Donald Trump has insisted his administration believes Vladimir Putin is serious about seeking peace in Ukraine as European leaders accused Russia of feigning interest.
The US president’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner travelled to Moscow for talks on Tuesday, but the five-hour discussions ended in a stalemate.
Speaking to reporters yesterday, Trump said his aides “strongly” got the impression that Putin wanted a peace deal, describing the talks as “reasonably good”. His aides told him their impression from Putin was that "he would like to make a deal” but what happens now, however, is unclear, Trump said.
But European leaders have slammed the Russian leader as being uninterested in ending the conflict, accusing him of “wasting the world's time."
It comes as European Commission chiefs are planning to use frozen Russian state assets worth up to €90bn (£79bn) to lend to Kyiv for Ukraine’s struggling military as well as the country’s basic services.
Putin has warned his country is not only “ready for war” on the continent but could prosecute it with such force that there would be “nobody left to negotiate peace with” when he was finished.
Putin says Russia is ready for war if Europe wants it
Zelensky says Ireland ‘one of few countries that knows the price of freedom’
Mapped: Inside fierce battle for Pokrovsk as Ukraine denies Russia has captured key city
Witkoff and Trump cannot be trusted – it’s time for Europe to muscle into Putin talks
Key Points
- European leaders want to send Kyiv £79bn of frozen Russian assets
- Zelensky meeting with Trump envoy cancelled
- Putin says Russia not seeking war with Europe but ‘ready’ to fight
- Ukraine hits pipeline sending Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia
- Trump aides 'strongly' believe Putin wants a deal
- How did we get here? Timeline of the latest peace talks
- Downing Street says Putin's war threats are 'Kremlin claptrap'
Watch: King Charles warns of ‘threat of Russian aggression’ in state banquet speech
03:37 , Arpan RaiPutin accused of 'wasting the world's time' after Trump's peace plan stalls
03:29 , Arpan RaiSenior Ukrainian and European officials have accused Russia of not pursuing "any kind of peace" and wasting the world’s time.
Foreign secretary Yvette Cooper said the Russian president Vladimir Putin "should end the bluster and the bloodshed and be ready to come to the table and to support a just and lasting peace".
Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha called on the Russian leader to "stop wasting the world's time".
“Russia must end the bloodshed it has started. If this doesn’t happen and Putin just spits into the world’s face once again, there must be consequences. Russia must stop wasting the world’s time, which must be the time for peace,” he said.
Estonian foreign minister Margus Tsahkna said Putin "has not changed course", adding: "It's pretty obvious that he doesn't want to have any kind of peace."
Over two-thirds of Nato countries pledge weapons for Kyiv
03:00 , Arpan RaiOver two-thirds of the member states of Nato have committed to weapons for Ukraine through the so-called Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL), which has received commitments worth $4bn (£3bn) so far, the alliance's secretary general Mark Rutte says.
"We heard from Australia and New Zealand who will also contribute to PURL, the first Nato partners to do so.
“And this means that allies and partners have already committed now really over $4 billion," Mr Rutte said.
Putin feigning interest in peace, say Europe and Kyiv
02:02 , Jane DaltonUkraine and its European allies have accused Russian president Vladimir Putin of feigning interest in peace efforts after five hours of talks with US envoys at the Kremlin produced no breakthrough.
The Russian leader "should end the bluster and the bloodshed and be ready to come to the table and to support a just and lasting peace", said UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha urged Putin to "stop wasting the world's time".
Putin's foreign affairs adviser, Yuri Ushakov, said Tuesday's talks at the Kremlin between Putin and US envoy Steve Witkoff and Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner were positive, but he wouldn't release any details.
The Romanian military blew up a maritime drone that was endangering navigation in the Black Sea, the country’s Defence Ministry says, amid rising concerns about risks to shipping in the area linked to the war.
The ministry said the drone, found 36 nautical miles east of Constanta, was a Sea Baby - a maritime drone developed by Ukraine.
A Romanian Defence Ministry spokesperson declined to specify the country that the drone came from, but confirmed it was a Sea Baby.
The SBU Security Service of Ukraine said all of its Sea Baby drones engaged in operational tasks in the Black Sea region were accounted for, with none lost. None had entered Romanian waters, it said.
"Ukraine unfailingly adheres to international law, does not violate international borders and treats its partners with respect," it said.
The resilience of long-suffering Ukrainians is about to face its most serious test of the war so far
00:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainSurviving the cold season is simply not possible without light and heat, and as Putin launches a massive drone attack after rejecting the terms of another peace deal, Owen Matthews reports on Putin’s plan to deliver his fatal blow on Ukraine:
The resilience of ordinary Ukrainians is about to face its most serious test so far
Father of man accused of spying for Russia says arrest ‘hard to take in’
Wednesday 3 December 2025 23:30 , Maryam Zakir-HussainThe father of a British man arrested in Kyiv and accused of spying for Russia has said the news is “hard to take in”.
Ross David Cutmore is alleged to have been recruited by Russia’s FSB security service and to have passed sensitive information to Russian authorities in exchange for money.
According to Ukrainian officials, he transmitted “the co-ordinates of Ukrainian units, photographs of the training area, and information regarding military personnel that could be used to identify them”.
Father of man accused of spying for Russia says arrest ‘hard to take in’
Trump aides 'strongly' believe Putin wants a deal, president says
Wednesday 3 December 2025 23:03 , Nicole Wootton-CaneUS president Donald Trump has said his aides believe Vladimir Putin is keen to end the war in Ukraine.
“He would like to end the war — that was their impression," Trump said Wednesday of special envoy Steve Witkoff and adviser Jared Kushner. "Their impression was very strongly that he'd like to make a deal."
It comes after Mr Witkoff and Mr Kushner failed to reach a peace agreement with the Russian leader in Moscow.
Turkey says attacks on vessels in Black Sea 'very scary', impact safety and commerce
Wednesday 3 December 2025 23:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainTurkey's foreign minister said on Wednesday that recent attacks on Russia-linked tankers within Turkey's exclusive econmic zone in the Black Sea were "very scary" and impacted navigational safety and commerce in the region.
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, who discussed the issue during a NATO meeting in Brussels earlier, told Turkish media after his meetings that Black Sea littoral states such as Turkey, Romania and Bulgaria were weighing measures to avoid similar incidents.
Putin-Modi talks: What’s on agenda, from India’s oil imports to other issues
Wednesday 3 December 2025 22:30 , Maryam Zakir-HussainRussian President Vladimir Putin will be in India this week for a summit aimed at deepening economic, defense and energy ties, a visit that will also test New Delhi’s efforts to balance relations with Moscow and Washington as the war in Ukraine grinds on.
EU strikes deal to ban Russian gas imports
Wednesday 3 December 2025 22:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainThe European Union has agreed to phase out all Russian gas imports by late 2027, a significant step to end the bloc's decade-long energy dependency following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Representatives from EU governments and the European Parliament reached an agreement in the early hours of Wednesday, acting on proposals set out by the European Commission in June to end shipments from the EU's former top gas supplier.
Under the accord, the EU will permanently halt Russian gas imports and move towards phasing out Russian oil.
Starmer: Putin 'is dragging his feet'
Wednesday 3 December 2025 21:30 , Maryam Zakir-HussainSir Keir Starmer said Vladimir Putin "is dragging his feet, not wanting to come to the table, not wanting to reach an agreement".
Conservative MP for Harwich and North Essex Sir Bernard Jenkin asked the Prime Minister at Prime Minister's Questions: "Could the Prime Minister give his assessment of the latest news that President Putin has again turned down terms for peace in Ukraine, and in the light of his extraordinary outburst designed to destabilise our understanding of the truth, he did say Russia is ready for war with Nato. How ready are we?"
Sir Keir said: "Can I thank him for raising this and I updated the House last week on the attempts to get a lasting peace. We all know that Putin is the aggressor here.
"We all know that Putin is dragging his feet, not wanting to come to the table, not wanting to reach an agreement.
"We have to continue to put pressure on in every conceivable way. That is in supporting Ukraine with capability and resource, but also ensuring that our sanctions, acting with allies, do as much damage to the economy in Russia as we can, and pressure that we can put on, will continue to do so, but he's absolutely right to raise it. I thank him for doing so."
Mark Rutte: Nato 'will do what it takes' to protect territory
Wednesday 3 December 2025 21:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainResponding to Vladimir Putin’s comments that Russia would be “ready” for war with Europe, Nato’s secretary general Mark Rutte said Nato is “ready to do what it takes” to protect its territory.
Speaking to the media today, Mr Rutte said:“Finally, Nato is a defensive alliance. We will remain a defensive alliance, but make no mistake, we are ready and willing to do what it takes to protect our 1 billion people and secure our territory.”
Video: We are no closer to peace in Ukraine, says Kremlin after US talks
Wednesday 3 December 2025 20:30 , Maryam Zakir-HussainEuropean Commission plans to send Kyiv £79bn from frozen Russian assets
Wednesday 3 December 2025 20:27 , Jane DaltonThe European Commission has proposed an unprecedented use of frozen Russian assets or international borrowing to raise 90 billion euros (£79bn) for Ukraine to aid its struggling military and basic services.
The European Union's executive body has declared it favours a "reparations loan" using Russian state assets immobilised in the EU due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
But Belgium, which holds most of the assets and has voiced a range of legal concerns, is not convinced by the proposal.
"We are proposing to cover two-thirds of Ukraine’s financing needs for the next two years. That’s 90 billion euros. The remainder would be for international partners to cover," said commission president Ursula von der Leyen.
"Since pressure is the only language the Kremlin responds to, we can also dial it up," she said.
Kremlin aide says Russia's battlefield gains influenced Ukraine talks with US
Wednesday 3 December 2025 20:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainKremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said on Wednesday that Russia's recent battlefield progress in Ukraine had what he described as a positive impact on peace negotiations held with U.S. envoys in Moscow a day earlier.
In video footage released on the talks' eve, President Vladimir Putin hailed what his commanders said was Russia's capture of the city of Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine. Kyiv dismissed his claim, saying fighting was still ongoing there.
But Ushakov, speaking after the talks between Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and son-in-law Jared Kushner, said that "the course and nature of the negotiations were, of course, influenced by the successes of recent weeks...on the battlefield.
"In other words, our Russian soldiers, through their military exploits, have contributed to a more positive assessment of the paths to a peaceful settlement by our foreign partners," Ushakov told reporters.
He said he hoped that Ukraine and its European allies would also adopt what he called "a more balanced attitude and perception of what is going on."
Turkey discusses Black Sea safety with NATO after attacks on Russian ships
Wednesday 3 December 2025 19:30 , Maryam Zakir-HussainTurkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte discussed Black Sea safety on Wednesday, a Turkish Foreign Ministry source said, after Ankara expressed alarm at attacks on Russia-linked tankers, some claimed by Ukraine.
Ankara, a NATO member that has kept warm relations with both sides in the Russian war in Ukraine, has condemned attacks on vessels with links to Moscow that took place inside Turkey's exclusive economic zone off its coast in the Black Sea.
The attacks have sent Black Sea shipping insurance rates higher and prompted one Turkish company, Besiktas Shipping, to halt Russia-related operations over security concerns.
Ukraine, which is targeting Russia's oil exports as Moscow bombards its power grid, has taken responsibility for an attack by seaborne drones on two empty tankers heading towards a Russian port last week.
After Putin’s chilling threat, is Europe ready for war with Russia?
Wednesday 3 December 2025 19:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainAs Moscow becomes more bullish in its hybrid warfare tactics to provoke Nato, James C. Reynolds looks at how both armies and economies compare:
After Putin’s chilling threat, is Europe ready for war with Russia?
Why a war with Europe has never looked so tempting to Putin
Wednesday 3 December 2025 18:30 , Maryam Zakir-HussainThe United States has said it wants to sell weapons to the EU, not back it up – that alone will have Moscow licking its lips, says Mark Almond.
Read more here:
Romania says it destroys maritime drone in Black Sea
Wednesday 3 December 2025 18:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainThe Romanian military blew up a maritime drone that was endangering navigation in the Black Sea, the Ministry of National Defence said on Wednesday, amid rising concerns about risks to shipping in the area linked to the war in Ukraine.
The ministry said that the drone, which was found in an area 36 nautical miles (66 km) east of Constanta, was a Sea Baby. The Sea Baby is a maritime drone developed by Ukraine.
A Romanian Defence Ministry spokesperson declined to specify the country that the drone came from, but confirmed it was a Sea Baby. The Security Service of Ukraine declined to comment at the time of publication.
Worries over the safety of shipping in the Black Sea following attacks on Russia-linked tankers, some claimed by Ukraine, have caused insurance rates to rise in a body of water that is crucial for the shipment of grain, oil and oil products.
"The intervention team received approval to neutralise the identified object, in accordance with the operational procedures in force, and at around 1:00 p.m., the maritime drone was destroyed by controlled detonation," the Defence Ministry said in a statement.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte discussed Black Sea safety on Wednesday, a Turkish Foreign Ministry source said, after Ankara expressed alarm at the attacks.
Zelensky seeks urgent renewal of supervisory boards in defence sector
Wednesday 3 December 2025 17:30 , Maryam Zakir-HussainUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Wednesday he had urged Defence Minister Denys Shmyhal to carry out an urgent renewal of supervisory boards in the defence sector, aiming to restore investors' confidence after a corruption scandal.
Ukraine has been rocked by a corruption scandal over an alleged $100-million kickback scheme in which senior energy officials and a former business associate of Zelensky are suspected of involvement.
It is Ukraine's biggest such scandal since Zelensky became president in 2019 on a mandate to eliminate graft. Eradicating graft and shoring up the rule of law are key requirements for Kyiv to join the European Union, which Ukrainians see as critical to their future as they fend off a Russian invasion.
"It's through supervisory boards that management and oversight of internal processes in companies are carried out, and this must be ensured one hundred percent," Zelensky said on the Telegram messenger.
He also said that supervisory boards in state-run energy companies must be formed by the end of this month after the powers of most supervisory boards are terminated today.
Italy will approve delayed decree on Ukraine aid, Meloni says
Wednesday 3 December 2025 17:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainItaly will pass a decree allowing the government to continue supporting Ukraine in its war of defence against Russia, despite a temporary delay, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Wednesday.
The decree for Ukraine aid was on the agenda of a meeting on Wednesday set to prepare the next day's cabinet, but was taken off because the agenda was already too full, according to government sources.
"We will help Ukraine defend itself against the aggressor," Meloni told reporters during a trip to Bahrein, saying there was still time to approve the new decree as the current one is due to expire on December 31.
Downing Street says Putin's war threats are 'Kremlin claptrap'
Wednesday 3 December 2025 16:30 , Maryam Zakir-HussainDowning Street dismissed Vladimir Putin’s comments about being ready for a war in Europe as “Kremlin claptrap”.
The prime minister’s official spokesperson said: “This is just more Kremlin claptrap from a president who isn’t serious about peace."
It comes after Sir Keir Starmer ducked a question from Tory MP Sir Bernard Jenkin, who asked whether the UK is ready for war with Russia.
Pressed on whether Britain is ready for war, a Downing Street spokesperson said: "Our investment in defence is clear for all to see."
He added: “Our armed forces always stand ready to defend this country and national security is clearly the number one priority of this government.”
Putin says Russia is ready for war if Europe wants it
Wednesday 3 December 2025 16:30 , Maryam Zakir-HussainPresident Vladimir Putin has said Russia is ready to fight a war with Europe if it is provoked, as he accused leaders of sabotaging US-led efforts to end the war in Ukraine.
“We are not planning to go to war with Europe, but if Europe wants to and starts, we are ready right now,” he said on Tuesday. “They are on the side of war.”
He said Europe had made demands on a possible peace settlement for Ukraine, which he said Russia found “absolutely unacceptable”.
Nato's Rutte: Peace deal 'is not a straight line'
Wednesday 3 December 2025 15:51 , Maryam Zakir-HussainWhen questioned about the progress of the US proposal for a peace deal, Nato secretary general Mark Rutte said began by praising Donald Trump for being “the only one person in the whole world who was able to break the deadlock when it comes to war in Ukraine”.
He then said: “But getting this peace done, as also the American president has said, is not something [that can be done] in a straight line, in one go. You need a proposal on the table. You need to have discussions, and we have seen the meetings in Geneva, in Miami, now yesterday in Moscow. It will be a step by step approach.”
Mark Rutte: Nato 'will do what it takes' to protect territory
Wednesday 3 December 2025 15:35 , Maryam Zakir-HussainResponding to Vladimir Putin’s comments that Russia would be “ready” for war with Europe, Nato’s secretary general Mark Rutte said Nato is “ready to do what it takes” to protect its territory.
Speaking to the media today, Mr Rutte said:“Finally, Nato is a defensive alliance. We will remain a defensive alliance, but make no mistake, we are ready and willing to do what it takes to protect our 1 billion people and secure our territory.”
UN chief Guterres: end to war in Ukraine should abide by international law
Wednesday 3 December 2025 15:29 , Maryam Zakir-HussainAn end to Russia's war in Ukraine should abide by international law, United Nations secretary-general Antonio Guterres said on Wednesday.
"I believe we are still far from a solution," Mr Guterres said at the Reuters NEXT conference in New York.
The secretary-general also said the United States has been instrumental in removing obstacles to the delivery of aid in the Gaza Strip. He said there were strong reasons to believe war crimes had been committed in the war between Israel and Palestinian militants Hamas.
On US strikes on vessels near Venezuela, Mr Guterres said they were not compatible with international law. View the live broadcast of the World Stage here and read full coverage here.
The resilience of long-suffering Ukrainians is about to face its most serious test of the war so far
Wednesday 3 December 2025 15:07 , Maryam Zakir-HussainSurviving the cold season is simply not possible without light and heat, and as Putin launches a massive drone attack after rejecting the terms of another peace deal, Owen Matthews reports on Putin’s plan to deliver his fatal blow on Ukraine.
Read it here:
The resilience of ordinary Ukrainians is about to face its most serious test so far
Trump envoy Witkoff had contacts with Ukrainian delegation after Moscow talks, Kyiv says
Wednesday 3 December 2025 14:54 , Maryam Zakir-HussainUS president Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff had contacts with Ukrainian delegation after his talks on Tuesday in Moscow with Russian president Vladimir Putin, Ukraine's foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said on Wednesday.
"There was contact between the head of the Ukrainian delegation and Mr. Witkoff," Sybiha told reporters in Brussels.
"Representatives of the American delegation reported that, in their opinion, the talks in Moscow had a positive outcome... And they invited the Ukrainian delegation to continue our talks in America in the near future," he added.
What you need know about EU banning Russian gas imports
Wednesday 3 December 2025 14:45 , Maryam Zakir-HussainThe European Union has agreed to permanently halt all Russian gas imports by late 2027, aiming to end its energy dependency following Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
This agreement, reached by EU governments and the European Parliament, stipulates that liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports will cease by the end of 2026, with pipeline gas following by the end of September 2027.
Ukraine’s corruption scandal is disastrous for Zelensky – Putin will love it
Wednesday 3 December 2025 14:30 , Maryam Zakir-HussainIn case you missed this from the weekend:
Zelensky’s lost his chief of staff amid a €100m corruption scandal that the Kremlin will exploit – this is a disaster to Kyiv but also a sign that its system works, writes world affairs editor Sam Kiley:
Ukraine’s corruption scandal is disastrous for Zelensky – Putin will love it
'Our armed forces stand ready to defend Britain', PM says
Wednesday 3 December 2025 14:15 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain"Our armed forces stand ready to defend this country", the prime minister's official spokesperson has said.
It comes after Sir Keir Starmer ducked a question from Tory MP Sir Bernard Jenkin, who asked whether the UK is ready for war with Russia.
Pressed on whether Britain is ready for war, a Downing Street spokesperson said: "Our investment in defence is clear for all to see."
He added: “Our armed forces always stand ready to defend this country and national security is clearly the number one priority of this government."
Hitting out at Vladimir Putin, who said Moscow is prepared for a war with Europe, the spokesperson said: “This is just more Kremlin claptrap from a president who isn’t serious about peace."
In photos: Putin attends Moscow forum as claims he rejected US peace deal
Wednesday 3 December 2025 14:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainPhotos show Russia's president Vladimir Putin meeting with volunteers during a volunteer organisations forum in Moscow today.
Putin doesn’t want peace – and Trump’s baffling error has made it easy for him
Wednesday 3 December 2025 13:45 , Maryam Zakir-HussainAll hopes were on Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff’s trip to Moscow, but a breakthrough in peace talks was never going to happen with a man who has repeatedly taken Russia’s side, writes world affairs editor Sam Kiley.
Read more here:
Putin doesn’t want peace – and Trump’s baffling error has made it easy for him
Ukraine reparations loan is in line with international law, EU's Dombrovskis says
Wednesday 3 December 2025 13:30 , Maryam Zakir-HussainThe European Commission's proposed reparations loan for Ukraine financed by immobilised Russian assets is in line with international law, EU economy commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis said on Wednesday.
"Everything we propose today is legally robust, fully in line with EU and international law," Dombrovskis said at the presentation of the proposal.
Member states will be asked to provide guarantees to underpin the loan, Dombrovskis also said.
"Those guarantees ensure the EU borrowing is fully protected and ensure fair burden sharing," he said.
Protections would cover the "very low risk" that any member state would be forced to pay on a claim from Russia, Dombrovskis added.
Starmer: Putin is 'dragging his feet' on reaching agreement
Wednesday 3 December 2025 13:15 , Maryam Zakir-HussainVladimir Putin "is dragging his feet, not wanting to come to the table, not wanting to reach an agreement,” the UK prime minister has said.
Conservative MP for Harwich and North Essex Sir Bernard Jenkin asked the Sir Keir Starmer at Prime Minister's Questions: "Could the prime minister give his assessment of the latest news that President Putin has again turned down terms for peace in Ukraine, and in the light of his extraordinary outburst designed to destabilise our understanding of the truth, he did say Russia is ready for war with Nato. How ready are we?"
Sir Keir said: "Can I thank him for raising this and I updated the House last week on the attempts to get a lasting peace. We all know that Putin is the aggressor here.
"We all know that Putin is dragging his feet, not wanting to come to the table, not wanting to reach an agreement.
"We have to continue to put pressure on in every conceivable way. That is in supporting Ukraine with capability and resource, but also ensuring that our sanctions, acting with allies, do as much damage to the economy in Russia as we can, and pressure that we can put on, will continue to do so, but he's absolutely right to raise it. I thank him for doing so."
Ukraine hits pipeline sending Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia, source says
Wednesday 3 December 2025 12:56 , Maryam Zakir-HussainUkraine has hit the Druzhba oil pipeline in Russia's central Tambov region, a source in Ukraine's GUR military intelligence said on Wednesday.
It was the fifth Ukrainian attack on the pipeline which supplies Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia, according to Reuters calculations.
Hungary and Slovakia continue to buy energy supplies from Russia, even after other European Union nations cut ties following its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Ukrainian media said remote-controlled explosives were used in the attack.
Slovak pipeline operator and Hungarian oil and gas company said later on Wednesday that oil supplies through Druzhba were running as normal.
Zelensky meeting with Trump envoy cancelled
Wednesday 3 December 2025 12:42 , Maryam Zakir-HussainA meeting between Volodymyr Zelensky and a US delegation has been cancelled after Vladimir Putin rejected a peace deal brokered by Donald Trump’s envoy.
It comes after the Ukrainian president was scheduled to meet the US negotiators, Steve Witkoff and the US president’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, in Brussels but they left Moscow on Tuesday night for Washington, the Kremlin said.
The Kremlin also denied claims that Putin outright rejected the deal, as spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the Russian leader had accepted some of the proposals - but that key differences remained.
Turkey discusses Black Sea safety with Nato after attack on ship
Wednesday 3 December 2025 12:00 , Daniel KeaneTurkey has discussed the safety of its vessels with Nato after an attack on one of its ships in the Black Sea last month.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Nato Secretary-General Mark Rutte discussed the issue on Wednesday on the sideline of a meeting of foreign ministers in the alliance, a source told Reuters.
Ankara has condemned attacks on vessels with links to Moscow that took place inside Turkey's exclusive economic zone off its coast in the Black Sea.
Ukraine claimed responsibility for an attack by seaborne drones on two empty tankers heading towards a Russian port last week.
Fidan and Rutte, on the sidelines of a Nato meeting in Brussels, discussed issues related to Black Sea security and the negotiations to end the nearly four-year war, the Turkish Foreign Ministry source said, giving no further details.
After Putin’s chilling threat, is Europe ready for war with Russia?
Wednesday 3 December 2025 11:30 , Daniel KeaneAs Moscow becomes more bullish in its hybrid warfare tactics to provoke Nato, James C. Reynolds looks at how both armies and economies compare.
After Putin’s chilling threat, is Europe ready for war with Russia?
Kremlin claims Europe 'will pay much more for gas' after Russian imports phased out
Wednesday 3 December 2025 11:00 , Daniel KeaneThe Kremlin ha claimed that a decision by the European Union to phase out imports of Russian gas by 2027, will lead to higher prices for consumers.
The agreement will include a legally binding, stepwise prohibition on liquefied natural gas (LNG) and pipeline gas imports from Russia, with full bans applying from the end of 2026 and autumn 2027, respectively.
Russia accounted for 12% of EU gas imports as of October, down from 45% prior to the onset of the war in Ukraine in 2022.
Streeting dismisses Putin's comments on war with Europe as 'sabre-rattling'
Wednesday 3 December 2025 10:35 , Daniel KeaneWes Streeting has dismissed Vladimir Putin's comments that Russia is "ready" for war with Europe as the "same old sabre-rattling".
The Russian president on Tuesday claimed that Russia was “ready” for a war with Europe in comments that sparked alarm in the West.
Speaking to Sky News, the Health Secretary said that Russia had no plans to attack.
"I think we should see this for what it is, which is the same old sabre-rattling we've heard from President Putin,” he said.
"And the the irony of President Putin talking about warmongering on the part of European leaders would be laughable if what he's doing in Ukraine weren't so serious."
Sam Kiley: Putin doesn’t want peace –and Trump’s baffling error has made it easy for him
Wednesday 3 December 2025 10:15 , Daniel KeaneAll hopes were on Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff trip to Moscow, but a breakthrough in peace talks was never going to happen with a man who has repeatedly taken Russia’s side, writes world affairs editor Sam Kiley.
Putin doesn’t want peace –and Trump’s baffling error has made it easy for him
EU agrees deal to phase out Russian gas imports by 2027
Wednesday 3 December 2025 09:55 , Daniel KeaneEuropean officials have agreed a deal to phase out Russian gas imports by 2027, Ursula von der Leyen has said.
"This is the dawn of a new era, the era of Europe's full energy independence from Russia," the President of the EU Commission said.
The move comes as part of efforts to end the European dependence on Russian energy.
Ms Von der Leyen said that Russian gas imports were "down from 45% at the beginning of the war to 13", with crude oil imports down to 2%.
Pictured: Residents walk by buildings damaged by drone strikes in Kramatorsk
Wednesday 3 December 2025 09:50 , Daniel Keane
Britain ignites diplomatic row in India over Ukraine article
Wednesday 3 December 2025 09:35 , Daniel KeaneBritain’s High Commissioner to India has ignited a diplomatic row after penning an article in an Indian newspaper saying that Vladimir Putin is responsible for the war in Ukraine.
In a joint article with the ambassadors of France and Germany, Lindy Cameron wrote that Russia launched an “unprovoked war of aggression” - sparking anger in the pro-Russian country.
They wrote: “Every day sees new indiscriminate Russian attacks in this illegal war, targeting civilian infrastructure, destroying homes, hospitals, and schools. These are not the actions of someone that is serious about peace.”
Responding to the article, Kanwal Sibal, India’s former foreign secretary, said: “This vicious article against Russia just before Putin’s state visit to India breaches diplomatic norms, is a diplomatic insult to India as it questions India’s close ties with a very friendly third country.
“It is interference in our internal affairs as the purpose is to fuel anti-Russian sentiments in pro-European circles in India and question the morality of our ties with Russia.”
Watch: Yvette Cooper announces additional £10m to support Ukraine infrastructure
Wednesday 3 December 2025 09:15 , Daniel KeaneRussia 'preparing for long-term confrontation', warns Nato chief
Wednesday 3 December 2025 08:55 , James ReynoldsRussia is “preparing for a long-term confrontation”, Nato chief Mark Rutte warned on Wednesday after Putin threw cold water on ceasefire hopes after talks with US representatives.
Rutte told Nato foreign ministers in Brussels that Moscow was working with its cynical partners "to disrupt our societies and tear up the global rules".
He said the Nato military alliance was “stepping up our defence investments” in kind, but insisted “we all need to pull our weight”.
Rutte says Ukraine must be in strongest possible position in peace talks
Wednesday 3 December 2025 08:53 , Daniel KeaneNato secretary-general Mark Rutte has said that Ukraine must be in the strongest possible position in peace talks.
His comments came as European foreign ministers prepared to meet in Europe for talks on security for Ukraine.
Putin says Russia is ready for war if Europe wants it
Wednesday 3 December 2025 08:50 , James ReynoldsPresident Vladimir Putin has said Russia is ready to fight a war with Europe if it is provoked, as he accused leaders of sabotaging US-led efforts to end the war in Ukraine.
“We are not planning to go to war with Europe, but if Europe wants to and starts, we are ready right now,” he said on Tuesday. “They are on the side of war.”
He said Europe had made demands on a possible peace settlement for Ukraine, which he said Russia found “absolutely unacceptable”.
Read the full story:
Canada to buy $200m of equipment for Ukraine through PURL
Wednesday 3 December 2025 08:30 , James ReynoldsCanada will buy additional military material for Ukraine worth $200 million through the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) programme, the country’s foreign minister revealed on Wednesday.
Nato chief Mark Rutte said on Tuesday he expected new contributions from allies to the PURL programme to buy US arms for Ukraine in the coming days.
Germany announced a $200m procurement of military equipment through the PURL mechanism on Wednesday, ahead of a meeting of Nato foreign ministers.
NATO's Rutte says Ukraine must be in strongest possible position in peace talks
Wednesday 3 December 2025 08:10 , James ReynoldsNato’s Secretary General said on Wednesday it was good that peace talks to end the war in Ukraine were ongoing, but that it was necessary to make sure Ukraine was in the strongest possible position.
Mark Rutte said the best way to put pressure on Russia would be to make sure weapons keep flowing to Ukraine and economic sanctions bite.
His comments came ahead of a meeting of Nato foreign ministers in Brussels. Rutte has urged allies to procure military equipment to support Ukraine through the PURL scheme this week.
Recap: Kremlin unyielding after talks with Witkoff in Moscow
Wednesday 3 December 2025 07:48 , James ReynoldsThe Kremlin stuck fast to its demands in crunch talks with Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff on Tuesday, signalling that peace with Ukraine was not meaningfully any closer.
A spokesperson said that the meeting was “constructive” but that parts of the plan remained unacceptable to Russia. Putin had said earlier in the day that changes proposed by Europe and Kyiv had thrown up complications, being careful not to appear obstinate to US mediators.
He said European countries were trying to sabotage negotiations with “absolutely unacceptable” demands, adding that Russia was “ready” to fight a war in Europe if forced to.
Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said the talks were “constructive and meaningful” but “we are no closer to resolving the crisis in Ukraine, and there is much work to do”.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio conceded that “we’ve gotten closer, but we are still not there”.
Ukraine, meanwhile, continued talks with the US. President Zelensky said on Tuesday they had whittled the 28-point original draft plan down to 20 points, though “some things still need to be worked out”.
Full story: Russian-flagged tanker ‘attacked off Turkish coast’
Wednesday 3 December 2025 00:15 , Alex CroftA Russian-flagged tanker carrying sunflower oil has reportedly been attacked off the Turkish coast, though its 13 crew members are unharmed, Turkey's maritime authority confirmed on Tuesday.
The vessel, MIDVOLGA-2, reported the incident 80 miles (130 km) from the Turkish coastline.
It did not request assistance, proceeding instead towards Turkey's Sinop port, the Maritime Affairs Directorate stated on X. Broadcaster NTV suggested the attack involved a kamikaze drone.
