General Oleksandr Syrskyi said a "just peace" can only be achieved if fighting is halted along current frontlines and then for negotiations to take place. Signalling a complete lack of trust in claims by the Kremlin that it wants to end its war, he accused Vladimir Putin of using an attempt by Donald Trump to broker peace talks as "cover" while Russian troops try to capture more land by force on the battlefield. Ukraine peace talks - latest The rare intervention offers the clearest indication yet of the Ukrainian military's red lines as Washington tries to negotiate a settlement that - according to an initial draft - would require Kyiv to surrender the whole of the Donbas region in the east of the country to Moscow. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, backed by the UK and other European allies, has been trying on the diplomatic front to strengthen Ukraine's position. But President Putin has said Russia would either seize the Donbas militarily or Ukrainian troops would have to withdraw. Europe's fate at stake Speaking frankly, General Syrskyi, commander-in-chief of the armed forces of Ukraine, signalled that his country's soldiers would fight on if diplomacy fails - and he warned that the fate of the whole of Europe is at stake. In an exclusive interview in the basement of a building in eastern Ukraine - the location of which we are not disclosing for security reasons - he said Ukraine's main mission "is to defend our land, our country, and our population". "Naturally, for us it is unacceptable to simply give up territory. What does it even mean - to hand over our land? This is precisely why we are fighting; so we do not give up our territory." Many troops have died fighting for Ukraine since Russia first seized the peninsula of Crimea and attacked the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, which comprise the Donbas, in 2014. Hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian civilians were then mobilised to fight alongside professional soldiers following Putin's full-scale invasion in February 2022. Russia well short of original goal Nearly four years on, Russia occupies almost a fifth of Ukraine, including large parts of the Donbas, but well short of an original goal of imposing a pro-Kremlin government in Kyiv. Asked whether the sacrifice of those people who gave their lives defending their country would be in vain if Ukraine is forced to hand over the land it still controls in the Donbas to Moscow, General Syrskyi, speaking in Ukrainian through a translator, said: "You know, I do not even allow myself to consider such a scenario. "All wars eventually end, and of course we hope ours will end as well. And when it does, a just peace must be established. "In my understanding, a just peace is peace without preconditions, without giving up territory. It means stopping along the current line of contact." The commander then broke into English to say that this means: "Stop. A ceasefire. And after that negotiations, without any conditions." Switching back into Ukrainian, he said: "Any other format would be an unjust peace, and for us it is unacceptable." Ukraine's contingency plans While Ukraine's will and ability to fight are key in confronting Russia's much larger army, so too is the supply of weapons, ammunition and other assistance from Kyiv's allies, most significantly the US. But, with the White House under Donald Trump, becoming less predictable, the Ukrainian military appears to be considering contingency plans in case US aid stops. Asked whether Ukraine would be able to continue fighting if President Trump did halt support, General Syrskyi said: "We are very grateful to our American partners and all our allies who have been supporting us throughout this war with weapons and equipment. "We hope they will continue providing full support. But we also hope that our European partners and allies, if necessary, will be ready to provide everything required for our just war against the aggressor. "Because right now we are defending not only ourselves, but all of Europe. And it is crucial for all Europeans that we continue doing so, because if we are not here, others will be forced to fight in Europe." General's assessment of fighting on ground A decorated commander, with the call sign "snow leopard", General Syrskyi has been conducting combat operations against Russia's invasion for more than a decade. He was made military chief in February 2024 after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sacked the previous top commander. General Valerii Zaluzhnyi is now Kyiv's ambassador to London. General Syrskyi offered his assessment of the fight on the ground, saying: • Ukrainian troops still control the northern part of the fortress city of Pokrovsk in the Donbas and will keep battling to retake the rest of it, contrary to Russian claims to have captured what has been a key target for Moscow for the past 16 months. • Russia is firing between 4,000 to 5,000 one-way attack drones at Ukrainian positions along the frontline every day as well as 1,500 to 2,000 drones that drop bombs. But Ukraine is firing the same volume - and even more - back. "In terms of drones, there is roughly parity. At the moment, we are deploying slightly more FPV [first person view] drones than the Russians." • Russia's armed forces still have double the volume of artillery rounds of Ukraine's, but the range and lethality of drone warfare mean it is harder to use artillery effectively. Now, 60% of strikes are carried out by drones. • More than 710,000 Russian soldiers are deployed along a frontline that stretches some 780 miles (1,255km), with the Russian side losing around 1,000 to 1,100 soldiers a day, killed or wounded "and a majority are killed". The Russian army is currently "attempting to advance along virtually the entire frontline," General Syrskyi said. Where are the harshest battles? The fiercest battles are around Pokrovsk, as well as the northeastern city of Kupiansk, in Kharkiv region, the Lyman area, also in the Donbas, and near a small city called Huliaipole, in the Zaporizhzhia region of southeastern Ukraine. "The Ukrainian army is conducting a strategic defensive operation, aiming to contain the enemy's advance, prevent them from breaking deeper, inflict maximum losses, and carry out counter-offensive actions in those sectors where we see the enemy is vulnerable," the commander said. "Our strategy is to exhaust the Russian army as much as possible, prevent its advance, hold our territory, while simultaneously striking the enemy in the near rear, the operational depth, and… into Russia itself, with the aim of undermining its defence capability and industrial capacity." He is referring to a capability Ukraine has developed to launch long-range drones, laden with explosives, deep into Russia to strike military targets as well as oil refineries. The operation is aimed at destroying fuel for the tanks, warships and jets that are attacking Ukraine and - crucially - reducing oil revenues that help to fund Russia's war machine. Sea drones crash into Russia's warships The Ukrainian military is also deploying explosive sea drones that are smashed into Russian warships as well as tankers used to transport sanctioned Russian oil. Asked if his forces were ready - and had sufficient manpower - to keep fighting if necessary, General Syrskyi said: "We have the resources to continue conducting military operations." Yet Ukraine is suffering from a shortage of troops on the frontline. Soldiers and wider society are also exhausted and facing another winter of war. No sign of Moscow winding down war effort President Putin has an advantage when it comes to troop numbers and firepower over time, which makes continued support to Kyiv from its allies more vital than ever. General Syrskyi cautioned that Moscow showed no sign of winding down its war effort despite the Russian leader telling President Trump he is prepared to negotiate. Read more on Sky News:Hugs ahead of India-Russia talks New Russia sanctions 'pointless' "So we do everything so that if the enemy continues the war, and you can see that although we want peace, a fair peace, the enemy continues its offensive, using these peace talks as cover," he said. "There are no pauses, no delays in their operations. They keep pushing their troops forward to seize as much of our territory as possible under the cover of negotiations." He added: "So we are just forced to wage this war… protecting our people, our cities and towns, and our land." The commander said this is what motivates his soldiers. "If we do not do this, we can see clearly what the Russian army leaves behind, only ruins, only deaths." As for whether the UK and other European nations should be preparing their people for the possibility of a wider war with Russia, the general said: "Of course, the armed forces of every country ensure reliable protection of their citizens, their children, and their territory. "With the existence of aggressive states, above all the Russian Federation and its allies, this issue is extremely urgent. "Everything must be done to ensure the capability to maintain a level of defence, and armed forces modern enough to repel aggression, both individually and in support of the allies."

It had been reported that the US streaming giant was in exclusive talks over the deal following a bidding war for the assets. Paramount Skydance and Comcast, the ultimate owner of Sky News, were the rival suitors for the bulk of WBD that also includes HBO, the HBO Max streaming platform and DC Studios. Money latest: Budget airline launches six new routes While Netflix has agreed a $27.75 per share price with WBD, which equates to the $72bn purchase figure, the deal gives the assets a total value of $82.7bn. It will see WBD come under Netflix ownership once its remaining Discovery Global division, mostly legacy cable networks including CNN and the TNT sports channels, is separated. However, the agreement is set to attract scrutiny from competition regulators, particularly in the United States and Europe. Both WBD and Netflix do not see the prospect of the deal being completed until late 2026 or 2027. The main stumbling block is likely to be the fact that Netflix, which has hits including Stranger Things and Squid Game, is already the world's biggest streaming service. Further drama could come in the form of a complaint by Paramount, which had previously made a bid for the whole company. CNBC reported this week that Paramount had claimed the auction process was biased in favour of Netflix. Entertainment news provider Variety has also reported that major studios fear an institutional crisis for Hollywood unless the move is blocked. Ted Sarandos, the co-chief executive of Netflix, said: "By combining Warner Bros' incredible library of shows and movies - from timeless classics like Casablanca and Citizen Kane to modern favourites like Harry Potter and Friends - with our culture-defining titles like Stranger Things, KPop Demon Hunters and Squid Game, we'll be able to do that even better. "Together, we can give audiences more of what they love and help define the next century of storytelling." Netflix shares were trading down more than 3% in pre-market deals but recovered much of that loss when Wall Street opened. Those for WBD were up by more than 2%. David O'Hara, managing director at the advisory firm MKI Global Partners, said of the proposed deal: "The 12-18 month timeline signals a long antitrust review, but despite the overlap between Netflix and HBO Max, there is a path to approval through possible HBO divestment. "Netflix would not accept a $5.8bn break fee if it didn't see at least a small chance of the deal closing."

The headline announcement in the government's plan is the pledge to lift the two-child benefit cap, announced in Rachel Reeves's budget last week. It also includes: • Providing upfront childcare support for parents on universal credit returning to work• An £8m fund to end the placement of families in bed and breakfasts beyond a six-week limit• Reforms to cut the cost of baby formula• A new legal duty on councils to notify schools, health visitors, and GPs when a child is placed in temporary accommodation Many of the measures have previously been announced. The government also pointed to its plan in the budget to cut energy bills by £150 a year, and its previously promised £950m boost to a local authority housing fund, which it says will deliver 5,000 high-quality homes for better temporary accommodation. Downing Street said the strategy would lift 550,000 children out of poverty by 2030, saying that would be the biggest reduction in a single parliament since records began. But charities had been hoping for a 10-year strategy and argue the plan lacks ambition. A record 4.5 million children (about 31%) are living in poverty in the UK - 900,000 more since 2010/11, according to government figures. Phillip Anderson, the Strategic Director for External Affairs at the National Children's Bureau (NCB), told Sky News: "Abolishing the two-child limit is a hell of a centre piece, but beyond that it's mainly a summary of previously announced policies and commitments. "The really big thing for me is it misses the opportunity to talk about the longer term. It was supposed to be a 10-year strategy, we wanted to see real ambition and ideally legally binding targets for reducing poverty. "The government itself says there will still be around four million children living in poverty after these measures and the strategy has very little to say to them." 'Budget for benefits street' row The biggest measure in the strategy is the plan to lift the two-child benefit cap from April. This is estimated to lift 450,000 children out of poverty by 2030, at a cost of £3bn. The government has long been under pressure from backbench Labour MPs to scrap the cap, with most experts arguing that it is the quickest, most cost-effective way to drive-down poverty this parliament. The cap, introduced by Conservative chancellor George Osborne in 2017, means parents can only claim universal credit or tax credits for their first two children. It meant the average affected household losing £4,300 per year, the Institute for Fiscal Studies calculated in 2024. The government argues that a failure to tackle child poverty holds back the economy, and young people at school, cutting their employment and earning prospects in later life. However, the Conservatives argue parents on benefits should have to make the same financial choices about children as everyone else. Shadow chancellor Mel Stride said: "Work is the best way out poverty but since this government took office, unemployment has risen every single month and this budget for Benefits Street will only make the situation worse. " 'Bring back Sure Start' Lord Bird, a crossbench peer who founded the Big Issue and grew up in poverty, said while he supported the lifting of the cap there needed to be "more joined up thinking" across government for a longer-term strategy. He has been pushing for the creation of a government ministry of "poverty prevention and cure", and for legally binding targets on child poverty. "You have to be able to measure yourself, you can't have the government marking its own homework," he told Sky News. Lord Bird also said he was a "great believer" in resurrecting Sure Start centres and expanding them beyond early years. The New Labour programme offered support services for pre-school children and their parents and is widely seen to have improved health and educational outcomes. By its peak in 2009-2010 there were 3,600 centres - the majority of which closed following cuts by the subsequent Conservative government. PM to meet families Sir Keir Starmer's government have since announced 1,000 Best Start Family Hubs - but many Labour MPs feel this announcement went under the radar and ministers missed a trick in not calling them "Sure Starts" as it is a name people are familiar with. The prime minister is expected to meet families and children in Wales on Friday, alongside the Welsh First Minister, to make the case for his strategy and meet those he hopes will benefit from it. Several other charities have urged ministers to go further. Both Crisis and Shelter called for the government to unfreeze housing benefit and build more social rent homes, while the Children's Commissioner for England, Dame Rachel de Souza, said that "if we are to end child poverty - not just reduce it" measures like free bus travel for school-age children would be needed. The strategy comes after the government set up a child poverty taskforce in July 2024, which was initially due to report back in May. The taskforce's findings have not yet been published - only the government's response. Sir Keir said: "Too many children are growing up in poverty, held back from getting on in life, and too many families are struggling without the basics: a secure home, warm meals and the support they need to make ends meet. "I will not stand by and watch that happen, because the cost of doing nothing is too high for children, for families and for Britain."

Argentina lodged an official complaint against Curry in the aftermath of England's 27-23 victory at Allianz Stadium on November 23. Contepomi claimed he had been shoved and told to "f*** off" by Curry in the tunnel, accusing the British and Irish Lions back rower of being a "bully". England hold off Argentina for Autumn clean sweepEngland drawn with Wales at 2027 Rugby World CupGet Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW Six Nations Rugby, organisers of the Autumn Nations Series and its disciplinary process, requested England's view of the incident and subsequently cleared both parties of any wrongdoing. "On considering all factors leading into and beyond the incident, based on the balance of information, and acknowledging a highly-charged end to the fixture, no formal sanction will be issued to either party," a Six Nations statement read. "However, this incident will remain on record, and should a similar incident occur in future tournaments, the record of this incident will be brought to the attention of the relevant Disciplinary Committee." Curry's late tackle on Juan Cruz Mallia, which resulted in the full-back suffering an ACL knee injury, was the catalyst for the confrontation. His challenge was punished with a penalty but not referred to the television match official, and the Sale back row avoided a citing because the offence did not meet the red card threshold. With Mallia off the field, the Pumas were forced to close out a desperately tight game with 14 men as England ground out a fourth successive autumn victory. Contepomi left the coach's box to protest the tackle, and at the final whistle a brawl broke out between the teams, which then extended to the flashpoint with Curry. "Curry, let me say, it is probably part of his nature to bully people. He came into the tunnel and he gave me a little smack. He is 27, strong. I am 48," Contepomi told reporters in his post-match press conference. "I was standing there. He was coming to say 'hi' to one of our coaches but we were upset because he was reckless and broke our player's knee. "When he came I said, 'mate, you broke his knee', he said, 'f**k off' and pushed me. Maybe that's the way he is. I don't know him. I'm not happy with the situation. "After breaking someone's knee you need to be at least humble enough and respectful to say, 'sorry I did something wrong'. But he went the opposite. "Maybe it's his way of being a bully. If we want bullies in this game, good on them. I know it's rugby, but if we don't look after each other in rugby, it could be dangerous."

Nathaniel Spencer, 38, has been charged with 15 counts of sexual assault, 17 counts of assault by penetration, nine counts of sexual assault of a child under 13, three counts of assault of a child under 13 by penetration and one count of attempted assault by penetration. It follows a police investigation into alleged sexual offences between 2017 and 2021. Staffordshire Police said in a statement the charges come after a complex investigation by the Public Protection Unit into sexual offences at the Royal Stoke University Hospital, in Stoke-on-Trent, and Russells Hall Hospital, in Dudley. Ben Samples, deputy chief crown prosecutor for the West Midlands CPS Complex Casework Unit and Serious Violence, Organised Crime and Exploitation Unit, said: "We have decided to prosecute Nathaniel Spencer for a number of serious sexual offences allegedly carried out against patients while he was working as a doctor - including assault by penetration and sexual assault against a child. "Our prosecutors have worked at length to support a detailed and complex investigation by Staffordshire Police, carefully reviewing the available evidence to establish that there is sufficient evidence to bring the case to trial and that it is in the public interest to pursue criminal proceedings." Spencer, from Birmingham, will appear at North Staffordshire Justice Centre on 20 January 2026.

Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS, Spain's RTVE, Ireland's RTE and Slovenia's RTV immediately issued statements saying they will not participate in the 2026 contest following the European Broadcasting Union's general assembly meeting on Thursday. Members from 37 countries were asked to vote in a secret ballot on whether they were happy with tougher new rules announced last month, without going ahead with a vote on participation next year. It followed criticism from some broadcasters of Israel's role in Eurovision amid the war in Gaza, and allegations that voting at this year's contest had been manipulated in favour of their contestant. In a statement, the EBU, which organises Eurovision, said members had shown "clear support for reforms to reinforce trust and protect neutrality". Sky News understands 11 countries voted against only accepting the rule changes. Golan Yochpaz, chief executive of Israel's public broadcaster KAN, said during the meeting that attempts to remove them from the contest could "only be understood as a cultural boycott", according to a statement shared by the organisation. Israel's president Isaac Herzog posted on X following the announcement, saying: "Israel deserves to be represented on every stage around the world, a cause to which I am fully and actively committed... I hope that the competition will remain one that champions culture, music, friendship between nations, and cross-border cultural understanding." Boycott announcements - what have broadcasters said? The broadcasters from Spain, Ireland, Slovenia and the Netherlands had all said earlier in the year that they would not participate in 2026 should Israel be allowed to continue in the competition. In a statement following the general assembly meeting, RTE confirmed Ireland's position. "RTE feels that Ireland's participation remains unconscionable given the appalling loss of lives in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis there which continues to put the lives of so many civilians at risk," the broadcaster said. AVROTROS, broadcaster for the Netherlands, said that "under the current circumstances, participation cannot be reconciled with the public values that are fundamental to our organisation". General director Taco Zimmerman said it had not been an easy decision, adding: "Culture unites, but not at any price. What has happened over the past year has tested the limits of what we can uphold." Confirming its withdrawal, Spain's RTVE highlighted how its board of directors had agreed in September that the country would withdraw "if Israel was part of it". This is a big deal for Eurovision, as Spain is one of the "Big Five" broadcasters - a group which also includes France, Germany, Italy and the UK. While the host broadcaster - as last year's winners, this is Austria this year - will often contribute the most towards the cost of staging the contest, the Big Five will also make up a significant amount. Slovenian broadcaster RTV said it was pulling out of the competition "on behalf of the 20,000 children who died in Gaza". In her address to members before the decision, Natalija Gorscak, RTV Slovenia board chairwoman, said: "For the third year in a row, the public has demanded that we say no to the participation of any country that attacks another country. We must follow European standards for peace and understanding. "Eurovision has been a place for joy and happiness from the very beginning, performers and audiences have been united by music, and it should remain that way." Eurovision 'is for broadcasters, not governments' But Austria's broadcaster ORF said it was happy with the decision and is looking forward to hosting next year. Roland Weissman, ORF director-general, said the contest "is a competition for broadcasters, not governments", and that he had personally advocated for Israel's participation. "In the spirit of fostering cultural dialogue and supporting and strengthening the democratic role of public broadcasters, it was important not to burn any bridges," he said, adding that concerns raised by some members had been taken "very seriously". "Naturally, I would regret it if broadcasters were to decide against participating," he added. "I see the Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna as an opportunity to emphasise what unites us rather than what divides us - United by Music." Politics has always played a part in Eurovision, despite the EBU's insistence that it remains politically neutral. Countries have pulled out or been banned in previous years - most notably Russia in 2022, just days after the invasion of Ukraine. But this exodus could be Eurovision's biggest political crisis yet, with suggestions that other broadcasters may follow suit. Iceland's broadcaster RUV said its board would discuss participation at a meeting next Wednesday, after previously agreeing to a motion to recommend Israel be expelled. The BBC, which broadcasts the competition in the UK, said it supported the decision for Israel to be allowed to take part. "This is about enforcing the rules of the EBU and being inclusive," it said in a statement. Earlier this year, outgoing BBC director-general Tim Davie said the corporation was "aware of the concerns" raised, but the song contest had "never been about politics". How have the rules changed? In November, the EBU announced it was changing its voting system. This followed allegations of "interference" by Israel's government earlier this year. The rule changes announced in November came after Israeli singer Yuval Raphael received the largest number of votes from the public at the 2025 event, held in Basel, Switzerland, in May - ultimately finishing as runner-up to Austria's entry after the jury votes were counted. But a number of broadcasters raised concerns about Israel's result. Key changes to next year's competition include: • Clearer rules around promotion of artists and their songs• Cap on audience voting halved• The return of professional juries to semi-finals• Enhanced security safeguards It was these changes members were secretly balloted on at the general assembly. With a "large majority" voting that they were happy with these changes, the EBU said there was no need for a further vote on participation. Speaking after the discussion, EBU president Delphine Ernotte Cunci said the result "demonstrates members' shared commitment to protecting transparency and trust in the Eurovision Song Contest, the world's largest live music event". Thanking members for their "thoughtful, respectful and constructive contributions" during the session and throughout the year, she said these discussions had led to "meaningful changes" to the rules, ensuring the contest "remains a place for unity and cultural exchange".

The chancellor is being accused of "lying" over what she knew and when ahead of her budget - so did Rachel Reeves and Sir Keir Starmer actually mislead the public? Beth walks us through a detailed timeline of the OBR forecasts, the so-called "black hole", and why journalists now feel they were given only half the story. Ruth and Harriet weigh in on political honesty, the dangers of selective briefing, and why trust between the government, the media and the public is fraying fast. Plus, former Number 10 director of communications Matthew Doyle joins the trio to discuss Labour's early months in power, the turbulence around political messaging, and how governments lose (and can rebuild) narrative control. Send us your messages and Christmas-themed questions on WhatsApp at 07934 200 444 or email electoraldysfunction@sky.uk. And if you didn't know, you can also watch Beth, Harriet and Ruth on YouTube. St. James's Place sponsors Electoral Dysfunction on Sky News, learn more here.

As director of rugby, Erasmus guided the Springboks to World Cup success in both 2019 and 2023, before his title changed to head coach last year. "This was a quick and easy conversation to reach agreement," Erasmus said. England drawn with Wales at 2027 Rugby World CupGet Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW "I have always said that I would find it hard to coach any other international team, and I'm very happy to continue as long as the South African public wants me." Erasmus' contract will now run until after the 2031 Rugby World Cup in the United States. "This decision reflects not only Rassie's remarkable track record of success, but also the enduring impact he has made in shaping the identity of our game," SA Rugby president Mark Alexander said. Springboks learn World Cup fate The news comes days after back-to-back defending champions South Africa were drawn in Pool B with Italy, Georgia and Romania at the 2027 Rugby World Cup. Pool A: New Zealand, Australia, Chile, Hong KongPool B: South Africa, Italy, Georgia, RomaniaPool C: Argentina, Fiji, Spain, CanadaPool D: Ireland, Scotland, Uruguay, PortugalPool E: France, Japan, USA, SamoaPool F: England, Wales, Tonga, Zimbabwe Etzebeth handed 12-week ban for eye gouging South Africa lock Eben Etzebeth has been banned for 12 weeks for gouging the eye of Wales flanker Alex Mann. The 34-year-old Sharks player was sent off in the closing stages of the Springboks' 73-0 win in Cardiff on Saturday after match officials reviewed footage of the incident. An independent disciplinary panel deemed the act to be "intentional" but reduced the suspension from 18 weeks to 12 due to mitigating factors, including Etzebeth's previous record. Two-time World Cup winner Etzebeth - the most-capped Springboks player in history, with 141 appearances - will complete his ban on March 27, 2026. South Africa's next fixture is set to be against England in Johannesburg in July on the first weekend of the inaugural Nations Championship.