For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails
Sign up to our free breaking news emails
Donald Trump is now likely to call Russia’s Vladimir Putin and tell him to “stop the war”, a former American diplomat has said.
The incoming US president is “going to make a phone call to Putin as quickly as possible and tell Putin that he needs to stop the war, that the fighting has to stop, and that there has to be peace,” Kurt Volker, former US special representative for Ukraine negotiations, said.
Mr Trump does not want to see the Ukraine war continue once he is actually in office, he said, while emphasising that Putin would inevitably have “demands” and that this would only be the start of the conversation.
It comes as European leaders meeting in Budapest, Hungary, urged Mr Trump to continue to support Ukraine amid concerns the president-elect could force Kyiv to the negotiating table.
European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said it was in everyone’s interest, including the US, “that the autocrats of this world get a very clear message that is not the right of might, that the rule of law is important”.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky echoed that sentiment when addressing leaders in Budapest.
‘No plans to change Ireland’s military neutrality stance’
Ireland’s Prime Minister Simon Harris has said there are no plans to change Ireland’s military neutrality stance.
Mr Harris said there is a need for Ireland to “invest more in defence and in working on security”.
“Just because you’re militarily neutral, it doesn’t mean that you’re immune from those risks,” he added.
“I think, in relation to Ukraine more broadly, and I look forward to seeing President (Volodymyr) Zelensky today (Thursday), I mean, Europe has to stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes.
“We cannot have a situation where a country can, through aggression, through illegal war, annex people’s territories. And, you know, there’s been a lot of good work done in terms of the peace summit in Switzerland, which I attended, and other meetings to try and chart a way forward to bring peace to Ukraine.
“But that has to be grounded in the principles of the UN Charter. And I look forward to having an opportunity to really take stock today with around 39 leaders from across the European Union and the broader EU family, including the British prime minister (Sir Keir Starmer), on these issues.”
Rachel Hagan7 November 2024 15:49
France summoned North Korean diplomat over troops in Russia, ministry says
France’s foreign ministry summoned North Korea’s general delegate in France last week to protest against the deployment of his country’s troops to Russia and warned there would be consequences.
“We are ready to react firmly in coordination with our partners,” French foreign ministry spokesman Christophe Lemoine told reporters when asked whether sanctions were on the table after North Korea’s decision to send troops to bolster Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Lemoine said France had summoned North Korea’s general delegate in France on Oct. 28 and told him that such support for Russia’s war would not be left without a response.
France does not have diplomatic relations with North Korea, but the general delegate is accredited at UNESCO, the United Nations cultural agency, based in Paris.
Tom Watling7 November 2024 14:44
Zelensky tells European summit ‘peace through strength’ is needed now
An approach of “peace through strength” is needed urgently as Europe confronts the danger posed by Russia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy told leaders at the European Political Community summit in Budapest on Thursday.
Mr Zelensky said that concessions to Russian President Vladimir Putin were unacceptable for Ukraine and suicidal for Europe.
Tom Watling7 November 2024 14:10
Mystery surrounds death of Ukrainian journalist in Russia’s ‘hell on earth’ prison
Tom Watling7 November 2024 13:46
Pentagon responds to claims North Korean troops in Russia ‘gorging on pornography’
Tom Watling7 November 2024 13:18
Ukraine’s air force says it downed 74 Russia-launched drones
Ukraine‘s Air Force said on Thursday it had downed 74 Russia-launched drones overnight.
It also said on the Telegram messaging app that an additional 25 from a total of 106 drones had been “locationally lost”.
Tom Watling7 November 2024 12:49
Europe must take more responsibilty for defence and support for Ukraine, says EU chief
In the wake of Donald Trump’s re-election in the US, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has called on the European Union to take more responsibilty for it’s defence and for support of Ukraine.
EU officials have reportedly expressed concern privately that a second Trump administration could see the US withdraw at least some of it’s support from the continent.
Tom Watling7 November 2024 12:25
Ukraine had ‘good conversations’ with Donald Trump, says Zelensky
Ukraine had ‘good conversations’ with Trump, says Zelensky
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky revealed his country has had “good conversations” with Donald Trump, following the latter’s election victory in the US. Mr Zelensky congratulated Trump on his victory over Kamala Harris in a new video address on Wednesday evening (6 November). The Ukrainian president said: “I congratulate him on this victory. In general, it was extremely important for us in Ukraine and for all of Europe to consistently hear the words of the then-45th President of the United States about “peace through strength.” And if this becomes the policy principle of the 47th President of the United States, America and the whole world will undoubtedly benefit from it.” During his election campaign, Trump has threatened both a withdrawal of NATO commitments and a fundamental shift of support for Ukraine in its war with Russia.
Tom Watling7 November 2024 12:01
Europe must make clear to US its continued backing for Ukraine, Finnish PM says
European countries need to send a clear message to the United States and the incoming Trump administration that they will support Ukraine as much as needed, Finland’s Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said on Thursday.
“Our message needs to be clear and strong,” Orpo told reporters ahead of a meeting of European leaders in Budapest.
Orpo added that Ukraine was fighting for a “model” that included membership of the European Union and NATO. Finland, which is an EU member, joined NATO following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Tom Watling7 November 2024 11:47
Britain hits Russia with new wave of sanctions
The UK has imposed its biggest sanctions package against Russia in nearly two years, targeting people involved in the Ukraine war, African mercenary groups and a nerve agent attack on British soil.
The foreign ministry said it had sanctioned 56 bodies and individuals, aiming to hurt Russian president Vladimir Putin’s war effort and Russia’s “malign activity globally”.
Among them were 10 entities based in China said to be supplying machinery and components for the Russian military.
“Today’s measures will continue to push back on the Kremlin’s corrosive foreign policy, undermining Russia’s attempts to foster instability across Africa and disrupting the supply of vital equipment for Putin’s war machine,” foreign minister David Lammy said.
Most of the measures were aimed at companies based in Russia, China, Turkey and Kazakhstan accused of aiding the Russian invasion of Ukraine with the supply of machine tools, microelectronics and components for drones.
Britain also said the latest sanctions would address Russian activity in Libya, Mali and the Central African Republic by targeting three private mercenary groups with links to the Kremlin, including the Kremlin-controlled Africa Corps, and 11 individuals.
Amongst the individuals sanctioned was Denis Sergeev, whom British police have charged over the murder attempt on former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in the southern English city of Salisbury in March 2018.
Tom Watling7 November 2024 11:27
