Ukraine war LIVE: Humiliation for Vladimir Putin as pilot killed in Russian bomber crash

21 mins ago07:25 Ciaran McGrath

A procession carrying the coffins of four American soldiers who died during a training exercise in Lithuania will proceed past the capital's cathedral square Thursday.

Government officials and religious leaders are expected to pay their last respects before the bodies are taken to the airport to be returned to the US.

The soldiers, part of the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, were on a tactical training exercise when they and their vehicle went missing a week ago, the Army said.

Lithuanian, Polish and US soldiers and rescuers searched through the forests and swamps at the General Silvestras Zukauskas training ground in the town of Pabradė, 6 miles (10 kilometres) west of the border with Belarus.

The M88 Hercules armored vehicle was pulled from a peat bog Monday and the final body was recovered Tuesday.

49 mins ago06:57 Ciaran McGrath

The White House is evaluating the financial implications of a US takeover of Greenland, with officials analysing the costs of providing services and the potential economic benefits, The Washington Post has reported.

One administration insider told the outlet: “The point is, ‘We’ll pay you more than Denmark does.’”

Vice President JD Vance recently visited a US base on Greenland, criticising Denmark’s role and emphasising the island’s strategic importance.

On Saturday, Donald Trump told NBC News he would not rule out military force to take Greenland, stating: “We’ll get Greenland. Yeah, 100 percent.”

Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen condemned the US approach as “unacceptable pressure,” while Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen called it “highly aggressive.”

JD Vance's trip to Greenland last week angered many islanders (Image: Getty)

53 mins ago06:53 Ciaran McGrath

US President Donald Trump on Thursday hailed "good co-operation" between Russia and Ukraine as the US mediates ceasefire discussions with Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky's officials.

Speaking from the White House as he announced tariffs on US imports of goods from around the world, Mr Trump said: "We're going to get it stopped.

"It's a senseless war that would have never happened if I was president and it shouldn't be allowed to go on."

Russia launched its full-scale invasion of its neighbour on February 24, 2022.

Last week, the White House said that both Russia and Ukraine had agreed to pause hostilities in the Black Sea after their separate talks designed to secure a ceasefire.

However, strikes in Ukraine have continued. Mr Zelensky said on Wednesday that four people had been killed by a missile strike on Kryvyi Rih.

Donald Trump announces that the UK will face a 10% tariff

57 mins ago06:49 Ciaran McGrath

David Lammy is set to call on the UK's Nato allies to increase defence spending to make the alliance "stronger, fairer and more lethal".

The Foreign Office said the Foreign Secretary will tell allies at a meeting of Nato foreign ministers in Brussels on Thursday that boosting defence spending is the collective duty of Nato members to improve safety in the face of long-term and interconnected threats from Russia and its enablers.

It comes after the UK announced the largest sustained increase to defence spending since the Cold War, hitting 2.5% from April 2027 and rising to 3% in the next parliament - an increase of £11.8 billion.

Mr Lammy said: "Keeping our country safe is the Government's first duty, and NATO is the cornerstone of our security, both at home and abroad.

"That's why we have announced the biggest investment to defence spending since the Cold War.

"Allies must spend more, produce more and deliver more on defence so NATO can become stronger, fairer and more lethal - boosting our collective defence ensures that NATO is ready for the threats and challenges we face."

Foreign Secretary David Lammy (Image: Getty)

1 hour ago06:45 Ciaran McGrath

In a another major blow for Vladimir Putin, 50% of Russians support a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine - at odds with the Kremlin.

According to independent Russian pollster the Levada Center, only 41% of 1615 Russians surveyed backed their government's resistance to a cessation of the fighting in Ukraine, as per Kyiv Independent.

The research found that 53% of women and 66% of those under 24 wanted weapons to be dropped for 30 days.

This comes after the White House acknowledged that the Kremlin was dragging its heels over a ceasefire agreement - something Kyiv has said it is ready to sign.

2 hours ago06:15 Ciaran McGrath

A Russian Tu-22M3 bomber crashed in Irkutsk Oblast on April 2, killing the pilot and forcing four crew members to eject, the Russian Defence Ministry said.

The aircraft, which has been valued anywhere from £32 million to £230 million depending on the source, was reportedly on a scheduled flight when it went down in a deserted area.

Local authorities blamed a technical malfunction, while reports suggested it struck a power line, causing blackouts in two villages.

Footage shared on social media appeared to show the burning wreckage of the aircraft.

The Tu-22M3, a key part of Russia’s Air Force, was used in the bombardment of Mariupol in 2022. The incident adds to a growing list of Russian military aircraft crashes, including a Su-25 downed during a training flight in March.

2 hours ago06:10 Ciaran McGrath