Sir Keir Starmer has demanded the United States provide a “backstop” to deter Russia from attacking Ukraine again after he attended an emergency meeting of European leaders in Paris.
As the situation rapidly develops, senior European and Nato leaders met at an emergency summit in Paris, with Sir Keir becoming the first to confirm that he would deploy British troops into Ukraine to enforce a peace deal with Russia if necessary.
The prime minister repeated his aim to provide troops to Ukraine but also demanded the US provides a "backstop" to any peacekeeping force.
“There must be a US backstop, because a US security guarantee is the only way to effectively deter Russia from attacking Ukraine again", Sir Keir said.
But Starmer also signalled the continent could no longer rely on the US for regional security and said the UK would take a leading role to stabilise Europe. “In this moment we have to recognise the new era that we are in, not cling hopelessly to the comforts of the past," he said.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky revealed late on Monday he spoke with French president Emmanuel Macron about a "common vision" following European crisis talks. Meanwhile, arriving in Riyadh, Yuri Ushakov, Russian President Vladimir Putin's foreign policy adviser, said he had come to negotiate with the US only.
Key Points
- Starmer demands US provides 'backstop' to deter Russia from attacking Ukraine
- Volodymyr Zelensky says Ukraine will not take part in US-Russia talks in Saudi Arabia
- EU chief warns 'surge in defence' needed amid 'turning point' in European security
- Trump says he could meet with Putin 'very soon'
- More than 46,000 Ukrainian soldiers killed in Putin's war, says Zelensky
European leaders warn against Ukraine ceasefire without peace deal, official says
03:45
,
Arpan Rai
A group of European leaders have agreed that it would be dangerous to conclude a ceasefire without a peace agreement as they offered the war-hit nation security guarantees.
"We are ready to provide security guarantees, with modalities to be examined with each party, depending on the level of American support," an official said, summarising the results of the Paris meeting.
The meeting was called by French president Emmanuel Macron after US president Donald Trump arranged bilateral peace talks with Russia, excluding European allies and Ukraine from negotiations that are due to begin in Saudi Arabia today.
The meeting saw British prime minister Keir Starmer, German chancellor Olaf Scholz, Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni, Polish prime minister Donald Tusk and Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez in attendance.
Also taking part were Dutch prime minister Dick Schoof, Danish prime minister Mette Frederiksen, Nato secretary general Mark Rutte, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and European Council president Antonio Costa.
"We agree with president Trump on a 'peace through strength' approach," the EU official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
"We believe it is dangerous to conclude a ceasefire without a peace agreement at the same time," the official added.
Russia confirms talks in Saudi Arabia today, lays down its demands
03:30
,
Arpan Rai
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the talks today with American counterparts today will be primarily focused on "restoring the entire range of US-Russian relations, as well as preparing possible talks on the Ukrainian settlement and organising a meeting of the two presidents."
State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said the meeting is aimed at determining how serious the Russians are about wanting peace and whether detailed negotiations can be started.
"I think the goal, obviously, for everyone is to determine if this is something that can move forward," she told reporters traveling with Rubio in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Ms Bruce said that even though Ukraine would not be at the table for today’s talks, actual peace negotiations would only take place with Ukraine's involvement.
Kyiv's participation in any peace talks was a bedrock of US policy under Trump's predecessor, Joe Biden.
British aid worker who lost limbs in Ukraine may have to fund his own prosthetics
03:30
,
Andy Gregory
A British aid worker who lost his arm and leg in an attack on Ukraine may have to fund his own prosthetics after he was hit by a drone while completing a civilian evacuation on the frontline.
Edward “Eddy” Scott works for Base UA, which provides shelter and helps evacuate people in combat zones, and was seriously injured when the team’s armoured vehicle was hit in Pokrovsk in January. He had to have his left arm and leg amputated.
Once the 28-year-old from Dorset leaves initial care, he will go to a post-surgical rehabilitation centre, where he will get plastic surgery to reshape his stumps and have prosthetics fitted.
Base UA said it remains “up in the air” about how these prosthetics would be funded, as the serious nature of Mr Scott’s injuries means he may require extremely high-quality equipment which is not provided as standard.
Bryony Gooch reports:
More than 46,000 Ukrainian troops killed defending against Russian invasion, says Zelensky
03:15
,
Andy Gregory
More than 46,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed defending against Russia’s full-scale invasion which began in February 2022, president Volodymyr Zelensky said.
Mr Zelensky also revealed that “tens of thousands” of Ukrainian troops were missing in action or being held in Russian captivity, as the grinding war of attrition nears its three-year anniversary.
The figures released by the Ukrainian president differ from the estimates of Kyiv’s allies. Last year, The Economist reported anonymous US officials as estimating that at least 70,000 Ukrainian soldiers had died and up to 120,000 wounded. In October, another US official estimated to the New York Times that more than 57,500 had been killed and 250,000 wounded.
Alex Croft reports:
Russia, US hold talks on ending Ukraine war without Kyiv
03:06
,
Arpan Rai
Senior American and Russian officials, including the countries' top diplomats, will hold talks today on improving their ties and negotiating an end to the war in Ukraine, officials said.
Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov and Vladimir Putin's foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov arrived in the Saudi capital yesterday, according to Russian state TV.
Mr Ushakov said the talks would be "purely bilateral" and would not include Ukrainian officials.
The US delegation, he said, is made up of "serious people" but said Russia "came with a serious approach too."
It is important, Mr Ushakov said, "to start the real normalization of relations" between Russia and the US.
US secretary of state Marco Rubio, national security adviser Mike Waltz and special envoy Steve Witkoff will meet the Russian delegation, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said.
This would be the most significant meeting between the sides since Moscow's full-scale invasion of its neighbour nearly three years ago.
Trump's tariffs expose Ukraine's steel industry to another war
03:00
,
Andy Gregory
The Zaporizhstal Iron and Steelworks, one of Ukraine’s largest steel plants, lies in the country’s industrial east, where Russia's 3-year invasion of its neighbor threatens to throttle production at any moment. Daily battles unfold along a front line 40 kilometers (25 miles) away as the plant churns out materials for military equipment and for foreign manufacturers to use in cars, appliances, and construction.
“Morale is not as high as it was before. We are pretty tired here,” plant supervisor Serhii Zhyvotchenko said, reflecting on the hardships. “But there is no way to go back; the only way is forward.”
Last week, though, a second war came to the doorstep of the hulking factory complex: the possible trade war that U.S. President Donald Trump has provoked since returning to office four weeks ago. Trump imposed tariffs of at least 25% on all imported steel and aluminum, a decision that could hurt an essential sector of Ukraine's battered economy.
Ukrainian government officials and business leaders were shocked by Trump’s Feb. 10 executive order, which underscored Ukraine's growing precarity in relation to its most important Western ally. The president maintains that imposing a variety of tariffs will level the playing field in international trade and make U.S. factories more competitive.
Samya Kullab reports:
What has Sweden said about sending peacekeeper forces to Ukraine?
02:00
,
Andy Gregory
Ahead of talks on Monday in Paris – and in the wake of Sir Keir Starmer’s call that Britain is prepared to send troops to Ukraine to oversee a peace deal – Sweden’s prime minister said: "There needs to be a very clear mandate for those forces and I don't think we can see that until we have come further in those negotiations.
“But Sweden, we are normally a part of strengthening security in our part of the world, so I foresee us to be a part of that this time as well."
Ukraine's Zelensky to visit Turkey on Tuesday, Ankara says
01:00
,
Andy Gregory
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will visit Turkey on Tuesday upon the invitation of President Tayyip Erdogan, the Turkish Presidency's communications director said on Monday.
In a statement on X, Fahrettin Altun said Zelensky and Erdogan will discuss ways to improve cooperation and bilateral ties, the latest developments in Ukraine as well as regional and global issues.
Zelensky's will coincide with talks between Russia and the United States on Tuesday in Saudi Arabia, aimed at ending the war in Ukraine and restoring broader Russia-US ties.
Will the US leave Nato?
Monday 17 February 2025 23:59
,
Andy Gregory
After US defence secretary Pete Hegseth told Western allies on Wednesday that European security is no longer an American priority, concern over the Trump administration’s commitment to Nato is higher than ever.
Donald Trump recently suggested the US would not protect Nato allies who did not spend enough on defence, reportedly telling allies he would “encourage” Russia to attack any Nato member that failed to meet the alliance's target of 2 per cent of their GDP.
The future of the Western military alliance, which was formed after the Second World War to guarantee security against the Soviet Union, has never faced bigger questions.
The US is the most powerful member of Nato, spending far more on defence than any other ally and outweighing allies in its military muscle.
As a result, the US calls the shots. But those close to the Trump administration have long questioned how much Nato membership serves in America’s interest, with European allies ostensibly failing to spend as much as they should on defence.
Earlier this week, former US National Security Advisor John Bolton told Tom Swarbrick on LBC that it is “highly probable that Trump will try and withdraw the United States from Nato”.
No one can say for sure whether a president as unpredictable as Trump will pull the US out of Nato - but he will certainly make the US a far more prickly member of the alliance than it was under former presidents.
Zelensky says he spoke to France's Macron about security guarantees for Ukraine
Monday 17 February 2025 23:46
,
Jabed Ahmed
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said that he talked with French President Emmanuel Macron about security guarantees and achieving a lasting peace in Ukraine.
"We share a common vision: security guarantees must be robust and reliable," Zelenskiy said on X.
"Any other decision without such guarantees — such as a fragile ceasefire — would only serve as another deception by Russia and a prelude to a new Russian war against Ukraine or other European nations."
Russia says that talks on Ukraine in Riyadh strictly bilateral, RIA reports
Monday 17 February 2025 23:27
,
Jabed Ahmed
Yuri Ushakov, Russian President Vladimir Putin's foreign policy adviser, said upon arrival in the Saudi capital of Riyadh that talks on Ukraine will be strictly bilateral, Russia's RIA state news agency reported.
"We came to negotiate with American colleagues," RIA cited Ushakov as saying. "These are bilateral talks, purely bilateral. There can be no trilateral talks in Riyadh."
Sending troops to Ukraine 'could require permanent uplift in UK defence spending'
Monday 17 February 2025 23:00
,
Andy Gregory
Asked about the implications of Sir Keir Starmer’s plans to send troops to Ukraine, IFS associate director Ben Zaranko told The Independent it could lead to a structural need for a permanent increase in defence spending.
“It would require spending cuts elsewhere, tax rises, or some combination of the two,” he said.
He added: “Meeting the pressures of an ageing population on the NHS while simultaneously ramping up defence expenditure, in an era of stagnant growth and elevated interest rates, would be an epochal challenge – and certainly not one that could be met while sticking to the letter of Labour’s manifesto promises.”
Our political correspondents Archie Mitchell and Millie Cooke have more details in this report.
European leaders warn against Ukraine ceasefire without peace deal, official says
Monday 17 February 2025 22:50
,
Jabed Ahmed
A group of European leaders agreed at a meeting in Paris on Monday they were ready to give Ukraine security guarantees, but it would be dangerous to conclude a ceasefire without a peace agreement at the same time, a European Union official said.
"We are ready to provide security guarantees, with modalities to be examined with each party, depending on the level of American support," said the official, summarising the results of the Paris meeting.
Full report | Starmer throws down gauntlet to Trump as PM says US must provide ‘backstop’ to deter Russia
Monday 17 February 2025 22:44
,
Jabed Ahmed
Trump spoke to Macron about Ukraine, White House says
Monday 17 February 2025 22:29
,
Jabed Ahmed
US President Donald Trump spoke to his French counterpart Emmanual Macron about Ukraine and the meeting in Saudi Arabia between US and Russian officials, a White House official has said.
“Today President Donald J. Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron had a friendly call,”a White House official said.
“The leaders talked about the Ukraine War, the upcoming meeting of European nations tomorrow, and the talks in Saudi Arabia between U.S. and Russian officials. The call lasted approximately 30 minutes."
Ex-Royal Navy chief urges vast increase in defence spending
Monday 17 February 2025 22:00
,
Andy Gregory
Lord West of Spithead, who headed the Royal Navy from 2002 to 2006, has told The Independent that Britain should be spending 4 per cent of GDP on defence.
Successive governments have “betrayed the British people about defence spending” and have “lied about the capabilities of our military”, the former Navy chief warned.
He said that Britain “absolutely needs to spend more”, adding: “I have no doubt whatsoever. And I think we're being very silly as a nation not doing that."
European leaders' comments after emergency Ukraine talks in Paris
Monday 17 February 2025 21:26
,
Jabed Ahmed
On the idea of deploying European peacekeepers, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said it was "completely premature and completely the wrong time to have this discussion now ... I want to say that quite frankly, people are talking over Ukraine's head, about the outcome of peace talks that have not taken place and to which Ukraine has not said yes."
On defense spending, Scholz said: "If European states want to spend more (than 2%) on defense, Germany is supportive that this expenditure is not taken into account in European budget deficit calculations."
Polish PM Donald Tusk said: "Transatlantic relations and our friendship with the United States are at a new stage and we all see that. No one should probably be surprised that today this meeting also confirmed that our European partners realise that the time has come for a much greater ability for Europe to defend itself."
Tusk also said there was "a very important confirmation ... that defense spending will no longer be treated as excessive spending, so we will not be at risk of the excessive deficit procedure and all its unpleasant consequences."
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said: "Today in Paris we reaffirmed that Ukraine deserves peace through strength. Peace respectful of its independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, with strong security guarantees. Europe carries its full share of the military assistance to Ukraine. At the same time we need a surge in defense in Europe."
Watch: Trump ex-security official accuses Europe of ‘throwing temper tantrum’
Monday 17 February 2025 21:00
,
Andy Gregory
Watch | Starmer speaks in Paris after emergency talks with European leaders
Monday 17 February 2025 20:49
,
Jabed Ahmed
Full report | Europe split over Starmer pledge to send troops to Ukraine
Monday 17 February 2025 20:36
,
Jabed Ahmed
Our political correspondent Millie Cooke reports:
Europe must guard against threat from Russia, Danish prime minister says
Monday 17 February 2025 20:17
,
Jabed Ahmed
All European nations must boost their support for Ukraine while ramping up defence spending at home to protect themselves against Russia, Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said after meeting European leaders in Paris.
"Russia is threatening all of Europe now, unfortunately," Ms Frederiksen told reporters.
Mapped: Where are Ukraine’s rare earth mineral resources and why does Trump want them?
Monday 17 February 2025 20:00
,
Andy Gregory
Donald Trump wants Ukraine to pay for financial and military support by affording Washington access to the country’s vast but untapped rare earth minerals.
Below, we look at where these resources are in Ukraine, and why Kyiv has struggled to mine these minerals:
Starmer: We must 'maintain the principle of peace through strength'
Monday 17 February 2025 19:40
,
Jabed Ahmed
Sir Keir Starmer has said he will ensure the UK is a “leading country” in European nations stepping up support for Ukraine.
He said: “We’re in a very early stage of the discussions at the moment, obviously, and the most important thing as we go into these discussions is to maintain the principle of peace through strength, and what I mean by that is making sure that Ukraine is in the strongest possible position.
“It would be a big mistake to think that just because there may be talks that now is the time to back down on any support for Ukraine, we need to ramp it up in my view and I’ve been saying that for many months now.
“What we also need to do is to ensure that if there is an agreement, it is a lasting and enduring and just agreement that secures the sovereignty of Ukraine and that has to be at the heart of it.
“And then, of course, the question of security guarantees.
“But whether it’s on security guarantees or the wider collective defence in terms of funding or capability, I think this is the moment for European countries to step up, and I am going to ensure the UK is a leading country in that endeavour.”
Starmer dodges question on whether the US undermined UK by starting talks with Russia
Monday 17 February 2025 19:38
,
Jabed Ahmed
Sir Keir Starmer was asked by a reporter if the United States had undermined the UK, Europe and Ukraine by unilaterally starting talks with Russia.
He replied: “What the United States wants is lasting peace, that’s what Ukraine wants, that’s what the United Kingdom wants and that’s what European allies want.
“What is important is that we ensure that Ukraine is in the strongest possible position, if we go into talks, or if the fighting is to continue, and to ensure that if there’s discussion about any guarantees that are being provided, that the European nations show willing, as I have done, but also are absolutely clear that it must be with a US backstop, because I don’t believe it will be a guarantee if there isn’t the US backstop behind those security guarantees.”
Starmer: Time for Europe to 'take responsibility' for its security
Monday 17 February 2025 19:27
,
Jabed Ahmed
Sir Keir Starmer said it is time for Europe to “take responsibility” for its security.
The Prime Minister said: “I spoke to President Zelensky on Friday and will do so again in coming days and we envisage a further meeting with European colleagues when I return from the US.
“In this moment we have to recognise the new era that we are in, not cling hopelessly to the comforts of the past.
“It’s time for us to take responsibility for our security, for our continent and I’ve been clear today Britain will take a leading responsibility, as we always have, because Ukraine must have a secure future, Europe must have a secure future, Britain must have a secure future and democratic values must prevail.”
Starmer demands US provides 'backstop' to deter Russia from attacking Ukraine
Monday 17 February 2025 19:19
,
Jabed Ahmed
Sir Keir Starmer has called for the US to provide a “backstop” to deter Russia from attacking Ukraine again after meeting with European leaders for emergency talks on the war.
The Prime Minister said allies on the continent would have to “step up” in terms of both spending and capability as he spoke following talks with partners in Paris on Monday.
Sir Keir has said he would be prepared to put a peacekeeping force into Ukraine if there is a deal to end the war with Russia.
But after meeting counterparts in the French capital, he added: “Europe must play its role, and I’m prepared to consider committing British forces on the ground alongside others if there is a lasting peace agreement.
“But there must be a US backstop, because a US security guarantee is the only way to effectively deter Russia from attacking Ukraine again.”
Ukraine ceasefire must not lead to Russian rearmament, warns Denmark
Monday 17 February 2025 19:02
,
Andy Gregory
Ahead of today’s emergency meeting in Paris, Denmark's prime minister Mette Frederiksen had said: "We need to increase military support to Ukraine, we need to produce more, and we need to do it faster.
"And then we must remove the restrictions on the Ukrainians' use of weapons, so that they can actually defend themselves against the Russians without having one arm twisted around their back.
“A ceasefire must not lead to Russian rearmament, which is replaced by new Russian attacks."
Poland PM: US-European relations have entered a 'new stage'
Monday 17 February 2025 19:01
,
Tom Watling
European relations with the US have entered a “new stage”, the Polish prime minister has said.
Donald Tusk, speaking in Paris following an emergency meeting of European leaders, said the return of Donald Trump had created a new environment in Europe.
Leaders are starting to realise that it’s time for them to become more self-reliant and radically increase defence spending, he said, as he called for greater European defence capabilities.
Poland is Europe’s most prolific spender on defence, using almost five per cent of it’s GDP per year.
Scholz releases picture inside Elysee
Monday 17 February 2025 18:54
,
Tom Watling
German chancellor Olaf Scholz has published a picture of today’s emergency meeting of European leaders in Paris.
He captioned the photo: “The situation is difficult for Europe. We welcome the fact that peace for Ukraine is being discussed.
“But that does not mean that there can be a dictated peace and that Ukraine must accept what is presented to it. We have coordinated this closely with Volodymyr Zelensky.”
Die Situation für Europa ist schwierig. Wir begrüßen, dass über Frieden für die Ukraine gesprochen wird. Das heißt aber nicht, dass es einen Diktatfrieden geben darf und die Ukraine akzeptieren muss, was ihr vorgelegt wird. Darüber haben wir uns eng mit @ZelenskyyUa abgestimmt. pic.twitter.com/tX0A2hATlH
— Bundeskanzler Olaf Scholz (@Bundeskanzler) February 17, 2025
Starmer leaves emergency meeting in Paris
Monday 17 February 2025 18:46
,
Tom Watling
Sir Keir Starmer has been pictured leaving the Elysee in Paris following an emergency meeting of European leaders.
Poland’s prime minister Donald Tusk was also seen leaving.
Scholz: Europe must work out how to continue financing support for Ukraine
Monday 17 February 2025 18:16
German chancellor Olaf Scholz has said that Ukraine must work out how best to continue financing support for Ukraine.
Speaking after an emergency meeting of European leaders, Mr Scholz said it was clear that the continent must continue to support Ukraine.
Labour MP warns of 'considerable resources' required to send troops to Ukraine
Monday 17 February 2025 18:01
,
Andy Gregory
Labour MP Calvin Bailey, a member of parliament’s defence committee, told The Independent that the government must recognise the “considerable resource implications” of committing peacekeeper troops for Ukraine.
He said the UK was taking a welcome leadership role in Ukraine, filling “a huge vacuum” amid political turmoil in France and Germany.
And he said: “These bold commitments come with considerable resource implications, which will need to be addressed in the strategic defence and security review. We must not underestimate the scale of the task ahead of us.”
Our political correspondents Archie Mitchell and Millie Cooke have more details in this report.
Scholz: US and Europe jointly responsible for Ukraine security
Monday 17 February 2025 17:48
,
Tom Watling
German chancellor Olaf Scholz has said that the US and Europe should be jointly responsible for the security of Ukraine.
Speaking after an emergency meeting of European leaders in Paris, Mr Scholz said there should be no split between US and Europe in securing Ukraine’s sovereignty.
“In other words, Nato is based on the fact that we always act together and share the risk, thereby ensuring our security. This must not be called into question,” he said.
His comments come after repeated statements from US president Donald Trump that American troops will not man a peacekeeping force in Ukraine.
Emergency meeting in Paris appaears to have ended
Monday 17 February 2025 17:46
,
Tom Watling
An emergency meeting of European leaders in Paris to discuss a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine appears to have ended.
Zelensky says he will take Trump envoy to the frontline
Monday 17 February 2025 17:43
,
Tom Watling
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said he plans to take General Keith Kellogg, US President Donald Trump's envoy to Ukraine, to the frontline during his visit later this month.
“We're waiting for Kellogg. We had an agreement for him to arrive on 20 February, to stay for two days and maybe more,” Mr Zelensky told reporters.
“I want to take him to the front, and he'll go with me to the front, I think he won't refuse. I want him to learn about all the issues, to talk to our military personnel,” the Ukrainian leader said.
Starmer: There must be lasting peace in Ukraine
Monday 17 February 2025 17:10
,
Tom Watling
Sir Keir Starmer has said there must be “lasting peace” between Russia and Ukraine, and that any ceasefire must not simply allow Vladimir Putin to recover his forces and attack again.
Sir Keir is in the French capital today for an emergency meeting of European leaders to discuss a potential peace deal. Europe has been excluded from preliminary talks on peace between a US and Russian delegation.
This is why I’m in Paris today. pic.twitter.com/12e829Ysed
— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) February 17, 2025
Nato's future depends on UK upping defence spending, warns ex-minister
Monday 17 February 2025 17:02
,
Andy Gregory
Former defence secretary Ben Wallace has warned that the future of Nato depends on Britain spending at least 3 per cent of GDP by 2030.
The former Conservative MP warned: “The extra spending is also vital to ensure any forces we may or may not send to Ukraine are properly protected and enabled. Not to do so is to send another hollow force and put British lives unnecessarily at risk.”
Meeting Ukraine peacekeeping pledge would require tax rises or spending cuts, Starmer warned
Monday 17 February 2025 16:40
,
Andy Gregory
Sir Keir Starmer has been warned his plans to send a peacekeeping force to Ukraine may force Labour into breaking a manifesto commitment on tax and spending.
The prime minister has announced he is prepared to send British troops to defend the country as part of any peace deal, vowing to “play a leading role” in keeping it safe from Russian aggression.
But top military figures have told The Independent any peacekeeping force would require a major uplift in defence spending, above the shift from 2.3 per cent to 2.5 per cent of UK GDP promised by Sir Keir.
And a top economist said that any significant rise in the defence budget would be almost impossible while sticking to the letter of Labour’s general election manifesto.
Our political correspondents Archie Mitchell and Millie Cooke report:
Saudi crown prince receives Rubio in Riyadh, Saudi media report
Monday 17 February 2025 16:18
,
Andy Gregory
Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has received US secretary of state Marco Rubio in Riyadh, according to Saudi media.
Mr Rubio’s first visit to Riyadh comes as he prepares to meet with a high-level Russian delegation for talks aimed at finding a path to end the war in Ukraine.
Washington’s Ukraine envoy insists no one will impose peace deal on Zelensky
Monday 17 February 2025 16:15
,
Andy Gregory
Keith Kellogg, US president Donald Trump's Ukraine envoy, has told reporters at Nato’s headquarters in Brussels that no one will impose a peace deal on Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky – and that he and the people of Ukraine would make that call.
A trip to Ukraine is still being finalised, Mr Kellogg said, adding that he would meet with Mr Zelensky.
Putin aide says US and Russia have yet to agree on how to start Ukraine talks
Monday 17 February 2025 15:59
,
Andy Gregory
Vladimir Putin's foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov has said that Moscow and Washington have yet to agree on how to embark on Ukraine peace talks as the US has not yet appointed a chief negotiator to talk to Russia.
Mr Ushakov and foreign minister Sergei Lavrov are due to take part in bilateral talks with US officials in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday after Mr Putin and Donald Trump spoke by phone last week, shocking American’s European allies.
In comments broadcast on Russian state TV, Mr Ushakov said the Russian delegation was approaching the discussions with a “business-like” attitude and that its brief was clear.
The aim of the meeting is “to discuss the restoration of normal relations [with the US], to discuss the beginning of possible negotiations on Ukraine, and to discuss prospects for contacts at the highest level," Mr Ushakov told Channel One.
“Now the question is about agreeing on how to start negotiations on Ukraine because the American side hasn't appointed a chief negotiator to conduct business with us,” he said.
Mr Ushakov added that Kirill Dmitriev, Russia’s sovereign wealth fund chief, might join the delegation to discuss any economic questions that might arise.
Opinion | Britain is in no position to act as Ukraine's peacekeeper
Monday 17 February 2025 15:43
,
Andy Gregory
In his latest piece for Independent Voices, historian Mark Almond writes:
Since the Munich Security Conference broke up in disarray, Keir Starmer has been in crisis-management mode. The prime minister has been trying to get transatlantic minds focused back on Russia’s war in Ukraine, rather than the war of words between Washington and Europe.
By making a firm offer of British troops to patrol a ceasefire line, Starmer hopes to mollify Donald Trump’s dismissive attitude to underperforming Nato allies and put Britain at the heart of any Allied peace mission. The big question for us is whether our armed forces are numerous and well equipped enough to provide a serious contingent to any peacekeeping force along the ceasefire line.
Starmer might want to charm Trump back into the Nato corral, but he has no obvious policy for dealing with Vladimir Putin – apart from repeating the mantras of British backing for Ukraine’s war effort.
Britain’s record as a peacekeeper in recent years has been poor. Remember the confident predictions that the army would be able to carry out its peacekeeping role in Afghanistan’s Helman province “without a shot being fired”!
Those worst-case scenarios shouldn’t veto action – but refusing to plan with them in mind is an invitation to disaster or at least, as in Afghanistan, humiliating retreat.
Read the full article here:
Watch: Starmer arrives for emergency Ukraine summit
Monday 17 February 2025 15:25
,
Andy Gregory
Macron spoke with Trump ahead of Ukraine meeting with European leaders
Monday 17 February 2025 15:06
,
Andy Gregory
Sir Keir Starmer is among European leaders now being greeted by French president Emmanuel Macron in Paris, as they gather for an emergency meeting on Ukraine.
A French presidency official said Mr Macron has spoken with US president Donald Trump ahead of the last-minute meeting, which was called after it emerged that Europe would be excluded from talks in Saudi Arabia between US and Russian officials this week.
US says its meeting with Russia is to determine what is possible in Ukraine
Monday 17 February 2025 15:02
,
Andy Gregory
Talks between US and Russian officials in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday will aim to determine what is possible to end Russia’s war in Ukraine, US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce has said.
Ms Bruce told reporters in Riyadh that the meeting, involving secretary of state Marco Rubio, White House National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, was a step to determine if the Russians are serious about talks toward peace.
“This is a follow-up on that initial conversation between Putin and President Trump about perhaps if that first step is even possible, what the interests are, if this can be managed,” Ms Bruce said.
Europe 'throwing temper tantrum' over US-Russia talks, claims Trump ex-security official
Monday 17 February 2025 14:59
,
Andy Gregory