Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Nato secretary-general 'cautiously optimistic' Russia-Ukraine tension will be quelled

01:06

Nato secretary-general ‘cautiously optimistic’ Russia-Ukraine tension will be quelled

Nato secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg has said there is cause for “cautious optimism” when it comes to quelling the crisis on the Ukrainian border.

Fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine remain high, with both the UK and US warning that military action could happen at any time.

Speaking at a press conference in Brussels, Mr Stoltenberg said there has so far been no signs of military de-escalation from the Kremlin, but added there appears to be a “willingness” to “continue to engage in diplomatic efforts”.

Sign up to our newsletters here.

Up next

Animals rescued from Cambodian casino after being caught in conflict

01:05

Animals rescued from Cambodian casino after being caught in conflict

TV show beloved for niche sports coverage signs off after 38 years

00:59

TV show beloved for niche sports coverage signs off after 38 years

Watch the top 5 feel good stories of 2025

NaN:NaN:NaN

Watch the top 5 feel good stories of 2025

Suspects caught on camera ripping ATM from wall using stolen SUV

03:12

Suspects caught on camera ripping ATM from wall using stolen SUV

Editor’s Picks

Inside Netflix’s unhinged Christmas universe

07:17

Inside Netflix’s unhinged Christmas universe

Why Zootropolis 2 is the ultimate underdog story

05:16

Why Zootropolis 2 is the ultimate underdog story

Stranger Things 5: Star & creators break down final season

09:16

Stranger Things 5: Star & creators break down final season

Queen of Versailles on Broadway Stardom and Being American Royalty

40:26

Queen of Versailles on Broadway Stardom and Being American Royalty

More Editor’s Picks

ACFC

Why Matheus Cunha is Man United’s best signing in years

14:11

Why Matheus Cunha is Man United’s best signing in years

The real reason Liverpool signed Jeremie Frimpong

12:18

The real reason Liverpool signed Jeremie Frimpong

Making a Premier League team of the season that actually works

30:24

Making a Premier League team of the season that actually works

The Newcastle tactics that proved Eddie Howe is an elite manager

16:08

The Newcastle tactics that proved Eddie Howe is an elite manager

Well Enough

Dr Alex George and therapist Anna Mathur on how to feel happier

41:50

Dr Alex George and therapist Anna Mathur on how to feel happier

Alice Liveing on the dark side of fitness influencers

48:45

Alice Liveing on the dark side of fitness influencers

Millie Mackintosh on the true cost of alcohol

40:57

Millie Mackintosh on the true cost of alcohol

Jules Von Hep and Brendan J Dunlop on male body image and beauty

37:44

Jules Von Hep and Brendan J Dunlop on male body image and beauty

More Well Enough

Travel Smart

The TravelSmart guide to perfect summer escapes

07:11

The TravelSmart guide to perfect summer escapes

London’s secret spots: A local’s guide to visiting the capital

08:32

London’s secret spots: A local’s guide to visiting the capital

Mauritius vs Maldives: Which is the paradise island for you?

05:45

Mauritius vs Maldives: Which is the paradise island for you?

How to escape the crowds on an Italy holiday

05:35

How to escape the crowds on an Italy holiday

More Travel Smart

Drive Smart

The Updated 2025 Nissan Micra That No One Expected!

07:40

The Updated 2025 Nissan Micra That No One Expected!

How This Car Gets Amazing Aerodynamics With Hidden Features!

08:56

How This Car Gets Amazing Aerodynamics With Hidden Features!

Fiat Grande Panda EV Review – Nostalgia, Recharged

13:49

Fiat Grande Panda EV Review – Nostalgia, Recharged

What Makes the Genesis GV70 Electrified So Special?

10:57

What Makes the Genesis GV70 Electrified So Special?

More Drive Smart

Money Smart

Santa-approved budgeting: The guide to a smarter Christmas

02:49

Sponsored

Santa-approved budgeting: The guide to a smarter Christmas

Saving or investing? Ask your future self…

02:50

Sponsored

Saving or investing? Ask your future self…

Money Smart: ‘That Money Guy’ teaches you how to spend wisely

03:09

Sponsored

Money Smart: ‘That Money Guy’ teaches you how to spend wisely

ISAs: from types to benefits, all you need to know

02:39

Sponsored

ISAs: from types to benefits, all you need to know

More Money Smart

Music Box

Watch Sam Ryder’s brilliant pared-back performance of single ‘OH OK’

07:30

Watch Sam Ryder’s brilliant pared-back performance of single ‘OH OK’

Watch rising star Annie DiRusso’s electrifying pared-back session

07:54

Watch rising star Annie DiRusso’s electrifying pared-back session

Watch singer-songwriter Clara Mann’s stunning Music Box performance

05:23

Watch singer-songwriter Clara Mann’s stunning Music Box performance

Konyikeh performs gorgeous pared-back Music Box session

05:35

Konyikeh performs gorgeous pared-back Music Box session

Decomplicated

Why Is The UK So Bad At Eurovision?

08:03

Why Is The UK So Bad At Eurovision?

Can Meghan Sussex Ever Win?

11:54

Can Meghan Sussex Ever Win?

Trump tore apart global aid - here’s how the world will suffer

08:21

Trump tore apart global aid - here’s how the world will suffer

Is the party over? How Gen Z is killing big booze

06:38

Is the party over? How Gen Z is killing big booze

More Decomplicated

On The Ground

Mission Aborted: Trump’s War on Maternal Care

13:23

Mission Aborted: Trump’s War on Maternal Care

Death Sentence: The real cost of Trump’s aid cuts on HIV

17:05

Death Sentence: The real cost of Trump’s aid cuts on HIV

Searching for the ‘Whitby Woman’

03:51

Searching for the ‘Whitby Woman’

On the campaign trail with Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg

04:18

On the campaign trail with Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg

More On The Ground

That Dress

How Melania and Donald Trump’s awkward kiss got everyone speculating

02:03

How Melania and Donald Trump’s awkward kiss got everyone speculating

The Brookside kiss that made a lesbian storyline mainstream

03:22

The Brookside kiss that made a lesbian storyline mainstream

The Spider-Man kiss was an ordeal for both actors but it was worth it

02:15

The Spider-Man kiss was an ordeal for both actors but it was worth it

The green dress Keira Knightley wore everyone wanted

02:22

The green dress Keira Knightley wore everyone wanted

More That Dress

Binge Watch

Sinners star Jack O’Connell on his secret Irish dancing past

10:44

Sinners star Jack O’Connell on his secret Irish dancing past

Penn Badgley is glad ‘You’ is over

03:44

Penn Badgley is glad ‘You’ is over

The kid from Jojo Rabbit is all grown up

07:42

The kid from Jojo Rabbit is all grown up

Gangs of London cast reveal behind-the-scenes secrets

09:22

Gangs of London cast reveal behind-the-scenes secrets

More Binge Watch

Behind The Headlines

What would a President Trump 2.0 look like?

10:42

What would a President Trump 2.0 look like?

When will the Cost of Living Crisis end?

06:27

When will the Cost of Living Crisis end?

How airlines greenwash the skies

07:23

How airlines greenwash the skies

Is it time to panic over AI? | Behind The Headlines

06:35

Is it time to panic over AI? | Behind The Headlines

More Behind The Headlines

Sport

Diogo Jota’s children lead tributes before Liverpool match at Anfield

00:53

Diogo Jota’s children lead tributes before Liverpool match at Anfield

TV show beloved for niche sports coverage signs off after 38 years

00:59

TV show beloved for niche sports coverage signs off after 38 years

Watch: Ashes crowd honours Shane Warne with cap-tipping tribute

00:26

Watch: Ashes crowd honours Shane Warne with cap-tipping tribute

John Robertson reflects on greatest goal of his career

01:52

John Robertson reflects on greatest goal of his career

Climate

Surfers ride powerful 13ft waves amid weather warning

00:49

Surfers ride powerful 13ft waves amid weather warning

Floodwaters rage across Yelville as residents evacuated from homes

00:33

Floodwaters rage across Yelville as residents evacuated from homes

Greece shuts down Acropolis as temperatures hit almost 40 degrees

01:00

Greece shuts down Acropolis as temperatures hit almost 40 degrees

Eerie tornado sirens ring through downtown Chicago

00:31

Eerie tornado sirens ring through downtown Chicago

Culture

The 5 best films of 2025 that you should watch

08:00

The 5 best films of 2025 that you should watch

The Masked Singer Christmas special winner unmasked as TV legend

01:02

The Masked Singer Christmas special winner unmasked as TV legend

Strictly Christmas winner shares moment family found out she had won

00:34

Strictly Christmas winner shares moment family found out she had won

The Traitors drops festive teaser hinting at major show shake-up

00:23

The Traitors drops festive teaser hinting at major show shake-up

Lifestyle

Holly Ramsay arrives for star-studded wedding to Adam Peaty

01:01

Holly Ramsay arrives for star-studded wedding to Adam Peaty

MrBeast’s advice to parents of children hoping to become influencers

01:00

MrBeast’s advice to parents of children hoping to become influencers

Liz Truss splits opinion with controversial Christmas dinner ruling

00:26

Liz Truss splits opinion with controversial Christmas dinner ruling

Josie Gibson recharges in Thailand after feeling ;burnt out’

00:28

Josie Gibson recharges in Thailand after feeling ;burnt out’

Will Bayley's Electric Road Trip

Paralympian Will Bayley puts his “Range Anxiety” to the test

03:29

Paralympian Will Bayley puts his “Range Anxiety” to the test

The feel-good perks of living the Electric Vehicle lifestyle

03:07

The feel-good perks of living the Electric Vehicle lifestyle

Paralympian Will Bayley checks the performance of electric vehicles

03:07

Paralympian Will Bayley checks the performance of electric vehicles

To EV or not to EV? Paralympian Will Bayley considers electric cars

03:24

To EV or not to EV? Paralympian Will Bayley considers electric cars

Saudi Cup

Saudi Cup: ‘A true display of horsemanship’, says Prince Bandar

01:36

Saudi Cup: ‘A true display of horsemanship’, says Prince Bandar

Princess Nourah praises young fashion designers on show at Saudi Cup

00:42

Princess Nourah praises young fashion designers on show at Saudi Cup

Andrew Strauss says Saudi is an eye opener

01:26

Andrew Strauss says Saudi is an eye opener

Saudi Arabia is ‘pushing limits’ of fashion creativity

00:32

Saudi Arabia is ‘pushing limits’ of fashion creativity

Galaxy The Ripple Effect

Ebony Rainford-Brent MBE on the imposter syndrome epidemic

04:23

Ebony Rainford-Brent MBE on the imposter syndrome epidemic

Finance coach Ellie Austin-Williams on the psychology of money

04:26

Finance coach Ellie Austin-Williams on the psychology of money

Ebony Rainford-Brent MBE on how to tackle imposter syndrome

01:01

Ebony Rainford-Brent MBE on how to tackle imposter syndrome

Simple ways to boost your money situation with Ellie Austin-Williams

01:07

Simple ways to boost your money situation with Ellie Austin-Williams

Big In America

Can Willsow’s children’s books pique the interest of the US market?

15:55

Can Willsow’s children’s books pique the interest of the US market?

Will the founders of Spice Kitchen be able to find US retailers?

16:33

Will the founders of Spice Kitchen be able to find US retailers?

Co-founders of See.Sense bring their cycle safe tech to New York City

16:06

Co-founders of See.Sense bring their cycle safe tech to New York City

Collctiv fintech founder Amy Whitell tries to crack the US tech market

15:01

Collctiv fintech founder Amy Whitell tries to crack the US tech market

More Big In America

Saudi Green Initiative

Saudi government doesn’t ‘pay lip service’ on climate action

01:16

Saudi government doesn’t ‘pay lip service’ on climate action

SGI ‘seems like a nest of harmony’, journalist says

00:36

SGI ‘seems like a nest of harmony’, journalist says

SGI ambitions are ‘extremely high’, says Saudi climate envoy

00:48

SGI ambitions are ‘extremely high’, says Saudi climate envoy

Saudi Green Initiative aims to ‘not just preserve, but create’

01:08

Saudi Green Initiative aims to ‘not just preserve, but create’

More Saudi Green Initiative