A 65-year-old British man, Howard Phillips, was convicted on Tuesday for attempting to pass sensitive information to individuals he believed were Russian intelligence agents. In reality, the two men were undercover British intelligence officers. Phillips, who reportedly fantasized about being like fictional spy James Bond, had aimed to assist what he thought was a foreign intelligence agency.
British Secretary of State for Defence, John Healey, announced a "50-day drive" to arm Ukraine in response to President Trump's 50-day deadline for Russian President Vladimir Putin to negotiate an end to the conflict.
Russia has signaled openness to peace negotiations with Ukraine, but the Kremlin insists that its core objectives must be met—chief among them, Ukrainian withdrawal from annexed territories and rejection of NATO membership. The statement came just days after President Donald Trump issued a 50-day deadline for Moscow to accept a ceasefire or face intensified economic pressure.
Russia launched a major overnight assault on Ukraine with over 300 drones and more than 30 cruise missiles, killing at least one person and injuring several others. The attack, among the largest this year, reflects a sharp escalation in Russia’s bombing campaign against Ukrainian cities.
