35 h. ago Trump Envoy Steve Witkoff says Putin's translator has 'best voice in the whole world'

Donald Trump's US Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff was full of compliments during the crucial peace talks with Russia as he branded President Vladimir Putin's translator a legend

Politics

3 d. ago US, Ukraine and Russia delegations head to Abu Dhabi for their first trilateral talks of the war

Friday’s meeting in Abu Dhabi comes after talks between Russian president Vladimir Putin, US envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared KushnerUkraine, Russia and the US are set to hold three-way talks in Abu Dhabi on Friday, marking the first time that the three countries have sat down together since Russia invaded in 2022.The meeting was confirmed in the early hours of Friday morning after talks at the Kremlin between the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, the US envoy Steve Witkoff and Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner. Kremlin diplomatic adviser Yuri Ushakov told reporters those talks were “useful in every respect”, adding that it was “agreed that the first meeting of a trilateral working group on security issues will take place today in Abu Dhabi”. Continue reading...

Events

4 d. ago Trump to meet Zelensky today for crunch talks – as US envoy says Ukraine and Russia are just ‘ONE issue’ away from peace

NEGOTIATIONS to end Russia's war in Ukraine - Europe's deadliest since World War II - are down to a single issue, US special envoy Steve Witkoff has revealed. Joined by Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, Witkoff, will arrive in Moscow at 7-8pm local time (4-5pm UK time) for talks with Vladimir Putin on the possible...

Politics

9 d. ago Tony Blair is 'honoured' to join Donald Trump's Gaza Board for Peace, former Prime Minister says

Blair is to sit alongside US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, special envoy Steve Witkoff and Mr Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushneras members of the 'Founding Executive Board'.

Politics

9 d. ago Sir Tony Blair chosen by Donald Trump for Gaza ‘Board of Peace’

The list also included US secretary of state Marco Rubio, special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, and Mr Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.

Politics

1 week ago Trump appoints Blair, Kushner and Rubio to Gaza ‘board of peace’

White House says seven-strong board, chaired by Trump, will steer Gaza through next phase of reconstructionDonald Trump has appointed the US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, and former British prime minister Tony Blair to a newly created Gaza “board of peace”, a body he claims will steer the next phase of reconstruction and governance in the war-ravaged territory.The White House said the seven-strong “founding executive board” will also include Trump’s special envoy, the property developer Steve Witkoff; the World Bank president, Ajay Banga; and the president’s son-in-law and long-time adviser Jared Kushner. Trump himself will serve as chair, with further appointments expected in the coming weeks. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago White House announces Gaza ‘board of peace’ with Tony Blair, Jared Kushner and Marco Rubio

Body chaired by Trump tasked with overseeing reconstruction of Gaza and transitional administrationThe White House has released a list of officials appointed by Donald Trump to what he’s calling a “board of peace”, tasked with overseeing the reconstruction of Gaza, and its transitional administration.The names included US secretary of state Marco Rubio, former British prime minister Tony Blair, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and Trump special envoy Steve Witkoff, the White House said. Continue reading...

Society

2 w. ago Iran opens door to dialogue after Trump threatens ‘serious’ military action over protests

Tehran has accused the US of lacking seriousness after talks between Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi and Trump envoy Steve Witkoff

Events

2 w. ago UK and France ‘ready to deploy troops’ to Ukraine after ceasefire

Trilateral declaration of intent signed after ‘coalition of the willing’ summit in Paris with plan to establish military hubsBritain and France have declared they are ready to deploy troops to Ukraine in the aftermath of a peace deal, a major new commitment that has been under discussion for months, although one which Russia is likely to block forcefully.The announcement came after a summit in Paris hosted by the French president, Emmanuel Macron, and attended by more than two dozen leaders of the states that make up the “coalition of the willing” of Ukrainian allies, plus the US envoy Steve Witkoff and Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, who said the US president “strongly stands” behind the security protocols. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago Ukraine war briefing: Russian strikes kill two and trigger hospital fire ahead of Paris peace talks

Overnight attacks trigger evacuations ‘under fire’ at Kyiv medical facility while European leaders gather to seek peace plan breakthrough. What we know on day 1,413Russian strikes on Ukraine early on Monday killed two people and forced night-time evacuations into freezing temperatures, a day ahead of Ukrainian allies meeting in France to revive diplomatic efforts to stop the fighting. Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner will attend the Paris meeting of the so-called “coalition of the willing” on Tuesday – being hosted by French president Emmanuel Macron – to discuss security guarantees as part of a peace proposal. Russia’s overnight strikes triggered a fire at a private medical facility in Kyiv, killing one person and wounding three others, authorities said. “Doctors and nurses were forced to evacuate the wounded under fire,” Ukraine’s prime minister, Yulia Svyrydenko, said on X. The attack also killed a man in his 70s in the neighbouring city of Fastiv, ...

Events