2 d. ago US and Ukraine finally sign minerals deal as Donald Trump makes key concession

The deal appears to contain some important concessions by Washington and comes days after Trump and Zelensky held talks at Pope Francis’s funeral

Politics

3 d. ago Release of Ukrainian prisoners in Russia key to any peace deal, rights groups say

Kyiv-based Centre for Civil Liberties says tortured inmates bypassed amid focus on territory and security guaranteesUkrainian and Russian civil society leaders have called for the unconditional release of thousands of Ukrainian civilians being held in Russian captivity, pushing for world leaders to make it a central part of any peace deal.Oleksandra Matviichuk, head of the Kyiv-based Centre for Civil Liberties, which won the 2022 Nobel peace prize, said most of the discussion on ending the conflict, led by Donald Trump’s administration, focused solely on territories and potential security guarantees. Continue reading...

Economics

3 d. ago Trump administration signs minerals deal with Ukraine in key move for Russian peace

Agreement is aimed at centering future US engagement in Ukraine

Politics

3 d. ago US and Ukraine on the verge of signing minerals deal as key terms are revealed

Previous iterations of the deal during negotiations had said that it would include Ukrainian natural gas infrastructure, which is one of Ukraine's most valuable assets

Economics

3 d. ago Five key moments from Donald Trump’s combative interview marking his first 100 days back

‘I’ve never even heard of you,’ the US president tells ABC reporter Terry Moran as they clash over key issues, including tariffs and the Ukraine-Russia war

Politics

9 d. ago Trump news at a glance: president berates Putin; judge blocks changes to voting rights

US renews push to end Ukraine war, reportedly on terms favourable to Russia – key US politics stories from 24 AprilDuring his election campaign Donald Trump had promised to end the war in 24 hours. But almost 100 days into his second term the US president has appealed directly to Russian president Vladimir Putin, telling him on social media: “Vladimir, STOP!”Trump’s remarks referred to the deadliest attack on the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv this year, which killed 12 people and injured at least 90 on Thursday. The attack comes as Trump has made a renewed push to end the Ukraine war, reportedly on terms favourable to Russia. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago US Secy of State skips key London meet, Ukraine peace talks come to standstill

US Secy of State skips key London meet, Ukraine peace talks come to standstill  The Tribune

Politics

1 week ago Key Ukraine peace talks developments as talks in London downgraded

Key Ukraine peace talks developments as talks in London downgraded  Yahoo News UK

Politics

1 week ago Vance issues Ukraine ultimatum after Rubio snubs key London meeting

Vance issues Ukraine ultimatum after Rubio snubs key London meeting  CNN

Politics

1 week ago Key figures pull out of crunch Ukraine peace summit in London today

Key figures pull out of crunch Ukraine peace summit in London today  MSN

Politics

2 w. ago EU mulls plan to let importers break Russian gas contracts without penalties

European Commission could reportedly let energy companies declare force majeure and avoid paying MoscowThe European Commission is considering plans that would allow European companies to break long-term Russian gas contracts without paying penalties to Moscow, it has been reported.Citing three officials with knowledge of the plan, the Financial Times reported that the commission was studying the possibility of allowing companies to declare force majeure, which would absolve importers of their obligations to pay penalty fees for ending contracts. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago EU considers plans for firms to break Russian gas contracts without penalties

European Commission could reportedly let energy companies declare force majeure and avoid paying MoscowThe European Commission is considering plans that would allow European companies to break long-term Russian gas contracts without paying penalties to Moscow, it has been reported.Citing three officials with knowledge of the plan, the Financial Times reported that the commission was studying the possibility of allowing companies to declare force majeure, which would absolve importers of their obligations to pay penalty fees for ending contracts. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Trump lashes out at Zelenskyy as Witkoff signals Putin’s wider security demands – Europe live

US president questions Ukraine counterpart’s competency as his envoy outlines ‘detail attached’ to any peace dealDavid Shimer, the former director for eastern Europe and Ukraine on Joe Biden’s national security council, writes for the Guardian today, asking “two key questions for Ukraine’s European allies” as he worries about the US military aid ceasing soon.The war between Russia and Ukraine is approaching a historic turning point: unless the Trump administration adjusts course, US military aid for Ukraine is about to cease.Since taking office, Trump has not approved a single military aid package for Ukraine. Even if Trump were to reverse course and utilize this remaining drawdown authority, the amount available is insufficient to sustain US support for Ukraine over time. To do that, Congress would need to approve additional Ukraine funding, which will not happen while the Republican party controls both chambers and the White House. As a result, the era of US military aid to Ukrain...

Politics

2 w. ago US military aid for Ukraine is about to cease. Is Europe ready? | David Shimer

Putin is planning for this war to continue. That leaves two key questions for Ukraine’s European alliesDavid Shimer was the director for eastern Europe and Ukraine on Joe Biden’s National Security CouncilThe war between Russia and Ukraine is approaching a historic turning point: unless the Trump administration adjusts course, US military aid for Ukraine is about to cease.In the months before leaving office, Joe Biden made a series of decisions to augment Ukraine’s stockpiles of vital munitions. Toward the end of 2024, the Department of Defense surged hundreds of thousands of artillery rounds, thousands of rockets and hundreds of armored vehicles to Ukraine, and that December, he approved an additional $1.25bn security assistance package for Ukraine, which has enabled the continued flow of US arms ever since (with the exception of the damaging pause ordered by Donald Trump in March).David Shimer served on the White House National Security Council from 2021-25, including as the direct...

Events

3 w. ago US ‘demands control’ from Ukraine of key pipeline carrying Russian gas

Senior Kyiv economist describes latest postion of Trump administration in talks as ‘colonial-type’ bullyingThe US has demanded control of a crucial pipeline in Ukraine used to send Russian gas to Europe, according to reports, in a move described as a colonial shakedown.US and Ukrainian officials met on Friday to discuss White House proposals for a minerals deal. Donald Trump wants Kyiv to hand over its natural resources as “payback” in return for weapons delivered by the previous Biden administration. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago MPs debate emergency law to take control of British Steel after Chinese owners’ ‘excessive’ demands – live

No 10 has published a draft law that would give the business secretary the power to direct the companyIt’s been a busy morning for Sarah Jones, who is now on BBC Breakfast.Asked whether the government had received any private offers for the company’s Scunthorpe plant, Sarah Jones said:There is not at the moment, to answer your question, a private company that is there willing to invest at this point.When we came into government, there was a deal on the table with Tata Steel in Port Talbot.We negotiated in 10 weeks a much better deal, but there was a private company willing to invest, who are now investing.We are hoping that the company will co-operate with what we are asking them to do, we hope that we will give them a notice and they will continue.If they do not, we will step in. Now the company will be liable for any costs that we incur, and we will seek to get that money back.We have the £2.5 billion fund for steel which we had in our manifesto, that we will use if necessary, so ...

Society

3 w. ago How Putin could blackout Britain: The vast network of gas pipelines, electrical cables and offshore winds farms being targeted by Russian subs

MailOnline has produced a map of the most important components of this system, which includes the 700-mile Langeled pipeline from Norway.

Politics

3 w. ago ‘There is no ceasefire. Attacks are ongoing’: how Putin’s envoy played US over Ukraine

White House welcome for key member of Russian president’s inner circle raises fears over America’s commitment to peaceKirill Dmitriev’s meetings with US officials in the White House last week went largely below the radar. And deliberately so.The dapper investment envoy to Russian president Vladimir Putin, who also serves as a key negotiator for Moscow on Ukraine, posted an image of his flight plan on social media to make the point that a senior sanctioned Russian official was being welcomed by the Trump administration. Otherwise, details of what was discussed remain opaque. Continue reading...

Events