7 h. ago Trump’s belligerence is pushing Xi, Putin and Kim together – and tearing the old world order apart | Simon Tisdall

The three-way partnership on show in Beijing is united in opposition to US hegemony and a western-dominated financial systemSign up for our new weekly newsletter Matters of Opinion, where our columnists and writers will reflect on what they’ve been debating, thinking about, reading and moreDonald Trump’s first reaction to the disconcerting spectacle of China’s Xi Jinping, Russia’s Vladimir Putin and North Korea’s Kim Jong-un marching side-by-side at a huge military parade in Beijing was, predictably, all about him. This show of solidarity and strength, he complained, was nothing less than an attempt to “conspire” against the United States. Trump likes military parades – his own, that is. Even more, he likes to be on the podium, at the centre of attention. He casts himself as world number one. The images coming out of the Chinese capital this week challenged him on all three counts.This puncturing of Trump’s insecure ego, and the striking feebleness of his response, will greatly grat...

Politics

36 h. ago Kim Jong Un arrives in China as President Xi challenges Trump with bid to establish new world order at anti

The North Korean leader's rare trip marks his first visit to China in six years and comes as the trio tighten their alliance in a direct challenge to the West.

Politics

39 h. ago Kim Jong Un arrives in China by armoured train to join Putin and Xi at Beijing's huge military parade as the communists push for new world order at anti

The North Korean leader's rare trip marks his first visit to China in six years and comes as the trio tighten their alliance in a direct challenge to the West.

Events

6 d. ago Ukraine war briefing: Zelenskyy picks Olha Stefanishyna as ambassador to US

Ukrainian officials due in Washington on Friday; Russians short of fuel as oil refineries burn. What we know on day 1,282Volodymyr Zelenskyy has appointed Olha Stefanishyna, a former top cabinet minister, as Ukraine’s ambassador to the US, ending months of speculation. She takes over as ambassador from Oksana Markarova, who held the position for six years, including more than three years of full-scale war with Russia, and became a target for partisan criticism from Republicans. It was announced in July that Markarova would be replaced. Stefanishyna served in Zelenskyy’s administration as a deputy prime minister for European and Euro-Atlantic integration, playing a major role in the country’s integration into western institutions, and as minister of justice.Zelenskyy announced his officials will meet US counterparts in New York on Friday as the Ukrainian president continues to push for a one-on-one meeting with Vladimir Putin despite Kremlin refusals. “Friday, meetings will take plac...

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1 week ago Tearful Kim Jong Un pays respect to North Korean soldiers killed fighting for Russia

A visibly emotional Kim Jong-un was seen consoling the families of North Korean soldiers killed fighting alongside Russia during the Ukraine war.

Events

1 week ago Tearful Kim Jong Un pays respects North Korean soldiers killed fighting for Russia

A visibly emotional Kim Jong-un was seen consoling families of North Korean soldiers killed during the Ukraine war.

Events

2 w. ago Russia says it must be part of international talks on Ukraine’s security

Foreign minister Sergei Lavrov dismisses European diplomacy as ‘clumsy effort to sway Trump’Russia-Ukraine war – live updatesMoscow has said it must be part of any international talks on Ukraine’s security, as Russia continues to stall on Donald Trump’s push for a meeting between Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy.Russia’s foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, said on Wednesday that Moscow must be included in any talks on Ukraine’s security guarantees, dismissing European diplomacy as “aggressive escalation” and a “clumsy effort to sway Trump”. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago Ukraine live updates: ‘Dynamics have accelerated,’ says Polish PM as coalition of the willing debrief takes place after White House meeting

European leaders meet virtually after talks at the White House where Trump said arrangements being made for meeting between Putin and ZelenskyyFull report: Trump arranging Zelenskyy-Putin meeting as European leaders push for US security guaranteesSketch: All smoke and no fire as Zelenskky emerges unbruised after Trump meetVolodymyr Zelenskyy navigated Monday’s meeting more successfully than his Oval Office encounter in February, which ended abruptly when Donald Trump and JD Vance publicly upbraided him for not being grateful enough.In his opening remarks to the media on Monday, the Ukrainian president repeated his thanks at least eight times, the Associated Press reports.A meeting between Zelenskyy and Putin ... could it finally happen?The need for security guarantees agreed – but details unclearTrump believes he is very good at solving conflictsA potential boost for the US arms industry Continue reading...

Society

2 w. ago ‘Appeasing bullies never works’: Readers split over Trump’s push for Putin

Our community is divided over Trump’s push for peace talks with Zelensky and Putin. While some feared he would concede too much, others warned that his approach would only embolden Putin

Politics

2 w. ago Four key takeaways from Trump’s White House summit on Ukraine

The US president has hosted European leaders at short notice amid intense political efforts to end the war in Ukraine. Here are four key points to what was achievedUkraine war: live updatesFull report: Trump arranging Zelenskyy-Putin meeting as European leaders push for US security guaranteesDonald Trump has hosted leaders from across Europe as part of a flurry of diplomacy to find a path to peace in Ukraine. Coming just days after a disappointing summit with Russian president Vladimir Putin in Alaska, the pressure was on to make headway in a years-long conflict that the US president once said he could solve in 24 hours.Below are some key points arising from the US president’s range of bilateral and multilateral talks with the leaders of Ukraine, Germany, Britain, France, Italy, Finland, the European Union and Nato. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Ukraine live updates: Trump and European leaders press Putin to agree to Zelenskyy meeting

US president says arrangements being made for bilateral meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy and that US will help guarantee Ukraine’s security if a deal is reachedFull report: Trump arranging Zelenskyy-Putin meeting as European leaders push for US security guaranteesSketch: All smoke and no fire as Zelenskky emerges unbruised after Trump meetBritish prime minister Keir Starmer has described the talks at the White House as “good and constructive” and said they produced “real progress”.Speaking after the summit, Starmer said: “There was a real sense of unity between the European leaders that were there and President Trump and President Zelenskyy.”The other material outcome was the agreement that there will now be a bilateral agreement between President Putin and President Zelenskyy, that was after a phone call between President Trump and President Putin during the course of this afternoon, followed by a trilateral that will add in Trump.That is a recognition of the principle that on s...

Politics

2 w. ago Trump caught in hot mic moment about Putin as European leaders push Ukraine security guarantees as make

In a hot mic moment Monday, Donald Trump appeared to be reassuring Emmanuel Macron that Vladimir Putin was serious about making peace in Ukraine.

Politics

2 w. ago Trump interrupts talks with European leaders to call Putin amid push for ceasefire and trilateral meeting – live

US president speaks to Russian leaders in middle of talks instead of afterwards, media reports say, as European leaders call for truce and US-Russia-Ukraine talks Trump tells Zelenskyy ceasefire not needed for Russia-Ukraine peace dealSketch: All smoke and no fire as Zelenskky emerges unbruised after Trump meetA Russian drone attack on a five-storey apartment block in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv early Monday killed five people and wounded more than a dozen others, Ukrainian authorities said.The attack, which took place just before dawn, reduced part of the building to rubble and sparked fires on at least three floors, the region’s governor Oleg Synegubov said on Telegram. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Kim Kardashian tearfully confronts Kanye West in explosive new documentary trailer

The new film will chart the rapper’s apparent worsening mental health struggles, his crumbling marriage to the reality TV star, and a string of increasingly erratic public outbursts

Events

3 w. ago Putin to face ‘very severe consequences’ if he does not agree Ukraine ceasefire, says Trump

US president also suggests he would push for second summit if his meeting with Putin goes well alongside Vlodymyr ZelesnkyyVladimir Putin will face “very severe consequences” if he does not agree a ceasefire in the war in Ukraine at his summit with Donald Trump in Alaska, the US president said on Wednesday.Speaking after a call with Vlodymyr Zelesnkyy and other European leaders, including Britain’s Keir Starmer, Trump also suggested he would push for a second summit if his meeting with Putin goes well – this time including his Ukrainian counterpart. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Putin faces ‘very severe consequences’ if no Ukraine truce agreed, Trump says

US president also says he would push for three-way summit with Volodymyr Zelenskyy if Alaska meeting goes wellVladimir Putin will face “very severe consequences” if he does not agree a ceasefire in the war in Ukraine at his summit with Donald Trump in Alaska, the US president said on Wednesday.Speaking after a call with Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other European leaders, including Britain’s Keir Starmer, Trump also suggested he would push for a second summit if his meeting with Putin goes well – this time including his Ukrainian counterpart. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Zelensky tells Trump 'Putin is bluffing' and says he WON'T surrender territory... as US and Russia 'plan West Bank

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday warned Donald Trump that Putin was 'bluffing' about his desire to end the war.

Politics

3 w. ago Zelensky tells Trump 'Putin is bluffing' and says he WON'T surrender territory as Western leaders meet... while Ukraine orders women and children to FLEE region where Russia is advancing

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday warned Donald Trump that Putin was 'bluffing' about his desire to end the war.

Politics

3 w. ago Women and children are told to FLEE Ukrainian region where Russian forces have made rapid gains as Putin pushes for territory ahead of Trump meeting

Critics say the offensive is a last-minute push by Vladimir Putin to grab territory before his high-stakes meeting with Donald Trump this week, where it is feared he will demand Ukrainian territory.

Politics

3 w. ago EU leaders push to consult with Trump ahead of Putin meeting on Ukraine

Foreign ministers expected to demand Russia agree to ceasefire and include Zelenskyy during emergency meetingEurope live – latest updatesEuropean leaders claiming Russia represents an existential threat to their continent are pushing for consultations with Donald Trump to spell out Europe’s red lines before his meeting with Vladimir Putin to discuss the Ukraine war on Friday in Alaska.The Polish prime minister, Donald Tusk, said he was optimistic the US president would formally consult with European leaders before his meeting, adding that the summit between Trump and Putin filled him with hope and fear. Continue reading...

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