2 h. ago UK to spend 5% of GDP on security as wars rage in Europe and Middle East, says Starmer ahead of Nato summit

The Prime Minister stressed Britain has been plunged into an ‘era of radical uncertainty’ by growing threats

Events

6 h. ago Ukraine's Zelensky meets the King and PM in London ahead of Nato summit as UK vows to help Kyiv gear up military production in Russia war

The Ukrainian president arrived in Downing Street for talks ahead of the Nato summit in the Netherlands, having had lunch with the King.

Events

9 h. ago King Charles has surprise meeting with Zelensky who sends subtle Donald Trump dig

The King has met with the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky ahead of his meeting with Prime Minister Keir Starmer about the ongoing war in Ukraine, while also sending a sneaky message to Donald Trump

Politics

9 h. ago Zelenskyy calls Russia, Iran and North Korea a ‘coalition of murderers’ during UK visit

Ukrainian president’s remark came on visit to discuss Moscow’s war and defence cooperation with Kier StarmerVolodymyr Zelenskyy has described Russia, Iran and North Korea as a “coalition of murderers” during a visit to London in which he held talks with Keir Starmer on defence cooperation and how to put further pressure on Moscow.Ukraine’s president arrived in the UK on Monday, hours after the Kremlin launched another big air raid on Kyiv. It involved 352 drones – half of them were Iranian-designed Shaheds - and North Korean ballistic missiles in what Zelenskyy called “a completely cynical strike”. Continue reading...

Events

31 h. ago Trump prepares to jet to NATO as poll reveals Americans think White House backs Russia over Ukraine

Donald Trump will head to the NATO Summit this week - as a recent poll found that more Americans think his administration is siding with Russia over Ukraine in negotiations to end the war.

Politics

43 h. ago Takeaways from AP report on accusation that Wagner commits war crimes by promoting atrocities

The International Criminal Court has been asked to review a confidential legal report asserting that the Russia-linked Wagner group has committed war crimes by spreading images of apparent atrocities in West Africa on social media

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45 h. ago Ukraine war briefing: Russia repatriated at least 20 of its own dead soldiers in recent exchanges, Zelenskyy says

‘Sometimes these bodies even have Russian passports’, says Zelenskyy, condemning Moscow’s disorganisation in swapping of PoWs and troops’ remains. What we know on day 1,215Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Russia sent Ukraine at least 20 of its own dead soldiers in recent exchanges with Kyiv, describing it as a result of Moscow’s disorganisation in carrying out large swaps of wounded PoW’s and remains of troops. Zelenskyy said that an “Israeli mercenary” fighting for Moscow was among the dead Ukraine had received. Officials did not disclose the identities of the bodies: “They threw the corpses of their citizens at us. This is their attitude toward war, toward their soldiers. And this is already documented. Sometimes these bodies even have Russian passports,” he said. He said the Russian side insisted the dead were all Ukrainians.Zelenskyy has also accused western firms of supplying Russia with “machine tools” used to make weapons, in remarks made public Saturday. He said companies from ...

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53 h. ago Vladimir Putin given stark 'on the verge' warning by top minister

Russia's economy could be 'on the verge' of a recession, according to one of the top officials in Vladimir Putin's Kremlin - Russia's economy remains on a war footing

Politics

55 h. ago WW3 is 'right under our noses' as Vladimir Putin makes 'disturbing' statement

With tensions heating up in the Middle East between Iran, Israel, Hamas and more, and Russia's constant war with Ukraine, the threat of a full-scale World War 3 is looming

Politics

61 h. ago Putin declares ‘all of Ukraine is ours’ in latest blow to peace talks

Putin also hinted that Moscow stands ready to use a nuclear weapon if Kyiv’s forces used a so-called ‘dirty bomb’ - but Ukraine has denied it would ever do so

Politics

3 d. ago Stunning map shows the lengths pilots go through to avoid conflict zones

As the Russia-Ukraine war rages on and the Israel-Iran conflict intensifies, the world has become more chaotic, and so has its airspace

Events

3 d. ago Ukraine war briefing: Russia ‘on verge of recession’, Putin minister tells economic showcase

Drone attacks on Kharkiv and Odesa; don’t forget about Ukraine because of Iran-Israel fighting, say Kyiv officials. What we know on day 1,213 Vladimir Putin’s economy minister has warned that Russia is “on the verge” of recession as he spoke on the second day of a signature event meant to bolster economic confidence. The minister, Maxim Reshetnikov, said at the St Petersburg economic forum that his view was based on “current business sentiment and indicators” pointing to a slowdown. “Everything else depends on our decisions,” Reshetnikov said, calling for the central bank to show a “little love for the economy”.Russia’s central bank raised interest rates to an eye-watering 21% in October 2024 to combat inflation and kept them at that level until this month when it eased them to 20%. Russia’s economic growth slowed to 1.4% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2025, the lowest quarterly figure in two years. Prices are rising across the economy driven up by massive government spending ...

Politics

4 d. ago Spanish PM rejects Nato’s ‘unreasonable’ 5% GDP target for defence spending – Europe live

Pedro Sánchez reportedly says move would be ‘counterproductive’ and harm Spanish economy Earlier today, I cheekily suggested that Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy is probably wondering how to persuade US president Donald Trump to stay at the Nato summit in The Hague next week long enough to get to discussions on Ukraine and Russia – and not leave early, as he did at the G7 summit.Well, looks like this issue may have actually influenced the planning.“Budapest city hall will organise the Budapest Pride march on 28 June as a city event. Period.” Continue reading...

Events

4 d. ago Hungarian police say Budapest Pride march banned, but mayor insists it will go ahead – Europe live

The Hungarian ban on the Budapest Pride march comes a day after a debate on the march was held at the European parliamentEarlier today, I cheekily suggested that Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy is probably wondering how to persuade US president Donald Trump to stay at the Nato summit in The Hague next week long enough to get to discussions on Ukraine and Russia – and not leave early, as he did at the G7 summit.Well, looks like this issue may have actually influenced the planning.“Budapest city hall will organise the Budapest Pride march on 28 June as a city event. Period.” Continue reading...

Events

4 d. ago Putin says he would only meet Zelenskyy in ‘final phase’ of talks – Europe live

Putin’s comments come as fighting continues and Ukraine says Russia avoiding peace talksFor what it’s worth, Russia’s Vladimir Putin said on Thursday he was ready to meet with Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy but only during a “final phase” of negotiations “so as not to sit there and divide things up endlessly, but to put an end to it”.But his broader comments were not really conciliatory, and will do little to raise hopes of a negotiated settlement.“The strikes were carried out against military industries, not residential quarters.” Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago Ukraine war briefing: Russia can defend itself, says Putin, as North Korea sends more soldiers

Death toll rises to 28 after Russian attack on Kyiv apartments; Zelenskyy planning to attend Nato summit in The Hague. What we know on day 1,212Vladimir Putin said on Thursday he was ready to meet with Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy but only during a “final phase” of negotiations “so as not to sit there and divide things up endlessly, but to put an end to it”. Putin made his customary false accusation that Zelenskyy is not Ukraine’s legitimate president.In a round-table interview in St Petersburg with international news agencies, Putin said on Nato: “We do not consider any Nato rearmament to be a threat to the Russian Federation, because we are self-sufficient in terms of ensuring our security.” Russia has brought in thousands of North Korean soldiers to help defend Kursk; and has relied on a flood of arms and ammunition from North Korea as well as Iranian drones and missiles to wage war on Ukraine; while also receiving suspected help from China to continue arming a “spec...

Events

5 d. ago Israel blitzes Iran suburb where Ayatollah is 'hiding in bunker' but Trump now refuses to say if US will join war after Russia warned him not to

Israel has launched new attacks across Tehran near to where Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is hiding in an underground bunker.

Events

5 d. ago Why Europe should hijack Nato for its own purposes | Paul Taylor

As the Trump administration’s security focus shifts towards countering China, European governments are living on borrowed timeCall it the five-for-five summit. When Nato leaders meet in The Hague next week, European allies will sign up to a phoney transatlantic bargain in which they pretend they will spend 5% of their economic output on defence and Donald Trump pretends in return that he is committed to Article 5 of the Nato treaty, the mutual defence clause that he has repeatedly undermined.The Nato secretary general, Mark Rutte, is deploying all his considerable political wiles and powers of persuasion to contrive a short, “no surprises” summit at which fundamental differences over Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, trade, the Middle East and liberal democratic values are deliberately excluded.Paul Taylor is a senior visiting fellow at the European Policy Centre Continue reading...

Politics

6 d. ago UK hits Russia with new sanctions in effort to ‘starve war machine’

Those sanctioned include two UK residents – Vladimir Pristoupa and Olech Tkacz.

Events

6 d. ago Russia’s ‘unrelenting’ attacks on Ukraine show Putin not interested in peace, EU says, after at least 15 die in Kyiv strike – Europe live

Kaja Kallas says strike in Kyiv one of ‘most devastating’ of war as Zelenskyy accuses world leaders of ‘turning a blind eye’According to the Spanish government, we should soon get a decent idea of what caused the massive and unprecedented blackout that hit the Iberian peninsula at the end of April.The findings of a special committee convened to investigate the episode are due to be made public at a press conference addressed by Spain’s environment minister, Sara Aagesen, at 1 pm Madrid time. Continue reading...

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