5 h. ago Trump swallowing Putin’s lies is a bigger threat to Ukraine than bombs | Rafael Behr

In Alaska the Russian leader will claim to want peace, but only on his terms – and play on the president’s desperation to ‘make a deal’ quicklyWars do not have to be won. Total victories loom largest in the popular imagination because those are the stories nations always tell to sustain patriotic feeling. The fuller version of history is written in stalemates.That is worth remembering when Donald Trump meets Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday. Both leaders have incentives to pretend that Ukraine’s fate can be settled decisively without any Ukrainians at the negotiating table. That doesn’t make it so. Continue reading...

Politics

19 h. ago Trump’s military takeover of Washington DC is a sheer demonstration of power | Moira Dongan

No one believes that the deployment of troops to America’s most liberal, most racially diverse, and most culturally thriving cities is about solving a real problemPresident Trump imposed a military takeover of the nation’s capital on Monday, sending National Guard troops to Washington. He also seized control of the DC municipal police department, invoking an obscure section of the 1973 D.C. Home Rule Act which allows the president to take control of local law enforcement in the district for a period of one month in times of emergency.That there is no emergency is irrelevant: Trump has declared one in order to exercise powers that are only available to him in a state of exception, which is, of course, what the whole country increasingly finds itself to be experiencing as the president expands the powers of his office from those of a constitutional executive into something more like the power of authoritarian control.Moira Donegan is a Guardian US columnist Continue reading...

Events

43 h. ago Trump places Washington DC police under federal control and will deploy National Guard – live updates

Trump declares ‘public safety emergency’ despite record crime low; DC mayor says ‘any comparison to a war-torn country is hyperbolic and false’Trump vows to ‘clean up’ DC crime despite sharp drop in violenceDonald Trump said on Truth Social today that DC “will be LIBERATED today”.Ahead of his press conference, in just over an hour, the president said that “crime, savagery, filth, and scum will disappear” from the city.I will, MAKE OUR CAPITAL GREAT AGAIN! The days of ruthlessly killing, or hurting, innocent people, are OVER! I quickly fixed the Border (ZERO ILLEGALS in last 3 months!), D.C. is next!!! Continue reading...

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5 d. ago Ukraine conflict could be ‘frozen’ sooner rather than later, says Poland’s Tusk after talk with Zelenskyy – Europe live

Ukrainian president says ‘reliable peace essential for all’ after speaking to Polish PM on Friday morning, Trump’s deadline day for Russia to move towards a ceasefireFor what it’s worth, the Polish news website Onet reported yesterday, citing diplomatic sources, on what it believed were some of the proposals for freezing the conflict under discussion.It claimed that the US proposal included:A ceasefire, not a peace settlement.De facto recognition of the Russian-occupied territories by freezing the issue for 49 or 99 years.Removal of most sanctions imposed on Russia, including on energy. Continue reading...

Events

5 d. ago Putin calls Trump's bluff: Missiles rain down on Ukraine as Donald's deadline for ceasefire arrives, with no sign Russia has any intention of ending bombardments, despite sanction threats

The Kremlin has shown no sign of halting its bombardments despite the U.S. President threatening to impose economic sanctions.

Events

5 d. ago Trump ‘very disappointed’ in Putin on his deadline day for Russia to move towards Ukraine ceasefire – Europe live

The US president said further action in the form of sanctions and tariffs now dependent on the outcome of talks with his Russian counterpartThe US president Donald Trump’s original deadline for Russia to move on ending its invasion of Ukraine ends today.Asked if he was ready to follow through on his threats of sanctions and secondary tariffs, Trump told reporters last night:It’s going to be up to him. We’re going to see what he has to say. Continue reading...

Events

6 d. ago Putin steps up Ukrainian bombing in clearest sign yet he plans to IGNORE Trump's ceasefire deadline

Video footage shows the Kremlin's forces in a fresh strike on a bridge in Kherson, which it has failed to dislodge in six massive aerial attacks, in a hint that Putin may ignore Trump's deadline.

Events

6 d. ago Trump hails ‘great progress’ in Putin talks – but no sign of end to Ukraine war

Steve Witkoff and Vladimir Putin met for about three hours in a last-minute bid to seek a breakthrough in the three-and-a-half-year war

Politics

6 d. ago The Latest: Putin hosts Trump envoy Witkoff for crucial talks on Ukraine peace deal

Russian President Vladimir Putin is hosting U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff for talks, days before the White House’s deadline for Russia to reach a peace deal with Ukraine or potentially face severe economic penalties that could also hit countries buying its oil

Politics

6 d. ago Trump declares Russia 'an extraordinary threat to the US' as Putin looks set to ignore his deadline for ending Ukraine war in sign relationship is about to crumble

US president Donald Trump has declared Russian an 'extraordinary threat' to the US, as Russian despot Vladimir Putin is set to ignore his deadline for ending the invasion of Ukraine. 

Events

6 d. ago Donald Trump warns Russia ‘extraordinary threat to United States’ as top negotiator meets Vladimir Putin

The US President has issued an executive order hitting India with an additional 25 per cent tariff over its purchases of Russian oil

Events

6 d. ago Donald Trump warns Russia ‘extraordinary threat to US’ as meeting with Vladimir Putin set for next week

The US President has issued an executive order hitting India with an additional 25 per cent tariff over its purchases of Russian oil

Events

6 d. ago Trump threatens to take ‘federal control’ of DC after Doge staffer attack – US politics live updates

President claims on social media that DC is ‘totally out of control’ and if the city doesn’t ‘get it’s act together’ he will have ‘no choice but to take Federal control’After taking six months to conclude that Vladimir Putin may not be a kindred transactional authoritarian leader but an ideological nationalist seeking the return of what “belongs to Russia”, the deadline Donald Trump set for the Russian president to agree a Ukraine ceasefire or face US sanctions on oil exports arrives on Friday.What Trump – who some had claimed was a Russian asset – does next to punish Putin could define his presidency. Continue reading...

Politics

6 d. ago Putin and Trump envoy hold ‘productive’ meeting on Ukraine as US deadline nears

US president has urged Russia to agree ceasefire by Friday or face new sanctions

Politics

6 d. ago World awaits Trump’s next move as Russia ceasefire deadline approaches

US president has been unusually reticent about plans to punish Russia if it does not agree to end Ukraine warEurope live – latest updatesAfter needing six months to conclude that Vladimir Putin may not be a kindred transactional authoritarian leader, but an ideological nationalist seeking the return of what “belongs to Russia”, the deadline Donald Trump set for the Russian president to agree a Ukraine ceasefire or face US sanctions on oil exports arrives on Friday.What Trump – who some had claimed was a Russian asset – does next to punish Putin could define his presidency. Continue reading...

Events

6 d. ago Talks between Putin and US envoy Steve Witkoff ‘useful and constructive’, Kremlin says – Europe live

Aide says Russia ‘received some signals from Trump’ ahead of US president’s Friday deadline for progress on ending Ukraine warWe are getting first pictures from inside the Kremlin showing Russia’s Putin welcoming Witkoff for their talks.Earlier today, Witkoff also went for a walk through Zaryadye Park near the Kremlin with Kirill Dmitriev, the Russian president’s envoy for investment and economic cooperation, AP reported, pointing to footage aired by Tass. Continue reading...

Politics

7 d. ago Smiling Putin meets Trump envoy Steve Witkoff with US president's deadline for ending Ukraine war just hours away

The grinning Russian leader could be seen shaking hands with the US president's trusted representative on Wednesday morning.

Politics

7 d. ago War of words over Sentebale's future shows no sign of abating as Prince Harry's camp issue stinging statement rebuking Charity Commission report

The charity's board, many of whom are long-time friends of Prince Harry and resigned en masse in March, claimed that the watchdog had 'chosen to ignore key concerns and irrefutable evidence'.

Events

7 d. ago US special envoy Steve Witkoff meets Putin in Moscow as Russia strikes Ukrainian gas facility – Europe live

Donald Trump has set a Friday deadline for progress on ending the Ukraine war, after which Russia could face increased US sanctionsWe are getting first pictures from inside the Kremlin showing Russia’s Putin welcoming Witkoff for their talks.Earlier today, Witkoff also went for a walk through Zaryadye Park near the Kremlin with Kirill Dmitriev, the Russian president’s envoy for investment and economic cooperation, AP reported pointing to footage aired by Tass. Continue reading...

Politics

7 d. ago ‘No to illegal migration, no to euro’ says Karol Nawrocki in inaugural speech as Poland’s president – Europe live

Inauguration is a difficult moment for Donald Tusk’s ruling coalition after months of controversy over allegations of voting irregularitiesNawrocki will take part in a number of ceremonial appointments throughout the day. I will keep an eye on this.But let’s go back to Russia and Ukraine, as Interfax is now reporting that – as expected (8:59) – Russian president Vladimir Putin is meeting US special envoy Steve Witkoff for their crunch talks ahead of this Friday’s Trump deadline to end the war in Ukraine. Continue reading...

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