Donald Trump warned Ukraine may end up Russian some day, while claiming that the war-hit nation had agreed to a rare earth minerals deal with the US.
"They may make a deal. They may not make a deal. They may be Russian someday, or they may not be Russian someday.
“But we’re going to have all this money in [Ukraine] and I say, I want it back," the president said in an interview with Fox News.
"I told them that I want the equivalent of like $500 billion worth of rare earths, and they’ve essentially agreed to do that.”
Meanwhile, Zelensky warned that if Trump withdraws US support for Ukraine, Europe will not be able to fill the gap.
“There are voices which say that Europe could offer security guarantees without the Americans, and I always say no,” the Ukrainian president told The Guardian.
Parts of Ukraine were plunged into darkness by emergency blackouts after Vladimir Putin’s forces launched a massive overnight missile attack on Kyiv’s energy grid.
Ukraine's state energy company, Ukrenergo, said it imposed emergency blackouts due to the Russian attack.
Key Points
- US schoolteacher held in Russia since 2021 released, White House says
- Ukraine plunged into blackout after Russian missile attack
- Trump says ‘Ukraine may be Russian someday'
- All of Putin’s conditions must be met before peace deal finalised, his minister says
- Trump envoy headed to Ukraine soon
At least one killed in Kyiv in multiple Russian strikes
03:47
,
Shweta Sharma
At least one person has been killed in Kyiv after multiple Russian strikes this morning caused fires to break out and damage to structures in various parts of the capital.
Ukraine's air defences are trying to repel a sudden Russian air attack on Kyiv, military and city officials said early today.
Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko said that a huge industrial fire is raging in the Obolon district, with initial reports indicating damage to nearby buildings.
Emergency crews have been deployed to tackle the fire.
According to the Kyiv Independent, at least four Iskander ballistic missiles were used in the strikes.
Zelensky says Ukraine is ready to swap territories with Russia
03:16
,
Shweta Sharma
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has said he is ready to swap Ukrainian-occupied territory in Kursk for Russian-held territories in Ukraine in potential peace negotiations led by Donald Trump.
"We will swap one territory for another," Mr Zelensky said in an interview with the Guardian published yesterday.
He did not specify the Ukrainian territories he would ask for. "I don't know, we will see. But all our territories are important, there is no priority," he added.
Russia currently occupies about 20 per cent of Ukraine, mostly in the country's east and south. By comparison, Ukrainian-held territory in Russia's Kursk currently covers an area roughly the size of Detroit, according to one estimate from a Ukrainian military analyst last month.
Watch: Trump says 'Ukraine may be Russian one day'
02:59
,
Athena Stavrou
Multiple explosions heard in Kyiv
02:58
,
Shweta Sharma
Ukraine’s air defence system is trying to repel a sudden attack on Kyiv, military and city officials said today.
"It is loud in the capital," mayor Vitali Klitschko said on the Telegram messaging app. "Air defence units are in operation. Stay in shelters!'
Ukraine's Air Force said that Kyiv was under threat of a ballistic attack.
Air raid alerts were imposed only at the start of the attack.
Europe cannot secure Ukraine without US, Zelensky warns
01:43
,
Athena Stavrou
If Donald Trump withdraws US support for Ukraine, Europe alone will be unable to fill the gap, Volodymyr Zelensky warned.
“There are voices which say that Europe could offer security guarantees without the Americans, and I always say no,” the Ukrainian president told The Guardian.
“Those who are helping us to save Ukraine will [have the chance to] renovate it, with their businesses together with Ukrainian businesses. All these things we are ready to speak about in detail,” he said.
What happened to the North Korean troops fighting Ukraine on the frontline?
00:28
,
Athena Stavrou
British embassy employee accused of assaulting journalist in Russia
Tuesday 11 February 2025 23:31
,
Athena Stavrou
Pictured: American school teacher Marc Fogel on plane back to US after release from Russian prison
Tuesday 11 February 2025 22:25
,
Athena Stavrou
"We are moving in the right direction to end the brutal and terrible war in Ukraine'
Tuesday 11 February 2025 21:35
,
Athena Stavrou
The White House’s national security adviser Mike Waltz has said the world is “moving in the right direction” to end the “brutal and terrible” war in Ukraine.
Waltz spoke to reporters as he announced US schoolteacher Marc Fogel had been released after having been held in Russia since 2021.
The development comes as Trump seeks to set the foundation for peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.
Who is Marc Fogel?
Tuesday 11 February 2025 20:43
,
Athena Stavrou
Marc Fogel is a US schoolteacher who had been held in Russia since 2021.
On Tuesday, the White House confirmed that he had been released and would be back on US soil imminently.
Fogel was sentenced to 14 years in prison for drug smuggling after he was detained in Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport in August 2021 with 17 grams of marijuana - which he said he uses for medical reasons - in his luggage.
He was left out of a historic swap of prisoners last August that involved 24 prisoners - 16 sent from Russia to the West, including Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, and eight sent back to Russia from the West.
US schoolteacher held in Russia since 2021 released, White House says
Tuesday 11 February 2025 19:59
,
Athena Stavrou
A US schoolteacher who has been held in Russia since 2021 has been released, the White House has said.
White House national security adviser Mike Waltz said Marc Fogel had been picked up by Steve Witkoff, Trump's chief Middle East envoy, on Tuesday,
The development was described as a move in “the right direction” by Waltz, and comes as Trump seeks to set the foundation for peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.
"By tonight, Marc Fogel will be on American soil and reunited with his family and loved ones thanks to President Trump’s leadership,” Waltz said.
Fogel was sentenced to 14 years in prison for drug smuggling after he was detained in Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport in August 2021 with 17 grams of marijuana - which he said he uses for medical reasons - in his luggage.
“We are beyond grateful, relieved, and overwhelmed that after more than three years of detention, our father, husband, and son, Marc Fogel, is finally coming home," the Fogel family said in a statement.
The White House statement did not say if the United States gave up anything to secure Fogel's release.
Russian sappers defuse French-made SCALP cruise missile in Kursk region, ministry says
Tuesday 11 February 2025 19:01
,
Athena Stavrou
Sappers from Russia's Emergency Situations Ministry have defused a downed French-made SCALP cruise missile in the Kursk region, the ministry said on Tuesday.
Ukrainian forces have occupied a pocket of territory in Russia's Kursk region since launching a surprise incursion there in August last year. Russia has recaptured around two thirds of the territory so far and is battling for the rest.
JD Vance to meet Zelensky
Tuesday 11 February 2025 18:37
,
Athena Stavrou
The vice president of the US, JD Vance, is set to meet Volodymyr Zelensky.
Reuters reported the meeting would be taking place on Friday, citing POLITICO.
On Monday, Zelensky said that “serious” members of Trump's team will travel to Ukraine this week, the first such visit since Trump took office.
US Treasury Secretary Bessent to visit Ukraine for talks on rare earth minerals
Tuesday 11 February 2025 18:09
,
Athena Stavrou
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will travel to Ukraine this week to discuss a potential deal concerning rare earth minerals, according to a source familiar with his plans.
Bessent will be the first cabinet-level official in US President Donald Trump's administration to visit Ukraine.
Both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Trump have expressed interest in a pact that would give the United States access to Ukraine's rare earth resources in exchange for continued support in fending off the Russian invasion.
The source, who requested anonymity as the plans were still confidential, did not offer additional details on the itinerary. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Ukrainian gas production facilities damaged
Tuesday 11 February 2025 17:41
,
Athena Stavrou
Natural gas production facilities were damaged in Ukraine after a Russian overnight.
The state-run oil and gas firm Naftogaz and Energy Minister German Galushchenko confirmed the grou’s production facilities in the Poltava region were damaged on Tuesday.
There were no casualties.
Ukraine's largest private energy company DTEK said that its gas production facility in the Poltava region was also hit.
"The facility is out of operation. Damage and destruction are being assessed," it said on Telegram.
The Ukrainian air force said Russia had carried out a combined attack, using 19 cruise, ballistic and guided missiles against gas production facilities in the Poltava region.
No missiles were reported shot down, but nine settlements in the Myrhorod district had been left without gas.
US will not send troops to Ukraine, Pentagon chief says
Tuesday 11 February 2025 16:25
,
Athena Stavrou
President Donald Trump's administration is not sending troops into Ukraine, the US Defence secretary has said.
Speaking with reporters on Tuesday in Germany, Pete Hegseth also said that he would push European allies to spend more on defence when he meets with them this week.
"The European continent deserves to be free from any aggression, but it ought be those in the neighborhood investing the most in that individual and collective defense," Hegseth said.
Zelensky ready to swap Kyiv-held land in Russia's Kursk region for Ukrainian territories
Tuesday 11 February 2025 15:59
,
Athena Stavrou
Volodymyr Zelensky has said he would offer to swap land in Russia's Kursk region for Ukrainian territories Russia currently occupies.
"We will swap one territory for another," Zelensky told The Guardian
He did not specify the Ukrainian territories he would ask for. "I don't know, we will see. But all our territories are important, there is no priority," he added.
Russia currently occupies about 20% of Ukrainian territory in the country's east and south as the full-scale invasion it launched on February 24 approaches its third anniversary.
Ukraine staged a surprise offensive into the Kursk region of western Russia last August and still holds part of the initially captured territory, although its size has dwindled in the course of Russian counter-attacks.
The fatal lengths North Korean soldiers will go to to avoid capture by Ukraine
Tuesday 11 February 2025 15:45
,
Alexander Butler
Drones become most common cause of death for civilians in Ukraine war, UN says
Tuesday 11 February 2025 15:15
,
Alexander Butler
Short-range aerial drones were the most common killer of civilians in Ukraine in January, the U.N.'s monitoring mission said on Tuesday, highlighting how drone use has ballooned during three years of war with Russia.
The U.N. mission said at least 139 civilians were killed and 738 wounded in January 2025, with 27% of the deaths and 30% of the injuries caused by short-range drones.
In total, the U.N. says nearly 12,500 civilians have been killed in the war including 650 children - though it has repeatedly said its tally is an undercount since it only includes deaths its teams have managed to verify.
Russia forced to use donkeys to bring ammunition to Putin’s troops in Ukraine as military vehicles run short
Tuesday 11 February 2025 15:00
,
Alexander Butler
Watch: Trump says 'Ukraine may be Russian one day'
Tuesday 11 February 2025 14:45
,
Alexander Butler
Emergency restrictions in Ukraine after Russia pounds gas infrastructure
Tuesday 11 February 2025 14:38
,
Alexander Butler
Ukraine's energy minister has introduced emergency restrictions after Russia hit gas infrastructure overnight.
"Another attack on Ukraine's energy system is under way," German Galushchenko said in the early hours of the morning.
"At night, the enemy attacked the gas infrastructure. As of this morning, the energy sector is still under attack."
Russia has consistently targeted Ukrainian energy infrastructure in a bid to economically cripple Kyiv and bring down morale.
Europe cannot secure Ukraine without US, Zelensky warns
Tuesday 11 February 2025 14:21
,
Alexander Butler
If Donald Trump withdraws US support for Ukraine, Europe alone will be unable to fill the gap, Volodymyr Zelensky warned.
“There are voices which say that Europe could offer security guarantees without the Americans, and I always say no,” the Ukrainian president told The Guardian.
“Those who are helping us to save Ukraine will [have the chance to] renovate it, with their businesses together with Ukrainian businesses. All these things we are ready to speak about in detail,” he said.
What happened to the North Korean troops fighting Ukraine on the frontline?
Tuesday 11 February 2025 14:00
,
Alexander Butler
Mapped: Ukraine’s counterattack into the Russian Kursk region explained
Tuesday 11 February 2025 13:45
,
Alexander Butler
Russia forced to use donkeys to bring ammunition to Putin’s troops in Ukraine as military vehicles run short
Tuesday 11 February 2025 13:30
,
Alexander Butler
Two Colombian men ‘kidnapped’ by Putin in Venezuela for fighting in Ukraine
Tuesday 11 February 2025 13:04
,
Alexander Butler
Ukraine plunged into blackout after Russian missile attack
Tuesday 11 February 2025 12:49
,
Alexander Butler
Ukraine was plunged into a blackout after Vladimir Putin’s forces launched a massive overnight missile attack on Kyiv’s energy grid.
Ukraine's state energy company, Ukrenergo, said it imposed emergency blackouts due to the Russian attack.
Drones become most common cause of death for civilians in Ukraine war, UN says
Tuesday 11 February 2025 12:30
,
Alexander Butler
Short-range aerial drones were the most common killer of civilians in Ukraine in January, the U.N.'s monitoring mission said on Tuesday, highlighting how drone use has ballooned during three years of war with Russia.
The U.N. mission said at least 139 civilians were killed and 738 wounded in January 2025, with 27% of the deaths and 30% of the injuries caused by short-range drones.
In total, the U.N. says nearly 12,500 civilians have been killed in the war including 650 children - though it has repeatedly said its tally is an undercount since it only includes deaths its teams have managed to verify.
Aerial drones, which at the start of the war were mostly seen as an auxiliary tool, have become one of the most important battlefield weapons in the conflict, with both Ukraine and Russia producing well over a million each in 2024.
‘Donkeys used by Russian army’ amid vehicle shortage
Tuesday 11 February 2025 12:00
,
Alexander Butler
Donkeys are being used by Russian troops to move weaponry to the frontline in Ukraine amid a shortage of military vehicles, according to war bloggers.
The animals were being provided directly to troops by the Russian defence ministry, a number of unnamed soldiers said on Telegram.
Russia is estimated to have lost about 20,000 pieces of military equipment since the start of its all-out invasion of Ukraine almost three years ago, figures show.
Russian Telegram channel Mayorsky KortiZol published a video on 5 February in which a Russian soldier said he was given a donkey.
“They gave us a donkey. It’s parked in the support platoon. We have sh*t for transport, right? Here’s a donkey. Use it to transport ammunition to the front lines,” he said.
What happened to the North Korean troops fighting Ukraine on the frontline?
Tuesday 11 February 2025 11:30
,
Alexander Butler
Mapped: Where are Ukraine's rare earth mineral resources and why does Trump want them?
Tuesday 11 February 2025 11:00
,
Alexander Butler
The defenders of Kyiv using World War Two-style machine guns on farm trailers
Tuesday 11 February 2025 10:30
,
Alexander Butler
The fatal lengths North Korean soldiers will go to to avoid capture by Ukraine
Tuesday 11 February 2025 10:00
,
Alexander Butler
Emergency restrictions in Ukraine after Russia pounds gas infrastructure
Tuesday 11 February 2025 09:00
,
Alexander Butler
Ukraine's energy minister has introduced emergency restrictions after Russia hit gas infrastructure overnight.
"Another attack on Ukraine's energy system is under way," German Galushchenko said in the early hours of the morning.
"At night, the enemy attacked the gas infrastructure. As of this morning, the energy sector is still under attack."
Russia has consistently targeted Ukrainian energy infrastructure in a bid to economically cripple Kyiv and bring down morale.
Ukraine’s leading rapper is now leading drone warfare against Russia
Tuesday 11 February 2025 08:37
,
Alexander Butler
Trump aides to visit Ukraine for first time, Zelensky says
Tuesday 11 February 2025 08:35
,
Alexander Butler
"Serious" members of Trump's team will travel to Ukraine for the first time this week, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said late last night.
He also confirmed plans to meet Vice President JD Vance at the Munich conference, which begins on Friday.
Zelenskyy said his team were attempting to organise a meeting with Trump.
"This week, some people from the Trump team, serious ones, will be in Ukraine - even before the Munich conference," he said.
Poland activates aircraft after Russian strikes on Ukraine
Tuesday 11 February 2025 08:07
,
Alexander Butler
Polish and allied aircraft were activated early on Tuesday to ensure safety in areas bordering the threatened zones after Russia launched air strikes on Ukraine, the Operational Command of the Polish armed forces said.
"The Operational Command of the Armed Forces is monitoring the current situation, and its forces and resources remain in full readiness for immediate response," the Command said on X.
Trump says ‘Ukraine may be Russian someday'
Tuesday 11 February 2025 07:40
,
Arpan Rai
Donald Trump has said Ukraine may or may not lose its sovereignty to Russia.
The US president has also repeated his pitch for compensation from the war-hit country in return for the aid provided by the US, irrespective of how the war ends.
"They may make a deal. They may not make a deal. They may be Russian someday, or they may not be Russian someday. But we’re going to have all this money in (Ukraine) and I say, I want it back," Mr Trump said in an interview with Fox News’s Bret Baier.
Trump says Ukraine 'essentially agrees' to rare earth deal worth billions
Tuesday 11 February 2025 07:33
,
Arpan Rai
Donald Trump has claimed that Ukraine has "essentially agreed" to a $500b resource deal.
"I told them that I want the equivalent of like $500 billion worth of rare earth (minerals), and they’ve essentially agreed to do that," the US president said.
Zelensky says Trump aides to visit Ukraine for first time this week
Tuesday 11 February 2025 07:15
Volodymyr Zelensky has said that "serious" members of US president Donald Trump's team would travel to Ukraine this week for the first time, as diplomatic efforts to end the war with Russia intensify.
"This week, some people from the Trump team, serious ones, will be in Ukraine - even before the Munich conference," he said in a video released by the UNIAN news agency.
Mr Zelensky also confirmed that he planned to meet US vice president JD Vance at the Munich conference and that his team was trying to set up a meeting with Mr Trump.
"Our teams are also working on dialogue and a meeting with president Trump," he said, days after the US president said he would "probably" meet with Mr Zelensky this week.
Poland activates aircraft after Russian strikes on Ukraine
Tuesday 11 February 2025 06:55
,
Arpan Rai
Polish and allied aircraft were activated early today to ensure safety in areas bordering the threatened zones after Russia launched air strikes on Ukraine, the Operational Command of the Polish armed forces said.
"The Operational Command of the Armed Forces is monitoring the current situation, and its forces and resources remain in full readiness for immediate response," the Command said on X.
Kremlin claims relations with US ‘are balancing on the brink of a breakup’
Tuesday 11 February 2025 06:45
,
Tom Watling
White House officials ready to meet with Zelensky in Munich
Tuesday 11 February 2025 06:23
,
Arpan Rai
President Donald Trump's senior advisers are expected to meet with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky this week on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference to discuss the path toward ending Russia's nearly three-year war in Ukraine.
Retired Lt Gen Keith Kellogg, Trump's special envoy to Ukraine and Russia, said that the White House is ironing out details of the highly anticipated talks during the annual summit for international security discussions.
US vice president JD Vance, secretary of state Marco Rubio and Mr Kellogg are among the Trump administration officials traveling to Germany for the summit, and all could be involved in the critical talks with Zelenskyy and his team on the sidelines of the event.
"Knowing how the process works, it would probably be better for Zelensky if we all met together and talked through it as a group," Mr Kellogg said in an interview.
Mr Trump yesterday said he'd "probably" speak with the Ukrainian president this week.
Ukraine rolls out power restrictions after Russia's attacks on gas infrastructure
Tuesday 11 February 2025 06:08
,
Arpan Rai
Ukraine imposed emergency power restrictions after overnight and morning attacks by Russia on gas infrastructure, said Ukraine energy minister, German Galushchenko.
"The enemy launched an attack on gas infrastructure overnight," Galushchenko said in a post on social media. "As of this morning, the energy sector continues to be under attack."
To minimize possible consequences for the energy system, emergency power restrictions were being imposed, he said.
Weapons cleared by Biden still flowing to Ukraine, says US special envoy
Tuesday 11 February 2025 02:50
,
Arpan Rai
Shipments of arms and ammunition previously approved by former president Joe Biden are still flowing into Ukraine, the US special envoy to Ukraine said.
The US always likes selling weapons made in America because it strengthens our economy, retired lieutenant general Keith Kellogg told Reuters in an interview.
"There's not necessarily any need in the next 24 hours to it any different," he said.
Mr Biden approved more than $65bn in security assistance to Ukraine during his time in office, including billions in the final months of his administration.
As Russian bombards key Ukraine stronghold – hope lives underground
Tuesday 11 February 2025 02:00
,
Tom Watling
Where are Ukraine's mineral resources and why does Trump want them?
Tuesday 11 February 2025 01:00
,
Tom Watling
Pope Francis reminds armies to ‘always respect international law’
Tuesday 11 February 2025 00:00
,
Tom Watling
Trump says Ukraine Russia war is going to end after Putin phone call
Monday 10 February 2025 23:00
,
Tom Watling
Why Trump wants Ukraine’s rare earths
Monday 10 February 2025 22:00
,
Tom Watling
Mapped: Ukraine’s new attack into the Russian Kursk region explained
Monday 10 February 2025 21:00
,
Tom Watling