Russian confrontation with peacekeepers ‘would be an extraordinary escalation’ March 16, 2025 Russian soldiers confronting British troops in Ukraine would be an “extraordinary escalation”, a minister has said as talks continue on a possible Western peacekeeping operation. Wes Streeting suggested on Sunday morning that the prospect of such a confrontation would be sufficient to deter Russia from breaching any ceasefire agreement reached with Ukraine. He told Sky [...]
Ukraine peacekeeping plans entering ‘operational phase’, Starmer says March 15, 2025 Planning for a peacekeeping force for Ukraine will move to an “operational phase”, the Prime Minister has said after a meeting of the “coalition of the willing” on Saturday. Sir Keir Starmer said military chiefs would meet in London on Thursday to “put strong and robust plans in place to swing in behind a peace [...]
Ukraine accepts US ceasefire deal and ‘ball is in Russia’s court’, says Trump March 12, 2025 President Trump has said that “the ball is in Russia’s court” to agree to a US peace deal after Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenksy, accepted a peace deal in Jeddah. The deal, brokered in Saudi Arabia, involves an immediate cessation of hostilities – and would facilitate the return of US support to Ukraine. The US and Ukraine [...]
Government could take Abramovich to court over £2bn from Chelsea sale March 7, 2025 The government is reportedly preparing to take former Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich to court to get their hands on £2bn from the sale of the club. The oligarch previously said that the money from the sale, currently frozen in a bank account, would go to those hit by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. But ministers have [...]
Union boss who ‘supported pro-Putin separatist’ replaces Mick Lynch as RMT general secretary March 6, 2025 The Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) has announced a replacement for its infamous former general secretary Mick Lynch. Eddie Dempsey, who served as the RMT’s senior assistant general secretary, will take the top job on Friday after being elected unopposed. Dempsey, a veteran of the railway industry and former train driver, played a key [...]
Finance for Ukraine: Scrap regulations that ban investment in defence March 6, 2025 There has historically been a nervousness about investing in defence, but at this pivotal moment for the security of our continent, it’s time to change ESG rules that are holding the sector back, say MPs Alex Baker and Luke Charters Britain stands at a pivotal moment, shaped by three years of Russia’s illegal invasion of [...]
Defence spending is one thing, but does Gen Z have the will to fight? March 5, 2025 It’s not just our diminished armed forces that leave Britain vulnerable to Putin, it’s a generation raised on the idea that Britain isn’t worth fighting for, says James Price In his “Politics and the English Language” George Orwell warned against using tired, old metaphors, as they reflected tired, old thinking. But the poor frog in [...]
Tory MP warns UK should ‘consider possibility Trump is a Russian asset’ March 4, 2025 A Conservative MP has warned the UK should “consider the possibility that President Trump is a Russian asset”. Graham Stuart, a former Foreign Office minister, posted the remark on X, formerly Twitter, after the US President halted military aid to Ukraine. Overnight, the White House suspended delivery of ammunition and other equipment to Kyiv after [...]
Will western brands return to pariah state Russia? March 4, 2025 It was the sight that heralded a new geopolitical era. Hundreds of Russian punters standing in a disorderly queue and braving the bitter Moscow air to sample their first bite of the latest big import from America. The iron curtain – having been chipped away slowly for years – had fully fallen just two months [...]
FTSE 100 giants Rolls-Royce and BAE Systems surge following Ukraine defence summit March 3, 2025 UK and European defence shares rose to near-record highs on Monday morning lead by names such as Rolls-Royce and BAE Systems, after the defence summit in London, at which European leaders emphasised support for Ukraine and pledged to raise defence spending. The STOXX 600 rose 0.4 per cent boost, following ten consecutive weeks of gains [...]