Russia will not stop if it wins war in Ukraine, US ambassador to the UK warns

Published

1 year ago

March 25, 2024

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Russia will not stop if it wins the war in Ukraine, the US ambassador to the UK has told Sky News.

Speaking to Sky News presenter Kay Burley from her official residence in central London last week, Jane Hartley said she is “optimistic” that the US will release more funding for Ukraine, but said “anybody who thinks that Russia may stop after this, I think is wrong”.

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“I was ambassador (to France and Monaco) in 2014, and I saw what happened in Crimea. I don’t know why anybody would say, ‘oh this is it for Russia‘,” she said.

“Democracy, I think, is at stake. So we need to support Ukraine.”

Ms Hartley added that “these are difficult days” after Burley asked if she felt an atmosphere “almost comparable” to that last seen before the Second World War.

She then said that “we want to do everything we can to make sure Ukraine is still a strong democracy and that Russia loses this war”.

‘Not done that well’ on Gaza

The ambassador spoke about Israel’s war on Hamas, saying the humanitarian situation in Gaza “is also terrifying”.

“We believe Israel has a right to defend itself,” she said. “They were attacked. It was a terrorist attack.

“But we believe how they do it is critically important. And that’s why you see Tony Blinken (secretary of state) in the region as much as he is, it’s not just Tony Blinken, it’s our head of CIA, it’s Bill Burns, it’s so many other of our diplomats.

“Because what we want in the end is a situation where Israel feels safe, where there is security and where we can get to a two-state solution where Palestine has economic growth, economic prosperity, hope for its young people. We have not done that well, frankly.”

Ms Hartley also said “no children should ever have to go through” starvation, and that “humanitarian aid has to get in” to Gaza.

Backing Biden

Ms Hartley – a Democrat appointed by the president – also backed Joe Biden as “the best candidate” in the upcoming presidential election.

“I’m a friend. I’m a fan. I’ve known the president for many, many, many years. But all you have to do is look at his record and see where he has brought our country,” she said.

She also defended the president’s cognitive abilities, saying “he has not only ability, but he has a sense of history”.

‘We deeply care’ about Kate

Speaking after picture agencies pulled a picture of the Princess of Wales, the ambassador said: “I want her to know that we are thinking about her, that we care deeply about her.

“We want her to feel better as soon as she can. And I think just being an American, Americans love the Royal Family.”

And when asked about Donald Trump’s threat that he might deport Prince Harry, Ms Hartley said: “It’s not going to happen in the Biden administration.”

Since the interview, Kate has shared that she was diagnosed with cancer and is undergoing preventative chemotherapy.

Posting on X after the future queen’s statement, Ms Hartley said she was “heartbroken” and wished her a “swift recovery”.

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Dublin Airport terminal evacuated as ‘safety precaution’

Published

45 mins ago

September 20, 2025

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Dublin Airport terminal evacuated as 'safety precaution'

Passengers have been evacuated from Dublin Airport’s Terminal 2 as a “precautionary measure”.

Flights could be “temporarily impacted”, the airport said in a statement.

It did not give any details about the reason for the evacuation but said “the safety and security of our passengers and staff is our absolute priority”.

At this stage there is no suggestion the evacuation is linked to the cyber attack that has caused disruption at several European airports.

“We advise passengers to check with their airline for the latest updates,” the airport added, saying further information would be provided as soon as it is available.

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At least 70 killed in Sudan after paramilitary attack on mosque

Published

2 hours ago

September 20, 2025

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At least 70 killed in Sudan after paramilitary attack on mosque

At least 70 people have been killed after a paramilitary drone attack on a mosque in Sudan.

The Sudanese army and aid workers said the paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces (RSF) carried out the attack during Friday prayers in the North Darfur region.

The attack took place in the besieged city of Al Fasher and was said to have completely destroyed the mosque.

With bodies still buried under the rubble, the number of deaths is likely to rise, a worker with the local aid group Emergency Response Rooms said.

The worker spoke anonymously, fearing retaliation from the RSF.

Further details of the attack were difficult to ascertain because it took place in an area where many international and charitable organisations have already pulled out because of the violence.

In a statement, Sudan’s army said it was mourning the victims of the attack.

It said: “Targeting civilians unjustly is the motto of this rebel militia, and it continues to do so in full view of the entire world.”

Sky News Africa correspondent Yousra Elbagir reported earlier this month on the situation in North Darfur, where people are facing torture, rape and forced starvation.

The Sudan war started in April 2023, when long-simmering tensions between the Sudanese army and the RSF broke out in Khartoum.

The US special envoy to Sudan estimates that 150,000 people have been killed, but the exact figure is unknown. Close to 12 million people have been displaced.

Several mediation attempts have failed to secure a humanitarian access mechanism or any lulls in fighting.

The Resistance Committees in El Fasher, a group of local activists who track abuses, posted a video on Friday claiming to show parts of the mosque reduced to rubble with several scattered bodies.

The Darfur Victims Support Organisation, which monitors abuses against civilians, said the attack happened at a mosque on the Daraga al Oula street at around 5am local time, citing witnesses.

The attack is the latest in a series of heavy clashes in the past week of between the two sides in Al Fasher.

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Heathrow warns of delays as cyber attack disrupts European airports

Published

3 hours ago

September 20, 2025

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Heathrow warns of delays as cyber attack disrupts European airports

European airports – including London’s Heathrow – are warning of delays after a “technical issue” affected check-in and boarding systems.

Brussels Airport said a cyber attack was causing the disruption, as it confirmed 10 flights had been cancelled and 17 flights were experiencing delays of more than one hour.

“It is still too early to say when the problem will be resolved,” it said.

Berlin Airport is also among those experiencing delays.

The attack targeted a business providing check-in and boarding systems for several airlines around the world.

With automated systems down, staff are having to conduct manual check-in and boarding procedures, according to Brussels Airport.

“This has a large impact on the flight schedule and will unfortunately cause delays and cancellations of flights,” it said in a statement on its website.

Heathrow warned of delays caused by “a technical issue” at a third-party supplier and told passengers to check the status of their flight before travelling to the airport.

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