Volodymyr Zelensky has said the US is constantly changing the terms of a key minerals agreement as part of peace deal, expressing frustration over lack of a final agreement on Ukraine’s rare earth deal pitched by Washington.
“At the end of the day, they constantly change the terms. I am not going to Washington because there’s no issue on the agenda,” Mr Zelensky said after the Leaders’ Summit on Support for Ukraine in France
Donald Trump has intensified his demands for US control over Ukraine’s rare minerals and energy assets, according to a fresh proposal seen by multiple media outlets.
The new deal would see the US receive all royalties from such assets until Ukraine has paid off at least $100bn of war debt to the US, and hand Kyiv just 50 per cent thereafter, while giving the US a veto over the sale of any such assets to other nations, according to reports.
It came as Emmanuel Macron announced that a British-French military delegation will be sent to Ukraine to scout Kyiv’s needs and what can be done to support its army – and that troops would be deployed as a “reassurance force” to uphold any potential peace deal agreed with Russia.
Key Points
- Trump pushes for control over all Ukraine's rare minerals and energy assets, reports say
- Key points after ‘coalition of the willing’ summit
- ‘Now is not the time to lift sanctions,’ Starmer says
- Zelensky says ‘Putin will die soon’
- Macron warns EU troops in Ukraine could respond to a Russian attack
- North Korea sent 3,000 more troops to Russia, says South Korea
‘Reassurance force’ is part of a ‘spectrum of options’, says No 10
04:10
,
Arpan Rai
A “reassurance force” for Ukraine is part of a “spectrum of options” being considered by the so-called “coalition of the willing”, Downing Street has said.
A No 10 spokesperson said: “Military planning has started in earnest. We have teams working on air, sea and land as well as rebuilding the Ukrainian army. This will in the end depend on what is agreed in the peace deal.”
Asked how a “reassurance force” would differ from a peacekeeping force, he said: “I think there is a spectrum of options and what you will see next week is senior British and French military leaders going to Ukraine to discuss with the Ukrainian military how this will work in practice.
“This will look both at rebuilding the Ukrainian military and how the reassurance force will work.”
Full report: Starmer and Macron to send military chiefs to Ukraine to plan for future ceasefire
04:00
,
Andy Gregory
Britain and France will send a joint military delegation to Ukraine to develop plans to enforce any future ceasefire deal, Sir Keir Starmer has said.
The prime minister, speaking after a summit in Paris, revealed army chiefs from France and the UK will assess Kyiv’s needs and how they can uphold peace should an agreement be struck.
Sir Keir also called for a deadline for Russia to come to the negotiating table, adding: “We need to see this developing in days and weeks, not months and months”.
Our political correspondent Archie Mitchell reports from Paris:
US to provide short-term funding for programme tracking abducted Ukrainian children
03:49
,
Arpan Rai
US officials have said that short-term funding was being given to an initiative documenting abducted Ukrainian children, after Republican president Donald Trump's administration decided to pause the program on 25 January.
The US government-funded initiative led by Yale University's Humanitarian Research Lab helped track thousands of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia.
The decision to terminate the programme, called the Ukraine Conflict Observatory, came after Trump ordered a broad review to prevent what he says is wasteful spending of US taxpayer dollars with causes that do not align with American interests.
Ukraine says that more than 19,500 children have been taken to Russia or Russian-occupied territory during the war in Ukraine without the consent of family or guardians, calling the abductions a war crime that meets the UN treaty definition of genocide.
Putin claims his troops achieving military goals in Ukraine
03:26
,
Arpan Rai
Vladimir Putin said Russia was steadily moving forward to achieving the goals it had set out in its Ukraine operation.
Russia, Mr Putin said, was in favour of "peaceful solutions to any conflict, including this one, through peaceful means, but not at our expense".
"Throughout the entire line of military contact, our troops are holding the strategic initiative," Mr Putin said.
"We are gradually – perhaps not as quickly as some might like – but still persistently and with confidence moving towards achieving the goals set out at the beginning of this operation," the agencies quoted him as saying.
Netherlands to speed up release of aid to Ukraine
03:01
,
Andy Gregory
The Netherlands will speed up the release of its promised €3.5bn euros of support for Ukraine and will send €2bn this year instead of in 2026, a spokesperson for Dutch prime minister Dick Schoof said on Thursday.
Putin asks for temporary administration in Ukraine administration
02:58
,
Arpan Rai
Vladimir Putin suggested Ukraine be placed under a form of temporary administration, by removal of the current Volodymyr Zelensky administration, to allow for new elections and the signature of key accords to reach a settlement in the war, Russian news agencies reported early today.
"In principle, of course, a temporary administration could be introduced in Ukraine under the auspices of the UN, the United States, European countries and our partners," Mr Putin was quoted as saying in talks with seamen at the port.
"This would be in order to hold democratic elections and bring to power a capable government enjoying the trust of the people and then to start talks with them about a peace treaty," he said.
Moscow has wrongly claimed that the Zelensky administration in Kyiv is “illegitimate” as they did not hold elections last year. However, the Ukrainian constitution says no elections can be held in a war-time period and while the country is under martial law.
Mr Putin also appreciated Donald Trump's efforts to proceed with direct talks with Russia – in contrast with his predecessor Joe Biden, who shunned contacts – showed the new president wanted peace.
"In my opinion, the newly elected president of the United States sincerely wants an end to the conflict for a number of reasons," the agencies quoted him as saying.
White House says Ukrainians determine governance of Ukraine
02:43
,
Arpan Rai
Governance in Ukraine is determined by its constitution and the people of the country, a White House National Security Council spokesperson said on Thursday.
The White House official was responding to question on reported remarks by Russian president Vladimir Putin suggesting a temporary administration for Ukraine.
In the early hours today, Russian president Vladimir Putin suggested Ukraine be placed under a form of temporary administration to allow for new elections and the signature of key accords to reach a settlement in the war, Russian news agencies reported.
Italy's Meloni says US should be invited to future talks after Paris summit
02:01
,
Andy Gregory
Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni said Washington should be invited to future talks, her office said, as European and Nato leaders met in Paris to discuss a potential peacekeeping force in Ukraine.
‘Premature’ to discuss sending troops to Ukraine, says Czech PM
01:01
,
Andy Gregory
As Ukraine’s European allies discuss a peacekeeping force in Ukraine, some Ehave baulked at the prospect of sending troops without US guarantees and an international mandate.
“The debate on sending troops from concrete countries is premature,” Czech prime minister Petr Fiala told reporters.
“The idea still is that, if we debate something like that in Europe, there should be some kind of a safeguard from the United States.”
Who is in Starmer’s Coalition of the Willing?
Thursday 27 March 2025 23:59
,
Andy Gregory
Sir Keir Starmer has met with world leaders in Paris for the third meeting of the so-called “coalition of the willing”, a group convened by the prime minister and French president Emmanuel Macron to bolster support for Ukraine against Russia.
Some 30 leaders have gathered to discuss Ukraine’s ongoing security after the US brokered a ceasefire agreement between Moscow and Kyiv over the Black Sea earlier this week, which the Kremlin says cannot commence unless certain conditions are met.
My colleague Rachel Clun has more details in this report:
Doubts raised over Starmer's proposed peacekeeping force
Thursday 27 March 2025 23:30
,
Archie Mitchell, Political Correspondent
Speaking to The Independent, former national security adviser Lord Ricketts questioned whether it is even credible to claim a Western peacekeeping force can be sustained in Ukraine without Donald Trump on side.
And anti-Putin activist Sir Bill Browder warned that the “coalition of the willing is based on enforcing a ceasefire that is not going to happen”.
“Putin has given no indication he is going to stop fighting, he is just playing Trump for all he is worth,” Sir Bill added.
Watch: Putin warns Trump’s Greenland annexation threat is ‘not eccentric talk’
Thursday 27 March 2025 23:00
,
Andy Gregory
Analysis | Lack of progress abroad leaves Starmer facing questions at home
Thursday 27 March 2025 22:29
,
Andy Gregory
It looked like the moment Sir Keir Starmer had reached a turning point after spending his first six months as prime minister tumbling in the polls.
He hugged Volodymyr Zelensky close and offered the heroic Ukrainian president support after Donald Trump and JD Vance’s White House ambush.
With work underway to establish and lead – alongside Emmanuel Macron – a ‘coalition of the willing’, it looked like European and other Ukrainian allies were preparing to step up where the US was walking away.
For Sir Keir, things finally looked like they were starting to get better and Labour enjoyed a bounce in the polls.
But, emerging from the Elysée Palace into the Parisian sun on Thursday, the PM once again looked in trouble.
Our political correspondent Archie Mitchell has more analysis here:
What is behind Putin’s arrest of Russian billionaire Vadim Moshkovich?
Thursday 27 March 2025 22:01
,
Andy Gregory
Russian prosecutors asked a judge on Thursday to put billionaire Vadim Moshkovich – founder of the country's top agriculture company Rusagro – in pre-trial detention on suspicion of large-scale fraud.
Moshkovich – who is Russia’s 55th richest businessman, according to Forbes – and ex-chief executive of Rusagro Maxim Basov were detained and police raided several Rusagro offices.
Russia’s Vedomosti newspaper said the criminal case against Moshkovich was related to a conflict with the founders of Solnechny Produkti – which is Russia’s leading producer of sugar, meat, oil and fat products, and is ranked among the country's top five landowners. It controls 6,850 square kilometres of land – more than four times the area of Greater London.
According to Kommersant, the founders of Solnechny Produkti had a long legal battle but that the situation suddenly changed a month ago. It was unclear why.
Rusagro has a head office in the Belgorod region, which borders Ukraine and is subject to frequent attacks. Rusagro, which is not under Western sanctions, is Russia’s only major listed agricultural company.
Guy Faulconbridge reports:
Watch Putin’s speech in full after Starmer accuses Russia of ‘playing games’
Thursday 27 March 2025 21:03
,
Andy Gregory
Watch in full below as Vladimir Putin addressed the International Arctic Forum in Murmansk, a city in northwest Russia.
It came after the British prime minister Sir Keir Starmer argued that Putin must be given a deadline to make progress on a Ukraine ceasefire, as he met with European allies.
Sir Keir accused Putin of “playing games” and attempting to drag the Donald Trump-initiated process out to allow his forces time to continue their assaults on Ukraine.
New US mineral deal proposals 'not compatible with EU membership for Ukraine', says analyst
Thursday 27 March 2025 20:32
,
Andy Gregory
An analyst has described the Trump administration’s latest proposals on a deal granting the US control over Ukraine’s critical minerals and energy assets as “an expropriation document”.
“It is an expropriation document,” said Alan Riley, an expert on energy law at the Atlantic Council. “There are no guarantees, no defence clauses, the US puts up nothing.
“The Americans can walk away, the Ukrainians can’t. I’ve never seen anything like it before.”
Under the proposals, the US would be able to veto sales of Ukraine’s resources to other countries, according to The Telegraph.
Prof Riley told the outlet: “It is not compatible with EU membership, and perhaps that is part of the purpose. I have to wonder whether the real intention might not be to force Zelensky to reject it.”
Zelensky urges US to react after Russia strikes energy infrastructure in Kherson
Thursday 27 March 2025 20:14
,
Andy Gregory
Volodymyr Zelenskiy has urged the US to respond after he said Russian artillery had damaged Ukraine's energy infrastructure in the front-line city of Kherson – two days after the White House announced that each side had agreed to a truce on energy strikes.
“Two days ago, there was a night when there were no strikes on the energy sector, today energy infrastructure in the city of Kherson was damaged by Russian artillery,” Mr Zelensky said in Paris. “I believe that the US should respond with actions.”
The United States announced separate agreements with Kyiv and Moscow on Tuesday to pause attacks in the Black Sea and against each other's energy installations, the first such deal since Donald Trump returned to the White House in January.
Speaking after the summit in Paris, Mr Zelensky said: “Our side, as long as no one understands who is monitoring what ... all this [evidence] will be prepared and transferred to the US, and after that we are waiting for America’s reaction, since they told us that they will respond to violations.”
Kherson regional governor Oleksandr Prokudin said work was continuing to restore power to consumers who had been left without supply as a result of Russian shelling.
US now pushing for deal to apply to all of Ukraine's rare minerals and energy assets, report says
Thursday 27 March 2025 19:44
,
Andy Gregory
The Trump administration is pushing for a dramatically expanded deal to control Ukraine’s critical minerals and energy assets without any security guarantees in return, according to a report.
In what the newspaper described as an aggressive expansion of the White House’s previous demands, prior to a deal collapsing during Volodymyr Zelensky’s disastrous visit to Washington last month, the Financial Times reported that a new draft of the deal sent to Kyiv on Sunday would apply to all mineral resources – including oil and gas – across the entirety of Ukraine’s territory.
And Washington is reportedly demanding that Ukraine and the US set up a supervisory board to oversee a joint investment fund to split the income from oil, gas, and mineral projects between the two countries. The US would appoint three of its five board member, handing Washington full veto power over the fund, the FT reported.
Three senior Ukrainian officials told the outlet that a deal is unlikely to be signed next week, contrary to claims in Washington. One labelled the new US draft proposal “unfair”, while another likened it to “robbery”.
A third official said that a team of legal advisers has been brought in to help Kyiv examine the document as they prepare a counter-offer.
Watch: The Independent’s Archie Mitchell reflects on Starmer’s Ukraine coalition meeting
Thursday 27 March 2025 19:27
,
Andy Gregory
Putin says Russia will strengthen its military capability in the Arctic
Thursday 27 March 2025 18:59
,
Andy Gregory
Vladimir Putin has claimed that Russia is worried about Nato’s activities in the Arctic and will respond by strengthening its military capability in the polar region.
“We are certainly concerned about Nato members describing the Far North as the region of possible conflicts,” the Russian president said, noting that Russia’s neighbors Finland and Sweden have joined the alliance. “Russia has never threatened anyone in the Arctic, but we will closely follow the developments and mount an appropriate response by increasing our military capability and modernising military infrastructure.”
Russia has sought to assert its influence over wide areas of the Arctic in competition with the United States, Canada, Denmark and Norway as shrinking polar ice from the warming planet offers new opportunities for resources and shipping routes. China also has shown an increasing interest in the region, believed to hold up to one-fourth of the Earth’s undiscovered oil and gas.
“We won't allow any infringement on our country's sovereignty, reliably safeguard our national interests while supporting peace and stability in the polar region,” Mr Putin said.
But Mr Putin added: “The stronger our positions will be, the more significant the results will be and the broader opportunities we will have to launch international projects in the Arctic involving the countries that are friendly to us, and, possibly, Western countries if they show interest in joint work. I’m sure the time will come to launch such projects.”
Putin says US push for Greenland rooted in history
Thursday 27 March 2025 18:44
,
Andy Gregory
Vladimir Putin has said that Donald Trump’s push for control over Greenland is not surprising given longtime US interest in the mineral-rich territory.
Speaking at a policy forum in the Artic port of Murmansk, Mr Putin noted that the United States first considered plans to win control over Greenland in the 19th century, and then offered to buy it from Denmark after World War II.
“It can look surprising only at first glance and it would be wrong to believe that this is some sort of extravagant talk by the current US administration," Putin said. “It's obvious that the United States will continue to systematically advance its geostrategic, military-political and economic interests in the Arctic.”
Ukraine's European allies not unanimous on reassurance force, says Macron
Thursday 27 March 2025 18:26
,
Andy Gregory
Ukraine’s European allies do not all agree on the proposed deployment of an armed force in the country to back up an eventual peace deal and only some want to take part, French president Emmanuel Macron has said.
“It is not unanimous,” he said, after wrapping up the summit – attended by the leaders of nearly 30 countries, as well as EU and Nato chiefs – aimed at strengthening Kyiv’s hand and its military as it pushes for a ceasefire with Moscow.
“We do not need unanimity to achieve it,” Mr Macron added, vowing that France and the UK – who are driving the initiative – will forge ahead with the “reassurance force” with several other countries.
Russian war correspondent killed near Ukraine border
Thursday 27 March 2025 18:09
,
Archie Mitchell
A Russian war correspondent has been killed and her cameraman seriously injured in a landmine explosion near the border with Ukraine.
Russian state TV journalist Anna Prokofieva and cameraman Dmitry Volkov had been in Russia’s Belgorod region when they ran over a landmine planted by the Ukrainian military, state-run Channel One said in a statement.
The 35-year-old reporter “died while performing her professional duty,” the news outlet said.
Two Russian journalists and their driver were among six people killed in an artillery strike earlier this week in the Russian-controlled parts of Ukraine’s Luhansk region, according to Russian authorities and media.
Starmer and Macron to send military chiefs to Ukraine to plan for future ceasefire
Thursday 27 March 2025 17:41
,
Alexander Butler
European leaders agree on a stronger Ukraine, differ on future 'reassurance force'
Thursday 27 March 2025 17:35
,
Alexander Butler
European leaders reaffirmed their long-term support for Ukraine during a summit in Paris on Thursday but appeared to make little progress on what role they might play in providing security guarantees if a peace deal is struck with Moscow.
It was the third summit of what France and Britain have called the "coalition of the willing", reflecting concern among Europeans that the US no longer represents a firm bulwark of support for Ukraine in its three-year-old fight against Russia.
US President Donald Trump, in office since 20 January, has said he wants to broker a swift end to the war.
But a series of bilateral talks between the US and the warring sides has yet to yield a significant diminution of hostilities.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said leaders had agreed on the need for more support for Ukraine to ensure it was in the strongest possible position for any peace process, without elaborating.
He also said he would like to see a peace deal developing "in days and weeks, not months".
Putin says geopolitical rivalries are rising in Arctic, but cooperation is possible
Thursday 27 March 2025 17:09
,
Alexander Butler
Geopolitical rivalries are intensifying in the Arctic, but cooperation in the region is possible, including between Moscow and Western states, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.
Putin, who is keen to ramp up commerce via the Northern Sea Route through Arctic waters as Russia shifts trade towards Asia and away from Europe because of Western sanctions, said Russia had never threatened anyone in the Arctic, but was prepared to defend its interests.
Zelensky urges US to respond to Putin's strikes on energy plant
Thursday 27 March 2025 17:05
,
Alexander Butler
President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday Russian artillery had damaged Ukraine's energy infrastructure in the front-line city of Kherson, two days after the US announced that each side had agreed to a truce on energy strikes.
“Two days ago, there was a night when there were no strikes on the energy sector, today energy infrastructure in the city of Kherson was damaged by Russian artillery,” Zelensky said in Paris.
“I believe that the US should respond with actions.”
The United States announced separate agreements with Kyiv and Moscow on Tuesday to pause attacks in the Black Sea and against each other's energy installations, the first such deal since Donald Trump returned to the White House in January.
"Our side, as long as no one understands who is monitoring what ..., all this (evidence) will be prepared and transferred to the US, and after that we are waiting for America's reaction, since they told us that they will respond to violations," Zelensky said after a summit of Ukraine's allies in the French capital.
UN role in ceasefire support was discussed, Italy says
Thursday 27 March 2025 16:43
,
Rachel Clun
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s office said the world leaders discussed the possibility of the United Nations playing a role in an eventual ceasefire deal between Ukraine and Russia.
Earlier, French President Emmanuel Macron said the “reassurance force” would not replace a peacekeeping mission.
In a statement, Ms Meloni’s office said: "During the meeting, the leaders also discussed the importance of effective implementation and monitoring of the ceasefire, on which a possible UN role is emerging, in line with the Italian government's position.”
Italy also said Mr Macron was interested in shaping security guarantees for Ukraine based on Nato Article 5.
Zelensky said Russia can be forced into peace
Thursday 27 March 2025 16:28
,
Rachel Clun
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia can be forced into a peace deal if allies keep up pressure through sanctions on Moscow and security guarantees for Kyiv.
“It is important that everyone understands – Russia does not seek real peace today and is dragging out the war. Following the leaders' meeting today, there is a strong reaffirmation that sanctions against Russia must not be lifted as long as the aggression continues. And we will continue working on security guarantees for Ukraine,” he wrote on X.
“I thank France and the United Kingdom for their leadership in the coalition of the willing and capable—a coalition of strength for the sake of peace. Our unity and joint work in Europe, with the United States, and other partners, can force Russia into peace.”
Analysis: Uncertainty shrouds Macron and Starmer’s ‘reassurance force’
Thursday 27 March 2025 16:14
,
Archie Mitchell
Political Correspondent Archie Mitchell looks at the new so-called “reassurance force”, announced after the summit today:
When talks about the ‘coalition of the willing’ began, it seemed clear what the intention was - to assemble a group of countries willing to put boots on the ground and planes in the air to guard the peace between Russia and Ukraine.
But what was once commonly referred to as a peacekeeping force has now been dubbed a “reassurance force”, and we are no closer to knowing what form it will take.
Hundreds of military planners met in London this week to flesh out exactly who can offer what, and Sir Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron have suggested it is not just the two of them willing to station troops in Ukraine.
The pair are sending army chiefs on a fact-finding mission to Ukraine to assess what Kyiv needs, which will inform the shape of the force.
But after a month and four meetings of coalition partners, and warnings from Russia that any troops’ presence in Ukraine will be rejected regardless, the “reassurance force” remains a nebulous concept in the public’s minds.
Watch: Starmer hopes for peace in 'days or weeks'
Thursday 27 March 2025 16:02
,
Rachel Clun
Sir Keir Starmer said today’s decisions from the “coalition of the willing” were designed to put pressure on Russia to come to the negotiating table, so a lasting peace deal can finally be reached with Ukraine.
Putin 'not ready for direct talks': Zelensky
Thursday 27 March 2025 15:53
,
Rachel Clun
Volodymyr Zelensky said the Russian President is “not ready for direct talks”.
Speaking after the summit, Zelensky said he was willing to talk to Vladimir Putin.
“I’ve never been afraid, it’s just Putin wants war - what can a man who wants war say at peace talks?” he said in translated comments.
Zelensky said Europe's support is unanimous
Thursday 27 March 2025 15:38
,
Rachel Clun
Asked if he thought the position of Europeans was clear after today’s summit, Ukraine’s president said it was unanimous.
Tougher sanctions and a security guarantee for Ukraine were clearly backed by the summit, but detail on a security contingency was yet to be hashed out.
Zelensky said Europe should also be at the negotiating table.
Zelensky says Ukraine seeking security guarantees from US as well
Thursday 27 March 2025 15:35
,
Rachel Clun
Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine was hoping for security guarantees from the US as well as Europe.
Asked whether he was speaking to the US about security support, the Ukrainian President said help from America would be “very important”
But he said he was yet to discuss this type of support in detail with Donald Trump.
Zelensky welcomes armed forces support
Thursday 27 March 2025 15:23
,
Rachel Clun
Volodymyr Zelensky said Emmanuel Macron and Sir Keir Starmer were helping to work out the infrastructure for the “reassurance force” for Ukraine.
Zelensky said there were many different proposals from countries, offering many types of support, including air support, boots on the ground or naval assistance.
How it could be done, who would command it and other issues still needed to be worked out, he added, and France and the UK would lead those initial discussions.
Zelensky speaks following summit
Thursday 27 March 2025 15:15
,
Rachel Clun
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky is also speaking following the “coalition of the willing” summit.
Despite the fact the US was not part of the meeting in Paris, he said America was “undoubtedly” important to helping Ukraine defend itself against Russia.
Analysis: Starmer claims momentum, but progress looks elusive
Thursday 27 March 2025 15:00
,
Archie Mitchell
Political Correspondent Archie Mitchell was at the press conference with Sir Keir Starmer in Paris. Here is his analysis:
Sir Keir Starmer was keen to stress that Ukraine’s European and other allies are more united than ever after multiple rounds of talks about the “coalition of the willing”.
There were nearly 30 countries in attendance at the group’s Paris meeting, convened by French President Emmanuel Macron.
The prime minister said there has “clearly been progress” from when the coalition of the willing was unveiled, citing the “broader grouping” of countries, as well as meetings of military planners in London to hash out who can contribute what to peacekeeping efforts.
But despite the “sense of momentum” the prime minister described, tangible progress remains elusive.
Only Britain and France have publicly promised to put troops on the ground as part of the force, and the all-important backing of Donald Trump and his top team looks unlikely.
Vladimir Putin is dragging out peace talks over the war in a bid to buy time and replenish his armed forces, and Mr Trump seems at least for now to be being taken along with him.
The prime minister vowed more sanctions on Russia and more military aid for Ukraine, which President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed.
But having been asked for evidence of tangible progress in the talks, the PM’s answer was less than reassuring.
Key points after coalition of the willing summit
Thursday 27 March 2025 14:47
,
Rachel Clun
Sir Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron have both just held press conferences following the coalition of the willing summit of 31 world leaders in Paris this morning.
They have both had a lot to say, so here are some of the key points:
‘Reasurrance force’ will be sent to Ukraine
The UK and France have committed to a “reassurance force” for Ukraine - which won’t be a substitute for a peacekeeping force, Mr Macron said.
“But it will be a force that will be placed in strategic areas agreed with the Ukrainians in order to provide sustainable support in the long term, reassurance and a deterrent against any potential Russian aggression,” he said.
Sanctions will get tougher
Sir Keir Starmer said now was not the time for loosening sanctions against Russia.
“On the contrary, now is the time for increasing sanctions on Russia, to get them to the table, to these negotiations, to the hope of a ceasefire and a long and a lasting and secure ceasefire,” he said.
Peace deal must be reached in weeks, not months
Sir Keir reiterated that Russia was playing games, and there needed to be more pressure on Russia to come to the table sooner.
“I don't want to put a hard deadline on this, but we need to see this developing in days and weeks, months and months, and we need to move on to that space,” he said.
Europe will increase military coordination
Emmanuel Macron said the “coalition of the willing” agreed to boost their military investments and improve defence coordination between the countries.
Not just a question of Ukraine support, Starmer said
Thursday 27 March 2025 14:32
,
Rachel Clun
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer says the coalition of the willing is about Ukraine, but also about longer-term security for Europe as a whole.
“As a group, we are answering the question which was, ‘should and can Europe step up/” to which the answer collectively is, ‘Yes, we should, yes, we can, and yes, we are stepping up’,” he said.
“This is, of course, about Ukraine, but it is also about the future of security and defense in Europe more generally.”
Starmer said any decision on deployment would go to parliament
Thursday 27 March 2025 14:28
,
Rachel Clun
The Prime Minister said any decision to deploy military forces to Ukraine would go to parliament.
Asked if he would put a vote to MPs before deciding to put boots on the ground in Ukraine, Sir Keir Starmer said the plan was not at a voting stage yet.
“We are at the stage of putting the political momentum into operational plans, looking at those options, and then go in for that piece of work with a piece of defence,” he said, adding his “long-standing position” would be to put a final decision to a vote.
Starmer not surprised about Russia's reaction
Thursday 27 March 2025 14:26
,
Rachel Clun
Sir Keir Starmer said he was not surprised that Russia’s position is that Ukraine should have no outside help.
“We know what Russia it wants: a defenseless Ukraine,” he said.
Next deal much hold, Starmer says
Thursday 27 March 2025 14:24
