5 h. ago Trump refuses to accept that for Netanyahu and Putin forever war is the only option | Simon Tisdall

The US president thought he could impose peace through sheer personality, but he didn’t reckon with two leaders with so much to loseBenjamin Netanyahu and Vladimir Putin enjoyed a friendly phone chat earlier this month, marking the 80th anniversary of Nazi Germany’s defeat. The Israeli and Russian leaders have much in common. Both claim to be still heroically battling Nazis, in Gaza and Ukraine respectively. This fiction is used to justify the mass murder of civilians, spiralling troop casualties and huge economic and reputational costs. Maybe it helps them sleep at night.Bibi and Vlad: the world’s most wanted men – and possibly the most despised.Simon Tisdall is a Guardian foreign affairs commentator Continue reading...

Politics

25 h. ago Trump’s Russia sanctions refusal leaves Europe with few options but to wait

Frustration is growing amid increasing signs US could wash its hands of Ukraine, but some observers counsel patienceGen Keith Kellogg, Donald Trump’s somewhat estranged special envoy on Ukraine, is said by some US diplomats to like to joke that the president did indeed say he would solve the Ukraine crisis in 24 hours, he just never specified which 24 hours.Dark humour may be all that is left to Europeans as they absorb not just Trump’s refusal to impose the promised “bone-crushing sanctions” over Russia’s rejection of a 30-day ceasefire but also the increasing signs that the administration will wash its hands of Ukraine and instead focus on forging a new economic partnership with Russia. Continue reading...

Politics

44 h. ago White House doubles down on stance on Harvard and calls university’s lawsuit ‘frivolous’ – live

Harvard’s president says school’s ‘refusal to surrender’ behind Trump administration’s ‘unlawful’ and ‘unwarranted’ latest actionFresh attack on Harvard intensifies chaos for international students in USHarvard University has sued the Trump administration over its decision to revoke the Ivy League school’s ability to enrol international students, a move the school called unconstitutional and retaliatory.Reuters reports that in a complaint filed in Boston federal court, Harvard called the revocation a “blatant violation” of the US constitution’s first amendment and other federal laws.HHS alleged that Columbia violated Title VI, which prohibits those receiving federal financial assistance from discriminating in its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, or national origin -- including discrimination against individuals based on their actual or perceived Israeli or Jewish identity or ancestry.The notice, both from HHS and the Department of Education, “articulates extensiv...

Society

2 d. ago House passes Trump’s ‘big beautiful’ tax and spending bill after months of wrangling – US politics live

Sweeping legislation will now be sent to the SenateThe Kremlin said on Thursday that a report in the Wall Street Journal which said US president Donald Trump had told European leaders that President Vladimir Putin did not want to end the war in Ukraine contrasted with its own knowledge.The Journal said Trump had briefed European leaders after talking to Putin by phone on Monday and said Putin wanted to keep fighting in Ukraine because he thought he was winning.With a narrow 220-212 majority, House Speaker Mike Johnson could not afford to lose more than a handful of votes from his side.Republicans on the party’s right flank had pushed for deeper spending cuts to lessen the budget impact, but they met resistance from centrists who worried they would fall too heavily on the 71 million low-income Americans enrolled in the Medicaid health program. Continue reading...

Politics

4 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

4 d. ago Zelenskyy says Russia ‘trying to buy time to continue war’ – Ukraine war live

Ukrainian president posts on social media after Putin refuses to agree to a ceasefire in phone call with TrumpTrump and Putin hold phone call but Kremlin refuses ceasefireHere’s more of what Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram today.“It is obvious that Russia is trying to buy time to continue the war and occupation,” he said.We have no doubt that the war must end at the negotiating table. There must be clear and realistic proposals on the table. Ukraine is ready for any effective negotiation formats. And if Russia continues to put forward unrealistic conditions and undermine possible results, there must be tough consequences. Continue reading...

Events

5 d. ago Zelenskyy urges more pressure on Russia after no ceasefire agreed in Trump

Ukrainian president says ‘pressure on Russia will push it toward real peace’Trump and Putin hold phone call but Kremlin refuses ceasefireEU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas on Tuesday called for the United States to take “strong action” against Russia if Moscow does not agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine.“America said that if Russia doesn’t agree on an unconditional ceasefire, then there are going to be consequences. So we want to see those consequences, also from the US side,” Kallas said at a meeting of EU ministers in Brussels.Putin is clearly playing for time, unfortunately we have to say Putin is not really interested in peace. Continue reading...

Events

5 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

5 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

5 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

6 d. ago January 6 officer calls Trump ‘petty’ for Republican refusal to hang Capitol plaque

Michael Fanone slams Mike Johnson and Republicans for long delaying congressionally approved officer tributeDonald Trump and his Republican allies are “petty bitches” for refusing to display a congressionally approved plaque honoring police officers who protected the US Capitol when the president’s supporters attacked the complex on 6 January 2021, says one of the cops in question, Michael Fanone.Speaking recently on the show hosted by political broadcast journalist Jim Acosta, the famously candid and oft profane Fanone said he also had a suggestion about where Republican US House speaker Mike Johnson could position the commemoration. “I think that it would be perfect if the plaque was shoved up his ass,” said Fanone, who retired from the Washington DC police force after being wounded during the January 6th attack. Continue reading...

Politics

7 d. ago Ukraine war latest: Russia launches ‘biggest drone attack since invasion’ ahead of Trump ceasefire call

Trump says ‘hopefully it will be a productive day, a ceasefire will take place, and this very violent war ... will end'

Events

7 d. ago Will we ever see despots like Putin in court? It’s unlikely – and that’s the west’s fault too | Simon Tisdall

The US, UK and others routinely flout international law. That’s why there’s scant hope for a new tribunal on crimes against UkraineIt’s tempting to hope the establishment last week of a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine, to give its full name, will lead to the speedy trial and indefinite incarceration of Vladimir Putin and senior Russian leaders. After all, the new court is backed by about 40 countries, including the UK, plus the EU and Council of Europe. And only fools like Donald Trump are confused about who the aggressor is in this conflict.Sadly, this appealing notion has scant basis in reality. Ducking peace talks and dodging responsibility for the war he started, a smirking Putin manspreads smugly in the safety of the Kremlin. He also hides behind the outdated convention that serving heads of state enjoy legal immunity. The bottom line is unchanging: Russia will ignore the new tribunal, just as it ignores arrest warrants for Putin over alleged war cr...

Politics

7 d. ago Trump to hold new peace talks with Putin and Zelensky as president vows to 'stop the bloodbath'

Donald Trump says he'll speak with Putin on Monday to stop the Ukraine "bloodbath," claiming over 5,000 soldiers are dying weekly - and hopes to broker a ceasefire.

Politics

7 d. ago Ukraine war latest: Trump insists ceasefire will take place after calls with Putin and Zelensky on Monday

Trump says ‘hopefully it will be a productive day, a ceasefire will take place, and this very violent war ... will end'

Politics

7 d. ago Kremlin cites past wars as it threatens long conflict in Ukraine

Russian peace negotiator invokes Peter the Great’s 21-year struggle to defeat Sweden, as Putin is fond of doingPeter the Great’s long war against Sweden – a grinding conflict that claimed countless Russian lives – is rarely held up as a model for modern diplomacy. Yet behind closed doors on Friday, during the first direct peace talks with Ukraine in three years, Russia’s lead negotiator, Vladimir Medinsky, cited it as an explicit warning: Moscow was prepared to fight for as long as it took.Just like when Russian troops rolled into Ukraine in 2022, the Great Northern War in the early 18th century began with humiliating defeats for Moscow. The tsarist Russian army was ill-prepared, poorly armed and easily outmanoeuvred. But instead of backing down, Tsar Peter I dug in. He conscripted peasants by the tens of thousands, poured resources into rebuilding his army, and waited. Twenty-one years later, he emerged victorious. Continue reading...

Events

8 d. ago Robert De Niro constantly lives in fear of being whacked by Trump's MAGA supporters

The acting legend said he refuses to let 'bullies like Trump win' and remarked how he cringed at the way the US President 'beat up' Volodymyr Zelenskyy earlier this year

Politics

8 d. ago Zelenskyy calls for immediate, unconditional ceasefire as Russia and Ukraine officials meet for first direct peace talks since 2022 – live

Delegations from Russia and Ukraine meet in Istanbul for the first direct talks between the two nations since 2022Zelenskyy sends team for peace talks but warns Russia ‘not serious enough’Reuters is reporting that several vehicles have arrived at Dolmabahçe palace in Istanbul, where we are anticipating trilateral talks between Turkey, Ukraine and the US and then between Turkey, Russia and Ukraine.An air alert has sounded in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region. Continue reading...

Politics

9 d. ago Ukraine accuses Russia of undermining peace talks with new demands – live

Meetings due to take place but little optimism after Putin failed to attendZelenskyy sends team for peace talks but warns Russia ‘not serious enough’Reuters is reporting that several vehicles have arrived at Dolmabahçe palace in Istanbul, where we are anticipating trilateral talks between Turkey, Ukraine and the US and then between Turkey, Russia and Ukraine.An air alert has sounded in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region. Continue reading...

Politics

9 d. ago Keir Starmer warns Putin must 'pay the price' after shameful peace talk snub

Keir Starmer will meet around 40 leaders at the European Political Community summit in Tirana, Albania, today, where they will discuss ways to turn the screws on Putin's war machine

Events