Top Republican wants Ukrainian ambassador to US fired

The Republican Speaker of the US House of Representatives Mike Johnson demanded on Wednesday (25 September) that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy “immediately fire” his ambassador to the United States.

Zelenskyy seeks โ€˜truly just peaceโ€™ for Ukraine during US visit

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in the United States on Sunday (22 September) to attend sessions at the UN General Assembly and urged his partners to help achieve “a shared victory for a truly just peace.”

Fake Kamala hit-and-run story is the work of Russian propaganda group, Microsoft says

A false claim circulating on social media that Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris left a 13-year-old girl paralysed after an alleged hit-and-run is the work of a covert Russian disinformation operation, according to Microsoft.

Borrell urges defence of industries in face of US-China tensions

Future EU-China relations will depend on Beijing’s position on Ukraine and its alignment with Russia, as the bloc seeks to defend its industries and avoid a trade war, EU’s chief diplomat Josep Borrell told Euractiv Italy.

Friends: Donald Trump and Viktor Orbรกn

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbรกn is certainly no poster child for democracy in Europe and most Americans have never heard of him, but he does have at least one fan in the United States: Donald Trump.

Trump says he will tap Musk to lead government efficiency commission if elected

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump said on Thursday (5 September) he would establish a government efficiency commission headed by billionaire supporter Elon Musk if he wins the 5 November election.

Putin jokes he prefers Harris over Trump as concerns of election interference grow

Russia would be rooting for US Democratic candidate Kamala Harris over Republican candidate Donald Trump to win the November presidential election for her “infectious laugh,” President Vladimir Putin joked on Thursday (5 September) as worries over Mos…

US charges employees of Russiaโ€™s RT in crackdown on election influence efforts

The US filed money-laundering charges against two employees of Russian state media network RT for what officials said was a scheme to hire an American company to produce online content to influence the 2024 presidential election.

NATO member Turkey to request membership of Russia-led BRICS

Turkey will be the first NATO member to request membership of the BRICS economic bloc spearheaded by the leaders of Russia and China, Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping, agencies reported.

Harris vows tougher approach on migration, supports weapons for Israel

Kamala Harris vowed a tougher approach to migration along the US southern border and said she would not withhold weapons to Israel, in her first interview with a major news organisation since becoming the Democratic nominee for president.

Zelenskyy to present plan to Biden to end war with Russia

Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Tuesday (27 August) that the war with Russia would eventually end in dialogue, but that Kyiv had to be in a strong position and that he would present a plan to US President Joe Biden and his two potential successors.

Accepting Democratic nomination, Harris makes pitch for continuity and contrast with Trump

US Vice President Kamala Harris attempted to differentiate herself from Republican contender and former president Donald Trump by pitching continuity on Washington’s foreign policy as she accepted on Friday (23 August) her Democratic party’…

Food price becomes political battleground on both sides of the Atlantic

US vice-president and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris has pledged to fight “price gouging” on grocery shelves, and the EU wants fairer pay for farmers as experts call for more transparency in the food chain.

Biden hails Harris as DNCโ€™s future in emotional farewell speech

President Joe Biden cemented the Democratic Party’s elevation of Kamala Harris to lead the fight for the White House against Republican Donald Trump with a convention speech on Monday (19 August).

Rambling Trump, Musk interview marred by tech issues

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump sat Monday (12 August) for a friendly two-hour interview with billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk on Musk’s social media platform X, after technical problems delayed the start of the event for more than 40 …

Trump campaign says it was hacked, blames Iran

Donald Trump’s US presidential campaign said on Saturday (10 August) some of its internal communications were hacked and blamed the Iranian government, citing past hostilities between Trump and Iran without providing direct evidence.

US prosecutors say Romanian businessman hired Hunter Biden as lobbyist

Prosecutors in the US criminal tax case against Hunter Biden accused him of accepting payments from a Romanian businessman who sought to “influence US government agencies” in connection with a criminal probe in Romania.

Foreign actors seek to influence US presidential race, says intelligence officer

US foes targeting November’s election with influence operations are expected to adapt to presidential contest developments, a US intelligence official said on Monday (29 July), in an apparent reference to Joe Biden dropping his reelection bid.

Harris pushes Netanyahu to ease suffering in Gaza: โ€˜I will not be silentโ€™

US Vice President Kamala Harris pressured Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday (25 July) to help reach a Gaza ceasefire deal that would ease the suffering of Palestinian civilians, striking a tougher tone than President Joe Biden.

NATO finds gaping holes in Europeโ€™s defences

The war in Ukraine and the US presidential election dominated a NATO summit in Washington this month but, away from the public stage, the alliance’s military planners have been focused on assessing the enormous cost of fixing Europe’s creaking defences.

Ukraine tells China it is open to talks if Moscow acts in good faith

Ukraine’s top diplomat said on Wednesday (24 July), after a day of “very deep and concentrated” talks in China, that Kyiv was prepared for talks on the conflict with Russia provided Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity were fully respected.

Harris leads Trump 44% to 42% in US presidential race, Reuters/Ipsos poll finds

Vice President Kamala Harris opened up a marginal two-percentage-point lead over Republican Donald Trump after President Joe Biden ended his re-election campaign and passed the torch to her, a Reuters/Ipsos poll found.

Ukraine reaches preliminary deal with bondholder group in effort to avoid default

Ukraine said on Monday (22 July) it had reached an agreement in principle with a group of creditors to restructure $20 billion of international bonds, bringing the war-torn country closer to an unprecedented debt rework.

Biden ends failing reelection campaign, backs Harris as nominee

US President Joe Biden abandoned his reelection bid on Sunday (21 July) under growing pressure from his fellow Democrats and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the party’s candidate to face Republican Donald Trump in the November election.

Germany to halve military aid for Ukraine despite possible Trump White House

Germany plans to halve its military aid to Ukraine next year, despite concerns that US support for Kyiv could potentially diminish if Republican candidate Donald Trump returns to the White House.

Trump assassination attempt: Focus on Secret Service

The US Secret Service was under intense scrutiny after a gunman managed to evade its agents and open fire on former President Donald Trump at a political rally, with Republican leaders vowing swift investigations and President Joe Biden calling for an …

Russia accuses Biden administration of creating atmosphere for attack on Trump

The Kremlin said on Sunday (14 July) it did not believe the US administration was responsible for Saturday’s assassination attempt on US presidential candidate Donald Trump, but accused it of creating an atmosphere that provoked the attack.

Biden asks Americans to โ€˜cool it downโ€™ after Trump shooting

US President Joe Biden used the formal setting of the White House Oval Office on Sunday (14 July) to ask Americans to lower the political temperature and remember they are neighbors after a would-be assassin wounded Republican rival Donald Trump.

European leaders defend Biden NATO summit gaffes, media say heโ€™s done

European leaders defended US President Joe Biden after a number of gaffes during a NATO summit while the continent’s media took them as further evidence he was not fit to defeat Donald Trump in November’s presidential election.

Three former prime ministers of Italy say Biden should drop re-election bid

US President Joe Biden must drop his re-election bid or Donald Trump is sure to return to the White House, former Italian prime minister Matteo Renzi said on Wednesday (3 July).

Ukraine not ready to compromise with Russia, says Zelenskyy aide

Ukraine is not ready to compromise with Russia and give up any territory to end the war, a senior Ukrainian official said on Tuesday (2 July) when asked about US presidential candidate Donald Trump’s declaration that he could quickly end the conflict.

Biden vows US โ€˜standing strongโ€™ with Ukraine on France state visit

President Joe Biden on Saturday (8 June) vowed Washington was “standing strong” with Ukraine as French counterpart Emmanuel Macron hosted him on a state visit shadowed by Kyiv’s fight against Russia’s invasion and the looming US election.

Biden asks Americans to recommit to democracy in Normandy cliff speech

Atop the cliff that US Army Rangers scaled 80 years ago on D-Day, President Joe Biden on Friday (7 June) compared the threats posed by Nazi Germany to those facing the world today by dictators and authoritarianism, and urged Americans to resist isolati…

Fresh US tariffs on China split EU Social Democrats along Franco-German divide

The increase in tariffs on China’s electric vehicles (EVs) and other products by the US administration is dividing politicians within the EU’s centre-left Socialists & Democrats (S&D) group, who disagree on whether Europe should follow up with …

EU officials scramble to prove Trade and Technology Council will survive Trump

The European Commission played down fears that the EU-US Trade and Technology Council (TTC) could succumb to a Donald Trump presidency as pressure on high-level officials from both sides increased ahead of their meeting in Leuven, Belgium, on Thursday …

Rough waters ahead in 2024 โ€“ and the EU needs to get ready

In this weekโ€™s edition: All you need to know about what will shape the discussions in 2024 as we take a look at our EU foreign policy crystal ball.