Trump and Putin discuss Ukraine ceasefire
The callโs primary focus was on getting Putin to agree to a 30-day ceasefire of the three-year war in Ukraine.
๐ท๐บ Russia
Russia using criminal networks to drive increase in sabotage acts, says Europol
Proxies deploying tactics including migrant smuggling in destabilisation efforts across EU, enforcement agency findsEurope live โ latest updatesRussia and other state actors are driving an increase in politically motivated cyber-attacks and sabotage of…
Moscow and Beijing rejoice at looming death of Radio Free Europe, VOA
โWe couldnโt shut them down, unfortunately, but America did so itself,” editor-in-chief of Russia’s state broadcaster said.
German MPs approve โฌ500bn spending boost to counter โPutinโs war of aggressionโ
Historic levels of spending on military and infrastructure secured in Bundestag with last-minute backing of GreensEurope live โ latest updatesGermanyโs parliament has voted in favour of unleashing historic levels of spending to boost the military of Eu…
German parliament passes historic spending reforms
The vote to unleash borrowing for the military and Ukraine is a “first major step towards a new European defense community,โ says incoming chancellor Friedrich Merz.
War in Ukraine: In Russian-occupied territories, the trap is closing in on residents
The millions of people still living in these cut-off areas or who have fled see the hope of a return to the Ukrainian fold receding, as Donald Trump plans to discuss ‘land’ with Vladimir Putin on Tuesday.
Poland and Baltics to quit landmine treaty over Russia fears
A joint statement said it was “paramount” troops had flexibility to defend Nato’s eastern flank.
EUโs front-line states rally against Russian energy return
A return to buying more of Moscow’s fossil fuels would be a mistake, EU countries bordering Russia told POLITICO.
Hungaryโs use of facial recognition violates EU AI Act
Abolishing the right to assembly and enforcing this measure with facial recognition software – what sounds like something out of Russia of China is happening in an EU member state, said MEP Daniel Freund
Kremlin says Trump-Putin โnormalizationโ call set for 9-11 a.m. DC time
Ukraine โ and the world โ watches with bated breath.
Orbรกn tries to ban Pride in Hungary as polls show rival surging
Fidesz says it’s trying to prohibit Pride to keep children safe from the LGBTQ+ agenda, but opponents say the prime minister’s party is trying to create a wedge issue.
Live: Trump and Putin set for ‘very critical’ call on Ukraine ceasefire
US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are set to speak by phone Tuesday from 1pm to 3pm (GMT) in a potentially crucial step towards halting the war in Ukraine, more than three years into Moscow’s full-scale invasion. Trump tol…
Why Europe canโt rely on French nuclear umbrella alone
Franceโs president opens debate over using countryโs atomic arsenal as a deterrent against Russia if US scales back its presence
โNot a major issueโ: Why Russia is undeterred by EU sanctions threats
Russiaโs economy is likely resilient enough to maintain its war on Ukraine for the foreseeable future โ even if additional EU sanctions are imposed.
Poland accused of brutality as Belarus border crackdown escalates
The EU has poured millions into Polandโs border enforcement โ even as human rights groups accuse Warsaw of illegal pushbacks.
Will the threat of Trump end Germanyโs austerity zeal?
Chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz is about to break years of fiscal stringency to counter the erosion of the transatlantic alliance.
This moment of crisis demands closer UK-EU cooperation
Britain may have left the EU, but when it comes to keeping our continent safe, Europe cannot afford to be less than the sum of our parts.
Establish an international tribunal for aggression against Ukraine before itโs too late
The special tribunal would be a powerful signal to strongmen everywhere that international justice can find ways to hold leaders accountable โ no matter who they are.
Ukraine war briefing: โCoalition of the willingโ military chiefs to assemble in London
Russian oil refinery on fire after Ukrainian drone strike; Russia claims advances in southern Ukraine. What we know on day 1,119 Continue reading…
Germany set to vote on historic increase in defence spending
German MPs could pave the way for huge investments to defend Europe against a threatening Russia.
Trump says ‘many elements’ agreed to ahead of Putin call
Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin are due to speak about a possible ceasefire in Ukraine on Tuesday.
White House says it will not return the Statue of Liberty to France
A French politician said the U.S. no longer deserved the legendary monument.
EUโs foreign policy chief laments US funding cuts to Radio Free Europe
Kaja Kallas says the bloc cannot automatically fill the gap left by the USThe EUโs foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, expressed disappointment over US funding cuts to Radio Free Europe and said the EU could not automatically fill the gap.The US Agency …
‘Ceasefire doesnโt mean the end of the warโ, Ukraine’s former FM Dmytro Kuleba says
FRANCE 24 spoke to Ukraine’s former foreign minister,ย Dmytro Kuleba. With Donald Trump back in the White House, many believe that the US is ready to hand Vladimir Putin a win in his war against Ukraine. “Has Ukraine’s position worsened? It did”, Kuleb…
Putin lets western investors sell some Russian shares ahead of Trump talks
Kremlin decree allows firms including Jane Street, GMO, and Franklin Templeton to offload holdings
Russia behind arson attack on Ikea store in Lithuanian capital, says prosecutor
Suspects in 2024 Ikea attack also linked to acts of sabotage in Poland, says prosecutor generalโs office Europe live โ latest updatesLithuanian prosecutors have blamed the Russian military intelligence service for being behind an arson attack on an Ike…
From London to Lviv: how Trumpโs new world order has shaken Europe
At each stop on 1,000-mile trip, discombobulated Europeans are grappling with new and unsettling realities as the US reforges its alliancesEurope live โ latest updatesWhile Donald Trump talks of the โbig beautiful oceanโ separating the US from the war …
Far-right Romanian frontrunner sees Russia as a โthreatโ
George Simion takes baton from barred presidential candidate who described Vladimir Putin as a role model
Germanyโs Habeck: Talks of reviving Nord Stream โcompletely wrongโ
“I am concerned that the lesson we learned in 2022 can be forgotten,โ said Germany’s outgoing vice-chancellor.
Kremlin confirms Trump-Putin call on Tuesday as European leaders question Russiaโs intentions โ as it happened
Russian leader and US president to speak by phone and discuss Ukraine ceasefire planPolish prime minister Donald Tusk has commented on the Lithuanian prosecutor generalโs report on Russian-linked acts of sabotage and arson in the EU (9:42), linking it …
Southern Europe must spend more on defense, Lithuania warns
Time to get serious, says Foreign Minister Kฤstutis Budrys.
Trump says he will speak with Putin on Tuesday about ending the war in Ukraine
Trump sees a “good chance” to end the Ukraine war as he plans Tuesday talks with Putin on a ceasefire, while Ukraine backs a 30-day truce and Russia demands neutrality.
Live: Trump says heโll speak to Putin Tuesday as he seeks end to Ukraine war
US President Donald Trump has said he plans to speak to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday to discuss ending the war in Ukraine, after positive talks between US and Russian officials in Moscow. Follow our liveblog for the latest developments …
Trump says heโll speak to Putin Tuesday
Asked what concessions may be discussed in the call, the American president said:ย โWe will be talking about land. We will be talking about power plants.”
Macron says Russiaโs permission not needed to deploy troops in Ukraine
French president says France, UK and others could each deploy โa few thousand troopsโ to key locations to show Ukraine โlong-term supportโEmmanuel Macron has said France, the UK, and other nations providing security guarantees for Ukraine after any eve…
Trump and Putin expected to speak this week about ceasefire terms, envoy says
Steve Witkoff says US discussions with Russian president โpositiveโ and โsolution-basedโ and leaders likely to speakDonald Trumpโs envoy Steve Witkoff said on Sunday that he expected the US president to speak with Vladimir Putin this week, saying that …
Rubio, Lavrov discuss โnext stepsโ on Ukraine ceasefire deal
The two also agreed “to continue working towards restoring communication between the United States and Russia,” Washington says.
Trump has long hated this media outlet. Now heโs ordering it dismantled.
President Donald Trump is gutting U.S.-backed global media, including Voice of America, that broadcasts news to millions worldwide โ and that he has long held a grudge against. The move comes after Trump signedย an executive order to hollow out a string of small government agencies and officesย late Friday. The order calls for the U.S. Agency [โฆ]
If even Germany is embracing higher spending, why on earth canโt Labour? | William Keegan
Russia has pushed Europe into a quasi-Keynesian approach to the defence budget. Only Britain insists on cutting help to the sick to pay for securityAs the president of the US provokes trade and economic chaos at home and abroad, an American tells a Bri…
European nations debate a return to conscription amid Trump turnaround on Russia
Spurred by the war in Ukraine and the prospect of US disengagement, European countries are debating a return to compulsory military service to counter Russian expansionism.ย Lithuania, Sweden and Latvia reintroduced conscription after Russia’s seizure …
Rubio discusses ‘next steps’ to end Ukraine war in call with Russia’s Lavrov
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russia’s top diplomat Sergei Lavrov discussed the next stage of talks to end the war in Ukraine in a phone call on Saturday, hours after Kyiv’s allies agreed to exert “maximum pressure on Russia” to sign up to a c…
Ukraine war briefing: Zelenskyy accuses Putin of seeking to prolong war amid buildup of forces
Ukrainian president maintains his troops are still fighting in Russiaโs Kursk region and warns that Moscow is โdoing everythingโ to prevent a ceasefire. What we know on day 1,117See all our Ukraine war coverage Continue reading…
Military chiefs to plan for โoperational phaseโ of Ukraine peace deal
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Saturday said an alliance of global leaders would exert “maximum pressure on Russia” to sign up to a ceasefire in its war against Ukraine. The warning came as summit leaders meeting virtually on Saturday shifted …
Romania bans second far-right hopeful from presidential election re-run
Diana ศoศoacฤโs exclusion follows expulsion of front-runner Cฤlin Georgescu from race amid rising tension around pollRomaniaโs electoral commission on Saturday excluded a second far-right hopeful, Diana ศoศoacฤ, from Mayโs presidential election, amid r…
Keir Starmer: โPutin is dragging his feet over 30-day Ukraine ceasefireโ
Prime minister tells a summit of 29 leaders that the Russian president cannot delay peace talks indefinitelyKeir Starmer accused Vladimir Putin of dragging his feet over agreeing to a ceasefire with Ukraine on Saturday as international pressure grew on…
How Northern Europe is readying for war with Russia: A Le Monde documentary
‘The Russian trap.’ In the shadow of the war in Ukraine, an invisible frontline has been taking shape in Europe. From Estonia to Norway, Le Monde met with military officers to investigate this hybrid war, already a reality on Europe’s northern borders.
The big question on Ukraine: is Trump ready to push Putin into peace?
Russian leaderโs antagonism to Zelenskyy and lack of interest in a ceasefire leaves colossal task for USDavid Lammy: Trumpโs right, Putin can take the hard or easy wayOn paper, everyone is in agreement: Donald Trump says he wants a ยญceasefire; Kyivโs ยญ…
Hungary’s Russia-friendly prime minister attacks the EU in nationalist speech
“There is always an empire that is trying to take away the freedom of the Hungarians, and right now it is the one in Brussels,” Viktor Orban claimed.
Chris Riddell on ceasefire negotiations: Putinโs all for it as long as Russiaโs bear isnโt muzzled โ Cartoon
The Russian president has responded to a plan for a 30-day truce with Ukraine by issuing a set of tough conditionsโข You can buy a copy of this cartoon Continue reading…
Kubilius: Brussels mulling new military intel satellites
โThe European Commission is considering expanding its satellite capacities to improve geospatial intelligence support for security,โ EU defense chief tells the FT.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy says territory issue is ‘complicated’ โ video
The Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said on Saturday that the question of territory in Ukraineโs war with Russia was ‘complicated’ and should be discussed in detail at a later date. He made the remark during a press briefing in Kyiv, where he…
Trumpโs right, Putin can take the hard or easy way on Ukraine. He has to prove he wants peace | David Lammy
The G7 meeting in Canada was a vital show of unity that put the ball firmly in Russiaโs court. Thereโs not a shred of ambiguity about thatIn diplomacy, focus is often on where we disagree. But Britain and our partners are stronger when we stand togethe…
Russia and Ukraine exchanged intense aerial strikes overnight into Saturday
Moscow released a video on Saturday showing the damaged town of Sudzha, in Russia’s Kursk region, and claimed it was retaken by Russian forces on 13 March.
Orbรกn vows crackdown on โshadow armyโ of political opponents
The Hungarian leader also repeated his opposition to EU membership for Ukraine.
Ukraine allies plan meeting of military chiefs next week
U.K.’s Starmer announced the London meeting after a call with 29 allies โ but not the U.S. Still he insisted any Ukraine peacekeeping plan needs an American security backstop.
Ukraine ceasefire plans moving to operational phase, Starmer says
UK prime minister accuses Putin of trying to delay peace and calls for โguns to fall silentโโข Russia-Ukraine war โ latest news updatesKeir Starmer has called for the โguns to fall silent in Ukraineโ as he said military powers will meet next week as pla…
Putin’s response to Ukraine peace plan not good enough, says Starmer โ video
Kier Starmer held a press conference after convening a virtual meeting with world leaders to discuss a potential ceasefire in Ukraine. In response to a journalistโs question, the UK prime minister said Putinโs response to the peace plan was not good en…
Trump calls his opponents โscumโ and lawbreakers in bellicose speech at Justice Department
For more than an hour, he delivered an insult-laden speech that shattered the traditional notion of DOJ independence.
Starmer tells world leaders ‘we have to be prepared to defend any Ukraine deal’ โ video
Keir Starmer told a virtual meeting of about 25 world leaders that they had to be prepared to defend any Ukraine peace deal themselves, urging them to keep up pressure on Russia for an unconditional ceasefire. The UK prime minister said Vladimir Putin …
Americans disapprove of Trumpโs handling of Ukraine war, new polls show
The polls this week show doubt among voters, as Trump looks to close a deal with Russia to end the war.
On this day of protest, Belgrade is a powder keg, but just as important is how the president reacts โ now and tomorrow | Brent Sadler
Amid anger over dysfunctional politics and alleged corruption, Aleksandar Vuฤiฤ faces a harsh spotlight, inside and outside SerbiaFrom the streets of Belgrade, the cracks in President Aleksandar Vuฤiฤโs near-decade-long authoritarian grip on power have…
Republican Russophilia: how Trump Putin-ised a party of cold war hawks
The idea of Moscow as a paragon of Christian nationalism has penetrated the party of Reagan โ and the lurch in US policy has huge implications for the global orderNever miss global breaking news. Download our free app to keep up with key stories in rea…
Live: UK’s Starmer to host Ukraine talks, warns Putin not to ‘play games’
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer convened a meeting of world leaders Saturday to marshal support for Ukraine and put pressure on Russia to back a 30-day ceasefire proposal put forward by Washington. The virtual meeting comes a day after President Donald…
Putin response to peace plan โnot good enoughโ, says UK, as international militaries prepare to meet in London โ as it happened
This blog is now closed, you can read more on this story hereFew resonant phrases are repeated in politics without a deliberate reason, and Keir Starmerโs use of โcoalition of the willingโ could well have been intended as a reminder to the US diplomati…
Putin guarantees life of Ukrainian soldiers in Kursk if they surrender
Vladimir Putin says he is prepared to spare the lives of Ukrainian soldiers in Russiaโs Kursk region if they surrender.
Brussels, my love? Europe’s defense against Trump and Putin
In this edition of our weekly talk show, our panel discusses efforts to ramp-up European defense, the escalating trade war with Trump’s America and efforts of the European Union to strengthen women’s rights.
As Trump and Putin menace Europe, I say this: vive le Churchillo-Gaullisme! | Timothy Garton Ash
Our continent must be prepared to defend itself, by combining the best of its two most influential traditionsShould we all be Gaullists now? In the language of Franceโs most important European partner, the answer is โJein!โ (a German word combining ja …
Ukraine war briefing: Zelenskyy says โgood chance to end war quicklyโ as he urges pressure on Putin
Ukrainian president calls on allies to push Russian president to accept US proposal while Putin says Ukrainian troops in Kursk should surrender. What we know on day 1,116See all our Russia-Ukraine war coverage Continue reading…
Thomas Piketty: ‘Rather than austerity, Europe needs investment’
According to the doxa that prevails in many European leadership circles, social spending should be cut to concentrate on the race with Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin on military spending. This diagnosis is all wrong, writes Thomas Piketty in his column.
Russia says it has recaptured Sudzha in the Kursk region from Ukraine
More than 200 people were evacuated from Sudzha in Russiaโs Kursk region as Moscow carries out an intense aerial campaign to reclaim the area from Ukraine.
‘You can’t make a deal with Russia’: Do Ukrainians believe in a ceasefire?
The BBC asks people in Kyiv whether a ceasefire deal could be a step towards ending war with Russia.
Starmer says Putin cannot be allowed to โplay gamesโ over Ukraine ceasefire
UK PM to host virtual meeting of โcoalition of the willingโ nations who have agreed to help enforce peaceKeir Starmer has warned that Vladimir Putin cannot be allowed to โplay gamesโ with the possibility of a ceasefire in Ukraine, as he prepared to pre…
Starmer tells Putin to ditch โdelaying tacticsโ as UK hosts fresh Ukraine allies call
British prime minister will on Saturday try to firm up so-called ‘coalition of the willing’ meant to give a ceasefire teeth.
Putin tells Ukraine troops in Russian region to ‘surrender’
Russia has mounted a rapid counteroffensive in the western border region of Kursk over the past week, recapturing much of the territory Ukraine seized in a shock incursion last August.
Prospect of Ukraine ceasefire still uncertain despite Trump’s optimism
Trump wants a fast end to the fighting, but Putin wants a “painstaking” discussion about details.
โYes, butโฆโ Truce seeking in Ukraine, Mark Carney’s elbows
This week, our set of experts gathered around Gavin Lee to take a look at the latest in Ukraine-Russia ceasefire proposal, clashes and mass killings in Syria and Donald Trump’s tariff war against EU and its neighbouring countries.ย
US had productive talks with Putin over Ukraine war, Trump says
But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accuses Russia of dragging out ceasefire talks so it can continue the war.
European security advisers dash to Washington after Witkoffโs talks with Putin
As Washington and Moscow negotiate Ukraineโs future, European security advisers scramble to avoid being left out of the deal.
Putin praises Trump for โdoing everythingโ to improve US-Russia relations
Putin responds to Trumpโs appeal to save โsurroundedโ Ukrainian soldiers in Kursk though there is no evidence of encirclementRussia-Ukraine war โ latest news updatesVladimir Putin has praised Donald Trump for โdoing everythingโ to improve relations bet…
Donald Trump, the mob boss with a messiah complex | Letters
Responding to an article by Jonathan Freedland, Michael Bowers says we are all paying the price for US delusions, Peter Riddle calls for the UK to align with its European neighbours and Francis Bown sees Donald Trumpโs Gnostic tendenciesJonathan Freedl…
‘Trump really looking for a success: He overestimated ability to push Putin toward a real ceasefire’
US President Donald Trump said his administration had “productive” talks with Russia about a ceasefire in Ukraine, urging counterpart Vladimir Putin to spare Ukrainian soldiers on the front line. For in depth analysis and a deeper perspective, FRANCE …
Defence shortages create โtemptation for Putin to test usโ: EU Defence Commissioner Kubilius
The EU has just launched an ambitious-sounding defence plan, โReArmEUโ, and it is also publishing a landmarkย white paperย on defence. The person at the heart of these initiatives is our guest on the programme; Andrius Kubilius is the EU Commissioner in…
Trump says โthousandsโ of Ukrainian soldiers encircled in Kursk; Ukraine says thatโs โuntrueโ
Ukraine insists its troops aren’t surrounded, but they are pulling back from areas they captured last summer.
Trump hails ‘good and productive’ US talks with Putin on Ukraine
‘There is a very good chance that this horrible, bloody war can finally come to an end,’ US President Donald Trump said, without further details.
Georgescu free to try his luck in other presidential elections, Romanian court says
The Russia-backed candidate will haunt May’s do-over election from which he’s still barred.
Ukraineโs retreat from Kursk appears to mark end of audacious operation
Some say incursion achieved many goals while others wonder if it cost Ukrainian lives for no tangible gainRussia-Ukraine war โ latest news updatesUnder constant attack from drones attached to fibre optic cables, the soldiers scrambled in groups of two …
Will Putin derail Trumpโs peace plan? โ Today in Focus Extra
Donald Trump has shown he can get Ukraine to back a deal, but what about Russia? Patrick Wintour and Pjotr Sauer reportAfter weeks of diplomatic tension, on Tuesday the US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, announced that Ukraine had signed up to a 30-da…
Ukraine ceasefire: what is Putinโs game?
Moscow has little reason to stop fighting unless it achieves its goals through other means
NATO chief opens door to restoring Russia relations after Ukraine war
“But we are absolutely not there yet,” defense chief says a day after talks with U.S. President Trump.
Putin makes clear Russia will only play ball with Ukraine by his rules
While carefully avoiding an outright rejection of US ceasefire proposals, Moscow is playing for timeRussia-Ukraine war โ latest news updatesFor once, the US president and European leaders were on the same page.Grasping for a familiar metaphor, a chorus…
Putin is playing Trump (again)
The Russian leader rolls out his classic strategy to handle tempestuous U.S. president.
Hungary drops veto on EUโs Russia sanctions rollover after several oligarchs de-listed
Mikhail Fridman, whom Budapest had initially sought to remove, remains on the sanctions list.
Use โstrength of Americaโ to force Moscow into ceasefire, Trump urged โ as it happened
This liveblog is closed. Further coverage of the war in Ukraine can be found hereGermany is close to unlocking the way to a massive increase in state borrowing and reforming the constitutional debt break as three major parties are reportedly about to r…
US has โcautious optimismโ on Ukraine ceasefire after Trump envoyโs Moscow visit
Russia may have to accept European peacekeepers in Ukraine while Kyiv could be forced to cede territory and abandon hopes of NATO membership, U.S. national security adviser Mike Waltz indicates.
Jonathan Powell: the veteran negotiator being lauded over US-Ukraine detente
Insiders say UK national security adviser avoids limelight, but it found the โcalm operatorโ this weekIn the topsy-turvy world in which Keir Starmer and his aides operate, the US putting the onus on Russia to agree to a truce with Ukraine marked a sig…
Ukraine ceasefire: how might an end to fighting be enforced?
Satellite technology may help with the daunting task of monitoring violations along vast frontlineEnding a war is seldom straightforward. Even agreeing to a ceasefire comes with complications. Though Ukraine signed up to a 30-day ceasefire proposal aft…
EU lays out โmassive investmentโ boost in defense to deter Russia
The European Commission’s defense policy proposal lays out a strategy for the bloc to rearm.
German defense giant Rheinmetall overtakes VW valuation
Germany’s economic agenda is shifting from cars to defense as the United States retreats and Russia threatens.
Tony Blairโs right-hand man goes into battle for Ukraine
Jonathan Powell played a crucial role in securing peace in Northern Ireland โ and his much-hyped skills as a negotiator are being put to the test again.