6 h. ago We hid in the bathroom as bombs fell on Kyiv. Is this Trump’s idea of peace?

In the early hours of 24 April the realisation dawned: Putin will get a deal that humiliates Ukraine – or continue to slaughter our civiliansDay 1,156 of the invasion; 24 April 2025. Thirty hours after the end of Russia’s fake “Easter ceasefire”. It is 6.21am: feeling anxious, I call my father. He is travelling by train from the western part of Ukraine to Kyiv, due to arrive in 40 minutes. He picks up the phone, and from his cheerful tone I gather that he has not yet heard the news. I ask if the train is running late. My father says everything is fine, he can already spot familiar places in the Kyiv region. He wants to know why I doubt the arrival time. I tell him that sadly Russia has been shelling the country all night long. In Kyiv, I say, we have lived through one of the worst nights. “I’m jumping in a taxi,” I add. “I’ll see you soon.”Those who survive shelling often imitate the sounds of explosions when they talk about the experience. I instantly think of this when an early mo...

Politics

9 h. ago Zelensky doubles down on Crimea and says Ukraine will NOT hand it over to Russia

WARNING GRAPHIC CONTENT: Volodymyr Zelensky has remained steadfast that the territory belongs to the Ukrainian people, asserting that their 'position is unchanged'.

Events

9 h. ago Donald Trump claims his pledge to end the Ukraine war within a day of becoming president was 'said in jest' as US envoy flies to Moscow and tells Putin: 'So good to see you'

The US leader's (pictured) astonishing climbdown from one of his central campaign promises came as his special envoy was welcomed with open arms by Vladimir Putin in Moscow yesterday.

Politics

14 h. ago The delicate diplomacy of the seating plan for the Pope’s funeral

The seating plan has been described as a ‘master plan’ in stage-managing the ‘big egos’ of world leaders.

Politics

17 h. ago Trump envoy meets Putin hours after Moscow killing of Russian general

Russian official calls talks with Steve Witkoff ‘quite useful’ as investigation launched into suspected Ukrainian bombingDonald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff has met Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin for high-stakes peace talks, hours after a senior Russian military official was killed in a car explosion near Moscow.Trump has played up Witkoff’s visit – his fourth to Russia in recent months – claiming a deal on ending the war in Ukraine was within reach. “The next few days are going to be very important. Meetings are taking place right now,” Trump told reporters on Thursday. “I think we’re going to make a deal I think we’re getting very close.” Continue reading...

Politics

18 h. ago Ukraine has exposed Trump’s true identity: as a vandal, an autocrat, a gangster and a fool | Jonathan Freedland

This presidency places authoritarian ambition above all – and now the people of Ukraine are paying the priceTo see the true face of Donald Trump, look no further than Ukraine. Laid bare in his handling of that issue are not only his myriad weaknesses, but also the danger he poses to his own country and the wider world – to say nothing of the battered people of Ukraine itself.Don’t be fooled by the mild, vaguely theatrical rebuke Trump issued to Vladimir Putin on Thursday after Moscow unleashed a deadly wave of drone strikes on Kyiv, killing 12 and injuring dozens: “Vladimir, STOP!” Pay attention instead to the fact that, in the nearly 100 days since Trump took office, the US has essentially switched sides in the battle between Putin’s Russia and democratic Ukraine, backing the invaders against the invaded.Jonathan Freedland is a Guardian columnist and the host of the Politics Weekly America podcast100 days of Trump’s presidency, with Jonathan Freedland and guests. On 30 April, join ...

Politics

18 h. ago How some of Putin's top military chiefs have been picked off in series of bombings and shootings on Russian soil since Ukraine invasion began

The death of Yaroslav Moskalik will not have come as a shock to the Russian leadership.

Events

19 h. ago In Kyiv, we don’t believe in the fantasy of Trump's ‘peace deal’. Our reality is more dead civilians | Nataliya Gumenyuk

At the scene of the deadliest attack on our capital this year, I see the war on Ukraine is still very real – and Putin shows no signs of ending itWar teaches you to believe only in what happens, rather than what is merely said or promised. A day after the “peace talks” in London, which the US secretary of state Marco Rubio didn’t even turn up for, Ukrainians were not anxiously waiting for the results of a possible deal, which looked unfeasible anyway. Instead, they were counting their dead.According to Ukraine’s air force, in the early hours of Thursday morning Russia launched 11 Iskander ballistic missiles, 37 KH-101 cruise missiles, six Iskander-K cruise missiles, 12 Kalibr cruise missiles, 4 KH-59/KH-69 missiles and 145 drones. For Kyiv and Kharkiv residents that night, this was not just a case of reading numbers on a news feed, but hearing and feeling explosions rock their cities. It turned out to be the deadliest night for the Ukrainian capital this year.Nataliya Gumenyuk is a ...

Politics

21 h. ago Ukraine 'may have to give up land to stop Putin's war', admits Vitali Klitschko

Three years on from when Vladimir Putin's brutal invasion of Ukraine began, Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko says the nation may have to make a sacrifice to end hostilities

Politics

21 h. ago Putin and Witkoff meet in Kremlin after car bomb kills Russian general near Moscow – Europe live

US envoy and Russian leader hold planned meeting following the death of Lt Gen Yaroslav Moskalik in BalashikhaPjotr Sauer is a Russian affairs reporter for the GuardianA senior Russian military official was killed in a car explosion near Moscow on Friday, just hours before a Kremlin meeting between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff. Continue reading...

Events

22 h. ago Kremlin accuses 'hysterical' UK of 'Russophobia' with list of most hated Brits

Vladimir Putin has issued a new 'ban list' made up of 21 British politicians as the Kremlin accused the UK of issuing 'hysterical statements' against the country's tyrannical regime

Politics

22 h. ago A Russian general was killed by a car bomb just outside Moscow

Russia’s top criminal investigation agency said that a senior Russian military officer was killed by a car bomb on Friday

Events

23 h. ago Russian general killed in Moscow car blast on day of Trump envoy visit

Lt Gen Yaroslav Moskalik named as victim of explosion that appears similar to previous attacks claimed by UkraineEurope live – latest updatesA senior Russian military official was killed in a car explosion near Moscow on Friday, just hours before a Kremlin meeting between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff.The Russian authorities named the officer as Lt Gen Yaroslav Moskalik, the deputy head of the main operations directorate of the general staff of the Russian armed forces. Continue reading...

Events

24 h. ago Vladimir Putin rejects Donald Trump's plea to stop Ukraine attacks as new drone strikes kill five

The US president’s envoy Steve Witkoff arrived in Moscow on Friday where he is expected to meet the Russian leader

Events

26 h. ago Steve Witkoff arrives in Moscow for further talks with Russia about Ukraine peace plan – Europe live

US peace envoy to meet Vladimir Putin to discuss Donald Trump’s peace plan for Ukraine ahead of US president’s 100 days in office next weekAnd the Interfax news agency has now reported that Steve Witkoff arrived in Moscow, where he is expected to meet Vladimir Putin.Reuters noted that Witkoff has emerged as Washington’s key interlocutor with Putin as Trump pushes for a deal to end the war in Ukraine, and has already held three long meetings with the Kremlin leader. Continue reading...

Politics

26 h. ago Trump snaps at journalist when quizzed about Russia’s latest attack on Ukraine

Donald Trump snapped at a journalist when asked why he was not putting more pressure on Vladimir Putin following Russia’s latest attack on Ukraine.

Politics

26 h. ago UK air defences 'overwhelmed by Russian missiles' in grim war game run after Putin's full

A simulation run in the wake of Vladimir Putin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine showed Britain could not prevent all strikes getting through.

Events

26 h. ago Putin names his most wanted Brits in new Kremlin list – see if you made the cut

Several British MPs and MPs have been placed on a new list of people Russian President Vladimir Putin hates, as he grows angry over how the country is perceived outside of his conclave

Politics

33 h. 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

38 h. ago Russia used North Korean missile in killer Kyiv strike, Zelensky says as he reveals death toll has climbed to 12 with more than 100 injured in blast

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has revealed that Vladimir Putin's forces used a North Korean missile in the deadly attack on Kyiv that has so far killed 12 and injured more than 100. 

Events