Russia’s Dmitriev heading for US to meet Witkoff and Kushner, source says
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s special envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, is heading to Miami for a meeting with US President Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner, a Russian source told Reuters.
“Three-way contacts with the Ukrainian side are not planned,” said the Russian source with direct knowledge of the visit, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Tara Cobham20 December 2025 00:02
Ukrainian negotiator says talks with US and European teams have ended
Top Ukrainian negotiator Rustem Umerov said on Friday that talks in the United States with US and European negotiators on a settlement to the war with Russia had ended, with participants agreeing to continue their joint efforts.
“We agreed with our American partners on further steps and on continuing our joint work in the near future,” Umerov wrote on Telegram, adding that he had informed President Volodymyr Zelensky of the outcome of the talks.
Tara Cobham20 December 2025 00:00
US trying to ‘figure out what Russia can give’ and get, Rubio says
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the US diplomatic effort to end the Russia-Ukraine war will turn on identifying what compromises Moscow and Kyiv can accept.
“We’re trying to figure out what can Russia give and what do they expect to get and what can Ukraine get,” he said, emphasizing that any “negotiated settlement” requires sacrifices from both sides.
Rubio said that he, Trump, Vice President JD Vance and other top administration officials have invested considerable time pushing for answers, and “the decision will be up to Ukraine and up to Russia.”
Rubio was speaking to reporters for the first time since a Vanity Fair piece quoted him and White House chief of staff Susie Wiles suggesting that Trump does not think Putin would be satisfied with annexing only a part of Ukraine.
Tara Cobham20 December 2025 00:00
Watch: Putin warns EU leaders of ‘grave consequences’ if Russia robbed of frozen assetsPutin warns EU leaders of ‘grave consequences’ if Russia robbed of frozen assets
Tara Cobham19 December 2025 23:00
Russian missiles attack port infrastructure near Ukraine’s Odesa killing seven, deputy PM says
A Russian missile attack on port infrastructure around Ukraine’s Black Sea port of Odesa killed seven people and injured about 15 late on Friday, Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba said.
“In the late evening, Russia attacked port infrastructure in Odesa region with ballistic missiles,” Kuleba wrote on Telegram.
“According to preliminary information, seven people were killed. About 15 were injured and are receiving help.”
Tara Cobham19 December 2025 22:17
Rachel Reeves welcomes EU deal to loan billions to Ukraine
Rachel Reeves said the UK’s support for Ukraine remains “iron-clad” as she welcomed a European deal to provide billions more in financial support for Kyiv.
The European Council agreed on Thursday to provide an interest-free loan worth 90 billion euros (£78.8 billion) to support Ukraine’s military and economic needs over the next two years.
The Chancellor said she is “pleased” a deal had been reached, adding: “The UK’s support for Ukraine remains iron-clad.
Tara Cobham19 December 2025 22:00
Russian missile attack near Odesa kills seven, deputy PM says
A Russian ballistic missile attack near Odesa killed seven people and injured around 15 late on Friday, deputy prime minister Oleksiy Kuleba said.
James Reynolds19 December 2025 21:03
Rubio says he may join portion of Ukraine talks in Miami on Saturday
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters that he may join a portion of talks on Ukraine on Saturday in Miami, adding that the talks were being held on Friday and Saturday.
Ukrainian peace negotiators will start a new round of talks on Friday with the US team on proposals for ending the war with Russia, said the head of Kyiv’s delegation, Rustem Umerov. White House envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, also planned to meet a Russian delegation in Miami this weekend, a White House official told Reuters, as they continue trying to hammer out an agreement to end Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
Tara Cobham19 December 2025 21:00
Watch: ‘I was a British POW tortured by Russia – this is how Ukraine can win this war’World of Trouble: ‘I was a British POW tortured by Russia; this is how Ukraine can win this war’
Tara Cobham19 December 2025 20:00
Ukrainian and Polish presidents show unity against Russia
The Ukrainian and Polish presidents met in Warsaw on Friday to underline their countries’ unity in the face of Russia. They also signaled progress on historical reconciliation, which had caused tension in bilateral relations in the past.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was welcomed by his Polish counterpart, Karol Nawrocki, at the Presidential Palace for a visit intended to ensure that relations with key ally Poland remain stable, regardless of any change in power in Warsaw.
Poland’s liberal government is a solid backer of Ukraine, with Prime Minister Donald Tusk acting as one of the most visceral advocates of Kyiv in international fora. But presidential election results this year indicate that the previous, nationalist Law and Justice party might return to power in 2027.
Tara Cobham19 December 2025 19:00