Belgium hits back at EU plan to use frozen Russian assets to aid Ukraine

Prime minister says proposal violates international law and would destabilise financial markets

Jacob Zuma’s daughter resigns amid claims South Africans tricked to fight for Russia

Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla quits as MP after being accused of recruiting 17 men who are trapped in war-torn Ukraine

Russian attack on Kyiv cuts power to half of city and leaves two dead

Missile and drone attacks come amid Moscow’s campaign to break Ukrainian civil resistance by attacking energy grid

Ukrainian naval drones strike two Russian oil tankers in Black Sea

Kyiv tries to pile pressure on Russia with attack on empty vessels on way to load up with oil for foreign markets

Ukrainian and US officials to meet in Florida to discuss proposals to end Russia’s war

Marco Rubio, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner expected to meet Kyiv delegation, after another weekend of deadly Russian attacks in Ukraine

Coming days may be ‘pivotal’ for talks to end Ukraine war, EU’s top diplomat says

Negotiation efforts ramp up as Zelenskyy meets Macron in Paris and Trump envoy prepares for Putin talks

Five South Africans in court over alleged recruitment for Russia’s war in Ukraine

Suspects arrested after tipoff over accusation that 17 South Africans were tricked on to frontlines of the conflict

Ukraine war briefing: Witkoff shuttles into Moscow to hear Putin’s demands

Zelenskyy says redrafted peace plan ‘looks better’ but Kaja Kallas fears Moscow meeting will wrongfully put pressure on Kyiv rather than Kremlin. What we know on day 1,378

Witkoff in Moscow for talks as Putin claims to have taken key Ukrainian city

Trump’s special envoy lands in Russia as Putin hails ‘important’ capture of Pokrovsk, although this is disputed by Kyiv

First Thing: EU foreign policy chief warns US-Russia talks may pressure Kyiv to make concessions

Steve Witkoff is due to meet Vladimir Putin in Moscow. Plus, a new book highlights the forgotten builders of the Empire State Building

British military instructor arrested in Ukraine on suspicion of spying for Russia

Ross David Cutmore, from Dunfermline, was allegedly recruited to assist in assassinations on Ukrainian soil

Wednesday briefing: ​​Does the new ​U​S plan put ​Ukraine and ​Russia on the path to peace​?

In today’s newsletter: With US pressure mounting and Ukraine signalling cautious openness, Moscow continues to project military momentum

Pope Leo stresses importance of European involvement in efforts to end war in Ukraine

Pontiff says Italy specifically could play role of mediator in talks between Russia, US and Ukraine

First Thing: Family of victim of Trump boat airstrikes files complaint against ‘extrajudicial killing’

Alejandro Carranza Medina’s relatives say he was a fisher, not a drug trafficker. Plus, Putin says Russia ‘ready’ for war with Europe as Ukraine talks stall

European Commission plans ‘reparations loan’ to Ukraine using frozen Russian assets

Option of EU loan based on common borrowing also proposed in concession to concerns raised by Belgium

EU has a plan to use frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine – how will it work?

What are the legal implications, and why does Belgium fear being left alone with the bill?

Amid missiles and diplomacy, Russia is exploiting western divisions over Ukraine

As Russia intensifies its military pressure and diplomatic manoeuvring, European leaders find themselves increasingly at odds with Washington over how to pursue peace

Path to peace in Ukraine unclear, says Trump, as US envoys prepare to meet Kyiv official

Trump’s comments come after an hours-long meeting at the Kremlin between US envoys and Vladimir Putin failed to achieve a breakthrough

Putin and Modi to meet amid politically treacherous times for Russia and India

The Russian president’s Delhi visit gives him a chance to reduce Moscow’s isolation but both countries need each other to negotiate Trump’s America and a powerful China

Macron believes US may ‘betray Ukraine on territory’ says Der Spiegel

Magazine says leaked note from call between European heads also contains similar concerns of other leaders