Senior 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 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 Russia to “end the bloodshed it has started”. “Russia must stop wasting the world’s time, which must be the time for peace,” he said.
This comes as Donald Trump has insisted his administration believes 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.
Key Points
- Putin accused of 'wasting the world's time' after Trump's peace plan stalls
- Trump aides 'strongly' believe Putin wants a deal, president says
- Putin feigning interest in peace, say Europe and Kyiv
- King Charles warns of ‘threat of Russian aggression’ in state banquet speech
- Analysis: After Putin’s chilling threat, is Europe ready for war with Russia?
In pictures: Devastation in the aftermath of a Russian strike in Sloviansk
08:00 , James Reynolds 50,000 people left without power following Russian strikes
07:28 , James ReynoldsRussia attacked a Ukrainian energy facility in the southern Odesa region overnight, leaving 51,800 households without power.
Energy workers are working to restore the electricity as soon as possible, energy company DTEK said in a statement on Telegram.
Drone video shows devastated Ukrainian town nearly encircled by Russian forces
07:15 , Arpan RaiNew drone footage shows a devastated Ukrainian town nearly encircled by Russian forces near the city that Moscow this week claimed to now control.
Barely a street appears to be untouched in Myrnohrad in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region, 12km (7 miles) from the key logistics hub of Pokrovsk.
Some destruction is so fresh that smoke was still rising in the footage shot in the past few days.
“They are trying to simply erase the (town) from the face of the earth,” said Oleksii Hodzenko, press officer of the drone battalion of the 38th Marine Brigade, whose soldiers were still fighting inside Myrnohrad Wednesday.
Drone footage shows devastated Ukrainian town nearly encircled by Russian forces
Putin accused of 'wasting the world's time' after Trump's peace plan stalls
07:00 , 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."
Macron urges Xi to step up efforts on Ukraine
06:33 , Arpan RaiFrench president Emmanuel Macron urged Chinese leader Xi Jinping to cooperate more closely on geopolitics, trade and the environment, as the European Union seeks China's help to end the war in Ukraine.
"Now, more than ever, dialogue between China and France is vital," Macron told his host during their meeting at Beijing's Great Hall of the People.
"I propose a positive three-fold agenda for our relations, one of geopolitical stability, of economic rebalancing, and of environmental sustainability,” he said.
"We have to continue to rally in favour of peace and stability in the world," he added, referring to the conflict in Ukraine. "Our ability to work together is decisive."
Additionally, Xi told Macron that China remained committed to promoting peace in Ukraine and Gaza.
Keep energy infrastructure out of war, Turkey tells Russia and Ukraine
06:16 , Arpan RaiTurkey is telling Russia, Ukraine, and all other parties to keep energy infrastructure out of their conflict and wants energy flows to continue uninterrupted, energy minister Alparslan Bayraktar said after a series of attacks off Turkey's Black Sea coast.
Ukraine, which is targeting Russia's oil exports as Moscow bombards its power grid, has taken responsibility for an attack by sea borne drones on two empty tankers heading towards a Russian port last week.
But it denied any link to another incident on Tuesday in which a Russian-flagged tanker loaded with sunflower oil said it had come under drone attack.
"Hopefully, this horrible war will end. But as of today also, we say to all the parties - Russia and Ukraine - to keep the energy infrastructure out of this war," Bayraktar told journalists in embargoed comments.
"We need to keep the energy flows uninterrupted," he said, adding that routes like the Caspian Pipeline Consortium pipeline should be kept safe.
Putin 'is dragging his feet', says Starmer
06:09 , Arpan RaiSir 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."
Putin kickstarts two-day visit to India today
06:00 , Arpan RaiVladimir Putin begins his first trip to India in four years today.
Putin is scheduled to arrive on the state visit and hold talks with Indian prime minister Narendra Modi tomorrow. They are expected to review progress on bilateral ties, discuss issues of mutual interest and sign interdepartmental and business agreements, both governments said.
India has continued to buy discounted Russian oil, despite warnings from Washington that this is partly keeping Moscow’s revenues afloat to fund the Ukraine war. US president Donald Trump has imposed additional 25 per cent tariffs on Indian imports, raising the total duties to 50 per cent, in retaliation.
His visit comes at a critical time as Washington presses the South Asian nation to curb energy purchases from Russia. The Russian leader will be accompanied by executives from major firms, including Sberbank.
Russia and India aim to lift bilateral trade to $100bn. Russia's central bank said on Wednesday it had opened an office in Mumbai "to advance the interests of the Russian financial sector."
Once again, Vladimir Putin indicates he wants the war in Europe to go on
05:48 , Arpan RaiThe Kremlin has denied that Vladimir Putin rejected a peace deal brokered by the United States, but even Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Donald Trump’s emissaries, could draw no other conclusion after five hours of talks with the Russian president.
Mr Witkoff, the US president’s special envoy, and Mr Kushner, his son-in-law and an informal architect of the Gaza peace plan, reflect their president’s desperation to do a deal. Yet even after these stooges talked to Putin from 7pm until midnight, all that a Kremlin spokesperson would say was that the meeting was “useful, constructive and meaningful”, but that “we are no closer to resolving the crisis in Ukraine, and there is much work to do”.
In other words, the Russian president is stalling for time. Again. He hopes that Mr Trump’s visible hankering for the Nobel Peace Prize will cause him to put pressure on the Ukrainians to agree to a deal that is tantamount to surrender.
Once again, Vladimir Putin indicates he wants the war in Europe to go on
King Charles says Britain and Germany are united in bolstering Europe against threat of Putin
05:20 , Arpan RaiBritain and Germany are united in support of Ukraine, said King Charles, with the two nations ready to “bolster Europe against the threat of further Russian agression”.
Addressing the German president Frank-Walter Steinmeier during a state banquet, the King said the two countries have a “deep friendship” rooted in trade, defence, and the “acknowledgement of past suffering”.
Charles spoke of the “darkest times” of the Second World War, and Mr Steinmeier said the ties between the nations had been “weaked by Brexit” - but both spoke of a strengthening relationship, with a new partnership deal signed in July.
King Charles says UK and Germany united against Russian threat
Romania destroys maritime drone in Black Sea
05:07 , Arpan RaiThe Romanian military blew up a maritime drone that was endangering navigation in the Black Sea, the Ministry of National Defence said yesterday, 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 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, the SBU's press service said in a statement.
"None of the SBU's Sea Baby drone systems have entered Romanian territorial waters," the statement said. "Ukraine unfailingly adheres to international law, does not violate international borders and treats its partners with respect."
Nato hits back at Putin’s threat of war in Europe as UK condemns ‘Kremlin claptrap’
04:47 , Arpan RaiNato and the UK have hit back at Vladimir Putin’s threat that Russia is “ready for war” with Europe.
British prime minister Sir Keir Starmer’s spokesperson said Putin’s comments were “Kremlin claptrap”, while Nato secretary general Mark Rutte insisted the alliance was “willing to do what it takes to protect our 1 billion people and secure our territory”.
The ramping up of rhetoric comes as hopes for a US-brokered peace deal in Ukraine fade. On Wednesday, a planned meeting between Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky and a US delegation was cancelled, hours after President Donald Trump’s team appeared to leave Moscow empty-handed.
Nato hits back at Putin’s threat of war in Europe as UK condemns ‘Kremlin claptrap’
Zelensky says more meetings on peace talks expected
04:37 , Arpan RaiVolodymyr Zelensky has said regular consultations are on with Ukraine’s partner in the US and talks are proceeding “quite effectively”.
“We’re preparing meetings in the United States – after the American team returns from Moscow and following the relevant consultations in Washington – Rustem Umerov, Andrii Hnatov, along with the rest of the negotiating team, will continue discussions with envoys of President Trump,” he said.
“We expect news in the coming days regarding such meetings, contacts, and talks – whether in person or by phone. All partners are in regular contact with each other and with Ukraine,” Zelensky added.
The Ukrainian war-time president stated that “everything is now proceeding quite effectively – at meetings in Geneva and Florida, Ukraine was heard, and Ukraine was listened to. And that matters. We expect it will continue exactly this way.”
“A dignified peace is only possible if Ukraine’s interests are taken into account,” he said, adding that the world feels there is a real opportunity to end the war.
We’re preparing meetings in the United States – after the American team returns from Moscow and following the relevant consultations in Washington – Rustem Umerov, Andrii Hnatov, along with the rest of the negotiating team, will continue discussions with envoys of President… pic.twitter.com/IZZ14YmdMe
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) December 3, 2025
US backs UN demand for Russia to return abducted Ukrainian children
04:20 , Arpan RaiThe United States joined 90 other countries at the United Nations to demand Russia "ensure the immediate, safe and unconditional return of all Ukrainian children who have been forcibly transferred or deported" and urge Moscow to stop the practice.
The adoption of the resolution by the 193-member General Assembly came a day after US president Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner met with Russian president Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin for talks on how to end the deadliest European conflict since the Second World War.
Russia urged countries to oppose the UN resolution, which was drafted by Ukraine, Canada and the European Union.
"Each vote for the resolution is support for lies, war and confrontation. Every vote against is a vote for peace," Russia's deputy UN ambassador Maria Zabolotskaya told the General Assembly ahead of the vote.
Russia and 11 other countries voted against the resolution, while 57 countries abstained. General Assembly resolutions are not binding but carry weight as a reflection of the global view.
Why a war with Europe has never looked so tempting to Putin
04:08 , Arpan RaiWhen Vladimir Putin says he is “ready” for war with Europe, he means it.
So much discussion about the talks between Donald Trump’s team and Putin gives the impression that either the Americans will strong-arm Ukraine into swallowing a deal acceptable to the Kremlin or, failing that, the war in Ukraine will just grind on. But no one should ignore the third option: the risk of war spreading.
Western sanctions have tried to strangle Russia’s oil exports to contain funding for Putin’s war effort. But Ukraine’s intelligence agency, the SBU, has been waging a sabotage campaign against Russian shipping far beyond Ukraine’s Black Sea coast. Attacking Russia’s “shadow fleet” of oil tankers in the Baltic as well as the Black Sea could draw Russian retaliation to coastal states like Denmark or Romania, who both also provide much aid to Ukraine.
Mark Almond writes:
Why a war with Europe has never looked so tempting to Putin
Kremlin says 'compromises not found' in peace talks
03:55 , Arpan RaiKremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, asked if it would be correct to say that Vladimir Putin had rejected the US proposals, disagreed.
"A direct exchange of views took place yesterday for the first time," Peskov said. "Some things were accepted, some things were marked as unacceptable. This is a normal working process of finding a compromise."
A Kremlin aide said after the meeting that "compromises have not yet been found”.
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.
01:01 , Jane Dalton 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.
What’s on the agenda for the Putin-Modi meeting?
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.
EU strikes deal to ban Russian gas imports
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:
Why a war with Europe has never looked so tempting to Putin
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”.
Putin says Russia is ready for war if Europe wants it
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.
What you need know about EU banning Russian gas imports
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