Pope Leo XIV holds inaugural mass at St Peter’s Square

Volodymyr Zelenskyy and JD Vance among 150,000 present as Leo says he wants Catholic church to be ‘leaven of unity’

EU foreign ministers call for coordinated action on Russian ‘shadow fleet’ in Baltic Sea

Fleet of tankers sailing under flags of convenience estimated to carry up to 85% of Russia’s oil exports

Donald Trump is losing patience with Russia, says Finnish leader

Alexander Stubb says Putin’s intransigence could pave way for ‘bone-crushing’ sanctions package

EU floats security pact with Australia as Albanese meets with world leaders in Rome

European Commission president raises prospect to two-way ‘stability’ as PM reaffirms support for Ukraine and speaks to Pope Leo XIV about his mother

Attacks on healthcare in war zones in 2024 reach ‘new levels of horror’ – report

Health facilities were destroyed and staff killed in record numbers in conflicts in Gaza, Lebanon, Ukraine, Myanmar and Sudan

Romania election: EU breathes sigh of relief after Dan defeats far-right, pro-Russia rival

Nicuşor Dan begins process of forming a government after beating George Simion, an ultranationalist who wants to halt Ukraine support

Trump and Putin hold phone call but Kremlin refuses Ukraine ceasefire

Trump describes call as ‘excellent,’ despite Putin’s lack of support for ceasefire that US said was primary objective

Bees face new threats from wars, street lights and microplastics, scientists warn

University of Reading report says conflicts including war in Ukraine among 12 most pressing threats to pollinator

UK and Europe target Russia with major sanctions after Putin-Trump call

Sanctions aimed at entities supporting Russia’s military machine after call failed to deliver meaningful concessions

Three men on trial in Germany accused of Russian sabotage plot

German-Russian dual citizens allegedly spied for Kremlin and planned bomb attacks on buildings and infrastructure

Former Ukrainian politician shot dead outside Madrid school

Andriy Portnov, ex-aide to pro-Russian former president, was dropping off children when he was targeted by gunmen

Russia accused of trying to disrupt aid to Ukraine by hacking border crossings

UK says GRU unit accessed cameras near borders, military installations and rail stations at key European locations

Finland expects Russia to build up troops at border after Ukraine war ends

Head of strategy of Finnish defence forces says they are monitoring Moscow’s manoeuvring ‘very closely’

UK government urged to introduce GCSE in Ukrainian for child refugees

Children’s commissioner joins Kyiv in asking DfE to create new qualification to cope with ‘immense upheaval’ of fleeing war

Germany bolsters anti-Russian defence on Nato eastern flank

Merz visits Lithuania to launch heavy combat unit comprised of 4,800 German soldiers and 200 civilian staff

Loan scheme to rearm Europe could be ‘important breakthrough’ in Ukraine support

EU defence commissioner says he expects a lot of loan requests from member states under €150bn programme

Ukraine ‘should focus on hi-tech war of survival rather than recapturing territory’

Ex-commander says Kyiv cannot expect to retake lost ground amid efforts to reset public expectations

Ukraine and Russia exchange 800 PoWs in largest prisoner swap of war so far

Russian foreign minister continues to question Zelenskyy’s legitimacy as first phase of ‘1,000 for 1,000’ deal takes places

Trump’s Russia sanctions refusal leaves Europe with few options but to wait

Frustration is growing amid increasing signs US could wash its hands of Ukraine, but some observers counsel patience

Russia launches one of biggest drone attacks on Kyiv since start of war

Attack occurs hours after Russia and Ukraine begin prisoner exchange in deal seen as first step towards ceasefire