41 h. ago Merz invites Trump to emergency call with EU leaders before Putin summit

Proposal, which would also include Volodymyr Zelenskyy, comes as European calls grow for red lines in Ukraine talksThe German chancellor has invited Donald Trump to join emergency virtual talks with EU leaders and Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday, as European demands grow that the US president agree red lines before Friday’s summit in Alaska with Vladimir Putin.Neither Zelenskyy nor European leaders have been invited to Trump’s meeting with the Russian president. Continue reading...

Politics

43 h. ago UK backs Trump on Ukraine, but ‘won’t trust Putin as far as you can throw him’

Number 10 said the UK was ‘not going to leave it to trust’ in negotiations over Ukraine.

Politics

44 h. ago EU leaders push to consult with Trump ahead of Putin meeting on Ukraine

Foreign ministers expected to demand Russia agree to ceasefire and include Zelenskyy during emergency meetingEurope live – latest updatesEuropean leaders claiming Russia represents an existential threat to their continent are pushing for consultations with Donald Trump to spell out Europe’s red lines before his meeting with Vladimir Putin to discuss the Ukraine war on Friday in Alaska.The Polish prime minister, Donald Tusk, said he was optimistic the US president would formally consult with European leaders before his meeting, adding that the summit between Trump and Putin filled him with hope and fear. Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago JD Vance visits Indiana to discuss redistricting amid Trump pressure on GOP states – US politics live

Protests set to greet vice-president on visit after governor said redistricting ‘looks like it’s going to happen across many Republican states’Across the US’s fabled but overstretched national parks, unusual scenes are playing out this summer following budget cuts by Donald Trump’s administration. Archeologists are staffing ticket booths, ecologists are covering visitor centers and the superintendents of parks are even cleaning the toilets.The National Park Service (NPS), responsible for maintaining cherished wildernesses and sites of cultural importance from Yellowstone to the Statue of Liberty, has lost a quarter of its permanent staff since Trump took office in January, with the administration seeking to gut the service’s budget by a third.Donald Trump has claimed “great progress was made” during talks on ending the war in Ukraine between his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin on Wednesday. The three-hour talks came two days before a deadline the US p...

Politics

5 d. ago Kremlin denies Putin agreed to trilateral meeting with Trump and Zelenskyy

Moscow says preparations under way for possible meeting with Trump but dismisses US talk of three-way summitEurope live – latest updatesThe Kremlin has said planning is under way for a possible meeting between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump next week – but denied the Russian leader had agreed to a subsequent meeting with the US president and Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy.On Wednesday Putin met Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff in the Kremlin, and reports from Washington suggested he had agreed to meet first with Trump and then in a trilateral format, as part of US efforts to bring about the end of the war in Ukraine. Continue reading...

Politics

6 d. ago Trump could meet Putin for Ukraine war talks ‘as soon as next week’

Summit with Russian leader would follow ‘great progress’ made by special envoy Steve Witkoff during Moscow visit Donald Trump could meet Vladimir Putin as soon as next week to discuss the war in Ukraine, White House officials have said, although senior administration officials have warned that serious “impediments” remain to achieving a ceasefire.White House officials briefed US media that Trump would seek a summit with Putin after the US special envoy Steve Witkoff met the Russian leader at the Kremlin on Wednesday. After that meeting, Trump claimed “great progress was made” during the talks on ending the war in Ukraine. Continue reading...

Politics

6 d. ago If Trump is finally ‘done’ with Putin, a new dimension of uncertainty opens up

Editorial: Despite no immediate sign of a breakthrough with Moscow after special envoy Steve Witkoff’s crunch ceasefire talks, there is at least hope that the US president – increasingly resentful about the Kremlin rebuffing his overtures – could now come full circle and support Ukraine again

Politics

6 d. ago Trump hails ‘great progress’ after Witkoff meets Putin for talks on Ukraine

US president calls meeting ‘highly productive’ amid unconfirmed reports on halt to long-range strikesDonald Trump has claimed “great progress was made” during talks on ending the war in Ukraine between his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin on Wednesday.The three-hour talks came two days before a deadline the US president set for Russia to reach a peace deal in the war or face fresh sanctions. Continue reading...

Politics

6 d. ago Donald Trump says ‘everyone agrees this war must come to a close’ after Witkoff meets Putin – Europe live

US president says ‘great progress was made’ as White House official says secondary sanctions on Russia still expected to be implemented on FridayWe are getting first pictures from inside the Kremlin showing Russia’s Putin welcoming Witkoff for their talks.Earlier today, Witkoff also went for a walk through Zaryadye Park near the Kremlin with Kirill Dmitriev, the Russian president’s envoy for investment and economic cooperation, AP reported, pointing to footage aired by Tass. Continue reading...

Politics

6 d. ago The Latest: Putin hosts Trump envoy Witkoff for crucial talks on Ukraine peace deal

Russian President Vladimir Putin is hosting U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff for talks, days before the White House’s deadline for Russia to reach a peace deal with Ukraine or potentially face severe economic penalties that could also hit countries buying its oil

Politics

6 d. ago US imposes additional 25% tariff on India for importing Russian oil – Europe live

Announcement comes after US special envoy Steve Witkoff met with Vladimir Putin in MoscowWe are getting first pictures from inside the Kremlin showing Russia’s Putin welcoming Witkoff for their talks.Earlier today, Witkoff also went for a walk through Zaryadye Park near the Kremlin with Kirill Dmitriev, the Russian president’s envoy for investment and economic cooperation, AP reported, pointing to footage aired by Tass. Continue reading...

Politics

6 d. ago Talks between Putin and US envoy Steve Witkoff ‘useful and constructive’, Kremlin says – Europe live

Aide says Russia ‘received some signals from Trump’ ahead of US president’s Friday deadline for progress on ending Ukraine warWe are getting first pictures from inside the Kremlin showing Russia’s Putin welcoming Witkoff for their talks.Earlier today, Witkoff also went for a walk through Zaryadye Park near the Kremlin with Kirill Dmitriev, the Russian president’s envoy for investment and economic cooperation, AP reported, pointing to footage aired by Tass. Continue reading...

Politics

6 d. ago US special envoy Steve Witkoff meets Putin in Moscow as Russia strikes Ukrainian gas facility – Europe live

Donald Trump has set a Friday deadline for progress on ending the Ukraine war, after which Russia could face increased US sanctionsWe are getting first pictures from inside the Kremlin showing Russia’s Putin welcoming Witkoff for their talks.Earlier today, Witkoff also went for a walk through Zaryadye Park near the Kremlin with Kirill Dmitriev, the Russian president’s envoy for investment and economic cooperation, AP reported pointing to footage aired by Tass. Continue reading...

Politics

6 d. ago ‘No to illegal migration, no to euro’ says Karol Nawrocki in inaugural speech as Poland’s president – Europe live

Inauguration is a difficult moment for Donald Tusk’s ruling coalition after months of controversy over allegations of voting irregularitiesNawrocki will take part in a number of ceremonial appointments throughout the day. I will keep an eye on this.But let’s go back to Russia and Ukraine, as Interfax is now reporting that – as expected (8:59) – Russian president Vladimir Putin is meeting US special envoy Steve Witkoff for their crunch talks ahead of this Friday’s Trump deadline to end the war in Ukraine. Continue reading...

Politics

7 d. ago US special envoy Steve Witkoff in Moscow for talks with Russia – Europe live

Talks between the two countries come ahead of this Friday’s deadline set by Donald Trump for ending the war in UkraineNawrocki has just made his oath of office.“Assuming, by the will of the nation, the office of president of the Republic of Poland, I do solemnly swear to be faithful to the provisions of the constitution; I pledge that I shall steadfastly safeguard the dignity of the nation, the independence and security of the state, and also that the good of the homeland and the prosperity of its citizens shall forever remain my supreme obligation.” Continue reading...

Politics

7 d. ago US special envoy Steve Witkoff in Moscow for talks with Vladimir Putin – Europe live

Talks between the two men come ahead of this Friday’s deadline set by Donald Trump for ending the war in UkraineOver in Poland, the inauguration ceremony of the country’s new president, Karol Nawrocki, will start in just under an hour at 10am local time (9am London).42-year-old Nawrocki narrowly won the presidential election in June, defying the polls and beating the Oxford-educated liberal Warsaw mayor Rafał Trzaskowski who was widely regarded as the clear favourite to replace the conservative incumbent Andrzej Duda stepping down after two terms. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago The EU targets Russia's energy revenue and shadow fleet with new sanctions over the war on Ukraine

The European Union is targeting Russia with more sanctions over its war on Ukraine

Events

3 w. ago Ukraine ready for peace talks anytime, foreign minister says, as Trump backtracks from idea to ‘target Moscow’ – Europe live

Ukraine urges EU to adopt further sanctions against Russia and says Kremlin is waging campaign of terror from the airSeparately, the European Commission has just confirmed that EU trade commissioner Maroš Šefčovič will travel to Washington DC today for talks with US commerce secretary Howard Lutnick and US trade representative Jamieson Greer.The meetings come as part of the EU’s push to get an agreement with the US on tariffs before 1 August. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Trump backtracks from suggestion Ukraine should ‘target Moscow’ but again tells Putin to reach peace deal soon – Europe live

US president says first deliveries of Patriot missile systems via Germany are ‘already being shipped’A joint Czech, Slovak and Ukrainian police operation arrested a Ukrainian man who was allegedly sending bomb threats against “hundreds” of Czech and Slovak schools, the forces confirmed.The arrest took place in the Dnipro region of Ukraine as a result of the forces’ joint investigation into multiple emailed bomb threats that started in September last year. Continue reading...

Politics