15 h. ago Putin says he would only meet Zelenskyy in ‘final phase’ of talks – Europe live

Putin’s comments come as fighting continues and Ukraine says Russia avoiding peace talksFor what it’s worth, Russia’s Vladimir Putin said on Thursday he was ready to meet with Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy but only during a “final phase” of negotiations “so as not to sit there and divide things up endlessly, but to put an end to it”.But his broader comments were not really conciliatory, and will do little to raise hopes of a negotiated settlement.“The strikes were carried out against military industries, not residential quarters.” Continue reading...

Politics

22 h. ago Ukraine war briefing: Russia can defend itself, says Putin, as North Korea sends more soldiers

Death toll rises to 28 after Russian attack on Kyiv apartments; Zelenskyy planning to attend Nato summit in The Hague. What we know on day 1,212Vladimir Putin said on Thursday he was ready to meet with Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy but only during a “final phase” of negotiations “so as not to sit there and divide things up endlessly, but to put an end to it”. Putin made his customary false accusation that Zelenskyy is not Ukraine’s legitimate president.In a round-table interview in St Petersburg with international news agencies, Putin said on Nato: “We do not consider any Nato rearmament to be a threat to the Russian Federation, because we are self-sufficient in terms of ensuring our security.” Russia has brought in thousands of North Korean soldiers to help defend Kursk; and has relied on a flood of arms and ammunition from North Korea as well as Iranian drones and missiles to wage war on Ukraine; while also receiving suspected help from China to continue arming a “spec...

Events

6 d. ago Starmer and European allies urge restraint from Israel and Iran after strikes

The Prime Minister, France’s President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called for a ‘diplomatic resolution’.

Politics

7 d. ago European foreign ministers meet in Rome to discuss defence as Zelenskyy calls for more sanctions on Russia – Europe live

Ministers to discuss Weimar+ model joined by Nato secretary general and EU foreign policy chief ahead of Nato summit later this monthTurning briefly to Austria, later today we should get an update from the police on their investigation into the school shooting in Graz, with a press conference scheduled for late morning.I will bring you any important updates here. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Trump says it may be better to let Ukraine and Russia ‘fight for a while’

US president casts doubt on peace efforts as German chancellor urges him to increase pressure on MoscowEurope live – latest updatesDonald Trump has said it may be better to let Ukraine and Russia “fight for a while” rather than pursue peace immediately, as the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, urged him to increase pressure on Russia.During the Oval Office meeting, Trump voiced doubts about the potential success of peace talks, saying “sometimes you’re better off letting them fight for a while and then pulling them apart”. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Merz plans €46bn corporate tax breaks to revive German economy

Finance minister Lars Klingbeil will outline measures to boost corporate investments amid threat of US tariffs

Economics

3 w. ago Taurus cruise missiles: Weapons Germany could be sending Ukraine to strike deep into Russia

German chancellor Friedrich Merz says it is possible Berlin will send the longe-range cruise missiles to Kyiv

Events

3 w. 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

3 w. 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

3 w. 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

3 w. ago Zelenskyy bound for Berlin with Merz boxed in by German coalition

The German chancellor’s desire to lift restrictions on longer range weapons for Ukraine has been frustrated by his SPD and Social Democrat partnersThe German chancellor’s drive to keep a campaign pledge of more robust backing for Ukraine is running into blocks within his own government as he prepares to welcome Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Berlin.Friedrich Merz made a full-throated declaration on Monday, hours before Zelenskyy’s one-day visit was announced, that Germany was for the first time lifting previous range restrictions on weapons supplied to Kyiv, along with Ukraine’s other main western supporters. Continue reading...

Politics

4 w. ago German troops start first permanent foreign deployment since second world war

Heavy combat unit of 4,800 soldiers and 200 civilian staff inaugurated in Lithuania on Nato’s eastern flankThe German chancellor has visited Lithuania to mark Berlin’s first permanent foreign troop deployment since the second world war, as he called on allies to dramatically expand their efforts to bolster European defences against a hostile Russia.As a crowd waved Lithuanian, German and Ukrainian flags, Friedrich Merz and his defence minister, Boris Pistorius, attended a ceremony launching the official formation of an armoured brigade aimed at protecting Nato’s eastern flank. Continue reading...

Events

4 w. ago Germany's Merz inaugurates a historic new brigade in Lithuania and pushes for security spending

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has traveled to NATO partner Lithuania to inaugurate a German brigade meant to protect the alliance’s eastern flank in the face of mounting worries about Russia

Events