World

Russian President Vladimir Putin has appealed directly to Ukrainian troops and told them “it will be easier for us to agree if you take power in your own hands”. During the address, he added it was “easier to negotiate with you” than the “gang of Nazis that has captured Kyiv” – an apparent reference to

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russia has made him “target number one” in the wake of the country’s invasion, as he ordered a mass mobilisation decree which paves the way for civilians to take up arms against Vladimir Putin’s forces. The decree was signed at the end of a day of intense fighting on multiple

President Joe Biden has announced a new wave of sanctions against Russia and said the US is deploying additional forces to Germany to bolster NATO in the face of “naked aggression” from President Vladimir Putin. Speaking during a press conference at the White House, the US president said “freedom will prevail” after Mr Putin “chose

Vladimir Putin has said clashes between Russian and Ukrainian forces are inevitable and it is just a question of time. In a television address, the Russian president said he had authorised a “specialised military operation” in Ukraine’s Donbas region. He said the aim was to protect people, but circumstances demanded decisive action from Russia. He

Vladimir Putin is “highly likely” to be planning a move on Ukrainian capital Kyiv, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has told Sky News – as she warned Russia that “nothing is off the table” when considering further Western sanctions. The UK, US and EU have announced a raft of fresh sanctions on Russia following Mr Putin’s

Russian President Vladimir Putin has asked legislators for permission to use armed forces outside Russia – a move that could pave the way for a broader attack on Ukraine. On Monday, Moscow recognised the independence of Russian-backed rebel regions in eastern Ukraine. Some western leaders have said Russian troops had moved into Ukraine’s east –

European football’s governing body, UEFA, is under pressure to strip the Champions League final from Russia. Four English sides – Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United – are in the last 16 of the competition, and the final is due to be played at the Gazprom Arena in St Petersburg on 28 May. However,

Columns of military vehicles including tanks and armoured personnel carriers have been seen on the outskirts of Donetsk, the capital of one of two breakaway regions of eastern Ukraine, according to a Reuters witness. No insignia were visible, but the appearance of the vehicles came hours after Putin signed friendship treaties with the two separatist

Vladimir Putin is set to decide today whether to recognise two separatist regions in eastern Ukraine as independent. It comes after a request by the leaders of Luhansk and Donetsk – areas which broke away from Kyiv’s control in 2014. There has been fighting there between pro-Russian separatists and Ukrainian pro-government forces. And recognition by

Russian frontline commanders have been given orders to begin final preparations for an attack on Ukraine, according to a US official. The intelligence is said to have informed the White House’s belief that Moscow intends to commence a “full-scale assault” very soon. In a potential breakthrough, Joe Biden and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin have

Russia has extended military drills near Ukraine’s northern borders – sparking fears an invasion could be more likely. The exercises, which brought a sizable contingent of Russian forces to Belarus, were originally set to end on Sunday. The presence of the Russian troops raised concern that they could be used to sweep down on the

Intelligence suggests Russia is planning “the biggest war in Europe since 1945”, Boris Johnson has warned. The prime minister said “all the signs are that the plan has already in some senses begun” – telling the BBC that evidence indicates the Kremlin’s intent is to invade Ukraine and encircle Kyiv. “People need to understand the

Hippos descended from a herd illegally imported by Pablo Escobar are to be declared an invasive species in Colombia. Within weeks, the Colombian government is planning to sign a declaration that will force officials to come up with a plan for how to control the hippopotamus population. The animals were brought into the country by

Russian military drills are “purely defensive” and “not a threat to any other country”, Vladimir Putin has said. The Russian president denied he was going to invade Ukraine following Western leaders warning an incursion is imminent as Moscow amasses more than 150,000 troops at the border. Talking at a news conference with Belarus President Alexander

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has agreed to meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov late next week – provided Moscow doesn’t invade Ukraine. Efforts are continuing to prevent a conflict, amid fears that Russia is increasingly close to being able to mount an invasion. Russia wants guarantees from the West, including the assurance that

The West “blinked” and did not understand troops needed to be on the ground in Ukraine earlier this year and sanctions will only push Russia towards China, the chair of the defence committee has told Sky News. Tobias Ellwood, in Kyiv, told Kay Burley: “It would have taken five days to mobilise those forces, at

A Russian invasion of Ukraine would bring “massive consequences” for Moscow, the foreign secretary is set to warn Vladimir Putin during a speech in the Ukrainian capital. Liz Truss will visit Ukraine this week as part of continuing diplomatic efforts to avoid a war between Russia and its neighbour. It comes as a senior US

Russia will retaliate if new sanctions are imposed by Britain, according to the country’s foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov. UK ministers last week gained powers to impose tough new sanctions on Russian oligarchs and businesses. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said the “very, very tough” package of sanctions is “ready to go” should Russia launch a

“Tell the people of Britain we are a civilised country, tell them we are European, tell them we aren’t Russian. God Save the Queen!” and with that Yulia Smagina bayed us farewell. We had spent the morning with this quite remarkably energetic and engaging woman as she looked for air raid shelters and bunkers that the

Russian President Vladimir Putin has insisted he “of course” does not want a war in Europe amid conflicting claims he had withdrawn some his country’s forces from Ukraine’s borders. Speaking at a news conference following talks with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Mr Putin stressed he was not keen on a military confrontation. He also suggested