Russia’s UK ambassador has told Sky News that Ukraine’s recent attacks risk escalating the conflict to “World War III” as he partly blamed the UK.

Andrei Kelin warned that Ukraine’s actions “are bringing the conflict to a different level of escalation”, in an interview with Sky News’ Yalda Hakim, and said Kyiv should “not try to engulf World War III”.

“That’s the very worst case scenario that we can imagine,” he said.

More than a hundred Ukrainian drones were deployed inside Russia over the weekend, destroying more than 40 warplanes in an attack Volodymyr Zelenskyy said “will undoubtedly be in history books”.

Mr Kelin pointed the finger at the UK when he said Ukraine must have had assistance in the attacks.

“[This] kind of attack involves, of course, provision of very high technology, so-called geospaced data, which only can be done by those who have it in possession. And this is London and Washington,” he said.

“I don’t believe that America [is involved], that has been denied by President Trump, definitely, but it has not been denied by London.

“We perfectly know how much London is involved, how deeply British forces are involved in working together with Ukraine.”

On Wednesday, Donald Trump said Vladimir Putin told him “very strongly” that Russia “will have to respond to the recent attack on the airfields”.

The US president said that he discussed the attack with Mr Putin during a phone call that lasted more than an hour.

“It was a good conversation, but not a conversation that will lead to immediate peace,” he wrote.

Mr Kelin repeated this sentiment, telling Sky News: “It is up to the Ministry of Defence to make a right solution, but we have to respond to it.”

A Downing Street spokesperson said: “We never comment on operational matters at home or abroad.”

Donald Trump says he has had a “very good” phone call with Xi Jinping amid their ongoing trade war, during which they agreed to more tariff talks.

Trade negotiations between the United States and China stalled shortly after a 12 May agreement between the two countries to reduce their rates on levies while talks took place.

The call was first reported by Chinese state media and confirmed by the Chinese foreign ministry. According to Chinese state media, Mr Trump initiated the call with the Chinese president.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, the US president said: “I just concluded a very good phone call with President Xi of China, discussing some of the intricacies of our recently made, and agreed to, trade deal.”

He said the call lasted around an hour and a half and “resulted in a very positive conclusion for both countries”.

There “should no longer be any questions” on rare earth products, he said.

“The conversation was focused almost entirely on trade. Nothing was discussed concerning Russia/Ukraine, or Iran,” Mr Trump added.

He said the two nations had agreed to further tariff talks, and both leaders invited each other to visit their respective countries.

According to Chinese state media, Mr Xi “pointed out that it is especially important to correct the course of the big ship of China-US relations, which requires us to keep the rudder and set the direction, especially to remove all kinds of interference and even sabotage”.

Mr Xi “emphasised that the US should handle the Taiwan issue carefully” to avoid the two countries being dragged “into a dangerous situation of conflict and confrontation”.

According to the readout of the call, Mr Trump “expressed great respect for President Xi Jinping and the importance of the US-China relationship”.

It came a day after Mr Trump declared it was difficult to reach a deal with his Chinese counterpart.

“I like President Xi of China, always have, and always will, but he is very tough, and extremely hard to make a deal with!!!,” Mr Trump said in a post on Truth Social.

The US president has cut his 145% tariffs on Chinese goods to 30% for 90 days to allow for talks, while China reduced its taxes on US goods from 125% to 10%.

The trade war has produced sharp swings in global markets and threatens to damage trade between the two nations.

Read more:
Trump travel ban: The notable countries omitted
What a weakening dollar means for US president

Mr Trump’s treasury secretary Scott Bessent had suggested only a conversation between the two leaders could resolve their differences in order for talks to begin in earnest.

Mr Trump and Mr Xi last spoke in January, three days before his inauguration, where they discussed trade, as well as Mr Trump’s demand for China to do more to stop the drug fentanyl from entering the US.

The bodies of a couple taken into Gaza by Hamas during the 7 October attacks have been recovered by Israeli forces, Benjamin Netanyahu has announced.

The Israeli prime minister said the bodies of husband and wife Gad Haggai, 72, and Judi Weinstein Haggai, 70, were recovered during a special operation by the Israeli military and the country’s security agency, Shin Bet.

Mr Netanyahu said they were killed on 7 October, 2023, and their bodies were taken into Gaza by Hamas.

In a statement, he said: “Together with all the citizens of Israel, my wife and I extend our heartfelt condolences to the dear families.

“Our hearts ache for the most terrible loss. May their memory be blessed.

“We will not rest or be silent until we return all of our abductees home – the living and the dead alike.”

Follow the World

Listen to The World with Richard Engel and Yalda Hakim every Wednesday

Tap to follow

The Hostages and Missing Persons Families Forum has been campaigning for the safe return of all Israeli citizens held hostage by Hamas.

The hostage families said in a statement: “The return of Judi and Gad is painful and heartbreaking, yet it also brings healing to our uncertainty.

“Their return reminds us all that it is the state’s duty to bring everyone home, so that we, the families, together with all the people of Israel, can begin the process of healing and recovery.

“Decision-makers must do everything necessary to reach an agreement that will return all 56 remaining hostages – the living for rehabilitation and the deceased for burial. There is no need to wait another 608 agonising days for this.

“The mission can be completed as early as tomorrow morning. This is what the majority of the Israeli people want.”

Most of the hostages returned alive to Israel so far have been released as part of deals with Hamas during two temporary ceasefires in late 2023 and early 2025.

The most recent ceasefire that saw a pause in the fighting and the exchange of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners fell apart in March.

Israel has rejected calls for an unconditional or permanent ceasefire, saying Hamas cannot stay in Gaza.

On Wednesday, the US vetoed a draft UN Security Council resolution that demanded an “immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire” between Israel and Hamas militants in Gaza and unhindered aid access across the war-ravaged territory.

The other 14 countries on the council voted in favour of the draft.

“The United States has been clear: We would not support any measure that fails to condemn Hamas and does not call for Hamas to disarm and leave Gaza,” said Dorothy Shea, acting US ambassador to the UN, ahead of the vote.

She told the council it would also undermine ongoing US-led efforts to broker a ceasefire.

Read more from Sky News:
Trump signs travel bans
Putin vows revenge against Ukraine

👉 Listen to Sky News Daily on your podcast app 👈

Hamas took 251 hostages and killed more than 1,200 people in its attacks on Israel in October 2023.

Israel has responded with an air and ground assault on Gaza – and has recently escalated its bombing campaign.

The Hamas-run Gaza health ministry says more than 54,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks since the start of the war. Its figures do not differentiate between civilians and fighters.

Israel says its two war aims are to destroy Hamas and release the hostages.