5 h. ago Ukraine war live: Trump denies being ‘played’ by Putin as Russia launches overnight attack

Ukraine says five regions damaged overnight after wave of drone and missile attacks by RussiaAnalysis: Trump team reveals lack of expertise – and patience – as it threatens to abandon peace talksDonald Trump has said the US will “take a pass” on a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine if “parties make it difficult”. The US president made the comments to reporters during the swearing-in ceremony for Mehmet Oz as administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.Trump added that he believed there was a “good chance” of “solving the problem”. The US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, had earlier said the US will abandon its efforts “within days” to broker a peace agreement unless there are clear signs a settlement can be reached. Continue reading...

Politics

22 h. ago Trump threatens to abandon Ukraine peace efforts unless deal reached ‘very shortly’

President says US may ‘take a pass’ on brokering agreement as Kyiv signs minerals memorandum Trump team reveals lack of expertise – and patience – as it threatens to abandon Ukraine peace talksDonald Trump has said the US is ready to “take a pass” on brokering a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine unless a settlement is reached “very shortly”, as Kyiv announced it has signed a memorandum with the US over a controversial minerals deal.“Now if for some reason one of the two parties makes it very difficult, we’re just going to say: ‘You’re foolish. You’re fools. You’re horrible people’ – and we’re going to just take a pass,” Trump told reporters in Washington. “But hopefully we won’t have to do that.” Continue reading...

Politics

28 h. ago US ready to abandon Ukraine peace deal if there is no progress, says Marco Rubio

Secretary of state threatens to pull plug ‘within days’, as Kyiv says it has signed mineral deal memorandumRussia-Ukraine war – latest news updatesThe US will abandon its efforts “within days” to broker a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine unless there are clear signs a settlement can be reached, the US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, has said, as Kyiv says it has signed a memorandum with the US over a controversial minerals deal.Speaking in Paris on Friday after meeting European and Ukrainian leaders, Rubio said Donald Trump was still interested in a deal. But he added that the US president had many other priorities around the world and was willing to move on unless there were signs of progress. Continue reading...

Economics

9 d. ago Defense chiefs from around 30 countries expected at NATO for talks on a future Ukraine force

Britain and France are convening a meeting of defense ministers from around 30 countries to press ahead with plans to deploy troops to Ukraine to police any future peace agreement with Russia

Events

2 w. ago Trump ‘very angry’ with Putin approach to Ukraine ceasefire and threatens secondary tariffs on Russian oil – Russia

US president takes aim at Russian president’s criticism of Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s credibilityThe Guardian’s defence and security editor, Dan Sabbagh, has this snippet about the ineffectiveness of Trump’s negotiating tactics in regards to trying to end the war in Ukraine. You can read the full story here.During the election campaign, Trump had said that he could end the Ukraine war within 24 hours, comments he more recently claimed were “a little bit sarcastic”. That has proved elusive and his tactics to force Russia and Ukraine into agreeing a ceasefire have so far been focused on bullying and pressurising Kyiv. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Macron dismisses Russian demands as ‘coalition of the willing’ gathers in Paris for Ukraine talks – Europe live

French president rules out any lifting of sanctions and says European forces could be deployed to mark ‘clear support’Among the European leaders expected in Paris, we are going to see the British prime minister, Keir Starmer, who said in a statement released overnight that “unlike President Zelenskyy, Putin has shown he’s not a serious player in these peace talks.”He said:“Playing games with the agreed naval ceasefire in the Black Sea despite good faith participation from all sides – all while continuing to inflict devastating attacks on the Ukrainian people. His promises are hollow.The US is playing a leading role by convening the ceasefire talks, President Zelenskyy has demonstrated his commitment repeatedly, and Europe is stepping up to play its part to defend Ukraine’s future. Now Putin needs to show he’s willing to play ball.” Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Things to know about the limited ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine brokered by the US

After three days of intense negotiations, the Trump administration, Ukraine and Russia agreed to a limited ceasefire in which the key details, including what was covered and how it will start, were disputed by the warring sides

Events

3 w. ago ‘A deal with Putin is an illusion’: Ukrainian officials warn Russia making ‘mockery’ of ceasefire talks

Deals with the Russian president cannot be trusted and once Donald Trump sees this he may change his attitude, says Zelensky ally

Events

3 w. ago What is the Black Sea ceasefire deal between Russia and Ukraine – and will Putin honour it?

Truce has been announced by the White House, but the Kremlin has so far shown no signs of implementing it

Politics

3 w. ago Russia launches overnight strikes on Ukrainian port and Zelensky's hometown despite maritime ceasefire deal

The attacks came just hours after the United States reached separate deals with Ukraine and Russia to stop fighting in the Black Sea

Events

3 w. ago Putin launches massive drone strike on Ukrainian port after setting 'conditions' for Black Sea ceasefire

The assault came less than 24 hours after Russia and Ukraine settled on a U.S.-mediated partial ceasefire, agreeing separately not to attack vessels in the Black Sea

Events

3 w. ago Russia and Ukraine agree to Black Sea ceasefire after days of intense talks, US says

Kremlin agrees to deal if the US helps with sanctions relief on agricultural exports

Events

3 w. ago Russia and Ukraine agree to ‘eliminate the use of force’ in Black Sea

Kremlin stipulates maritime ceasefire will start only if it gets sanctions relief on agricultural exportsRussia-Ukraine war: latest news updatesRussia and Ukraine have agreed to “eliminate the use of force” in the Black Sea after parallel talks with US negotiators in Saudi Arabia, though the Kremlin said a maritime ceasefire would start only if it received sanctions relief on agricultural exports.The two sides also agreed to implement a previously announced 30-day halt on attacks against energy networks and expand its scope to more locations, but resolving fundamental issues, including any division of territory, remains far off. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Russia and Ukraine agree to Black Sea ceasefire, White House says

The White House announced both Kyiv and Moscow had agreed to “ensure safe navigation” and “eliminate the use of force” in the Black Sea.

Events

3 w. ago Downing Street ‘hopeful’ after Russia and Ukraine agree to Black Sea truce

It is unclear whether the UK would follow any easing of sanctions against Russia signalled by the US.

Politics

3 w. ago Russia and Ukraine agree to avoid strikes on energy infrastructure or vessels in the Black Sea, following successful US talks

Both sides agreed separately to avoid military strikes on vessels, the primary objective of the latest round of talks in Saudi Arabia.

Events

3 w. ago How Ukraine is beating Russia in the Black Sea – and pushed Putin towards a ceasefire

The early defiance of Ukrainian forces in Snake Island set the scene for their dominance over the Black Sea, leaving little doubt why Putin was so keen for a ceasefire there, World Affairs Editor Sam Kiley writes from Odesa

Events

3 w. ago Ukraine and Russia agree Black Sea ceasefire deal after talks in Saudi Arabia

Talks have been taking place this week

Economics

3 w. ago Russia and Ukraine agree to Black Sea ceasefire deal after US talks in Saudi

US officials have been keen to broker a long-lasting peace between Russia and Ukraine, although Western leaders have questioned whether too few demands are being made of the Kremlin

Economics

3 w. ago Russia and Ukraine agree to Black Sea ceasefire, US says – Europe live

White House says both sides agree to ‘ensure safe navigation, eliminate the use of force and prevent the use of commercial vessels for military purposes’A former head of Dutch cybersecurity has expressed his surprise at Donald Trump’s top team’s use of Signal for classified communications that revealed “visceral anti-European messaging”.Bart Groothuis, an MEP for the Dutch liberal VVD party, who used to run the cybersecurity bureau at the Dutch ministry of defence, said he was “a bit surprised” at the US government’s use of a commercial app for highly classified conversations. Continue reading...

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