Macron calls for sanctions against Russia if diplomacy fails
President moves to arrange summit between Zelenskyy and Putin in bid to end Russian invasion
He wants Trump to secure for him what Russia’s army cannot
Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky expressed hopes that Monday's meeting with European leaders at the White House would pave the way to trilateral talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on ending the Russia-Ukraine war, with Trump adding the US would back European security guarantees for Kyiv as part of peace efforts.
Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy has arrived at the White House for a crucial meeting with Donald Trump about Russia’s war.
Drone and missile attacks condemned as attempt to ‘humiliate diplomatic efforts’ before talks with US and European leaders
Donald Tusk will struggle to deliver on his campaign promises — setting the stage for even greater Euroscepticism
The US-Russia summit has offered Beijing a chance to draw lessons for its own approach toward Washington, say experts.
On 19 August 1960, a Moscow court handed a US airman, Francis Gary Powers, a 10-year sentence. The BBC reported on what became a Cold War diplomatic disaster.
President Trump said he thought there was a "reasonable chance" of ending the war between Russia and Ukraine if Vladimir Putin and Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy agreed to trilateral talks with the U.S.
'In Alaska, Putin and Trump symbolically began a process of reconciliation between Russia and the US'
Steve Witfkoff said Russia agreed in Alaska that the US and Europe could provide Ukraine with a Nato-style guarantee.
European leaders will join Ukraine’s president in US as he comes under pressure to concede territory to Russia
Here are the key events on day 1,270 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
Russia’s leader seems to have drawn the US president closer to Moscow’s position on the Ukraine war
The US president will meet Zelensky in Washington on Monday in the wake of his Alaska summit with Vladimir Putin on Friday.
US President Donald Trump called his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin "extremely productive".
Europe and Ukraine have to change their approach towards Trump or risk ceding more ground to Russia.
Documents with sensitive details about the meeting between President Trump and Russian President Putin were left behind on a public hotel printer.
No one knows what was negotiated in Alaska, and no agreement was detailed. Unable to compel his Russian counterpart, the US president instead put pressure on the Ukrainians and Europeans to resolve the conflict.
Russia’s leader is honoured, but offers little in return
Russian president appeared to shrug as reporters in Alaska asked if he will ‘stop killing civilians’
US president’s warm Alaska greeting brings Russian leader in from the cold
US President Trump and Russian President Putin began talks on the Ukraine war at a US military base in Alaska.
Twin islands connected by an ice bridge are a reminder that the US and Russia's culture and history are intertwined.
Our weekly podcast on democracy in America. This week, President Donald Trump welcomed Russian leader Vladimir Putin to the United States for the first time in a decade. We look at how the face-to-face meeting may alter the trajectory of the Ukraine war.
Alaska, a hint of Russia in America
Alaska was a Russian colony until it was sold to the US. It's the perfect place for the upcoming Putin-Trump talks.
President Trump had pledged to use his relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin to broker a deal. But he's been vague about potential outcomes from his Friday summit.
Trump says the Alaska summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin could “set the table” for direct talks with Ukraine.
US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are preparing to hold talks in Alaska on the future of Ukraine. BBC Verify looks at Trump's changing comments and actions on the conflict since the start of his second term in office. Produced by Aisha Sembhi. Graphics by Sally Nicholls.
President Trump says he'll know "probably in the first two minutes" whether Vladimir Putin is serious about ending the war in Ukraine, touting his past relationship with the Russian leader.
Alaska was a Russian colony until it was sold to the US. It's the perfect place for the upcoming Putin-Trump talks.
Sidelining Russia and Iran and creating a lucrative new transit corridor would be a diplomatic coup
Ukrainian president in London to try to prevent any US-Russian deal that would carve up his country
Donald Trump's threats against Vladimir Putin are no longer taken seriously in Ukraine, and Volodymyr Zelensky's absence from the August 15 meeting has come as a shock. Many in Kyiv are convinced that Russia will never give up on taking control of the entire country.
The Trump administration is in the process of rescuing the Russian regime, which it needs in order to extort money from Europe, argues the Russia specialist, two days before the meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin.
The UK prime minister was addressing European leaders ahead of Friday's summit between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin.
US president issues warning days ahead of high-stakes summit with Russian leader in Alaska.
August 13, 2025 European leaders held a high-stakes meeting Wednesday with President Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Ukraine's Zelenskyy, NATO's chief, and European leaders ahead of Friday's US Russia summit.
European leaders and Ukrainian president speak with Trump ahead of Friday’s US-Russia summit
As the leaders prepare to meet, Russian forces break Ukraine’s defensive line
Trump has said Russia and Ukraine may have to "swap land" to end the war. DW looks at the realities on the ground.
Land swaps and de facto annexation in Ukraine won’t bring peace and could lead to decades of brutal subjugation
Russian troops surge in Ukraine as Europe fears betrayal
The summit, set to take place in Alaska on Friday with Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, will be the first between a sitting US and Russian president since 2021 and comes as the US president seeks to broker an end to Russia's nearly three-and-a-half-year invasion of Ukraine.
The Ukrainian leader was speaking ahead of a meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday.
The Russian and US presidents will convene in Alaska on Friday for talks on a possible ceasefire in Ukraine — but is the meeting a ‘misstep’?
Federal officials are scrambling to assess the damage and address flaws in a sprawling, heavily used computer system long known to have vulnerabilities.
Russian troops advance 10km in attempt to encircle key cities and exert further pressure in Donetsk
Russia says both sides affirm intention for Putin-Trump meet in Alaska on Friday, where Ukraine war set to be discussed.
Research by independent Russian reporters claims to prove that teenagers are involved in drone production.
TEHRAN – Celebrated on August 12 by the five Caspian Sea states (Iran, Russia, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, and Azerbaijan), the International Caspian Sea Day serves as an opportunity to review the status of the world’s largest inland body of water and highlights the significance of preserving its unique ecosystem and biodiversity.
As Russian influence wanes in the South Caucasus, regional officials worry that Moscow could undermine ties between Yerevan and Baku
Russia lost a war in Crimea in the 1850s. To pay off war debts, Russia sold Alaska to the U.S. Now presidents Trump and Putin will meet Friday in Alaska to discuss another war involving Crimea.
Sudden advance beyond Ukrainian frontline in Donetsk region comes ahead of Trump-Putin summit in Alaska
President Trump set a low bar for his summit with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, saying he was ready to walk away if no deal was forthcoming.
Asked about inviting Volodymyr Zelensky to Alaska for the meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday, Trump suggested the Ukrainian president would be involved in talks at a future date. 'This is really a feel-out meeting,' Trump told reporters at the White House.
Ukrainian leader said that any concessions to Russia at the Putin-Trump summit in Alaska would only encourage Russia to continue its brutal assault
President Trump says he thinks Russian President Vladimir Putin is ready to end his war on Ukraine, but will use a Friday summit to "feel out" his counterpart.
The conversation took place days before a planned meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump in Alaska on Friday.
Could Vladimir Putin exploit the odd legal status of an Arctic archipelago?
The US president says talks with Putin on Friday will be a "feel-out meeting" aimed at urging Russia to end the war in Ukraine.
The talks comes ahead of a landmark meeting between the presidents of the US and Russia in Alaska on Friday.
Helsinki first among Nato capitals to prosecute officers of vessel suspected of Baltic Sea sabotage
The Alaska summit will be the first in-person meeting between the leaders since Russia invaded Ukraine in early 2022.
Also in today’s newsletter, Europe urges Trump to use sanctions pressure against Russia, and rice prices plunge to 8-year low
Some European leaders say that Ukraine must be included in any talks with Russia over ending the war.
TEHRAN – Mehdi Sanaei, an advisor to the Iranian president and former envoy to Russia, has become the second Iranian official to raise concerns over Washington’s expanding footprint in the Caucasus, warning that the current situation could foreshadow heightened regional tensions in the future.
Trump says he will meet with the Russian leader in the "great state of Alaska".
Ukraine's prisoners of war released by Russia return in appalling condition
Drones launched by Kyiv are targeting deeper into Russian territory than in past, Al Jazeera’s correspondent reports.
'Despite the recent developments, we remain committed to engaging constructively with our partners, including the United States,' the MEA also said.
For three years, Sergei V. Kiriyenko has handled the political aspects of the war in Ukraine, rising among a cadre of skilled managers who oversee the sprawling Russian state.
US president plans to meet the Russian president in Alaska on Friday
When Trump and Putin meet on Friday, the plight of children abducted from Ukraine should be top of the agenda
President Trump did not clarify which territories could be swapped, and Ukrainian officials appeared uncertain about what he meant.
Iran is distancing itself from ally Russia as it rejects planned border corridor backed by US President Donald Trump.
Despite the confusion, momentum for peace in Ukraine seems to be building
Viktoriia Roshchyn, who disappeared in 2023 while reporting from Russian-occupied Ukraine, died in a Russian captivity.
Latin America’s biggest economy has tripled trade with its Brics ally since Moscow invaded Ukraine
Zelensky says Kyiv won't give up land as US-Russia summit confirmed
August 9, 2025 President Zelenskyy's remarks come as U.S. and Russian leaders plan a summit next Friday. President Trump wants an end to the war and says it could involve 'some swapping of territory.'
The Ukrainian president has underlined they will not give up territory to Russia ahead of a meeting between Trump and Putin.
If it’s only a couple of private companies that stand to gain most from controversial Russian oil imports — and consumers do not get the benefit low petrol and diesel prices — is this the most appropriate issue on which to contest Trump?
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who called the agreement a 'significant milestone,' said the breakthrough was made possible by Trump. The signing of a deal between Armenia and Azerbaijan, both former Soviet republics, also strikes a geopolitical blow to their former imperial master, Russia.
Before announcing a meeting with President Vladimir Putin, President Trump suggested a Russia-Ukraine peace deal would include “some swapping of territories.”
Presidents of the United States and Russia to meet in person for first time since 2019
The announcement comes as Trump’s deadline for Russia to agree to a Ukraine ceasefire passed without any new action.
The US president said the two sides were ‘close’ to a deal and that he would soon announce the location of a meeting between the leaders
The talks come shortly after US President Trump announced he will meet Russia's President Putin in Alaska on Friday.
Russia's president has named the United Arab Emirates as a possible location for a meeting with his US counterpart.
Investors are betting progress in negotiations will revive Kyiv’s securities and boost other assets linked to Russia’s economy
Putin also briefed Modi on the “latest developments” on Ukraine, per the MEA, as Trump's deadline for Moscow to forge peace is set to end.
Alan Williams, a married father from the Wirral with no military experience, went to fight on the front line despite his family’s pleas not to go
Azerbaijan, Russia and Turkey… who’s allied with whom? Radical countryside – are innocuous sounding rural meetings hiding a darker agenda? And a bridge too far? All the latest on Czechia’s hottest infrastructure debate. Then: welcome to a glorious European summer, complete with river diving, bears, camper vans, and traditional alcoholic beverages.
Donald Trump says he will meet Vladimir Putin, America escalates its row with India over Russian oil—and more
August 7, 2025 Tensions are escalating between the U.S. and India as the Trump administration imposes tariffs and tries to force India to stop buying Russian oil.
The trade war between Washington and New Delhi, the US rapprochement with Pakistan and efforts to isolate Russia – India's main oil supplier – are all threatening the traditional alliance between the two countries.
Ukrainians increasingly eager for settlement to end Russia’s invasion, says new poll
US and Russian leaders will hold first in-person meeting since Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine
Modi has so far not commented directly on the multiple tariff announcements and mentions of India's purchase of Russian oil by Trump – who he had claimed multiple times was his friend.
Narendra Modi faces a strategic crossroads — will he buckle under pressure from the United States or keep buying Russian oil?
As the president pursues his goals on Russia and trade, America’s relationship with an important partner in Asia could end up as collateral damage.
Also in today’s newsletter, China tests out stablecoins, and Apple set to boost US investment plans by $100bn
US Donald Trump could meet his Russian and Ukrainian counterparts for talks as early as next week. DW has more.
In Kharkiv, investigators gather evidence of Russian attacks - and how it has dodged sanctions.
Administration says Russia expressed ‘desire to meet with President Trump’ and that the US wants war in Ukraine to end.
A crackdown on Russian crude would have knock-on consequences
US envoy Steve Witkoff met with Putin on Wednesday for what the Kremlin said were 'constructive' talks, two days ahead of the US deadline for Russia to make progress towards peace or face new sanctions.
Separatist Milorad Dodik is backed by Russia, Hungary and Serbia, and seeks US support
August 6, 2025 After U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff reported progress in a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, President Trump is open to meeting the leaders of Russia and Ukraine, the White House says.
The US on Wednesday imposed an additional 25% tariff on India for buying Russian oil that is scheduled to kick in on August 27.
Missile and drone attacks on Ukraine are now higher than at any other point of the war, according to Ukrainian data.
Trump said Tuesday that he would await the outcome of the Moscow talks before moving forward with any economic retaliation, telling reporters, 'We're going to see what happens.' Trump has previously threatened to impose 'secondary tariffs' targeting Russia's remaining trade partners, such as China and India.
US president has threatened Vladimir Putin with punitive measures to force him to end war in Ukraine
He also said that New Delhi's ostensible offer to lower its tariffs to zero is “not good enough” if it keeps buying Russian oil.
US envoys expected in Moscow and Kyiv ahead of Friday deadline
President Trump accused India of aiding Moscow’s war on Ukraine by purchasing Russian energy, derailing trade talks between India and the United States.
Steve Witkoff is visiting Moscow this week - is it a sign that an agreement between Russia and the US to end the fighting in Ukraine could yet be reached?
Tulsi Gabbard claims to have seen evidence that the Obama administration manipulated intelligence to have the FBI look into Trump’s links to Russia
Also in today’s newsletter, Singapore tycoon pleads guilty in gifts scandal, and Tesla board awards $30bn of shares to Musk
The United States has accused Russia of violating the pact, which expired in 2019, for more than a decade.
Just last week, Trump announced that he would levy a 25% tariff on Indian goods, along with an unspecified penalty on top of it.
Four suspected attackers, all from Tajikistan, and another 15 people accused of being accomplices have gone on trial over an attack on a city concert hall in 2024 – one of the deadliest strikes in Russia.
Russia does not see Trump statement on repositioning nuclear subsmarines as an escalation, Kremlin says
TEHRAN- In a statement issued through the Public Relations Department of the Cinema Organization of Iran (COI) on Sunday, Nikita Mikhalkov, the acclaimed Russian filmmaker, condemned the Israeli regime’s atrocities during the 12-day war against Iranian soil.
Staff members have been evacuated from the area, a statement from the local nature reserve said, adding that the volcano was too far from towns to pose a danger to people.
TEHRAN- In a statement issued through the Public Relations Department of the Cinema Organization of Iran (COI) on Sunday, Nikita Mikhalkov, the acclaimed Russian filmmaker, condemned the Israeli regime’s atrocities during the 12-day war against Iranian soil.
Huge plumes of smoke could be seen rising into the sky above the Krasheninnikov Volcano.
Dutch editor founded The Moscow Times and Russian editions of magazines including Cosmopolitan and Playboy
The Ukrainian Parliament voted to restore the independence of the country's two anti-corruption agencies following the largest protest since the start of the Russian invasion, with young people turning out in large numbers to demonstrate.
Here are the key events on day 1,256 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
The European Commission president is under fire for accepting Trump’s trade demands — this is why she did it
Ukraine says it has struck some key oil and military facilities on Russian territory. DW has the latest.
The US president said he's ordered two nuclear submarines to move closer to Russia, after a social media spat with Russia's ex-president.
President Trump had been on a winning streak. But when faced with facts and foes that wouldn’t bend to his will, he responded with disproportionate intensity.
August 2, 2025 Some Ukrainians have already returned after fleeing Russia's invasion, and almost half of the more than 5 million still abroad want to, according to a survey this year.
Trump uses 'madman' tactics to threaten Russia, deploys two nuclear submarines
Ukrainian reciprocal strikes follow Russian attack that killed 31 wounded and 150 earlier this week
President imposes 25% levy on New Delhi and draws closer to Pakistan despite once-warm personal ties with Modi
The US President deploying nuclear submarines and Storm Floris hitting the UK make Saturday's front pages.
US president wants to send a message to Putin after the Russian leader rejected his calls for a truce
The US president has exchanged barbs with Russian leader Dmitry Medvedev, who warned of ‘how dangerous’ Russia can be.
President Trump described the move as a deterrent prompted by threats by a former Russian leader. It is unclear if any submarines did actually change position.
Trump orders the deployment of 'two nuclear submarines' in response to 'highly provocative' comments from Russia
US president blasts ‘foolish and inflammatory’ statements by Dmitry Medvedev
NASA and SpaceX's Crew-11 mission is made up of two U.S. astronauts, one from Japan and a Russian cosmonaut. They'll be aboard the International Space Station for six months conducting research.
'Common' to find 'deep unease' among British troops over Israel’s conduct in Gaza, military insider tells Declassified
From late Wednesday to early Thursday, Russia fired over 300 drones and eight cruise missiles at Ukraine, with Kyiv the main target, the Ukrainian air force said.
President Trump upended trade negotiations with India by making the purchase of crude oil a sticking point.
Asaad al-Shaibani says Syria wants a 'correct and sound' relationship with Moscow after meeting Lavrov
Thierry Burkhard, the Forces Armées’ departing chief, says Europe has work to do
US defence and intelligence officials are increasingly alarmed that an Israeli invasion of Lebanon could escalate regional tensions, potentially drawing in Russia and solidifying its military cooperation with Iran. This concern stems from recent intelligence assessments suggesting that Moscow is contemplating enhancing
July 31, 2025 President Trump said India would pay the price for buying Russian oil and military equipment. Here is a look at how India, with one of Asia's largest economies, is responding.
After another round of deadly Russian airstrikes, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy has called for tougher action on Moscow.
Ahmed al-Sharaa's government faces many hurdles and having Russia playing a stabilizing role in Syria is important for Damascus. It is not clear how Russia-Syrian relations will develop these days.
Gandhi’s statement accusing the Modi government of ‘running this country into the ground’ came after Trump equated India with Russia and said that they can take their "dead economies down together”.
Boy (6) and his mother among the dead
US president’s threat of 25% levy against New Delhi stands as deadline nears
Wednesday's quake off Russia appeared to be the strongest recorded since the 9.0 magnitude event off Japan in 2011. In the US, tsunami advisories for the coasts of Oregon and Washington were lifted, but held for Hawaii and parts of Alaska and California. Meanwhile, new alerts along South America's West Coast forced evacuations.
The threat of massive tsunami waves has largely passed in Japan, the US and Russia.
The earthquake was one of the strongest ever recorded, but its tsunami was not as bad as feared.
Japan and Hawaii were spared from a feared tsunami after one of the largest earthquakes ever recorded struck Russia.
New Delhi and Beijing to face punitive US tariffs unless Moscow agrees Ukraine ceasefire by August 8th
President Trump said he would pose an additional penalty on India for its trade relations with Russia, which Trump is trying to pressure over its war with Ukraine.
The "penalty" has been imposed for trading with Russia, the US president said.
US president hits out at New Delhi’s trade policies and economic ties with Russia
A number of cases emerge of servicemen targeted for their salaries and pay-offs by government officials.
Russia sees push for return of official censorship
Vast waves of drones are overwhelming Ukraine’s air defences
Olga Komleva has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for her past volunteer work with Navalny’s banned party.
Prison bombed three years to the night after similar strike killed more than 50 Ukrainians
The attack was part of a wave of strikes directed at 73 Ukrainian cities and villages, President Zelensky said. It came only hours after President Trump gave the Kremlin a new deadline to work toward ending the war.
Foreign minister Espen Barth Eide warns of apparent double standards on Russia and Israel
DW went to the town of Pereyaslav to meet ordinary citizens who boost Ukraine's frontlines in the fight against Russia.
US president’s talk of treason is fanciful but unverified claims of Russian collusion were spread by his predecessor’s team
The hack may have been part of a campaign to disrupt the sense of normalcy Russians have mostly enjoyed since the start of the war.
Donald Trump said he would now give Vladimir Putin 10 to 12 days from Monday, meaning he wants peace efforts to make progress by August 7-9. The plan includes possible sanctions and secondary tariffs targeting Russia's trading partners.
US president says he is disappointed in Russia’s Putin as he shortens a 50-day deadline he set this month.
Irina Krynina helps relatives of Russian POWs held in Ukraine get in touch with their loved ones.
New deadline marks shortening of 50-day window that US president gave Moscow last month to avoid sanctions
The Kremlin says reports of a cyber-attack on Russia's national carrier Aeroflot are "worrying".
St Petersburg procession is called off as Ukrainian drone strikes continue to target strategic sites across the country
TEHRAN – Senior foreign policy advisor to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ali Akbar Velayati, has warned that the proposed Zangezur Corridor is part of a broader geopolitical scheme by the United States and Israel aimed at isolating Iran and Russia.
Two weeks ago, Trump threatened "very severe tariffs" on Russia's trading partners "if we don't have a deal in 50 days".
Russian ministry says air defence units downed 291 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones
Here are the key events on day 1,249 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
Pentagon-backed deal aims to help combat mass attacks by Russia
Critics say EU policy has given Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev a free hand during his crackdown on opponents.
When Irina Krynina's partner was captured, she searched tirelessly to find him. Now, she helps others do the same.
The billionaire is alleged to have ordered a communications blackout that disrupted a counteroffensive to retake Kherson from Russia
The Russian Community group has soared in popularity, with its focus on promoting the needs of ‘ethnic Russians’.
Moscow launched 235 drones and 27 missiles in latest attack, according to Ukraine’s air force
Russia's parliament has approved legislation punishing those who browse what the state deems as "extremist" content.
Volodymyr Zelenskiy renews call for summit with Vladimir Putin to end Russia-Ukraine war
Others with a stake in Ukraine’s security and relations with Russia must stay engaged too, argues the Nobel Peace Prize winner
Falling inflation has persuaded the central bank in Moscow to continue relaxing the country’s record borrowing costs.
Second reduction in two months lowers borrowing costs to 18%
The flow of goods in Manzhouli, China’s main border crossing with Russia, underscores close ties between the countries, complicating Beijing’s relationship with Europe
Video shows extensive damage to a residential area of Kharkiv after the latest Russian strike on the eastern Ukrainian c
Russian threat prompts Berlin to boost numbers of army reservists and professional soldiers
For the first time since the Russian invasion in 2022, Ukrainians have protested against their government in the capital.
Deaths have been reported on either side of the border, just hours after a third round of ceasefire talks took place in Turkey.
The An-24 aircraft had vanished from radar screens before its burning wreckage was discovered and all on board are thought to have died
Russia’s civil aviation authority released footage on Thursday of what it said was the site in Russia’s Amur region where a plane carrying 43 passengers and six crew members had crashed.
President Zelensky’s chief of staff has told The Times that potentially thousands of abductees have been forced into subscription once they reach 18
At the two previous talks on May 16 and June 2, the two sides agreed to large-scale prisoner exchanges. Russia, which launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, has meanwhile intensified its bombardment of Ukrainian towns and cities, while advancing across several different areas of the front line.
Plus, meet the other great Kurosawa.
Russia has stepped up airstrikes on Kyiv, forcing residents to come up with new coping strategies during the attacks.
July 23, 2025 Far-Flung Postcards is a weekly series in which NPR's international team shares moments from their lives and work around the world.
Economic threats won’t help EU leaders put pressure on Beijing — co-operation and the right incentives might
Victoria Derbyshire and Vitaly Shevchenko discuss a Russian TV report from inside a drone factory.
The president repeated unsubstantiated claims that investigations into Russian election interference were ‘seditious’.
A Danish warship shadowed a Russian trawler suspected of sabotage near critical Atlantic cables. Over five years, multiple cables have been damaged; is Moscow involved?
In a DW interview, Kyiv's mayor Vitali Klitschko explains what he thinks of the US' recent 50-day ultimatum to Russia.
TEHRAN – Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Aziz Nasirzadeh met his Russian counterpart, Andrey Belousov, in Moscow on Monday for discussions centered on enhancing bilateral military and defense cooperation.
Russia and Ukraine are expected to hold another round of negotiations on Wednesday in Istanbul, but the two warring countries have flatly rejected each other’s demands.
Ukrainian president accused by critics of aiming to crush the independence of anti-corruption agencies
This year’s apparent lull may be the calm before another storm
Jurors find Howard Phillips wanted to pass on details about ex-defence secretary Sir Grant Shapps.
Also in today’s newsletter, Japan’s Ishiba presses for quick US trade talks, and Russia’s drone swarms overwhelm Ukraine’s defences
Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot went to Ukraine on a suprise visit, blasting the latest wave of Russian attacks: 'This inhumane, cynical and cruel violence has no military purpose. Its sole aim is to terrorize civilians in a failed attempt to undermine Ukrainian morale.'
Ukraine says Russia launched one of its largest aerial assaults on Kyiv in months, killing one and injuring seven.
TEHRAN — A large-scale joint maritime search and rescue exercise, CASAREX 2025, kicked off on Monday in the Caspian Sea with the participation of naval forces from the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Russian Federation.
The Russian conductor has been barred from Western stages since the invasion of Ukraine.
Videos showed people in the subway as the tunnel filled with smoke. Russian attacks in Ukraine have steadily escalated even as cease-fire talks began in the spring.
Intensified mass drone strikes are testing Ukraine’s resilience and air defences like never before
It’s an ancient adage predating even the Roman Empire and going back as far as Plato, but one with relevance today as the smoke billows over Ukrainian trenches and cities; the restive Russian bear looks west; and the Chinese dragon
China, France, Germany, Russia and the UK are the remaining parties to a 2015 nuclear deal reached with Iran.
Comments come after Trump gives Moscow deadline to agree to ceasefire or face tougher sanctions
Those charged include an anti-war poet and people who set fire to military recruiting offices
TEHRAN – Ali Larijani, senior adviser to Iran’s Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, held talks on nuclear affairs with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Sunday, according to the Kremlin.
Russia's defence ministry says more than 230 Ukrainian drones have been downed over Russia since Saturday morning.
Moscow and Pyongyang’s growing commercial co-operation gives both regimes leverage against western pressure
Engineers from Britain are helping to turn buildings bombed by Russia into new concrete, saving vast amounts of carbon we can’t afford to emit
Russian youth organisations are encouraging Ukrainian children to turn against their country.
Ukrainian leader also reiterates readiness for face-to-face meeting with Russia’s Vladimir Putin.
UKRAINE-CRISIS/TALKS-ZELENSKIY (UPDATE 1, PIX):UPDATE 1-Ukraine's Zelenskiy offers Russia more talks next week
How the Russian and Ukrainian front lines are shifting
The most important factors may be far from the battlefield.
Secondhand medals reveal the existence of Russian intelligence cyber units
Kyiv denies Budapest’s claims that an ethnic Hungarian conscript was beaten to death
Three Russian intelligence units and 18 officers have been sanctioned, the Foreign Office says.
Trump’s threats over oil and missiles mark a shift on Ukraine – but without allies, they may be empty talk.
For the first time, the EU has designated the biggest Rosneft refinery in India, in Vadinar, Gujarat, EU's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on social media.
Videos of the riot, which occured nearly two years ago, showed people waving Palestinian flags, breaking down glass doors, and running through the airport shouting "Allahu Akbar" (God is greater).
President Trump’s plan to impose a 100 percent tariff on Russian goods could raise the cost of urea, a key fertilizer in corn and other row crops.
Foreign secretary David Lammy accuses Kremlin of running ‘campaign to destabilise Europe’
A bipartisan coalition has joined forces to push aggressive new sanctions on Russia and believe the souring relationship between President Trump and Vladimir Putin has created a new opening.
Ukrainian leader offers US expertise and equipment as he seeks to strengthen relationship with president before Russia launches heightened summer offensive
UK’s Starmer says plan in place in event of ceasefire in Ukraine once Russia’s Putin agrees to ‘unconditional’ truce.
“We would particularly caution against any double standards on the matter,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal also said.
Russian hackers are exploring ways to inject propaganda into the training data of generative AI models
Russia is grinding ahead but paying an excruciating price
The Russian Foreign Ministry noted that the attacks against the Druze Community in Syria were "deeply concerning."
There is little clarity on how they came to be in a forest infested with snakes and wild animals.
Threat of secondary penalties on buyers of Russian oil and gas would work as China and India would then insist on a peace deal in order to avoid trade wars
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the attack as ‘simply horrific, stupid Russian terror’.
Russia is facing a labor shortage
His pivot on supplying arms could help Ukraine defend itself
But drop in drone strikes during Trump envoy’s visit to Kyiv shows Russia is ‘afraid of America’, Zelenskiy says
Russian officials and commentators have shown little indication that Moscow is about to change course under new pressure.
International Criminal Court faces new call for action against financial executives and officials
A former senior U.S. official said it was “shortsighted” to consolidate the department’s well-respected intelligence arm.
One of Ukraine’s most powerful women tells how she tested Russia’s desire for peace in US-led talks
India has done brilliantly by balancing America, China and Russia. Can that last?
Two senior British police officers warned that Russia, Iran, and China are behind a growing number of life-threatening operations in Britain.
Trump asked Ukraine's Zelensky if he could strike Moscow and other Russian targets, the Financial Times reported.
Some in Ukraine question why Trump gave Russia 50 more days to bombard them
Also in today’s newsletter, how one Republican said no to Trump and got away with it
The US president announced on Monday the delivery of military equipment to the Ukrainian army, routed through European allies, and threatened Russia's trading partners with a 100% customs surcharge if no ceasefire agreement is reached within the next 50 days.
July 14, 2025 President Trump has made some big shifts in U.S. policy on Russia's war with Ukraine lately.
The US is threatening Moscow with financial consequences if a deal to end the Ukraine war is not reached within 50 days.
US President Donald Trump announced a shipment of weapons for Ukraine while threatening tariffs on Russia.
America will supply air-defence missiles and may punish countries that trade with Russia
The US-made cruise missiles can be launched from F-16 fighter jets and have a range of 230 miles — putting 30 Russian air bases within reach
President Trump, expressing frustration over feeling dragged along by President Vladimir V. Putin in peace talks, threatened Russia with “very severe tariffs” unless a deal is reached with Ukraine in 50 days.
Israel demonstrated exceptional intelligence collection. If Iran can hide its new air defence systems, it can do better next time
US leader says phone calls with Vladimir Putin are ‘very pleasant - and then the missiles go off’
Speaking alongside NATO head Mark Rutte, US President Donald Trump threatened to sanction Russia and its trade partners after the 50-day deadline, and announced a plan to supply Ukraine with weapons via NATO.
Sitting side-by-side with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in the Oval Office, Trump told reporters that he is disappointed in Russian President Vladimir Putin.
US president seeks to step up pressure on Moscow to reach a peace deal with Ukraine
Russia has helped Pyongyang to modernise its forces and refine its drones and ballistic missiles, an intelligence assessment says — and Seoul should take heed
Also in today’s newsletter, German defence minister calls on arms makers to deliver, and the EU pauses trade retaliation against US
TEHRAN – The Russian Foreign Ministry has categorically denied reports suggesting that Moscow pressured Tehran to accept a nuclear agreement based on “zero enrichment,” calling the allegations part of a “politically motivated smear campaign.”
Additionally, North Korea declared its unconditional support for Russia amid the war in Ukraine. • Ukraine's SBU said that it killed Russian FSB agents.
Heat, drone attacks and recruitment drives are shrinking harvests
Kyiv says two people accused of working for Russia and shooting dead a Ukrainian intelligence officer were killed.
Kidnapped and held captive in a secret underground bunker by a notorious serial killer.
The death of Roman Starovoit, who had just been sacked by the president, helps us examine the slow-motion crisis unfolding among the Russian elite
TEHRAN – In an interview with Russian media, Iranian Ambassador to Russia Kazem Jalali stated that recent U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities have solidified the country’s resolve to maintain and develop its nuclear program.
Ruling is blow to chief executive Andrea Orcel, but Meloni’s government defeated on other conditions it demanded
North Korean officials have “reaffirmed their support for all objectives” in the Russia-Ukraine war, says Russian FM.
General Thierry Burkhard sought to raise public awareness in France about the need to support the defense budget during a rare press conference on Friday. He warned that Russia 'will continue to rearm' and establish 'a force that will constitute a real threat at our borders.'
When Ukraine turned a corner of Russia’s Kursk region into a battlefield, it set in motion some of the war’s fiercest fighting. Our photographer documented the aftermath.
Two people were killed and 14 were wounded in the Chernivtsi region
Details of how it was built - in a country largely closed to the outside world - are shrouded in secrecy.
TEHRAN – Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov condemned recent U.S. military strikes against Iran during his address at the East Asia Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Thursday, labeling the attacks a "violation of international law and the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT)."
The prospects of peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia are weakening Russia’s influence
Russian victory is a key message at the 'Patriotic Festival' a few miles outside Moscow.
July 11, 2025 Russia ratcheted up air attacks by drones and missiles on Ukraine this week. The increase comes as President Trump has expressed frustration at Russian President Vladimir Putin's seeming unwillingness to enter talks to end the war. Trump indicated the U.S. would resume shipments of weapons to Ukraine that had previously been suspended. Our correspondent in Kyiv gives us the latest.
US president appears to cool on Vladimir Putin and welcomes move for further sanctions against Russia
Europe's two nuclear powers announced the creation of a joint steering group, paving the way for joint operational planning, during French President Emmanuel Macron's state visit to London on Thursday, July 10. The stated goal is to deter Moscow from escalation.
Kyiv says its attacks on Russian territory are in response to Russia’s continued strikes on Ukraine
This could potentially be a game-changer if Putin's refusal continues, putting Israel in a much stronger position if it needs to strike Iran again in the future.
Despite pressure from Donald Trump's White House, Russia remain committed to its war effort in Ukraine.
Dan Caldwell, a former Pentagon official, says US should go into Israel's air-defence stockpile to boost Ukraine's defences amid Russian attacks
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US and Russia exchanged fresh ideas for Ukraine peace talks in Malaysia.
Kyiv’s western allies need to recognise that Putin has made the war central to his legitimacy
During Macron's three-day state visit to the UK, the British prime minister and French president called on Thursday for more sanctions to 'step up the pressure on Russia' and secure a ceasefire in Ukraine.
The pair are accused of gathering information for Russia on Kyiv’s Neptune missile programme, despite Beijing’s insistence that it is neutral
The victim’s unit played a key role in Ukraine’s surprise attack inside Russian territory last summer.
At least two killed in missile and drone attack on day after heaviest aerial attack of war so far
Plus, the Bayeux Tapestry’s homecoming.
Announcement marks increase in co-operation between allies amid growing threat from Russia
Howard Phillips is accused of being keen to help undercover officers he thought were Moscow agents.
The court ruled on Wednesday that Russia was behind the downing of Flight MH17, the first time Moscow was named by an international court as being responsible for the 2014 tragedy that claimed 298 lives.
Ukraine says it shot down most weapons in the biggest bombardment of the war, including hypersonic missiles and more than 700 suicide drones
Judges also rule that Russia was behind the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 in 2014 which killed 298 people.
Disclosure will raise fresh questions about the need for tighter regulation in Canberra; US president says Kremlin promises are ‘nice but meaningless’
Five men have now been convicted for their part in the arson attack, which caused £1m of damage.
US president voices frustration over the continuing war in Ukraine, says Vladimir Putin is ‘killing a lot of people’.
Court proceedings revealed how a criminal gang in Britain were directed to target Yevgeny Chichvarkin, a dissident Russian who owns Hide, a Michelin-starred restaurant in Mayfair.
We track a web of Russian operations across Europe in which spies have recruited gangsters on social media for a campaign of sabotage
July 8, 2025 With Russian attacks escalating, Ukraine is dependent on air defense systems and munitions supplied by western allies to protect Ukrainian cities.
US sanctions against Russia have led to hundreds of entities becoming legally paralysed
A presidential decree published earlier on Monday gave no reason for the dismissal of Roman Starovoit, 53, after barely a year in the job.
Dr Baksheiev, a gynaecologist, travels to Russian-occupied areas in his kitted out mobile clinic
Roman Starovoyt’s death is being investigated as a possible suicide
Roman V. Starovoyt, the transport minister, had governed the Kursk region before Ukrainian forces occupied part of it in 2024.
Using Moscow’s immobilised holdings in Belgium to bolster Ukraine’s economy and defence is both legal and necessary
Former Ukrainian defence minister warns only a change in leadership at the Kremlin could end war, even as Russia’s relationship with Trump cools
Bloc takes firm positions at summit on key global conflicts while avoiding criticism of Russia for the Ukraine war.
The suspension of American aid to Kyiv fits neatly into the Russian leader's military plans: to intensify his offensive in Ukraine this summer, and to sustain an endless conflict, now synonymous with the survival of his regime through a newfound 'stability' built on a war economy.
More than three years into the war, Ukraine has increasingly been using drones to attack targets deep inside Russia.
As the Pentagon pauses missile shipments to Zelensky, Putin still seems to hold out the possibility of a Trump-brokered end to Russia’s war
The 17th summit of the group of emerging economies is set for Sunday and Monday in Rio de Janeiro. However, the absence of Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, weakens the event's impact, especially on the political front.
Some U.S. officials talked about an “axis” of authoritarian nations, but the American and Israeli war with Iran has exposed the limits of that idea.
Leaders expected to decry US President Trump’s trade tariffs while presenting the bloc as a defender of multilateralism.
Antonio Guterres raises alarm over ‘dangerous escalation’ after hours-long Russian drone and missile barrage this week.
July 5, 2025 Ukraine said it struck a Russian airbase on Saturday, while Russia continued to pound Ukraine with hundreds of drones overnight, dashing hopes for a breakthrough in efforts to end the war.
The continent is dedicated to research and cooperation, but proposed funding cuts in the Trump administration and actions by other world powers may alter the environment.
With leaders of Russia and China set to skip this year's summit, experts say they don't expect much to come out of Global South group
Rapid expansion of Brics has diluted its coherence as a body offering an ideological alternative to western capitalism
The partnership seeks to build a new world order along the route of the old Silk Roads. But, asks Peter Frankopan, is this bond really as close as it seems?
Russia has become the first country to formally recognise the Taliban government in Afghanistan.
Trump said that the call with President Putin on Thursday resulted in no progress at all on efforts to end the war.
Vice-president of state-owned Transneft found dead at foot of elite Moscow apartment block
July 4, 2025 Russian missiles and drones hammered Kyiv in an overnight attack, the largest aerial assault on the Ukrainian capital since the war began more than three years ago.
Call follows record drone assault that came after tense chat between US leader and President Vladimir Putin
US munitions slated for Ukraine held up over shortage as Trump ‘disappointed’ by Putin’s refusal to make concessions
President Trump said he “didn’t make any progress” after a call with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, hours before a barrage that Ukraine’s air forces said was the largest since the war started.
As Emmanuel Macron visits the United Kingdom next week, he and Keir Starmer are set to co-chair a July 10 meeting of Ukraine's European allies, aimed at discussing a 'reassurance force' and putting pressure on Russia.
Kyiv accuses Vladimir Putin of ‘publicly humiliating’ Donald Trump as attack comes hours after the two leaders spoke by phone
Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka faces Russia's Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova for a place in the Wimbledon fourth round - follow live.
The US and Russian presidents spoke on Thursday but Trump said he did ‘not make any progress’ on ending the war
Islamic leaders, in power since 2021, announce development after talks with Russian ambassador in Kabul
Moscow aims to co-operate in fields such as energy, transport, agriculture and infrastructure with Islamist regime in Kabul
The decision marks a major diplomatic milestone nearly three years after the group returned to power.
Supreme Court lifted group’s ‘terrorist’ designation in April, as Moscow seeks normalisation in bid for regional clout.
Ursula von der Leyen says more pressure needs to be put on Russia to end war in Ukraine
But countries know their neighbour is a crucial partner
Major General Mikhail Gudkov was killed in the Kursk region during what Russia's defence ministry described as "combat work".
UK Home Secretary announced her draft proscription order for Palestine Action, Maniacs Murder Cult, and the Russian Imperial Movement.
President Trump says America’s stock of Patriot air defence missiles is running low but they are the only reliable way of intercepting Russian rockets
Russian strikes hit across Ukraine after the US announced it would halt some weapon shipments.
Reduction in supplies makes Kyiv more vulnerable to Russia’s escalating attacks
The French president and his Russian counterpart spoke for more than two hours on Tuesday, discussing the situations in Iran and, notably, Ukraine. On the latter, they only reaffirmed their irreconcilable differences.
Russia, which already controls about a fifth of Ukraine, has been ramping up air attacks on Ukraine
US is concerned about low stockpiles for its own needs, while Russia intensifies the war in Ukraine.
The Ukrainian president is showing authoritarian instincts and trying to eliminate political opponents, his predecessor claims in Kyiv
Berlin increases controls on vessels heading eastward through the Fehmarn strait
North Korea President Kim Jong Un was shown honouring coffins of soldiers killed while fighting for Russia in Ukraine.
The Nordic country for the first time has extended a lottery for compulsory military service to women in its latest move to expand its armed forces.
The pair, who had not spoken since September 2022, according to the Elysee, also discussed Iran.
Kyiv’s long-range strike drones hit Russian weapons plant more than 1,000km from front line
The attack on a factory in the city of Izhevsk was more than 1,000km (620 miles) from the border.
June 30, 2025 Russia attacked Ukraine with over 500 drones and missiles over the weekend, it was the largest air assault since the Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine over three years ago. The barrage included targets in Western Ukraine, a region far from the front lines that doesn't often see bombardments. We get the latest from our correspondent in Kyiv.
Although long considered the best-protected city in Ukraine, the capital has not been spared from a surge in bombardments now affecting the entire country.
If Russia plans to broaden the ground war, Ukraine may need deeper lines of defence. Landmines could prove critical.
President Zelensky has taken the first step towards withdrawing from the Ottawa convention, which ties Ukraine’s hands but not Russia’s
Whether caused by a long war or brief skirmish, the closing of skies to air travel is having big effects on cost, convenience and safety.
State defence group PGZ will receive $663mn to make more ammunition
Russian shattered Mariupol with a months-long siege in 2022. Now, it says it's rebuilding it.
Moscow fired 500 drones, missiles and bombs at cities hundreds of miles away from the front lines
New capability targets aimed at readying the West for war with Russia within five years
The overnight attack was one of the largest on Ukraine and included strikes in the western part of the country, which is hit less often.
Ukraine’s air force says Russia fired 477 drones and decoys as well as 60 missiles overnight
Assault marks sharp escalation in campaign, as Zelenskyy calls for more western help with defence systems
June 29, 2025 Russia launched the largest aerial assault on Ukraine overnight since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, according to the Ukrainian Air Force.
Ukraine says Russia has launched the biggest aerial attack since the start of the war
As European states rearm in the face of Russia’s invasion in Ukraine, years of neglect and underfunding have left Ireland’s military woefully underprepared
Explosions rocked the Crimean airfield throughout the night as Ukraine targeted Russian aviation and defense assets.
June 27, 2025 Ever since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the majority of western countries have been working to marginalize Russia by imposing sanctions and moving away from dependence on Russian oil. This week NATO announced most member countries would dramatically increase defense spending, a move they said was meant to counter threats posed by Russia.
In what is potentially among the largest frauds in Medicare history, prosecutors say people were billed for medical equipment they didn’t ask for.
Russian leader indicates longterm plan to cut army spending, as his forces vie for foothold in Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk.
TEHRAN – Maxim Mitrofanov, General Secretary of the Russian Football Union, announced that the futsal matches between Iran and Russia, scheduled for October 16 and October 18, may be postponed.
Finance minister and party leader Lars Klingbeil confronts internal dissent rooted in Willy Brandt’s ‘Ostpolitik’
Georgian winemakers wish to end dependency on Russian market: 'Otherwise, we risk losing our identity'
EU extends Russia sanctions again despite Hungary concerns
Russian foreign minister says decision to increase Nato defence spending to 5% of allies’ GDP not ‘significant’
Radoslaw Sikorski, a Polish minister, also says the cost of keeping the war going could bring down the Russian leader’s regime
Russia launched its offensive in the spring aiming to create a "buffer zone" inside Ukraine to protect its border regions.
It is ahead of Russia, for now
Russia’s invasion has dominated previous meetings, but keeping President Trump happy was the focus at the gathering this week. Ukraine was largely shunted to the sidelines.
Autonomous weapons have same operating and AI strike systems used to target Russian tanks and oil rig
The Ukrainian president, after signing an accord with the Council of Europe to set up a special tribunal to try top officials over Russia's invasion of Ukraine, said: 'We need to show clearly aggression leads to punishment and we must make it happen together, all of Europe.'
June 25, 2025 NATO is wrapping up it's meeting and most members are pledging to increase defense spending to counter threats posed by Russia. Among the countries expanding their military is Germany, which is aiming to field the largest army in the European Union with massive investment. Our correspondent in Berlin shows us how Germany plans to accomplish that goal.
After the Nato summit, Donald Trump described Ukraine’s fight as ‘brave’ and said the Russian president was struggling to manage the war
US president says Ukraine head is ‘very nice’ after their sideline chat at Nato summit, but is dismayed at Russian leader for not ending war
Ukrainian leader steps up diplomatic push, while his Russian counterpart will skip a summit due to ICC arrest warrant.
The widely condemned killing of Natalya Estemirova is the subject of a documentary that those involved say needed to take heed of the dangers of speaking out.
The visiting doctors are learning to "prepare for anything" amid the ongoing Russian invasion.
Only Russia was perceived to be a greater threat, putting the US ahead of both Israel and Iran
A Russian missile attack on Ukraine’s Dnipro region killed at least 17 people and wounded more than 200 others.
June 23, 2025 Israel says it struck multiple sites across Tehran, including the Fordo nuclear site hit by the U.S. days earlier and a prison known for jailing regime opponents.
Seventeen killed and more than 200 injured in southeastern Ukraine in latest Russian missile attack
The Boikiy emitted a fake ID signal while sailing through the waterway alongside two sanctioned oil tankers.
Trump said Iran is not going to have a nuclear weapon and that Russian President Vladimir Putin had called him and offered to help with Iran.
The “why” is Russia. But at a summit focused on keeping President Trump happy, discussion of Russia is expected to be muted.
TEHRAN – Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Aziz Nasirzadeh and his Russian counterpart affirmed their nations’ strategic alignment against "aggressors" during a phone call Monday night, vowing coordinated action to punish those responsible for recent attacks on Iranian sovereignty.
Telegram channels sharing disinformation in Polish are pushing the Kremlin’s narrative, experts warn.
The UK has been one of Ukraine's staunchest supporters since Russia invaded in early 2022, levelling rounds of sanctions against Moscow and supplying multiple packages of military aid.
Russian president meets Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araqchi Araqchi in the Kremlin
Resident Valeriy Mankuta survived a Russian missile strike by climbing down a lightning rod to escape his damaged home.
Tehran’s hopes that the Russian president is in its corner might be thwarted by his strategic ambiguity on Middle Eastern matters
European members need a hard date to boost their defence budgets
Iran and Israel exchange heavy strikes as Khamenei sends envoy to Putin seeking greater Russian support
President Vladimir V. Putin met with Iran’s foreign minister on Monday, but did not explicitly call out Israel or the United States for their strikes on Russia’s longtime ally.
Berlin aims to more than double army reserves in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
Lindsey Graham's proposal is to impose 500% tariffs on any country that buys Russian energy. India, along with China, buys roughly 70% of Russian energy exports.
With Russian and Ukrainian airspace also closed to most airlines due to years of war, the Middle East has become a more important route for flights between Europe and Asia.
Two years after his failed revolt, the mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin remains hugely popular among Russians
Here are the key events on day 1,214 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
How Russia's gradual gains in the face of fierce Ukrainian opposition have affected the front line in recent months.
Russian minister Maxim Reshetnikov has warned that the country's economy was teetering "on the brink of recession".
The outreach to Belarus’s autocratic leader, Aleksandr G. Lukashenko, comes as the country has released at least 14 political prisoners.
Here are the key events on day 1,213 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
Vladimir Putin quoted as saying Russia has repeatedly told Israel there is no evidence Iran is aiming to get nuclear weapons
Initiative led by former army colonel who was deputy head of military counter-intelligence
The quiet removal of the monument has sparked anger among part of the population and in Russia.
Niger’s nationalisation of Somair mine operated by Orano comes as it moves away from France and closer to Russia.
During an annual economic conference in St. Petersburg, Russia, President Vladimir Putin did not rule out his forces taking the Ukrainian city of Sumy.
Estonia is girding itself for an invasion as its Russian minority grows restless
Experts have warned for months that the Kremlin ‘can’t afford peace’. As a slump looms — is that really true?
Hennadii Shapovalov will have to improve mobilisation and training as Russia’s summer offensive gains ground
Hennadii Shapovalov will have to improve mobilisation and training as Russia’s summer offensive gains ground
Russia strikes Kyiv as a crisis erupts in the Middle East
'The Transatlantic Divorce' (5/5). After Barack Obama stepped back during the 2014 annexation of Crimea and Joe Biden hesitated, Donald Trump, now back in the White House, aligned himself with Russia at the UN and left his strategic allies alone to face Vladimir Putin.
ANALYSIS
War in Ukraine has been a social elevator for part of the Russian population
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto said that the relationship between the two countries was ‘getting stronger again’.
It has crossed the line into providing lethal aid
Ben Hodges tells a London audience that Nato members on continent should prepare for future Russian strikes on their air and sea ports
Shady group called The Company is accused of spreading Kremlin disinformation in Latin America
TEHRAN – In an address to heads of international news agencies on Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin highlighted the resilience and unity of Iran’s society, stating that "Iranian society is consolidating around the country's political leadership."
Fred Grandy was upset by the United States’ reversal in its support for Ukraine, his family said. This week, he was among the 28 people killed in a drone and missile assault.
Maxim Reshetnikov says persistent inflation and central bank’s hawkish policy contribute to slowdown
As Russian forces intensify their assaults on Kostiantynivka in an effort to encircle this city in the Donbas, firefighters continue to respond − all while working under the permanent threat of drones.
Russia sent 440 drones and fired 32 missiles during its deadliest strike on the capital this year
“Russia sees the situation as potentially mirroring its experience with Assad in Syria,” he said.
Russia's Sergei Shoigu said Pyongyang would send 5,000 builders to its war-torn Kursk region.
The longer Israel's military operation goes on, the greater the realisation that Russia has much to lose.
Government wins ruling to expropriate Domodedovo airport in escalation of dozens of forced nationalisations
Thousands of North Korean laborers are already toiling in Russia. A new contingent is headed to the region where North Korean troops fought Ukraine.
Russia has launched a large-scale attack on Kyiv, killing several people and wounding more than a hundred others.
Iran likely expected a lot more support by this point. However, even its friends in places like Venezuela and Russia don’t seem to be able to aid Iran very much.
Forty also injured as Ukraine suffers one of the deadliest assaults of the year
Russian strikes kill at least 14 in large attack on Kyiv
Air defences destroy 147 Ukrainian drones over Russian territory, according to Moscow
Also in today’s newsletter, Trump says it was ‘big mistake’ to exclude Russia from G7 and China’s industrial output growth slows
Kyiv says it received 1,245 bodies on Monday, while Moscow says 78 of its dead soldiers were repatriated.
China is the region’s top trading partner, but Russia and the US both have a presence, too.
While living in her Russian-occupied hometown of Svatove, the young woman worked for a pension office responsible for distributing payments to residents, funded by Moscow. Ukrainian prosecutors have requested a seven-year prison sentence.
In 2018, the president called for the group to embrace Russia and stormed out of the summit. Now he is seeking to shrink America’s military role abroad and embarking on a more expansive trade war.
A new report claims that Ukrainian children are being indoctrinated by Moscow in an effort to rebuild its armies
Aerial strikes hit US aerospace giant’s premises in Kyiv, raising questions about Moscow’s intent
Nearly a quarter of the one million Kazakhs conscripted into the Red Army during the 'Great Patriotic War,' the Russian term for World War II, went missing. Eighty years later, their descendants are getting organized to trace their whereabouts.
US senators are pushing for tough new sanctions that would impose steep tariffs on countries buying cheap Russian oil - especially targeting China and India.
Here are the key events on day 1,206 during Russia’s war on Ukraine.
Russia is prepared to continue to work to resolve issues surrounding Iran's nuclear programme, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Zelenskiy says Ukrainian forces have stopped Russian troops advancing in northeastern Sumy
Russia is advancing around Kostyantynivka and in the Sumy region with small, fast-moving units as both sides try a new tactic of using motorcycles and civilian cars to quickly cross open terrain.
Russian aggression in Ukraine has helped drive a historic shift in attitudes towards military
TEHRAN - In a telephone conversation on Friday evening, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed recent Israeli attacks, with both leaders condemning the actions as clear violations of international law.
The special session was requested by Iran and supported by Russia, the Post learned.
It’s the first time in three years of war that Russian troops have entered the Dnipropetrovsk region, a sign of battlefield momentum.
France's Viginum agency, which fights foreign disinformation campaigns, issued a report on the AI-based 'malign techniques,' Russian intelligence and Wagner group links of the alleged news agency African Initiative.
Female Ukrainian soldiers training to take on a potential renewed Russian offensive warn that ‘our terrible energies are awakened’
Israel's PM Netanyahu will hold calls with US, UK and Russian leaders later after strikes which Iran called a "declaration of war".
Wounded, sick and disabled Ukrainians were the latest to be released after swaps with Russia
Participants included Jewish representatives from across Europe, Asia, and Africa, including Tunisia, Morocco, Russia, Kosovo, Israel, Moldova, Romania, and Hungary.
Kseniia Petrova, a Harvard researcher, still faces criminal charges for failing to declare scientific samples she was carrying in her suitcase.
Le Monde, Forbidden Stories and media partners investigated arbitrary arrests of Malians committed by Russian mercenaries. We reveal at least six bases where civilians were illegally detained and secretly tortured.
Donald Trump deploys marines in Los Angeles, the EU announces new sanctions on Russia—and more
Russia responds with ever-larger strikes on Ukraine’s cities and scales up drone and missile production.
President says he hopes to discuss continued support for his country, sanctions against Russia
It’s the right time to tighten the screws further
Government sources claim that Luvsannamsrain Oyun-Erdene is the victim of an effective coup by the country’s president, who has met with the Russian leader
Russia's Wednesday flyover appeared to send a message that business was running as usual despite the Ukrainian attacks.
Proposed sanctions would be the first time Brussels has moved against third-country lenders supporting Moscow
Russia receives 27 soldiers' bodies as the warring sides continue their large-scale prisoner swap deal.
Opposition figure Leonid Volkov, based in Lithuania, has been found guilty on dozens of charges by a military court.
The region of Transcarpathia has seen hardly any Russian attacks over the past three years. “We don’t have the same experience of war,” a resident said.
Russia’s air defence systems destroy 32 Ukrainian drones overnight, says defence ministry
Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, hundreds of projects have been launched to record the conflict, as well as Ukraine's history and heritage. Many of these initiatives focus on documenting war crimes committed by the Russian army, to be used as evidence in legal proceedings.
Following Mediapart’s publication on February 26th 2025 of an article entitled “The unlikely tale of a French 'spy' butler, a Russian oligarch and a UK intelligence company”, Jim Perrichon sent us this right of reply.
US president’s naivety in his first term helped integrate China, Russia, Iran and North Korea
Russia and Ukraine are waging a remotely controlled battle in the air and at sea.
Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, announced a proposal meant to ramp up pressure on Moscow.
Moscow seeks to avenge bold Ukrainian sabotage operation that destroyed bombers on the ground
The BBC's Paul Adams witnessed Monday night's bombardment of Kyiv.
Kyiv main focus of latest barrage with launching of 316 drones and seven missles seen as part of response to operation that destroyed bombers
Ukraine says Russia launched the biggest overnight drone bombardment of the war
Mark Rutte said all countries in the alliance were ‘on the eastern flank’ following advances in the quality of Putin’s missile arsenal
Founder of crypto payments company Evita charged with fraud and money laundering
“Learn to speak Russian,” the secretary-general of the alliance warned nations unwilling to make politically unpopular budget decisions.
Iranian state media claimed that at least four of the new power plants would be in Bushehr, where Russia helped Iran construct their first nuclear reactor.
Life has returned to normal in the capital of the Russian region that was partially occupied by Ukrainian troops in August 2024 and has since been retaken. Yet, far from the Kremlin's triumphant rhetoric, residents tell a more complex story.
Attacks have intensified again while Russian forces gain more territory.
In a speech, Mark Rutte warns Russia could be ready to attack Nato within five years.
Moscow says it is pushing towards Dnipropetrovsk region for the first time since 2022 as Russia’s military also closes in on northeastern city of Sumy
Zelensky vowed to continue prisoner swaps, warning Russia’s delays harm peace efforts. Russia pushes into central Ukraine amid rising tensions over the dispute.
Ukraine has lost more than 190 sq km of the eastern region in less than a month
Russia said on Sunday that it was moving into Ukraine's eastern industrial Dnipropetrovsk region for the first time – a significant territorial escalation amid stalled peace talks.
The Ukrainian military says its new weapon system, which launches antiaircraft missiles from a remote-controlled speedboat, has brought down two Russian jet fighters.
Ukraine’s destruction of expensive warplanes with simple flying bombs was Russia’s Pearl Harbor moment. The technology is changing faster than you think
Authorities say nearly 16,000 Ukrainian civilians are still being held in Russian prisons.
The shift brings Russian support to ‘a more fundamental level’, says Kremlin-backed paramilitary force Africa Corps.
Kharkiv’s mayor described Russia’s first strike, an overnight swarm of drones, bombs and missiles, as the “most powerful attack” on the city since the start of the war in Ukraine.
This hold-up to an exchange that both sides said would take place this weekend came hours Moscow's army launched a barrage of missiles, drones and bombs across Ukraine.
More than 20 injured, with others feared still trapped under rubble, in city close to Russian border
Figurehead of the peninsula’s Tatar ethnic group has criticised the reversal of American policy on the fate of his homeland
The Russian mercenary group is leaving amid an uptick in deadly Islamist insurgent attacks.
Russia launches widescale assault on six regions of Ukraine, as Kyiv calls for strong international response.
The Russian central bank lowered its key interest rate for the first time since 2022 as inflation 'pressures' were 'continuing to decline.'
The moves lowers borrowing costs to 20 per cent and follows a reduction in inflation
The Ukrainian capital was one of several targets in Russia’s broad assault early Friday.
Russia says its air defences shot down 174 Ukrainian drones overnight
Four killed and 20 wounded as missiles and drones target the Ukrainian capital
Some may ask if Mark Rutte's proposal to deter Russian aggression has at least a little to do with appeasing the US president, writes Jonathan Beale.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov says Russia will respond to recent Ukrainian attacks when its military sees fit.
Security service accuses British Council, which no longer operates in Russia, of trying to promote UK interests ‘under guise of teaching English’
Editorial: The strikes on Russian airbases are further evidence of Kyiv’s innovation. Imagination and skill can bolster external backing – but can’t replace it
During a visit by the German leader, President Trump essentially threw up his hands, saying that there was nothing the United States could do right now to end the war to an end.
On Monday, several activists stole a €40,000 statue of the French president from the Paris wax museum and placed it in front of the Russian embassy to protest France's economic ties with Russia. The statue was later returned to the police.
Ukraine attacks airfields deep inside Russia, Donald Trump bars citizens of 12 countries from travelling to America—and more
Even if the fighting in Ukraine were to end, rearmament will remain at the centre of the Russian economy
More than 1,000 kilos of explosives were placed underneath the structure, a symbol of Russia's annexation of Crimea, during an operation that Kyiv says took several months to prepare.
The images show heavy damage to bases in north-western and central Russia after Sunday's surprise raid.
President Trump spoke with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia amid escalating attacks between Russia and Ukraine, even as their officials have been engaged in direct talks.
US and Russian presidents discuss Ukraine and Iran in phone call
Russian leader speaks to Pope and discusses response to attacks on long-range bombers in a surprise phone call with the American president
Russian president accuses Ukraine of ‘organising terrorist attacks’ after daring strikes behind enemy lines
Two British prime ministers recognised Moscow’s fears over Nato expanding in eastern Europe – a major cause of the Ukraine war – files show.
These are the key events on day 1,196 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
To truly address the roots of the war in Ukraine, Russia must begin by acknowledging and combating systemic corruption, which poses a threat to Russians as well as to the rest of the world, writes Matthew H. Murray, an American expert in public and international affairs.
Ukraine’s daring raid on Russia has lessons for European armed forces. But they need cash, too
Attack claimed by Kyiv’s SBU security service the second high-profile operation in days
Russian military bloggers say the attack has been unsuccessful, with the key bridge functioning after a brief closure.
Kyiv's security service says it it used more than 1,000kg of TNT to mine the supports of Russia's Kerch Bridge.
Kyiv’s attack on the country’s bomber fleet appeared designed to show Russia’s leader that continuing the war carries big risks for Moscow.
Audacious drone raid threatens Moscow’s military operations and exposes vulnerability deep within its territory
The strike set several aircraft on fire, video showed, and dealt a symbolic blow to Moscow’s relentless bombing campaign.
Activists took the wax figure from the Grévin museum and placed it in front of the Russian embassy on Monday in a protest against France importing gas and fertilizer from Russia.
Delegations in Istanbul agree swap of at least 1,000 prisoners, and Ukraine says Russia agreed to return some abducted children
His regime uses payouts to salve Russian families’ grief
On 1 June, more than 100 Ukrainian drones struck strategic targets deep into Russia in an elaborate and audacious operation.
The two sides agree to swap prisoners and remains of about 6,000 soldiers killed in combat but are at odds over a truce.
Talks follow Kyiv’s daring assault on Moscow’s airfields and come despite gulf between two sides’ positions
Also in this newsletter: Drone strikes overshadow next round of Ukraine-Russia peace talks
Ukraine launched one of its broadest assaults of the war against air bases inside Russia, targeting sites from eastern Siberia to Russia’s western border.
The long-planned operation came at a delicate moment three years into Russia's invasion, just one day before a second round of planned peace talks between Russian and Ukrainian officials in Istanbul.
Also in today’s newsletter, Poland’s election goes down to the wire, and BYD plans EV assault on Japan
The BBC's Paul Adams reflects on the impact of Ukraine's major drone attack on Russian bombers.
Hundreds of pages compulsory paperwork are delaying the deployment of cross-border military convoys by up to 45 days, official planners warn
Ukraine’s high-risk strikes damage over 40 top-secret strategic bombers
Ukrainian drones hit Russian airbases in largest single-day attack since war began, targeting strategic bombers.
Rescue operations in the Bryansk area continued throughout the night, Russian ministry reports
Three Ukrainians describe everyday life and the risks of defying Russian occupation.
Russia has confirmed it will send a delegation to Istanbul, but Kyiv has not yet accepted the proposal.
Army pay, ‘coffin money’ for bereaved families and new opportunities for domestic industry have cut inequality more effectively than President Putin did in peacetime
The late monarch knew about the treachery of her art curator Anthony Blunt a decade before he confessed to MI5, but did not sack him.
Kim Jong-un seized on Russia’s need for support in its war against Ukraine. His reward is a rapidly modernizing military that threatens the delicate balance of power on the Korean Peninsula.
London (Parliament Politics Magzine) – Russia has experienced its worst-ever month for losses since the start of the war in Ukraine, the UK chief of defence staff has said. Admiral Sir Tony Radakin expressed Russia’s forces suffered an average of nearly 1,500
Russia says it is sending its negotiating team to Istanbul for a second round of talks.
Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha says Ukraine wants to see document outlining Russia’s proposals before sending team.
Skala Assault Regiment trains soldiers to ride in pairs, one shooting, the other driving
Both Kyiv and Moscow have been maneuvering to set the terms and tempo of any talks to end the fighting.
Pro-European candidate Nicusor Dan won Romania's presidential election on May 18, but his nationalist opponent, George Simion, rejected the result and accused France of interference and manipulation. He repeated the same arguments Romanian authorities had used in December 2024 to annul the initial vote, accusations that had previously targeted Russia.
Data shows that Russian fossil fuel revenues are three times higher than aid allocated to Ukraine.
We have sacrificed our credibility by failing to resist Russia — and will pay a heavy price
Russia is luring young African women to make weapons to attack Ukraine
Ukrainian official urges Moscow to share its plan before any talks, as Turkiye’s Erdogan calls for dialogue.
The American president’s preference for praising and excusing the Russian leader has yielded no progress toward peace in Ukraine.
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 1,191
A brand new statue of of the Soviet dictator Josef Stalin has been unveiled at a Metro station in Moscow.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced that the two countries would jointly produce long-range missiles, enabling strikes deep inside Russia.
Move is ‘first step’ towards joint production of weapons able to strike targets in Russian territory
Russian oligarchs use the offshore system to shield their luxury assets. The Trump administration is ending an effort to find and seize them.
Ukrainian president says Kyiv has taken steps to prevent incursion
Russia says the move was irresponsible and amounted to stoking its war with Ukraine.
It remained to be seen whether President Trump’s latest comments indicated a new, aggressive approach to handling Vladimir Putin and Russia.
Advances follow some of the biggest Russian drone and missile attacks of the war, although their intensity fell off overnight
Waves of drone attacks have been one of Russia’s most lethal weapons in the war, but Ukraine is developing new ways of fighting back
The advance may be linked to Moscow's attempts to create "buffer zones" along the border, Ukrainian regional authorities say.
German leader Merz confirms Kyiv can now target Russian military positions with long-range weapons from Western allies.
In an interview with Le Monde, the former Moscow city councilor, who was imprisoned for opposing the war in Ukraine, urges Western countries to continue supporting Kyiv. The only way to help Russia's democratic opposition, he says.
Also in this newsletter: Brussels strains to lower the Russian oil price cap
The US president thinks his Russian counterpart has lost his mind — and on this he is not alone
Removal of restrictions, which is backed by UK, France and US, improves Ukraine’s ability to defend itself against Russia
Chancellor says Berlin has joined the US, UK and France in lifting range restrictions on weapons supplied to Kyiv
The courts have ruled in favor of Moscow, which claimed ownership of the French Riviera church that had been managed for more than a century by descendants of White Russian émigrés. Representatives of Russia have already sent a bailiff to the site.
President Trump said he was not happy with President Vladimir V. Putin’s decision to unleash one of the largest offensives in Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Kyiv’s intelligence chief ‘confirms’ that China is directly aiding Russia’s arms industry.
Ukrainian troops struggle with exhaustion but pledge to fight ‘until we break the Russians’ belief that we can be defeated’
A Kremlin spokesman says reports that MI5 are probing a potential link are "ludicrous".
A Russian couple living in Ukraine were so appalled by the invasion, they shared information about Russian forces in their town with Kyiv.
Plus, Mexico City’s artistic eras.
Tactics (ep 1). Le Monde takes a look at how bomb optimization techniques are shaping Russia's strategy in Ukraine for the first installment of our 'Tactics' series on the transformation of modern warfare.
New attacks push its air defences to saturation point
Deadly assault comes as Kyiv and Moscow complete largest prisoner swap
A roundup of some of last week’s events.
At least 16 people injured in the capital Kyiv in second consecutive day of attacks on Ukraine
A religion with traditions dating back centuries is attracting young American men.
Two former Russian Army soldiers share their experiences in Ukraine and the reasons that drove them to leave their country, despite the risks involved.
Ukrainian officials dedicated to uncovering fate of those missing in town known for Russian war crimes
Volodymyr Zelenskiy says it was a ‘difficult night for all of Ukraine’ as he calls for more sanctions on Moscow to help achieve a ceasefire
The two countries swap hundreds of soldiers and civilians as Russia launches more drone attacks on Ukraine.
Moscow to relaunch ‘Intervision’ after 45-year hiatus for countries with kindred ‘spiritual values’
Also, Russia and Ukraine began their largest exchange of prisoners of war. Here’s the latest.
On Ukraine peace talks, the Kremlin has played for time through deflections and side-steps, writes the BBC's Steve Rosenberg.
Security officials were reported to investigate whether Russian actors could have recruited the three Ukrainian-born men accused in the attacks
Counterterrorism police looking into fires at properties connected to prime minister keep open mind about motive
Deal to exchange 1,000 prisoners each was only concrete step towards peace to emerge from first direct talks in three years
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says each side exchanged 390 detainees, with more to come over several days.
'The first stage of the '1,000-for-1,000' exchange agreement has been carried out,' Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on X. Russia has said it will send Ukraine its terms for a peace settlement after the swap.
Summit makes little progress on how to respond to Donald Trump’s trade war
The group said it would call for analysis on international supply chain resilience.
Top economic officials avoided a condemnation of U.S. tariffs but committed to trying to reduce “economic policy uncertainty.”
On Poland and Russia, the Church of England, Canada, the White Nile ferry, IT projects, clean air
Woman living in northwest of Ireland handled money linked to Russian network
'Dear Compatriots' project (2/2.) Pravfond, a foundation that provides financial assistance to Russian citizens abroad, used intermediaries, foreign accounts and crypto assets to discreetly continue its activities inside the European Union.
Putin’s military intelligence has been targeting western defence, logistics and tech companies since 2022, according to GCHQ
'Dear Compatriots' project (1/2). In partnership with the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project, Le Monde reviewed documents obtained by Danish broadcaster DR concerning the funding of the legal defense of Oleg B., who was placed under conditional release in France.
The Guardian’s Shaun Walker has unearthed eye-popping tales spying by agents embedded in western societies under fake identities
Armenia has long relied on Russian weapons in its bitter dispute with neighbouring Azerbaijan.
A joint investigation by the UK and allies found Russian hackers in the systems of logistics organisations.
The Russian leader traveled to the region in the west of the country where a surprise incursion last year embarrassed Moscow.
Putin visits Kursk region for the first time since Russian forces ejected Ukrainian troops
Anna Yefimenko’s final act was to use her body to shield her son, taking the force of the blast as drones rained on their home near Kyiv
President Trump appears to have backed off joining a European push for new sanctions on Russia, seemingly eager to move on to doing business deals with it.
Secretary of state defends Donald Trump’s handling of call with Vladimir Putin
Brussels and London acting ‘in concert’ after Trump failed to secure ceasefire promise from Putin.
Move comes a day after Trump failed to secure a ceasefire commitment from Putin
German-Russian dual citizens allegedly spied for Kremlin and planned bomb attacks on buildings and infrastructure
It follows Donald Trump saying Russia and Ukraine will "immediately" start negotiating, after a two-hour phone call with Vladimir Putin.
The latest sanctions against the Kremlin have been in the pipeline for weeks. The EU had already approved theirs last week.
President Trump once vowed to broker peace between Russia and Ukraine in 24 hours. Now he says the two sides should work it out themselves.
After a phone call with Putin, the US leader seems ready to ditch his vow to end Russia’s war on its neighbour
America’s president shies away from sanctions on Russia, and opts for more talks
But Russian leader more circumspect on state television about his conversation with US president
The US president holds talks with leaders of both countries in the latest efforts to end the fighting.
Advance Australia hits back after anonymous criticism of group’s campaign efforts; US president claims Ukraine-Russia talks will start ‘immediately’
For much of a professional career that spanned 80 years, Grigorovich was the artistic powerhouse behind the Bolshoi, which he was said to have run with an iron fist.
US president says two sides will ‘immediately’ start talks to reach a truce, as Putin says efforts on ‘right track’.
It took some time, but Ukraine now allows its prisoners to have early release in return for taking up a gun to fight Russia
Close to Russian troops from the Kaliningrad enclave, the residents of Kybartai are reliving the era of Soviet occupation, when this small Lithuanian town was a hotspot of dissidence.
Russia launches an attack before a phone call between the two leaders, and Ukraine warns of Kremlin plans to fire an intercontinental ballistic missile
Estonia redirects maritime traffic to prevent future incidents after Russia’s detention of the Green Admire oil tanker.
US president will speak with Russian leader on Monday in attempt to push forward Ukraine peace talks
The bombardment, which Ukrainian officials said mostly targeted Kyiv, came just before President Trump was expected to talk with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia.
The barrage came just a day after the first talks in three years between Russian and Ukrainian sides.
It cannot match Russia’s historical ties, money or propaganda
A Russian drone strike hit Ukraine’s Sumy region hours after first direct talks in three years.
Ireland was doomed to miss out on the song contest final when we abandoned our native talent in a country that has more singer-songwriters than bike lanes
After Russia-Ukraine talks in Istanbul failed to reach a ceasefire agreement, US President Donald Trump said he would call Russia's Vladimir Putin on Monday, to put an end to what he called a 'bloodbath.'
Many Russian soldiers say they would see a cease-fire along the current front lines as a failure, hinting at the nationalist discontent the Kremlin could face in accepting a cease-fire.
Another fourpeople are injured in Ukraine's north-eastern Sumy region, local officials say.
European leaders speak to US president after Russia-Ukraine talks fail to achieve major breakthrough.
In Turkey the two sides met for the first time in more than three years but their discussions failed to live up to expectations
Russia’s president slow rolled negotiators and failed to attend talks. But his gamble met little US resistance
The talks lasted just over 90 minutes and there were few signs of any progress on ending the war.
Ukraine is looking for an 'unconditional ceasefire' to Russia's war on the country, with the peace talks off to a rocky start after Vladimir Putin refused to go to Istanbul to discuss the matter.
Also, Russia-Ukraine peace talks descended into confusion, and the first personalized gene-editing treatment healed a baby.
President Zelensky accuses Russian leader of having no interest in reaching a truce in Ukraine war
Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, has said that the only way to bring about a breakthrough in efforts to end the war in Ukraine is through direct talks between Donald Trump, the US president, and Vladimir Putin, his Russian counterpart
Marco Rubio says he does not have high expectations for Ukraine-Russia peace talks due to be held in Turkey.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy sends team led by defence minister for talks with Russian delegation in Turkiye’s Istanbul.
The national cybersecurity authority, NASK, said it had discovered 'new information operations aimed at destabilizing the electoral process.' Poland is holding its presidential election on Sunday.
US president damps expectations about Ukrainian-Russian talks in Turkey
Ceasefire negotiations in doubt after Russian president shuns negotiations
There is cautious optimism in eastern Ukraine as talks are set to take place in Istanbul.
US President Donald Trump said he and the emir of Qatar discussed the Russia-Ukraine war and Iran’s nuclear programme.
The Russian president sent a delegation led by his ex-culture minister instead, dashing hopes of a breakthrough. President Trump will also not attend
French president in talks with Germany and Poland over whether the warheads can protect them against Russia
After Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested bilateral talks, Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky has pushed for direct talks in Turkey on Thursday, even urging the US to levy sanctions on Russia if Putin refuses to meet.
The Ukrainian president said he would ‘do everything’ to ensure that a meeting with the Russian leader takes place in Istanbul on Thursday
Russia has not yet said who it will send to Istanbul on Thursday and has refused to respond to ultimatums.
President Trump raised the prospect of attending negotiations himself, after Ukraine’s leader said he would go in person and challenged Russia’s to do the same.
Zelenskyy welcomes the US leader’s initiative, insists Putin should also be in the Turkish city ‘in person’.
Polish minister Radek Sikorski tells the BBC that there is proof of Moscow's involvement, which the Kremlin denies.
Donald Tusk, the prime minister, said an investigation found that a devastating fire in a Warsaw shopping centre was orchestrated by Moscow
US president urges sides to agree to a deal ‘immediately’
European leaders threatened new sanctions unless Moscow accepted a cease-fire right away. President Trump seemed to endorse the idea of a meeting between Ukraine’s and Russia’s presidents, and said he might take part.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he will be waiting to meet Russia’s Vladimir Putin in Turkiye to talk.
Since Russia's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Kyiv's ally Poland has claimed to be the target of sabotage attempts blamed on Russia.
"I will be waiting for Putin in Türkiye on Thursday. Personally," the Ukrainian leader says after Trump urged him to "have the meeting, now!"
The Russian president has proposed direct talks with Ukraine on Thursday in Istanbul
These are the key events on day 1,172 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
Ukrainian president welcomes Putin’s call to meet but insists on 30-day unconditional truce
Kyiv said it will meet Moscow in Istanbul on May 15 only if Russia stops its offensive from May 12.
Ukraine’s leader is pushing for an immediate truce as European leaders say they would impose new sanctions on Moscow if the Russian president refused.
The Ukrainian president reiterates calls for a 30-day ceasefire to begin before the "direct talks" proposed by Russia begin.
In terms of geopolitical bromances, this is it. David Pierson, a foreign correspondent for The New York Times covering China, explains how President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia and Xi Jinping, the leader of China, are closer than ever before.
French President Emmanuel Macron warned Saturday that Russia would face 'massive' coordinated European and US sanctions if it broke a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine proposed by Kyiv's Western allies.
Startling allegations that the Base’s leader is a Russian spy lend support to claims of a Kremlin ‘long game’
Ukraine is ready for ‘full, unconditional ceasefire’ with Russia for 30 days starting on Monday, its top diplomat says.
The prime minister will join world leaders as they vow to "ratchet up pressure on Russia's war machine".
Russia marked the 80th anniversary of its victory over Nazi Germany with a grand parade in Moscow’s Red Square.
Latest measures to increase economic pressure on Moscow target five Azerbaijani oil executives
President Vladimir Putin’s military parade marking the Soviet victory over the Nazis was intended to impress allies and tap into Russian patriotism.
The Chinese president is in Moscow to attend the May 9 military parade alongside his Russian counterpart. While Moscow engages in discussions with the Trump administration, Beijing focuses on strengthening its alliance with Russia.
The BBC’s Laura Bicker explains what to look out for during the Chinese leader's state visit to Russia.
Mykhailo Podolyak said that the idea that the Russian president would agree to a rational peace deal was an ‘illusion’
President Xi Jinping called for closer bilateral relations with Russia and reaffirmed China’s support for the country.
Events to mark the holiday in the occupied territories seem to be an effort to show Russian control of land it has captured.
Latvian lawmakers were the first to vote to quit the treaty last month. Finland also said in April that it planned to withdraw from the treaty amid rising tensions with neighboring Russia.
'The ceasefire ... on the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory, has begun,' Russia's state RIA news agency reported.
Trump says ‘it’s possible that’s right’ about the vice-president’s remarks amid frustrations with Russia
Four-day visit to Moscow seeks to renew China-Russia alliance forged in mutual antipathy to the United States
How has Russia’s leader maintained his longevity – and how has it shaped the world?
Russia is expected to begin a self-declared three-day pause in fighting against Ukraine on Wednesday night.
In a parking lot in Ukraine, hundreds of family members gathered to greet loved ones being repatriated from Russian prisons. Amid happy reunions, there was anguish, too.
Russian leader is losing hundreds of troops a day in pursuit of a symbolic advance into the Dnipropetrovsk region
The UAE-brokered swap comes amid stalled peace talks and as Moscow prepares for its May 9 parade to mark 80 years since the defeat of Nazi Germany.
The European Union vowed to end energy relations with Russia after Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Three years into Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, antiwar parents and some teachers say they are going to great lengths to shield children from state-mandated patriotic education classes.
These are the key events on day 1,167 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
Russia says its defences shot down two drones en route to capital, where preparations are under way for Victory Day parade
Kyiv says it struck a drone command centre in border village and insists forces remain inside Russian region
US President Donald Trump says he wants to work with his Turkish counterpart to end Russia’s war in Ukraine.
In a short film and in conversation, the German filmmaker ponders the meaning of freedom, the complacency of peace and the new insecurity from Russia’s war and Donald Trump.
The previous election held last year was canceled over alleged Russian interference and disinformation campaigns. A high-stakes runoff will be held on May 18.
In a documentary marking 25 years in power, the Russian president claimed he hoped ‘people have a choice’ about their next leader
Comments aired ahead of Putin’s three-day ceasefire; Zelenskyy says he does ‘not believe’ Russia will stick to pledge.
Russian leader says he hopes nuclear strikes ‘will not be required’ in state TV film about his 25 years in power
Romania's previous presidential election was cancelled over allegations of campaign fraud and Russian interference.
Russia launched a mass drone attack on Ukraine’s second-largest city of Kharkiv, triggering fires and injuring 46 people
These are the key events on day 1,164 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
After the election of Donald Trump, ordinary Poles fear they could be in Moscow's sights.
Ralph Goff, a former chief of operations at the agency, says Biden’s White House did not give Kyiv the weapons to drive out Russia for fear of nuclear war
Anna Politkovskaya's sister comments on the thriller 'Words of War'
Oleksandr Boguslayev, the son of the former head of a leading Ukrainian aviation company accused of collaborating with Russia, is suspected of laundering millions of euros in real estate on the French Riviera. He was taken into custody and his assets have been seized by French authorities.
Russian strikes and fighting have killed far more civilians than over the same period a year ago, U.N. officials said in a presentation for diplomats.
These are the key events on day 1,163 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
The Russian president is keen on giving Volgograd its former name back as he builds a national ideology around Soviet heroism in the Second World War
The two countries have vowed to expand bilateral relations after North Korea sent troops and weapons in support of Russia’s war against Ukraine.
After an overnight strike, conducted using 170 drones, on cities such as Odesa, Kyiv, Sumy and Kropyvnytskyi, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called for sanctions to pressure Russia and force it to negotiate.
Deal hailed as ‘diplomatic win’ for Ukraine, but former Russian President Medvedev says Trump has ‘broken’ Kyiv.
Ukraine president calls for more effective sanctions on Russia following deal over rare earth minerals with US
Russian drones have killed at least two people and injured another five, the Odesa regional governor said.
Move seals a deal to create a fund the Trump administration says will begin to repay roughly $175bn provided to Ukraine
US Treasury Scott Bessent says deal is signal to Russia that US supports a ‘free, sovereign, and prosperous Ukraine.’
Regardless of the Trump administration's talks on a possible ceasefire succeed, the Black Sea peninsula, annexed by Russia in 2014, remains at the heart of the conflict, writes Le Monde columnist Sylvie Kauffmann.
Hours after Kyiv and Washington signed the long-awaited deal on Wednesday, both Ukraine and Russia reported overnight drone attacks.
South Korea says forces sent to Russia by Pyongyang have suffered big losses but are learning to use new weapons
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, on Tuesday, warned that the US will step back as mediators if no progress is made in the conflict. Russian President Vladimir Putin recently proposed a three-day ceasefire around Moscow's commemorations next week for the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, but Putin has rebuffed a Ukrainian-backed US call for a 30-day ceasefire.
Kremlin spokesman slams Kyiv after Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Moscow’s brief unilateral ceasefire ‘manipulation’.
The French president added that he believed he had 'convinced the Americans of the possibility of an escalation of threats, and potentially sanctions' against Moscow.
Chancellor-designate vows to tackle Russian aggression and appoints Johann Wadephul, an ex-soldier, to key role
As Putin prepares to celebrate Victory Day, talk of triumph on the border may be premature
Ukraine responds ‘if Russia truly wants peace, it must cease fire immediately’ and for 30 days.
The ceasefire will run from 8 May until 11 May, the Kremlin says.
Battle in Kursk showed ‘highest strategic level of the firm militant friendship’ between North Korea and Russia, state news says, hailing ‘heroes’
The latest comments by the US president come despite Kyiv repeatedly rejecting ceding the peninsula.
West faces up to reality over Russia’s ambitions as Ukraine negotiations enter a ‘critical week’
Russia expert Anatol Lieven explores the options facing Ukraine, Russia and the US.
Due to Donald Trump's unpredictability and Russia and China's ambitions, Canadian researchers and intelligence agents agree Canada must reinforce its Arctic strategy or risk losing control of a significant portion of its territory.
The FSB say they detained a "Ukrainian special services agent". Kyiv has not commented on the attack.
Hard as it will be for President Zelensky to accept terms so generous to the invader, Russia may find it’s a tainted triumph
Ukraine dismisses report of Kursk loss as a ‘propaganda ‘trick’.
In 2024, Russia was the second-largest market for French films globally, just behind Germany.
As Russia and the US seek to repair ties, could they secure a peace deal acceptable to Ukraine, asks the BBC's Russia editor.
Jack Lopresti, a former Tory MP who has gone to fight in Ukraine, says the country will fight on against Russia even without support from Trump
As United States Special Envoy Steve Witkoff met with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the 'possibility' of direct talks between Ukraine and Russia came up, though such talks have not been held since February 2022.
Russia and Ukraine have not held direct talks since the early weeks of the war, which started in February 2022.
Kyiv rejects ceasefire proposal that includes ceding territory to Russia.
Cameron Thomas says Russia was not happy about his mentions of the invasion in Parliament.
Donald Trump has accused Volodymyr Zelenskyy of jeopardising a peace deal by refusing to consider ceding Crimea to Russia