9 h. ago Trump envoy reportedly told Kremlin official that Ukraine must cede land for peace deal

Steve Witkoff told Yuri Ushakov in October phone call that peace would require Russia gaining control of Donetsk Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff told a senior Kremlin official last month that achieving peace in Ukraine would require Russia gaining control of Donetsk and potentially a separate territorial exchange, according to a recording of their conversation obtained by Bloomberg.In the 14 October phone call with Yuri Ushakov, the top foreign policy aide to the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, Witkoff said he believed the land concessions were necessary all while advising Ushakov to congratulate Trump and frame discussions more optimistically. Continue reading...

Politics

9 h. ago Trump envoy Witkoff reportedly advised Kremlin official on Ukraine peace deal

Steve Witkoff spoke to Yuri Ushakov on territorial control and suggested congratulating Donald Trump and framing talks more optimistically, audio recording suggestsDonald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff told a senior Kremlin official last month that achieving peace in Ukraine would require Russia gaining control of Donetsk and potentially a separate territorial exchange, according to a recording of their conversation obtained by Bloomberg.In the 14 October phone call with Yuri Ushakov, the top foreign policy aide to the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, Witkoff said he believed the land concessions were necessary all while advising Ushakov to congratulate Trump and frame discussions more optimistically. Continue reading...

Politics

9 h. ago Trump in desperate scramble to salvage Ukraine peace deal as he dispatches trusted envoy to Putin

Ukraine agreed to a new 19-point peace plan, a US official confirmed on Tuesday, but the terms are less favorable to Moscow.

Politics

10 h. ago Donald Trump sends trusted envoy to Putin in scramble to save Ukraine peace deal

Donald Trump has confirmed which of his top officials will be heading to meet Vladimir Putin in Moscow as he tries to push through a peace deal to end the war in Ukraine

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11 h. ago Ukraine and US agree ‘essence’ of peace deal as Trump says ‘we’re getting very close’

But any deal would still require agreement from Russia

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12 h. ago Ukraine and US edge towards peace deal as Trump says ‘We’re getting very close’

Kyiv has said it supports “the essence” of a peace plan while stressing there were still issues to address

Politics

12 h. ago Ukraine has shown the US a viable peace deal – but can Trump shake off Putin’s influence?

The latest round of talks about peace may be drifting Ukraine’s way but it’s a carousel of chaos, writes world affairs editor Sam Kiley

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13 h. ago Zelenskyy says Ukraine ready to move forward with US plan and discuss ‘sensitive points’ with Trump

Ukrainian leader says that talks should also include European allies; Trump says deal is closeUS optimistic over Ukraine peace deal talks but ‘a few delicate details’ remainIn other EU related news, a top European court on Tuesday ruled that an EU nation had to recognise a gay marriage recorded in another member state, after a complaint by two Poles married in Germany.The couple, one of whom also has German nationality, were living there and married in Berlin in 2018, reports Agence France-Presse (AFP).The spouses in question, as EU citizens, enjoy the freedom to move and reside within the territory of the member states and the right to lead a normal family life when exercising that freedom and upon returning to their member state of origin.“Sweden’s defence needs to be strengthened against threats such as robots, drones and helicopters. The best way to guarantee peace and freedom is to invest in defence. The orders also contribute to growth, jobs and security of supply. It also imp...

Politics

15 h. ago US optimistic over Ukraine peace deal talks but ‘a few delicate details’ remain

Ukrainian official cites ‘common understanding’, but no sign territorial concessions or security guarantees are agreedEurope live – latest updatesDiscussions involving US, Russian and Ukrainian officials are taking place in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, the latest step in the Trump administration’s attempts to push through a peace deal to end the conflict in Ukraine.The White House spokesperson, Karoline Leavitt, put an optimistic spin on the talks, claiming the US had made “tremendous progress” on finding a resolution. There were “a few delicate, but not insurmountable, details” that needed to be ironed out which would require further talks, she said in a post on X. Continue reading...

Economics

15 h. ago Zelensky to visit US in coming days as Ukraine backs peace deal, official says

The ‘essence’ of the peace plan is supported by Ukraine but some of the most sensitive issues remain to be discussed, an official said

Politics

17 h. ago Ukraine ‘supports essence of peace deal’ following Geneva talks, Ukrainian official reportedly says

Official tells Reuters news agency sensitive issues still to be discussed between Zelenskyy and TrumpIn other EU related news, a top European court on Tuesday ruled that an EU nation had to recognise a gay marriage recorded in another member state, after a complaint by two Poles married in Germany.The couple, one of whom also has German nationality, were living there and married in Berlin in 2018, reports Agence France-Presse (AFP).The spouses in question, as EU citizens, enjoy the freedom to move and reside within the territory of the member states and the right to lead a normal family life when exercising that freedom and upon returning to their member state of origin.“Sweden’s defence needs to be strengthened against threats such as robots, drones and helicopters. The best way to guarantee peace and freedom is to invest in defence. The orders also contribute to growth, jobs and security of supply. It also improves the possibilities of increasing production capacity in the defence...

Politics

17 h. ago Ukraine agrees to peace deal brokered by Trump, US official says

'The Ukrainians have agreed to the peace deal,' the U.S. official said. 'There are some minor details to be sorted out but they have agreed to a peace deal.'

Politics

17 h. ago Ukraine 'agrees to peace deal' as US 'holds secret meeting' with Russian officials

Ukraine has 'reached a common understanding' on the terms of a peace deal with US officials following talks over the weekend. However, there are still some 'minor points' of contention

Politics

19 h. ago Zelensky and Starmer discuss next steps in effort to find Ukraine peace deal

Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky said ‘we see many prospects that can make the path to peace real’ after talks with the US in Geneva.

Economics

20 h. ago This is what Europe must do to call Putin’s bluff on Ukraine

Making Ukraine a member of Nato would send the powerful message to Putin that the West, like the Kremlin, can act with confidence on the world stage, writes world affairs editor Sam Kiley

Politics

21 h. ago US, Russia and Ukraine meet in Abu Dhabi to thrash out peace deal

After meeting with a Russian delegation last night, U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll is expected to speak with Ukraine's military intelligence chief, Kyrylo Budanov, on Tuesday.

Economics

28 h. ago Russia dashes Trump’s hope of quick peace deal in Ukraine after rejecting European proposal

Kremlin says European counterproposal for Ukraine was not constructive

Politics

36 h. ago The Guardian view on a viable peace framework for Ukraine: with Europe’s help, Zelenskyy can have better cards | Editorial

The 28-point plan outlined last week by the US would have delivered peace on Putin’s terms. EU leaders must help Kyiv resist the bullyingThere was a grim familiarity to the unveiling of Donald Trump’s latest peace proposals for Ukraine last week. As in August, when the US president invited Vladimir Putin to a summit in Alaska, Kyiv and its European allies were excluded from discussions that ended up echoing Kremlin talking points. Yet again, Mr Trump publicly scolded Volodymyr Zelenskyy for not being more grateful for his ongoing mediation efforts. And as in the summer, Mr Zelenskyy and blindsided European leaders strove to stay polite while scrambling to limit the damage.The salvage operation appears to have been relatively successful, following Sunday’s meeting in Geneva between the US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, and a Ukrainian delegation. The 28-point plan reportedly drafted by Mr Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, and the Kremlin adviser, Kirill Dmitrie...

Politics

38 h. ago Peace deal or not, this must be Europe’s next brave move to counter Russian aggression

The West does not need America to hold its hand in the confrontation with the Kremlin - it is easily powerful enough on its own, writes world affairs editor Sam Kiley

Economics

38 h. ago Moscow dashes Trump’s hope of quick peace deal in Ukraine after rejecting European proposal

Kremlin says European counter-proposal for Ukraine was not constructive

Politics