Ukraine LIVE: Putin shows true colours as he says what needs to happen to end the war

15 mins ago09:03 Ciaran McGrath

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un could face investigation by the International Criminal Court for aiding Russia’s war in Ukraine, according to former ICC president Song Sang-hyun.

Mr Song said Ukraine could file a formal complaint, though the ICC also has the authority to launch its own probe.

North Korea has admitted to sending troops to fight alongside Russian forces, with an estimated 14,000 deployed since 2024.

Mr Song said the time was right to hold Kim accountable, citing Pyongyang’s military support as grounds for legal action.

Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un in PyongYang (Image: Getty)

1 hour ago08:03 Ciaran McGrath

Russian attacks across multiple Ukrainian regions killed at least one civilian and injured 13 others over the past day, regional authorities reported on May 20.

Moscow’s forces continued daily air strikes, drone attacks, and artillery shelling on towns and villages, frequently causing civilian casualties.

Ukrainian air defences intercepted 93 of 108 Shahed-type drones launched overnight, shooting down 35 and neutralising 58 with electronic warfare.

In Donetsk Oblast, Russian shelling killed one person in Siversk and injured several others across Kramatorsk, Lyman, and Kostiantynivka.

Meanwhile, drone strikes damaged civilian infrastructure in Sumy Oblast, sparking a fire but causing no casualties.

A civilian building in Sumy on fire after a Russian drone attack (Image: State Emergency Service/Telegram)

1 hour ago07:59 Ciaran McGrath

After his meeting with US President Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin emphasised that resolving the “root causes” of the Ukraine crisis—almost certainly a reference to NATO’s expansion toward Russia’s borders and Ukraine’s move closer to the West—is essential for peace.

He stressed that any lasting agreement must address these issues from Russia’s perspective.

Putin also pointed to the disputed status of Crimea and the separatist regions in Donbas as key matters that need resolution.

He described Ukraine’s military build-up and Western arms supplies as ongoing threats that perpetuate the conflict.

Putin insisted that peace talks can only move forward once these core security concerns are acknowledged and addressed, saying: "Notably, Russia’s position is clear. Eliminating the root causes of this crisis is what matters most to us."

2 hours ago07:39 Ciaran McGrath

A key Volodymyr Zelensky aide said tyrant Vladimir Putin doesn’t want his war against Ukraine to end...so he “must be stopped”. The chilling warning came after Donald Trump held a two-hour call with the Russian President, after which he claimed there was a "good chance" of peace.

Talks between the warring neighbours will begin "immediately" but Mr Trump said America has a red line on when they will wash their hands of the crisis and the "big egos” involved but refused to say what it is or when. He warned: "This was a European situation, it should have remained a European situation."

Anton Gerashchenko, former deputy minister at the Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs and a trusted lieutenant of Zelensky, said: “In essence, Putin is stalling for time. He doesn't want a ceasefire, he doesn't want to stop the war. Putin won't stop himself. He must be stopped.”

He added: “The talk now is about direct negotiations between Ukraine and Russia - this is Putin's formula of ‘negotiations first and then a ceasefire’. There will be no ceasefire.

2 hours ago07:29 Ciaran McGrath

Ukrainian MP Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze has warned that Vladimir Putin is “playing his KGB game” with US President Donald Trump, using peace talks as a smokescreen to buy time and avoid fresh sanctions.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, she said Mr Putin was not serious about an unconditional ceasefire and was instead aiming to shift the discussion towards terms that suit Russia’s long-term goals.

She criticised the lack of pressure on Moscow, pointing to delayed US sanctions and the apparent failure of coordinated Western responses to deter further aggression.

Ms Klympush-Tsintsadze said only sustained pressure—not dialogue—would bring Russia to the negotiating table in good faith.

She added: “Russia cannot be talked into peace. It must be pressured into peace.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin (Image: Getty)

2 hours ago07:22 Ciaran McGrath

A leading Vladimir Putin propagandist has threatened the USA with a "nuclear tsunami" that will "blow the country to hell" in a vicious rant on Russian television. Throughout the Ukraine war, Putin has repeatedly engaged in nuclear sabre-rattling in an attempt to deter Western countries from providing military support to Ukraine.

In recent weeks, the Kremlin has stepped up its rhetoric, with a series of hysterical threats to wipe out Western countries. The US has now become the latest target of Putin's atomic wrath, as the US Senate weighs up a new sanctions package aimed at crippling the Russian economy.

2 hours ago07:00 Ciaran McGrath

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged the United States to remain closely involved in efforts to broker a ceasefire with Russia, warning that any sign of distancing would play into Vladimir Putin’s hands.

In a post on X, Mr Zelensky said he had spoken twice with President Donald Trump and stressed the need for American and European representatives to be directly involved in negotiations.

He said: “It is crucial for all of us that the United States does not distance itself from the talks and the pursuit of peace, because the only one who benefits from that is Putin."

Mr Zelensky reaffirmed Ukraine’s readiness for a “full and unconditional ceasefire” and suggested possible venues for talks, including Turkiye, the Vatican and Switzerland.

The appeal came after Mr Trump announced that Russia and Ukraine would “immediately” begin negotiations, with the Vatican offering to host the discussions.

2 hours ago06:55 Ciaran McGrath

Vice President JD Vance said the United States is prepared to walk away from efforts to end the war if Russian President Vladimir Putin does not show genuine interest in negotiation.

Speaking before a meeting with Pope Leo XIV, Mr Vance told reporters that President Trump has made clear the US will not waste time spinning its wheels without concrete outcomes.

Mr Vance emphasised that the US wants to see real progress, warning that the door is open to disengage if Russia fails to negotiate in good faith.

He said the administration’s patience is limited and that any deal must be based on measurable actions, not just empty promises.

Mr Vance’s comments reflect growing frustration within the US leadership over the stalled peace process and the risk of continued involvement without results.

US VIce President JD Vance with Pope Leo XIV (Image: Getty)

3 hours ago06:37 Ciaran McGrath

US President Donald Trump said on May 19 he would abandon efforts to end Russia’s war in Ukraine if no progress is made.

He said: “I tell you, big egos involved, but I think something’s going to happen. And if it doesn’t, I just back away, and they’re going to have to keep going.”

Mr Trump reiterated his belief that Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to end the conflict, calling it a “blood bath.”

The phone call between Mr Trump and Putin came after inconclusive peace talks in Turkey, where Russia refused to agree to a ceasefire.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said there was “no timeline” for a peace treaty memorandum, warning that “the devil is in the details.”

Trump says he will meet with Putin 'as soon as we can set it up'

3 hours ago06:25 Ciaran McGrath

Russia launched 112 drones at Ukraine overnight from May 19 to 20, targeting multiple regions including Kharkiv, Donetsk, and Sumy Oblast — where 56,000 residents have now been evacuated under mandatory orders.

The strikes came just nine hours after US President Donald Trump’s call with Vladimir Putin, during which Mr Trump claimed ceasefire talks would begin “immediately”, although Putin again rejected a 30-day truce.

Sumy Oblast, bordering Russia’s Kursk region, faces daily attacks and has seen increasing use of guided bombs and small assault groups attempting to breach the frontier.

Regional governor Oleh Hryhorov said over 86,000 people are subject to evacuation orders, with 65% already relocated amid intensifying cross-border assaults.

The latest wave of evacuations follows a deadly Russian strike on a civilian bus in Bilopillia on May 17 that killed nine people — underscoring the continued threat to civilians even as diplomatic efforts are said to be under way.