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The Guardian
21 hours ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Trump says he wants to see a ceasefire and ‘won't be happy if it's not today'
Update: Date: 2025-08-15T18:01:54.000Z Title: we are moving to a new blog where my US colleagues will continue our coverage of this event here: Content: Trump-Putin summit live updates: US and Russian leaders to meet in Alaska to discuss ending Ukraine war US president says Russia needs to show willingness to seriously talk about the end of the war in Ukraine, as he travels to meeting in Anchorage, Alaska Jakub Krupa Fri 15 Aug 2025 18.57 BST First published on Fri 15 Aug 2025 11.57 BST From 6.57pm BST 18:57 Jakub Krupa As we get closer to the start of the Alaska 2025 summit, Meanwhile, that's all from me, Jakub Krupa in London, for today. 6.44pm BST 18:44 Not long to go now! If you fancy tracking the Russian government's plane as it approaches Alaska, you can do it here, as it's flying above Anchorage at the moment. Updated at 6.46pm BST 6.20pm BST 18:20 Shaun Walker in Zaporizhzhia The city of Zaporizhzhia, an industrial hub in south-east Ukraine, is as good a place as any to grasp the stakes of freezing Russia's invasion of Ukraine along its current frontlines, or of implementing a 'land swap for peace' deal as envisioned by Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump. Plenty of people here and in other Ukrainian towns close to the frontline are so weary of the sleepless nights and disrupted lives of the past years that they are ready for Kyiv to sign a peace deal, even an imperfect one, if it means the attacks will stop. But many others have a very different opinion because they know first-hand what it means to give Russia control over Ukrainian territory: arrests, disappearances and the erasure of anything Ukrainian. As Moscow moves swiftly to Russify occupied territory, expelling or arresting active members of society and introducing new media outlets and school curricula heavy on propaganda, a few years of Russian control may make it almost impossible for Ukraine to regain these territories at a later date. About one in five people living in Zaporizhzhia are internally displaced, from places even closer to the frontline or from occupied parts of Ukraine. They are living in Zaporizhzhia until they are able to go home. On a recent visit to Zaporizhzhia, in a warehouse building where a group of volunteer women were making camouflage nets for the Ukrainian army there was a loud and resolute chorus of 'No!' in response to the question of whether people would be happy to freeze the lines in exchange for peace. 'And what about our homes, our lives, all the things we are waiting to go back for?' asked one of the women, quickly becoming tearful. Our only hope is for Ukraine to take them back, or we can never go home again. 5.50pm BST 17:50 Meanwhile, Trump posted a new clip from his earlier conversation with reporters on board of Air Force One, giving what is probably his most detailed answer to a question on what will be the measure of success for today's summit. He said: 'I can't tell you that. I don't know it's there's nothing set in stone. I want certain things. I want to see a ceasefire. This is not to do with Europe. Europe's not telling me what to do, but they're going to be involved in the process, obviously, as well Zelensky, but I want to see a ceasefire rapidly. I don't know if it's going to be today, but I'm not going to be happy if it's not today. Everyone said it can't be today, but I'm just saying I want the killing to stop. I'm in this to stop the killing. You know, we're not putting up any money. We're making money. They're buying our weapons, and we're sending them to Nato, and Nato is sending us big, beautiful checks. But that I don't care about. … But what I do care about is they lost last week 7011 people, almost all soldiers; 36 people in a town which got hit by a missile. Over 7,000 soldiers. It's crazy.' 5.43pm BST 17:43 Patrick Wintour Diplomatic editor President Trump has offered to join European forces in giving security guarantees to Ukraine in the event of a peace settlement between Ukraine and Russia, but it is premature for Trump to spell out precisely what form they will take, Lord Mandelson, the UK ambassador to Washington has disclosed. Mandelson is one of the most senior officials to suggest the US will actively protect Ukraine in the event of a peace deal. He added British and European forces would be present on the ground by Ukraine's side to intervene if Russia ever broke the terms of a peace agreement. Lord Mandelson was speaking at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs where he mounted a strong defence of Britain's close relations with the US, including over trade technology and defence. He said the Putin-Trump summit was not an exercise 'where the Ukrainians have to beg for mercy and give up anything in order to buy an unreasonable peace.' The aim of the summit, he said, was to achieve 'a rudimentary ceasefire' that leads to trilateral talks between Ukraine Russia and the US Russia is not going to win this war. If it's going to win this war it would have done so years ago. He explained 'once an agreement is reached, we in Britain and as Europeans have got to put in place not only monitors of the cease fire but arrangements on the ground that if triggered by a further aggression from Russia would be tripped and we would be there standing at Ukraine's side.' Mandelson also said Ukrainians had shown the 'sort of bravery that a country like America and a President like Trump admires and wants to be associated with.' He does not want to be associated with failure and in supporting the Ukrainians he is not. The UK ambassador to Washington further said that any future negotiations between Ukraine should not be framed as ones between a supplicant and a victor. 'The US President has said it has to be land for peace. The question is how much land and what sort of peace. That is what we will be watching very carefully, but we know, whatever the settlement, the Ukrainian armed forces need to be rebuilt, reequipped, resupplied, retrained to deal with the future continuing threat hanging over them from Russia – because Putin is not going to go away.' 4.51pm BST 16:51 We earlier brought you the report that Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy was waiting to get an update from Ukrainian intelligence services on the situation on the ground (14:52), and that meeting has now ended. Zelenskyy said that there were reports of active Russian strikes on Ukraine taking place today, saying: On the day of the negotiations, they are also killing. And this says a lot. He reiterated his call for 'an honest end to the war,' and said he hoped to see 'a strong American position' during today's talks in Alaska. 4.25pm BST 16:25 Historical references also come up in other countries' reactions ahead of tonight's summit, with leaders of Ukraine's neighbour, Poland, warning against 'Russian imperialism' as a threat facing Europe. In a social media post ahead of today's commemorations of the 105th anniversary of the 1920 Battle of Warsaw – when the Polish army defeated the Red Army near the capital – Poland's new president Karol Nawrocki drew parallels with the situation in Ukraine. 'That is why we will never surrender to Russian imperialism, and why we stand with Ukraine in defending its freedom – to make Europe whole, free, and at peace once again. Russia is not unstoppable. Russia is not undefeatable.' He returned to the topic in his speech at the event, which saw a major military parade with 50 military aircraft and 4,000 soldiers from Polish and allied armies and is also a public holiday in Poland. Nawrocki added that Russia 'lost to Japan at the beginning of the 20th century, it was defeated by the Poles in 1920, and today, for over three years... it has been floundering after its attack on Ukraine,' crediting the allies and Poland for helping Ukrainians. Similar themes also appeared in comments by Poland's prime minister, Donald Tusk, who said: '15 August is a good day for talks with Russia about war and peace. On this day 105 years ago during the Battle of Warsaw Poles stopped the Red Army in its march on Europe. Luckily we didn't know that Russia 'is invincible' – and we beat them. Peace through strength, nothing else.' Both Nawrocki and Tusk took part in the European leaders' consultations ahead of the Alaska summit. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked Nawrocki for his comments, saying that 'with a neighbor like Russia, only the cooperation of free nations can effectively protect each of them.' He said: 'Ukraine's independence strengthens Poland's independence. And we must always remember that the Miracle on the Vistula was made possible through joint efforts, and it saved Europe. In the same way, Ukrainians have been defending our state in the full scale war for four years. By repelling the Russian army in Ukraine – near Kyiv, in the Sumy, Kharkiv, and Donetsk regions, as well as in the Black Sea – Ukrainians are truly ensuring the opportunity for all Europeans to live freely, free of Moscow's madness.' Updated at 4.52pm BST 4.05pm BST 16:05 Meanwhile, the former Obama administration official and former managing editor of Time magazine, Richard Stengel, has objected to reports describing the Alaska summit as 'high-stakes', arguing on social media that it's 'a journalistic cliche' that 'plays into Trump's theatrical framing of the whole artificial made-for-TV 'event''. Updated at 4.09pm BST 3.32pm BST 15:32 Pjotr Sauer Russian affairs reporter Putin touched down in Russia's far eastern city of Magadan en route to his high-stakes summit with Trump, pausing for what appeared to be a series of trivial meetings with local officials. State media said he discussed the city's urban planning and inspected a plant for processing and refining fish oil. Such deliberately low-profile stops are a familiar prelude for the Russian leader before major events – a staged display, observers say, meant to project confidence and control ahead of meeting the US president. But there was also a pointed gesture clearly aimed at charming Trump, as Putin laid flowers at a memorial commemorating US–Soviet cooperation in the second world war. Trump has in the past praised Russia's military record, and Moscow has said the US leader was 'deeply impressed' by the Soviet Union's wartime losses. Updated at 3.51pm BST 3.14pm BST 15:14 Aaand here it is – Trump confirms his 'wonderful' call with Lukashenko, saying 'the purpose of the call was to thank him for the release of 16 prisoners,' with 1,300 under discussion. They also, understandably, discussed the upcoming summit with Putin. Curiously, Trump's readout also includes a reference to a meeting in the future. Here is his social media post in full: I had a wonderful talk with the highly respected President of Belarus, Aleksandr Lukashenko. The purpose of the call was to thank him for the release of 16 prisoners. We are also discussing the release of 1,300 additional prisoners. Our conversation was a very good one. We discussed many topics, including President Putin's visit to Alaska. I look forward to meeting President Lukashenko in the future. Thank you for your attention to this matter! Updated at 3.17pm BST 2.59pm BST 14:59 And the Belarusian news agency Belta has just reported that Trump also spoke with the Belarusian president, Aleksander Lukashenko today. No more details on the call were reported, and there has been no confirmation on this from the US side (yet?). Updated at 3.36pm BST 2.56pm BST 14:56 Looks like we're going to get the first big moment of the summit very early on, as the Kremlin has just announced that US president Trump will formally welcome Russia's Putin at his plane after arriving in Alaska. 2.32pm BST 14:32 Pjotr Sauer Despite confident trolling from some members of the Russian delegation (13:49), Russia's state press, however, were in a less celebratory mood on arrival at their modest sleeping quarters in Anchorage, Alaska's largest city, where the summit will take place. With hotel space taken up by the influx of international media, Russian reporters were put up in the local ice hockey team's stadium, which had been converted into a Covid hospital during the pandemic and fitted with army beds donated by the Red Cross. 'We are living in Spartan conditions,' one reporter is heard complaining in a clip posted on social media. 1.52pm BST 13:52 Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has just posted on social media, saying he expects to get a report from the Ukrainian intelligence services today 'on the current intentions of the Russian side and its preparations for the meeting in Alaska.' Directly responding to Trump's earlier comments (13:19), he then says: Indeed, high stakes. He adds: 'The key thing is that this meeting should open up a real path toward a just peace and a substantive discussion between leaders in a trilateral format – Ukraine, the United States, and the Russian side. It is time to end the war, and the necessary steps must be taken by Russia. We are counting on America. We are ready, as always, to work as productively as possible.' Updated at 1.54pm BST 1.36pm BST 13:36 Trump also confirms his earlier threat of 'severe' consequences for Russia if it fails to show willingness to seriously talk about the end of war in Ukraine. He says: 'Economically severe. It will be very severe. I'm not doing this for my health, okay, I don't need it. I'd like to focus on our country, but I'm doing this to save a lot of lives. Yeah, very severe.' He ends the briefing here. 1.34pm BST 13:34 Trump also gets asked about the possibility of the US providing security guarantees to Ukraine. He says: 'Maybe, along with Europe and other countries. Not in the form of Nato, because that's not going to, you know, there are certain things that aren't going to happen. But yeah, along with Europe, there's possibility …'
The Guardian
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Europe live: EU says Ukraine should be able to ‘choose its own destiny' ahead of Trump-Putin meeting
Update: Date: 2025-08-12T08:39:00.000Z Title: the EU insisted 'the path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine,' Content: European Union leaders, excluding Viktor Orbán, say 'the path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine' Jakub Krupa Tue 12 Aug 2025 10.39 CEST First published on Tue 12 Aug 2025 09.52 CEST From 9.52am CEST 09:52 Jakub Krupa In an early morning statement issued after last night ministerial discussions, as it stressed 'the inherent right of Ukraine to choose its own destiny.' 'Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine has wider implications for European and international security. We share the conviction that a diplomatic solution must protect Ukraine's and Europe's vital security interests.' But despite the intentions, the statement didn't demonstrate the EU's unity on this point: Viktor Orbán's Hungary, once again, refused to back the collective position. And just hours after the EU meeting, Hungarian foreign minister Péter Szijjártó was on the phone to Moscow speaking to Russian deputy prime minister Denis Manturov. But as we get closer to the summit – which Donald Trump described last night as a 'feel-out meeting' – many European leaders are likely to be alarmed by the US president's rhethoric and talk of 'swapping' territories without Ukraine even present at the table. They will be hoping that the last-ditch attempt to convince Trump of the merits of their position during a scheduled phone call on Wednesday will result in the US president changing his views going into the talks. Let's see. Elsewhere, we will be keeping an eye on another day of record-breaking heat in parts of Europe. Overnight, Spanish firefighters have finally contained a wildfire near Madrid, which killed one and prompted the evacuation of almost 200 people. I will bring you all the key updates here. It's Tuesday, 12 August 2025, it's Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live. Good morning. 10.39am CEST 10:39 Meanwhile, the Russian and Belarusian armies are set to hold joint strategic exercises in Belarus from 12-16 September, the Belarusian Defence Ministry said, reported by Reuters. The aim of the drills is to test the capabilities of Russia and Belarus and 'ensure the military security of the Union State and their readiness to repel possible aggression,' the ministry cited Maj Gen Valery Revenko as saying. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned earlier this year, without giving details or citing evidence, that Russia was 'preparing something' in Belarus this summer under the guise of routine military exercises. In an interview with Time Magazine last week, Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko said he had decided to move the location of the joint military drills away from Belarus' western borders with European Union countries, citing security concerns raised in Poland and the Baltic nations. 10.12am CEST 10:12 To give you an idea of just how strongly Hungary feels about the EU's statement, the country's prime minister Viktor Orbán took to social media this morning to explain his views. He said he felt it was necessary to speak before 'the liberal-mainstream chorus' – that's the EU leaders for him – 'begins its newest rendition of their favourite 'Putin's puppet' tune' accusing him of taking pro-Russian positions. But in short: he said that since the EU was not involved, it shouldn't intervene from the sidelines, and if it wants to talk to Putin, it should call its own EU-Russia summit. Here is his explanation in full: 'Just four days ahead of the historic summit between President Trump and President Putin, the European Council sought to issue a statement in the name of all EU heads of state and government. Before the liberal-mainstream chorus begins its newest rendition of their favourite 'Putin's puppet' tune, I decided to share why I could NOT support the statement on behalf of Hungary. 1. The statement attempts to set conditions for a meeting to which leaders of the EU were not invited. 2. The fact that the EU was left on the sidelines is sad enough as it is. The only thing that could make things worse is if we started providing instructions from the bench. 3. The only sensible action for EU leaders is to initiate an EU-Russia summit, based on the example of the US-Russia meeting. Let's give peace a chance!' 9.52am CEST 09:52 Jakub Krupa In an early morning statement issued after last night ministerial discussions, as it stressed 'the inherent right of Ukraine to choose its own destiny.' 'Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine has wider implications for European and international security. We share the conviction that a diplomatic solution must protect Ukraine's and Europe's vital security interests.' But despite the intentions, the statement didn't demonstrate the EU's unity on this point: Viktor Orbán's Hungary, once again, refused to back the collective position. And just hours after the EU meeting, Hungarian foreign minister Péter Szijjártó was on the phone to Moscow speaking to Russian deputy prime minister Denis Manturov. But as we get closer to the summit – which Donald Trump described last night as a 'feel-out meeting' – many European leaders are likely to be alarmed by the US president's rhethoric and talk of 'swapping' territories without Ukraine even present at the table. They will be hoping that the last-ditch attempt to convince Trump of the merits of their position during a scheduled phone call on Wednesday will result in the US president changing his views going into the talks. Let's see. Elsewhere, we will be keeping an eye on another day of record-breaking heat in parts of Europe. Overnight, Spanish firefighters have finally contained a wildfire near Madrid, which killed one and prompted the evacuation of almost 200 people. I will bring you all the key updates here. It's Tuesday, 12 August 2025, it's Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live. Good morning.
The Guardian
22-07-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Russia launches 42 drone stikes on Ukraine overnight, hours after agreeing to Istanbul peace talks
Update: Date: 2025-07-22T08:16:27.000Z Title: Morning opening: Another round of Russian attacks on Ukraine Content: Ukraine's foreign ministry reported at least a dozen injured in 42 Russian drone attacks overnight, hours after the two countries agreed to meet for further peace talks in Istanbul on Wednesday. Some of the attacks involved an apartment building in Kramatorsk, and sites in Sloviansk, Sumy, and Odesa. 'Another night of Russian terror,' the ministry said. 'Russia must be stopped with stronger pressure and tougher sanctions. Without decisive action, the attacks on civilians will only continue.' Elsewhere, EU ministers meet in Copenhagen to talk about the bloc's migration and asylum policy, and another heatwave hits south-eastern Europe with temperatures in Greece expected to rise to 43 Celsius. I will bring you all key updates from across Europe today. It's Tuesday, 22 July 2025, it's Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live. Good morning.
The Guardian
30-06-2025
- Climate
- The Guardian
Heatwave grips southern Europe
Update: Date: 2025-06-30T09:05:11.000Z Title: Eoin Content: Health and environmental alerts issued with high temperatures expected in France, Italy, Portugal and Spain Jakub Krupa Mon 30 Jun 2025 05.05 EDT First published on Mon 30 Jun 2025 03.42 EDT 5.05am EDT 05:05 Jakub Krupa writes in to say: Thanks for covering the heatwave. Spare a thought for those of us walking the Portuguese Camino de Santiag[o] - it was 42 ('feels like 44') in Santarem last night. The temperature is expected to hit a nice and breezy 41C today in Santarem in early afternoon today. Stay safe, ! If you are in the countries most affected by the heatwave, email me about your experiences – and how you're dealing with it – at 4.57am EDT 04:57 Sam Jones in Madrid Spain remains on high heat alert – especially after a provisional June temperature record of 46C (114.8F) was set on Saturday afternoon in El Granado in the Andalucían province of Huelva. The highest temperature previously recorded for June was the 45.2C logged in Seville in 1965. The heatwave, which is forecast to last until Thursday, could see temperatures in parts of the country reach 42C on Monday. Spain's state meteorological office, Aemet, and its health ministry have warned people to take extra care in the heat. 'We are expecting abnormally high and persistent temperatures, during both day and night, that could pose a risk to vulnerable or exposed people,' Aemet said in a statement on Saturday. The health ministry, meanwhile, has urged people to monitor weather alerts, to stay hydrated and out of the sun, and to check on those who may be at risk. 'Remember that while the heat affects us all, it affects different people in different ways,' it said. 'Take special care if you have a risk factor – these categories include: people aged over 65 and under four; pregnant women; people with chronic illnesses, and those in situations of loneliness or socioeconomic vulnerability.' Spain recorded its highest ever temperature in August 2021, when the mercury in the Andalucían town of Montoro, near Córdoba, reached 47.4C. A 2022 Aemet study found that the arrival of 30C temperatures across Spain and the Balearic islands had come an average of 20 to 40 days earlier over the past 71 years. 'The summer is eating up the spring,' Aemet's spokesperson Rubén del Campo told El País at the time. 'What's happening fits perfectly with a situation where you have a warmer planet,' he said, adding that the rise in temperatures was a 'direct and palpable [consequence] of climate change … The climate in Spain isn't the one we used to know. It's got more extreme.' 4.34am EDT 04:34 Ajit Niranjan Heatwaves have grown hotter and stronger as the planet has warmed, making what doctors call a 'silent killer' even more dangerous. How worried should we be about heat – and how can we stay safe as the climate changes? Hot weather kills an estimated half a million people each year. The average annual death toll is greater than that from wars or terrorism, but smaller than that from cars or air pollution. High heat stresses the human body. When days are too hot to function and nights are not cool enough to recover, the heart and kidneys go into overdrive working to keep the body cool. There are also secondary health effects from high heat. Heatwaves lead to more accidents, dirtier air, bigger wildfires and more frequent blackouts, all of which can increase the burden on health systems. People who are forced to be outdoors in scorching weather – builders, farmers, rough sleepers – are most likely to suffer from heat exhaustion and the heatstroke that can follow. But older people, and particularly those with underlying illnesses, make up the bulk of heat-related deaths. Women are more likely to die from heat-related causes than men. Poorer people – who are less likely to have air conditioning, well-insulated homes, or access to green spaces – are also at greater risk. The simplest advice is to stay out of the heat: avoid going outside during the hottest parts of the day, and stay in the shade if you have to. To keep your home cool, close windows during the day and open them after dark, when outdoor temperatures fall below inside temperatures. Cover windows with blinds or curtains to block out direct sunlight. Doctors also recommend drinking water frequently, wearing loose clothing and checking on vulnerable people in your community. 4.05am EDT 04:05 3.42am EDT 03:42 Jakub Krupa Large parts of Europe continue to be gripped by a heatwave today, with temperatures in mid to high 30s and low 40s Celsius and a range of health and environmental alerts issued across the continent, particularly its southern part. France, Italy, Portugal and Spain, in particular, have seen extreme weathers over the weekend and they are likely to continue today. Just take a quick look at the weather forecast: Rome, Madrid and Bologna (36C), Athens and Naples (35C), Lisbon (34C), Zagreb (33C), Paris (32C), London (31C). There are pockets where the temperatures are even going to hit low 40s, such as in the Extremadura region of Spain. In Italy, 27 cities were on high alert for extreme health on Sunday. In France, 84 of the nation's 96 mainland departments are on the second-highest 'orange' heat alert, AFP reported. 'This is unprecedented,' Agner Pannier-Runacher, France's ecology transition minister said. I will bring you all the latest updates from across Europe here. It's Monday, 30 June 2025, it's Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live. Good morning. Updated at 3.46am EDT
The Guardian
18-05-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Europe elections live: polls to close in Poland, Portugal and Romania on ‘Super Sunday'
Show key events only Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature Show key events only Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature Jakub Krupa Dobry wieczór, boa noite, bună seara, or simply good evening and welcome to our live coverage of Super Sunday in Europe with crucial elections in Poland, Portugal, and Romania. It's Jakub Krupa here, in Warsaw, to guide you through tonight's exit polls, snap reactions and early results coming from the three EU countries. Join The Guardian for Europe's electoral 'super Sunday' – video We will start with Romania where the polls will close in about half an hour – 7pm BST, 8pm CEST, 9pm local time – followed by Poland and Portugal an hour later. It may take a little while before we get any conclusive results though as margins are expected to be fairly thin. But, but, but – don't worry! We will bring you all the key updates: starting with exit polls, through snap reactions and late polls, all the way to first analyses and official results. I'll bring you updates from our correspondents across Europe, including Jon Henley and Sam Jones who followed the campaigns in Romania and Portugal, and Jennifer Rankin in Brussels. Ready? Let's go. Share
