Revealed: the business dealings of Royal Mail bidder Daniel Křetínský

With the Czech billionaire on the verge of a £3.6bn takeover, the Guardian looks at his dealings in Russia and elsewhere

Any settlement with Russia has to be ‘just’, says Zelenskyy at Trump meeting

French president hosts three-way talk with US president-elect, as Ukrainian fears grow over position of incoming administration

Trump calls for ‘immediate ceasefire’ in Ukraine after meeting Zelenskyy

US president-elect claims Kyiv ‘would like to make a deal’ to end war with Russia and cites loss of ‘400,000 soldiers’

Ukraine war escalates as Biden sends $20bn loan before Trump presidency

Both sides scramble to put their forces in best position in preparation for expected change in US foreign policy

Use frozen Russian assets to aid Ukraine, says EU’s top diplomat

Kaja Kallas, the EU’s new high representative for foreign affairs, said Kyiv had a legitimate claim for compensation

Guardian and Observer charity appeal raises more than £250,000

Readers reach donation milestone before Saturday telethon, securing money to help families in Gaza and Ukraine . Donate to our charity appeal here

Russia launches huge attack on Ukraine with dozens of cruise missiles and drones

Russian military strikes targeted Ukrainian power grid, according to country’s energy minister

Ex-FBI informant agrees to plead guilty to lying about Bidens’ Ukraine ties

As part of plea deal, Alexander Smirnov will admit he made up story at center of Republican impeachment inquiry

Guardian and Observer charity telethon drives donations beyond £500,000

Journalists including Marina Hyde, John Crace and Polly Toynbee took donations from generous readers during our annual charity appeal telethon . Donate to our charity appeal here

Two Russian tankers sink in Black Sea spilling 4,300 tonnes of oil

Ukraine accuses Moscow of recklessness amid risk of ecological damage to marine environment

Ukraine calls for sanctions against Russia oil tankers over Black Sea spill

Top adviser says vessels that sank and ran aground are part of aged fleet that will continue to cause large-scale damage

First reported deaths of North Korean soldiers fighting against Ukraine

North Korea has sent up to 12,000 troops to help support Russia’s invasion of its neighbour

Ex-FBI informant pleads guilty to lying about Joe and Hunter Biden

Alexander Smirnov admits lying about Bidens’ links to fake bribery scheme that played key role in impeachment effort

Keir Starmer to visit British troops on Russia’s border

Prime minister tells Joint Expeditionary Force conference in Estonia that Ukraine requires ‘all the capability it can get’

Russian general sanctioned over chemical weapon use in Ukraine killed in Moscow blast

Lt Gen Igor Kirillov killed along with his assistant after device inside scooter exploded, Russia’s investigative committee says Live updates: Russian general dies in Moscow explosion

Killing of Russian general cements SBU’s reputation for abrupt vengeance

Attack in Moscow was Ukrainian security service’s most audacious operation yet as it pursues enemy commanders

The chemical weapon accusations against the general killed in Moscow

The US and UK say Igor Kirillov was head of a unit partly responsible for chemicals on the battlefield in Ukraine

‘Several hundred’ North Korean troops killed fighting Ukraine, says US official

‘All ranks’ among casualties in Kursk after Pyongyang sent thousands of soldiers to reinforce Russia’s war effort

Suspect in killing of Russian general detained in Moscow, authorities say

Investigators say they have arrested a 29-year-old citizen of Uzbekistan over suspected involvement in explosion that killed Lt Gen Igor Kirillov

Wednesday briefing: The world waits after Ukraine assassinates top Putin general in Moscow

In today’s newsletter: Kyiv assassinated Igor Kirillov inside enemy territory, in its most audacious operation since the war began – how will Russia respond?