55 h. ago Russia bombards Kyiv after Putin vows revenge for Operation Spiderweb

Four people killed and 20 wounded as missiles and drones strike Ukrainian capitalEurope live – latest updatesRussia launched an intense missile and drone barrage at Kyiv overnight, killing four people, after Vladimir Putin had vowed to respond to Operation Spiderweb.Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said on Friday that Russia had launched more than 400 drones and more than 40 missiles at the country, as he urged allies to build pressure on the Kremlin to end its war. Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago Ukraine war live: deadly Russian attacks continue after Turkey peace talks end with no significant breakthrough

Officials say Russian shelling killed at least five people in different frontline areas of eastern Ukraine on MondayHere is a quick recap of the outcomes of the talks in Istanbul, which ended much sooner than was anticipated, having lasted barely an hour.Russia presented terms during the negotiations that highlighted its refusal to compromise on its longstanding war goals. A text of Moscow’s memorandum, published by Russian state media, said a settlement would require international recognition of Crimea and four other regions of Ukraine that Moscow has claimed as its own territory, as well as the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces. It also ruled out Ukrainian membership of Nato and demanded recognising Russian as the country’s official language.Russia’s memorandum presented two options that both appeared to be non-starters for Ukraine. Option one: for Ukraine to start a full military withdrawal from the Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions. Option two: Ukraine to cease mil...

Events

5 d. ago Trump still ‘open’ to meeting Putin and Zelenskyy; Russia rejects unconditional ceasefire – Russia

White House says US president wants both leaders to come to table; Ukraine proposes next round of talks before end of JuneRuth Michaelson is reporting from Istanbul and will be providing updates on the talks. Here is some colour from outside Istanbul’s Ciragan Palace:A fleet of black sedans arrived outside the Çırağan Palace in Istanbul, signalling the arrival of some of the negotiations teams. Continue reading...

Politics

6 d. ago Ukraine proposes next round of talks before end of June as Russia rejects unconditional ceasefire – Russia

Ukrainian defence minister says they have proposed meeting from 20-30 June while Moscow says it has offered ‘two-three’ day partial ceasefireRuth Michaelson is reporting from Istanbul and will be providing updates on the talks. Here is some colour from outside Istanbul’s Ciragan Palace:A fleet of black sedans arrived outside the Çırağan Palace in Istanbul, signalling the arrival of some of the negotiations teams. Continue reading...

Events

6 d. ago Zelenskyy warns Putin must not be rewarded for aggression as Istanbul peace talks end – Russia

Ukraine president calls for more pressure on Russia, ‘and not just from Europe’ as Kyiv demands return of childrenRuth Michaelson is reporting from Istanbul and will be providing updates on the talks. Here is some colour from outside Istanbul’s Ciragan Palace:A fleet of black sedans arrived outside the Çırağan Palace in Istanbul, signalling the arrival of some of the negotiations teams. Continue reading...

Events

6 d. ago Russia launches deadly attacks across Ukraine before second round of talks with Kyiv – Russia

Russian shelling and air attacks kill five near Zaporizhzhia before second round of peace talks in IstanbulRuth Michaelson is reporting from Istanbul and will be providing updates on the talks. Here is some colour from outside Istanbul’s Ciragan Palace:A fleet of black sedans arrived outside the Çırağan Palace in Istanbul, signalling the arrival of some of the negotiations teams. Continue reading...

Events

6 d. ago Watch live: Zelensky and Rutte hold press conference as Ukraine and Russia peace talks take place

Watch live as Volodymyr Zelensky and Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte address the media following a round of peace talks between Ukraine and Russia.

Politics

6 d. ago Russia launches deadly attacks across Ukraine before Istanbul talks with Kyiv – Russia

Russian shelling and air attacks kill five near Zaporizhzhia before second round of peace talks in IstanbulUkraine and Russia both launched large-scale drone barrages overnight.The Russian defence ministry said its air defence units had “intercepted and destroyed” 162 Ukrainian drones. Continue reading...

Events

6 d. ago Ukraine delegation arrives in Istanbul for talks with Russian officials following drone attack in Siberia – Russia

Second round of peace talks follows Kyiv drone attack on Russian air bases A Ukrainian delegation has arrived in Istanbul for talks with Russian officials with a meeting planned for Monday afternoon, the spokesperson for Ukraine’s foreign ministry said.The two sides are set to hold their second round of direct peace talks since 2022, but are still far apart on how to end the war amid an increase in fighting.Ukraine said on Sunday it had destroyed Russian bombers worth billions of dollars as far away as Siberia, in its longest-range assault of the war. In a spectacular claim, Ukraine said it had damaged $7bn worth of Russian aircraft parked at four airbases thousands of kilometres (miles) away, with unverified video footage showing aircraft engulfed in flames and black smoke. A source in the Ukrainian security services (SBU) said the strikes hit 41 planes that were used to “bomb Ukrainian villages”.Several Russian and Ukrainian media outlets reported that Ukraine had carried out the ...

Events

8 d. ago Ukraine war briefing: Zelenskyy accuses Moscow of doing ‘everything it can’ to sabotage peace talks

President hasn’t committed to Ukraine attending Monday’s meeting with Russia in Istanbul, saying Moscow first has to provide its proposals. What we know on day 1,193See all our Ukraine war coverageUkraine has said it does not expect any results from talks with Russia in Turkey, unless Moscow provides its peace terms in advance, accusing the Kremlin of doing “everything” it can to sabotage the potential meeting. Moscow said it was sending a team of negotiators to Istanbul for a second round of talks on Monday but Kyiv has yet to confirm if it will attend. “For over a week now, the Russians have been unable to present the so-called memorandum,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on X on Friday, referring to a document Russia says it has prepared outlining its conditions for peace. “For a meeting to be meaningful, its agenda must be clear, and the negotiations must be properly prepared,” the Ukrainian president added. “Unfortunately, Russia is doing everything it can to ensure that the next pote...

Events

9 d. ago Russia won’t agree a ceasefire in Ukraine while Europe continues to fund Putin’s war

Russia has earned three times what Ukraine has received in aid in the last three years and much of the money comes from Europe, World affairs editor Sam Kiley writes. There will be no ceasefire while the Kremlin has an oil-based slush fund

Events

9 d. ago Hamas says US ceasefire plan accepted by Israel does not meet demands to end war in Gaza

Draft reportedly includes release of 28 hostages in first week, a 60-day ceasefire and aid for Gaza as soon as deal signed offIsrael has agreed to a US ceasefire proposal for Gaza, the White House has said, and Hamas said it was reviewing the plan although its terms did not meet the group’s demands.As a US-backed system for distributing food in the shattered territory expanded, Israeli media reported that prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu had told the families of hostages held in Gaza that Israel had accepted a deal presented by US President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff. Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago Ukraine war briefing: Kremlin holds back peace memorandum that it promised Trump

Zelenskyy says Moscow dragging out the process as Lavrov insists on another meeting; funeral for three sibling children killed by Russian cruise missile. What we know on day 1,191Ukraine has submitted its peace terms and insisted Russia do the same before further talks, which the Kremlin has demanded take place next Monday in Turkey. “We are not opposed to further meetings with the Russians and are awaiting their memorandum,” said the Ukrainian defence minister, Rustem Umerov. “The Russian side has at least four more days before their departure to provide us with their document for review. Diplomacy must be substantive, and the next meeting must yield results.”Russia’s foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, said instead that a Russian team “is ready to present a memorandum to the Ukrainian delegation and provide the necessary explanations during a second round of direct talks in Istanbul on Monday, 2 June”. The US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, on Wednesday called for Moscow to engage i...

Politics

1 week ago What is ecocide and could it become a crime under international law?

Classing grievous acts of environmental harm as crimes against peace may hold states and corporations to accountFrom the legend of the Romans’ salting of the fields of Carthage, to Iraq’s burning of Kuwait’s oilfields, to Israel’s bulldozing of Palestinian olive groves, wanton acts of environmental destruction have long been a military tactic.But while armies and their leaders have been held to account for the human victims of their violence, the natural world has been a silent victim, often overlooked and disregarded, even when its destruction has had a material impact on the lives of the people it supports. Continue reading...

Society

1 week ago Zelenskyy says Ukraine has reached defence sector accords with Germany as he meets Merz – Ukraine

Ukrainian president says countries have reached new agreements on defence investments as he meets German chancellor in BerlinZelenskyy bound for Berlin with Merz boxed inTurkey’s foreign minister will travel to Kyiv on Thursday for a two-day visit after discussing peace efforts to end Russia’s war in Ukraine in Moscow earlier this week, a Turkish foreign ministry source told Reuters on Wednesday.Foreign minister Hakan Fidan held talks in Moscow on Monday and Tuesday, meeting Russian president Vladimir Putin and other Russian officials, including Moscow’s top negotiator at talks in Istanbul earlier this month aimed at ending the three-year war. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Zelenskyy warns of Russian troops gathering in Sumy as he visits Merz in Berlin

German chancellor expected to announce new plans to aid Ukraine and focus on efforts to bring about ceasefireRussia-Ukraine war – latest news updatesVolodymyr Zelenskyy has said Russia has amassed 50,000 of its troops in the Sumy region before a planned large-scale offensive. The Ukrainian president and the German leader, Friedrich Merz, have convened for an “emergency meeting” in Berlin.Zelenskyy said Russia’s “largest and strongest forces are right now at the Kursk front in order to push our troops out of the Kursk region and to prepare offensives against the Sumy region”. Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago Zelenskyy meets Merz as he warns 50,000 Russian troops massing near Sumy region – Ukraine

Ukrainian president meets German chancellor with speculation he could allow Kyiv to use long-range Taurus missilesZelenskyy bound for Berlin with Merz boxed inTurkey’s foreign minister will travel to Kyiv on Thursday for a two-day visit after discussing peace efforts to end Russia’s war in Ukraine in Moscow earlier this week, a Turkish foreign ministry source told Reuters on Wednesday.Foreign minister Hakan Fidan held talks in Moscow on Monday and Tuesday, meeting Russian president Vladimir Putin and other Russian officials, including Moscow’s top negotiator at talks in Istanbul earlier this month aimed at ending the three-year war. Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago Zelenskyy to meet Merz amid German wrangling over weapons go

Chancellor’s coalition partners opposing any moves to allow Ukraine to use long-range Taurus missilesZelenskyy bound for Berlin with Merz boxed inRussian air defences destroyed or intercepted more than 100 Ukrainian drones over various Russian regions, including a swarm of drones heading for Moscow, officials said early on Wednesday, according to Reuters.Russia in the past week also sent waves of drones to attack Ukrainian cities, including what Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy described as the launch of more than 900 drones over a three-day period ending early on Monday morning. Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago Ukraine war briefing: Kremlin suggests Trump remarks about Putin due to ‘emotional overload’

Spokesperson says Moscow ‘very grateful’ for US president’s peace efforts after Russia launches biggest ever drone attack on Ukraine. What we know on day 1,189The Kremlin has sought to downplay Donald Trump’s latest remarks in regard to Ukraine – in which he said Vladimir Putin had “gone absolutely CRAZY!” – attributing them to “emotional overload”. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters in Moscow on Monday: “This is a very crucial moment, which is naturally accompanied by emotional overload on all sides and emotional reactions,” while adding that Moscow was “very grateful” to the US president for his continued engagement in peace talks.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy doubled down on criticism of US silence on Russian attacks, after Donald Trump said he was “doing his Country no favours”. “Only a sense of total impunity can allow Russia to carry out such strikes and continue increasing their scale,” Zelenskyy said on social media, adding: “The increase in Russian ...

Politics

1 week ago Hamas 'agrees to U.S. proposal for ceasefire' that would see 10 living hostages released and 70 days of truce with Israel in beleaguered Gaza Strip

The proposal by US special envoy Steve Witkoff would reportedly see the release of ten living hostages, 70 days of truce and a partial Israeli withdrawal from the strip.

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