9 h. ago Ukraine war briefing: Zelenskyy hails ‘good progress’ on minerals deal talks

Ukrainian president says legalities almost finalised and officials signal US concessions in talks that are progressing ‘quite fast’; deadly Shahed strike on Dnipro. What we know on day 1,149Minerals deal negotiators have made “good progress”, the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said on Wednesday. A senior official with knowledge of the negotiations told Agence France-Presse that newer drafts of the US-Ukraine accord appeared not to recognise previous US military aid as a debt owed by Ukraine, adding that talks were moving forward “quite fast”. That assessment echoed a report by Bloomberg News that said Washington had eased a demand that Kyiv pay for aid already delivered since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.“The basic legal stuff is almost finalised, and then, if everything moves as quickly and constructively, the agreement will bring economic results to both our countries,” Zelenskyy said in his daily address on Wednesday. The Trump administration has demanded some sort o...

Economics

32 h. ago Ukraine war briefing: Nato chief visits Odesa, declares ‘unwavering’ support for Kyiv

Nato’s Mark Rutte makes his pledge after Donald Trump blames Volodymyr Zelenskyy for starting the war. What we know on day 1,148See all our Ukraine-Russia war coverageNato secretary general Mark Rutte has visited the southern Ukrainian city of Odesa with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and declared “unwavering” support for Ukraine in the aftermath of a Russian attack on the northern city of Sumy that killed 35 people. Rutte said the military alliance was still strongly behind Kyiv, even as it also supported the ceasefire push by US president Donald Trump, who has issued fresh criticism of Zelenskyy, accusing him of starting the war. “Nato stands with Ukraine,” Rutte said at a press conference with Zelenskyy on Tuesday. “You and I know that this has been true all along. I also know that some have called Nato’s support into question in the last couple of months. But let there be no doubt: our support is unwavering.” Rutte also said: “Russia is the aggressor, Russia started this war. The...

Events

57 h. ago Ukraine war briefing: Captive Chinese soldiers appear before the press in Kyiv

Republicans increase pressure on Trump after 35 killed in Sumy, with US president calling for ‘death and destruction to stop’. What we know on day 1,147Ukraine held a press conference with Chinese soldiers captured on the frontline after Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia of recruiting fighters from China using social media. The men were led into a press centre handcuffed and flanked by armed Ukrainian guards and it was unclear if they were speaking of their own volition. The pair told journalists they hoped to be part of a prisoner swap.Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian president, has accused Moscow of dragging Beijing into its invasion, saying that several hundred Chinese nationals were fighting at the frontline. The Kremlin has denied it claim while Beijing has warned parties to the conflict against making “irresponsible remarks”.Zelenskyy accused Vladimir Putin of remaining focused on continuing the war, saying Russia had openly refused to engage in ceasefire talks. “There is only one re...

Events

3 d. ago Ukraine war briefing: Zelenskyy to Trump – come and see Putin’s war for yourself

Impose ceasefire on Russia, says France’s Macron, as leaders condemn deadly Palm Sunday strike on Sumy. What we know on day 1,146Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian president, has urged Donald Trump to visit Ukraine to “understand what Putin did”. In a CBS interview broadcast on Sunday, Zelenskyy said: “Please, before any kind of decisions, any kind of forms of negotiations, come to see people, civilians, warriors, hospitals, churches, children destroyed or dead.”Russia’s missile strike on Sunday on the Ukrainian city of Sumy showed the urgent need to impose a ceasefire on Russia, declared the French president, Emmanuel Macron. “Everyone knows it is Russia alone that wants this war. Today it is clear that Russia alone wants to continue with it, showing its scorn for human life, international law and diplomatic efforts made by President [Donald] Trump,” said Macron. “Strong measures are needed to impose a ceasefire on Russia. France is working tirelessly toward this goal, alongside it...

Politics

5 d. ago Ukraine war briefing: Ukraine could be partitioned like Berlin after second world war, says US envoy

Gen Keith Kellogg appears to suggest Ukraine could be split into zones of control after a peace deal; Trump warns Putin to ‘get moving’ ahead of US-Russia talks. What we know on day 1,144See all our Ukraine war coverage Continue reading...

Events

6 d. ago Ukraine war briefing: Europe unveils new military support for Kyiv ahead of defence summit

The UK has pressed nearly 30 countries to forge ahead with plans to deploy peacekeeper troops to Ukraine. What we know on day 1,143See all our Ukraine war coverage Continue reading...

Events

7 d. ago Ukraine war briefing: Zelenskyy says US ‘very surprised’ after Chinese fighters captured on frontline

Ukraine president says more than 150 Chinese involved in fighting for Russia; US lawmakers criticise reports of planned troop pullbacks in Europe. What we know on day 1,142See all our Ukraine war coverageVolodymyr Zelenskyy accused Beijing of turning a blind eye to the recruitment of Chinese nationals to fight for Russia, adding he believed the US was “very surprised” by the revelation. The Ukrainian leader said Kyiv has obtained passport details of at least 155 fighters from China in the war. While Zelenskyy said Beijing knew its citizens were there, he didn’t believe the country had given “some kind of command” they join the fight.Zelenskyy added he believes Russia is using social media, including TikTok, to recruit. He said he was prepared to exchange captured Chinese soldiers with Ukrainian servicemen in detention.China called those claims “groundless”, saying they are contrary to an effort to find a political solution to the ongoing war. “The Chinese government always asks Chin...

Events

8 d. ago Ukraine war briefing: Zelenskyy demands answers over Chinese nationals fighting for Russia

The Ukrainian president says the Chinese nationals were just two of many fighting with Russian forces. What we know on day 1,141Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his government is seeking clarification from Beijing after Ukrainian forces captured two Chinese nationals fighting with Russian forces in the eastern Donetsk region.Zelenskyy said the captured fighters were two of many more Chinese members of the Russian armed forces, and he accused the Kremlin of trying to involve Beijing in the conflict “directly or indirectly”. A few hundred Chinese nationals are thought to have travelled to fight as mercenaries with the Russian army alongside others from Nepal and central Asian countries.US state department spokesperson Tammy Bruce called the development “disturbing”, adding: “China is a major enabler of Russia in the war in Ukraine.”Russian forces staged massive drone attacks on the Ukrainian cities of Dnipro and Kharkiv late on Tuesday, triggering fires and injuring at least 17 people, region...

Events

9 d. ago Ukraine war briefing: Zelenskyy speaks of military presence in Russia’s Belgorod region for first time

Ukraine president makes first explicit mention of ‘active operations’ on ground in Russian border region close to Kursk. What we know on day 1,140See all our Russia-Ukraine war coverageVolodymyr Zelenskyy said for the first time Monday that Ukrainian forces were operating in Russia’s Belgorod region, where Moscow reported attacks in March. Belgorod is regularly the target of Ukrainian air attacks and is close to Russia’s Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces have been desperately trying to hang on to territory since launching a surprise incursion last year. Zelenskyy said in his daily address that General Oleksandr Syrsky had reported on “our presence in Kursk region and our presence in Belgorod region”. He added: “We continue to conduct active operations in the border areas on the enemy’s territory, and this is absolutely right – the war must return to where it came from.” It is the first time since the full-scale invasion began that Zelenskyy has explicitly mentioned a Ukrainian pr...

Events

1 week ago Ukraine war briefing: Macron urges strong action against Russia if it continues to ‘refuse peace’

French president speaks after missile attack on Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s home town that killed 20, including nine children. What we know on day 1,139See all our Russia-Ukraine war coverageFrench president Emmanuel Macron on Sunday called for “strong action” if Russia continued “to refuse peace”, days after a Russian ballistic missile killed 20 people, including nine children, in Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s home town. Despite US and European efforts to secure peace in Ukraine, Russia continued “to murder children and civilians”, Macron said. “My thoughts are with the children and all civilian victims of the bloody attacks carried out by Russia, including on 4 April in Kryvyi Rih,” Macron said on X. “A ceasefire is needed as soon as possible. And strong action if Russia continues to try to buy time and refuse peace.” Macron said that even though Ukraine accepted US president Donald Trump’s proposal for a complete ceasefire and European countries were also working to secure peace, “Russia is co...

Politics

1 week ago Ukraine war briefing: Zelenskyy criticises ‘weak’ US reaction to deadly Russian strike on his hometown

Ukrainian president says US embassy response ‘disappointing’ as he welcomes ‘tangible progress’ in talks with France and Britain. What we know on day 1,138See all our Russia-Ukraine war coverage Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago Ukraine war briefing: Russian missile attack on Kyiv injures three and triggers air alert

Kyiv mayor warned residents not to leave their shelters, as all of Ukraine was placed under an air alert. What we know on day 1,138See all our Russia-Ukraine war coverage Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago Ukraine war briefing: Russian missile attack in Zelenskyy’s home town kills 18

Nine children among the dead in strike on Kryvyi Rih residential area as Kyiv says Moscow’s claim it targeted military gathering is false. What we know on day 1,137See all our Russia-Ukraine war coverageA Russian missile strike killed at least 18 people, including nine children, in a residential area of Ukraine’s central city of Kryvyi Rih on Friday, local officials said – one of Moscow’s deadliest attacks this year in the war. The strike in President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s home town damaged residential blocks and sparked fires, the regional governor said on Telegram. More than 30 people, including a three-month-old baby, were in hospital, Serhiy Lysak said. At least 50 people were wounded, the emergency services said, adding that the figure was growing. Zelenskyy said rescue efforts were still under way and called on the west to exert greater pressure on Moscow. “All Russian promises end with missiles, drones, bombs or artillery,” he said in his nightly video address. “Diplomacy mea...

Events

1 week ago Ukraine war briefing: Kyiv solving its troop shortages, says top US general in Europe

Gen Christopher Cavoli says Russia has lost 4,000 tanks, comparable to whole US fleet; Kremlin goes to war against Elton John. What we know on day 1,136See all our Russia-Ukraine war coverage Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago Ukraine war briefing: No Trump tariff on Russia as his officials host Putin investment tsar

Kryvyi Rig hit while Kharkiv endures barrage of Shahed drones; Nato foreign ministers including Marc Rubio to meet in Brussels. What we know on day 1,135 Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Ukraine war briefing: Deadly ballistic missile strike on Zelenskyy hometown

Kryvyi Rig hit while Kharkiv endures barrage of Shahed drones; Nato foreign ministers including Marc Rubio to meet in Brussels. What we know on day 1,135 Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago Ukraine war briefing: US anger builds on Russia over refusal to accept ceasefire

Senators propose ‘hard-hitting’ secondary sanctions and say ‘Russia is the aggressor’; ‘coalition of the willing’ moves forward. What we know on day 1,134 Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago Ukraine war briefing: US pressure builds on Russia over refusal to accept ceasefire

Senators propose ‘hard-hitting’ secondary sanctions and say ‘Russia is the aggressor’; ‘coalition of the willing’ moves forward. What we know on day 1,134 Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago Ukraine war briefing: EU ministers call out Kremlin for delaying ceasefire

Pin down Putin over peace talks, say foreign ministers, as Peskov talks of ‘drawn-out process’; Ukraine seeks changes to minerals deal. What we know on day 1,133 Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Ukraine war briefing: Trump sanctions threat on Russian oil buyers could hit China, India

Trump threatens Putin over ceasefire; Russia claims it has taken control of a Donetsk village. What we know on day 1,132China and India could be affected if Donald Trump introduces tariffs of 25-50% against countries buying Russian oil, analysts and officials have suggested. Dan Sabbagh reports that the US president told NBC he would impose such measures within a month “if a deal isn’t made, and if I think it was Russia’s fault”, as he vented frustration at Vladimir Putin’s delaying tactics and attempts to discredit Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian president.Some countries, including China and India, are not participating in anti-war sanctions against Russian oil. Secondary sanctions or tariffs imposed directly on them by the US could further limit Putin’s access to oil revenue to fund the war. While not joining the international sanctions against Russia, China has been wary about breaching them in case it attracts secondary penalties. Some Chinese banks, for example, have curtail...

Events