Russia

Syria’s path to stability remains deeply uncertain

The group that brought down the Assad regime might be in the process of reinventing itself but it would be foolish to imagine that the Islamists of HTS have converted to the cause of liberal democracy

Poland plays down prospect of sending peacekeepers to Ukraine

Donald Trump critical of long-range strikes against Russia carried out with US missiles by Kyiv

Russia rules out compromise on Ukraine as its troops grind forward in the east

Kyiv’s forces strike industrial sites in Russia as UN nuclear monitors condemn drone attack on vehicle

Romanian pro-European parties commit to forming coalition government

Groups may field single candidate for annulled presidential election when it is rerun next year in attempt to head off far right figures

Russia talks pointless without security guarantees and defence boost, Ukraine says

Kyiv open to possible deployment of western troops ahead of Nato membership

Putin bruised by Assad’s fall as pressure mounts for talks on Ukraine

Loss of Syrian vassal could cost Russia crucial military bases and influence in Middle East and beyond

Joy in Damascus as Assad falls

Syria’s elation is tempered by chaos as people destroy symbols of the former regime

Romania arrests armed men headed for Bucharest after cancelled vote

Presidential elections due on Sunday were called off because of alleged Russian interference

Ukraine war: Russia open to negotiations on certain terms, says Moscow

Kremlin open to talks following US president-elect Trump’s call for armstice

Syria’s civil war: What is going on and who is involved in this rapidly changing situation?

Conflict started 13 years ago during Arab Spring and escalated to involve opposition groups, extremists and world powers

Ireland’s five biggest problems: War, climate change, an EU crisis, housing and Trump

The next government faces immense challenges that require guile, nerve, judgment and luck

Syrian rebels claim to have reached Damascus suburbs in ‘final stage’ of offensive

State news agency denies rumours that Bashar al-Assad has left country as his 24-year rule comes under major pressure

‘I’m here for the long haul’: American veterans make new home in Ukraine as fears over US support grow

The International Legion has become a valued part of the Ukrainian military that continues to attract recruits from around the world

Georgia: Opposition leaders detained by courts amid crackdown on pro-EU groups

Ruling Georgian Dream party says ongoing demonstrations represent attempt to stage a revolution

Israel reinforces border as rebels advance in Syria

Ceasefire negotiations resume as 32 Gaza residents are killed

Syrian insurgents move in on city of Homs amid continuing advance to Damascus

Forces loyal to president appeared to be in retreat across country, with Bashar al-Assad increasingly losing grip on major cities

Romania’s top court annuls first round of presidential vote won by far-right candidate

Move comes days after declassified intelligence alleged Russia ran co-ordinated online campaign to promote Calin Georgescu

EU should halt visa-free travel with Georgia, Netherlands says

Tbilisi’s crackdown on opposition parties and protesters prompts Ukraine to impose sanctions on Georgian officials ‘handing over the country’ to Russia

Syrian rebels capture key city of Hama in new advance, dealing fresh blow to Assad

President has relied heavily on Russian and Iranian backing throughout most intense years of country’s long-running civil war

Kinahan cartel, Russian ‘elites’ and Kremlin linked to multibillion euro money laundering network

UK-led Operation Destabilise investigation confirms Irish gang’s links to organised crime in Russia

Syria: Rebel and government forces continue battles near city of Hama

Country’s long-running civil war has killed hundreds of thousands since erupting in 2011 in rebellion against president Bashar al-Assad

Antony Blinken says Ukraine needs to get younger people into military to succeed in war against Russia

Western officials believe Kyiv urgently needs more manpower to reverse Russian battlefield gain

Georgian protesters defiant as government claims to have thwarted foreign-backed ‘revolution’

Constitutional court in Black Sea state rejects claims that parliamentary election was rigged

Syrian rebels advance on Hama city, putting pressure on Assad following capture of Aleppo

Russian and Iranian allies scrambled to support president Bashar al-Assad against resurging rebellion in ongoing civil war

Nato focuses on military aid push as Ukraine seeks full membership of the alliance

Twenty more air defence systems needed to protect nation’s power grid, says Kyiv

Germany sends more military aid to Ukraine and criticises China’s support for Russia

Scholz’s trip comes weeks after he faced criticism from Volodymyr Zelenskiy for speaking to Vladimir Putin by phone

Georgia’s president urges EU to act as anti-government protests continue

Clashes in Tbilisi after ruling party shelves EU accession talks following contentious election

Romania’s vote recount to confirm pro-Russian presidential bid

Mainstream parties on course to retain control of parliament after legislative elections on Sunday

Iran-backed Iraqi fighters cross into Syria to fight rebels

Russian and Syrian jets struck rebel-held city of Idlib as president Bashar al-Assad vowed to crush insurgents

Thousands continue to protest in Georgian capital over EU membership and contested election results

Several diplomats in western capitals have resigned over Russia-leaning government’s decision to take EU accession talks ‘off the agenda’

Dozens of Syrian soldiers killed as rebels sweep into Aleppo, says army

Major assault led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham forces army to redeploy in biggest challenge to President Assad in years

Ukrainians on the threat of Trump: ‘There should be no concessions because this is our territory’

In advance of Trump’s inauguration, speculation grows over what territory he could press Ukraine to abandon for a peace agreement with Russia

‘Defence lines have crumbled’: Syrian rebels enter Aleppo in shock assault

Insurgents launched major offensive three days ago, recapturing territory before entering city, with children among civilians killed in fighting

Ukraine reinforces east as Russia welcomes deepening North Korea ties

British spy chief condemns ‘staggeringly reckless’ Russian sabotage campaign against Kyiv’s western allies

Russia threatens Ukraine’s ‘decision-making centres’ after latest massive strike on power grid

Blackouts hit more than a million Ukrainians as Russia claims missile production outstrips Nato by 10 times

China’s support for Russia is hurting relations with Europe, say Nordic and Baltic leaders

Chinese vessel linked to severing of two cables in Baltic Sea

Moscow vows to respond again to Ukraine’s use of US missiles in strikes on Russia

Russia expels British diplomat and bars government officials amid rising tension with London

Old habits die hard as Angela Merkel keeps tight hold on information in memoir

Reluctance to elaborate on the personal and political was key to the chancellor’s political longevity. It is a trait she struggles to escape in her book Freedom

Dozens injured in Russian missile and drone strikes on Ukrainian cities

Georgia facing potential constitutional crisis after president and opposition parties boycott first session of new parliament in protest at allegedly rigged elections

Ukraine fears nuclear plants are in Russia’s sights as missile strikes bring winter blackouts

Atomic power stations are vital to Ukraine after Moscow’s military destroys much of its energy grid and conventional stations

Ukraine urges West to strengthen air defences and supply systems to combat new Russian missiles

Vladimir Putin signs law granting debt forgiveness to new army recruits who enlist to fight in Ukraine

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