held up over shortage as Trump ‘disappointed’ by Putin’s refusal to make concessionsDonald Trump spoke with Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, on Friday as the US president appears increasingly disheartened over his chances of fulfilling a campaign pledge to end the war between Russia and Ukraine.The call with Zelenskyy comes as Washington has halted its latest shipment of military aid to Ukraine including Patriot air defense missiles and other crucial munitions meant to support the country’s defenses. Continue reading...

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3 w. ago Death toll from Russian attack on Kyiv rises to 28 – Europe live

More than 130 were injured in Tuesday’s attack on Ukrainian capitalAnd speaking of Russia’s impact on its neighbours, let’s quickly go to Miranda Bryant in the Nordics and see how the region monitors the global threat of war, terror and piracy on seas from its Maritime Cyber Resilience Centre.The European Commission has insisted there will be no return to Russian gas, as it published plans to phase out fossil fuel imports from its eastern neighbour by 2028. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Europeans may as well start learning Russian if Ukraine does not get more support, Kaja Kallas warns – Europe live

EU foreign policy chief says Russia is a direct threat to Europe and has plan for long term aggressionMeanwhile, Russian president Vladimir Putin is set to take questions from international journalists on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Associated Press reported.Putin scheduled a roundtable session with senior news leaders of international news agencies, including the Associated Press.On Ukraine, the European Union is doing its part here too, not least because Ukraine is Europe’s first line of defence. We know that Russia responds to strength and nothing else.We have to do more for Ukraine, for our own security too.To quote my friend Nato secretary general Mark Rutte: if we don’t help Ukraine further, we should all start learning Russian. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Ukraine and Europe in limbo after Trump sidelines Zelenskyy at G7 – Europe live

Frustration after US president refuses to make Ukraine a priority at G7 despite appearance of Zelenskyy in CanadaEU’s Kallas continues:On Ukraine, the European Union is doing its part here too, not least because Ukraine is Europe’s first line of defence. We know that Russia responds to strength and nothing else.We have to do more for Ukraine, for our own security too.To quote my friend Nato secretary general Mark Rutte: if we don’t help Ukraine further, we should all start learning Russian.We are living in very dangerous tough times.Russia is already a direct threat to the European Union. Europe’s collective economic might is unmatched. I don’t believe that there is any threat that we can’t overcome if we act together and with our Nato allies. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Ukraine left in lurch as Trump exits G7 meeting early without meeting Zelenskyy

US president said he had to leave to focus on Israel-Iran conflict, without addressing Russia-Ukraine ceasefireUkrainian diplomats have been left frustrated – and in some cases embittered – at Donald Trump’s refusal to make Ukraine a priority after Volodymyr Zelenskyy flew 5,000 miles to the G7 conference in Canada only for the US president to return home the night before the two leaders were due to meet. Trump said he needed to focus on the Israel-Iran conflict.Some Ukrainian officials said they were not sure now if it will be worth Zelenskyy attending the Nato summit in The Hague next week since there was no guarantee that Trump would attend. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Ukraine left in lurch as Trump rushes out of G7 without meeting Zelenskyy

US president said he had to leave to focus on Israel-Iran conflict, without addressing Russia-Ukraine ceasefireUkrainian diplomats have been left frustrated – and in some cases embittered – at Donald Trump’s refusal to make Ukraine a priority after Volodymyr Zelenskyy flew 5,000 miles to the G7 conference in Canada only for the US president to return home the night before the two leaders were due to meet. Trump said he needed to focus on the Israel-Iran conflict.In a further blow for Kyiv the US vetoed a joint statement on Ukraine from the summit, on the grounds that the wording was too anti-Russian and could compromise negotiations with Vladimir Putin. Continue reading...

Politics