The White House has said a peace deal to end Russia’s three-year war in Ukraine has “never been closer” ahead of Donald Trump’s phone call with Vladimir Putin on Tuesday.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters last night: “I won't get ahead of those negotiations, but I can say we are on the 10th yard line of peace. And we've never been closer to a peace deal than we are in this moment. And the president, as you know, is determined to get one done."
Ms Leavitt’s remarks echo the US president’s own.
While flying from Florida to Washington on Air Force One on Sunday night, Mr Trump said: “We will see if we have something to announce maybe by Tuesday. I will be speaking to President Putin on Tuesday. A lot of work's been done over the weekend. We want to see if we can bring that war to an end.”
The US president's comments came as a Russian official said Moscow will seek "ironclad" guarantees in any peace deal that Nato nations will exclude Kyiv from membership, and that Ukraine will remain "neutral".
Russia’s deputy foreign minister Alexander Grushko also repeated the Kremlin’s position that Moscow is categorically against the deployment of Nato observers to Ukraine.
Key Points
- White House says peace deal close as Trump prepares for Putin call
- Trump to discuss power plant with Russia's Putin, White House says
- Carney and Macron reaffirm unwavering support for Ukraine
- Zelensky names new chief of general staff to enhance Ukraine's combat effectiveness
- Lithuania says Russian military intelligence was behind Ikea arson last year
Ahead of call with Putin, Trump says many elements agreed, 'much remains'
03:03
,
Arpan Rai
Donald Trump has said he will be speaking to the Russian president Vladimir Putin today in a highly anticipated call aimed at talks on ending the war in Ukraine.
“Tomorrow morning I will be speaking to President Putin concerning the War in Ukraine. Many elements of a Final Agreement have been agreed to, but much remains,” he said in a post on TruthSocial.
He added: “Thousands of young soldiers, and others, are being killed. Each week brings 2,500 soldier deaths, from both sides, and it must end NOW. I look very much forward to the call with President Putin.”
Revealed: Ukraine’s red lines for any peace deal with Putin
03:00
,
Tara Cobham
Ukraine has drawn up a series of red lines as the US tries to hammer out a ceasefire deal with Russia, The Independent understands.
After three years of war, the world is waiting to see if the 30-day plan accepted by Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday will find common ground with Vladimir Putin.
High-level Ukrainian sources briefed on the ongoing talks are warning there is little trust that Russia will accept a reasonable deal, adding: “We expect another trick.”
Chief international correspondent Bel Trew reports:
EU foreign policy chief in London today
02:59
,
Arpan Rai
The UK and the European Union are set to ramp up pressure on Russia and boost defence initiatives, as the EU's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas is meeting foreign minister David Lammy and defence minister John Healey in London today.
The talks will coordinate cooperation on Ukraine and discuss efforts to increase economic pressure on Russia, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said in a statement yesterday.
The discussions will also include stepping up action against hybrid threats such as cyberattacks, election interference and rampant Russian disinformation, the statement said.
Conditions demanded by Russia to agree to a ceasefire show that Moscow does not really want peace, Ms Kallas told reporters in Brussels yesterday.
Ms Kallas and Mr Lammy will also set review efforts to boost European defence spending through 'innovative initiatives' and military readiness in support of Nato.
"It's vital we upgrade our partnership with the EU and work together to bring an end to this war and deliver security of all of our citizens," Mr Lammy said.
Watch: Meet the American medic serving on Ukraine's frontline
02:00
,
Tara Cobham
Ukrainian and Russian energy assets in focus as Trump-Putin talks loom
01:00
,
Tara Cobham
US President Donald Trump said he plans to speak to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday and discuss ending the war in Ukraine, with concessions being considered around land and "power plants", without giving further details.
Ukraine's energy infrastructure has been the target of large-scale attacks since Russia's invasion in 2022, resulting in blackouts and freezing conditions for millions of people.
Ukraine has retaliated by launching long-range drone attacks on Russian oil refineries, pumping stations and ports used for oil and gas exports.
Trump’s explanation for failing to end Russia-Ukraine war in 24 hours as promised
00:00
,
Tara Cobham
President Donald Trump says he was “being a little bit sarcastic” when he repeatedly claimed on the campaign trail he would have the Russia-Ukraine war solved within 24 hours.
Trump made the rare admission when was asked about the vow he repeatedly made as a candidate - as his administration continues to try to broker a solution almost 60 days into his second term.
“Well, I was being a little bit sarcastic when I said that,” Trump said in a preview of an interview for the Full Measure television program, before it was due to air on Sunday.
Michelle L. Price reports:
Watch: Putin ally clashes with LBC host as he claims Ukrainians are 'thankful' for Russian invasion
Monday 17 March 2025 23:00
,
Tara Cobham
EU foreign affairs chief to meet Lammy and Healey
Monday 17 March 2025 22:53
,
Tara Cobham
The EU foreign affairs chief will meet with David Lammy and John Healey on Tuesday to discuss increasing economic pressure on Russia and supporting Ukraine.
Kaja Kallas is due to hold talks with the Foreign Secretary and Defence Secretary. It comes as the UK and France have continued their efforts to bring together a coalition of nations who would be willing to enforce a peace deal.
Their conversations are expected to touch on EU/UK co-operation on Ukraine, as well as how they can put financial pressure on Moscow and ensure damage in Ukraine is paid for.
They are also expected to discuss action against cyberattacks and disinformation.
Ms Kallas is also expected to receive a briefing from the Chief of Defence Staff.
Many elements of Ukraine deal agreed but much remains, Trump says ahead of Putin call
Monday 17 March 2025 22:51
,
Tara Cobham
US President Donald Trump on Monday said many elements of a final deal on Ukraine had been agreed to but much remained, ahead of a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday.
"I look very much forward to the call with President Putin," he wrote on Truth Social.
Russia advances in southern Ukraine, defence ministry says
Monday 17 March 2025 22:12
,
Tara Cobham
Russian forces were on Monday advancing in southern Ukraine and had pierced part of the Ukrainian lines less than 50 km (30 miles) southeast of the city of Zaporizhzhia, according to Russian officials and pro-Russian military bloggers.
The reports could not be independently verified.
Russia's Defence Ministry said in a statement that its forces had taken the village of Stepove in the Zaporizhzhia region, pushing through Ukrainian lines.
Ukraine's military made no acknowledgement that Stepove was in Russian hands.
A late evening military bulletin said Ukrainian forces had repelled attacks near Stepove and the nearby village of Lobkove, and three battles were still going on in the vicinity.
Yuri Podolyaka, one of the most influential pro-Russian military bloggers, said Russian forces had also smashed their way into the nearby village of Maly Shcherbaky.
"Our units have broken through the first line of defence in the Zaporizhzhia direction," Podolyaka said.
The popular Ukrainian blog Deep State, which tracks the front line of the war using open sources, said Russian forces had been spotted near Stepove and, despite Ukrainian attempts to contain them, had made some advances towards a major road.
Deep State also reported that Russian forces were continuing to press forward to Maly Shcherbaky and another village south of Stepove.
Trump and Putin are 'very good friends' focused on strengthening ties, says Gabbard
Monday 17 March 2025 22:10
,
Tara Cobham
US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin "are very good friends" who are focused on ways to strengthen the bonds between the United States and Russia, US director of national intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has said.
Ms Gabbard said ties between Russia and the US go "very far back" and that Mr Trump is committed to expanding a relationship centred "around peace, prosperity, freedom and security".
"We have two leaders of two great countries who are very good friends and very focused on how we can strengthen the shared objectives and shared interests," Ms Gabbard said in an interview with India's NDTV, portions of which were released on Monday ahead of its broadcast.
Ms Gabbard's comments reflect the dramatic shift in US-Russia relations under Mr Trump, who has boasted of his relationship with Mr Putin, blamed Ukraine for Russia's invasion and taken a hard line against Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
What to expect as Trump and Putin thrash out a ceasefire in Ukraine
Monday 17 March 2025 22:00
,
Tara Cobham
The Kremlin has now confirmed that Vladimir Putin will speak on the phone to Donald Trump tomorrow. The White House says Ukraine’s President Zelensky will come to Washington on Friday. Peace – or at least a ceasefire – seems very likely soon.
But never forget, the devil is in the details – and a hastily cobbled-together deal could be very fragile. There will be hardliners on either side who don’t want to give peace a chance.
Let’s consider what might be in a deal agreeable to Trump and Putin – and swallowable by Zelensky.
Mark Almond writes:
Ukraine ready for ceasefire but Russia must stop setting conditions, says Zelensky
Monday 17 March 2025 21:26
,
Tara Cobham
Ukraine is ready for a ceasefire but, for it to be implemented, Russia must stop setting conditions, Volodymyr Zelensky has said.
The Ukrainian president said he discussed this in his conversation with French president Emmanuel Macron on Monday.
He said the two leaders also spoke about the coalition of countries willing to work with Ukraine to bring about peace, describing the number as “growing”.
I spoke with President of France @EmmanuelMacron. As always, it was a very constructive conversation.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) March 17, 2025
We discussed the results of the leaders’ online meeting that took place on Saturday. The coalition of countries willing to work with us to bring about a just and lasting peace… pic.twitter.com/5oy1yheKnV
White House says peace deal close as Trump prepares for Putin call
Monday 17 March 2025 21:04
,
Tara Cobham
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt wouldn't get into details about Tuesday's scheduled call between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. But she sounded optimistic that the talks can help push Russia closer to a deal to end it's three-year war in Ukraine.
"I won't get ahead of those negotiations, but I can say we are on the 10th yard line of peace," Leavitt told reporters Monday. "And we've never been closer to a peace deal than we are in this moment. And the president, as you know, is determined to get one done."
Italy and Spain not ready to back EU plan to boost Ukraine military aid
Monday 17 March 2025 21:00
,
Tara Cobham
Italy and Spain made clear on Monday they were not ready to back a European Union proposal to pledge up to €40 billion ($43.67 billion) in military aid for Ukraine this year, with each country contributing according to the size of its economy.
The proposal by EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas could mean a doubling of EU military support for Ukraine in its war against Russia's invasion as the bloc and its members gave some €20 billion in 2024.
EU officials say it is vital to keep backing Ukraine on the battlefield amid uncertainty over the future of US support under Donald Trump's administration, which has ended Russia's diplomatic isolation and is pressing both sides to negotiate.
After a meeting on Monday of foreign ministers from the EU's 27 countries in Brussels, Kallas said her proposal had "broad political support" and discussions were now going into details.
The proposal has strong backing from northern and eastern European countries, according to diplomats.
But some southern European capitals have been more reticent, reflecting a division between those geographically closer to Russia that have given more aid to Ukraine and those further away that have given less, as a share of their economies.
Estonia, Denmark and Lithuania lead the field in Europe, having given more than 2 per cent of their GDP in aid to Kyiv between January 2022 and December 2024, according to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy think tank.
Italy, Slovenia, Spain, Portugal, Greece and Cyprus are among those to have given the least, having provided less than 0.5 per cent of their GDP.
Hungary, which has the EU's most Russia-friendly government, is bottom of the EU table.
US aid and intelligence suspension had no 'material effect' on Ukraine, says Lammy
Monday 17 March 2025 20:00
,
Tara Cobham
A US suspension on sharing military aid and intelligence with Ukraine did not have a "material effect" on Kyiv's ability to fight Russian forces, UK foreign secretary David Lammy has said.
Conservative shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel had earlier told the Commons: "It is very welcome that the US military aid and intelligence sharing has resumed and vital that the US and Ukraine continue to work together in the face of this appalling conflict."
She asked Mr Lammy to set out his discussions with US counterparts on the suspension and "his assessments of the consequences caused".
Dame Priti also said: "While we await further details of the proposed 30-day ceasefire, Russia's response shows exactly why the Euro-Atlantic community must be resolute in the face of [Vladimir] Putin's aggression and that he will seek to pursue long-held strategic objectives that he has not achieved on the battlefield through hypothetical negotiations, which means we must be robust."
Mr Lammy said in his response: "I'm pleased to say that our assessment is that that pause as she will know was for a short period, not an extended period, and therefore it has not had a material effect.
"But we were pleased to see that resume, and we were pleased to see what flowed from Jeddah which was the United States, European allies and president [Volodymyr] Zelensky of Ukraine absolutely squared with the need for that ceasefire, and it is for Putin to unconditionally now accept that ceasefire – the ball is in his court."
Starmer thanks Carney for his 'approach to Ukraine'
Monday 17 March 2025 19:50
,
Tara Cobham
Sir Keir Starmer thanked his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney for his "approach to Ukraine" and for joining him on a call on Saturday for his "coalition of the willing" to enforce a peace deal in Ukraine.
"It doesn't surprise me that our two countries see this through a similar lens, with the same objectives," Sir Keir said.
The Canadian premier said his country and the UK have a "remarkable" history built on "shared values".
"We're at a point in history where the world is being reordered, and your leadership, the leadership of the UK, I'll use the example ... of Ukraine, what you've been able to do with President Macron to bring together a coalition of the willing at a crucial time, I think, will be decisive, must be decisive, in coming to a lasting solution there."
Russian networks tried to disrupt UK election but did not cause ‘notable’ impact
Monday 17 March 2025 19:31
,
Tara Cobham
Russian interference networks tried to disrupt the UK general election last year, but did not cause a “notable” impact, the security minister has said.
Efforts to promote pro-Russian messages during the election period were not deemed by officials to have influenced the voting process, which overall saw “relatively low levels” of attempted interference.
Dan Jarvis told the National Security Strategy Joint Committee of the findings as he was quizzed on the Government’s approach to defending democratic institutions on Monday.
Read the full story here:
Lammy says 'operational detail' of British troops in Ukraine to be discussed in this week's London meeting
Monday 17 March 2025 19:30
,
Tara Cobham
UK Foreign secretary David Lammy has said a London meeting this week will be used to discuss the "operational detail" of British troops in Ukraine.
Conservative shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel asked about a "peacekeeping initiative" in eastern Europe and said: "What will our contribution to peacekeeping consist of? Over what timeframe would deployment be launched and how will our armed forces be supported?"
Mr Lammy said in his response: "The UK is prepared of course to consider British committing troops on the ground but there must be a US backstop.
"There is a further meeting in London this week to continue to get into the operational detail."
Carney and Macron reaffirm unwavering support for Ukraine
Monday 17 March 2025 19:19
,
Tara Cobham
New Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and French president Emmanuel Macron have reaffirmed their unwavering support for Ukraine in a statement.
Mr Carney was meeting with the leaders of France and Britain on Monday during his first official overseas trip.
Lammy says US support needed for 'credible' coalition to deter Russia
Monday 17 March 2025 19:00
,
Tara Cobham
Foreign secretary David Lammy has said US support will be required to make a coalition designed to deter Russia "credible".
He told the Commons: "We're taking steps to ensure Russia does not come back for more. We know the history – Budapest, Minsk, paper promises betrayed by (Vladimir) Putin.
"Together with France we're establishing a coalition willing to deter Russia from invading again. To be credible, it will need US support.
"But Britain and our allies recognise that we need to step up and this government is leading the effort on multiple fronts."
Lammy met Vance over weekend, Commons told
Monday 17 March 2025 18:44
,
Tara Cobham
David Lammy met US vice president JD Vance in Washington over the weekend, he has told MPs.
The UK foreign secretary said that he discussed the US's now-ended pause on military intelligence sharing and the prospect of a ceasefire with Mr Vance and secretary of state Marco Rubio in recent days.
His comments came in a statement to the House of Commons following last week's meeting of G7 foreign ministers – a group which also includes Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States.
Shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel had asked Mr Lammy to set out his discussions with US counterparts on the suspension and "his assessments of the consequences caused".
Mr Lammy said in his response: "I'm pleased to say that our assessment is that that pause, as she will know, was for a short period, not an extended period, and therefore it has not had a material effect.
"But we were pleased to see that resume, and we were pleased to see what flowed from Jeddah which was the United States, European allies and President (Volodymyr) Zelensky of Ukraine absolutely square with the need for that ceasefire, and it is for Putin to unconditionally now accept that ceasefire - the ball is in his court.
"And I was pleased to be able to discuss these matters with Secretary (Marco) Rubio over the course of the three days at the G7 but also with Vice President (JD) Vance yesterday morning at his residence in Washington."
King welcomes Carney as Canada takes part in Ukraine peacekeping coalition talks
Monday 17 March 2025 18:41
,
Tara Cobham
King Charles has welcomed Mark Carney to Buckingham Palace, with the new Canadian Prime Minister telling him they had "much to catch up on".
It comes as Canada has been taking part in discussions around a coalition of countries willing to contribute to a peacekeeping force in Ukraine.
Macron touches on French-British plan for Ukraine ceasefire during meeting with Carney
Monday 17 March 2025 18:37
,
Tara Cobham
French president Emmanuel Macron has touched on the French-British plan for securing any ceasefire in Ukraine, and said that "Canada and France are powers of peace, reliable allies, which will take part together in this effort”.
New Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney was meeting with the leaders of Britain and France on Monday during his first official overseas trip, seeking support from two of Ottawa's oldest allies as US President Donald Trump targets Canada's sovereignty and economy.
Germany 'resistant' to seizing frozen Russian assets in Europe, says Lammy
Monday 17 March 2025 18:30
,
Tara Cobham
Germany has been "resistant" to seizing frozen Russian assets held in Europe, the UK foreign secretary has said.
David Lammy told the Commons: "It is not the United States that has raised consistent concerns about sovereign assets, it's not the United States in this instance that's more exposed than others.
"It's actually within Europe – Belgian colleagues that have found themselves more exposed and German colleagues that have previously been resistant to this issue, but of course, there's a change of administration in Germany coming, and so we'll see what their assessment is."
Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesman Calum Miller had asked: "If the US refuses to seize Russian assets, will the Foreign Secretary take a lead with European partners so this support can flow?"
Conservative shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel had earlier asked whether "the UK will go further than the £2.26 billion loan already announced off the back of the profits from sanctioned assets".
Mr Lammy replied: "Russia must pay for the damage it is causing Ukraine. I'm delighted that the first £752 million payment of the UK's £2.26 billion loan to be repaid by the profits that have been generated on Russian sanctioned assets so far, but she knows that there is rightfully a discussion about moving from freezing to seizing.
"It's important that if we were to move in that direction that there is unanimity amongst the G7, of course, and that there is a way forward within the European Union for those countries that are most exposed, and as she would expect at pace, we are discussing these very same issues."
Lammy says Putin must decided whether he is serious about peace
Monday 17 March 2025 18:00
,
Tom Watling
UK foreign secretary David Lammy has said Russian president Vladimir Putin must decide whether he is serious about peace by agreeing to a “full and unconditional ceasefire now”.
The foreign secretary said the G7 countries are “united” in supporting Ukraine and its pursuit of peace, telling the Commons: “Now it is Putin who stands in the spotlight, Putin who must answer, Putin who must choose – are you serious, Mr Putin about peace?
“Will you stop the fighting or will you drag your feet and play games, pay lip service to the ceasefire whilst still pummelling Ukraine? My warning to Mr Putin is this: if you are serious, prove it with a full and unconditional ceasefire now.
“And if Putin does not deliver, and I must tell the House that I currently see no sign yet that he is, the G7 meeting helped us ready the tools to get Russia to negotiate seriously. We’re not waiting for the Kremlin. If they reject a ceasefire, we have more cards that we can play.
“We can all see the impact the G7’s unprecedented sanctions have had on Russia’s faltering economy; social spending down, inflation and interest rates sky high. There can be no let up in our efforts.
“In Canada we discussed where we can go further to target their energy and defence sectors, further squeeze their oil revenues and use frozen Russian assets. At the same time we will keep up our support to Ukraine – Europeans clearly need to shoulder our share of this responsibility.”
Power plant on Ukraine-Russia border to be discussed in Trump-Putin call
Monday 17 March 2025 17:51
,
Tara Cobham
A power plant on the border of Ukraine and Russia will be addressed in Donald Trump’s call with Vladimir Putin tomorrow, the White House has said.
Trump is committed to Russia meeting conditions for ceasefire, says Macron
Monday 17 March 2025 17:48
,
Tara Cobham
French president Emmanuel Macron said on Monday that US president Donald Trump was committed to conditions that must be met by Russia for a 30-day ceasefire.
Writing in a post on social media platform X, Macron said it was up to Russia to prove that it really wanted peace, and that he had again spoken to Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky regarding the matter on Monday.
Suite à la réunion de samedi pour la paix et la sécurité en Ukraine et à mon échange avec @POTUS hier, je me suis entretenu avec le Président @ZelenskyyUa aujourd’hui.
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) March 17, 2025
Le Président Zelensky a eu le courage d’accepter la proposition américaine d’un cessez-le-feu de 30 jours.…
Macron reaffirms it's up to Russia to prove Russia truly wants peace
Monday 17 March 2025 17:44
,
Tara Cobham
French president Emmanuel Macron has reaffirmed that it is up to Russia to prove that Russia truly wants peace.
Macron says he spoke with Zelensky today
Monday 17 March 2025 17:36
,
Tara Cobham
French president Emmanuel Macron has said he spoke to Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky today.
US medic says Trump’s talk is more traumatic than horrors of frontline
Monday 17 March 2025 17:00
,
Tom Watling
Ukraine’s troops vastly outnumbered and facing ‘huge swarms’ of Russian drones in Kursk retreat
Monday 17 March 2025 16:38
,
Tom Watling
Ukraine FM meets with Starmer's national security adviser
Monday 17 March 2025 16:15
,
Tom Watling
Ukraine’s foreign minister, Andrii Sybiha, has met with Sir Keir Starmer’s national security advisor, Jonathan Powell, to discuss peace negotiations.
The pair met in New Delhi at a global conference. They “discussed the outcome of the Jeddah meeting [between Ukraine and the US last week] and further diplomatic efforts to achieve a fair peace,” according to a statement from Mr Sybiha on X.
The foreign minister added: “I thanked the United Kingdom for its leadership in forming the coalition of the willing.”
Mr Powell has been leading Sir Keir’s efforts to advise the Ukrainians on repairing relations with the US following a series of spats between Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky and US leader Donald Trump.
Mr Powell visited Kyiv the weekend before the Ukrainian peace delegation arrived in Saudi Arabia to meet with Mr Trump’s team.
In New Delhi, I met with Jonathan Powell, UK Prime Minister's National Security Adviser, to discuss the outcome of the Jeddah meeting and further diplomatic efforts to achieve a fair peace. I thanked the United Kingdom for its leadership in forming the coalition of the willing. pic.twitter.com/FgWkHB77RR
— Andrii Sybiha (@andrii_sybiha) March 17, 2025
What to expect as Trump and Putin thrash out a ceasefire in Ukraine
Monday 17 March 2025 15:47
,
Tom Watling
Ukraine and South Korea discuss 'serious risk' posed by Russia-North Korea relationship
Monday 17 March 2025 15:19
,
Tom Watling
Ukraine’s foreign minister has announced that he held talks with his South Korean counterpart to discuss the “serious risk” posed by Russia and North Korea’s deepening ties.
Pyongyang supplied Russia with roughly 12,000 troops last year, which were used to help Vladimir Putin expel the Ukrainian forces holding parts of the border region of Kursk.
In return, Kim Jong-un received oil, air defences and military-technological help.
The Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), a security think tank funded by Canberra’s defence ministry, says Russia’s support is “highly valuable” for North Korea.
“Moscow’s assistance to Pyongyang is somewhat destabilising for East Asia, since any increase in North Korean military strength heightens the risk of war on the Korean Peninsula. South Korea should respond by helping Ukraine,” they wrote last month.
While in New Delhi, I had a good call with Foreign Minister of the Republic of Korea @FMChoTaeyul.
— Andrii Sybiha (@andrii_sybiha) March 17, 2025
I informed my counterpart about the Jeddah meeting, Ukraine’s commitment to peace, and further steps.
We discussed the deepening Russia-DPRK cooperation and the serious risks it…
We have some more details on Russian involvement in a Lithuania arson attack
Monday 17 March 2025 15:03
,
Tom Watling
Lithuanian prosecutors accused Russia's military intelligence on Monday of orchestrating an arson attack on an Ikea store in Vilnius in May, and suggested it may have been targeted because the chain's logo uses the same colours as Ukraine's flag.
The fire broke out in the store in Lithuania's capital three days before a shopping centre in neighbouring Poland was hit by a blaze that authorities there said they suspected may have been part of a growing Russian sabotage campaign.
Russia denies carrying out sabotage attacks and says the West is stoking anti-Russian feeling by blaming Moscow for every incident. Russia's GRU military intelligence service could not be immediately contacted for comment on Monday.
Investigations had found that the IKEA fire was linked to Russian military intelligence through a chain of more than 20 intermediaries, Arturas Urbelis, from the Lithuanian prosecutor general's office, said.
"The chain includes the organisers, then more organisers for certain goals, then more intermediaries, all down to the perpetrators. It is a multi-stage, very complex system," Urbelis told reporters.
The store was not chosen randomly, he added. IKEA had halted operations in Russia after the invasion of Ukraine and "IKEA's colours are the same as Ukraine's flag - this has strong symbolic meaning," Urbelis said. Ukraine's flag and IKEA's logo are blue and yellow.
The Swedish furniture giant said it appreciated the work investigators had done but did not want to comment further as the matter was before a court.
The fire, which was triggered by a timed detonator in the early hours of May 9, was quickly contained, Urbelis said.
Two Ukrainian citizens, one under 20, one under 18 at the time, were offered 10,000 euros and a used BMW vehicle for their efforts, and took numerous trips to Vilnius from Poland to scout and prepare, he added.
One of them was detained afterwards in Lithuania, the other in Poland and both will face trial in those countries, he added.
Mapped: Russia's counteroffensive in Kursk
Monday 17 March 2025 14:46
,
Tom Watling
Ukraine: Russia ready to wipe out it's people for victory
Monday 17 March 2025 14:22
,
Tom Watling
A senior adviser to Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has claimed Russia is willing to wipe out its population for the sake of victory in Ukraine.
Mykhailo Podolyak wrote on X that the foundations of Russia’s success on the battlefield are “the corpses of their own soldiers”. He described their policy of using waves of infantry to soak up gunfire in close combat as the use of “semi-slaves”.
“If the aggressor is rewarded with Ukrainian territories for this bloodbath, it will inevitably encourage future wars. Without a doubt,” he wrote.
“But it will also reinforce the Kremlin’s belief in the effectiveness of wave assaults using semi-slaves—even in this century.
“The almost inevitable future aggression against Europe will wipe out what remains of the empire’s demographic potential. The beast devours everything around it—and itself.”