9 h. ago Trump and Zelenskyy among dignitaries converging on Rome for funeral of Pope Francis

Heads of state and royalty will begin converging on Rome for Pope Francis’ funeral in the Vatican’s St. Peter’s Square, but the group of poor people who will meet his casket in a small crosstown basilica are more in keeping with Francis’ humble persona and disdain for pomp

Politics

10 h. ago Vatican readies for Pope Francis’s funeral as world leaders set to fly in to Rome

Tens of thousands of mourners have queued for hours to pay their last respects to pontiff, whose coffin will be closed on Friday eveningThe Vatican will make final preparations on Friday for Pope Francis’s funeral as the last of the huge crowds of mourners file through St Peter’s Basilica to view his open coffin.Many of the 50 heads of state and 10 monarchs attending Saturday’s ceremony in St Peter’s Square, who include US president Donald Trump and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, are expected to arrive in Rome on Friday. Continue reading...

Events

22 h. ago ‘Vladimir, stop!’: Trump criticises Putin as Starmer and von der Leyen warn over Russian energy ‘blackmail’ – Europe live

US president says he is ‘not happy’ over Kyiv attack as death toll rises to 12 with 90 people injuredWe understand that while the visit will be cut short after Zelenskyy’s meeting with Ramaphosa, their media activities will still proceed, meaning we should hear from the Ukrainian president in the next few hours.Rachel and I will keep an eye on this development to see if Zelenskyy takes part in a scheduled press conference in Pretoria in case he wants to say more about the attacks overnight. Continue reading...

Events

24 h. ago Pope Francis’s funeral is loaded with potential for diplomatic awkwardness

Saturday’s event will feature leaders who would not usually appear in the same roomAs world leaders head to Rome for the funeral of Pope Francis on Saturday, fraught Vatican officials will be poring over logistics in an effort to avoid diplomatic awkwardness.Should Donald Trump be kept away from the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy? Or the French president, Emmanuel Macron, or Brazil’s leftist leader, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, or any Iranians that might appear? There may be relief that Vladimir Putin has said he will not attend, but will everyone expect front row seats? Continue reading...

Politics

25 h. ago Zelenskyy: Trump's desk holds strategy for Ukraine's territories, agreed upon in London

Zelenskyy: Trump's desk holds strategy for Ukraine's territories, agreed upon in London  Українська правда

Politics

25 h. ago ‘Vladimir, stop!’ Trump criticises Putin over attack on Kyiv – Europe live

US president says he is ‘not happy’ with Russian attack and criticises the ‘very bad timing’ We understand that while the visit will be cut short after Zelenskyy’s meeting with Ramaphosa, their media activities will still proceed, meaning we should hear from the Ukrainian president in the next few hours.Rachel and I will keep an eye on this development to see if Zelenskyy takes part in a scheduled press conference in Pretoria in case he wants to say more about the attacks overnight. Continue reading...

Politics

25 h. ago Zelenskyy calls for more ceasefire pressure on Russia after ‘massive’ Kyiv attack – Europe live

Ukrainian president says his country, unlike Moscow, has agreed to ceasefire demands and calls on US to play a greater role in guaranteeing peaceWe understand that while the visit will be cut short after Zelenskyy’s meeting with Ramaphosa, their media activities will still proceed, meaning we should hear from the Ukrainian president in the next few hours.Rachel and I will keep an eye on this development to see if Zelenskyy takes part in a scheduled press conference in Pretoria in case he wants to say more about the attacks overnight. Continue reading...

Events

28 h. ago Zelenskyy to cut South Africa trip short after ‘massive’ attack on Kyiv – Europe live

Children among nine dead and at least 70 wounded by Russian attack, Ukraine saysWe understand that while the visit will be cut short after Zelenskyy’s meeting with Ramaphosa, their media activities will still proceed, meaning we should hear from the Ukrainian president in the next few hours.Rachel and I will keep an eye on this development to see if Zelenskyy takes part in a scheduled press conference in Pretoria in case he wants to say more about the attacks overnight. Continue reading...

Events

29 h. ago Russia warns it 'reserves the right to nuclear weapons' against the west and warns a peacekeeping force in Ukraine will 'lead to World War Three'

Putin hawk Sergei Shoigu, secretary of the powerful Russian security council and ex-defence minister, said Russia rejected Western boots on the ground in the war-torn country.

Events

29 h. ago ‘Massive’ Russian attack on Kyiv kills nine and wounds 70 as Trump criticises Zelenskyy over peace talks – Europe live

Attack on Kyiv comes hours after Donald Trump accused his Ukrainian counterpart of being ‘harder’ to deal with than PutinWe understand that while the visit will be cut short after Zelenskyy’s meeting with Ramaphosa, their media activities will still proceed, meaning we should hear from the Ukrainian president in the next few hours.Rachel and I will keep an eye on this development to see if Zelenskyy takes part in a scheduled press conference in Pretoria in case he wants to say more about the attacks overnight. Continue reading...

Events

30 h. ago Trump complains Zelensky harder to deal with than Russia in peace talks

Donald Trump complained that Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been harder to deal with than Russia as he lashed out at Ukraine's president on Wednesday, 23 April.

Politics

31 h. ago Ukraine's Zelenskyy arrives in South Africa for state visit following Trump's renewed criticism

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has arrived in South Africa for a state visit following U.S. President Donald Trump’s new accusations that he is prolonging the war against Russia by pushing back against any plan to give up Ukrainian territory in a peace deal

Politics

35 h. ago Trump slams Zelensky for refusing to recognize Russian control of Crimea

Trump slams Zelensky for refusing to recognize Russian control of Crimea  CNN

Politics

37 h. ago Ukraine war briefing: Zelenskyy reposts US missive from first Trump term that Crimea is Ukrainian

Casualities as Russian missiles hit Kyiv and Kharkiv; strike damages Shahed factory in Tatarstan, says Ukrainian military. What we know on day 1,156Europe live: latest news updates on Ukraine and moreVolodymyr Zelenskyy said on Wednesday that peace talks in London had been marked by “emotions” and pledged that Ukraine would abide by its constitution, which he has previously pointed out forbids surrendering territory such as Crimea. “Emotions have run high today. But it is good that five countries met to bring peace closer,” the Ukrainian president posted. “The American side shared its vision. Ukraine and other Europeans presented their inputs. And we hope that it is exactly such joint work that will lead to lasting peace.”Zelenskyy posted a 2018 Crimea Declaration from Mike Pompeo, secretary of state during Donald Trump’s his first term, which said: “The United States rejects Russia’s attempted annexation of Crimea and pledges to maintain this policy until Ukraine’s territorial inte...

Events

40 h. ago Trump says Zelenskyy will prolong war by rejecting Russian control of Crimea

Trump says Zelenskyy will prolong war by rejecting Russian control of Crimea  NPR

Events

42 h. ago Trump blames Zelenskyy for peace talk collapse as Rubio skips London meetings

Trump blames Zelenskyy for peace talk collapse as Rubio skips London meetings  The National Desk

Politics

45 h. ago Trump says Zelenskyy is prolonging war in Ukraine by resisting calls to cede Crimea to Russia

Trump says Zelenskyy is prolonging war in Ukraine by resisting calls to cede Crimea to Russia  AP News

Events

45 h. ago Trump accuses Zelenskyy of harming peace process with Crimea stance and says Ukraine president has ‘no cards to play’ – live

US president says Ukraine can have peace or it can fight for another three years before losing everythingSuspilne, Ukraine's state broadcaster, citing the Ukrainian air force, reports that overnight Ukraine claimed to have shot down 67 out of 134 drones used in Russian attacks.Additionally the air force reported that 47 drones did not reach their target. Attacks, it said, happened in the Kharkiv, Poltava, Donetsk, Odesa, Dnipropetrovsk, and Zaporizhia regions. Continue reading...

Politics

50 h. ago Barriers at the basilica: the logistical challenges of Pope Francis’s funeral

Defence and security mechanisms are deployed across Rome as authorities expect crowds of up to 200,000 peoplePope Francis’s funeral – latest updatesDespite Pope Francis’s desire for a simple and comparatively low-key send-off, those tasked with organising and delivering the funeral of the 266th bishop of Rome still face a vast array of logistical, technological and security challenges.With as many as 170 foreign delegations – including those of Donald Trump, Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Prince William – expected to descend on the Vatican for Saturday’s funeral, along with crowds of up to 200,000 people, those overseeing the event are in for a hyper-vigilant few days. Continue reading...

Politics

54 h. ago Rubio pulls out of London peace talks after Zelensky rejects recognizing occupied Crimea as Russian — NYT

Rubio pulls out of London peace talks after Zelensky rejects recognizing occupied Crimea as Russian — NYT  Meduza

Events