37 h. ago What we know about Russia's claim of capturing Pokrovsk – video

The Guardian’s defence and security editor, Dan Sabbagh, explains the current situation in Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region. On Monday the Russian defence ministry published a series of videos that showed Russian soldiers walking around the city centre waving their flags, and claimed they had taken over the entire zone. Ukraine denied this, saying its forces still controlled the northern zoneThe slow death of Pokrovsk Which areas is Russia demanding as its price for peace in Ukraine? – visual explainer Continue reading...

Politics

59 h. ago Mapped: Inside fierce battle for Pokrovsk as Ukraine denies Russia has captured key city

Kyiv has denied claims that Russia has captured the key strategic town in the Donbas

Events

65 h. ago Witkoff in Moscow for talks as Putin claims to have taken key Ukrainian city

Trump’s special envoy lands in Russia as Putin hails ‘important’ capture of Pokrovsk, although this is disputed by KyivRussia-Ukraine war – latest news updatesVladimir Putin has claimed Russian forces have taken control of the strategic city of Pokrovsk in Ukraine, as he sought to project confidence before a key meeting on Tuesday with a US delegation to discuss a possible peace deal to end the war.Dressed in military fatigues during a visit to a command centre on Monday evening, the Russian president hailed what he called the “important” capture of Pokrovsk – once a major logistical hub for the Ukrainian army – though Ukrainian officials later disputed the claim. Continue reading...

Politics

66 h. ago Ukraine war live: US’s Witkoff set to meet Putin in Moscow as Russia claims capture of Pokrovsk

US-led peace push comes as Kyiv says fighting is continuing over important hubUS-Russia talks may pile pressure on Kyiv to make concessions, says EU foreign policy chiefSee all our Ukraine war coverageIn parallel to Witkoff’s meeting in Moscow, we will also follow Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s first visit to Ireland.He has arrived in Dublin last night, and has a busy schedule today, paying a brief visit to the country’s new president Catherine Connolly, before meeting with key government figures including the taisoeach, Micheál Martin, and addressing both chambers of the Irish parliament in the afternoon. Continue reading...

Politics

67 h. ago Putin brags about Russia's latest battlefield success in Ukraine as another town falls to his troops

In a video, Putin praised commanders for what he claimed was the full capture of Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine, calling the advance an important step toward Moscow's wider military goals.

Politics

68 h. ago Putin says Russia has captured Ukraine’s fortress city Pokrovsk in frontline breakthrough ahead of crunch talks with US

VLADIMIR Putin has claimed his troops have captured the key fortress city of Pokrovsk from Ukraine ahead of crunch peace negotiations. Russian fighters were pictured brandishing a flag in the eastern Ukrainian city despite Kyiv dismissing the claims that the frontline region has fallen. Ukrainian Armed Forces' officials admitted on Monday the situation on the...

Politics

2 d. ago Ukraine war live: Trump envoy Steve Witkoff set to meet Vladimir Putin in Moscow amid US push for peace deal

Talks come after Witkoff led US discussions with Ukraine at weekend amid European concerns that Kyiv will be pressured to make concessions to MoscowUS-Russia talks may pile pressure on Kyiv to make concessions, says EU foreign policy chief See all our Ukraine war coverageThe Kremlin has said Vladimir Putin will meet Steve Witkoff for their talks on Tuesday afternoon. It’s now approaching 9.10am local time in Moscow.Their meeting would take “in the second half of the day”, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said, while refusing to be drawn on Russia’s red lines, saying megaphone diplomacy was not helpful.Russian military commanders told Putin in comments reported on Monday that Russian forces had captured the frontline Ukrainian towns of Pokrovsk – a key logistics hub – and Vovchansk and were advancing elsewhere, which the Russian president hailed as successes to enable further gains. Ukrainian officials have made no acknowledgement that either place has fallen into Russian hands. Co...

Politics

1 week ago G20 leaders reject Trump peace plan: Anger at US deal as critics warn it will leave Kyiv at mercy of Russian attacks

G20 leader said the proposals, which critics claim blatantly favour Russia, would leave Ukraine 'vulnerable to attack' and could not be accepted in their current form.

Events

2 w. ago Putin’s desperate ‘last roll of the dice’ for besieged city before troops face brutal

VLADIMIR Putin's army has just weeks to clinch a "symbolic" victory in a Ukrainian key city - or face a killer winter in the trenches. The tyrant has thrown closing in on 200,000 troops into his stalling meatgrinder in an ongoing 18-month attempt to capture Pokrovsk. Intelligence suggests at least 135,000 Russian soldiers have been...

Politics

3 w. ago Federal judge issues permanent ban on deployment of national guard troops in Portland – live

Judge Karin Immergut ruled that president Trump ‘did not have a lawful basis to federalize the National Guard’ in response to ICE protests that were ‘predominately peaceful’Andrew Roth in Washington and Flora Garamvolgyi in BudapestViktor Orbán will visit the White House today as Hungary’s far-right prime minister tries to broker another summit between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin that Orbán’s advisers claim could help end the war between Russia and Ukraine. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Trump demands senators stay in Washington to solve shutdown as he heads to Florida – live

US president heads to his Florida resort and presses senators to stay in Washington DC to work toward ending the government shutdownAndrew Roth in Washington and Flora Garamvolgyi in BudapestViktor Orbán will visit the White House today as Hungary’s far-right prime minister tries to broker another summit between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin that Orbán’s advisers claim could help end the war between Russia and Ukraine. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Pentagon is shifting weapons purchases to ‘a wartime footing’, Hegseth announces

‘The defense acquisitions system as you know it is dead,’ Hegesth says in a speech to industry leaders, military commanders and officialsAndrew Roth in Washington and Flora Garamvolgyi in BudapestViktor Orbán will visit the White House today as Hungary’s far-right prime minister tries to broker another summit between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin that Orbán’s advisers claim could help end the war between Russia and Ukraine. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Twenty percent of flights could be cut if shutdown doesn’t end ‘relatively soon’, says transportation secretary – live

Sean Duffy says number of cancelled flights at designated airports could rise to 15 or 20%, saying air traffic controllers may not report to workAndrew Roth in Washington and Flora Garamvolgyi in BudapestViktor Orbán will visit the White House today as Hungary’s far-right prime minister tries to broker another summit between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin that Orbán’s advisers claim could help end the war between Russia and Ukraine. Continue reading...

Society

3 w. ago Trump says ‘looking at’ exemption for Hungary from Russian oil and gas sanctions – live

US president calls Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán a ‘great leader’ as they meet at the White HouseAndrew Roth in Washington and Flora Garamvolgyi in BudapestViktor Orbán will visit the White House today as Hungary’s far-right prime minister tries to broker another summit between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin that Orbán’s advisers claim could help end the war between Russia and Ukraine. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Orbán to visit US to try to broker another Putin summit but questions raised over motives

Hungarian PM also seeking exemption on US sanctions on Russian oil as he faces domestic challenge before electionsViktor Orbán will visit the White House on Friday as Hungary’s far-right prime minister tries to broker another summit between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin that Orbán’s advisers claim could help end the war between Russia and Ukraine.Orbán, who has proposed hosting the summit in Budapest, will also seek an exemption from US sanctions against Russian energy in what will be a major test of Trump’s tougher line on the Kremlin after he accused Putin of slow-rolling negotiations to end the conflict. Continue reading...

Politics