61 h. ago UK defence secretary confirms plans for drone deliveries as Ukraine military aid meeting opens – Europe live

John Healey says Europe needs to continue supporting Ukraine ‘for our security today, tomorrow and for future generations’Opening, Nato’s Rutte reiterates the aim of achieving a “durable and lasting peace” in Ukraine as he praises president Trump’s “effort to get there."“Let’s pray that we will get there as soon as possible, but in the meantime, [it’s about] making sure that you have what you need to stay in the fight and to make sure that whenever it ends, Putin will know that he should never, ever again, try to attack Ukraine so again,” he said. Continue reading...

Events

64 h. ago US remains ‘completely committed’ to Nato says secretary general ahead of Ukraine military aid meeting – Europe live

Mark Rutte comments on absence of US defense secretary Pete Hegseth from meeting about defence of UkraineMeanwhile in Cologne, Germany, the biggest evacuation since the second world war is under way after the discovery of three unexploded bombs dropped by allied forces 80 years ago.About 20,000 people are having to leave their homes and businesses, while hotels, a care home for elderly people and a hospital are being evacuated. Three bridges over the Rhine have been closed and rail traffic has been halted or diverted. Continue reading...

Events

65 h. ago US defense secretary skips Ukraine military aid meeting attended by more than 50 other allies – Europe live

Pete Hegseth will not be in attendance when other Nato countries hold meeting about defence of UkraineNato secretary general Mark Rutte has been speaking in Brussels, addressing some of the key issues ahead of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting.Asked about US defense secretary Pete Hegseth’s absence today, he insisted the US remained “completely committed” to Nato and helping Ukraine and that it would be represented at another level. Continue reading...

Events

3 d. ago Ukraine war live: deadly Russian attacks continue after Turkey peace talks end with no significant breakthrough

Officials say Russian shelling killed at least five people in different frontline areas of eastern Ukraine on MondayHere is a quick recap of the outcomes of the talks in Istanbul, which ended much sooner than was anticipated, having lasted barely an hour.Russia presented terms during the negotiations that highlighted its refusal to compromise on its longstanding war goals. A text of Moscow’s memorandum, published by Russian state media, said a settlement would require international recognition of Crimea and four other regions of Ukraine that Moscow has claimed as its own territory, as well as the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces. It also ruled out Ukrainian membership of Nato and demanded recognising Russian as the country’s official language.Russia’s memorandum presented two options that both appeared to be non-starters for Ukraine. Option one: for Ukraine to start a full military withdrawal from the Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions. Option two: Ukraine to cease mil...

Events

4 d. ago Watch live: Zelensky and Rutte hold press conference as Ukraine and Russia peace talks take place

Watch live as Volodymyr Zelensky and Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte address the media following a round of peace talks between Ukraine and Russia.

Politics

9 d. ago Zelenskyy says Ukraine has reached defence sector accords with Germany as he meets Merz – Ukraine

Ukrainian president says countries have reached new agreements on defence investments as he meets German chancellor in BerlinZelenskyy bound for Berlin with Merz boxed inTurkey’s foreign minister will travel to Kyiv on Thursday for a two-day visit after discussing peace efforts to end Russia’s war in Ukraine in Moscow earlier this week, a Turkish foreign ministry source told Reuters on Wednesday.Foreign minister Hakan Fidan held talks in Moscow on Monday and Tuesday, meeting Russian president Vladimir Putin and other Russian officials, including Moscow’s top negotiator at talks in Istanbul earlier this month aimed at ending the three-year war. Continue reading...

Politics

9 d. ago Zelenskyy meets Merz as he warns 50,000 Russian troops massing near Sumy region – Ukraine

Ukrainian president meets German chancellor with speculation he could allow Kyiv to use long-range Taurus missilesZelenskyy bound for Berlin with Merz boxed inTurkey’s foreign minister will travel to Kyiv on Thursday for a two-day visit after discussing peace efforts to end Russia’s war in Ukraine in Moscow earlier this week, a Turkish foreign ministry source told Reuters on Wednesday.Foreign minister Hakan Fidan held talks in Moscow on Monday and Tuesday, meeting Russian president Vladimir Putin and other Russian officials, including Moscow’s top negotiator at talks in Istanbul earlier this month aimed at ending the three-year war. Continue reading...

Events

9 d. ago Zelenskyy to meet Merz amid German wrangling over weapons go

Chancellor’s coalition partners opposing any moves to allow Ukraine to use long-range Taurus missilesZelenskyy bound for Berlin with Merz boxed inRussian air defences destroyed or intercepted more than 100 Ukrainian drones over various Russian regions, including a swarm of drones heading for Moscow, officials said early on Wednesday, according to Reuters.Russia in the past week also sent waves of drones to attack Ukrainian cities, including what Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy described as the launch of more than 900 drones over a three-day period ending early on Monday morning. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago Zelenskyy says Russia ‘trying to buy time to continue war’ – Ukraine war live

Ukrainian president posts on social media after Putin refuses to agree to a ceasefire in phone call with TrumpTrump and Putin hold phone call but Kremlin refuses ceasefireHere’s more of what Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram today.“It is obvious that Russia is trying to buy time to continue the war and occupation,” he said.We have no doubt that the war must end at the negotiating table. There must be clear and realistic proposals on the table. Ukraine is ready for any effective negotiation formats. And if Russia continues to put forward unrealistic conditions and undermine possible results, there must be tough consequences. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago Zelenskyy urges more pressure on Russia after no ceasefire agreed in Trump

Ukrainian president says ‘pressure on Russia will push it toward real peace’Trump and Putin hold phone call but Kremlin refuses ceasefireEU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas on Tuesday called for the United States to take “strong action” against Russia if Moscow does not agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine.“America said that if Russia doesn’t agree on an unconditional ceasefire, then there are going to be consequences. So we want to see those consequences, also from the US side,” Kallas said at a meeting of EU ministers in Brussels.Putin is clearly playing for time, unfortunately we have to say Putin is not really interested in peace. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Zelenskyy calls for immediate, unconditional ceasefire as Russia and Ukraine officials meet for first direct peace talks since 2022 – live

Delegations from Russia and Ukraine meet in Istanbul for the first direct talks between the two nations since 2022Zelenskyy sends team for peace talks but warns Russia ‘not serious enough’Reuters is reporting that several vehicles have arrived at Dolmabahçe palace in Istanbul, where we are anticipating trilateral talks between Turkey, Ukraine and the US and then between Turkey, Russia and Ukraine.An air alert has sounded in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Ukraine accuses Russia of undermining peace talks with new demands – live

Meetings due to take place but little optimism after Putin failed to attendZelenskyy sends team for peace talks but warns Russia ‘not serious enough’Reuters is reporting that several vehicles have arrived at Dolmabahçe palace in Istanbul, where we are anticipating trilateral talks between Turkey, Ukraine and the US and then between Turkey, Russia and Ukraine.An air alert has sounded in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Ukraine war live: Zelenskyy says Russia not serious about talks but he will send a team to Istanbul

Trump adds to doubts over progress in Turkey after Putin fails to attendWhat we know on day 1,177 of the invasionPresident Volodymyr Zelenskyy is due to meet Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Thursday and after that will make a decision on talks with Russia in Istanbul, a Ukrainian official has told Reuters.The Ukrainian president had previously proposed a face-to-face meeting in Turkey between himself and his Russian counterpart. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Kremlin says ‘ultimatums’ on Ukraine ceasefire are unacceptable as EU says Russia must respond by end of day – Europe live

Europe warns the ‘clock is ticking’ and threatens new sanctions against Moscow if it does not agree to unconditional 30-day ceasefirePope Leo then says that one of the most important challenges he sees is how to “promote communication that can bring us out of the Tower of Babel in which we sometimes find ourselves, out of the confusion of loveless languages that are often ideological or partisan.”Curiously, he then turns to artificial intelligence, which he hails its “immense potential,” but also warns that it “requires responsibility and discernment in order to ensure that it can be used for the good of all, so that it can benefit all of humanity.”“Let us disarm communication of all prejudice and resentment, fanaticism and even hatred, let us free it from aggression. We do not need loud, forceful communication, but rather communication that is capable of listening and of gathering the voices of the weak who have no voice.” Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago ‘The clock is ticking’: Germany says Russia must respond to ceasefire offer by end day or face sanctions – Europe live

European leaders say Russia must to an unconditional 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine Pope Leo then says that one of the most important challenges he sees is how to “promote communication that can bring us out of the Tower of Babel in which we sometimes find ourselves, out of the confusion of loveless languages that are often ideological or partisan.”Curiously, he then turns to artificial intelligence, which he hails its “immense potential,” but also warns that it “requires responsibility and discernment in order to ensure that it can be used for the good of all, so that it can benefit all of humanity.”“Let us disarm communication of all prejudice and resentment, fanaticism and even hatred, let us free it from aggression. We do not need loud, forceful communication, but rather communication that is capable of listening and of gathering the voices of the weak who have no voice.” Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago European foreign ministers demand peace in Ukraine as Zelenskyy challenges Putin to meet him – Europe live

EU foreign policy chief accuses Moscow of ‘playing games’ and insists peace talks cannot take place with Ukraine ‘under fire’Pope Leo then says that one of the most important challenges he sees is how to “promote communication that can bring us out of the Tower of Babel in which we sometimes find ourselves, out of the confusion of loveless languages that are often ideological or partisan.”Curiously, he then turns to artificial intelligence, which he hails its “immense potential,” but also warns that it “requires responsibility and discernment in order to ensure that it can be used for the good of all, so that it can benefit all of humanity.”“Let us disarm communication of all prejudice and resentment, fanaticism and even hatred, let us free it from aggression. We do not need loud, forceful communication, but rather communication that is capable of listening and of gathering the voices of the weak who have no voice.” Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Zelenskyy challenges Putin to meet him for peace talks after Trump and European leaders increase pressure – Europe live

Ukrainian and Russian presidents have not communicated directly since Moscow launched invasion And the EU’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas is speaking now, and she’s striking a very similar tone, pointedly referring to over 100 Russian drones reportedly targeting Ukraine overnight.“We have to put pressure on Russia to really want peace and to sit down and to talk with Ukraine,” she says, accusing Moscow of “playing games.” Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Ukraine war live: Zelenskyy welcomes Putin calls for talks but says Russia must agree to ‘full, lasting, reliable’ ceasefire

In late-night address in Moscow, Russian president dismissed calls by European leaders for 30-day ceasefire to start on MondayVladimir Putin’s proposal for “direct talks” with Kyiv came hours after leaders from the UK, France, Germany and Poland travelled to Kyiv to meet Volodymyr Zelenskyy.As my colleague Shaun Walker notes in this story, the European leaders told the Russian president to sign up to an unconditional ceasefire by Monday or face increased sanctions and weapons transfers to Ukraine.It is a positive sign that the Russians have finally begun to consider ending the war.The entire world has been waiting for this for a very long time. And the very first step in truly ending any war is a ceasefire. There is no point in continuing the killing even for a single day. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Vladimir Putin rejects ceasefire ultimatum proposed by European leaders

Leaders of Britain, France, Germany and Poland told Russian president to accept unconditional 30-day ceasefire by Monday or face increased sanctions and weapons transfers to UkraineVladimir Putin has rejected an ultimatum by European leaders to agree to a ceasefire with Ukraine or face increased sanctions, but has proposed holding direct negotiations with Kyiv this week.The leaders of Britain, France, Ge. rmany and Poland told the Russian president either to sign up to an unconditional ceasefire by Monday or face increased sanctions and weapons transfers to Ukraine. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Ukraine war live: European leaders tell Putin to agree to unconditional ceasefire by Monday or face ‘massive’ sanctions

European leaders, in coordination with Donald Trump, are proposing a 30-day unconditional ceasefire starting 12 MayIt is the first time the leaders of the four European nations (France, the UK, Germany and Poland) have made a joint visit to Ukraine, reports Agence France-Presse (AFP).“We are clear the bloodshed must end. Russia must stop its illegal invasion,” the leaders said in a joint statement, adding:Alongside the US, we call on Russia to agree a full and unconditional 30-day ceasefire to create the space for talks on a just and lasting peace.We will continue to increase our support for Ukraine. Until Russia agrees to an enduring ceasefire, we will ratchet up pressure on Russia’s war machine. Continue reading...

Politics