Ukraine

ECB rate hikes result in record loss in 2024

The European Central Bank on Thursday reported a record loss in 2024 after it had aggressively hiked eurozone interest rates in response to soaring inflation. The ECB lost 7.9 billion euros ($8.3 billion) last year, the second straight year the Frankfurt-based institution has been in the red. In 2023, the central bank was down 1.3 billion euros, ...

Trump’s Art of the Deal: Ukraine, Russia, and the $500 Billion Power Play

If you think diplomacy is about treaties and handshakes, you haven’t been paying attention. In the world of Donald J. Trump, geopolitics is just another business deal. And in his latest playbook for Ukraine, he’s offering a trade deal that sounds more like a corporate takeover than a peace agreement. Here’s the pitch: Ukraine, battered by ...

Trump Brands Zelensky 'a Dictator'

US President Donald Trump called Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky a "dictator" Wednesday, widening a personal rift with major implications for efforts to end the conflict triggered by Russia's invasion three years ago. The United States had provided funding and arms to Ukraine but, in an abrupt policy shift since coming to power, Trump has ...

Macron Holds New Emergency Talks on Ukraine

French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday held a new meeting on Ukraine in a bid to coordinate a European response to what he called an "existential threat" from Russia after a shock policy shift in Washington. Macron was speaking to leaders of 19 countries including Canada, with most taking part by video link, according to the ...

Russia Tells US It Opposes Any NATO Member Sending Troops to Ukraine

Russia told the United States in talks on Tuesday that it opposed any NATO member sending troops to Ukraine as part of a ceasefire, Moscow's foreign minister said. "The appearance of troops of armed forces from the same NATO countries, whether under a foreign flag, under the flag of the European Union or under national flags, does not ...

EU tells US Europe Wants to 'partner' on Ukraine Peace

EU chief Ursula von der Leyen told US envoy Keith Kellogg on Tuesday that Europe wants to work with Washington for peace in Ukraine, and is ready to do more to arm Kyiv. "Financially and militarily, Europe has brought more to the table than anyone else. And we will step up," von der Leyen wrote on X after meeting Kellogg in Brussels. "We want to ...

UK's Starmer Says 'US Backstop' Ukraine's Only Defense Against Russia

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday warned that a "US security guarantee" would be the "only way" to prevent Russia from attacking Ukraine again in the event of peace. "I'm prepared to consider committing British forces on the ground alongside others if there is a lasting peace agreement, but there must be a US backstop, because a US ...

EU Pushes to Boost Weapons Deliveries for Ukraine

The EU is pressing its member states to bolster supplies of key weaponry to Ukraine this year, including air defences, missiles and at least 1.5 million artillery shells, a proposal seen by AFP Monday said. Europe is scrambling to offer backing to Kyiv after US President Donald Trump blindsided allies by launching peace efforts with Russia over ...

UK Says Ready to Send Troops in Ukraine

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he was prepared to deploy troops to Ukraine if needed, hours before European leaders meet in Paris on Monday to address Washington's shock policy shift on the war. US President Donald Trump sidelined Kyiv and its European backers last week by calling his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to talk about ...