4 h. ago Russia's new top ally in Ukraine conflict is 'more important than China or Iran'

North Korea has emerged as a key ally to Russia in the wake of Vladimir Putin's failed invasion of Ukraine, with Kim Jong-Un throwing his full support behind the Kremlin

Events

16 h. ago Putin dubbed 'human emoji' over baffling facial expressions on factory tour

The many faces of Vladimir Putin have been detailed in some really bizarre snaps taken while the war-mad despot was on a factory tour in Russia earlier this week

Politics

36 h. 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

41 h. ago Russia launches new attacks on Ukraine with the countdown to a US peace deadline underway

Officials say Russian weapons pounded Ukrainian cities overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday, injuring at least 15 people in an attack that mostly targeted energy infrastructure

Events

41 h. 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

45 h. ago Trump isn't a reliable ally – but Nato dollars can be more persuasive than Putin's propaganda | Rafael Behr

There is no guarantee the US president’s impatience with Russia will last, but the Kremlin may come to regret testing his patienceBefore Donald Trump was a politician he was a property tycoon. Naturally, he thought he could fix the Ukraine war with a real-estate deal. In exchange for a ceasefire, Vladimir Putin would get to keep territory he had already seized.But before Putin was a politician he was a KGB agent who mourned the collapse of the Soviet Union. His idea of a fair solution begins with Ukraine’s total submission to an imperial Russian motherland.Rafael Behr is a Guardian columnist Continue reading...

Politics

45 h. ago Ukraine hails 'Agent Melania' after Trump admits First Lady explained Putin's lies

Ukrainians have hailed Melania Trump as an unlikely 'undercover agent' after explaining Vladimir Putin's lies to the US President

Politics

55 h. ago Cherished champion and statesman: Usyk focuses on Ukraine before titles

Boxing great made two symbolic political gestures in London with his bout against Daniel Dubois only days awayOn Monday afternoon, in central London, Oleksandr Usyk looked resplendent on an open-topped black bus as he prepared to send loaded messages to Daniel Dubois, Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump. High in the air he held three fingers on his right hand to signify his intention to become a three-time undisputed world champion. It was a typical sporting gesture and underlined his determination to defeat Dubois at Wembley Stadium on Saturday night and follow his earlier achievements in winning all the belts as a cruiserweight and then, last year, becoming the first boxer to unify the world heavyweight division this century.Usyk remains the WBA, WBC and WBO champion but boxing politics forced him to vacate his IBF title soon after he beat Tyson Fury in their magnificent first world title unification fight 14 months ago in Riyadh. He looks ready now for the dangerous challenge of Dubo...

Politics

59 h. ago Slovakia blocks EU move to impose new sanctions package on Russia – Europe live

EU foreign policy chief says ‘ball is in Slovakia’s court’ after leader Robert Fico blocked ‘imbecile’ proposal to ban Russian gas imports from 2028 French foreign minister Jean-Noël Barrot told reporters that he hoped the new language from the US and more sanctions from the EU will force Russian president Vladimir Putin “to face the facts: he has gone too far and he is now at an impasse.”He said he was hoping for more alignment between the US and the EU on sanctions, as he met with American senators last week in Rome to discuss their proposed bipartisan bill on Russia.“So we have some progress. We have some positive developments. It’s true that we have trucks that are able to enter, but we don’t know exactly how many. And what is clear is that the agreement is not fully implemented. Continue reading...

Politics

60 h. ago Navalny’s widow leads calls for Italy to cancel concert by pro

Valery Gergiev, an ally of Russian leader, is due to perform in Europe for first time since full-scale invasion of Ukraine The widow of the late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny is leading calls for Italy to scrap a performance by a Russian orchestra conductor with close ties to Vladimir Putin at a music festival in southern Italy.Valery Gergiev, who has been a close ally of Putin since the early 1990s, will perform in Europe for the first time since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine after being invited to Un’Estate da Re festival in La Reggia di Caserta, a former Bourbon palace and Unesco world heritage site in Campania, on 27 July. Continue reading...

Politics

64 h. ago Trump ‘disappointed, but not done’ with Putin as he backs Nato on Ukraine – Europe live

Comments come after Oval Office meeting with Nato’s Mark Rutte signalled a shift in tone on conflictFrench foreign minister Jean-Noël Barrot told reporters that he hoped the new language from the US and more sanctions from the EU will force Russian president Vladimir Putin “to face the facts: he has gone too far and he is now at an impasse.”He said he was hoping for more alignment between the US and the EU on sanctions, as he met with American senators last week in Rome to discuss their proposed bipartisan bill on Russia.“So we have some progress. We have some positive developments. It’s true that we have trucks that are able to enter, but we don’t know exactly how many. And what is clear is that the agreement is not fully implemented. Continue reading...

Politics

64 h. ago Russian PM's extraordinary claim as Trump threatens 'severe consequences'

The Kremlin remained silent yesterday after Donald Trump threatened Russia with "100% secondary tariffs" if Vladimir Putin failed to return to the negotiating table in 50 days

Politics

69 h. ago Donald Trump claims he's 'heavily influenced' by his wife's attitude to Vladimir Putin

Donald Trump warned Russia that they face tariffs unless they agree to a peace deal within 50 days, and the former president admitted his wife Melania was not impressed with his 'pleasant' conversations with Putin

Politics

3 d. ago How Melania privately swayed Trump to strike a new hardline position on Putin

President Donald Trump revealed on Monday the person who has changed his mind on Vladimir Putin: first lady Melania Trump.

Politics

3 d. ago Trump tears into Putin for being a 'problem' as he promises 'major' action amid fury at the dictator over Ukraine

President Donald Trump tore into Vladimir Putin as he pushes for a ceasefire in Ukraine, saying the Russian president 'talks nice, and then he bombs everybody.'

Politics

3 d. ago Trump greenlights key Ukraine Patriot request as he's left 'disappointed' by Putin

Months after appearing to almost take his side in the Ukraine war debate, President Trump appears to be wising up to the underhand tactics used by Vladimir Putin

Politics

4 d. ago Dose of realism would allow Kyiv to focus on halting Russian advance

Recognising Putin is not serious about peace is first step towards effective strategy to permanently stall his attacksWhile Donald Trump – and other western leaders – are taking their time to catch up with reality, it is obvious that Vladimir Putin has no apparent desire to halt the war in Ukraine. A realistic future military and diplomatic strategy for Kyiv has to accept that fact – and formulate a new approach.The past six months have been dominated by the erroneous assumption that it would be possible for Trump to negotiate a ceasefire, even an armistice. That would be followed by the arrival of an Anglo-French led stabilisation force to secure the future of Ukraine. But Putin has shown no desire to stop attacking. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago Ukraine must get ready for future in which there is no ceasefire with Russia

Recognising Putin is not serious about peace is first step towards ‘strategic neutralisation’ proposed by ex-ministerWhile Donald Trump – and other western leaders – are taking their time to catch up with reality, it is obvious that Vladimir Putin has no apparent desire to halt the war in Ukraine. A realistic future military and diplomatic strategy for Kyiv has to accept that fact – and formulate a new approach.The past six months have been dominated by the erroneous assumption that it would be possible for Trump to negotiate a ceasefire, even an armistice. That would be followed by the arrival of an Anglo-French led stabilisation force to secure the future of Ukraine. But Putin has shown no desire to stop attacking. Continue reading...

Events

4 d. ago Putin hit squad sent to kill a Ukrainian colonel has been 'eliminated', says head of Kyiv's secret services

Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) chief, Vasyl Malyuk, said a male and female team of assassins from Vladimir Putin's FSB security agency resisted arrest and were gunned down as a result.

Events

4 d. ago What if Ukraine falls? This is no longer a hypothetical question – and it must be answered urgently | Simon Tisdall

Europe offers platitudes, Trump dithers, and Ukraine and its extraordinary people stand on the brink. Nato must step upFor 40 cruel and bloody months, Ukraine has fought the Russian invader. Since February 2022, when Moscow’s full-scale, countrywide onslaught began, its people have faced relentless, devastating attacks. Tens of thousands have been killed or wounded, millions have lost their homes. Ukraine’s industries, shops, schools, hospitals and power stations burn, its fertile farmlands are laid waste. Its children are orphaned, traumatised or abducted. Despite repeated appeals, the world has failed to stop the carnage. And yet Ukraine, outnumbered and outgunned, has continued to fight back.Ukrainian heroism amid horror has become so familiar, it’s almost taken for granted. But as Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin, escalates the war, raining nightly terror on Kyiv and other cities using record waves of armed drones, as US support and peace efforts falter, and as Ukraine’s overs...

Politics