Ukraine LIVE: Putin to defy Macron, Starmer and Trump as US issues red alert for attack

4 mins ago13:13 Ciaran McGrath

Vladimir Putin’s top security official has vanished during efforts to end the war in Ukraine, amid swirling health rumours and claims he could be caught up in a corruption probe.

Sergei Shoigu, 69, is a Russian army general and currently the secretary of the powerful Russian Security Council.

He served as defence minister for most of the war in Ukraine before being replaced one year ago, and is a very well-known member of Putin's entourage.

Speculation is swirling in Moscow after he missed the Red Square parade on Friday amid claims his absence was health-related. But an explanation that he was undergoing a “routine medical examination” at a “sanatorium” was not seen as plausible.

Sergei Shoigu was replaced as Russia's defence minister exactly one year ago (Image: Getty)

42 mins ago12:35 Ciaran McGrath

Moscow responded by promising an “adequate response,” accusing Warsaw of undermining diplomatic ties and harming Polish citizens.

The closure leaves Russia with just one consulate remaining in Poland, in Gdansk, following an earlier shutdown in Poznan over suspected sabotage.

Lithuanian authorities have also linked Russian operatives to a separate arson attack at an IKEA store in Vilnius, coordinated during a secret meeting in Warsaw.

With multiple suspects now in custody, Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned: “We now know for certain… we will catch them all!”

44 mins ago12:33 Ciaran McGrath

Poland has ordered the closure of Russia’s consulate in Krakow after determining that Russian intelligence orchestrated a massive fire at a Warsaw shopping centre last year.

Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski confirmed the move on Monday, exactly one year after the Marywilska 44 complex—home to 1,400 small shops and many Vietnamese-owned businesses—was destroyed.

He said: “This was a huge fire… just by sheer luck, nobody was hurt. This is completely unacceptable—so the Russian consulate will have to leave.”

Ukrainian Prime Minister Donald Tusk (Image: Getty)

1 hour ago12:11 Ciaran McGrath

The European Union will allocate an additional £770 million (€900 million) for weapons and ammunition for Ukraine, using windfall profits generated by frozen Russian assets.

Charles Fries, Deputy Secretary General of the EU External Action Service, confirmed the funding during the 2nd Ukraine-EU Defense Industry Forum.

He said the move brings total recent EU defence support for Ukraine to £2.8 billion (€3.3 billion).

Mr Fries added that the funds would be disbursed within the next two weeks.

1 hour ago12:08 Ciaran McGrath

A huge project thought to cost more than £10billion is set to provide a boost to the Russian economy as the country's President, Vladimir Putin admits that a crucial piece of infrastructure has reached its capacity.

Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed the future of the proposed Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline between the two states during the latter's visit to Moscow on Friday for Russia's Victory Day parade.

The day before, the Interfax news agency reported the country's Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak told reporters that energy supplies from Russia to China in 2025 will be higher than last year.

2 hours ago11:38 Ciaran McGrath

Pro-Kremlin figure Pavel Gubarev claimed Russia had lost more than a million troops and warned that upcoming negotiations in Istanbul were unlikely to deliver results.

He cited the 2022 Istanbul talks, where Russia had reportedly offered to withdraw from all occupied Ukrainian territories except Crimea, which would remain Russian de facto but Ukrainian de jure for 25 years.

He listed Ukrainian military gains including the recapture of territory in Kyiv, Kharkiv and Kherson, and a cross-border incursion into the Kursk region. By contrast, he pointed to Russian advances in Mariupol, Bakhmut, Avdiivka and other fronts.

Mr Gubarev said the war effort was being undermined by internal enemies obstructing mobilisation of the army, economy and society.

2 hours ago11:19 Ciaran McGrath

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he held his first conversation with Pope Leo XIV, describing it as “very warm and truly substantive.”

He thanked the pontiff for supporting Ukraine’s push for a just and lasting peace, and raised the issue of thousands of Ukrainian children deported by Russia.

Mr Zelensky also told the Pope about Ukraine’s agreement with its allies to begin a full and unconditional 30-day ceasefire, and reiterated his willingness to hold direct talks with Russia.

He invited His Holiness to visit Ukraine and said the two leaders had agreed to remain in contact ahead of a potential in-person meeting.

2 hours ago10:56 Ciaran McGrath

Russia launched more than 100 Shahed and decoy drones at Ukraine overnight, Ukraine’s air force said on Monday, just hours after the Kremlin rejected a proposed 30-day ceasefire.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded by challenging Mr Putin to meet him for direct peace talks in Turkey this week, but Moscow has so far not replied.

The ceasefire plan, backed by the United States and European leaders, was tied to a broader push to end a war that has killed tens of thousands and left Russia occupying roughly one-fifth of Ukraine.

Instead, the Kremlin has offered separate direct talks in Istanbul on Thursday — a move Mr Zelensky has said must be preceded by a ceasefire.

3 hours ago10:41 Ciaran McGrath

The world is holding its breath as it waits on Russian President Vladimir Putin to accede to peace talks with Ukraine. Moscow, cornered by the world, could meet its neighbour for direct peace talks as soon as Thursday in the most positive sign of a breakthrough in the three-year war.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said his besieged country is "ready to meet" Kremlin representatives after they suggested peace talks in Istanbul. But Putin has rejected European demands for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire and instead proposed direct talks with Ukraine this week.

READ GILES SHELDRICK'S ANALYSIS HERE

3 hours ago10:30 Ciaran McGrath

Mr Lammy said April had been the "deadliest month" for children since the war began, as he urged Russia to engage seriously.

Overnight, the Kremlin launched more than 100 drones into Ukraine, in what was seen as a rejection of calls for an unconditional ceasefire.

EU commission vice president Kaja Kallas said: “If there is no ceasefire there cannot be talks under fire… it takes two to want peace, it takes only one to want war.”

Meanwhile, Polish foreign minister Radoslaw Sikorski said Russia's consulate in Krakow would be closed after links were found to an arson attack in Warsaw.

3 hours ago10:24 Ciaran McGrath

He warned that European leaders are “prepared if this is not the moment of seriousness from Putin.”

Mr Lammy is hosting ministers from the Weimar+ group at Lancaster House after a weekend of diplomacy focused on Ukraine.

He is expected to announce fresh sanctions targeting supporters of Moscow, days after Sir Keir Starmer warned of further action if peace efforts stall.

3 hours ago10:16 Ciaran McGrath

Vladimir Putin must "get serious" about engaging in peace talks, Foreign Secretary David Lammy has said.

He praised Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky for his "willingness to engage in talks" as European foreign ministers gathered in London.

Mr Zelensky has publicly challenged Mr Putin to meet him face-to-face for negotiations in Turkey on Thursday.

The invitation follows the Russian president's own statement suggesting he is open to direct talks with Kyiv.

Urging the Kremlin to respond, Mr Lammy said: "This is the time for Vladimir Putin to get serious about peace in Europe, to get serious about a ceasefire, and to get serious about talks."

David Lammy, the UK's Foreign Secretary (Image: Getty)

3 hours ago10:09 Ciaran McGrath

Volodymyr Zelensky has invited Vladimir Putin to meet him face-to-face in Turkey on Thursday, offering to begin a ceasefire on Monday in what appears to be a marked shift in policy following an intervention by Donald Trump.

Mr Zelensky made the dramatic offer in a post on X early Sunday morning, saying: “I will be waiting for Putin in Turkey on Thursday. Personally.

"We await a full and lasting ceasefire, starting from tomorrow, to provide the necessary basis for diplomacy. There is no point in prolonging the killings.”

His message followed a post on Truth Social by Mr Trump, published late Saturday night, in which the former US President said: “President Putin of Russia doesn’t want to have a Cease Fire Agreement with Ukraine, but rather wants to meet on Thursday, in Turkey, to negotiate a possible end to the BLOODBATH. Ukraine should agree to this, IMMEDIATELY.

3 hours ago10:06 Ciaran McGrath

Vladimir Putin has suffered another dramatic blow after a drilling rig collapsed and burst into flames in Siberia, leaving three workers in critical condition and raising fresh questions over the stability of the Kremlin’s oil infrastructure.

Footage shared by Ukrainian blogger WarTranslated on social media platform X shows the moment the towering structure gives way, consumed by fire. In the clip, flames shoot out from the base of the rig as the upper deck begins to buckle. Moments later, the entire structure slants and crashes to the ground, while black smoke billows into the sky.

WarTranslated posted: “In Russia’s Siberia, a drilling rig collapsed. Russian media report that wells caught fire last night at the site, and the blaze continues, with two 25-metre flames still burning.

Three people were injured and are now in intensive care in critical condition.” The exact location has not been officially confirmed, and there has so far been no public comment from Russian authorities or state-run energy companies.

4 hours ago09:35 Ciaran McGrath

US officials are braced for a possible major Russian assault on Ukraine after issuing an alert from the Embassy in Kyiv.

The warning - issued on Friday - cited intelligence pointing to a “potentially significant air attack” which could strike “at any time over the next several days.”

American citizens were urged to be ready to take shelter immediately if air raid sirens sound. Concern is mounting after the end of Russia’s self-imposed three-day Victory Day ceasefire.

It comes as President Volodymyr Zelensky indicated he is prepared to meet Vladimir Putin in Turkey to discuss a possible ceasefire.

4 hours ago09:30 Ciaran McGrath