1 hour ago As peace deal nears, what has Putin won after three years of slaughter... and what has he lost? NATO divided, swathes of Ukrainian territory claimed

If a ceasefire were to freeze the conflict in place, Russia would retain control of nearly a fifth of Ukraine's land, including key industrial and agricultural regions

Politics

2 h. ago The question no one dares ask: what if Britain has to defend itself from the US? | George Monbiot

So much of our intelligence and military systems are shared or reliant on the US – if it becomes the enemy, it is already inside the gatesAll the talk now is of how we might defend ourselves without the US. But almost everyone with a voice in public life appears to be avoiding a much bigger and more troubling question: how we might defend ourselves against the US.As Keir Starmer visits the orange emperor’s court in Washington, let’s first consider the possibilities. I can’t comment on their likelihood, and I fervently hope that people with more knowledge and power than me are gaming them. One is that Donald Trump will not only clear the path for Vladimir Putin in Ukraine, but will actively assist him. We know that Trump can brook no challenge to his hegemony. Russia is no threat to US dominance, but Europe, with a combined economy similar to that of the US, and a powerful diplomatic and global political presence, could be. Continue reading...

Politics

2 h. ago UK Minister Peter Kyle says what PM's number one priority will be in Donald Trump meeting

Science Secretary Peter Kyle has said that securing a security guarantee if a Ukraine peace deal is reached is the PM's number one priority - but Donald Trump has so far refused to commit

Politics

2 h. ago Exactly how large are the British Armed Forces as WW3 fears grip globe

EXCLUSIVE: Fears that the UK’s fighting force, which has been gradually decreasing in size, may now not be fit to tackle the large-scale demands of a major conflict have been festering since war broke out in Ukraine

Events

3 h. ago Sadiq Khan launches growth plan to 'turbocharge' London economy with bold claim

Mayor says his London Growth Plan could put an extra pre-tax average of £11,000 in each Londoner’s pocket

Politics

3 h. ago US 'backstop' needed to stop Putin reinvading Ukraine after the war, Starmer to tell Trump as PM arrives in Washington

The Prime Minister has arrived in Washington for talks with the US President with the future of Ukraine on a knife edge

Politics

4 h. ago London Growth Plan: Mayor Sadiq Khan aims to boost capital's economy

London Growth Plan: Mayor Sadiq Khan aims to boost capital's economy  BBC.com

Politics

4 h. ago Trump might not know it, but he’s forging a new relationship between Britain and the EU | Martin Kettle

Support for Ukraine means that closer ties to Europe are now a patriotic priority, opening up avenues that Brexit had once blockedIt would be absurd to claim to see a silver lining behind every Donald Trump cloud. Those clouds are too many, too dark and too dangerous. All the same, viewed from a domestic political perspective, there is a clear emerging British upside to Trump’s efforts at crashing the post-cold war order. It might even get a boost from Thursday’s Washington visit by Keir Starmer.In July 2024, when Starmer became prime minister, Labour was rigidly on the defensive about Europe. Brexit was seen as an electorally unstable issue for a party whose priority was to reconnect with leave voters. Everything about Europe was thus sidelined during the election. Only vague generalities were permitted. The only foreign leaders pictured in the party manifesto were Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Canada’s Justin Trudeau.Martin Kettle is a Guardian columnist Continue reading...

Politics

4 h. ago Ukraine’s economy could grow by 5% next year if hostilities end, EBRD says

European reconstruction bank will help rebuild country if peace is agreed but a lasting end to conflict is neededThe war-torn Ukrainian economy could expand by 5% next year if a ceasefire is agreed, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has predicted – but prospects for reconstruction depend on a lasting peace.The London-based lender has invested $6.2bn (£4.9bn) in projects in Ukraine over the course of the three-year conflict. Continue reading...

Politics

4 h. ago Gardeners urged to sprinkle coffee grounds immediately on plants for growth

As warmer temperatures approach and the days grow longer, taking care of our outdoor spaces becomes an important task to ensure our plants thrive in the months ahead

Politics

5 h. ago Top Democrat says Trump may seek mineral deal with both Russia and Ukraine

Jeanne Shaheen discusses Trump’s demand that Kyiv grant US firms access to rare-earth reserves for helping end warDonald Trump may be pursuing a mineral rights deal with Vladimir Putin and Russia as well as with Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Ukraine, a top Senate Democrat has warned, discussing the US president’s demand that Kyiv grant US firms access to 50% of its rare-earth reserves, as a price for helping end the war three years after Russia invaded.“I think anything that helps position Ukraine for any peace negotiations is a positive move,” said Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, the ranking Democrat on the Senate foreign relations and armed services committee, who recently visited Ukraine. Continue reading...

Politics

8 h. ago Ukraine war briefing: Kyiv’s troops regain village near Pokrovsk where ISW says Russians falter

Moscow claims recapture of some Russian territory held by Ukrainian troops in Kursk; ‘security guarantees’ hole in US-Ukraine mineral deal. What we know on day 1,100Ukrainian troops on Wednesday announced a successful counterattack to retake the settlement of Kotlyne near the key city of Pokrovsk, which many Russian forces have died trying to take over the past year. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said: “The year-long Russian effort to seize Pokrovsk has so far failed, and Russian forces appear to have abandoned the effort to take the city directly, preferring instead to conduct a wide envelopment. The Kremlin may have abandoned even that effort for now, however, in the fact of increasing Ukrainian resistance in the area and extremely high Russian losses.”The Russian defence ministry said its forces had recaptured the settlements of Pogrebki and Orlovka, north of the town of Sudzha, in Kursk oblast where Ukraine has held territory inside Russia since August 2024. The minis...

Events

9 h. ago BOB SEELY: The walk through Kyiv that showed me Putin will sabotage any peace deal in his bid to destroy Ukraine

BOB SEELY: On Tuesday night, as President Volodymyr Zelensky announced he had agreed a minerals deal with the US, I was walking back from supper in the Ukrainian capital.

Politics

10 h. ago Sadiq Khan launches Growth Plan in bid to 'turbocharge' London economy

Sir Sadiq’s new strategy aims to ‘create 150,000 good jobs, build more affordable homes, and deliver major new transport upgrades’

Politics

11 h. ago Don't let Putin start ANOTHER war! Warning from Keir Starmer as he prepares to tell Trump how US military threat is the only way to stop Russians 'coming again'

Keir Starmer will today warn Donald Trump he risks plunging Europe into war unless he agrees a long-term 'security backstop' for Ukraine.

Events

11 h. ago Donald Trump's Ukraine minerals deal could be a failure for these two huge reasons

Ukraine has agreed to hand over some of its rare minerals over to the US - but some key factors could mean Donald Trump's policy victory may not give him the results he wants

Politics

11 h. ago Starmer to warn Trump that peace in Ukraine needs US military cover

UK prime minister heads for Washington as president reiterates need for Europe to provide the security for Kyiv

Events

11 h. ago Keir Starmer warns Trump that Putin will 'come again' for Ukraine ahead of key Washington visit

Keir Starmer will hold a pivotal meeting with Donald Trump, where he'll battle to persuade the US President not to betray Ukraine as the security of the continent hangs in the balance

Events

11 h. ago UK plans Ukraine talks, Trump debrief with European leaders on Sunday

UK plans Ukraine talks, Trump debrief with European leaders on Sunday  Reuters

Politics

13 h. ago Trump says EU was ‘formed to screw US’ and tells Europe to shoulder Ukraine security

Donald Trump announced 25 per cent tariffs on the EU to come “soon” during cabinet meeting

Politics