Trump and Meloni talk up Chances of US Trade Deal with Europe

Donald Trump and Giorgia Meloni talked up the chances of a trade deal between the US and Europe, as the Italian prime minister visited Washington. "There will be a trade deal, 100%," Trump said, "but it will be a fair deal", while Meloni said she was "sure" they could reach an agreement, later adding that her aim was to "make the West great again". Meloni is the first European leader to visit Washington since Trump imposed, then paused, 20% tariffs on imports from the bloc. The US president separately said on April 17 that he is confident of making "a very good deal" with China, adding that representatives from Beijing have reached out "a number of times". Trump and Meloni enjoy a good relationship and the Italian leader hopes to position herself as a bridge between the EU and the US amid fractured relations and mounting concerns about the global impact of Trump's tariffs. Despite his confidence in an eventual deal, Trump said he was in "no rush". Meloni has cast herself as the only European who can de-escalate Trump’s trade war, and she has highlighted their conservative common ground. Click here to read...

Trump floats US-Europe Meeting as Vance visits Italy for 2nd day of Talks on tariffs

U.S. Vice President JD Vance met with Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni in Rome on April 18 for a second day of talks on tariffs, and the White House suggested a broader U.S.-Europe summit was under consideration when U.S. President Donald Trump visits. The White House and Meloni's office issued a joint statement that said Trump would visit Italy "in the very near future." Meloni as bridge between US-EU Meloni has positioned herself as a bridge between the Trump administration and Europe and was the lone EU leader to attend his inauguration. As the head of a far-right party, she is ideologically aligned with Trump on issues including curbing migration and promoting traditional values. But Italy and the U.S. have diverged over Meloni's strong support for Ukraine, while Trump's tariff threat has put pressure on Meloni to defend the EU's trade interests on behalf of the bloc. "We believe that Italy can be an extremely important partner in Europe and the Mediterranean for the United States of America," she said. "There is a privileged relationship between us of which I am very proud." Click here to read...

Zelenskyy says Russian Attacks continuing despite Putin's Easter Ceasefire Announcement

Moscow continued to launch attacks on Saturday night and early Sunday despite Russian President Vladimir Putin's announcement of a 30-hour ceasefire over Easter, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said. The Russian Defence Ministry subsequently also accused Ukrainian forces of doing the same. Zelenskyy made his announcement on April 20 morning in a post on X: “As of Easter morning, we can say that the Russian army is trying to create a general impression of a ceasefire, but in some places, it does not abandon individual attempts to advance and inflict losses on Ukraine.” Zelenskyy said Ukrainian forces recorded 59 Russian shelling incidents, 26-unit assaults across several frontline regions and scores of drone strikes, despite Putin's announcement of an Easter ceasefire on Saturday. On Saturday, April 19, Putin announced a unilateral ceasefire that he said would last from 6 pm Moscow time on Saturday to midnight following Easter Sunday. The Russian president offered no details on how the ceasefire would be monitored or whether it would cover airstrikes or ongoing ground battles that rage around the clock. His announcement notably came after US President Donald Trump said on Friday that negotiations between Ukraine and Russia are “coming to a head.” Trump said he could pass on the peace efforts if talks do not progress. Click here to read...

Zelensky urges US and Europe to Pressure Russia to End War

Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and top diplomat Marco Rubio have met with their European and Ukrainian counterparts in Paris to discuss efforts to end the war in Ukraine. The talks, hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron, formed the highest level of transatlantic engagement about the war since February. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged those at the meeting to put "pressure" on Russia to agree to a ceasefire, as "Russia uses every day and every night to kill". Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed the talks, claiming European leaders were focused on "continuing the war". Ahead of the talks, European diplomats had said they would urge the US to pressure Russia to agree to an unconditional ceasefire. "We want the US to use a bit more stick," one official said. The US State Department had said the focus would be on how to end the fighting in Ukraine. Macron's office had said the purpose of the talks was to "review progress on peace negotiations aimed at ending the Russian aggression in Ukraine". Click here to read...

Pope Francis Dies from Stroke followed by Heart Failure

Pope Francis passed away due to a stroke and irreversible cardiovascular arrest at the age of 88, according to the death certificate released by Vatican doctor Andrea Arcangeli. The document, which was released by The Vatican, also noted that the pope had fallen into a coma before his death. Francis made his last public appearance on Easter Sunday, to bless thousands of people in St Peter’s Square. Meanwhile, a ‘sede vacante’, or ‘vacant see’, has now begun in The Vatican, which is the period between the death of one pope and the election of another. To mark the beginning of this period, Pope Francis’ formal apartment has been sealed with red ribbon and wax in a ritual that is a key part of the tradition after a pope dies. To elect a new pope, cardinals from across the globe will convene for the conclave. The voting process is conducted in secret and typically lasts between two and three weeks. The conclave is expected to begin no sooner than 15 days and no later than 20 days after the pope's death. Click here to read...

Zelenskyy Claims Chinese Nationals Helping Russia Produce Drones

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has claimed that Chinese citizens are helping to produce drones at a facility in Russia and suggested that Moscow may have “stolen” drone technology from Beijing. The Ukrainian leader made the comment at a news conference in Kyiv on Tuesday, just days after he said China was supplying weapons and gunpowder to Russia and following the recent capture of two Chinese nationals fighting for Russia against Ukrainian forces. “I asked the Security Service of Ukraine to transfer information of a broader nature to the Chinese side regarding Chinese citizens who work at the drone factory,” Zelenskyy said. “We believe that it may be that Russia stole – made an agreement with these citizens outside the agreements with the Chinese leadership – stole these technologies,” he said. “The information also describes the relevant Chinese technologies for working on these drones. I think it will be important for Beijing to see how their partners are working with them,” he said. China has strongly denied involvement in Russia’s war on Ukraine. Click here to read...

Spain Unveils €11bn Plan to Reach Long-Delayed NATO Defence Spending Target

Spain has announced a €10.5bn investment plan to ensure it will reach its long-delayed NATO commitment of spending 2% of its GDP on defence this year, saying it has become obvious “only Europe will know how to protect Europe” from now on. The country – which lags well behind other western nations by dedicating about 1.3% of its GDP to defence spending – is one of the NATO members that has been pressured by the Trump administration to increase its spending, and had previously committed to hitting the 2% threshold by 2029. Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said the plan, which has been approved by his cabinet and will now be submitted to the EU and NATO, was needed to address the current and future defence challenges. Its main focus will be telecommunications, cybersecurity and buying military equipment. Click here to read...

Zelenskyy’s Historic Visit to South Africa

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky is on a historic visit to South Africa, signalling a dramatic improvement in the once-strained relations between the two nations. The visit marks a diplomatic breakthrough for the Ukrainian leader in his efforts to counter Russia's strong - and growing - influence in Africa. Apart from a brief stopover in Cape Verde in 2023 while flying to Argentina, this is Zelensky's first visit to Africa since he became Ukraine's president in 2019. Ukraine grasped the diplomatic significance of African states, when many of them - including regional powerhouse South Africa - refused to condemn Russia's full-scale invasion of its territory in 2022. Zelensky's visit to South Africa at this point is especially significant, as Ukraine's relationship with the US - its main weapons supplier - has soured since US President Donald Trump took office in January. Click here to read...

Trump Criticises Zelensky as Ukraine Refuses Russian Control of Crimea

US President Donald Trump has accused Volodymyr Zelensky of harming peace negotiations, after the Ukrainian president said Kyiv would not recognise Russian control of Crimea. Writing on Truth Social, Trump claimed a deal to end the war was "very close", but that Zelensky's refusal to accept US terms "will do nothing but prolong" the conflict. Earlier, US Vice-President JD Vance laid out the US vision for a deal, saying it would "freeze the territorial lines close to where they are today". Ukraine has long said it will not give up Crimea, a southern peninsula illegally annexed by Russia in 2014. Vance said the deal would mean Ukraine and Russia "are both going to have to give up some of the territory they currently own." When asked by reporters at the White House about whether the administration was looking to recognise Russia's sovereignty over Crimea, Trump said he just wanted to see the war end. "I have no favourites. I don't want to have any favourites. I want to have a deal done," he said. Click here to read...

Kremlin Dragging its feet over Ukraine Peace Deal as Impatient US Takes Anger out on Zelenskyy

Steve Witkoff – Donald Trump’s envoy and longtime friend was expected in London on April 23 for talks with Kyiv and European allies. But in a dramatic turn of events, Witkoff, along with the US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, abruptly cancelled the trip – underscoring growing tensions between Trump’s inner circle and Ukraine and Europe. The two US officials were reportedly furious with Volodymyr Zelenskyy after Ukraine pushed back against a proposal from the Trump administration to recognise Russia’s illegal 2014 annexation of Crimea. Subsequently, Witkoff’s visit to Moscow on April 24 will mark his fourth visit to Russia this year. For Moscow, this marks the latest symbolic victory in its efforts to pull the US closer to its side. Trump launched his latest tirade against Zelenskyy, placing sole blame for the lack of progress on the Ukrainian president. In a post on Truth Social, Trump once again referred to him as “the man with ‘no cards to play’”, and claimed that Ukraine was facing a stark choice. “The situation for Ukraine is dire – He can have Peace or, he can fight for another three years before losing the whole Country.” Click here to read...

Mark Rutte Urges Allies to Devote More Funds, Political Energy to NATO Alliance

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has urged all 32 member nations to devote more funds, equipment and political energy to the world's biggest military alliance, as the United States steps back from its leading security role in Europe. "In 2025, we need to significantly increase our efforts to ensure NATO remains a key source of military advantage for all our nations. Our continued freedom and prosperity depend on it," Rutte wrote in his annual report. NATO has been in disarray since February, when US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth warned that America's security priorities lie elsewhere and that Europe would have to look after its own security and that of Ukraine. Rutte's report was posted on NATO's website without any obvious publicity. In 2023, as Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine entered its second year, they agreed that all allies should spend at least 2% of GDP on their military budgets.

Estimates in the annual report showed that 22 allies had reached that goal last year, compared to a previous forecast of 23. Click here to read...

Iran Signals Willingness to Hold Nuclear Talks with Europeans

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says he is ready to travel to Europe for talks on Tehran’s nuclear programme, and France has indicated that European powers are also ready for dialogue if Tehran shows it is seriously engaged. Iran is looking to build on the momentum of nuclear negotiations with the United States, which will resume in Oman on April 26, and after talks with Russia and China. Its message to the European powers that were party to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal suggests Tehran is keeping its options open. Since September 2024, Tehran and the three European powers known as the E3 – France, Germany and the United Kingdom – have already held several rounds of discussions over their ties and the nuclear issue. The most recent in March 2025 was held at the technical level and looked at the parameters of a future deal to secure a rollback of Iran’s nuclear programme in return for lifting sanctions against it. Click here to read...

"Europe Stands with You": EU Chief Condemns 'Vile Terror Attack' In Pahalgam

EU chief Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday condemned the killing of at least 26 people by gunmen in Kashmir as a "vile terror attack" but said India's "spirit is unbreakable". "The vile terror attack in Pahalgam today stole so many innocent lives," she said in a condolence message on X to India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "Yet I know that India's spirit is unbreakable. You will stand strong in this ordeal. And Europe will stand with you," the European Commission president added. Subsequently, the Indian government has briefed senior diplomats from the European nations, including the United Kingdom, Italy, France, and Germany, on the Pahalgam terror attack. They were briefed on India's position and events of the past 48 hours, as well as Delhi's first response - diplomatic measures that include revocation of visas and suspension of the Indus Water Treaty. Click here to read...

UK Edges Towards Youth Visa Deal with EU

The government is no longer ruling out a youth visa deal with the EU, ahead of a summit next month to "reset" relations after Brexit. Labour has previously said it has "no plans" for such a scheme, which would make it easier for young people to study and work abroad. But an agreement has emerged as a key European demand in ongoing negotiations between the two sides to boost co-operation. Downing Street declined to repeat its previous opposition to reporters on Thursday, saying it would not provide a "running commentary" on talks. It comes as over 60 Labour MPs called on ministers to strike a "new and bespoke youth visa scheme for UK and EU citizens aged under 30". Sir Keir Starmer met European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen later, as preparations increase for the summit in London on 19 May. The Labour government is aiming to forge closer economic ties to the EU after Brexit. Both sides have also expressed a renewed interest in a defence and security pact amid the war in Ukraine. Click here to read...

Greenland's PM Nielsen says the US has 'Not Been Respectful' Towards the Territory

New Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen stated on Sunday that US comments regarding the mineral-rich Arctic Island had been disrespectful, emphasising that Greenland “will never, ever be a piece of property that can be bought by just anyone.” His comments came after a meeting with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen at her official residence on Sunday, on the second day of a three-day official visit aimed at fostering future cooperation between Greenland and Denmark. Nielsen's remarks were in response to US President Donald Trump’s repeated state interest in taking control of the mineral-rich Arctic Island. During the press conference, Nielsen said "the talk from the United States have not been respectful.”

He continued, “the words used have not been respectful. That’s why we need in this situation, we need to stand together.” Greenlandic political parties, which have been advocating for eventual independence from Denmark for years, recently formed a broad-based coalition government in response to Trump’s ambitions regarding the territory. Click here to read...

Trump Questions Putin's Desire for Peace after Meeting Zelensky at the Vatican

Donald Trump has questioned Vladimir Putin's willingness to end the war in Ukraine following his meeting with the country's leader Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines of Pope Francis's funeral. Posting on social media after leaving Rome, Trump said he feared Putin was "tapping me along" after Moscow's strikes on Kyiv earlier this week, adding there was "no reason for Putin to be shooting missiles into civilian areas". Trump and Zelensky were seen in deep discussion in St Peter's Basilica shortly before the funeral began. The White House described the 15-minute meeting with Zelensky as "very productive". The Ukrainian president said it had the "potential to become historic". It was Trump's first face-to-face encounter with the Ukrainian president since February's acrimonious Oval Office showdown. Russia, on the other hand, has continued its assault on Ukraine with a series of drone attacks and airstrikes, hours after Donald Trump cast doubt on Vladimir Putin’s readiness to end the conflict. Click here to read...

Five European Nations Move to Exit Landmine Ban

Rights groups have expressed alarm and warned of a slippery slope of again embracing one of the world’s most treacherous weapons, after five European countries said they intend to withdraw from the international treaty banning antipersonnel landmines. In announcing their plans earlier this year, Finland, Poland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania all pointed to the escalating military threat from Russia. In mid-April, Latvia’s parliament became the first to formally back the idea, after lawmakers voted to pull out of the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty, which bans the use, production and stockpiling of landmines designed for use against humans. Campaigners described the decisions – the first reversals among its more than 165 signatories – as a shocking step backwards. While some landmines come with self-destruct mechanisms that enable them to detonate after a set period of time, campaigners have pointed out that they remain incapable of distinguishing between civilians and soldiers and that malfunction rates can run as high as 10%, meaning a significant number may fail to destroy on command. Click here to read...

Putin Announces Three-Day Russian Ceasefire in Ukraine from 8 May

Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced a temporary ceasefire for the war in Ukraine. The Kremlin said the ceasefire would run from the morning of 8 May until 11 May - which coincides with victory celebrations to mark the end of World War Two. In response, Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called for an immediate ceasefire lasting "at least 30 days". While US President Donald Trump, who has been attempting to broker a truce between the two sides, said he wants to see a permanent ceasefire, the White House said. The Kremlin announced a similar, 30-hour truce over Easter, but while both sides reported a dip in fighting, they accused each other of hundreds of violations. Ceasefires have been attempted more than 20 times in Ukraine – all of them failed eventually, and some within minutes of going into effect. The most recent one, over Easter, was very limited in scope and only resulted in a slight reduction in fighting, with both sides accusing each other of violating the truce. Click here to read...

UK and EU Outline New Strategic Partnership to Boost Trade and Security

The UK and the EU have outlined a “new strategic partnership” aimed at bolstering trade and presenting a united European front in Ukraine in defiance of Donald Trump’s threat to upend decades of transatlantic alignment. A draft declaration being drawn up by London and Brussels ahead of a UK-EU summit on 19 May points to a “common understanding” on a number of shared interests. EU ambassadors are to meet in Brussels on April 30 for a briefing from officials who have spent the past few months in a “tunnel” working on the areas where agreement could be reached over the next year. A defence and security pact that would see closer cooperation on Ukraine is top of the shopping list along with migration, which is a hot topic on both sides of the Channel. Several EU capitals are pushing for a “youth experience” programme, which would allow people from the EU to spend at least 12 months in Britain under a reciprocal visa programme that would not add to migration figures. Click here to read...

Spain and Portugal Experience Historic Power Outage

On April 28, a massive power outage struck Spain and Portugal, marking one of the most significant blackouts in European history. The outage began at 12:33 PM CEST, disrupting electricity supply across the Iberian Peninsula and affecting parts of southwestern France and Andorra. Essential services, including hospitals, transportation systems, and communication networks, were severely impacted. Approximately 35,000 train passengers were stranded, and major airports like Madrid's Barajas International faced operational challenges. The blackout lasted up to 18 hours in some areas, with full restoration achieved by the following morning. Preliminary investigations by Spain's grid operator, Red Eléctrica, ruled out cyberattacks and suggested that two disconnection events in southwestern Spain, a region rich in solar energy, may have triggered the collapse. Reports have also cited rare “induced atmospheric vibration” as the possible cause. The incident has raised concerns about the resilience of renewable energy-dependent grids and prompted calls for infrastructure improvements. Click here to read...