Volodymyr Zelensky thanked Donald Trump for his efforts to end the Ukraine war after Ukrainian and American officials held four hours of high-stakes talks in Florida this weekend.
Zelensky said the head of his delegation had reported back on "some preliminary results" and called the talks "constructive", days before a US envoy is due to meet Vladimir Putin in Moscow.
Trump also expressed optimism, saying peace talks with Russia were "going along well". Secretary of state Marco Rubio told reporters that Sunday's talks were "very productive", but acknowledged that work still remains.
"It's not just about the terms that end fighting. It's about also the terms that set up Ukraine for long-term prosperity,” Rubio said, framing the talks as a continuation from the work started in Geneva.
Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff is scheduled to meet Putin in Moscow in the next few days.
Zelensky will also travel to Ireland on Monday for his first official visit to the country, where he is expected to hold a bilateral discussion with Irish prime minister Micheál Martin.
Read MoreZelensky aides meet US diplomats for fresh Ukraine peace talks
When will Donald Trump see that Vladimir Putin wants this war?
Ukraine drones strike Russian ‘shadow fleet’ oil tankers in Black Sea
Russian shadow fleet tanker bursts into flames and explodes in Black Sea after Ukraine drone strike
Key Points
- Peace talks going along well, says Trump
- Zelensky hails Trump's commitment to ‘steps to end the war’
- Ukrainian sea drones strike two Russian ‘shadow fleet’ tankers in the Black Sea
- Work needed to reach Ukraine peace deal after 'productive' talks in Florida, Rubio says
- How much of Ukraine does Russia occupy?
Recap: What happened over the weekend?
07:23 , James Reynolds- Ukrainian and US officials met in Florida on Sunday to continue negotiations on a peace plan aimed at ending the war. Marco Rubio said they had built on “groundwork [laid] in Geneva” but said there was more work to do.
- Moldova was the latest country to see Russian drones breach its airspace, local authorities claimed on Saturday in what was the third such incident reported in nine days.
- NATO’s top military official said the alliance was weighing a more assertive response to hybrid attacks on its soil.
- Russia continued to pound populated areas of Ukraine with drones and missiles over the weekend. A drone killed one person and wounded 11 on the outskirts of Kyiv, the regional governor said on Sunday.
- Russia also confirmed launching a “massive” attack on Ukraine, which it said targeted Ukrainian military-industrial and energy facilities. Zelensky said Russia had fired 36 missiles and nearly 600 drones, killing six and wounding dozens nationwide.
Turkey says Moscow and Kyiv show greater readiness for peace deal
07:15 , Namita SinghRussia and Ukraine are showing increased openness to a possible peace agreement after years of attritional fighting, Turkey’s foreign minister has said.
Hakan Fidan told the German newspaper Welt am Sonntag that both sides appeared more inclined to negotiate than at any point in the conflict.
“After four years of attritional war, the parties are more prepared to conclude peace than previously,” he said.
“They have seen the extent of human suffering and the destruction, and recognized their own limits.”
According to Mr Fidan, Ankara understands that Russian president Vladimir Putin is now willing to pursue a settlement if certain conditions are met, and Turkey has passed on this position to Ukrainian officials.
He said Turkey remained involved “in certain aspects of this,” noting that the war continued to exact a “heavy toll” on Russia.
The minister described the talks under consideration as vital not only for bringing the war to a close, but also for establishing longer-term security across the continent.
He said aspects of the proposed agreement aimed at protecting Europe warranted particular attention. “In this context, we should look more closely at certain articles of the agreement that are intended to ensure Europe's security. I see in these an historic opportunity for preventing further attacks,” he said.
Key questions remain unresolved, including what concrete security guarantees Ukraine might receive. Mr Putin has recently claimed that Russia could issue written assurances pledging not to attack any European country.
Ukraine and Norway agree joint drone production partnership
06:49 , Namita SinghUkraine and Norway have reached an agreement to manufacture drones together, the Ukrainian government has confirmed.
Announcing the plan, defence minister Denys Shmyhal said Kyiv would contribute the knowledge and technological advances it has developed during nearly four years of full-scale war, while Oslo would offer “a strong production base, as well as research and development cooperation with leading Norwegian institutions”.
Both sides have relied heavily on drones throughout the conflict, using them for surveillance, precision strikes and front-line defence.
Zelensky discusses support for Ukraine with EU and Nato leaders
06:47 , Namita SinghVolodymyr Zelensky has held separate conversations with the heads of the European Commission and Nato as Kyiv seeks to reinforce its ability to withstand ongoing Russian strikes.
In a message posted on X, the Ukrainian president said he had spoken with Ursula von der Leyen about the need to bolster Ukraine’s resilience while its energy facilities and critical infrastructure continue to come under fire.
“Ursula is paying close attention to the need to strengthen our resilience amid Russia's constant strikes on our infrastructure and the energy sector,” he wrote.
Zelensky said he had also been in contact with Nato’s secretary general, Mark Rutte, to coordinate positions among allies backing Ukraine’s defence against the invasion launched by Moscow in 2022.
“These are important days, and much can change. We are coordinating closely, and in our efforts – and in the efforts of all our partners – it is our joint measures and shared positions that will be extremely effective,” he said.
Europe's conundrum over support for Ukraine
06:12 , Namita SinghNato and the EU are holding several meetings this week focused on Ukraine.
Nato secretary-general Mark Rutte is hosting Ukrainian defence minister Denys Shmyhal for talks in Brussels on Monday, and EU defence and foreign ministers are gathering to discuss European military support for Ukraine and Europe's defence readiness.
On Wednesday, Nato foreign ministers will gather again in Brussels.
The main issue for the EU right now is what to do with the frozen Russian assets in Belgium, with Donald Trump's peace plan initially suggesting they be used for post-war investment in Ukraine.
Those funds are central to European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen's strategy to ensure continued help for Ukraine while also maintaining pressure on Russia.
But Belgium's prime minister is holding out, worried about the legal implications of tapping the frozen assets for Ukraine, the impact that could have on the euro – and of Russian retaliation.
The diplomacy set in motion by Trump's peace plan "painfully exposed" Europe's weakness, Nigel Gould-Davies of the International Institute for Strategic Studies wrote in a recent commentary.
"Despite being the main source of Ukraine's economic and military support, it is marginal to the diplomacy of the war and has done little more than offer amendments to America's draft peace plan," Gould-Davies wrote.
Where the two sides stand
05:42 , Namita SinghEager to please Trump, Kyiv and Moscow have ostensibly welcomed the peace plan and the push to end the war. But Russia has continued attacking Ukraine and reiterated its maximalist demands, indicating a deal is still a ways off.
Vladimir Putin implied last week that he will fight as a long as it takes to achieve his goals, saying that he will stop only when Ukrainian troops withdraw from all four Ukrainian regions that Russia illegally annexed in 2022 and still doesn't fully control.
"If they don't withdraw, we'll achieve this by force. That's all," he said.
The plan, Putin said, "could form the basis for future agreements," but it is in no way final and requires "a serious discussion”.
Volodymyr Zelensky has refrained from talking about individual points, opting instead to thank Trump profusely for his efforts and emphasizing the need for Europe – whose interests are more closely aligned with Ukraine's – to be involved.
He also has stressed the importance of robust security guarantees for Ukraine.
The first version of the plan granted some core Russian demands that Ukraine considers nonstarters, such as ceding land to Moscow that it doesn't yet occupy and renouncing its bid to become a member of Nato.
Zelensky has said repeatedly that giving up territory is not an option. One of the Ukrainian negotiators, Bevz, told The Associated Press on Tuesday that Ukraine's president wanted to discuss the territory issue with Trump directly. Yermak then told The Atlantic in an interview on Thursday that Zelensky would not sign over the land.
Zelensky also maintains that Nato membership is the cheapest way to guarantee Ukraine's security, and Nato's 32 member countries said last year that Ukraine is on an "irreversible" path to membership. Since he took office, Trump has made it clear that Nato membership is off the table.
Moscow, in turn, has bristled at any suggestion of a Western peacekeeping force on the ground in Ukraine, and stressed that keeping Ukraine out of Nato and Nato out of Ukraine was one of the core goals of the war.
US holds talks with Kyiv – then on to Moscow
05:12 , Namita SinghDonald Trump’s representatives met with Ukrainian officials over the weekend and plan to meet with the Russians later this week.
Ukraine's national security council head Rustem Umerov, the head of Ukraine's armed forces Andrii Hnatov, presidential adviser Oleksandr Bevz and others met with US officials for about four hours in Florida on Sunday.
US secretary of state Marco Rubio said the session was productive but more work remains to be done. Umerov praised the US for its support but offered no details on outcomes from the talks.
Volodymyr Zelensky's former chief of staff and former lead negotiator for Ukraine, Andrii Yermak, resigned on Friday amid a corruption scandal and is no longer part of the negotiating team. It was only a week ago that Rubio met with Yermak in Geneva, resulting in a revised peace plan.
Trump said last week that he would send his envoy Steve Witkoff to Russia. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed Putin will host Witkoff for talks "in the first half" of the week.
Trump suggested he could eventually meet with Putin and Zelensky, but not until there has been more progress.
Witkoff's role in the peace efforts came under scrutiny last week following a report that he coached Yuri Ushakov, Putin's foreign affairs adviser, on how Russia's leader should pitch Trump on the Ukraine peace plan.
Both Moscow and Washington downplayed the significance of the revelations.
Zelensky to make first official visit to Ireland
04:51 , Namita SinghVolodymyr Zelensky will travel to Ireland on Monday for his first official visit to the country, the Irish prime minister has announced.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the Ukrainian president will be joined by first lady Olena Zelenska for meetings with him, Irish president Catherine Connolly and foreign minister Helen McEntee.
Martin and Zelensky will also hold a bilateral discussion before attending the launch of the Ireland–Ukraine Economic Forum, created to deepen commercial ties between the two countries through business links, trade and investment.
“It is an honour to welcome President Zelensky and the First Lady to Ireland,” the Taoiseach said ahead of the visit.
“Around the world, he is rightly recognised as someone who embodies the courage and resilience of the Ukrainian people, who have inspired the world in their brave defence of their country and its sovereignty since it was brutally and illegally invaded by Russia.
“I have met with President Zelensky many times, including in Kyiv, but I particularly look forward to greeting him on this first official visit of a Ukrainian president to Ireland.”
Ireland has been a firm supporter of Ukraine since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022, granting refuge to around 120,000 Ukrainians fleeing the war.
Ukrainian sea drones strike two Russian ‘shadow fleet’ tankers in the Black Sea
04:16 , Namita SinghUkrainian naval drones have struck two tankers linked to Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” as they moved through the Black Sea, in what appears to be a sharp escalation of Kyiv’s efforts to target the revenue fuelling Moscow’s war.
Video has emerged purporting to show fast-moving waterborne drones slamming into the vessels and erupting into fireballs, sending thick plumes of smoke into the sky.
Turkish authorities identified the ships as the Kairos and the Virat, both sailing under the flag of the Gambia. The Kairos was hit off Turkey’s south-western coast on Friday and the Virat in a central area farther east; the Virat was reportedly struck a second time on Saturday. No crew injuries were reported.
The tankers are understood to belong to Russia’s “shadow fleet” – a term used for hundreds of older or obscurely owned ships that transport Russian oil in defiance of Western sanctions imposed after the Kremlin launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Data from the London Stock Exchange shows both vessels are already listed as subject to sanctions.
Ukraine used Sea Baby naval drones, a type of explosive-laden craft developed by the country’s security service, the SBU, for maritime attacks. Turkish officials said rescue teams had been supporting the damaged tankers and released video of Turkish boats attempting to extinguish the blaze aboard the Kairos.
The strikes serve as a pointed warning from Kyiv that ships moving Russian oil through the Black Sea could face direct attack, not merely financial restrictions.
In a separate incident, a key pipeline operator said it had halted loading at the Russian Black Sea port of Novorossiysk after an overnight assault by unmanned boats damaged one of its mooring points.
The Caspian Pipeline Consortium – majority-owned by Russia and Kazakhstan, with additional stakes held by Western energy giants including Exxon Mobil, Chevron and Shell – said the damage was significant.
Peace talks going along well, says Trump
04:00 , Namita SinghPresident Trump said that talks about a peace deal with Russia were 'going along well' hours after secretary of state Marco Rubio met with Ukrainian officials and expressed optimism about progress despite challenges ending the war.
“They are going along and they are going along well,” he told Reuters. “We want to stop people from being killed.”On being asked about his interaction with Marco Rubio over the peace negotiations, he said: “I have spoken to them. They are doing well.
“Ukraine's got some difficult little problems," Trump told reporters on Air Force One on Sunday, referring to the corruption scandal, which he said was "not helpful."
He repeated his view that both Russia and Ukraine wanted to end the war and said there was a good chance a deal could be reached.
Zelensky hails Trump's commitment to ‘steps to end the war’
03:28 , Namita SinghUkrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday expressed cautious optimism about the latest round of discussions between Kyiv and Washington, describing the ongoing diplomatic engagement as both “constructive” and deeply focused on Ukraine’s core interests.
According to Zelensky, Ukrainian defence minister Rustem Umerov reported back to him on "some preliminary results" from the talks in the United States.
Zelensky emphasised that “it is important that the talks have a constructive dynamic and that all issues were discussed openly and with a clear focus on ensuring Ukraine’s sovereignty and national interests”.
The president also underscored Ukraine’s appreciation for the level of engagement from Washington. He thanked the United States – specifically President Trump’s team, and the former president himself – for the “intensive” effort being invested into charting a path toward ending the war.
Today, following the work of the teams in the United States, head of the Ukrainian delegation Rustem Umerov reported on the main parameters of the dialogue, its emphases, and some preliminary results. It is important that the talks have a constructive dynamic and that all issues…
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) November 30, 2025
“I am grateful to the United States, to President Trump’s team, and to the President personally for the time that is being invested so intensively in defining the steps to end the war,” Zelensky said.
Russian drone attacks kill one and wound several
03:15 , Namita SinghAt least one person was killed and 19 others wounded in Russian drone and missile strikes, as US and Ukrainian officials met for peace talks.
President Volodymyr Zelensky claims Russia bombarded Ukraine with 122 drone strikes and two ballistic missiles.
It comes as Turkey condemned Ukraine's use of a sea drone to target Russian oil tankers in the Black Sea.
Watch: Rubio says US-Ukraine talks on Russia war 'productive' but much work remains
03:00 , Alex CroftTrump officials try to reassure Ukraine’s negotiators over peace deal
02:00 , Alex CroftTwo of Donald Trump’s allies met Sunday with top Ukrainian officials in Florida as the Trump administration seeks to convince Ukraine’s government to accept a peace plan many saw as clearly tilted towards Russia’s war demands.
A delegation of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s advisers and top officials met with lead U.S. negotiators Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Miami on Sunday ahead of a trip to meet with Russian leaders, including Vladimir Putin, on Tuesday.
On the agenda is the 28-point peace plan proposed by the U.S. this month, which has drawn apparent skepticism from both Ukraine and its European allies, given reports that it drew heavily from a Russian-authored plan submitted to the State Department in October.
John Bowden reports:
Trump officials try to reassure Ukraine over peace deal before meeting Putin
US 'super supportive', says Ukrainian delegate
01:04 , Tom BarnesUkraine’s secretary of national security had thanked the US and its officials for their support earlier on Sunday.
"US is hearing us, US is supporting us, US is walking besides us," Rustem Umerov said in English before the talks began.
After the meeting, he declared it productive. "We discussed all the important matters that are important for Ukraine, for Ukrainian people and US was super supportive," he said.
In pictures: Crucial peace talks between US and Ukrainian officials kick off in Florida
00:03 , Harriette Boucher Work needed to reach Ukraine peace deal after 'productive' talks in Florida, Rubio says
Sunday 30 November 2025 23:55 , Tom BarnesA meeting between US and Ukrainian officials in Florida on Sunday was "very productive," Secretary of State Marco Rubio said, adding that work still remains towards ending Russia's war in Ukraine.
"There are a lot of moving parts, and obviously there's another party involved here that will have to be a part of the equation, and that will continue later this week, when Mr. Witkoff travels to Moscow, although we've also been in touch in varying degrees with the Russian side, but we have a pretty good understanding of their views as well," Mr Rubio told reporters.
How much of Ukraine does Russia occupy?
Sunday 30 November 2025 23:31 , Harriette BoucherTerritorial disagreements remain key sticking points as Russia and Ukraine tentatively advance peace negotiations.
Russia currently occupies 20 per cent of Ukraine, and wants further control over more of major regions including the Donbas.
Peace deal hopes to create a 'sovereign, independent and prosperous' Ukraine, says Rubio
Sunday 30 November 2025 23:01 , Harriette BoucherMarco Rubio has said the peace talks hope to create a path to leave Ukraine "sovereign, independent and prosperous".
Speaking as the talks begin, the secretary of state said: "This is not just about ending a war. This is about ending a war in a way that creates a mechanism and a way forward that will allow them to be independent and sovereign, never have another war again, and create tremendous prosperity for its people.
"Not just rebuild the country, but to enter an era of extraordinary economic progress."
Following Rubio’s statement, Ukraine's security chief Rustem Umerov said the delegation was "working to secure real peace for Ukraine" and thanked Donald Trump’s "initiative for peace".
Polish president cancels meeting with Hungary's PM over visit with Putin
Sunday 30 November 2025 22:31 , Harriette BoucherPolish President Karol Nawrocki has cancelled a meeting with Viktor Orban after the Hungarian prime minister met with Putin in Moscow to discuss energy ties between the two countries last Friday.
The leaders were due to meet on Thursday, a day after the summit of the Visegrad Group in Hungary, where the leaders of Czechia, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia will meet.
Marcin Przydacz, head of the international policy office of the Polish presidency, said: "President K. Nawrocki decided to limit the program of his visit to Hungary exclusively to the summit of the presidents of the Visegrad Group.
"Europe's security depends on solidarity action, including in the field of energy.”
Starmer and NATO secretary general speak ahead of peace talks
Sunday 30 November 2025 22:00 , Harriette BoucherSir Keir Starmer spoke to NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Sunday morning ahead of key peace talks that are taking place in the US today.
“The leaders began by taking stock of the situation in Ukraine,” a Downing Street spokesperson said.
While peace talks in recent days had gained momentum, the focus had to be on securing a just and lasting peace for Ukraine, they said.
“The leaders discussed the work being done by the Coalition of the Willing to prepare for a cessation of hostilities and welcomed the close coordination between the grouping and NATO on next steps.”
Editorial: When will Donald Trump see that Vladimir Putin wants this war?
Sunday 30 November 2025 21:30 , Harriette BoucherVladimir Putin’s “whole economy, his whole society, his whole politics, his whole preservation of self revolves around having this war go on”, Fiona Hill, who was Donald Trump’s adviser on Russia in his first presidential term, has told The Independent in an exclusive interview.
When will Donald Trump see that Vladimir Putin wants this war?
Kazakhstan blasts Ukraine for hitting civillian oil infrastructure in Black Sea
Sunday 30 November 2025 21:00 , Harriette BoucheKazakhstan sharply criticised Ukraine on Sunday after a drone strike damaged a key Black Sea terminal belonging to the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC), which transports more than 1 per cent of the world’s oil.
The CPC announced on Saturday that it had suspended operations after a mooring at its Novorossiysk terminal suffered significant damage in what it described as a Ukrainian naval drone attack.
Kazakhstan’s foreign ministry lodged a formal protest, denouncing “yet another deliberate attack on the critical infrastructure of the international Caspian Pipeline Consortium in the waters of the Port of Novorossiysk”.
“This incident marks the third act of aggression against an exclusively civilian facility whose operation is protected under international law,” the ministry said.
Turkey 'concerned' about Ukrainian strikes on Russian 'shadow fleet' tankers off Turkish Coast
Sunday 30 November 2025 20:33 , Harriette BoucherTurkey has condemned Ukraine’s naval drone attack on two Russian “shadow fleet” tankers off the Turkish Coast in the Black Sea on Friday.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Oncu Keceli said the attacks on the Kairos and Virat vessels took place inside Turkey's exclusive economic zone and "posed serious risks to navigation, life, property and environmental safety in the region".
Mr Keceli said he was maintaining contact with the relevant parties to prevent the spread and further escalation of the war in the Black Sea and to protect Turkey's economic interests.
Former ambassador to US picked as reconstruction and investment advisor
Sunday 30 November 2025 20:04 , Harriette BoucheZelensky has picked the ex-ambassador to the United States to be his new adviser on reconstruction and investment.
Former envoy Oksana Markarova was recalled from Washington in July after a diplomatic reshuffle. Ms Markarova, who held the role for more than 4 years, was criticised among Donald Trump’s allies.
In a post on X, Zelensky said: "Starting today, Oksana Markarova will continue supporting our state as my Advisor on Rebuilding and Investments.
"Beyond the fundamental goal of defending our independence and the daily work to ensure Ukraine's survival, we have a long-term objective: to give Ukraine the capacity to rebuild after the fighting and restore normal economic development."
In pictures: Overnight Russian missile on a multi-story residential building in Vyshgorod, outside of Kyiv
Sunday 30 November 2025 19:30 , Harriette Boucher Watch: Zelensky to ‘flesh out’ peace deal as Kyiv sends delegates to Washington DC
Sunday 30 November 2025 19:00 , Harriette BoucherMoldova authorities say Russian drones entered airspace on Saturday
Sunday 30 November 2025 18:29 , Harriette BoucherMoldovan authorities said on Saturday that Russian drones had entered the country's airspace, posing a threat to aviation, in the third such incident in nine days.
President Maia Sandu, who wants to bring Moldova into the European Union by 2030, has denounced Russia's war in Ukraine and accused Moscow of attempting to destabilise the ex-Soviet state, which lies between Ukraine and EU member Romania.
Moldova's interior ministry said it had identified two drones as Russian and that they had flown over Moldovan territory, prompting the closure of its airspace.
They later flew into Ukrainian territory, it added.
"In the course of this incident, which posed a serious threat to flight safety, Moldova's airspace was closed for an hour and 10 minutes from 22.43 to 23.53 (2043 to 2153 GMT) on the orders of the civil aviation authority," it said.
Long watch: Putin is manipulating Trump and doesn’t want peace, ex-US aide warns
Sunday 30 November 2025 18:00 , Harriette BoucherUkraine's first deputy foreign minister says talks off on a 'good start'
Sunday 30 November 2025 17:30 , Harriette BoucherIn pictures: Crucial peace talks between US and Ukrainian officials begin
Sunday 30 November 2025 17:00 , Harriette Boucher Zelensky and president of Finland speak ahead of crucial talks in US
Sunday 30 November 2025 16:30 , Harriette BoucherKyiv says it is working for 'real peace' as talks begin in US
Sunday 30 November 2025 15:59 , Harriette BoucherRustem Umerov, Kyiv’s lead negotiator said Ukraine was working to secure real peace and reliable, long-term security guarantees.
In a post on X, he wrote: “We have clear directives and priorities: safeguarding Ukrainian interests, ensuring substantive dialogue, and advancing on the basis of the progress achieved in Geneva.”
Peace deal hopes to create a 'sovereign, independent and prosperous' Ukraine, says Rubio
Sunday 30 November 2025 15:50 , Harriette BoucherMarco Rubio has said the peace talks hope to create a path to leave Ukraine "sovereign, independent and prosperous".
Speaking as the talks begin, the secretary of state said: "This is not just about ending a war. This is about ending a war in a way that creates a mechanism and a way forward that will allow them to be independent and sovereign, never have another war again, and create tremendous prosperity for its people.
"Not just rebuild the country, but to enter an era of extraordinary economic progress."
Following Rubio’s statement, Ukraine's security chief Rustem Umerov said the delegation was "working to secure real peace for Ukraine" and thanked Donald Trump’s "initiative for peace".
Rubio expects to make 'more progress' as peace talks begin
Sunday 30 November 2025 15:30 , Harriette BoucherUkraine’s national security chief Rustem Umerov confirmed that peace talks are underway in Florida as Secretary of state Marco Rubio said he expects to make “more progress” toward a deal to end the war.
"This is not just about peace deals. It's about creating a pathway forward that leaves Ukraine sovereign, independent and prosperous and so we expect to make even more progress today," Rubio said in Hallandale Beach, Florida, where talks are taking place.
Zelensky to visit Macron in Paris on Monday, Elysee says
Sunday 30 November 2025 15:02 , Harriette BoucherVolodymyr Zelensky will visit French president Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Monday, Macron's office said, as the Ukrainian leader finds himself in the most difficult political and military situation since Russia's invasion in 2022.
The two leaders will discuss "the conditions of a just and durable peace", following talks in Geneva and the American peace plan, the Elysee Palace said in a statement on Saturday. Zelensky was last in Paris on 17 November.
Second overnight attack on Kyiv kills one, injures 19
Sunday 30 November 2025 14:35 , Harriette BoucherAt least one person has been killed and another 19 wounded after Russia launched fresh overnight attacks on the Kyiv region, striking a nine-story apartment block in the city of Vyshhorod.
It’s the second night in a row that Russia has struck the capital, after three were killed and dozens were injured in an attack throughout the night and into Saturday.
The attacks come ahead of Sunday’s meeting, in which US secretary of State Marco Rubio, special envoy Steve Witkoff and US president Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner are set to meet Ukrainian officials in Florida.
Recap: Ukraine drones strike Russian ‘shadow fleet’ oil tankers in Black Sea
Sunday 30 November 2025 14:02 , Harriette BoucherUkraine deployed its domestically produced Sea Baby naval drones to target two Russian oil tankers in the Black Sea, a Ukrainian security services official confirmed on Saturday.
The vessels, identified as the Kairos and Virat, are believed to be part of Russia’s "shadow fleet" used to circumvent international sanctions.
The strikes occurred in quick succession off Turkey’s Black Sea coast late Friday afternoon.
Following the incidents, the Turkish coast guard initiated rescue operations, with reports indicating that all crew members on both tankers were safe.
Ukraine drones strike Russian oil tankers in Black Sea
Starmer and NATO secretary general speak ahead of peace talks
Sunday 30 November 2025 13:32 , Harriette BoucherSir Keir Starmer spoke to NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Sunday morning ahead of key peace talks that are set to continue in the US today.
“The leaders began by taking stock of the situation in Ukraine,” a Downing Street spokesperson said.
While peace talks in recent days had gained momentum, the focus had to be on securing a just and lasting peace for Ukraine, they said.
“The leaders discussed the work being done by the Coalition of the Willing to prepare for a cessation of hostilities and welcomed the close coordination between the grouping and NATO on next steps.”
Switzerland votes on whether women must do national service
Sunday 30 November 2025 13:01 , Harriette BoucherSwiss voters are currently deciding on a pivotal referendum that could see women, like men, compelled to undertake national service, encompassing military, civil protection, or other public duties.
Proponents of the "citizen service initiative" argue it would bolster social cohesion, creating jobs in areas like environmental prevention, food security, and elderly care.
However, the Swiss Parliament largely opposes the measure, citing significant cost implications and concerns it could hinder the economy by removing tens of thousands of young people from the workforce.
While early polls suggested a close contest, more recent surveys indicate the initiative is likely to fail.
This vote offers a crucial insight into European views on mandatory national duty, particularly amidst anxieties regarding potential spillover from Russia’s war in Ukraine and other geopolitical instabilities.
Country votes on whether women must do national service
In pictures: A Russian missile hit a multi-story residential building in Vyshgorod, outside of Kyiv
Sunday 30 November 2025 12:30 , Harriette Boucher Former ambassador to US picked as reconstruction and investment advisor
Sunday 30 November 2025 12:00 , Harriette BoucherZelensky has picked the ex-ambassador to the United States to be his new adviser on reconstruction and investment.
Former envoy Oksana Markarova was recalled from Washington in July after a diplomatic reshuffle. Ms Markarova, who held the role for more than 4 years, was criticised among Donald Trump’s allies.
In a post on X, Zelensky said: "Starting today, Oksana Markarova will continue supporting our state as my Advisor on Rebuilding and Investments.
"Beyond the fundamental goal of defending our independence and the daily work to ensure Ukraine's survival, we have a long-term objective: to give Ukraine the capacity to rebuild after the fighting and restore normal economic development."
Turkey 'concerned' about Ukrainian strikes on Russian 'shadow fleet' tankers off Turkish Coast
Sunday 30 November 2025 11:30 , Harriette BoucherTurkey has condemned Ukraine’s naval drone attack on two Russian “shadow fleet” tankers off the Turkish Coast in the Black Sea on Friday.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Oncu Keceli said the attacks on the Kairos and Virat vessels took place inside Turkey's exclusive economic zone and "posed serious risks to navigation, life, property and environmental safety in the region".
Mr Keceli said he was maintaining contact with the relevant parties to prevent the spread and further escalation of the war in the Black Sea and to protect Turkey's economic interests.
Rubio, Witkoff and Kushner to meet Ukrainian officials on Sunday, senior US official says
Sunday 30 November 2025 11:00 , Harriette BoucherUS secretary of State Marco Rubio, special envoy Steve Witkoff and US president Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner will meet Ukrainian officials today in Florida, a senior US official told Reuters.
A Ukrainian delegation is headed to the United States to continue talks on a deal to end the war.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said he expected that the results of previous meetings with the US in Geneva, which took place last weekend, would now be "hammered out" today.
Editorial: When will Donald Trump see that Vladimir Putin wants this war?
Sunday 30 November 2025 10:30 , Harriette BoucherVladimir Putin’s “whole economy, his whole society, his whole politics, his whole preservation of self revolves around having this war go on”, Fiona Hill, who was Donald Trump’s adviser on Russia in his first presidential term, has told The Independent in an exclusive interview.
When will Donald Trump see that Vladimir Putin wants this war?
What vessels did Ukraine hit in the black sea?
Sunday 30 November 2025 10:00 , Harriette BoucherUkraine deployed naval drones to hit Russian oil tankers off Turkey’s Black Sea coast on Friday afternoon, a Ukrainian security services official said.
The vessels have been identified as the Kairos and Virat, which are thought to be part of Russia’s "shadow fleet" used to curb international sanctions.
Both vessels were under sanctions, with the US sanctioning the Virat in January this year, followed by the EU, Switzerland, the UK and Canada.
The EU also sanctioned the Kairos in July, followed by the UK and Switzerland.
According to the OpenSanctions database, which tracks people or organisations involved in sanctions evasion, “the shadow tanker fleet continues to provide multibillion-dollar revenues for the Kremlin bypassing sanctions, disguising its activities under the flags of third countries, using complex schemes to conceal owners and poses significant environmental threats.”
Watch: Zelensky to ‘flesh out’ peace deal as Kyiv sends delegates to Washington DC
Sunday 30 November 2025 09:30 , Harriette BoucherSecond overnight attack on Kyiv kills one, injures 19
Sunday 30 November 2025 09:26 , Harriette BoucherAt least one person has been killed and another 19 wounded after Russia launched fresh overnight attacks on the Kyiv region, striking a nine-story apartment block in the city of Vyshhorod.
It’s the second night in a row that Russia has struck the capital, after three were killed and dozens were injured in an attack throughout the night and into Saturday.
The attacks come ahead of Sunday’s meeting, in which US secretary of State Marco Rubio, special envoy Steve Witkoff and US president Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner are set to meet Ukrainian officials in Florida.