Displaying items by tag: Ukraine

Keir Starmer has held his first meeting with Donald Trump. Despite tensions between the White House and Europe, Starmer affirmed his trust in Trump and emphasised the 'special relationship' between the UK and the USA. However, Trump appeared reluctant to commit to a US military backstop for Ukraine, stating that Europe should take the lead. Starmer underscored the importance of a lasting peace with a security guarantee to deter further Russian aggression. While the UK and France are prepared to deploy peacekeeping troops, securing US support remains crucial. In preparation for the talks, the UK pledged to increase defence spending, a key NATO requirement, while maintaining strong ties with both the US and European allies. Starmer reassured the British public that national security remains a top priority, while also highlighting opportunities for job creation in the defence sector. For an assessment of Starmer’s visit, which included an invitation from King Charles for an unprecedented second state visit, see

Donald Trump is to meet Volodymyr Zelensky in Washington on 28 February to sign a preliminary agreement on sharing Ukraine’s mineral resources. While Trump touts the deal as a way for the USA to recoup aid given to Ukraine, Zelensky is seeking broader agreements, including security guarantees. However, Trump has ruled out significant US commitments and dismissed Ukraine’s NATO ambitions, saying European nations should bear more responsibility for Ukraine’s security. He also suggested a ceasefire deal was near, with European peacekeepers stationed in Ukraine - an idea Russia opposes. The mineral deal remains vague, but Ukraine hopes it will bring investment for reconstruction. There are warnings that Ukraine first needs to address its problem of unexploded landmines before striking a deal: a quarter of the country is estimated to be contaminated with them. Meanwhile, Vladimir Putin has reportedly offered the USA access to minerals from Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory. In an earlier development, the USA voted against a UN vote condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine: see

Sir Keir Starmer has backed Volodymyr Zelensky, calling him a 'democratically elected leader', after Donald Trump described him as a dictator. Starmer reassured Zelensky that suspending elections during wartime, as the UK did in World War Two, was 'perfectly reasonable’. He is set to meet Trump in Washington next week, aiming to secure a US backstop to deter further Russian aggression. He has said he is prepared to deploy British troops to Ukraine as part of a peace agreement, with Western officials suggesting under 30,000 troops could be sent to provide reassurance. Meanwhile, Trump's comments have sparked criticism from Sweden’s prime minister, German chancellor Olaf Scholz, and former US vice president Mike Pence, among others. Some Western officials are discussing using drones and intelligence aircraft to monitor Ukraine rather than deploying large numbers of troops.

At high-level talks with the USA in Saudi Arabia, foreign minister Sergei Lavrov has declared that Russia will not accept NATO peacekeeping forces in Ukraine under any peace agreement. The discussions marked the first known face-to-face meeting between Russian and American delegations since the invasion began. Both sides agreed to appoint teams to negotiate an end to the war, which US secretary of state Marco Rubio called a significant step. Ukraine was not invited, prompting Volodymyr Zelensky to express frustration over decisions being made without his country's involvement. European leaders held emergency talks in Paris but failed to reach a unified response to the negotiations. While the UK suggested a security presence in Ukraine, Germany and other European nations opposed the idea. Zelensky, visibly tired and upset, will also know that his country's chances of resisting - let alone defeating - Russian troops without American help are very slim.

US secretary of state Pete Hegseth has defended Donald Trump’s push for peace talks on Russia’s war in Ukraine, insisting it was not a betrayal of Kyiv. Speaking before a NATO meeting in Brussels, Hegseth emphasised the need for a negotiated peace but called Ukraine’s demands - restoring pre-2014 borders and NATO membership - ‘unrealistic’. Trump later confirmed he had spoken with Vladimir Putin, agreeing to initiate negotiations without prioritising territorial concerns or Ukraine’s NATO bid. European leaders voiced concern, fearing premature concessions could embolden Russia. Hegseth asked NATO allies to ramp up defence spending to 5%, a target the US itself does not reach. Volodymyr Zelensky, after speaking with Trump, reiterated his commitment to securing peace while ensuring Ukraine’s security. Questions remain over whether Moscow will accept a deal that meets Kyiv’s conditions. Trump’s advisers are set to meet Zelensky at the Munich security conference to discuss next steps.

Olaf Scholz has criticised Donald Trump’s proposal to make US military aid for Ukraine conditional on access to the country’s rare earth resources, calling it ‘selfish and self-centred’. A Ukrainian source has said that resource-sharing had already been included in Volodymyr Zelensky’s ‘victory plan’, which has been presented to foreign leaders, including Trump. The future of US aid to Ukraine remains uncertain, with military assistance continuing but non-military aid programs frozen under the new administration. Germany is Ukraine’s second-largest military donor; however, Scholz has blocked proposed additional security assistance worth €3 billion unless it is covered by new government borrowing. He has also resisted sending Taurus cruise missiles, citing escalation concerns. As Ukraine seeks continued support, Western nations face internal debates over military aid, economic interests, and the war’s broader implications.

North Korean soldiers are reportedly fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine, employing brutal, near-suicidal tactics. Western intelligence estimates up to 12,000 North Koreans have been deployed to Russia’s Kursk region since November, with 4,000 killed or injured. Ukrainian special forces describe the troops as relentless, often refusing to surrender and committing suicide with grenades to avoid capture. They are using strange warfare strategies, removing body armour for speed, executing frontal assaults, and even using fellow soldiers as bait to target attack drones. They leave behind propaganda-filled notes pledging loyalty to Kim Jong Un and condemning Ukraine. Despite extensive military training, they are struggling with modern warfare, particularly drone technology, leading to high casualties.

Keir Starmer has made a surprise visit to Kyiv to sign a 100-year partnership with Ukraine, affirming Britain’s steadfast support amid ongoing conflict with Russia. He met Volodymyr Zelensky, laid a wreath for fallen soldiers, and visited a burns hospital. The partnership includes bolstering military collaboration on maritime security in the Baltic, Black, and Azov seas. It also reflects growing European concerns about Donald Trump’s upcoming presidency, with fears that his administration may pressure Ukraine into an unjust settlement with Russia. Ukraine depends heavily on US military aid, but Trump has expressed reluctance to continue funding the war. Starmer aims to position Ukraine for strength in negotiations, aligning with Zelensky’s willingness to discuss temporary territorial concessions for peace.

Tensions between Poland and Ukraine have been strained for years over the Volhynia Massacre, in which Ukrainian paramilitary forces killed around 100,000 Polish civilians during World War 2. Polish prime minister Donald Tusk has now announced that exhumations of the bodies will begin, thanks to cooperation between Poland and Ukraine’s cultural ministries. While Poland describes the massacre as genocide, Ukraine disputes this, viewing it as part of a broader conflict. The dispute intensified after Ukraine banned the search for Polish victims in 2017, but recent efforts, including a joint commemoration by presidents Duda and Zelensky, aim to heal wounds. Meanwhile, Tusk has accused Russia of plotting terrorist acts against Western airlines : see

Donald Trump has expressed sympathy for Russia’s opposition to Ukraine joining NATO, suggesting such membership provokes Moscow and risks escalating conflict. Trump criticised the Biden administration’s support for Ukraine’s NATO ambitions, stating that Russia has long opposed NATO’s presence near its borders. Meanwhile, the Biden administration is preparing a significant final weapons package for Ukraine before the transition of power. While details remain unclear, it follows earlier military aid, with most promised equipment already delivered. Ukraine’s foreign minister announced the rescheduling of a meeting with Trump’s special envoy, emphasising the need for a meaningful dialogue. On the battlefield, tensions have escalated. Ukraine reported 94 clashes in Russia’s Kursk region, double the prior day’s count, and announced a new offensive. Fighting persists in Kurakhove, where Russia claims control, but Ukrainian forces dispute this, accusing Russia of using scorched-earth tactics. Both nations report heavy losses, but independent verification remains elusive.